Hello, readers. For those of you who know me, no, I'm not dead, and I haven't stopped writing. I am, however, up to my neck in college exams and other stuff, so writing has been difficult at best. For those of you who don't know me, I recommend you read the section in my profile explaining my writing style a bit; specifically, punctuation. You may also want to check out some of my other works.

As always, reviews are appreciated.


Kenny stood at the school gate, waiting for Kyle to show up. It was after PE, so it'd be a while. Kyle was very self-conscious, unwilling to shower at the same time as anyone else. When almost everyone else had already left the school entirely, he finally showed up. Kenny didn't say anything about his delay; instead, Kyle asked why Kenny was still around.

"Aren't you usually the first to get home?"
"Yeah, but... I wanted to ask you something."
"What?"
"I was just wondering... You wanna... y'know, today?" Kenny asked.
"What are you... Oh, that! I guess... but what about the others? At the very least, we need Butters."
"Butters is meeting us there. Let's just do our thing, and we can worry about the others later."
"I don't know..."
"Come on, Kyle, please?"
"...But what do we tell the others?"
"They're the ones who are always too 'busy' to play. It's not our fault."
"Fine, fine... Can I drop my stuff off, or is he there already?"
"He went to leave his stuff at his house. Drop yours at your house, and meet me at my place after you do."
"Alright."
"You'd better hurry. Butters'll be there in a few minutes."
"Butters? Yeah, right." Kyle laughed. "I'll meet you there."
"Alright." Kenny replied.

Kyle waved Kenny goodbye, quickly heading for his house. Kyle felt he had to do it now, to tell Kenny how he felt. He'd been wanting to do it for months, but he never felt strong enough. However, just being around Kenny was intoxicating. Every time Kenny leaned in just a fraction of an inch closer, Kyle struggled to keep his impulses under control.

«If I don't do it today...» Kyle thought. «I have to do it today.»


Kenny paced around in his room incessantly, expecting Kyle to show up before Butters. His heart pounded in his chest from anticipation, speeding up with each passing moment, until someone rang his doorbell.

"I'll get it!"

Kenny made it to the front door in record time, trying to steady his breathing as he opened it. Kyle had finally arrived, accompanied by Butters. Kenny warmly greeted the pair and invited them into his room. While Kyle set up the board, Butters used the bathroom, leaving Kenny some time to do what he wanted.

"H-Hey, Kenny?"
"Yeah?"
"I-I've just... Um... How long, um... I-I mean..."

Kenny was intently focused on his notes, to get himself into character, so he didn't notice Kyle's stuttering or hesitation. Kyle finally got himself under control and said what he wanted.

"Kenny, I-I... Y-You're my best friend. Y-You know that, right?"

Kenny dropped his notes almost immediately. He stared at Kyle for a while, frightening him somewhat.

"A-Are you dying?" Kenny asked frantically.
"What?"
"You never talk like that. Are you sick?"

Kenny placed his hand on Kyle's forehead before he could react.

"No!" Kyle retorted while he removed Kenny's hand. "I-I just... Look, lately, I..."

Kyle unconsciously held on to Kenny's hand, much to the latter's discomfort. However, he didn't move away. Kyle was shaking, which just made him more concerned. Even when Kyle started crying from sheer nervousness, Kenny remained still. He had no idea what was wrong with Kyle, and he wasn't good with people to begin with. He didn't know if he should hug Kyle, or hold his hand, or even just pat his back. He felt awkward and dumb, like he always did. After considerable thinking, he decided the best thing was just to ask.

"What's wrong?"

Kyle opened his mouth several times as if trying to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. Finally, ignoring his pounding heart and his shaking hands, Kyle summoned his willpower to say what he wanted. He wiped away his tears, tightening his grip on Kenny's hand for support.

"K-Kenny, I-I... I l-"
"Sorry I took so long." Butters said. "Are you guys ready to..."

