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Craig knows, he has always known. For some reason Craig has always seemed to remember all the weird things that seem to plague this awful mountain town, Death’s visit, Cthulhu, the son of the Devil, and the giant guinea pigs. He knows he is not the only one who remembers, Kenny remembers too, after all he is one of those things. At first, when he gave it any thought, he wondered if Kenny even knew about his trips to the grave. When he reappeared he never seemed to act any differently, slotting himself back into Stan’s group without more than a ‘what’s up guys.’ It’s in the little things, he thinks, the way he avoids hospital, the way he took home economics with the girls instead of woodshop, and the jokes he makes that everyone dismisses. It’s not until they’re playing superheroes that he’s certain.
He’s with his boyfriend, Tweek, and Stripe number four. They’re dressed up in their superhero outfits, for him a piece of paper taped to his shirt with the letter S, going over everyone else’s character sheets. He’s laying on his bed with Stripe on his chest, papers at his feet and Tweek is sitting on his computer chair at the foot of his bed. Together they were deciding who to be allied with and who to fight against. So far written on the left side of the mini white board they both agreed to being allied with Token, Jimmy, Clyde, and Timmy. On the right they have Stan and in all capital letters they have Cartman. Tweek pulls up the next sheet listing the information in order,
“Human Kite, elementalist-blaster, kite alien, asexual gender-neutral kite alien, lawful, kite theologist, solar winds, and mom.”
“His kryptonite is his mom?” Craig asks incredulously and Tweak nods “I’m okay with him being on the allies side.”
“Same Kyle’s not that bad, he’s pretty smart, and laser eyes are a bonus.” He writes down his name and picks up another. “Mysterion, netherborn, pansexual cis male, lawful, fatalism, cthulhu, and poverty.”
“Wait he’s a netherborn I thought he was a brutalist class too,” Craig questions he’s mostly seen Kenny playfight his opponents and punch Cartman.
“When we started he said he was an immortal and when Cartman said that wasn’t allowed he switched it to netherborn, something about a loophole.”
“He said he was an immortal?”
“Yeah I don’t really get it, out of all the powers he could’ve chosen, why would anyone want to live forever watching everyone you love die? That’s so stressful!” His hands start creeping towards his head threatening to tear out his hair as his voice raises.
“Calm down honey,” Craig sits up, setting Stripe in his lap and takes his hand in his “I’m sure it’s just to add drama to his character.” Tweek takes a few deep breaths and picks up the next sheet.
~
It isn’t until his little sister Tricia starts hanging out with Karen that he starts to see Kenny outside of school and groups. She invited her over for a sleepover and she’s been anxiously excited for hours, flipping him off every time he teased her. When the bell rings he goes to get it and then gets rudely shoved out the way. He peers outside and sees the sibling on their porch. Kenny’s wearing the same thing he always wears, his bright orange parka zipped all the way up it covers everything but his eyes, the matching orange sweatpants with the ends tucked into his boots, the worn brown boots that rise just above his ankles. He’s carrying a purple sleeping bag that looks larger than the one Tricia has for sleepovers, and swung over his shoulder a blue backpack. His sister is smiling as bright as the sun. She’s dressed in a turquoise nightgown with mermaids that have different colour tails but a pattern nonetheless and her green jacket. She’s holding a pillow with an old green case and an old princess doll with pink hair and a missing eye.
“Tricia!” Karen nearly squeals as she bounces inside, once past the threshold she sits on the mat and takes off her shoes and places them neatly next to the door. Once she stands up she turns back to Kenny who’s still on the mat and gives him a hug which he returns instantly. Then he slides the bag off his shoulder and hands it to her, holding out the sleeping bag in Craig’s direction.
“Tucker.”
“Mccrormick.” He grabs the sleeping bag and the girls run up the stairs to Tricia’s room.
“I’ll be back after my shift ends tomorrow to pick her up.” With that he turns and leaves heading in the opposite direction he had arrived.
It’s some time after dinner while heading to his room that he hears siffling. He knows knocking will be ignored and walking in will lead him to getting kicked in the crotch, she’s so violent for a third grader he thinks. He presses his ear against the door and strains his ears to hear the mumbling.
“I’m just worried about him,” another sniffle, “he disappears sometimes when our parents are out.”
“Does he go to any of his friends’ houses?” Tricia asked, sounding softer than he’s ever heard her before.
“No, they haven’t really been talking to one another for a while now.”
“Any of them?”
