Chapter Three

The ringing ceased as a shuffling sound replaced it. There was a tired cough before a croaky voice finally answered. ''Sup, baby?'

'Have you just woken up?' Token asked loudly, making the person on the other end of the line jump violently. He then groaned with no attempt to hide his vexation towards his caller and what the guy probably wanted.

'Will you ever stop bugging me about that stupid game? C'mon man, I don't got your money!'

Token snorted, a smirk tugging at his lips. 'Ken, I don't give a crap about that and you never have any money.' The sleep-deprived boy grunted in agreement. 'Look, I need some advice.'

'Let me guess,' Kenny sighed heavily, shifting into a more alert position. 'Mr stick-up-his-ass is still being a prissy little bitch?'

Token laughed at the understatement but it lacked any sort of amusement. 'He hasn't spoken to me since I told you guys. I'm worried, man. I mean, he's already a depressing shit and now...' he trailed off, sure that Kenny got the picture. The kid wasn't exactly his first choice when it came to advice but he seemed to know people better than anyone. It was a gift, he suspected. Kenny McCormick was somewhat mysterious along side being a bit crazy and Token didn't have a problem with taking advantage of what he didn't understand, as long as it benefited him.

The blond sniffed, his eyes heavy-lidded as he considered hanging up and falling back to sleep, despite it being past noon. Deciding against it, he mouthed a bold word to himself and replied sternly. 'Y'know what? Fuck him.' He waited for Token to respond but received nothing but a long silence. He gave a short, goofy laugh as he processed what he'd suggested. 'Not like that, unless you-'

'No,' Token cut in sharply, lacking the patience and energy to deal with Kenny's sexual remarks. 'I knew what you meant.'

'Well then I'm serious, dude,' the boy sighed. 'If he can't get over his own sorry ass and actually talk to his best friend,' the emphasis on the latter words made Token cringe inwardly and he had no idea why. 'That's his own loss, you know?'

Token huffed lightly. 'I guess... but what if Clyde wants to see him? What do I say?'

'Tell him that Craig hasn't changed, like, at all. That should be enough, right?' Kenny chuckled, remembering just how cold and detached the boy used to be and how that hostility kind of grew as he got older.

'That doesn't explain why he won't speak to me... me,' he whined, playing the best friend card himself. 'And what if he does have a problem with Clyde?'

Kenny had no idea what to tell his desperate friend. Craig Tucker was a lost cause and that was a mutual opinion between himself and his friends, not that he'd tell Token that. When Craig was willing to cooperate with them, they fully accepted it. When he wasn't, however, they didn't even try to coax him out from his pissy mood swings. He had to admit that this seemed more extreme than usual though. Most of the time he didn't ignore Token for this long. That was pretty much unheard of. It'd almost been a week since he had announced the "big news".

'You're telling me that all these years, you guys haven't talked about Clyde once? The guy you both considered a best friend?'

'No! It's him, I've tried, loads of times but he just ignores me or changes the subject.'

'God,' Kenny spat. 'What an asshole!' He sounded genuinely shocked. 'You have, what, a week? 'Til Clyde gets here?' He tried to reassure him but his tone was equally as doubtful. 'He won't hold out on you that long, dude.'

'You really think so?' Token asked hopefully, feeling a little silly. Kenny hummed a confirmation.

'Yes, now let me sleep,' he growled, pulling the stained comforter up to cover his bare chest. He'd probably get up now that he was awake but he'd demanded it on principle. That'd teach Token to call him before three PM during the holidays. Hell, he knew he should have been looking for a job, considering his family's situation but he decided to use the lazy teenager excuse for a little while longer. Besides, he was used to being poor and had his friends to take advantage of when it came to free meals.

'You lazy sonofa-' but the boy had hung up, leaving Token to groan in frustration and let Kenny's rickety advice sink in. A week... Craig wouldn't last that long, surely. He was known for being a bit of a hermit and didn't particularly enjoy being with other people if he could help it. Still, even he had to admit that hanging with Token had become part of a routine somewhat, something which didn't seem to bother him. Token hoped he wasn't just blind to the fact that Craig perhaps didn't like even him and just tolerated him so that he didn't look like a complete reject. Either way, he needed to talk to him, even if it was for a brief moment.

