Prologue - School

„Kyle... Kyle! Kyle! ... God damnit fucking JEW!"

„Fuck you Cartman!" Kyle snapped back at him, annoyed.

„Don't you snap at me, I called you three fucking times! Seriously..." Cartman opposed and angrily dug fork in the food in front of him.

Oh. „Whatever..." Was he spacing out again? Probably yes. It became a thing since Stan wasn't with them anymore. „What did you want anyway?" he asks Cartman afterwards.

„Nuthin... just wanted to know if you still want that meat..." he pointed at Kyle's plate.

Kyle's eyebrows furrow with even greater annoyance. „Fuck you Cartman..." He grabs his school bag and leaves the table, saying a brief 'hi' to Kenny and leaving them alone.

„Sweet~" Cartman smirks and takes Kyle's leftovers while Kenny just laughs at the whole situation.

Kyle was walking down the street to the bus stop, kicking every stone that came in his way. He should definitely do something about that spacing out thing; he was even getting in trouble during class. Sure, there certainly was one thing that could help: if Stan returned back to them, to him. He would have someone to talk to again and most importantly, he would have his best friend back. They were always best buddies so what the hell. Since Stan started hanging out with Craig and his gang he changed almost completely. It wasn't the Stan he knew, not at all.

It all happened a few months ago when Stan refused to go to Cartman's birthday party and never really explained why. Cartman didn't give much fuck back then, because Stan got him a present anyway and eventually even Kyle let it go, thinking that Stan is just not feeling well or something. It turned out that Stan went to Craig's party that was held at the same evening. Craig didn't even have his birthday, it was just a regular party, but Stan chose it anyway.

Kyle found out about it because he left Cartman's house earlier to go check up on Stan, worried if it's not something serious. His father answered the door and told him that Stan is over at Craig's. Kyle couldn't hide his genuine surprise, apologized for coming over so late and then just went home completely dumbfounded.

The next day at school he tried to talk to Stan about it, but it seemed like he was avoiding him. Leaving classroom right with the bell ringing, skipping lunch and going home by bike instead of taking the bus as the rest of them. Kenny and Cartman started to be suspicious about what's going on as well, expecting Kyle to know, but he just shrugged off each question.

It took him a few days to finally get to talk to him, because even coming to Stan's house was useless. He was always out, or at least instructed his parents to tell him so. He finally caught him one day after school when Kyle was on the way to his locker. Stan was long gone again and so the surprise was even bigger when they bumped into each other.

„S-sorry..." Stan said with a nervous smile „I just... forgot something, didn't think you're still gonna be here..." he tried to walk around him, but Kyle stepped in his way.

„Didn't think I'm gonna be here? Hello! Why are you avoiding me?!" he gave Stan a determined look, ready to even trip him to make him stay and fucking explain everything.

„I'm not... avoiding you ok? Just... I was really busy these past days you know. Couldn't hang out much."

„Too busy getting drunk with Craig huh...?" Kyle implied and Stan's bewildered face assured him that he was right.

„How do you-..."

„Oh please Stan! I'm your best friend, of course I'd know something like that!" He knew he was probably giving himself a bit too much credit, but Stan didn't have to know.

„So are you having more fun with them than us? Is Craig your best friend now after you got tired of me?" Kyle didn't know where this was coming from. He didn't want to say that and he definitely didn't want to be an asshole either. Of course Stan wouldn't betray him like that, they were best friends since elementary school after all. But still...

Stan's expression stiffened and suddenly Kyle started feeling insecure, he wanted to cry and he didn't know why.

„Yeah." Stan answered simply, but Kyle felt like he just stabbed him with a dagger. „I don't wanna hang out with you guys anymore. So stop wasting your time running after me."

Stan patted his shoulder and then walked past him and down the hallway, leaving Kyle there, all alone with his heart cracked in two.