“He sometimes talks to Stan at school but there’s no way that that’s where he goes.” Craig agrees, Stan’s family moved to a weed farm a while ago and the only reason he remembers is because Token’s family moved across the street. It’s around an hour drive and Kenny walks everywhere. “But then he reappears again and just walks out of his room like he was taking a nap and when I ask if he’s okay he just says ‘he was taking a break’.” Craigs stomach churns, how often does this happen? Where is he going?
“Has he always done this?”
“Yeah but it wasn’t quite as often and he came back faster, but with the nightmares I get I’m scared he’s going to leave and not come back.”
“The ones where he dies?”
“Yeah.” She kind of remembers? Craig thinks it’s for the best rather have her believe they’re dreams than remember all the horrific ways he has perished. He eases off the door and heads to his room feeling a little ill, he’d play with Strip number six but he was with Tweek until the weekend was over. Instead he opts to add more glow in the dark stars to his walls, forming constellations he has memorised.
Kenny comes to pick up Karen around six in the evening. In hand he has a City Wok take out bag, positively beaming when Karen appears from the living room.
“What’s that?” she asks, pointing at the bag in Kenny’s hand.
“Dinner, dim sum and shrimp fried rice,” he declares, holding up the bag proudly, “Now go get your stuff I’m starving.”
“Can’t we eat here? It will take too long to get home and it will be cold.”
“Yeah,” Tricia pipes in in an attempt to extend her time with her friend “you guys can eat here then go home.” They both turn puppy eyes toward Kenny and he caves.
“Fine, if Mrs. Tucker says it’s okay, we’ll eat here then we head home. I smuggled two pieces of chicken for Mr. Possy.” he whispers the last part conspiratorially, making Karen giggle.
“MOM!” she says, dragging out the O, “can Karen and Kenny stay to eat their dinner then go home?!”
“Sure, and I’ll be down to make dinner soon so no snacks.” Tricia grabs Karen’s hand and they make their way towards the table. Craig turns around to see Kenny has done the same his sister had the night before, his shoes neatly placed next to hers.
“Mr. Possy,” Craig criticises, having a pretty good guess on what that was, “how creative.”
“Shut up Tucker, you’re not one to talk and Stripe Two through Six would agree with me.” He retorts smacking his shoulder playfully and strides into the dining room. He sets the food atop the table and begins to remove the contents, three medium cartons, a small carton, two paper plates, and chopsticks. He opens the first cartoon and divides, while uneven, the contents between the two plates then he repeats the process. He slides the plate with the larger portion to his sister and sits next to her, pushing his food around his plate.
“How are you allowed to take this much food home? Tweek still has to pay and he works for his parents.” Craig asks, perplexed, knowing Kenny didn’t buy it.
“Tweek’s parents suck.” states then continues “We’re not really, but if you don’t compensate your illegally working underaged staff it’s classified as child labor.” He still has yet to take a bit of his food, he hasn’t even taken off his hood yet.
“Are you just going to sit there and starve then?” Craig asks and Kenny jolts a little, surprised that he addressed it.
“What?” Kenny asks, “oh, um.” his eyes start darting from his food to Craig to their sisters who had stopped the conversation they were having.
“Kenny,” Karen starts noticing the shift in her brother, “you okay?”
“Yeah.” He says in a cheery tone that doesn’t match, then he pulls his hood down and unzips the jacket enough to eat. For the first time ever Craig is able to take in the features of Kenny’s face. Aside from his blue eyes that look indigo at times, he sees the freckles that lightly sprinkle his face. Like the stars at night. He has a split lip that looks recent, but Craig doesn’t give it a second glance not wanting to make him more uncomfortable. Since his parka isn’t hugging his face he can see a glimpse of his bright blonde hair.
Soon they were done and tying their boots at the door. Kenny still has the to go bag, with what Craig was told was Kevin’s and Mr. Possy’s dinner. His mom is putting a meat pie in the oven as she asks the siblings a question.
“Do you have a ride home? It’s getting dark and I don’t want you kids out there alone?”
“No ma’am, my parents aren’t home right now and Keivn is out right now”
“Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
Kenny’s eyes widened a bit, “It’s okay you don’t have to go out of your way, we walked here and it’s not that dark.” That’s a complete lie. It’s one of the cons about this town, besides the adults, outside of a few days in summer it gets dark early all year round. Toilken said that not even daylight savings is willing to put up with their town.
“Nonsense, I insist.” She sets down her oven mitts and picks up her keys. “Craig, make sure the house doesn’t burn down.”
