CHAPTER 4 - In which the Protagonist gets some unbiased Advice from a peripheral Character
Out of anybody in the year, the last person Stan thought he would go to advice for would be fucking Bridon Gueermo.
Turns out the musical heartthrob of the school was gay. After Tweek and Craig had proven that out students could get through South Park's schooling system without getting the crap beaten out of them, the most sought-after boy in Colorado's crappiest town came out in the ninth grade.
Stan would have met him at Tweak Bros., but the probability of being seen by anyone was too high and he was not in the mood for a random well-meaning acquaintance to shower happiness and positivity onto his little island of misery. So, Stark's Pond it was. No-one came here anymore. Stan thought it funny how things can change so much in so short a space of time.
He saw Bridon already there waiting for him. The kid really needed to get his hair cut now - the style had turned from curtain to full-on wallpapering down the sides of his face. He sat down on the snowy ground next to the boy and sighed.
"So... Kyle."
"Shut up Bridon, I know it's stupid."
"I don't think it's stupid, Marsh."
"Well I do, Gueermo." Stan wasn't so tired today, just angry. He had already regretted asking to meet the boy, but Tweek and Craig were both too close to Kyle and the others for their confidentiality to be assured.
"You don't have to tell him," Bridon continued with a glint in his eye.
"I do. It feels wrong, me seeing him like that and then not telling him."
"Right answer."
Stan looked at the younger boy confused.
"I was playing devil's advocate, Stan. I think you should tell him, and evidently you do too. But I know that your gut is screaming at you not to. Because you are afraid. Trust me, Marsh, I've been there."
Stan nodded and then looked down and watched his own chest rise and fall with his breathing.
"How long have you known?"
"Since fourth grade. We had a fight. He called me Cartman and I was really hurt, so I punched him. We fought, and I felt like shit afterwards. I didn't know why it got to me so bad, and why I felt so bad for punching him up. We did that sort of shit all the time. But then I thought about it and ..."
"It was way before then."
Stan was taken aback with how blunt Bridon was being.
"What?"
"You've had the eye for him since I joined the school. I could notice it. Even throughout your infatuation with all the girls, it's been him."
"Shut up."
"I'm being honest here Marsh. You called me out here to talk to you about it, I am talking to you about it."
Stan fell silent once again. To be honest it probably had been pretty obvious. 'Super Best Friends' just screamed 'Intense Homo Attraction'.
Stan sighed. "Do you think he's..."
"No."
Stan jolted his head around and stared at Bridon. "No?"
"I don't think he's gay, no."
"So..."
"You still have to tell him, Stan. Besides, I could be wrong."
"What's the point?" Stan kicked away a rock from beside his feet which went skittering into the pond. "If he's not gay, there isn't any hope of us getting together, there - "
"You know damn well that's not the only reason you want to tell him."
"But he'll flip out."
"He won't flip out. He's the most level-headed kid here."
"He'll flip out, Bridon, the way he is at the moment."
Bridon had to concede he hadn't been following Kyle closely enough recently to disagree.
They paused for some time, during which Bridon checked his phone too many times, and Stan pulled out handfuls of grass from the earth and threw them towards the water. It was approaching mid-day, and several slightly uncomfortable minutes had passed between the boys before Bridon spoke again.
"What is it about him?"
"Dude, are you serious?"
"I want to make sure you're really into him."
"It's not about looks, if that's what you're asking. Well, not exclusively."
Bridon chuckled. He had to admit that Kyle somehow had matured into a rather handsome young man. Stan had too, provided he remembered to take care of his appearance on occasion. They would look good as a couple.
"Good. As long as you really love him - "
"Of COURSE I fucking love him!" Stan practically yelled back. A few crows took off from nearby trees as his voice echoed a little. Bridon wasn't surprised - he just smiled softly, and brought Stan in for a hug. Stan didn't refuse.