Chapter 2 – Free Day And The Poison

The next day was Saturday so we had a whole day to ourselves. Stan insisted that I go along with him to football practice later that day and I agreed all too happily. He seemed like he was going to burst with joy as I replied and it probably wasn't a good idea for me to answer while he was still on the stairs. He lost his footing and I grabbed his arm to keep him stood up.

"Thanks Ken." He said as he straightened up. I was reluctant to let go of his arm and I pulled him back and picked him up. "H-h-hey!" Stan protested as his face going a soft pink as I started walking downstairs. I put him down when I reached the bottom of the stairs. "Bastard." Stan complained.

"Language Stanley!" His mum, Sharon, shouted from the kitchen. I laughed at him as his face went red and walked with him towards the kitchen. Stan shook his head at his mum as he sat down at the breakfast bar, gesturing for me to sit down next to him. I sat down next to him as his mum placed some cereal on the counter in front of us. "So what's on the agenda today boys?" Sharon asked. Sharon Marsh was a nice woman,I didn't see why Stan wouldn't tell her about us. I understood that Randy would freak, his dad was exactly like my dad, but his mum seemed better then that.

"We're going to football practice and Kyle's invited us to sleep tonight." Stan replied calmly. I watched him as I ate, the way he talked was fascinating it always had been to me. His lips parted fully when he talked and the little things he did, like brushing his hair behind his ear to nodding every time the other person started saying something, meant if I walked into a room and saw from the back someone who looked like Stan I'd know instantly whether it was him or not.

"Kenny's sleeping at Kyles as well?" His mum picked up on the Kyle's invited us to sleep tonight and I nodded. I never spent the night in my house, I was either at Stan's, Kyle's, Craig's, as strange as it may sound Bebe's or I was in Hell which meant spending the night with Damien and Pip fucking right next door. "Hmm." Sharon said quietly to herself. "Stanley, me and your father are going out later, and we won't be back till late tomorrow night. So take your key with you when you go to practice cause Shelly's staying with Trent until next Tuesday."

"I will mum." Stan said as he stood up to put his bowl in the sink. I think he would of sat down again if he hadn't seen my empty bowl, but he did which meant that he picked my bowl up and put it into the sink. I nodded my head at him, I never talked around his parents, or anyone's for that matter. Sharon smiled at her son as he walked past her to go back upstairs. Stan smiled back, it wasn't the smile that I got but it was like the one he gave Kyle. "You coming Kenny?" He asked, his tone friendly enough so that she wouldn't get suspicious and check on us. I nodded slowly, wondering what he had planned, and stood up to follow him. Sharon held one finger up as I got near the stairs and waited until Stan had gone into his room. I raised my eyebrows, a look of confusion on my face.

"RANDY! GET UP NOW! WE'VE GOT TO LEAVE SOON!" Sharon shouted up the stairs. There was a thud and I took it that Randy had fallen out of bed. "You can go now Kenny." I smiled and walked up the stairs. Once at the top of the stairs I tried to open Stan's door, sighing when I found it locked.

"Stan!" I said. I heard him run towards the door then a faint 'ouch'. "You better not have ran into that door." I added as I tried not to laugh.

"No. I fell." That did it for me, I started to laugh.

"What did you fall over?" I contained my laughter to ask one simple question.

"...."

"Was it something stupid?"

"It was my pillow." I could practically hear he was blushing in his voice and it made me laugh more.

"Your pillow?" I asked like it was impossible to fall over a pillow.

"Do you want letting in or not?"

"Answer my question first."

"The one that you used was on the middle of the floor and I didn't see it." Stan muttered as he opened the door. I was right about him blushing, his face was absolutely red. He yanked me through into his room, locking the door behind me.

"Don't I have to answer your question?" I asked cheekily. Stan shook his head as he started to get changed. I smiled innocently at the sight of him getting changed before I walked over to his stereo and pressed the open button. "Almost Alice. Really Stan?" I asked. Stan turned around at my voice, his skinny jeans half-on-half-off.

"Don't knock it. Alex Gaskarth sings on it." Stan said as he pulled his jeans up properly. "Put- No never mind I'll do it." He walked over to me and gently pushed me out of the way. I stood behind him instead and wrapped my arms around him. I watched as he pressed four buttons on the stereo till the LED display showed The Poison – All-American Rejects, the word RANDOM in the cornerand an acoustic song started playing. Stan didn't make any attempt to move my hands, he just leant back into me instead.

