A/N – Back with the new chapter, Hope you all enjoy it, because there's more where this came from! PLEASE REVIEW!
Chapter 4 – "154"
Kyle's POV
"Thank you, doctor." I said to the man who had just exited Stan's room. In response, I was granted a nod as the doctor walked past me and down the hall. My eyes followed him for a moment as I sat, head hung, my face pointed toward my legs. My arms were lazily draped over my knees, and I moved them to either side of myself, grasping the bench where I sat. I propped myself up and slipped my cell phone back into my pocket as I made my way across the hall to Stan's door.
Next out of the door were his parents. They had already seen him? I guess they didn't tell me he was awake earlier because they knew that I would've barged in on their private family time. They were absolutely right. I would have done just that.
"Kyle," Sharon began, "Stan's ready to see you. We told him everything you said, back at the pond. And everything you did today, waiting for him…"
She left Randy's side, approached me, and gave me one of the most loving, tender hugs I think I've ever experienced. I stood, frozen for a moment, not expecting that from her.
"I'm happy that my Stanley has a friend like you." She softly spoke. I put my arms around her in comfort as I looked at her, then to Randy, who just smiled, communicating to me that he was just as grateful. Sharon released me after a second, and put her hands on my arms, keeping them at my side as she gave me one more teary-eyed look, to which I responded with a nod and a smile of reassurance.
I stood at the door, waving Stan's parents goodbye, and grasped the doorknob to Room 154. Pushing the door open carefully as not to disturb, I slowly entered the single-patient room, eyes glancing over Stan, who was watching me intently. I paid it no mind. No use in acting all frantic, it could upset him. Glancing over Stan, I turned back to the door, pushing it shut, hearing the click of the door going back into place. The click echoed ever so slightly throughout the small room. You could hear a pin drop.
I turned to face Stan from across the room. His eyes never left mine, and mine never left his. He was sitting up, wearing an expression of…guilt? Anger? Despair? It looked as if he wanted to cry out, but he knew that nobody would answer. I tilted my head to the side ever so slightly, and bit the corner of my lip as I looked to the ground, inhaling audibly and giving a few short nods to the floor beneath my feet before looking back at Stan, who held the same, unchanged expression on his delicate face.
"Stan…" I began.
"Don't." Stan choked out in a hushed tone.
I exhaled softly. What could I say when I don't even know what's wrong?
"Please," Stan said, "Just don't."
I approached his bedside, pulling up a chair, and sitting down on it backwards, my arms folded over the chair's backrest as I looked into Stan's eyes, not saying a word. But trying to find an answer. Stan shifted his position onto his side facing me, and blinked at me, his composure getting noticeably more defensive. I outstretched a hand, watching him flinch a bit. Was he afraid of me? What happened to him? I landed my hand on his shoulder, like I always did.
"I'm glad you're awake." I said. Stan shifted his confused gaze to my hand, which still rested on his shoulder. He looked back to me, eyebrows raised in a sad glare that called out for help.
"You…you don't hate me?" He asked. I removed my hand from his shoulder and looked to his nightstand, at the picture of us. Stan followed my gaze. I knew he was, but I paid it no mind, once again. I picked up the picture and brought it down to my lap. I held it in both hands and stared down at it while Stan had his mouth halfway open, eyes darting back and forth from me to the picture, as if he were afraid of what I would say, or afraid of whatever was going to come next. Looking down at the picture, I thought of all the times we had together, all the adventures, all the laughs…and now here we sit, in a hospital room after his best friend attempted suicide.
I looked up at Stan once again, a tear streaming down my cheek.
"No, Stan…I…" I choked out as I began to feel tears welling up in my eyes. "Why?"
"…Because I wanted to sleep." Stan said painstakingly. I let a tear fall at that. So young, so much to live for, and yet…
I got off the chair, scooted it to the side and knelt at his bedside, our faces mere inches from each other.
"Stan…I don't know your pain. I don't know why you chose to do…that." I said, gesturing to his cut with my head. "Please…tell me what to do, Stan. I want to help you, but I don't know how!" I pleaded to him.
"Was it me? Was it my fault, Stan? Please I need to know! If it is me, then for your sake, I will never see you again if it means you will be safe." I continued. Stan's eyes grew larger by the sentence, and he looked appalled as he slowly shook his head.
"Kyle…" I looked up at him, tears pouring from my face in desperation. "I was in a place…it was dark." I listened to his words, clinging to anything he would say.
"I tried to think of what you said to me at Stark's Pond, but…the words just slipped away from my memory...I guess I'm just not strong enough. I never will be."
"Stan...it's ok." I said as I placed my hand over his shoulder and onto his back, pulling him closer, our foreheads touching. "Just remember…"
"I said it back then, and now, I will say it again. You are my best friend, and I…I can't go on, I won't go on, won't face this world, unless you're right there beside me. And when we fall…"
I placed the picture between us.
