Chapter 4

Surface

The rain came down hard.

I approached the park with my hood covering my face. I saw them sitting by the bathrooms, staring out at the rain as they talked. I made my way, shoving my hands in my pockets. "It started raining on my way here." I gave a shrug. "I figured you guys would be long gone."

"Rain can't let us down-COCK." Thomas blurted. Everyone acted like it was nothing, all though a small smile had formed on Craig's mouth.

"Brave of you." I say to him. I avert my eyes, looking a long the small row that had been formed by them, and don't see the person I actually care about seeing. I glance at Kenny. "I thought you said-"

He pulled his hand out from inside of his parka, adjusting it back into his sleeve, pointing to the swing set. "He said he was waiting for you there." I turn my attention to the swings, seeing Stan alone, sitting on one of them and gently moving back and forth. He holds an umbrella over his head, back faced to us.

"Thanks." I say to Kenny. "I can't say I don't like our recent alone talks."

"Can't say I-SHIT-blame you." Thomas yelps. I look at him. He notes my expression. "He's been-FUCKSSHIT-down lately." I nod.

"He's just a fucking retard is all." I exhale.

I hear Craig cackle. "Who isn't in this town?" He holds his face up with both palms, tapping his middle finger against his cheek. I ignore it, turning from them now and beginning to walk. I hear them begin to talk again, a few shouts screamed from them bickering back and forth to each other. Typical of them.

My feet squish in the grass, stepping next to Stan and leaning against the pole. The boy looks at me, flashing a simple smile. I look at him, perplexed. "You're sending mixed emotions, you know, Stan." I announce. "You're really confusing me."

A shoulder lifts as he watches rain buzz in the trees, a crack of thunder screaming in the sky. "I'm confused too." he answers. "I think I'm finally starting to get this though.." I shift, watching him look away from the top of the mountains and begin to kick one of his legs against the mud. He stops, looking up at me. "You can't help it. I was stupid for freaking out." he looks back to his original eye contact. I grimace.

"I know." comes my voice. "You can't blame me for liking you, though."

He smiles. "Why? What's so great about me?"

"Too much to say." I murmur. He looks at me. I gaze back. "But you have your asshole moments." I listen as he laughs, and I join in. Once it grows silent, both of us listening to the sound of the rain hitting against our chilled skin, I continue speaking. "It's weird, Stan. You're the only guy I like. The only one I've felt this way for. I've never felt this way for a girl, not even any of my girlfriends. I don't feel this way for any of the guys. Just you."

"So you're saying you're not gay?" Stan questions.

"Stupid, huh?"

"Naw." he replies. "You just can't resist my charm."

I chuckle. "If that's how you want to say it, then sure. Whatever you say."

Stan looks at me, deep blue and a bright green locking to each other. We remain silent for a while, before he finally whispers; "Do you forgive me?"

I don't answer. I push myself to him, removing my hands from my pockets and placing a hand on the chain of the swing. I stare down at him, Stan not removing his eyes. "I forgive you."

The rain seemed to transform into snow. Why couldn't it just be sunny for once? Stan and I had managed to get sick. Since he stayed home as well, I decided to go to his place for the day. We were huddled on the couch, both wrapped in blankets and talking. As mere friends. "Remember that time when Craig's stupid ass show was getting more rates than ours?"

I laugh obnoxiously. "Dude, that show was so gay."

"I know." he beams. "So we had to make ours better, so we all got high off cough medicine?"

"Yeah."

"I refuse to take that stuff ever since." he admits.

I burst out into laughter, Stan soon joining. I stop quickly. "I cuss my mom out whenever she tries to get me to take it." We both chime in laughter again. "Remember in summer? When you and I teamed up against Kenny with the water guns? Then you slipped and fell on us, and you ended up breaking your leg?"

Stan snorts. "That sucked ass."

"Yeah." I answer. "I found some pictures from it the other day."

"Really?" he replies. I nod. "Huh... I haven't really thought about our past in a long time. I never really noticed how close we all were."

"Besides Cartman." I say between coughs.

"Of course." Stan says under his breath with a laugh. "Was Cartman ever our friend?"

"Hell no." I sniff. "I don't even get why he hangs out with us in the first place."

"Maybe he's gay for me too."

