@hiravth 〢 cont from here .
Craig heard about the fight through the grapevine and was not there to witness it first-hand. He was crammed into the back corner of the library, studying—or what passes as studying for him, rereading over the same information until his eyes burn, trying to glean anything new from it. It has become more of an exercise in avoiding other people than in improved academics, though his grades have seen a slight uptick as well.
He noticed the bell was fixing to ring and got started to his next class when Bebe approached him with her lips downturned in that perfect little pout of hers. He hates Bebe’s guts and was about to tell her to get the fuck away from him, but she cut him off with Red’s name.
That doesn’t get her off the hook for anything, though—Craig knows she’s inside right now churning the rumor mill with Wendy. Small town, people talk, it’s what they do. He’s been dodging questions about Tweek for a couple years now, and while he knows Tweek’s parents pulling him out of school is a bad thing, he can’t help but be mostly glad for it. Things would be a lot worse if the guy was here, and people saw them in the same room every day.
The acrid smell of vomit hit him, even over the trash, the moment he stepped out the school’s back door. Red’s probably dribbling whatever is still stuck in her teeth on his shirt right now, but he doesn’t say anything or try to move her. The last thing she needs is to feel disgusting, even if it’s only an implication.
When she gives him a destination, he nods, something she probably feels more than she sees, his chin dipping down to brush against her oily, sweat-soaked hair. They still have two hours of school left, but he has been such a good student lately that he figures he can take the rest of the afternoon off. “Sure, let’s go.” He pushes her back with his free hand, breaking their embrace but keeps a firm hold on her shoulder like he expects her to topple over without assistance. “You’re gonna have to walk yourself, though. I’m not carrying you all the way to Stark’s Pond. I’d like to keep the use of my spine for some years yet.”
