I'm Stan.

That's Kyle.

And we're fighting.

Four days ago, it was just a mindless day. I was perched on the side of some playground equipment, ice cream at hand listening to Wendy talk about her day. I didn't feel like playing football with the guys today. I breathed out a small sigh as she babbled on about some unknown whereabouts, based on a rumor going around the school. I looked up to hear the massive thunk that came from the football drilling into Kyle's forehead. He stumbled back a couple feet before doubling forward and grasping onto his forehead.

The boys crowded around and observed the Jewish kid releasing the grasp on his wound, taking the bloodstained gloves off into the snow. Token stepped forward, "Sorry dude! Are you ok?" He asked before being rudely pushed aside by what I assumed felt like being bumped by a bulldozer. Of course, I'm talking about Cartman.

"I told you Jews can't play sports!" Cartman barked angrily.

Kyle tensed his fists and threw his head up, revealing his face spilling with a small amount of blood. "SHUT UP CARTMAN!" He snapped in short-temperament.

I joined the crowd to make my way near him. "Dude, what happened?"

He began to state his case until Craig's statement stood out to me a little more than Kyle's. "I think he was checking you out." Craig pointed out.

Kyle crossed his arms quickly and sucked in his gut (for some odd reason) and stared sharp green daggers into Craig's oceanic eyes. "Don't be dumb, Craig." Kyle growled. Craig responded with a small gesture, using his favorite finger.

"Dude, I think I saw that." Clyde added on to support Craig coyly. The next thing I saw was Kyle's limp body flinging itself into the sheets of snow.

"Dude, he fainted!"

xxoxxoxx

"Well, Kyle, besides the injury, you fainted from a fever." the nurse turned to face the gigner, unborn fetus jiggling from the side of her slicked face and all, "Some bed rest and you'll be just fine!" she ended her analysis and exited the room as gracefully as she could, I slipped around her to enter in.

"Hey dude." I slid a chair over to me for a seat. The Jewish boy had a bandage stuck to his forehead and his signature green hat was set to the shelf behind him peacefully. He looked rather shocked I was here, his lips seemed distressed as they parted away from his small glass of water.

"Oh..Hey Stan." he silently greeted me, "What's up?"

"Not much. School's ending soon." I reached over to nervously work my hands about the back of my head, "You need a lift home?"

"Uh..Sure, thanks.."

"No problem."

"Does my mom know about the injury thing? She'll flip a tit."

"Nah, she doesn't."

Kyle closed his eyes and drew the glass of water to his face, a bit angsty from the thought of his mom grinding him into the gravel and suing the school board for every penny they got. "Thank God."

I knew it was a touchy subject right now, but I had to know. It was itching away at the back of my mind, and it forced its way to set upon my lips. "Hey Kyle?" Kyle's green eyes shifted over to stare into mine. It was kinda unsteady; the topic itself was a bit unsteady to begin with. "What Craig said before you fainted isn't true..right?"

Those eyes what were peicring at me a moment before were now fixed on the glass below his chin, round and awake, his pale narrow fingers fidgeting their grip on the glass. "I think my fever's getting worse.." he mumbled under his breath with anxiety. "N-No.." he replied to my question with a shake in his tone. Those grassy eyes closed in false confidence as he lifted his head to face me, a bright small smile cornered his hearty face, "Of course not, Stan! You're my best friend!" he assured me.

Kyle's face seemed tense, but no words were coming out. I know something was up but getting any answers from him didn't seem possible right now.

"Fine. I guess it doesn't matter anyways." I shrugged it off my shoulder with a false form of contentment. "I mean, it's not like you're actually gay or anything. And I'm no fag." I laughed it off, but looking at the worry set in Kyle's eye made me feel he was offended..? I think gears finally worked it all out in my head.

"Dude."

Kyle's face buried into his knees covered by a thin worn blanket. He muttered to me from his hiding place "I never said that. I never said anything! I just..Looked over and you j-just happened to be there."

I knew him since preschool, I believe now was the breakthrough where I could finally tell he was lying. "Dude, if you're.." I chocked on the words for some reason- I couldn't understand why.

"Stan, I can't believe you. Are you really buying in to what those two ass maggots say?" Kyle tried to convince me, but he was lying through his teeth. He was never a good liar.

Maybe this whole thing's bothering him more than it is me. Maybe.. There's a lot more behind both our words than we know about.

"If it was just that, you wouldn't be making such a big deal out of it. You never cared of what people thought of you, why are you having such a hard time now?"

Kyle's face froze to sudden shock. His fever was visible and the whole thing blew out of proportion. "I'm not having a hard time with anything. Why are YOU making such a big deal out of it?"

What he said made complete sense in a way. Why WAS I making a big deal out of it? Was something inside urging me to get an answer THAT badly? Not even curiosity seems to go that far. Usually, I stray from the danger that it may bring. That leads me to believe it was something under my skin that was itching for truth.

"..." The unknown tossing and turning under my skin forced a protective shield amongst me and my anxiety; my defense mode. This was trouble when Kyle has his up as well. We but heads and never seem to stop, even if we know we both have a right side and a wrong side. But we don't care, none of it matters now. This confusing sensation rattling beneath my very pores made me lash out as well as him.

"I'm not gay! I told you that! You're the one who's trying to squeeze an answer out of me! Maybe you're the gay one!"

That was it. All thoughts that could of made me believe it was my fault this was going on was dissolved, right into the pool of confusion that lied within me.

"I'm gay? No way! I'm not a fag! I'm not the one checking out my best friend!"

"Shut up! I wasn't checking you out! You may want to think I was but I wasn't you ass pirate!"

"Yea, well then what were you checking out, my girlfriend? Oh wait, if I really WAS an ass pirate, I wouldn't have one, just like YOU crack master!"

The insults went on, and finally the rage boiled through the soles of my feet and I raced up and blurted to his injured face.

"Find yourself another ride home, ass sucker. I've had enough of you."

"Fine! See if I care!" Kyle's arms swung out in expression of his angst, flinging off his hat that innocently rested on the shelf.

"Crap.." He muttered to himself. "Well to be a little decent, you can at least pick up my hat for me." He snapped at me. I wasn't sure if this was his way to get us to stop fighting or to get me close enough to punch in the face. My instincts were shoved into the way of a train of darkness, with no real known destination.

"Pick up your own stupid hat."

I stormed out the door with the awkward and misty silence following me like a shadow.

Maybe it was my shadow.

That ride home must've been awkward for Kyle. But my dislike due to our situation made barely even care.