I pretend to gag. "Sometimes I tell myself I wish I could read minds. But I'd never dare read Cartman's."

It takes him a while to comprehend. I watch him as it computes. "Agh!" He yelps. "Sick!"

I roar with laughter, holding onto my stomach. "I know, I know." I say with an exhausted sigh. We both grow quiet, Stan watching me as I stare out the window, watching snow pile up flake by flake. "Those were the days. We were so care free."

"Yeah." Stan agrees. We're quiet again. He finally looks away, adjusting his seating and bringing his legs to his chest, staring out the winter wonderland outdoors with me. "You know.." I glance at him. "I never did give Wendy that necklace."

"Why not?" I question. "I told you she'd like it."

The Marsh looks at me. "I know. I know she'd like it. But I can't give it to her."

"Why not?" I repeat.

"I can tell how it made you feel."

I roll my eyes. "Don't let me get in the way of you and Wendy. You guys are dating, not us."

"I know." Stan says softly. "But I don't want to give it to her." he sits up, pulling his legs back down and shuffling through things on the table, eventually pulling the same smashed box from underneath a news paper. He holds out to me. "I don't know what else to do with it now. Want it?"

I feel a tight frown form on my lips, causing my eyes to narrow. "Fuck you," I grumble, snatching it from him. He chuckles. "At least you know how to charm both genders."

"I don't even realize I do it." he says. I know he means that.

"It's not your fault you're an idiot." I grin, examining the necklace. A bit too girly for my likings, but I can just hide it under my clothes. I'll keep it right next to my heart. A sigh, and I continue. "Blame Mrs Garrison for teaching us fucked up ways."

Stan snorts. "That's a good excuse. I should listen to you more often."

My previous thoughts swell in my head, causing me to smile. "Yeah, you should."

It didn't take us very long to get better, only a couple of days. I loved it though. It angers me that we couldn't be sick forever, as odd as it sounds. But we got to spend everyday together. Sure, we do it plenty of other times, but I felt closer to him, considering he wouldn't even look at me before. But now the weekend is finally here, and I couldn't be any happier. Not only because we had no school, but it was the first sunny day, and I absolutely loved it. Me, Stan, Kenny and Cartman all decide to spend the saturday at Stark's Pond. Stan removes his foot wear, cautiously dipping his foot in the water. He lets out a cry. "It's cold!"

"Then just jump in, you'll get use to it." I declare. He frowns.

"God, you're such a wuss." Cartman teases.

"Oh yeah, fatty?" Stan hisses. And after a small struggle, Stan finally shoves Cartman into the water. He reaches the surface, confessing his hatred for Stan. "Good." Stan says with a smug look. "I don't want you liking me anytime soon."

"Well, you get your ass in here then!" Cartman barks. Stan shakes his head, only to suddenly let out a gasp as Cartman begins to tug on his ankle, attempting to pull him in.

"Stop it, Cartman, fuck!" he yelps, nearly losing balance while he struggles, trying to kick him with his other foot. I look at Kenny, whispering something to him. Kenny laughs, and with out bothering to change into my trunks, I lunge forward, taking hold of Stan and throwing him into the pond. Stan screams in shock, hitting the water on his back, hat falling from his head and landing atop Cartman's head. The boy pulls it from his head, throwing it at Stan as he comes up to the surface. "Kyle!" Stan gapes. He throws me an angered look, and I stand there in worry. Then he points at me, cackling.

Kenny slams into me, taking hold of my stomach and flipping us off the short dock. We both land in the water, the wind knocked out of me. As I come up from under the water, I hear the end of Kenny's cheering.

Stan is floating there, his mouth covered by water and giving me a playful glare. "What?" I snap, one of my eye brows lifting. I see a smirk rise on his face, and then he disappears under the water. "Gr-AGH!" I'm pulled back down under the water. Stan has my ankle, glancing up at me. I lift my leg, kicking at him to let go. He lets the air out from his mouth, laughing at me and allowing the water flow into his mouth. He points up to the water, and I watch as he makes a small gasp, going up the surface and now filling his lungs. I do the same.

I sigh as he disappears under the water again. I told myself I wouldn't be surprised, since I thought I knew what he was going to do. But this I was wrong. Something happens that completely throws me off guard..

To be continued..