A.N. This is the first chapter of a long Stan/Kyle story. If the story line seems familiar, then you and I should be best friends. This is based on "Bare: a pop musical." I have taken some creativity with it, and I plan on making the chapter titles the song titles from the show, though one song may be skipped here and there for plot reasons. Obviously the characters are not mine either, except for Mindi, they are the work of the amazing people behind South Park.

The boy walked into the high school with his messenger bag hanging by his side. With each graceful step the bag would bounce against his leg and he could feel his books pound together. It was the first day of senior year, the first day of a year of 'lasts.' He pushed his long red hair from his eyes and looked up towards the sign hanging above the freshman hall as he walked by; 'Don't Worry, Nothing Much has Changed.' The irony made him laugh, as if the change from middle to high school wouldn't be a big change for them, as if things in their lives wouldn't change now. Hell in the last three years everything had changed.

The start of the new school year always made Kyle think about his life, what all had happened over the summer and the years previous. He and his friends were so changed it wasn't even funny. As he approached his locker he thought of the biggest change that everyone in school knew, Cartman. The once horribly obese little boy was teased so badly in sixth grade by the eighth graders he went on a diet. Well, Kyle thought, more like his mother forced him on a diet for his mental health. Turned out Cartman wasn't big-boned in anyway. It took him until the beginning of Junior year but diets, fat camps, and exercise paid off for him. Cartman was almost hot, Kyle thought- hating himself a little for thinking the word. But it was true, Cartman grew taller without the extra weight holding him down. Now 6'1" he had muscle definition and a body to kill for. When his weight melted away so did some of his bitterness for the world around him as well. He's still an ass, just a popular hot sort of ass now. Kyle almost slammed his locker door shut in frustration with his own mind. Cartman had really found himself in high school. He had some of the best grades in school, though nothing in comparison to Kyle or Wendy's. But, much to Cartman's advantage he had learned some charisma over the last few years, people flocked to him; he joined clubs, was at every party, and never seemed to be alone. The whole school had notice Cartman, and Cartman certainly loves the attention, Kyle thought to himself.

When Kyle got to his homeroom no one else was there. Even the teacher had seemed to leave the room, but there was a note written in dry erase marker on the board. 'Kyle please take role for me if I'm not back in time, no excuses for being late, give them tardies –Mr. Richards.' Kyle smiled knowing he was so trusted by his educators, anytime a teacher or principal needed something they always went to Kyle. He picked up the eraser and got rid of the message before sitting in Mr. Richards's rolling chair in the front of the room. Kyle looked to the ceiling as he thought about the biggest change in his life, the secret nobody knew about. He smiled to himself at how good he was at keeping a secret he didn't even want to keep.

"Ky," Kyle heard Stan's voice call from the doorframe. Stan closed the classroom door and walk towards him, "how long have you been in here? I was looking for you."

"Sorry, I just came to set my stuff down by Mr. Richards left me a note and I'm taking roll so I have to be here before the bell. But I'll see you in twenty minutes in first hour."

"Yeah, unless you avoid me then too." Stan joked, but Kyle was always bad at picking up on his jokes.

"Hey, I'm not avoid-"

"Ky, I was joking. I'll see you soon."

Kyle made a goofy face at Stan. After so many years of being such great friends he assumed Stan knew not to joke with him. Before even two seconds went by Stan placed his hand under Kyle's chin and lifted his face to meet his. Then he planted a small kiss on Kyle's lips and without any other words left the room, re-propping the door open on his way out.

Kyle smiled again thinking of his secret, and how good he had been at holding all his emotions inside. Stan wasn't ready to tell people, in fact there were times that Stan didn't even seem the least bit gay. But they had been together since the end of freshman year. Nothing serious at first. Till the previous year they hadn't acted all that different around each other, it was only last year that they progressed to anything more than a light peck on the lips. Kyle still smiled though, because even though it was slow progress, even though no one else knew, he was Stan's and Stan was his.

*Stan shoved Kyle's head onto the pillows of his bed. He laughed as the boy's red curls flipped into all the wrong places. They were carefree just watching television. Stan still wore his hat and Kyle still wore his same jacket. They were both growing up though, both maturing. They'd be in high school in just six months. Kyle couldn't help but think the carefree days were going to be over soon.

"Stan do you ever think about growing up?"

Stan thought for a moment, "Well I guess so, I mean doesn't everybody?"

"But, have you thought about your future? Like where you want to be, who you want to be with. What do you think about?" Kyle asked with hesitation in his voice.

Stan didn't respond right away. Kyle assumed he was taking a moment to try and picture his future right then and there. Kyle had always been the one to think ahead. Stan lived in the moment, never worried about the years to come.