"We will both be here to pick each other up, because that's what friends do. It's…what I will always do for you. Now, and till the day I die. So no matter what you do, no matter what you become…"
I hold the picture against Stan's heart.
"I will always be with you."
Stan sniffled, our foreheads detaching from each other. His lips trembled as he opened his mouth, shakily breathing as he looked at me with tear stained red eyes, not of sadness, but of relief, gratitude, and happiness. Happiness that I had not seen from Stan in a long time. After a moment, I went in for a hug. Stan fell into my embrace with one of his own. No tears were shed, no sobs were heard, it was just me and Stan, locked in a tight embrace, neither of us ever letting go.
I ruffled his hair a bit. "And I'll never hate you, ok?" Stan just nodded into my chest.
"Thank you, Kyle. Thank you so much." Stan muffled into my jacket as he held on tighter, turning his head to rest on my chest, breathing easy.
"So, when are you getting out of here?" I asked after a minute.
"My parents said I can be discharged tonight if I felt like I was ready to go home."
"Hm…well, do you wanna stay the night at my house then? It would be fun!" I offered. Stan hesitated. "I trust you, Stan. I'm not your babysitter, I'm your friend. I just really wanna spend some time with you since it's been awhile."
"Yeah, that sounds good." He said. Ok, now I'm excited. It's been such a long time since we've hung out, just the two of us. This should be fun.
"Sweet! I'll call my mom and let her know, and you can use my phone if you want to tell your mom."
"Ok, thanks!" Stan said, lightening the mood with his usual demeanor. I'm so glad to see that in him again.
Maybe…just maybe…I can fix you after all, Stan.
I glanced at my phone, noticing a text from Kenny.
Kenny McComick: Hey dude, we're outside Stan's room, can we come in?
That was five minutes ago. That's…awesome. They both showed up to support Stan. This should be good when he finds out, I thought with a bit of laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" Stan asked out of pure curiosity.
"Oh nothing, you just, uh…" I walked toward the door. "You have some visitors."
I opened the door to Kenny and Cartman standing on the other side, looking concerned and growing restless.
"Come on in guys, all is well." I said as I gestured for them to come in. Kenny was the first while Cartman squeezed in after.
"Hey dude! How you holdin' up?" Kenny cheerfully greeted Stan. Stan replied with a light, yet genuine laugh.
"Not so bad, Ken. Not anymore anyway." Stan subtly shot a look my way, but I don't think Kenny or Cartman noticed but I sure did.
"Yeah Stan, really. You had us shitting our pants, but I'm glad you're ok." Cartman said.
"Haha thanks Cartman." Stan said as he looked upon their relieved, smiling faces. "Thank you guys. I really am so lucky to have you all as my friends. Thank you."
"No problem man." Kenny said. "But if you ever try that again I think I might just come over and kill you myself!" Kenny said jokingly, earning him a smile from Stan.
"Ok, we should go, let you rest." Kenny said, Cartman agreeing. "When are we hanging out again Stan? I wanna get everybody back together soon. After all this, you could really use some normalcy." Kenny said.
"Uh..well, it is Friday, do you wanna hang out tomorrow afternoon? I'm up for anything." Stan said.
"Kyle, you good for tomorrow?" Kenny asked.
"Yeah," I said. "I have nothing going on." I smiled as Kenny put up a thumbs up.
"Sweet! I'll text you guys." Kenny said, turning to walk out of the room.
"Ey! Keeeny! What about me, dick?" Cartman complained.
"Dude, I already know you're free. I'll text you anyways though." Kenny said.
"Alright, alright you fucking better!" Cartman joked.
"Well, rest up, Stan. Glad you're safe and sound." Kenny said sincerely.
"Yeah, Stan." Cartman said, giving a genuine smile. "I'm glad you're ok."
"Thanks guys." Stan smiled as they left the room, letting the door click back into place. I turned and looked at Stan, who was noticeably happier after their visit. To this realization, I smiled.
"I'm so thankful for you guys, you know that?" Stan said, shifting his gaze toward me.
"We're thankful for you, Stan." I said. Stan looked into my eyes with a silent thanks. I returned the gesture, and walked back to Stan, handing him the photo of us.
"Your mom said you keep this on your nightstand at home." I said.
"Yeah, I have for years." He replied.
"Well you're not the only one." I said with a bright smile.
"I'm glad." Stan said. "You have no idea."
After a minute, I pressed a button on the remote attached to Stan's bed to call a nurse for discharge. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh were already down there awaiting the call, so they signed the discharge papers right away.
"Alright Stan. Let's get you outta here." I said.
"I heard that!" Stan exclaimed.
A/N – Thanks for reading everybody! Next chapter will be up soon. More drama and stuff happening later, so please review with suggestions, because I'm taking all of them! Seeya next time!
