The Futures To Far Away (CREEK FIC)

New graduate (finale)

The morning of the exam arrived, and the air was tense with anticipation. Students filed into their classrooms with varying expressions of worry and hope, and Craig was no exception. He and Tweek stood together outside the exam hall for a moment, Tweek gripping his hands tightly.

"Hey," Tweek whispered, his voice barely above a murmur. "You've got this. I've seen how hard you've been working, and no matter what happens, you did your best."

Craig nodded, feeling his nerves settle just a bit. Tweek's support was a reminder of why he'd put so much effort in, and he felt a warm rush of gratitude. Tweek reached up, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek, and Craig could feel the love and faith behind it.

"I'm proud of you already, Craig," Tweek said, his voice shaky with emotion. "Just... come find me after, okay?"

With a final smile, they parted ways, heading to their separate classrooms to face the exam.

The test was a rollercoaster. Some questions clicked instantly, and he felt a surge of confidence. But others seemed to mock him, as if daring him to give up. He pushed through, remembering everything Kyle had drilled into him and everything Tweek had inspired him to aim for. By the time he finally scribbled his last answer and set his pencil down, he was exhausted and uncertain. He wasn't sure he'd done enough.

Craig left the exam room with his stomach twisting, wanting nothing more than to collapse into bed and hide from the world. But he kept his grades to himself, knowing he wanted this to be a surprise for Tweek—either way.

Graduation day arrived quicker than Craig had anticipated. The gymnasium was packed with seniors in their caps and gowns, their families crammed into the bleachers, eagerly scanning the rows for their graduates. Craig stood by the doorway, keeping out of sight as his classmates found their seats. He spotted Tweek sitting near the front, eyes darting around the room, searching for him. Craig took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He'd kept the results from Tweek, and now, as he prepared to step onto that stage, he could only hope it would be worth the suspense.

At the front of the room, Kyle was making his way toward the podium, the folded paper of his valedictorian speech in hand. Craig watched as Kyle adjusted the microphone, the crowd going silent as they turned their attention to him. He felt a rush of gratitude for Kyle's help, knowing he wouldn't have made it to this day without his friend's relentless support.

Kyle's voice filled the room, steady and confident. "Today, we celebrate the culmination of years of hard work, of late nights and early mornings, of friendships and growth that have shaped us into who we are." He glanced around the room, and for a split second, Craig thought he saw Kyle's gaze land on him—a quick, silent acknowledgment of all the work they'd done together to get here.

Kyle's speech continued, filled with humor and wisdom, and Craig couldn't help but feel a pang of respect for the guy he'd once just thought of as the "smart kid." As Kyle finished his speech, the gym erupted in applause, and Craig knew it was time.

He slipped into the line with the other students, his heart pounding. When he finally stepped into view, he saw Tweek's eyes widen, his face lighting up with a mixture of relief and happiness. Craig couldn't help but smile as he walked over, slipping into the seat beside him.

"You... you did it?" Tweek asked, his voice barely audible over the cheering crowd.

"Yeah," Craig said, grinning. "I did it. And I wanted it to be a surprise."

Without a second thought, Tweek threw his arms around Craig, pulling him into a tight hug. Craig returned it, feeling a surge of emotion as the reality of the moment washed over him.

When it was time to walk the stage, they went up together, and as Craig's name was called, Tweek couldn't help but let out a cheer loud enough for everyone to hear. In a moment of pure joy and relief, Craig leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to Tweek's cheek as they exited the stage. The audience gasped, then broke into applause, and as they walked back to their seats, hand in hand, Craig felt the weight of all their hard work, all their late nights and hopes and dreams, finally coming to fruition. They'd done it—together.

Notes;

I apologize that the chapters are much shorter than my other fics and that there's not many chapters in general but I want to do other stories and this one I don't have that much motivation so it was better to just finish it, but I might update it if I get the inspiration or smth :)