A.N Thanks to all those who read the last chapter. I would like to point out that this Chapter exists as proof Im a liar. Haha no I felt the urge to write so I thought I would. Again please read and review. Im sure if you are a FF writer you know reviews can make the difference between an update in a few days and an update in a few weeks.
Chapter 2: School.
Stan had spent his Sunday with Kenny learning the new ropes for South Park. After the hard time he had being the new kid in sixth grade. Stan figured it would be better not to step on anyone's toes by assuming anything. He learnt quite a lot as he expected the outcasts notice more than anyone else.
Eric Cartman had never learned to stop taking shortcuts and it reflected in his grades. His personality was no different and as such he had few friends. By middle school he was outcast by anyone who knew him and anyone who got to know him soon wished they didn't. Because of that sad loneliness Cartman continued to use food to fill the emptiness and quickly became more bulky than he was in Elementary school. Rumours are that Cartman has been internet dating some girl from Denver.
Butters had stopped using his elementary school nickname/middle name and had switched to Leopold in Middle School it quickly got shortened to Leo and he became one of the more popular kids at school since he was still so nice. Leo is also top boy of his year averaging a 5.0 grade point average in all of his advance placement classes. His father had left his mother for a burly lumberjack and hasn't been heard from since Leo's freshman year. Leo is labelled by girls and guys alike as untouchable. He has never been known to have any kind relationship and no one even knows what he is into.
Wendy is still dating her Middle school boyfriend although Kenny purposely omitted a name. She ranks third hottest girl at school and considered the most successful. She works at the supermarket with Kenny so the two talk often but only about trivial class things. Kenny pointed out they shared most of the same classes which shocked Stan. Wendy is top girl of the year academically but also physically. She heads the cheerleaders of South Park High even as a junior. Kenny said there were rumours her and Bebe hooked up over the summer but apparently they were all rumours propagated by one Eric Cartman.
And Kenny? Well Kenny outcast himself by high school. Apparently after the group fell apart and when their separate ways Kenny couldn't stomach any of the other kids so he preferred to hang out alone. His grades were really good but he attested most of those to Wendy's tutoring. He hung out with Leopold every now and again mainly in drama club but other than that the only friend Kenny had was Karen and even then she wasn't there often. He worked two jobs. Stocking shelves at the local supermarket during the week and delivering City Wok Chinese over the weekend.
They ended their Sunday on a visit to Starks Pond to skip stones like they used to. Stan was quiet for all of five minutes while he haphazardly tossed stones into the water before he finally piped up.
"You never mentioned Kyle. What happened with him? Is he still here?"
Kenny laughed. "As it turns out yes. He never left. He like the rest of us spent a great deal of time waiting for a letter or a postcard from you but hey I guess the whole package is even better. Even if it is five years late," Kenny skipped a stone a perfect ten skips before it disappeared into the crystal surface. "I have to say you may not like what you see tomorrow."
Stan stopped mid throw. "What do you mean?" he asked curiously.
Kenny turned and looked into his deep blue eyes. "I mean unlike those of us who were always here, five years' worth of change can look very different from the outside."
Stan looked down at the ground. "I wanna know Ken, why did you avoid the Kyle subject?"
Kenny snorted. "Because I'm not stupid. Some things are better to be seen rather than heard. Can't risk you running back to Cali now can I? After all you're the first friend I've had in years."
Stan punched Kenny in the arm. "You know I can't go back to Cali. Besides South Park is the best place in the world," He stated sarcastically. "And so very warm too."
XXXXXX
Stan managed to convince his mother of the importance of showing up on the first day with a car so she loaned him the SUV on the condition that he washed it Friday after school. Stan picked up Kenny along the way since he saw him waiting for the bus. They exchanged small talk in the car ride.
"See I knew refriending you would have its perks," Kenny joked.
"Har Har very funny. So what are some do's and don'ts for my first day here?" Stan replied slapping Kenny's hand away from the A/C.
"Basic do's. Find your locker, find your classes, keep your head down and find some friends. Basic don'ts. Stay away from Eric, don't be a class clown, and don't piss off Bebe."
"Keep my head down? Well that works right into my playing field. No one but you knows I'm even back in South Park," the two pulled into the car park and sort of chilled for a bit while they continued to discuss the new kid rules
"Well luckily for you keeping your head down will be easy. With the haircut, the tan and the fashion sense that makes you look like you aren't from here pretty much no one will recognise you. Although if you want people to keep not recognising you, you may want to stay away from the junior royals,"
Kenny pointed in the direction of a beautiful brunette girl with a nice ass and long luscious hair. She appeared to be holding hands with a red head. He was tall and wearing jeans that seemed to hug to him perfectly. He was wearing some kind of sport jacket but from where Stan and Kenny were sitting Stan couldn't make it out.
"I told you some things are better to be seen than heard of." Kenny said sympathetically.
"What do you mean? Wait is that? Is that Kyle? That is who Wendy started dating in middle school? Jesus Christ dude." Stan reached over to the glove box and pulled out a bottle of whisky. He took several swigs while Kenny stared at him shocked. "What? Oh do you want some?"
"Dude…" Kenny got out of the car slung his bag over his shoulder and began heading toward the school.
Stan threw the whisky into his bag and ran after Kenny. The two walked in silence inside. Kenny took Stan to the main office and helped him get the code for his locker. There was a brief pause as Kenny looked over the locker number but he shrugged it off.
Kenny was right by music class first period Stan remained completely unnoticed. Although Clyde Donovan spent a weird amount of time staring at him. By lunch Stan felt confident he could go the first week without anyone realising who he was. He decided to throw his books in his locker before going to the cafeteria to find Kenny. At his locker placing his things in carefully making sure to keep it organised there was a familiar voice coming from behind his door.