Wednesdays felt weird to Clyde. They were too far from the weekend and time seemed to pass so slowly compared to other days. It was the only day he appreciated being at school to keep his mind occupied, but now, he had absolutely nothing to do. The July heat was getting to him too, filling the apartment with a scolding light from the tall windows which made the air feel thicker than it actually was. He'd thought about calling someone, maybe telling his friends to come over so that he could finally tell them that he was going away for a few days, or weeks... he still wasn't sure how long Token wanted him to stay in South Park.

The friends plan fell flat when he realised they were probably hanging out together already and he knew he wouldn't have the guts to tell them anyway. Every year they admitted that Clyde was a bummer to be around because he hated the weather and had never fully adapted to it. He did nothing but complain, something which was already a strong trait of his, and sulk in the little shade he could find. He was usually ditched at that point and, honestly, he couldn't care less. Being by himself was a compromise he willingly accepted in order to feel comfortable, especially considering he refused to wear shorts. He'd grown up wearing layers and it still felt weird to leave the house without a jacket, let alone half naked. Well, that's how it felt anyway. Needless to say his Florida-born friends ripped on him for it but that was one thing that wasn't new to him. The guys in South Park had always called him fat or a baby. He was pretty much immune to those insults, despite being sensitive, and the ones he received in this state weren't nearly as confidence-shattering. They mainly made fun of his behaviour or the things he liked rather than his appearance or personality.

Around midday, a knock at the door startled Clyde from his heat-induced writhing on the sofa as he threw his Xbox controller to the side and struggled to push himself up. He glared down at the rectangular box, its green light glowing mockingly. At least he'd get out of this routine when he left for South Park.

Clyde made his way to the front of the apartment, expecting to open the door to sign for a package or something. He scratched a hand through the back of his hair and lazily reached for the small latch.

'Oh, hey...' Clyde trailed off, his heart sinking as he recognised the sharp-featured face staring back at him. He hadn't expected any visitors today... well, any day really. He shrugged it off, trying to convince himself that people were allowed to call on their "best friend" whenever the hell they wanted. He inhaled sharply, trying to soften his expression and opened the door wider. His visitor stepped into the apartment as Clyde closed the door. The brunet was utterly confused. Was there a point to this guy's sudden appearance?

'I saw your dad this morning.'

Clyde's face fell, letting it sink into his real emotions; a mixture of confusion and guilt. 'Ah, right.'

The dusty-blond turned to look at Clyde face-on, a light frown covered his brow. '"Ah, right"? Are you kidding?'

'Dude,' Clyde tried to laugh despite knowing that his friend was well aware of his plans now. Thinking about it, he'd been a bit insensitive even if it was unintended. 'I was gonna tell you!'

'When?' One of the brows was suddenly raised into a kind of amused disbelief.

Clyde looked around the room, trying to think clearly. Truthfully, he was hoping to let it slide and just... not. Ever. His father just had to go and roughly yank the invisible blanket from his ashamed cower. Simply avoiding everyone until he got back seemed like the easiest thing to do and until now, he hadn't acknowledged the consequences. In fact, he didn't even believe anyone would care and didn't know what the big deal was. His friends never really gave a crap about what he did but here he was; facing the closest friend he'd made since moving. The guy seemed kind of hurt but was doing a pretty good job of hiding it. 'Today. I dunno, before I left, whatever.'

'Bullshit,' he spat, hunching his shoulders slightly. Clyde glanced at the guy from a distance and almost laughed out loud. The hostility radiating from his scrawny frame was kind of pathetic. Clyde mentally slapped himself. Physically weaker people than himself were allowed to be angry and he was being a total dick about the whole situation.

'C'mon, Ryan,' he whined, giving in to the inaccessible part of his brain where ideas and quick-thinking were produced; the temperature and his general slowness being the cause. He watched his friend's anger fizzle away as the kid turned away to get a nice view of the contents of his fridge before pulling out a can of diet sprite and with a swift pop of the tab, almost drowned himself in the cool beverage. 'Uh... help yourself,' Clyde insisted sarcastically although his tone was light-hearted. He didn't blame him considering how hot it was outside. Besides, he'd been ruder than that in another's home before.