Butters suddenly appeared wearing his over-the-top "Game Master" outfit – a minor redesign of his Professor Chaos persona – and stared in stunned silence at the scene in front of him. Kyle was practically crushing Kenny's hand, while Kenny stared at Butters, silently pleading for assistance. Much to Kenny's surprise, Butters slowly backed away, leaving the duo alone.
Kyle's pulse was racing so much, Kenny could feel it in his hands. With a knot in his throat, Kyle finally said what he wanted to.

"...I-I like you, Kenny. A lot. A-And I just... I-I... can't..."

Kyle's voice became lower, then drifted off into incomprehensible mumbling. Kenny finally managed to free his hand and massaged it to relieve the pain.

"...Is that all?" Kenny asked.

Kyle didn't dare look up at Kenny's face. He assumed Kenny was angry at him, and he wanted nothing more than to take everything back and leave. However, Kenny slowly got up, told Butters to go home, and closed his bedroom door. Kyle knew he could still leave if he wanted to, but he didn't have the energy to do it.

"Um... Kyle? You want something to drink?"

Kyle yanked the beverage from Kenny's hand without a word. When he actually looked at it, Kenny apologized.

"Sorry, I only have beer. I-If you want, I can-"

Kyle downed the entire can before Kenny could even finish his sentence. He didn't seem the least bit fazed by it, much to Kenny's amazement.

"...OK then."

Kenny took a small sip and sat down next to Kyle. He was shivering, so Kenny moved in closer.

"Kyle, um... a-are you alright?"

Kyle nodded slightly, but Kenny wasn't sure if he was just shivering. Cautiously optimistic, Kenny placed his hand on Kyle's shoulder, but he immediately recoiled out of fear.

"...I'm not angry, Kyle."

Kenny tried his best to soothe Kyle by lowering his voice. Kyle was still too nervous, so Kenny handed him another beer.

«If this doesn't work, I don't know what will.»


After waiting a few minutes in silence for the alcohol to kick in, Kenny placed his hand on Kyle's shoulder again. It was just beer, but Kyle had never drunk anything in his life, so he was very susceptible to its effects. This time, he simply blushed, rather than pull away, and his shivering had stopped almost completely.

"Kyle, um... I-I don't know... if we're right for each other, but... I-I mean, what would your mom say?"
"I think she- Wait, a-are you saying y-you want to..."
"...I don't know what I'm saying. But I know what I feel."

Kenny relocated his hand, from Kyle's shoulder to his cheek. Within seconds, Kyle's face almost matched his hair color.

"A-A-And what do you f-feel?" Kyle stuttered.

Kenny didn't answer him. He wasn't good with words. His head was fuzzy from the situation, and everything he came up with to explain his feelings sounded wrong. He decided to do the one thing that made sense. He leaned in for a quick kiss that sent Kyle's brain flying out the window. Kyle mumbled incoherently, getting redder with each passing moment. Kenny was blushing too, but nowhere near as much. He had a warm smile on his face, yet his eyes showed concern and even sadness. He knew the people of South Park would never accept their relationship, assuming it even became anything serious. Even if it got serious, he wasn't lying when he said they weren't right for each other. Deep down, Kyle agreed, but he also believed they could make it work.


Kenny was afraid he'd say something stupid, so he waited patiently for Kyle to regain his composure and say something himself.

"...Can I get another beer?" Kyle asked.
"Y-Yeah, sure."

Kenny didn't expect Kyle would actually ask for more alcohol, but he fulfilled his request without delay. Kyle opened his mouth between sips as if to speak, leaving Kenny somewhat on edge about what he wanted.

"...I don't get why you drink beer." Kyle said before taking another sip. "Tastes terrible."

Kenny instinctively tried to take Kyle's beer, but he held on to it.

"So why are you drinking it?" Kenny asked in confusion.
"...I don't know. Don't tell my mom, alright?"
"Sure, Kyle."
"Thanks... She already thinks you're a bad influence. She'd probably keep me from seeing you again."

Kenny smiled for a bit, before something popped to his mind.

