YOUR BEST AND WORST DECISION
Stan decided to check in the bathroom first since it was right across from his bedroom. He frantically checked in the tub, trashcan and toilet when he suddenly heard a yell. He hurried into Shelley's room to find her cowering in the corner.
"Wait Shelley- don't! Don't hurt him!" were the first words out of Stan's mouth.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"What's going on here?" Sharon asked and she and Randy stood by the door of their daughter's room.
"There's a stupid bug on the wall!" Shelley spat, rolling up a magazine.
"Huh?" Stan stood back as his sister smacked the bug dead.
"If there's one thing I cannot stand it's bugs. And you little pest in my room!" she flicked Stan.
"Sorry, damn…" he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief though that his sister had not spotted the kitten. As soon as their parents went downstairs again, Stan resumed his search. He ran into his parents' bedroom, praying they wouldn't come back up again. Then he saw him- a furry brown striped ball near the nightstand. "There you are!" he scooped the kitten back in his jacket and went to his room and slammed the door. He placed the feline on his bed and checked him over. Stan let out a relieved sigh.
"You're lucky kitty, really really lucky. How did you end up all the way down there?" he fed it from the tiny bottle again before securing him in the shoebox in his closet.
Kyle however was not taking his suspicions about Stan and Cartman lightly. As the days went by he became more and more aware of their actions until finally on Thursday he couldn't take it anymore and had to take action, but he couldn't do it alone. He informed Butters of his plans Thursday morning before school but the blond was not too keen on interfering.
"Gee, I don't know Kyle," Butters rubbed his hands together.
"Look, I noticed they both showed up late to school last Tuesday and this Tuesday. And they both were 'busy' Thursday after school last week. If they are today as well, I'll notice a pattern," Kyle told Butters as he showed what he had written down.
"Well uhh, Stan's r-right Kyle. Maybe you should just- forget about it? They aren't hurtin' no one."
"How do you know?"
Butters tapped his chin. "Well huh- Stan's not hurtin' no one."
"Hey assholes, what's up?" was Cartman's greeting suddenly. Stan followed behind him.
"Hello Cartman, Stan," Kyle said casually. "Off for another day of school hm?"
Stan rolled his eyes. "Let's just go, Mrs. Peters always finds an excuse to yell at us," Stan spoke of his and Cartman's first period algebra teacher.
Butters looked nervously at Kyle and his other friends before shrugging and racing into the school. Kyle looked at the other two as well before following. He really wished he wasn't already in geometry or he could keep an eye out for his best friend and the fatass that morning. He was going to make sure they were always within sight today, he made sure of it.
Both Stan and Kyle's relationship had changed with Cartman over the years. While Stan took the 'don't get involved in his schemes' approach, Kyle remained firm to stopping Cartman at all costs. With Stan and Cartman, things had gotten quieter, even slightly better between them since Stan decided to ignore him more often. The boys could get along great if they were talking about football or baseball or video games. Kyle and Cartman's relationship only got worse. They hadn't been real friends for a good few years by now, but by the age of thirteen, they had officially called it off- in writing. It was only okay to see the other if the other was hanging out with Stan or Kenny or Butters. Otherwise, their paths shouldn't cross. But Kyle had broken that promise very quickly when he heard that Cartman planned on stealing an autographed pro football from Token Black's house. Kyle had to put a stop to it and thus, pissed Cartman off more often than not.
"It's my life and I'll do what I want you ratty Jew!" Cartman spat.
"You can't just steal things from other people's house!"
"Are Stan or Kenny or Butters around? Let me see… nope. So stay out of my business or I'll call the cops!" Cartman threatened.
Kyle shuddered as he thought of that fat boy during first period. He knew he'd regret it if Cartman saw him butting into his business again, but he hated knowing that he was getting away with something. If he could, just possibly stop something from happening… as soon as school ended Kyle made sure he caught up with the others in the front as always. He could tell Stan and Cartman wanted to leave as soon as possible but he wasn't going to allow it.
"Hey you guys, have any plans today?" Kyle asked.
"Er- no. Just going home," Stan shrugged.
"Yeah, me too," Cartman agreed.
"Wanna hang out?"
"We have a lot of homework," Cartman stated.
Stan glared at him. Everyone knew Cartman could care less about homework.
"Well, maybe I could help you guys," Kyle offered casually.
"We don't need you showing off your smarts to us again douchebag!" Cartman retorted.
Stan elbowed him. "Not now Kyle. We're both pretty busy. We'd better be going. See you tomorrow I guess."
Kyle blinked. "Oh, sure thing then. See you." He took a seat on one of the steps to the school and pulled out a book and pretended to read. Sure enough, minutes later he saw Stan and Cartman ride up the street on their bikes. He put his book back in his backpack and got on his own bike and followed behind them at a safe distance.
