I grab one of the CD's off the shelf, a remix track. 'Best of 2004' was written on the case in faded black marker. I put it on the radio and sat on the couch. The disk started to play, but I was barely listening, only using it as background music. I turned on the TV and watched Red Racer because it was the first thing on.
I eventually got hungry and headed downstairs to grab something to eat.
"Hey Tweek, do you need something?" Karen asked me looking up from her newspaper.
"I'm just looking for something to eat," I say, reaching the bottom of the steps.
She nodded, "Help yourself, just don't touch the chocolate on the top shelf, okay?"
I nodded and headed into the kitchen. I looked around and simply grabbed an apple from a bowl by the fridge, taking a large bite from it. It tasted weird, so I threw it away.
I was about halfway up the stairs when there was a loud knock on the door. I stood there and turned around to see who was there. I crouched down, making it harder for them to see me when they walk in, as Karen went and opened the door.
"Craig! Laura! Come on in," she said, moving to the side.
A tall blonde lady walked in wearing a green dress with white polka dots. She looked really pretty, in my opinion. Her hair was perfectly straight but gently swayed along with her as she moved and her piercing aqua green eye stood out compared to her pale skin.
Her smile was kind but strict and she had an annoyed vibe from her but it was also very kind. I'm assuming she was annoyed by the boy who followed in behind. No doubt about it, he was the boy from earlier. He didn't look much like his mother. His eyes were bluer than hers, like sapphires and he had the same blue chullo hat as the boy on the ground and he had a scowl on his face that scared me. His vibe was different than his look. His look made him look annoyed and threatening, but his vibe was scared and lonely.
"I don't understand why I need a babysitter! I'm 15 and a half!" he whinnied.
"Craig, just be good," the lady, I'm assuming Laura, said putting her hand on his shoulder.
He shook it off and sat on the couch.
"Oh, before you go, I want you to meet someone," Karen said, walking towards the stairs. I ran up them quickly, not wanting her to know I was spying on them.
"Tweek! Can you come down for a minute? I want you to meet some people!" she half shouted.
I sighed, "Yeah! B-be right t-there Karen!" I said, fixing my hair a bit. If I have to meet them I might as well try and make a good first impression.
I quickly run down the stairs. "Laura, this is Tweek." I looked at her and straightened my posture as she scanned me. At first, her expression was blank and I became stiff and nervous.
"He is adorable!" she exclaimed, smiling widely. A wave of relief and embarrassment washed over me.
"He's, what, 15 or 16?" she asked Karen. I swear she is acting as if I'm their new puppy or something.
"15" I sighed, crossing my arms.
"So I don't only have to stay here, but I have to deal with another kid?" Craig asked, getting up from the couch.
I rolled my eyes, "You won't h-have to deal with me," I said annoyed. He turned to look at me. He was a couple of inches taller than me, meaning he had to look down. He seemed to have been scanning me as I crossed my arms.
"So... he is the foster?" he asked pointing to me.
Karen nodded. I already know this is going to be a long year. 'If you stay that long' I thought.
"Well, it was nice meeting you... um, Is it Mrs. or Ms.?" I ask, looking at Craig's mom.
"Oh, you can just call me Laura, sweetie," she said sweetly.
I nod. "Well it was nice meeting you, Laura, but I have some stuff to unpack upstairs. So I'll just be heading up to my room." I say, gesturing upstairs.
"It was nice to meet you, too, Tweek." She smiled.
I slightly smiled back and headed back up to my room.
My suitcase was already up there, but I barely had anything. Some clothes and a small box of stuff from my old friends from before my mom had passed and some stuff from my mom.
I went ahead and quickly put some stuff in the closest, and I put the box under the pillow on the bed. I sat on the desk and thought while listing to music.
(Time skip dinner)
"Tweek dinner is ready! Do you want to eat down here with us, or would you rather eat up there?" Karen called from downstairs.
"I'll eat with you guys if that's ok!" I shout down towards here, kinda annoyed.
She shouted something back, but I wasn't paying attention.
I stand up out of the chair and stretch. I take my earbuds out and turn off the music. I look at the clock on the desk, 6:25 pm. Too early, but I haven't eaten since that apple which was about 4 hours ago, so I'm pretty hungry.
I head down the stairs to the dining room where Karen was putting plates down. The smell of pasta and alfredo sauce filled the air.
"Hey sweetie, We are just about ready to eat," she said, looking up from the table.
I nod. "D-do you need any help?" I ask, slightly stuttering.
She smiled, "Thanks, but I'm good. All I have to do is finish plating and then we are gonna be done," she said sweetly. I nodded.
I looked around and realized I couldn't find Craig. It slightly worried me, since it's obvious he doesn't like me. He could jump out at any minute and kill me, or rape me, or jump me, or fucking knock me out so they can tie me up and then drag me into the cupboard under the stairs and force me to do unspeakable things and stay silent.
I walk towards the living room, and he was asleep on the couch.
He seemed calm for the first time today. I rolled my eyes and turned off the TV which was blasting red racer through the house.
"Boys! Dinner is ready!" I heard Karen shout from the dining room. I sighed and went to the dining room, leaving Craig on the couch.
I sat down across the empty seat that was next to Karen. I stared at the food, chicken alfredo. It's honestly one of my favorites, but for some reason, I'm not hungry anymore.
"Where's Craig?" I heard Karen ask.
I shrug. "Sleeping on the c-couch, I think," I say, looking up from my food.
"Could you get him for me? I don't want to have him complaining later about how he didn't eat and he slept through dinner," she sighed.
I nodded and went to the living room to get Craig.
He was laying on the couch peacefully. His hat was on the floor and one of his arms was hanging off the couch.
"C-Craig?" I stuttered quietly in fear he may hit me for waking him up. He slightly groaned and made a gesture with his hand for me to go.
I sigh and look at him, then at his hat.
"C-Craig, dinners ready," I say slightly shaking his shoulder.
"I don't care," he groaned and put one of the green pillows over his head.
"C' mon Craig... g-get up," I asked, bending down so if he opened his eyes we'd be eye to eye.
He shook his head and grunted. I nodded and headed into the dining room in silence.
"K-Karen he won't get up... C-can I see if he'll eat out there? I-I'll help c-clean up and -"
"Its fine Tweek, but yeah, if you could help clean up after you guys are done in there that would be great," she interrupted.
I smiled and nodded before grabbing his plate and walking back into the living room.
"C-Craig?" I said, hoping he was still awake. "C-Can you sit up pl-please?"
He grunted, "Go away Twink. I told you I'm not leaving the couch."
I nudged him a bit and bent down once again. "Y-you can j-just eat out here. J-just sit up partially s-so you don't ch-choke."
He said a muffled 'fine' and started sitting up a bit, struggling because his arms are numb I'm assuming.
I set the plate on the coffee table and helped him sit up. Once he was up I grabbed the hat that was on the ground and held it out to him.
"Thanks, I guess...," he muttered, taking the hat and quickly putting it on his head.
I nodded and handed him his plate, "D-do you want anything else?" He looked at me questionably but simply replied with a 'no' so I left back to the table.