'Diet?' Ryan questioned, gasping for breath as he eyed the can in amusement. 'You're such a girl.'

Clyde huffed indignantly. 'They're my dad's.' The boy shrugged in response and took another long sip. Clyde smirked despite the guilt which was slowly nibbling at his stomach. Ryan wasn't clingy but he always returned to Clyde's side no matter what. Sometimes, when Clyde felt lonely, he wished he was a little more affectionate, in a platonic way of course. For years now, he'd felt truly alone even though he had many so-called friends and Ryan just happened to be the least distant and actually made an effort to keep it that way. Clyde hated the fact that he couldn't say the same about himself.

'So,' Ryan broke the silence by slapping his palm on top of the two-seater dining table along with the empty soda can, creating a high-pitched scraping sound that made Clyde wince. 'How long will you be gone?'

Clyde exhaled in relief, thankful for the less confrontational vibe now filling the hollow gap that had been there previously. 'No idea, man. Not too long.' He just prayed that he'd feel at home. Oh, he didn't doubt Token's hospitality; with that much money he'd be pretty much incapable of making anything uncomfortable for any guest he entertained, high maintenance or not. What he doubted was the attitude of the rest of them. He didn't want any of his old friends to feel intruded upon by his sudden reappearance.

Ryan set his jaw and nodded slowly. Apparently he wasn't taking it badly at all. Sure, he may have been insulted that Clyde hadn't thought to tell him of the whole leaving to get another taste of the life he'd left behind thing, but apart from that, he was pretty casual about it. 'You better come back, Donovan,' he warned, leaning forward slightly. Was that meant to be a subtle threat? Clyde didn't know but it made him swallow silently.

'Of course, dumbass,' he chuckled weakly. The truth was; he didn't particularly want to come back. He was well aware that this was his life now and going back to South Park wouldn't be anything more than an opportunity to reminisce and finally obtain the answers to questions he'd never had the chance to ask before. The only thing stopping him from being enthusiastic about that was the apprehension in his gut, screaming that he could get too comfortable there if he didn't do something to stop it in time.

Clyde frowned. He didn't want to get ahead of himself. Chances were he'd have a pretty dull couple of weeks hanging out with Token and possibly the other guys just like old times and return home feeling exhausted. There'd never really been anything exciting to do in the lonely mountain town, save going to see a movie or whatever. Usually the weather would corrupt any of their more involved plans and they'd end up throwing rocks at cars or playing basketball. Yes, the memories filled him with an intense feeling of boredom but there was no doubt about one thing; he missed it greatly. Perhaps it was his prepubescent enthusiasm towards life that he longed for. Now he was merely a lazy teenager lacking the motivation to do anything more than walk a few meters to the kitchen to make a sandwich. It was sad but he'd accepted it... until now anyway.

'Good,' Ryan nodded, his tone growing softer. 'So, can we hang out before you leave?'

Clyde smiled. That was something he didn't mind hearing from the guy. They always had fun and it was nice to hear that someone would be affected by his absence, besides his father of course. He was pretty sure it would be limited to just those two however. He responded by walking across the room and scooping up a second Xbox controller before throwing it confidently in Ryan's direction. He caught it effortlessly and stared down at the piece of plastic, cocking an eyebrow.

'Is this seriously all you do?'

'… no.'

Ryan snorted, rolling his eyes and made his way to drop down on the couch next to Clyde. He didn't mind playing video games but it was so damn hot, he was curious as to how Clyde managed to stay cool. The idiot was wearing sweat pants and the windows were only open a mere crack. Suddenly it hit him... literally. He wondered why he hadn't noticed the gigantic fan in the corner of the room. Instead of questioning his friend about it, he simply enjoyed the artificial breeze and watched as Clyde set up the game that they were apparently going to play. Ryan wasn't the biggest of gamers, he was more into sports, something Clyde had given up on a long time ago. Ryan could see why; the kid was pretty abysmal. Not the worst exactly, but always left on the sidelines or picked last. He just didn't have the stamina, despite having the right build for football or something. Compared to him, Clyde was a blimp. He wasn't over weight but he still had a thickness about him whereas Ryan was tall, skinny and far more graceful. Clyde was always dropping or spilling or tripping over something, much to everyone else's delight. It was amazing that the light teasing he received didn't get to him.