“Can I come too?” Tricia asks just as Laura is about to close the door.
“Sure.”
~
Tweek and Kenny are an odd pair but they make good friends. They started hanging out when Tweek was moved out of woodshop, because his shaking almost caused Butters to lose his other eye. Craig knows Tweek took woodshop because almost all of the boys did, he finds baking more relaxing but peer pressure won. Kenny hangs out at Tweak Bros Coffee, helping Tweek during his shift when he’s not on his own or with Karen. Craig heads to the coffee shop wanting to hang out with Tweek and escape Clyde blubbering about Bebe wanting to reschedule their date. When he enters, he’s met with the sound of laughing coming from the kitchen. Clear, unmuffled laughing, he walks behind the counter and pushes open the connecting door. As soon as he walks through he gets hit in the face with strawberry icing. He wipes his face and sees Kenny and Tweek in aprons, armed with an arsenal of pipers, burn cookies, and cups loaded with flour. They, as well as the floor, are covered in flour and different colors of icing. They look at him surprised by his appearance and burst out laughing, again.
“Oh my God, Craig!” Tweek shrieks “you scared me.”
“Craigory, it’s not good to jump into the middle of a war you might get shot.” To emphasize his point he launches a half cup of flour at his shirt. His parka is on the counter, no doubt where he’d been sitting before, leaving him in an off colour white T-shirt. His blond locks nearly brushed his shoulders, and while not as wild as Tweek’s, still messy in its own way.
“What were you two doing anyway?” Craig asks as they start cleaning, “before your impromptu pastry war.”
“We were making sugar cookies for home economics, but Kenny’s possum changed the oven setting.”
“Mr. Possy said sorry,” Kenny whined, “he didn’t mean to do it.”
“He ate a burnt cookie and high tailed it out the window, how is that an apology?” Tweek rolled his eyes as it twitched.
Craig snorts, while they had broken up, they were still the best of friends. Stan found it so irritating and that made it so much more satisfying. He picks up a broom, and starts sweeping.
~
Kenny had been out of school for a week before Craig attended his funeral. Even dead his clothes remained the same, his hair neatly brushed and his head sown back so neatly it could’ve been a regular scar. He looks like he’s sleeping. Isn’t he? Outside of watching the brutal demise, this was the worst part. The times the rats didn’t drag his cadaver away and eat his flesh. The times when he had to witness Karen ball her eyes out clutching Mr. Possy, watch Kevin stare at Kenny with empty eyes filled with tears, see the remorse Stan and Kyle held for not staying friends. They close the casket and march it towards a grave. He doesn’t follow, he feels sick.
He returns before the weekend is even over. He’s in his car picking up Tricia and Karen to take to their house, because they have a project to work on. As he passes the cemetery he sees him, an orange blob behind the fence surrounding the graveyard. He drops the pair off at his house and tells his mom that he’s going to hang out with some friends. He drives back to the cemetery and walks in hoping that he didn’t imagine Kenny. Behind the cemetery there’s a trail of footprints that leads into the forest, he follows it knowing that’s where he went. There he sits, on a grave stone surrounded by over a dozen others, playing on a golden playstation portable and talking to himself.
“And it’s totally stupid! He dislikes me on good days and hates me on bad ones.” He’s aggressively pressing the buttons. Craig’s boots cruch under the snow and he looks up.
“What are you doing here?” Ciaig asks as game over music emanates from the PSP.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he says then shrugs “mourning I guess.” Craig walks up to Kenny and finally gets a look at the grave he’s sat on: ‘Kenneth Mccormick. sleep well, little child, the Lord hold thee now.’ His eyes dart to the others, they’re all his.
“You should go home, I don’t think you’ll forget otherwise.”
“I won’t forget regardless.” Kenny looks up at that a question in his eyes
“W-what are you talking about?”
“I don’t forget you dying like everyone else,” he sits at the grave and leans against it looking at him. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s excruciating.”
“I’m sorry.” He looks ready to cry so he tries to change the subject, “where’d you get a golden PSP anyways?”
“It’s not golden, it’s holy.” he says affronted and Craig snorts. “An archangel gave it to me as a gift for being haven’s Keanu Reeves.”
It’s late when Craig drives Kenny back to his house, they sat and talked about the weirdest thing that happened and the oddest deaths he had till the sun went down.
“Thank you Craig.” Kenny said as he swung the door of the car open.
“For what I didn’t do anything.” He turns around and pecks him on the cheek.
“You remember and that’s enough.”
~ End