Lifeline (Tweek & Craig)

Chapter One

Hello future readers of Lifetime. Quick note, simply because I'm tired of hearing this. Craig and Red are NOT cousins. Some fans—not all noted similarities between their family, and these similarities has been acknowledged. However, Matt and Trey have never confirmed that they were family and I simply don't go base on fan theories. So please stop with the Aren't they cousin because they are not. And if you feel so passionate about it, this may not be the story for you or consider Red to be a different person especially since this is a "Tweek and Craig" story. Thanks!

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Craig

Craig leaned casually on the pole as he flirted with Red, pretending as if he cared about what the beautiful redhead had to say, when simply she was next on his list of girls he just wanted to fool around with. Token and Clyde who were never to far away from their friend, gave Craig space as he tried to win Red over. They had a few minutes left before their mid-morning class began and Craig preferred to be outdoors waiting then inside.
When Heidi and Wendy approached them, Red blushed turning to greet her girlfriends. The ladies turned red when Craig acknowledged them. Craig was aware of his effect on women, and he loved it. It took Craig years to get to a place where the yaoi bullshit could be put behind him. The thought of that very dark time made him cringe.
"Ugh, tragic. Not sure which is worst him or his parents dying," Red muttered.
Craig turned his head and frown when he saw Tweek, walking trying to be invisible, into the campus. Part of him hated Tweek for what he did years ago, another part of him felt bad for the awkward teen. Especially after his parents died months ago. He just stopped talking to people. Like a lifeless zombie. He could barely dress to present himself to begin with now he just seem like one huge mess. Hair uncombed, and clothes so warn they needed to be thrown away.
"Who is he staying with?" Wendy asked, sadly.
"Who cares," Craig said gathering himself to head into the building. The others followed closely behind Craig, but said nothing as they passed Tweek. Craig pretend not to see him as they walked by, but watched him from the corner of his eyes. He noticed Tweek looking at him or them rather as they past him. When Craig got to class he sat down resting his head on the table but lifting it when his professor entered.

Tweek

Tweek was hungry, he couldn't remember the last time he had a good meal to eat. Or the last time he had the chance to sleep in a warm bed or to even just shower with dignity. He was grateful for financial aid, but it only covered classes and school materials. Nothing more.
In the beginning part of him wanted to just keep the money and leave town but he was afraid of what would happen in a strange new town if the money ran out. At least if he use the money for school, maybe one day he'll be able to get on his feet with the right degree. So Tweek convinced himself that somewhere at end of the tunnel he'd be ok.
Tweek had only his parents, no one else. No friends nothing. Craig made sure of that. He spent the last couple of years making Tweek's life a living hell after the whole yaoi thing and the little bit of friends Tweek had felt it was best to distance themselves from him. So now, after his parents died tragically, Tweek had no one. His parents saving for him went to burying them and everything else went downhill from there. Turns out his parents rented the house he lived in and owner took it back. Their coffee shop closed for good and Tweek was left homeless and alone. Sometimes he felt ok, no pressure. Others times he thoughts what's the point in living.
Tweek had hoped to get to class before anyone got there, but unfortunately for him everyone was early. His nerves were rattling as he was trying to convince himself to enter. Everyone's heads turned to the door as Tweek entered timiedly, hurrying to his set in the back of the room. He didn't need to look to see where Craig sat, he knew. Craig sat in the same spot in the front of the room since the fall semester started two weeks ago. It was hard to miss the tall, athletic built, popular, and unfortunately handsome sophomore who was once his friend many years ago.
Many years ago, Tweek thought sadly. They had pretty much the same major, business administration, and because so they had a lot of classes together which was difficult for Tweek.
When class was over, Tweek linger a little longer till the crowd that swallowed Craig was distance away. Since he didn't have any classes till noon, Tweek walked over to the Athletic building, into the boy's locker room where he took a towel and want to shower. Tweek felt so much better after a quick shower. When he was finished he walked out of the room and saw Token staring. He didn't say anything he just look sorry for him. Tweek held his things tightly as he hurried away.

Craig

"Hey, we are going off campus for lunch, you guys in?" Kenny said to Craig.
Craig turned away from Red who was sipping his bullshit pickup lines hard. At this point Craig knew he had her.
"KFC?" Craig asked.
"You know it," Eric replied. Eric was leaner and much calmer than he was as an adolescent. In fact he was actually tolerable to be around—sometimes.
Craig turned to Clyde and Token who just arrived. "We are thinking about kfc, you in?"
"Yeah," Token replied.
"Ok, we will be behind you guys," Craig said to Stan. "We can take my car," Craig said to the guys.
Before he walked away, he turned to Red to confirm she was coming over tonight to watch Netflix. Red bit her lips softly before nodding. Craig gave her a smile and turned away.
As they walked to the car, Clyde started laughing, so Craig turn around for them to share the joke.
"What's so funny?" Craig asked, apparently Token didn't find it funny at all.
"Get this, Token said he just saw Tweek taking a shower at school. I told you, he is like fucking homeless. I saw him at the gas station days ago, doing homework at like 11 at night."
"How is that fucking funny?" Token said getting into the passenger side.
Craig felt slightly sick to his stomach. So sick that he couldn't reply and couldn't immediately start the car. His mind flashed back to when they were friends or whatever you would call their interaction. It's was sad that Tweek's life went that way. Craig felt bad for him, but it wasn't his problem. Was it?
Stan pulled up next to him and Craig gestured that he was coming. As he pulled off campus. He caught a glimpse of Tweek. Sitting on the lawn looking down at what could be a book of some sort. Tweek raising his head in their direction as if he sense Craig was watching him.
When they got to the kfc, Craig no longer had an appetite but ordered anyway just Incase it came back. As the two gang sat to eat, Craig stared out the window quietly. He hated that he had to think about him. Still he felt like almost everything that Tweek had went through from elementary to high school was his fault. If it wasn't for him turning everyone against Tweek in the fourth grade, Tweek would probably have friends, and someone would have let him stay with them after his parents passed. It was a pity.
"Dude you alright?" Clyde asked.
Craig turned to him and nodded.
"Did I hear Red's coming over?" Stan asked, turning towards their table.
Craig grinned. "Yup."
"Ohhh," the boys teased.
"Don't let Craig player bs fool you, he actually likes the damn girl," Token said not buying Craig bullshit.
"Nah," Eric said.
"No it's true," Craig confesses. "but before I start picking out rings, I need to be sure I like what she has to offer."
"Amen to that," Token said, grinning.
When his appetite returned, forgetting about Tweek, he started eating the mashed potatoes.