Chapter 2: Christmas Time

Once it was noon, the loud ringing sound of the school bell clanked and students flew out of the tiny school. Stan silently walked out and around the school and plopped himself onto the floor. His eyelids slowly jerked up and down getting ready for a nap when a small sound walked towards him. As wind gust passed him, the sound grew louder. He turned his head side ways and up only to see a boy younger than him smiling.

"So your name is Stanley?" The boy spoke in a soft tone that made Stan feel safe.

"Uh huh." He replied back.

"So, wanna get going? It's kinda cold out here. We could head to my place. Would it be alright with your parents?" Stan felt an ache in his stomach when he heard those words, but he managed to stay calm.

"They wouldn't mind. Not at all."

"Great! Let's go!" Kyle grabbed Stan by the hand and lifted him up. A very small smile placed on his lips as they walked down the road together. He was finally being treated as a person. Like a somebody rather than a nobody.

They had been walking for a while and Stan began to wonder about what Kyle's house would be like. 'It would defiantly be bigger than my place. A lot cleaner too. And more decorated.'

"Stanley, we're here." Stan gazed in amazement at mansion standing in front of him. It was a pure white painted exterior and the windows were shaped like half of an oval. A beautiful garden of winter flowers bloomed near the great fence in front of them. He was then eager to see the inside of it.

"You look like you've seen a ghost, Stanley. You've never seen a house before?" Kyle chuckled at his friend's drooped mouth and wide eyes.

"Oh, uhm, actually no I haven't. Not this beautiful. One more thing. You can call me 'Stan' if you'd like. It's sorta like a nickname for Stanley." Kyle smiled and nodded in agreement.

The gates opened and both boys took a step into the cobble stone flooring. 'I hate cobble stone.' When reaching to the front door, Kyle search in his pocket and out came a silver painted key.

"Oh crap…Is that REAL silver?" Stan's childish ways were too cute for Kyle to handle. He threw his arms around him and snuggled against his cheek. Stan began to shake not knowing on what to do.

"Stan. Stan…STAN!" Kyle was furiously shaking Stan's shoulders in order to wake him up. "Dude, you blacked out on me. We can go inside now." Stan quickly snapped back to the real world and blinked a couple times at Kyle. 'What the hell was that all about? Was that real?'

"You alright? You wanna go home?" Kyle tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"NO! I DON'T WANNA GO BACK THERE!"

"Uhm…dude, calm down. I'm sorry."

"Huh? Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. I-"

"Oh, Kyle. Who's this? A new friend, maybe?" A plump woman…ahem an OVERLY plump woman waddled over to the opened door and looked at the two boys.

"Yes. Mom, this is Stan. Stan, this is my mom." He pointed to his mother. She than swiftly smacked the back of his hand.

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT POINTING?! IT'S RUDE! I'll be going out for a while. I expect you to be home by six if you go out. Toodles." She stuck her nose in the air, closed her eyes, and trotted out the door and into her car. Stan watched her pull out of the driveway and disappear into the road. Then he saw Kyle clench his fists together. He was scared.

"Stupid bitch. I HATE YOU! I HOPE YOU DIE!" Stan's eyes widened. What a temper his new friend had. It was cute. Really cute.

"You shouldn't say that. Don't EVER say that." Kyle softened his grip on himself and lifted his head and looked at the raven. His face almost turned red. "Oh, I'm sorry. I have to stop talking at bad times. How's your hand." He grabbed Kyle's hand and carefully studied it to find any cuts or redness.

"You apologize too much. I'm fine." He pulled away and blushed a tiny bit. "Well let's go in. If you want to." Stan smiled and shook his head.

"I wanna head into town."

Red and green lights flashed on and off, wreaths with red bows were hung on the store doors, and people in winter wear with many bags in their hands walked up and down the busy streets in town. Stan and Kyle walked next to each other as they passed the town park. There were many people inside either playing with their young or just looking at the beautiful scenery. Stan moved closer to Kyle and grabbed his arm. Kyle wandered his eyes until they met with Stan's face.

"Not good with people?"

"Nuh uh." Kyle smiled and kept Stan close until they reached a small, little corner shop. Kyle placed Stan on the stoop of the store and pressed his own face on the door window.

"How long have you've lived here? It seems you know this town like the back of your hand."

"I've lived here for bout two weeks. Everyday I'd come here. There was nothing else to do. Now can I ask you a question?" Stan's ears perked up and Kyle sat next to him. "What's so great about Christmas?"

"Huh?"

"You heard me. What's the deal with Christmas? Why do people buy so many presents for each other? I find that there is no purpose in it. I mean I'm not pissing on your holiday or anything. I just find it weird." Kyle smiled while ranting about Christmas.

"What's the deal with Christmas?! Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus. Wait? You DON'T celebrate Christmas?"

"Nope."

"Wow, why not?"

"I'm a Jew. I guess you didn't learn about Jews in school yet. Well, first of all, Jews killed Jesus so that's why we don't celebrate it. But, -"

"Who cares. If I get enough money I want to buy you a special gift. You're my first friend since I've lived here, well technically I've lived here all my life, and I really appreciate it. A lot." Kyle placed his gloved hand and Stan's naked one. He gave him a smile so warm; Stan's body formed a heat wave inside of him. Kyle got up just as fast as he grabbed Stan's hand and ran inside.

A few minutes later he came out with blue and red knitted winter hat. Stan got up and stared at how carefully each string of yarn was placed in the weaving. Kyle put the hat on the slightly taller's head. He kissed his cheek lightly until he reached the lips and Stan couldn't believe what his friend was doing.

"STAN!"

"Huh?"

"I asked if you liked it." Kyle looked at his friend with wonder and worry.

"Yeah. Thank you. I love it. How much did it cost?"

"About two dollars."

"TWO DOLLARS!? You didn't have to do that. Did you have enough money?"

"Of course. If you didn't notice, I come from a rich family."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing. There's no reason." Kyle grabbed Stan's hand again and they walked away from the store and down the lane to Kyle's mansion. 'This is too weird. Why do I keep having these crazy thoughts? Kyle? He would never kiss me. I bet he already has a girlfriend. Probably ten. He'd never fall for someone like me.' The raven looked at the smaller and gulped really big but silent.

"Kuh-Ka-Kyle?" Kyle made the 'Hmm' sound and thrust his face to look at Stan. "Would. Would. Would you ev-ev-ever ki-ki-kiss muh-me?"

"Only if you wanted me too."

"Ra-Really?!"

"Sure."

"So if I asked you to kiss me now you would do it?"

"Is this your way of asking for me to kiss you?"

"OH NO! NO! NO! NO! I would never do that."

"Cheek or lips?"

"Uhm...lips?"

"Okay, hold still…"