"Jeez, I guess I see myself out of South Park, anywhere, as long as it isn't South Park. I can't really say who I want to be with though, I haven't met a girl who I like that much. But I want you in my life, That's about all I know."

Kyle frowned a little, from thought not disappointment. He wondered if he should say something, he wondered what would be a safe thing to say. Suddenly wishing he lived in Stan's world, never worried about anything but the current moment.

"Will you always be there for me, dude? Like even if I do something really weird?"

Stan looked at him funny. It was the only answer Kyle would get, but they knew each other well. Kyle could tell Stan was just waiting for him to say what he would say. As Stan's face lightened its look Kyle took a deep breath. He was nervous, more nervous than ever before.

"Like what if I said, what if I said I had a secret that only you can know? A secret I only trust you with, not even my family, especially not my family can know."

"Dude, you know I will always be there for you. No matter what, you're my best friend."

Kyle paused, "Maybe not for long though. I'm gay, Stan. Not even like I think I'm gay. More of a I've known since I was twelve and accept it now sort of gay. But I'm not a dance around flamboyantly, or wear girl clothes gay, just like… I like guys gay."

Stan didn't know what to tell his friend. He didn't know what response to go with. Should he ask how Kyle could think they wouldn't be friend because of that. Should he say that he's known since they were twelve that Kyle was gay. Should he tell him that he is thrilled that Kyle would come out to him. As Stan thought the silence grew and before Stan knew it too much time had passed. Kyle had been waiting on something, and took Stan's silence as utter horror. Kyle grabbed his jacket from Stan's desk chair. As he made his way to the door Stan jumped up.

"Shit dude, sorry. I didn't realize I was thinking so long. Why would you even be that worried about how I would react? You're my best friend, Ky. And I love you as long as you don't date some idiot." Stan joked.

"What you think I'd be attracted to idiots?" Kyle was offended, he could see nothing worse than being attracted to an idiot; except maybe like Cartman.

"Dude, I was joking. We've really got to help you learn to understand a joke. I think most gay men will tell one, at least every once in a while. You had better be more prepared." Stan and Kyle both smiled at this, Kyle laughed slightly then hit Stan's head down towards the pillows on the bed before sitting back down on the foot of the bed.

"Thanks dude, for being there for me, and being a friend."*

The bell for homeroom brought Kyle out of his flashback daydream. He scrambled to write the names of the people who weren't in the class as of the bell, as well as the names of those not sitting in a chair. He knew Mr. Richards had strict instructions to be in a seat at the bell. Once Kyle finished his list he just set the piece of paper back onto Mr. Richards's desk and took a seat in a desk himself.

"Sorry you guys," Mr. Richards said as he entered the room and closed the door. "Okay let me read you the announcements from over break and for this week:

Over the summer Wendy T., twelfth grade, and Eric C., twelfth grade, both traveled to California to compete in a national debate which they received first place in. Oh, our very own Bebe traveled to the Midwest and helped build houses, what a great contribution Bebe. And Stanley M., twelfth grade was contacted by four colleges about sports scholarships. Those seem to be the only people that told the school what they did over the summer. If any of you, besides Bebe, have a good story you can share it in a few minutes. This week the school…" Kyle started to slowly drown out the sounds of the classroom.

*"Are you feeling okay, Stan?" Kyle asked his best friend with concern.

Stan just sighed. He had gone back into an emo phase. Kyle wasn't even sure what all to say to him, he just wanted him to put on a bright color and smile, or even just act alive. But Stan just sat in his room staring at the pictures on the wall.

"Okay dude, I'm taking these down. You can't come into your room and see these every day, it's just depressing."

Kyle walked over to Stan's walls and started removing photos. There was one large frame that held four photos in it. Each picture was of Stan and Wendy, in one Stan was kissing her forehead while she smiled, in another they both were laughing, one was just a nice smile while they hugged each other, and they last picture both of them held up one hand and together they formed a heart shape in front of them. Kyle stopped to look at the picture, sadness overtook his heart. With each picture he took off the wall there was a darker feeling in his chest.

"Kyle I just don't understand. I was perfect for her. I'm on JV football as a freshman, I'm third baseman once baseball starts up, I have beat all of the school swimming records, hell I even rocked at golf when I did that. Why would she dump me? It's almost Christmas, do you think she just doesn't want to be together over the holidays, maybe she'll come back."

Trying to ignore Stan's words Kyle just continued removing pictures from the walls. He put them all in a pile by the bedroom door so he wouldn't forget to take them on his way out.