The only thing stopping Clyde from looking like a complete dork was his ability to attract the opposite sex. Many of the guys Ryan knew still sweat nervously at the thought of talking to girls. Not Clyde. He had a charm about him that everyone saw as goofy but adorable, something that Clyde was quite blind to. He was vain in some ways, always defending himself by insisting that it was his natural good looks that made him appealing. Yeah, he was easy on the eye in some ways but Ryan assumed it was more about the way he carried himself. He knew he had many insecurities about himself, ones he'd never admit to, yet he seemed confident. Even when he was complaining about something in that childish way of his, it still made people laugh or shake their heads with an amused smile. Clyde was just a people person, even if he couldn't see it himself, which he really didn't.

'Dude,' Ryan began, pausing the game and turning to face Clyde. The brunet blinked in confusion, eyeing him questioningly. 'I've been meaning to ask...' he trailed off, Clyde nodding once for him to continue. He had no idea why he was so hesitant to ask such a simple question. 'Why, um... why didn't you come to prom?'

Clyde watched Ryan shift uncomfortably as he took way too long processing the question. Finally it sank in and he clenched his jaw tightly. He was hoping the subject wouldn't rear its ugly head. He decided on the lamest excuse he could think of. 'I didn't have a date.'

Ryan frowned, making a small noise of disbelief. 'Didn't have- Clyde, you could've asked any girl in school!'

'Doesn't mean they would've said yes.'

'Fuck you.'

Clyde backed away at the harsh reply. Why the hell was he being asked, and berated, about this now? 'Wh-what?'

Ryan let out a short irritated laugh. 'You're an idiot, you know that?' Clyde blinked again, he looked utterly confused; an expression that wasn't foreign to his face. 'I overheard so many girls' conversations about you, wondering who you were taking, what you'd wear,' he listed things off in a mocking, musical tone. 'Fuck, they wanted to know what you were doing with your hair.'

Clyde's eyes widened at the information, reaching up to touch his hairline. Ryan's eyelids became heavy, Clyde's incompetence finally taking its toll on his patience. 'Your hair hasn't changed since the day I met you,' he growled, batting the brunet's hand away. 'Look, the babes are obsessed with you but you're too dense to see it because you're obsessed with yourself.' Clyde looked slightly stung by the insinuation. Ryan sighed. 'It's not an insult, man. It's a fact. Now tell me the real reason you didn't show up.'

'I...' Clyde didn't know what to tell his abrupt friend. Where did this even come from? Was he really that narcissistic? He liked to think of it as more of a casual appreciation of his own personality and looks. He was proud of both even if they did have imperfections. He wasn't one to stay awake at night hating himself and his life but he did get angry when anyone insulted those things and didn't spare any time considering that what others say might be true. He stayed content that way. 'Okay, first of all, shut the hell up,' he finally replied, shoving the boy in front of him roughly by the shoulder. 'And... I didn't want to take some random chick.'

Ryan rolled his eyes, an act that he found himself doing a lot around Clyde. 'You didn't even need a date. You could have been there for your friends,' he added lightly as Clyde caught a glimpse of hurt behind his vexation. What Ryan was trying to say was, "why weren't you there for me?" To spare the guy's embarrassment, he let it slide. Instead he inhaled sharply, preparing to tell the truth for once.

'I guess,' he frowned, looking off to the side. He really didn't want to admit anything but he supposed he owed it to Ryan as his best friend. 'It didn't feel like it was my prom.' Clyde mentally face-palmed as he realised how selfish that sounded. He met Ryan's sombre gaze again and hastily tried to correct himself. 'I mean, I didn't feel like I had the right to be there.'

'Why not?'

'Are you kidding? I'm still just the kid from a remote mountain town, where it snows for, like, three-quarters of the year, with no taste in anything,' he choked out, surprised that he could even admit the latter part. 'If I wasn't proud to be me most of the time, I'd just be an awkward freak in weird-ass clothes.'

