Title: Third Time is the Charm

Author: Miarae

Summary: It's his last year of high school and Stan thinks an exchange trip would be fun. How do you randomly encounter someone that used to be your best friend? Style.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Near 1200 pageviews and only 17 reviews. Am I doing something wrong? Please review, it means so much to me. I want to know how I can improve on my story.

And this chapter is extremely short. I had major writers-block.


Dear Stan,

If you read this, we're probably in a huge fight. And you have every right and reason to hate me. I just hope that you reading this letter means I'll still have a chance to make it up to you.

I know I should have told you the moment I figured it out, and that there is no excuse that could possibly make this all okay. I still want to try and explain though, and I can only hope you'll read this and understand that I never meant to hurt you.

I love you, Stan. I have always loved you, even when we didn't talk. I wanted to call you so many times. Why didn't I do it? Because I thought you'd be better off without me. I was just a loser, with no time for anything, let alone a super best friend. I figured that if I didn't contact you, you'd move on and find another best friend. And I wanted you to, Stan, I really did. When I realised that I was actually talking to you and not some other random kid called Stan (which I really tried to convince myself of, even after I heard you live in South Park) it hurt to know that you still thought of me as much as I thought of you. Because I suddenly felt like all those years I spent trying not to call you were in vain.

And part of me was happy, because you were back in my life and it seemed as if you liked being in it. I did too. I loved being able to talk to you, feel that closeness again. Did you feel it too? Like some emptiness had been filled? I never thought that I would feel like that again, and I knew that telling you, without being able to actually face you and talk about it in person, would leave me more alone than ever. I didn't want that, and that's why I lied. Because I missed you, and I love you, and I wanted all that I could get in the limited time we had. I'm sorry if I hurt you Stan, I didn't mean to. I considered leaving long before I even got onto that bus, but one way or another we need that talk.

So yeah...I'll be waiting for you, to come to talk to me.
-Kyle

He'd put his phone number underneath the signature, hoping that Stan might at least send him a text. Now all he needed was to give the letter to him, but with the way those blue eyes were looking at him he was worried that his ex-friend would rip it in half before he could even tell him what the letter was about. So instead of handing it over like he wanted to, he just walked over to him, eyes only leaving the others face to briefly look at his parents. They didn't seem to recognize him, and he couldn't blame them. He was glad that they were there though, it would make it harder for Stan to either beat him senseless or leave without him.

"Hello" His voice wavered a little, but he smiled at Randy and Sharon Marsh, ignoring the furious teen for the moment. Extending his hand he shook both of their hands. "I'm Kyle. It's nice to meet you."

Sharon was about to reply to him when her son spoke up. "You already know him mom. Remember the Jewish kid that used to live here? With the superbitch as a mother?" The warm smile on her face froze as she glared at her son for a moment, disapproving of his words. Kyle just stood there, awkwardly fingering his backpack.

"Of course I remember. Well that is just great. You must tell us everything about...San Francisco, was it? Isn't it wonderful, Stanley? Having your old friend back?" Maybe she was just blind, or she tried to relieve a bit of tension. Whatever it was, it wasn't working. Stan just glared at him, only answering when his father elbowed him in the ribs.

"Fan-fucking-tastic" His friend answered sarcastically, still shooting daggers with his eyes. Kyle flinched a little, the smile on his face growing faker with the second. Honestly, what had he been expecting? For Stan to hug him and forgive everything? To say that he was happy, and that his betrayal meant nothing? That they would be super best friends again, just like -that-? This needed time, and a lot of it. For the first time he worried that two weeks wouldn't be enough, and that Stan flat out refused to come visit him when the exchange program was switched around and the South Park kids would be staying in San Francisco.