"Stan- Stan- wait"- Cartman was soon panting.
Stan rolled his eyes and braked and turned around. "Hurry up fatboy, before someone sees!"
Kyle stood behind a tree as he listened.
"I'm not used- to riding my bike."
"I can tell," Stan remarked.
"Ay! We may be on the same side now but that won't stop me from kicking you in the nuts!"
"Whatever, just try to keep up." Stan put his foot back on the pedal and went off again.
"Goddamnit," Cartman drew in one last breath before pumping after his much lighter friend.
Kyle peaked from behind the tree before riding after them again. Every time he sensed them stopping, Kyle was quick to hide from view. And they stopped a lot for Cartman complained several more times that his legs were aching and he had to take a sip from his water bottle. Stan gritted his teeth in anger for the last time.
"Just go off okay? I'll meet up with you," Stan told him.
"Why?"
"Because you're taking too slow. I want to make sure you get there first before me, you know the place better."
Cartman raised a brow.
"My phone is vibrating, I need to take the call," Stan took out his cell from his pocket.
"All right, fine." With one last sip of water Cartman was off.
Stan watched him turn the corner and out of sight. Stan stood in the same spot for a while, arms behind his back. "You can come out now," he said simply.
Kyle frowned. What was going on?
Stan didn't move. "I said you can come out now Kyle."
Kyle froze in his spot behind the dumpster. Stan's brows furrowed and he turned around. "I know you're here Kyle so might as well man up and show yourself!"
Slowly, Kyle came out from behind the dumpster. Stan marched over to him.
"I knew it! I knew you were following us!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You were following us! I thought I heard someone behind us on Morgan Street and I could have sworn I saw your bike peaking from behind that bush by the pet store!"
"What? But"- Kyle looked down at his bike.
"You're the only one with a green bike in school with a fucking Star of David on it!" Stan yelled.
Kyle growled.
"What the fuck are you doing, following us?" Stan demanded.
"I- well I- I had to Stan! I have to know what's going on!"
"You're my best friend, I'm supposed to trust you, and you can't even get your damn nose out of my business!"
"Not when Cartman is involved!" Kyle said fiercely back.
"Give-it-up!"
Kyle could practically smell the turkey sandwich on Stan's breath that he had for lunch, he was that close.
"Haven't you realized by now that the only thing that happens when Cartman is involved is you getting in trouble? Or have you not seen that these past eight years?" Stan pointed out.
"Haven't you realized that whenever the dick does something someone gets hurt or is in danger or is completely innocent?" Kyle argued back.
Stan glared at him. "Why would I be doing anything with him if it was really that horrible? Think about it Kyle."
Kyle's fists shook in anger.
"I know he's the world's worst- everything, but this time"-
"Yes?" Kyle prompted him.
Stan shook his head. "Nothing." He got back on his bike.
"But Stan"-
"Just get out of it Kyle. I don't want to tell you now anyway."
"What?"
"I obviously can't trust you to do the smallest things. Just go home."
"Stan"-
"Go," Stan spat. "And don't follow."
Kyle watched Stan turn the corner and out of sight too. He could kick himself. It sounded as if Stan might have told him what he was doing but he had to blow it. Maybe he did have to give it up. Stan was right, if he was involved, it couldn't be horrible right? But years and years of hanging around Cartman didn't convince him much at all. Glumly, he turned the other direction and went home.
"What took you so long?" Cartman asked Stan when he finally showed up.
"Nothing," Stan muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing, let's just feed them all right?" Stan took out a box of cat food from his backpack and began tossing it out.
Cartman watched him for a minute before doing the same. "How's the kitten?"
"The one I took? Fine, for now. He went missing for a while over the weekend but I was able to find him before my family did. Yours?"
"She's fine too. Keep her in my room, she'll be safe there. Mom doesn't like coming in it now, it's so messy."
Stan smirked. "My mom says the same thing about mine. Think my kitten will be fine there too."
The boys were quiet the remainder of the time before they ran out of food for the cats and paid enough attention for them that day.
"Well, think we should go," Stan stated.
"Yeah," Cartman agreed.
They blinked at each other before hopping onto their bikes. It was weird in a way to be doing something together like this and no one else knowing a thing about it. What was weirder was they were getting along. Not having anything else to say, they biked back home. Stan breathed a sigh of relief when he found the brown tabby kitten safe in his closet when he arrived home. As far as he could tell, no one else knew he was in there. He didn't know how long he would be able to keep the kitten a secret but for now, all he could do was feed him and take care of him until he had an answer.