"D-Do... Do you think I'm a bad influence?"
"Well, you did get me to start drinking, so maybe she's got a point." Kyle laughed. "Truth be told, I think you're amazing. You're sweet, and caring, and... and I think I'm drunk." he chuckled.
"...Yeah, definitely." Kenny sighed.

Kyle took a big sip and placed his head on Kenny's shoulder.

«Three beers and you're already spilling everything... You really never touched it before, have you?»

Kenny saw Kyle reach for another beer, so he put them out of his reach.

"Hey!"
"You've had enough. I don't want you to drink half my stash and wake up with a hangover. Come on, I'll walk you home."
"...Maybe you're not such a bad influence after all." Kyle said, nuzzling against Kenny's shoulder.
"Yeah, say that again when you're sober." Kenny whispered to himself.

Kenny helped Kyle get back on his feet. He could still walk a straight line, so Kenny wasn't concerned his mom would find out he'd been drinking.

"Come on, let's go before your mom gets pissed."

Kenny led the way, glancing back every few seconds to make sure Kyle was following him and not taking another beer, but, much to his surprise, Kyle was sticking close to him.


Kenny was always checking his surroundings while he led Kyle home. He didn't want anyone to spot the two of them together – anyone with half a brain would realize Kyle had been drinking just by talking to him and figure out Kenny had been the one to do it.

"Kyle?"
"Yeah?"
"...Call me tomorrow, alright? Let me know how you're doing."
"Y-Yeah."

While crossing the street, Kyle saw a speeding car about to hit Kenny.

"Look out!"

Kenny stared at the approaching vehicle with disdain and familiarity. He'd gotten used to his regular deaths, so he didn't even try to get out of the way. However, Kyle freaked out. Before he knew it, he was pushing Kenny out of the way and got hit himself. Kenny was left with a few scrapes, but Kyle was severely injured. Kenny ran to his side, in tears, to find that he was still alive.

"Why did you do that!?"
"Y-You were... gonna be hurt."
"I'd just... Dammit, Kyle!"

The driver stopped several feet ahead and quickly helped Kenny to put Kyle in his car, to take him to the hospital.

"Y-Your friend just-"
"Shut the fuck up and drive! Try not to hit anyone this time!"
"I-I'm sorry..."
"K-Kenny... calm... down..."
"Kyle?!"
"What's wrong?"
"He passed out! Go!"

Kenny wanted nothing more than to throttle the driver, but his concern for Kyle was overriding his rage. When they finally got to the hospital, Kenny stayed by Kyle's side while he was carried away, praying he'd be alright.
Kyle was quickly taken to examination rooms, which forced Kenny to stay outside.

"Sir, you can't come in here."
"But Kyle-"
"Needs to be examined, and maybe operated. Stay here. There's nothing you can do for him in there."

Despite his protests, Kenny knew the technician was right. He stayed in the waiting room, where the driver attempted to apologize once again.

"Look, I'm sorry about-"
"Shut up. Just keep your damn mouth shut. I don't want to hear your excuses. He's hurt because of you. If he... If he dies... I'll kill you."

Kenny's threat didn't really faze the driver. He was already on edge about having run over a child. If he died, his life would be over. There was nothing Kenny could say that could make it worse.

"Hey, Kyle. How are you doing?"
"Kenny?" Kyle groaned. "Why is it so bright in here?"

About the only thing Kyle could clearly make out was Kenny, as everything else was blurry and bathed by a bright light. He focused only on Kenny, who seemed very relaxed, given the situation.

"It's just the drugs they've got you on... Listen, I need you to come with me."
"What? Why?"
"To make you better. Just take my hand."
"But... I can hear... someone..."
"It's just the medication. Take my hand."
"It sounds like-"
"Take my hand, Kyle." Kenny repeated insistently.
"Alright, alright... Just calm down."

Throughout the room, a monotonous beep echoed. Cold and indifferent, it announced what Kenny had feared most: Kyle was dead.