Everything is Shitty

Chapter Three - Stark's Pond

Craig
    I look through my clothes and pick out something comfortable. I usually don't wear any of these.. I put on basketball shorts over my space themed boxers, then dig through my shirts, ultimately deciding to wear my galaxy sweatshirt with no shirt underneath. Nobody is gonna know.
    I get in my car and take the vape with me. I'm gonna get through this with a buzz. When I pull up to Stark's pond I see Stan is already there, he's cross legged staring at the water. I get out and sigh as I make my way over. I sit down silently beside him with the best posture I can muster. He looks over to me and chuckles lowly. I look at his lap and see the bottle of jack.
    "I'm shocked you actually came." He says, and I choose to remain silent. I'm a dick but I'm not that much of one. I won't stand him up.
    "How long has it been since you've been here?" He asks. Trying to get me to say something. I assume.
   "Seventh grade." I answer. When Tweek left. I haven't come back since he left me. When I look across the pond I can see it. Relive it.
   "A decade ago?" He asks, and I shrug. I'm still holding on after a decade and I just need to let it go.
   "About." I answer, taking my vape out and taking a hit. I watch the smoke exit my mouth gracefully as I sigh.
    "How's life?" He asks, this is the calmest I've seen him in a long time.
    "I failed at it, and I'm only twenty-two." I answer as I take another hit.
   "You haven't got to fail at it. You can bring it back." Stan says, I'm silent. He's trying to get into my personal life. I'm not letting him. I'm not letting him get close.
    "What. Says the alcoholic?" I ask as I eye the bottle, then him.
    "I'm trying." He says softly. Almost desperately.
    "Well I'm not." I state, taking another hit and feeling my head begin to buzz.
    "And that makes me better than you." He growls, I shrug.
    "Maybe it does." I sigh "I didn't see myself as the manager of some dumpy fast food place." I shrug "He took all my aspirations with him" it's fucked. Ten years and I still can't get over it. Over him.
    "Are you still obsessing over Tweek?" Stan asks. "Isn't he.. married now?" He adds
    "Fuck, I don't know." I roll my eyes and take some more in. He's married? So soon? "I haven't talked to him or heard anything about him since he left me." Maybe I have, but I block it out. For what I care he's can go fuck himself.
    "Yeah. I think he married some guy a few months ago." Stan says
    Oh. So he wasn't even straight. He left me for no reason. Maybe it was an excuse. I'm probably a terrible boyfriend. I wouldn't know. I haven't been a boyfriend, or friend in general, in a decade.
  "Good for him." I state, and I want to cry. I haven't had ties to him for a long fucking time. Why do I want to cry over him being married? I should be happy for him. I sigh and take the bottle of jack from him. Taking a drink of my own.
    "Now you're living a bit." He comments with a small smile. I cough up the disgusting substance and spit into the pond.
    "That's fucking gross" I state, giving it back to him then using my vape, I want to relax in his company. No. I don't. I can't.
    Stan takes off his shoes and dips them in the pond. Then looks at me. Signaling for me to do the same. I sigh and give in. Is it cold? I take off my shoes and socks, then dip my feet in. Yep. It's cold. Though I let them rest. I feel Stan's touch mine. I let it pass as an accident, then I feel them rub against mine and I jerk them away on instinct.
    "I don't touch." I say. He knows this rule. I've said it to many people in front of him, and to him.
    "You won't make an exception for me?" He asks, oh please. Like you've done anything to deserve an exception.
    "You don't deserve one." I roll my eyes and look at the water.
    "Doesn't it feel good though?" He asks as he takes my hand in his and intertwines our fingers "A longing for it?"
    I sit there for a moment. His hand in mine. I then take a hit of the vape and pull my hand from his. "No." I simply state, but it does, and I have. I look at Stan and bite my lip before looking back at the water.
"You can relax... Craig..." he puts his hand on my back and rubs it a little.
"What did I say about touching me?!" I started with a growl and crescendoed into a yell. He keeps his hands off me.
"Alright..." He takes his feet from the water. He's going, huh? I've scared him away, like everyone else.
Seconds later. I hear a running leap and suddenly I'm covered in water. I look where Stan was. Only a pile of his clothes remain. I look back into the pond and see his bare chest. He's on his knees in the pond right by me knees. Not touching me. Thank god.
"Wanna join?" He asks with a smile.
"You asshole! You got me wet" I growl.
"C'mon Craig, join me! He says, going under and coming back up, chuckling. I sigh and stand up, taking off my sweatshirt.
"T-Turn around..." I say softly. "Shit. I mean. Turn around." I growl, he listens and turns around while I remove the rest of my clothes and slowly slip in.