Was this dude for real? Ryan cocked his head to the side slightly. 'You've been here for six years.' He looked utterly baffled by Clyde's reasoning.

'So? Doesn't mean I fit in. Sure, people like me but I still feel different.' The emphasis he put on the word "still" made Ryan's expression soften. Clyde was blind to how many people liked him but he was so distant when it came to friendships. Ryan wondered if he'd been the same with his previous friends, somehow he doubted it if they really were all like Clyde. He couldn't imagine it though.

'Well,' he sighed, 'we all wanted you there. It sucks you feel that way.' Noticing Clyde's semi-guilty expression he exhaled and turned back to the TV. 'C'mon, let me kick your ass at...' he thought for a moment. 'This,' he settled on, raising an eyebrow at the ninja-like figure swaying back and fourth on the pause screen. He really didn't see the appeal of it at all. He didn't care when he saw Clyde's whole demeanour change though. Now he looked determined.

'We both know that ain't gonna happen,' he chirped happily, dismissing their previous conversation. He really didn't like to talk about his feelings, well, ones that were too personal anyway. He'd happily admit when he was upset or tired or hungry, to everyone else's distaste, but nothing this deep. But to hell with that. He knew Ryan wouldn't judge him, at least he hoped he wouldn't.

'Hey,' the blond suddenly spoke up as Clyde's character kicked his in the stomach. 'How's Colorado different anyway?' Clyde had never really discussed it before. He seemed pretty closed off when it came to his old life. 'Apart from the weather, I mean.'

Clyde shrugged, his eyes fixed on the screen in front of them. Ryan wasn't even trying any more and Clyde's knock-out count was a reflection of his apathy towards the game. 'I dunno, it's weird,' he mumbled, his fingers moving at expert speed. 'It's just as crazy as here but in a totally different way. Like, people do less there and they seem less busy but the people themselves are mental. Prob'ly just my town, though,' he chuckled. Ryan didn't like the way he said "my town" but he cast the thought to one side. 'Some weird shit went down there, man. You wouldn't believe any of it if I told you.'

The comment sparked a new curiosity in Ryan's mind. The character he was controlling was now a helpless victim of Clyde's wrath as he let the controller drop onto his lap. 'Try me.'

Clyde paused the game, his eyes still on the screen as Ryan stared at the side of his face. He could see the boy's brain struggling with itself, wondering whether or not he should say anything. Clyde slowly turned to him, his expression serious, jaw set and brow low as his bangs blew dramatically across his forehead from the fan's current. For the next few hours he sat and listened intently to stories that he couldn't comprehend. Most of them sounded like total bullshit, encounters with aliens, evil corporations and terrifying monsters. Clyde began describing near-death experiences and strange universes. Apparently he'd been taken hostage by pirates when he ran away to Somalia. It was too much for Ryan to take in. Maybe this guy really was crazy or his imagination had been a little too over-active as a child. Every little detail seemed too absurd to be true and every instinct told him to tell Clyde to stop lying. But the way Clyde spoke, his tone was consistent and unwavering, kept him from uttering a single word. The boy didn't have to stop and think once... if he had imagined everything, he'd planned every little thing down to the exact shade of green that Cthulhu's skin had been. He stared in awe, jaw slack as Clyde continued to spew all of this unfathomable knowledge.

'Jesus,' Ryan breathed when Clyde had finally trailed off. They both felt exhausted. There was a nostalgic look in Clyde's eyes as he stared at the ceiling. He seemed troubled, yet happy. 'And... and you're going back to this place?'

'Yeah,' Clyde laughed weakly. 'Yeah, I am.'

'Don't die,' Ryan chuckled although he was completely serious.

Clyde smirked. 'Speaking of dying, I knew this one kid who insisted he died all the time but came back totally fine, and no one ever remembered.'

'Do you believe that?'

'I didn't back then but so many crazy things happened, I guess I just learned to accept it.' He sighed loudly. 'That's South Park for you.'

Of course his naïve friend didn't believe a word he said, he just thought it was about time he relieved his mind of everything he'd seen but never spoke of. Soon he would be with people who understood him and related to his experiences. He just hoped nothing had changed too much because he certainly hadn't.