"You must be the new kid I have been hearing about. Word around school is a few girls already have their eyes on you. If you're having trouble making friends I'd be happy to help by being your first."
The voice pierced Stan's ears and he froze. He didn't know whether to respond or to bolt. Time dragged out and Stan became very aware that at least five minutes had passed since any conversation had been made.
"Are you alright New kid? You aren't shy are you? Oh crap. I didn't even think, I didn't offend you did I?"
Stan decided that it was either face him now or deal with it later and knowing the red head the way he did he knew it was better to face him now. He nervously shut his locker door and turned to face Kyle.
"H-hey Kyle how have you been," and those were the only words Stan could get out before he was hooked in the side of the face. Nursing his face as he sat up from the ground Stan half smiled up at Kyle. "You have quite hook for a Jew,"
Kyle kicked him in the face then knelt down and grabbed him by the collar. "Fuck off back to California Asshole. No one at this school is going to want you here," he slammed at the ground again wiped his nose as he sniffed in then walked off.
A few minutes later Kenny walked around the corner and spotted Stan lying on the ground he ran to his aid. Helping him up and dragging him to the nurses office.
"I thought I told you to avoid the Royals?" Kenny said grabbing an ice pack and putting it on Stan's cheek.
Stan hissed as it touched his face. "A little hard to do when his locker is next to mine. Besides how do you know it was him?"
"Kyle Broflovski is the only person in this whole school that would throw a right hook like that. Also the only person I can think of who would just punch a kid out of the blue like that. I tried to tell you man shit is different now."
The nurse walked into the office carrying her coffee took one look at Kenny holding an ice pack to Stan's face and shook her head.
"Mr McCormick I hope you know just because you are nursing your victim it does not excuse and act of violence and I will have to issue you a detention."
"It's okay nurse. Kenny didn't hit me I got in the way of a football and a couple of seniors. In fact he has been more help than hindrance. If it weren't for Kenny I'd never have found this place."
The nurse looked down her glasses to gauge whether Stan was lying. Deciding he was not she began looking over her clipboard. "You must be Stanley Marsh. The new student. I've just had a meeting about you. Seems I'm meant to refer you to the councillor's office. But we can't force you to see him only that his door is always open. Kenneth look after the patient I'm going to see Mr Michaels."
XXXXX
Gathered around a table in the Cafeteria Kyle sits among his friends fuming over the recent return of Stan Marsh. As usual the members of his group continue to swap gossip of the summer but the latest topic amongst the juniors which is the new kid at school.
"…I heard he already tried to beat up three seniors and is being taken to the hospital by ambulance."
"Don't be stupid Craig," Wendy replied. "He's at the nurses office I saw Kenny take him there on my way here. Besides I thought we agreed not to start rumours about the new kid until we get to know him better."
"I agreed to nothing," spoke the all to empirical voice of Bebe from the head of the table. "Besides have you seen him? He is dreamy, I wouldn't mind getting myself a piece of that well baked cake."
"I thought you were dating Clyde?" Craig asked. "What happened did his dad run out of shoes?"
"Oh god no, Clyde was an awful lay. Plus I heard from Red who heard from Kelly who heard from Annie who heard from Jenny that Clyde was seen at Tweek brothers making googly eyes and holding hands with Tweek Tweak."
Craig choked on some potato before croaking. "What?"
"Yea… So I dumped him. Anyway who knows anything else about this new kid? Is he rich? What's his name? Where is he from?"
Kyle slammed his coke can down on the table "Jesus fucking Christ Bebe do you ever shut up?" Kyle yelled. "Seriously is there nothing more interesting to talk about? We just spent three months on holiday surely someone did something more fascinating then discovering there was new kid at school today."
"Sweetie are you alright?" Wendy asked reaching for Kyle's hand.
He pulled away from her and there was table wide shock. "I'm fine. I have to go anyway gotta go see coach. You can continue being boring Bebe."
Kyle left the table just as Red came in and sat down. She waved at Kyle as he walked passed but he flipped her off.
"What is his problem?" She snarked.
"I don't know I was gossiping as usual and he flipped out," Bebe replied.
Red frowned then smiled again. "Well good thing he's gone because I have news. Huge news. As you all know I help out in the main office for extra credit. Anyway, I was helping Ms Hughes clean out some old files when I saw Kenny McCormick come in with a new friend. At least I thought he was new friend."
"What do you mean?" Bebe started. "Is this about the new kid?"
"That's the thing," Red said with excitement. "I've stumbled across South Park High gossip gold. The new kid isn't as new as everyone thinks he is."
"Spit it out for fuck sake some of us have old friends to harass about their sexuality," Craig said getting ready to leave.
"Ok so long story short the kid walks in and he says to Ms Hughes 'Hello I'm here to get my locker assignment I'm new here, My name is…' Wait for it. 'Stanley Marsh.' I swear to god I dropped everything I was holding I was so shocked."
Wendy dropped everything she was holding she got up slowly and began walking in the same direction Kyle took off to.
"Wendy where are you going?!" Bebe called out.
"To check on Kyle," she called over shoulder as her brisk walk broke into a quick jog.
Craig got up from his spot and pushed his chair in. "So Marsh is back. Well that answers two of your questions Bebe but as to whether or not he's rich. Well you will have ask him yourself."
Craig walked off leaving only Token, Red and Bebe at the table.
"So does this mean our group is getting bigger or smaller?" Token mumbled as he slurped up some spaghetti.
"I don't know…" Bebe replied searching the Cafeteria for any sign of the old new kid. "I really don't know."
A.N I feel like this chapter holds the most significance it shows the effects of change over the years but also how when you are gone for so long changes seem huge. I want to know what you think. If you don't like a choice I have made plot wise tell me about it I want your opinions as always thanks for reading and see you in the next update. Phantom out.