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Craig’s never been one to out himself. In this case, he likes to think that maybe he isn’t.
All he’s doing is simply browsing the book selection at the ‘queer YA fiction’ table in Barnes & Noble. For all anybody knows, he’s a straight ally.
New York might be a blue state, but this is still Long Island, for God’s sake.
If the guys found out about this, they’d kick his ass. Maybe he should just stick to reading fantasy.
Before he can scram, another rising ninth grader walks up to the other side of the table.
Instinctively, Craig’s eyes narrow down to the first book he can find.
The book is called Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe.
“That’s a good one.” The other kid speaks up.
Face aflame, it makes Craig’s heart stutter to look him in the eye.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
This kid is familiar, and not just because he’s all too easy for Craig to look at.
Out of all the summer’s he’s been here, not one stranger’s face has stuck with him.
But this one does.
“What about that one?” He points to one on the other side of the table, directly below this other kid’s line of sight.
“Oh, that one?” The other kid scoffs. “Insanely overrated.”
Craig smiles. “A connoisseur.” He playfully observes.
“I’m Tweek.”
He’s what? Oh. Right. This is the part where they exchange names.
“Craig.”
“You make a decision?” Tweek’s eyes slant down to the books, and for a brief second Craig’s on autopilot.
“I’ll go with this.” He picks up the one Tweek recommended.
“Don’t let me dictate your narrative,” Tweek smiles.
“Nah, no. I’m—totally new to this genre, so, feel free to guide me in the right direction.”
“Well, it’s on me.” Tweek catches him utterly off guard.
“What?”
“I have a fifty dollar gift card I’ve been needing to use.”
“I can’t ask that of you.”
“See, that’s the thing. You aren’t.” Tweek’s cheeky smirk makes Craig feel like his mouth is melting.
He’s not getting out of this. Be it Tweek’s generous offer, or the endless fascination with him he’s been suckerpunched into.
•
Tweek had already chosen a book from a different section, which he casually mentions that Craig can read after him.
Standing with him outside the store with their books in separate bags, Craig’s still processing this information.
“That is if I can get through it.” Tweek adds with an awkward chuckle.
“Well,” Craig laughs nervously with a finger pointing in Tweek’s direction. “I’m paying, next time…”
“Yeah, when’s next time?” Tweek’s smirk is complacent.
“When-ever-you lend me that book.” Craig’s words stretch, and Tweek can’t stifle his smile.
“It’s not all that pride-themed, actually.” This is Tweek’s way of saying it isn’t a queer romance.
Back in the store, Craig had gotten a glimpse of the cover. Tweek’s book choice is called You’d Be Home By Now by Kathleen Glasgow.
The color is a shade of light green, the title being displayed in black crooked letters with O’s that are replaced with what looks something like prescription pills.
Craig’s almost too scared to ask what it’s about.
“You get here yourself?” Tweek is desperate for a change of subject.
“Yeah. I’m right around the block.” Craig points behind him.
“Tweeke. But,” Tweek follows suit. “That way…Do you need a walking buddy?”
For once, Craig doesn’t hesitate or overthink. Emphasis on think.
“Yes.”
•
Craig doesn’t really know the rules for bringing a boy into his house. He’s gonna have to invite him in first.
His Dad’s at a meeting. The walk over was full of casual conversations gone unfinished. So, why not?
“So, I’ll definitely text you.” Tweek says.
Right. They exchanged numbers on the way over.
“You should see my bookshelf.” Craig blurts.
Tweek appreciates the last ditch effort.
•
Unlike his room, Craig’s bookshelf is nice and organized.
“I can see why you’ve decided to branch out.” Tweek observes the stacked shelves of books that are anything but contemporary.
“Yeah, uh…You thirsty?” Craig’s head bobs in the direction of the mini fridge on his night side table.
“Sure. Soda? Any kind.” At least that’s the beverage of choice Tweek’s hoping would be in a messy teenage boy’s room.
He’s given a Sprite, instantly noticing that the drink Craig chose for himself isn’t a root beer, but a rather alcoholic one.
He watches it like it’s a ticking grenade, but before Craig can open his mouth, he hears a door open instead.
“Shit.” He whispers, and before he knows it, his Dad’s in the doorway, greeted with the sight of his son with a beer in his and a familiar figure next to him.
“Dad, this is Tweek. We met at the bookstore…”
The man’s face demands a talk in the kitchen.
•
“Where the hell did you get that.” He points to the can still gripped in Craig’s hand.
“Not from him.” That’s the last thing Craig needs him thinking.
“Of course not. Don’t you know who that is?”
Craig frowns.
“He’s Richard Tweak’s son. Tweek’s mother lost her life to substance abuse.”
Piecing together his name, Craig remembers where he’s once heard it before.
In passing, from the assholes he hangs with around here who set him up with the beer in the first place.
They made fun of his family. Called him a pussy. It was time he scrapped them anyway.
“Oh…” He looks at the beer in his hand.
Is this Tweek's kryptonite because he can’t resist it, or because it can’t resist tormenting him with insurmountable trauma?
“And he’s not the only one.” His Dad remarks, Craig looking over in bewilderment until it hits him.
“Our family?”
“Yes, Craig. I’m a recovering addict. Got clean before you were born. I go to AA meetings every week.”
“That’s what those are? I always thought you were talking about work.”
“We’ll discuss this more later. Just get rid of that booze.”
Having overheard everything, Tweek doesn’t know which is worse: that Craig knows he’s a basket case, or that his dad overcame what Tweek’s mother couldn’t.
With his head down, he quietly but noticeably shuffles through the kitchen and out the front exit.
Craig pours the beer down the sink drain and faces his dad.
“I’m gay, by the way.”
“In that case, keep your door open.”
Except he’s not going to have to if Tweek’s gone for good.
•
“Hey…” Tweek decided to stick around on the porch.
“Hi…” Craig looks at the empty beer can in his hand. “Uh, I didn’t drink this.”
“I figured,” Tweek chuckles, and Craig tosses it to the ground.
“Listen, so, I didn’t mean to freak you out.” Craig starts. “If I knew—“
“It’s okay. Not many people do unless they’re from around here.”
“Well, I’m only here every summer, so…”
“Yeah.” Tweek figured. “So, listen…I think we should quit while we’re ahead.”
“What?” Craig doesn’t understand.
Tweek gets through to him with a kiss to his cheek.
“Good luck with your dad.”
“Thanks…” Craig’s head spins.
Tweek makes his way down the porch steps.
“What about your book?” Craig asks.
“Keep it!” Tweek gives him one last look of self-assurance.
“It’s probably best that I don’t.” He adds, leaving Craig wondering why.
Because Craig won’t stand to watch him leave, Tweek’s smile is the last he sees of him.
•
Tweek moves out of New York two weeks later with what’s left of his family into a home not as broken.
By then, Craig read both books he purchased cover to cover, putting them front and center on his bookshelf and forever in his heart.
•
You’d Be Home Now turned out to be about a girl in high school grappling with her older brother’s addiction.
It was an intense, intimidating, and intriguing story that Craig read with both Tweek and his father in mind.
Half a decade later, Tweek returns to that Tweeke Long Island bookstore, timidly gazing at the spine of the book he had purposely left behind.
“That’s a good one.”
With those four familiar words, he’s reunited with the sight of the boy he had left with it.