The bell rang singling that lunch time was now over and I rushed to my locker, hoping to get my history text book without running into Eric. I blushed when I realized that I looked ridiculous and I was in fact, without a doubt, power-walking.
"What's the rush, dude?" I heard a familiar voice ask from behind me and I grumbled; why couldn't things just go perfectly this one time?
"I don't want to be late to history class, dude! I love that class" I fibbed, hoping that Stan of all people would believe this as the whole truth as I was known to be the book worm of the group but Stan managed to keep up with my fast pace and he was now walking beside me.
"Want to come over and play some video games? It's been a while. I know you're busy and I've been busy in different ways but I miss hanging out." Stan mumbled and looked down towards the floor.
"I'm kind of busy, when were you thinking you wanted to hang out?" I asked, "I want to it's just that it can't be tonight."
Stan's face seemed to lose all of its color and I slowed down, "Dude, what's up?"
"I got everything ready for tonight, Kyle! I got the soda and the chips and the-"
"What?"
"I just really wanted you, Kenny and I to have some fun like the old times where we all got together every day after school and played video games and watched TV!"
I blushed and bit my lip, "You meant to say you and I, right? Kenny showed me the texts and told me all about your master plan. What's going on, Stan? We're best friends, always have been, always will be, you don't need to trick me into hanging out with just you; I'd hang out and play video games with you any day!"
"That bastard told you the plan? It was supposed to be a surprise!"
"Kenny not showing up…? What kind of surprise is that, Stan? You don't make any sense." I said as we arrived at my locker and I opened it up and grabbed my history text book.
"Forget it, I'll make new plans." Stan whispered under his breath and quickly disappeared into the crowded hallways. What's up with him lately? One minute he's avoiding me, the next he's watching me and keeping up to date with my life, and the next he's making plans before asking me and then dropping them as if it were no trouble at all! It must be something in the water here, everyone is acting strange.
When the bell rang signaling that the final class of the day had now begun, I took a deep sigh of relief as I dropped my history book onto my desk and slipped into my chair. I was usually the one paying the closest attention no matter the subject but today I couldn't keep my concentration for longer than two seconds. I knew the teacher was going on about the Civil War but, with exception to sentences now and then, it all sounded like mumbled background noise as I pondered my day and just how strange it had been so far.
"Kyle, can you come up to the board and write a summary of today's lesson? What stood out to you? Everyone, write this down, you need to start passing everything like Kyle!" the teacher smiled as she handed me a piece of bright white chalk.
I gulped, "I fell on my hand this morning and it really hurts. That's why I didn't take any notes this lesson," I fibbed, "could someone else do it just this once?"
"Of course!" she smiled, but I could tell she was bummed out, "Who wants to volunteer?" Silence filled the room and the teacher turned around and began to write it out herself.
I congratulated myself; I wasn't usually able to lie without stumbling over my words and I had just saved myself from looking like a slacker. Sweet!
I reveled in my accomplishment until it hit me that in only five minutes, class would be over and I would have to meet Cartman by the buses.
The bell rang and I packed my things into my backpack as slowly as I could without being the last to leave. Come on, Kyle, be brave; it's just Cartman and if he's pulling some epic prank, you can just board the bus and go home and everything will be fine.
I pulled my green gloves onto my hands and slung my homework filled backpack over my shoulder and exited the school, keeping my eyes peeled for Cartman. Sure enough, he was exactly where he said he would be.
"Jew!" he smiled, enjoying the laughs that ensued by fellow students boarding the bus around us.
"Fatass!" I grinned back at him, enjoying the look of surprise in his eyes; he was used to me grumbling and ignoring him. I sure got him back because nearly double the amount of students laughed at my comeback.
Clearly not pleased, Cartman pulled me away from the crowded bus lines and peered side to side to make sure nobody was around to see us. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box; the box was small enough to carry in the palm of one's hand and was wrapped in newspaper and clear tape. I laughed, "What's this, Cartman?"
"Just open it." He said, dropping the box in my hands. He seemed uneasy and kept peering down at his arm as if he were reading a watch.
I scraped at the tape until it lifted and I started to lift the tiny box's top of when I realized that even the box itself was homemade and I smiled, "Dude, you made this yourself?"
"Yeah, uh, it's nothing special, just a box. Whatever! Open it!" he blurted out, annoyed that I was taking my time.
"Alright, alright, fatass, calm down." I smirked as I lifted the box's top all of the way and looked inside. I gasped when I saw a key and my brain went through a million different things that key could be for; was it for a new car? I wish. Oh, but maybe it's a key to a new secret clubhouse that's much more upgraded and high tech than the one we had in Elementary…or even a key to any room in the school!
"What's this for?" I asked, hoping for an answer that would blow all of my predictions out of the water.
"It's a key to my house."
"Cartman," I scowled, "why would I need a key to your house?"
"I know about your parents, Kyle. I know how you've been sitting all alone at home. What do you do there, count your gold?"
"What makes you think I'd rather be at your house?" I raised an eyebrow. I was most taken aback by how thoughtful this gesture was; Cartman knew that my family had been gone for a week and would be gone for another month as they were up in Canada showing my younger adopted brother, Ike, where he is from. I refused to go because I was worried that I would fall behind in my studies.
"I am the coolest guy in school," Cartman winked, "who wouldn't want to hang out at my house?"
"Uh, everyone in the entire school." I snapped back, amused with myself but Cartman didn't seem to enjoy my joke.
"Look, Jew, I'm throwing a party tonight and you really need to get out of the house and focus on something other than school. I bet you dream about homework!"
"And that thing I need to focus on is what, you?" I laughed, twirling the key around my index finger.
"Yes!" Cartman exclaimed with joy, "Now get your ass on that bus!" he shouted, pointing towards our bus that was beeping, signaling that it was about to leave the school's parking lot.
We raced to catch the bus just in time and sat down in the only two open seats left; one by Stan and one by Butters.
"You're sitting by Butters." Cartman whispered and I glared as he took the seat next to my best friend.
"Hello, Kyle!" Butters smiled, his blonde hair lay playfully in his face, "You almost missed the bus!"
"Sure did, heh." I half laughed, noticing Cartman was staring straight at me through the reflection in the bus window nearest him. I fumbled with the key in my hand uncomfortably and tried to turn my attention back to Butters, "So, how have you been?"
"Just great!" he grinned widely, pulling a piece of paper out of his backpack with a big red 'A' written at the very top, "My mom's going to be so proud! This one is going to replace last week's 'B' in the prime spot on the fridge!"
"Nice!" I smiled back, "I remember when my mom used to do that."
Butters leaned closer to me and I flinched; why is everyone so touchy-feely today? It makes me nervous. Butters must have sensed my anxiety because he quickly whispered, "I've heard some things at school today."
"Yeah?"
"People are saying that you and Cartman have something going on. You know… like that…" Butters whispered, emphasizing the word 'that'.
"Who started the rumor?" I asked, preparing myself to tell Stan to get on their ass.
"I heard it from Wendy. She was telling groups of people. Don't tell her I told you, I just thought that you should know! Promise you won't tell her that you heard it from me? I don't want any trouble!" he panicked, realizing that he had put himself in a tough spot.
I turned around in my seat to see Wendy sitting in the seat next to her blonde friend Bebe in the very last row and I glared straight at her, noticing that she was speaking very fast and with excitement as she was speaking with her hands, too. I imagined that she was spreading the rumor further with juicier details.
Butters poked me on the shoulder and I turned back around, "Promise?" he whispered desperately.
"I promise. Thanks for telling me, dude." I forced a slight grin and sunk lower in my seat, hoping that nobody was staring at me as she jabbered on and on.