Deep Down You Always Knew

Chapter 2 – Bad day

"And don't forget to read chapters five to seven of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' until Tuesday, kids. Remember to think about what metaphors the author uses, because you will have to write a paper on it,"

Kyle made a mental note of what miss Ronaldson said while hurrying to his locker with the other students. Now they had English homework on top of the social studies paper Mr Garrison had assigned a few days earlier. He would have to get started right away if he wanted to get an A on both of them. He liked studying because it kept his mind off things that bothered him, like Cartman.

He could feel the anger bubble up inside of him as he though of what Cartman had done earlier and suddenly it became difficult to remember his locker combination.

"Hey there, Kyle!"

Kyle turned around and saw Butters standing behind him with a smile on his face. His round cheeks, blond hair and blue eyes always made him look like some Disney-character come to life and his personality only contributed to that even more. Even though he got a slightly deeper voice after hitting puberty, he still looked more like he was eight than sixteen.

Sometimes it was adorable and sometimes it was just really annoying. On this occasion it was the latter. Kyle muttered hello while continuing to struggle with his locker.

"Well I just wanted to make sure you're OK. What with you fighting Eric and all. He can be a real asshole at times,"

Kyle stopped fighting with his locker and turned around.

"Wait, you heard about my fight with Cartman?"

"I was there. A lot of people were. Why, we saw the whole thing," Butters seemed surprised.

Kyle went cold as he suddenly remembered. Half of his class had been standing in the hallway when he found Cartman, plus some of the older students. He simply didn't care at the time because he was so angry.

Shit.

Kyle sighed and leaned back onto his locker, closing his eyes so tight it almost hurt. He wanted to get the image of everyone staring off his retina. He really made an ass of himself this time.

Kyle opened his eyes and brushed his red curls out of his face.

"Fuck. I'm sorry, Butters. I didn't notice you. I was just.. caught up in the fight. I'm all right now. I was just angry that Cartman went after Ike like that,"

Butters smiled. It was the smile of a child. He always did that. Even though he's growing up and is way more mature than most students at South Park High, he was stuck in the body of a fourth-grader.

"Don't worry about it, Kyle. I would get awfully mad if someone did that to my brother. If I had one, that is,"

Butters smiled again and patted Kyle on the arm.

Kyle sighed again and forced a smile. He turned to his locker and opened it without problems. He didn't want anyone to see that he was blushing with embarrassment. The thought that he once again had let Cartman get to him, in public, and that Stan once again had to keep him from getting into trouble made his face heat up.

He put on his green ushanka, took his bag and closed the locker door. He just wanted to get home and check how Ike was doing.

Kyle and Butters met up with Kenny by the school gates, who was just finishing a cigarette. He waved when he saw them and flicked the cigarette butt into the snow.

"Hey guys! How are you feeling, Kyle?"

Of course he had to ask. It seemed like the whole class knew about it, even the ones who weren't there. Kyle had left Kenny outside when he stormed off, but Kenny had a talent for finding things out.

Kyle muttered something about being fine without looking at Kenny and headed out the gate, followed by the other two. Normally they would all walk home since South Park High was only a few miles from their houses, but today it was snowing like crazy and it was only getting worse.

"Hey Kyle, where's Stan?" Kenny asked.

"How the hell should I know..," Kyle muttered.

"I think he went over to Wendy's. I saw them together by the lockers, they looked awfully friendly," Butters said while putting on his woolly hat. The storm was getting more aggressive.

"Ha! Figures. They are 'friendly' almost every day now. Wendy must be humping the shit out of Stan. I'm surprised he can keep his grades up seeing as how all the blood in his brain gets redirected 'elsewhere'," Kenny and Butters both laughed so hard they started coughing.

Kyle didn't laugh. It was partly because his cheeks were constantly being whipped by the cold wind, but also because he didn't think it was that funny. Ever since Wendy moved back to South Park from Denver she seemed like such a bitch. She soon got back together with Stan and immediately made him her slave. Maybe that's a harsh way of putting it, but that's what it seemed like to Kyle.

Stan had to come over whenever she called and spend the most time with her whenever they were out in a group. What bothered Kyle the most was the way she acted when HE was there. She would cling to Stan but at the same time act like she and Kyle were best friends. Which they weren't.

Kyle sighed again as they reached the bus stop. Today had been a bad day for him and he just wanted to get home and get started on his homework.

He turned around and saw that Kenny had pulled his parka so tight that only his eyes were showing. He looks just like he did when they were nine and it made Kyle laugh.

"Mmff?"

"Nothing, dude. Never mind."

The school bus arrived and they got on along with the other waiting kids. Neither Stan, Wendy nor Cartman were on the bus. Good, Kyle thought. He didn't feel like seeing either of them right now. He noticed that some of his classmates were looking at him when he passed them and he started to blush again.

Fine, let them stare, he thought, I just want to get home.

He sat down together with Kenny and Butters in the back of the bus and closed his eyes.

The bus ride seemed to take forever, but they finally reached the bus stop by his house. He said goodbye to Kenny and Butters and started to head home.

This day was finally over.