"Stan, you know I love you, like in a friend way. But I think you could do so much better than Wendy. Any girl who is going to dump you for the reasons she did is just horrible. You shouldn't want to be back together with her. You should be glad she's not around anymore. Stan, you have someone here for you who will always be here for you. Me, I will always be here. Hell Stan, I'd be a better girlfriend at this point."*

"Kyle-boy." The voice rang out in Kyle's ears. He jumped slightly staring at the blonde standing next to his desk. "You planning on going to first hour, or are you just so happy with homeroom you want to stay here forever?"

"Shut up Ken, you are smart enough to know I just spaced out. Why would I stay in homeroom when I could go to a class where I'll truly learn something?"

As Kyle grabbed his bag Kenny started talking to him. They left the room together and walked towards their first hours. Kyle didn't catch much of what Kenny was talking about. They turned into the senior hall and Kyle said his goodbye and shifted towards his locker. Kenny was about to walk away when-

"Kenneth!" it was a shrill voice, harsh and totally earth shattering. "Are you coming over tonight?"

Kenny grabbed the girl's hands. Her name was Mindi, she was a Junior but she had barely been moved up. Kyle had tutored her a lot for a while, and helped make sure she was on the right track. Then he made the horrible mistake of introducing her to Kenny. Within a few months Kyle's tutoring sessions turned into he was homeschooling her because she was too pregnant to go to school. Kenny was stepping up though, or trying to.

"I'm supposed to work at six. Can I come over before then, I'll stop by after too if that's all right. It's not like I'm avoiding, or skipping out Mind, I'm trying to get money to support Ken."

"Fine Kenneth, I'll pick you up outside of school. Don't take a long time talking to your friends, the sooner I pick him up the less money it costs me. And the more time he'll actually see you. Hey Kyle," she said acknowledging that Kyle was anywhere near them. "it's nice to see you. I'm still passing math, I'll let you know if that changes though. See you after school Kenneth, bye Kyle."

Kyle just laughed, "What did I always tell you Ken?"

"Use a condom, and not one that's been in your pocket since we were nine."

Kyle nodded. He patted Kenny on his back before turned away from the senior hall with his books and heading to his next class. Kyle waved bye to Kenny and walked away without much else. He was proud of Ken really. Kyle had watched him fight for rights to help out and see his kid. Hell for the first time ever Kenny went out and got a job. My friends Kyle thought have changed a fucking lot since middle school.

On the way to his first class Kyle passed Stan's locker, located in the sophomore hall- a wonderful placement for kids who have mostly sports classes. Stan was by his locker with Wendy and Bebe, Kyle could see Wendy rolling her eyes as Bebe handed Stan a piece of paper. Stan was smiling leaning against his locker towards them, yet he managed to turn and lock eyes with Kyle for a moment. Kyle smiled thinking how Stan could always sense him being around.

"Hey fag." Kyle's eyes widened and his head turned quickly to the voice. Even being familiar with the deep boy's voice Kyle still worried, maybe he stared to long or maybe he had made some loving face. "So you know how I have to pass P.E. to graduate, well they are doing a section on swimming. I don't know any proper swimming shit, so all of us should go to the indoor pool and your little boyfriend can teach a few basics, I want to go in looking smarter than the other idiots."

"Whatever Nazi, it's all up to them. I'll go wherever. Just talk to Stan, if you can pry him away from Bebe." Kyle added the last bit hoping Cartman would stop with the boyfriend jokes so no one would find out for real.

Cartman just nodded, Kyle assumed he meant he'd talk to Stan about it. Kyle walked into his class and it felt like all eyes were on him. Maybe it was because Cartman had loudly called him a fag just feet away from the room. Maybe he just had something in his teeth, that doesn't even make sense I'm not showing my teeth. Kyle started towards his desk and sat down in the same spot as usual. Stan soon followed in, the paper from Bebe still in his hands. He passed Kyle and gave him a playful punch in the arm before sitting behind him in the desks.

"We just got invited to a party later on. Bebe's parents are going out of town after Christmas. She's keeping it small, but it's going to be crazy. She says that she and Wendy have already been planning for like a week. Should be pretty good."

"By, we got invited, do you mean you got invited. But then realized they weren't planning on inviting me per say and invited me yourself?"

"However you want to look at it. Point is, our year is set."

Kyle laughed slightly, doubting their year was set because of a party that wouldn't take place for months. But Stan's excitement grew on him and he smiled. It was hard to see the bad side of things with Stan there to push him to the positive. Kyle had already known Stan's year was set, but he figured it wouldn't kill him to attend one social gathering to try and seem like a normal kid for a while.

"Maybe you're right. I know I've enjoyed the year so far." Kyle said winking at Stan. In one hour they had already made out outside of school, and then kissed in school. It was looking like a good year.

A.N. So there it is, the first chapter. I would love for people to R&R. I am really excited for this story!