You were so young, and I guess I'm old. Open your eyes and I keep mine closed. I prefer standing and you take your seat. I'll be wide awake, you'll be asleep. And you fall down a hole. That's the one place that we both know. You'd take me with you if you could but I wouldn't go.

Stan smiled up at me as the lyrics filled the room. I smiled back down at him and swayed to the beat of the music. He started to turn around in my arms and I let go before enveloping him into a hug. We both swayed the two of us quite happy in our little embrace.

"Did it hurt when you died?" Stan asked quietly into my ear.

"Not really. What made you decided to ask that now?"

"This song is about the Mad Hatter and Alice. And in a way its about Death." Stan explained quietly.

You'll be the poison. You'll be the cure.

I stopped swaying as the song said that. Stan looked up at me curiously and I shook my head quickly. Stan leant behind him and paused the song.

"What's the matter Kenny?" Stan asked quietly, panic clear in his voice.

"N-n-nothing." I stammered out. I could feel that my eyes were wide with shock and I couldn't get them to close, if they didn't close soon I just knew I'd start crying. I think there must have been some tears in the corner of my eyes because Stan lent up and wiped my cheek.

"I can turn the song over if you want." He said quietly. I just nodded, I was too scared to speak. I let go of Stan so he could turn the song over, Stan turned the volume dial down and pressed next. The LED display came up with Tea Party – Kerli and he pressed play. Tea Party started with a flute then turned into a bass-filled song that reminded me of 3OH!3. Tea Party didn't blare out as loud as The Poison had so it gave me time to think.

Welcome to the Tea Party. Want to be my VIP? You didn't RSVP. That's ok That's ok. Welcome to the Tea Party. Oh Oh. Want to be my VIP? Hear me shout. Tip me over and pour it out.

"That better?" Stan asked when the song started. I nodded still in shock after what The Poison had said. "Do you want to talk about it?" He continued as he took my hand and walked to his bed with me. I shook my head as we sat on the bed together, he didn't need to know what Damien had told me about my death-date. I heard Stan sigh as he rested his head on my legs and I looked down at him, he should know by now that I don't like telling people things unless it's absolutely necessary. I started stroking his raven hair that he hadn't brushed yet and succeeded in making it more messy.

"When are you going to tell your parents about us?" I asked curiously. He looked up at me and shook his head.

"I'm not telling them." He replied stubbornly.

"Stan. It's been three months. I'd understand if it was weeks but it's not." Stan pouted at me and I shook my head, I meant it this time. "Fine. I'll ask another question. What would you do if I died for good?" I almost didn't want to know the answer to this, but I'd rather know now then find out when I'd actually died and have Damien tell me.

"I-I-I'd die Kenny..." Stan whispered before curling himself up against me. I patted his hair gently and pulled him closer. Stan lifted his head as Tea Party finished and looked over at the LED display. "What does it say Kenny?" He asked when he realised he couldn't see it because he hadn't put his contacts in or put his glasses on.

"Painting Flowers by All Time Low." I replied gently. "Alex Gaskarth's band right?" Stan smiled when he heard the band name and sat up next to me. I looked at him closely and saw tears in his eyes. "Aw love. Don't cry on me! You know I'm not good with crying people." I pretended to groan as I wiped his tears away. I got a nervous laugh from him as he stood up and walked over to his desk. I watched as he pulled his over-worn All Time Low shirt on and put his midnight blue glasses on.

"When I wake up the dream isn't done. I wanna see your face and know I made it home. If nothing is true. What more can I do? I am still painting flowers for you." Stan sang in perfect tune with the music as he turned to face me. If I hadn't seen him the minute he woke up I'd would of said that there was nothing sexier then him now. "Kenny are you getting changed?" He asked nervously. I nodded and half-watched him as he watched me get changed. I'd opted for simple clothes, like Stan I had thrown on skinny jeans, only mine had rips, and I had my old Blink-182 shirt that my brother, Kevin, had given me. "Didn't Shelly give Kevin that top?" Stan asked as I laced my battered converse up.

"Yeah. Strange to think our siblings went out isn't it?"

"Yeah. Now come on lets go before Cartman rings to ask where the fuck I am."