Meanwhile, Kyle was angrily pacing his room. He felt like such an idiot, a complete ass. Trust Stan to notice anything and everything, yet again. Who was he kidding? You couldn't keep a secret from him if you tried. Following him had been a very stupid idea. Kyle finally stopped walking back and forth and sat on his bed and sighed. Perhaps Stan was right; it was time to give it up. It sounded so easy, so simple. Maybe to the black-haired boy, but not to Kyle. That's where the differences between the two friends were drawn. While Stan dwelled about all the bad things that happened to him half the time, he was still able to let the little things go. While Kyle never wallowed away in life's bumps, he could not let something go by him without trying to stop it if he could. And if those things made him angry… he was likely to stay angry for a while. But perhaps, this was it. This was a sign to stop trying to save the world from Cartman. Stan had told him time and time again he usually never came out on top.
Kyle reached from under his bed and pulled out a picture. It was of the four boys, Stan, Cartman, Kenny, and himself during Halloween when they were eleven. It was a really fun night, Mr. and Mrs. Marsh had outdone themselves at the Halloween party at their house and the boys had gotten the greatest haul of candy ever. He looked at Stan, dressed as a rotten corpse, Kenny simply went as a ghost since it was cheapest, he was a dead cowboy, and Cartman- the 'Ultimate Bounty Hunter', who rid the world of hippies and Jews. He had filled himself up on all the green jell-o at the party, and purposely spilled punch down his front, causing him to have to trick-or-treat with a huge red stain on his shirt. And had swiped some of his candy when his back was turned for two seconds. He had also egged his window late that night as an added 'Halloween treat.'
Kyle stared into that smiling face of fatass. His cold, evil eyes. His deep, black heart. Kyle's fists shook with rage and he tore out Cartman from the picture and ripped it into pieces. He was home alone so he was able to go downstairs and light it on fire in the fire place.
"It's over. I don't care anymore, it's over Eric Cartman." And he knew, he would no longer deal with that boy ever again. He knew he no longer cared. That stupid paper they had signed was finally going to be in effect, and the first thing he could do was apologize to Stan.
Stan's heart leapt when he heard a knock on his door and his mom telling him Kyle had come over. He hurriedly placed the kitten back in the shoebox then shut it up in his closet before opening his bedroom door.
"Oh, hey dude," Stan said simply.
Kyle sighed. "Can I come in?"
Stan peered over his shoulder. "Um, do- do you have to?"
"Well, I guess not. I just wanted to tell you something."
Stan bit his lip for a second then sighed. "Fine, make it quick."
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm sorry for what I did earlier. It was stupid and I was wrong."
Stan couldn't help but smirk. "Why so quick to sound gay with me yet again?"
Kyle glared. "Because I know it was stupid. I- I think I finally realized what you've been telling me for years. I think I'm finally ready to give up the past, give up anything and everything Cartman has ever said or done to me. I know what you mean now; I shouldn't meddle into his business. Nothing good will ever come from it."
Stan placed a hand on the taller boy's shoulder. "You've made a great breakthrough dude."
"Yeah, I think so."
Stan sat on his bed. "So now what? You want me to help you burn all the Cartman memories in your life like you were dating or something?"
"No, that's too gay."
Stan chuckled.
Kyle exhaled. "Look, whatever it is he's doing- and you're obviously a part of it- I don't care. Just do it. Whatever happens happens. I don't care about him. I never have. And I mean it this time, for all our sakes, I will not let Cartman's stupidity run my life."
"Well, that's good to hear dude."
Kyle looked around Stan's room. "Damn dude, what happened here? Did a tornado wreak havoc or something?"
"Pfff, at least it looks like a twelve-going-on-thirteen-year-old's bedroom. Yours looks like your mom cleans it every day."
Kyle kicked aside two empty soda cans on the floor and socked Stan. "Dumbass. I just like things neat."
Stan cast a glance at his closet again. "Well, if that's all you had to tell me… good for you. And er- I guess I'll drop what you did earlier. But I have stuff to do."
"Like clean?"
"Ha."
"Study?"
"Double ha."
Kyle gave Stan one last questionable look, but forced himself not to think on it before heading back home. As he walked back, he thought: It may not have seemed like a big deal on the outside, but Kyle knew how important it was that he would no longer be nosing into business that concerned Cartman. It almost did feel like he was 'breaking up with him for good', but this felt better than any break-up. It felt great to know he no longer cared and would no longer get in trouble. Because really, everything in his life he had gotten in trouble for concerned that fat boy one way or another. But if Stan didn't want to stop whatever he was doing with him, it no longer mattered. It was a good end of the day after all.
I hope you liked the chap. Thanks for the reviews. Please keep them coming!
Magical love: Rose May 4, 2010
