Hate – Chapter 7
Stan: Last night was totally awesome. We really need to hang out more.
Kyle: Definitely! It's been way too long since the four of us got to hang like that.
Stan: I was also glad that you came to Token's the other night, even though I didn't get to see you much.
Kyle bit his lip. He was lying on his stomach, his laptop in front of him on the bed. It was Sunday night. The morning had flown by, and before he knew it, they were all leaving Cartman's house to go home. Kyle never approached Cartman to talk about what had happened Friday night, nor did the subject come up again amongst the group. He had thrown himself into doing his homework, so that he didn't have to analyze the events any further. He kicked his feet in the air a bit, glad that he had some alone time with Stan, even though it was in the form of an IM.
Kyle: Yeah, I had a blast that night too …although I DID get pretty hammered.
Stan: I wish I could have hung out with you more.
Kyle: Well, I understand. Wendy was there and all.
Stan: Yeah.
Kyle: Dude, Kenny's been flirting with me ever since that night… it's weird.
Stan: Well, I saw the three of you on the dance floor. It was pretty intense.
Kyle: I guess… I don't really remember it all that well.
Stan: lol. Maybe it's better that way?
Kyle: Maybe. I don't like not knowing what happened.
Stan: Well, I think Kenny was surprised to see you like that. It's not like you're usually so… I don't know.
Kyle: lol.
Stan: Yeah.
Kyle: It was weird with Cartman too.
Stan: Yeah?
Kyle: I mean, it's cool, but… we weren't fighting at all. And, he said that he considered us almost friends, which is really weird.
Stan: Well, we've all been friends since forever.
Kyle: Yeah, but Cartman and I always hated each other, even though the four of us hung out.
Stan: Well, maybe you've both grown up.
Kyle: Maybe.
Kyle sighed. He wanted to tell Stan in person, but he feared that either Kenny or Cartman would let something slip to Stan. He decided that although it wasn't the way he envisioned the conversation starting, he was going to go ahead and have it anyway.
Kyle: Stan? Can I tell you something?
Stan: What?
Kyle: I'd… rather do this in person, but… I don't want to tell you at school, and I know we've both been busy… but…
He paused, his stomach knotting up nervously. He trusted Stan, but he had barely come to terms with it himself.
Kyle: I'm gay.
There was a pause before Stan responded. Kyle found it difficult to breathe until Stan's reply popped up on his screen.
Stan: I… don't know how to respond to that. But… ok. That's cool. How long did you know?
Kyle let out a sigh of relief. He knew Stan wouldn't care, but it still made him nervous breaching the topic anyway. He smiled slightly, the tenseness completely gone.
Kyle: I don't know. To be honest, I've been avoiding thinking about it, but… I suppose I've known for a while. You won't feel weird?
Stan: No. Kyle, you're my best friend. I mean, it's kind of weird, I guess. but… no offense, but I've known too. At least, I've suspected.
Kyle: Am I that transparent?
Stan: lol, maybe. You just never seemed to take an interest in girls, is all. But to be fair, you haven't really shown any interest in guys, either.
Kyle: Well, I think I showed some interest on Friday night, grinding up with Kenny and Cartman, and with some of the things I said. I think they both figured it out. Plus, when Bebe asked me out, I stupidly told her that I wasn't interested in girls.
Stan: shit
Kyle: Yeah, I'm totally screwed. She'll probably tell the whole school tomorrow. And seriously, I don't want this to become a big deal. I'm not flaming like Big Gay Al, or weird like Ms. Garrison. But I'd totally be associated with them if everyone knew.
Stan: Well, maybe she won't. Wendy has told me in the past that Bebe has kept some of Wendy's secrets – you know, the big ones… so maybe Bebe won't say anything.
Kyle: I hope so. I've only recently thought about any of this, and I don't really need the school in my business as I try to figure all of this out.
Stan: Yeah. Well, I promise I won't tell anyone, and I doubt Kenny would blab.
Kyle: Mostly I'm just worried about Cartman and Bebe.
Stan: Well… I heard your conversation last night, and by the sound of it, Cartman probably won't say anything.
Kyle: Huh?
Stan: I was awake. I heard Kenny say he had a boner. … Did he?
Kyle frowned. He didn't like thinking about that.
Kyle: Yeah.
Stan: Well, see? It would be hard to use this against you, because you could easily retort that he had a boner. AND let you sleep in his bed afterwards. So… you're in the clear, I think.
Kyle: I didn't sleep with him though!
Stan: lol, dude, I know. But Cartman was rather embarrassed about it. Kenny somehow dragged the information out of him. He talked as if he already knew that Cartman and you shared the bed, and Cartman fell for it. Lol. He was pretty upset with Kenny.
Kyle: This was before I got there?
Stan: Yeah. Kenny was trying to get information out of Cartman and filling me in about what happened.
Kyle: Dude, I don't know what to do about Kenny…
Stan: Yeah, I don't know. Sorry. But I'm sure you'll figure something out.
Kyle: I suppose.
Stan: Anyway, I think that next weekend we should all try to hang again. In fact, I think we should all try to put away a block of time every week for it. I mean, we only have so much time before you run off to some fancy college and I get the hell out of here… and who knows what Cartman is going to do.
Kyle: Probably try to take over the world or start a Nazi camp or something.
Stan: lol. But what do you think? I hate that we haven't been able to hang a lot lately.
Kyle: I'd be up to it, as long as Kenny starts to leave me alone after a while. Lol.
Stan: Awesome! We should definitely ask the guys. I think we should always try for Saturday nights. I have things going on during the day, usually, but I'm free those nights. Plus, then we aren't interfering with Friday night, which is when most of the parties and games are. And Sunday morning is church…
Kyle: And I'm busy that night doing homework and stuff. So… that would be perfect!
Stan: Awesome. So, I haven't been able to tell you, but I had an awesome practice Thursday night…
Kyle didn't care much for Stan's practice or game rants, mostly because he wasn't into sports himself, but he let the other boy ramble on about it. Kyle loved his best friend, especially more now that he knew that Stan had been missing him too, but also because he didn't care that he was gay. No matter what, he could trust Stan. Kyle smiled as Stan explained to Kyle how some complicated move he did by accident ended up being on the play list for the next game.
