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Chapter 12
Kenny's POV
I'm heading to Kyle's house to pick Demi up. It's my weekend with her and I agreed to let her hang out with Nick before coming home."Hey dude." Kyle greets me when he opens the door. "You got here sooner than I expected."
"I wanted to get Demi home before it got too late." I explain.
"It's only 6:30. Come on in." I walk inside and he closes the door. "Sit down, let's chat for a minute."
I sit down. "What do you want to talk to me about?"
"For starters, how did you get that huge knot on your forehead?" He points at my forehead.
"I fell..." I lie. The truth is, Craig threw the remote at me after a petty argument over what movie we were going to watch.
"Really Kenny?" Kyle raises his eyebrow. "That's the best you can come up with?"
"It's true dude. You know I'm clumsy sometimes." I chuckle nervously.
Kyle shakes his head in disappointment. "When are you going to admit the truth about you and Craig?"
"Okay. The truth is, he wants us to adopt. I agreed to it, but I really don't want to." That part is true, but of course I'm leaving out what Kyle really wants to hear.
Kyle narrows his eyes. "Kenny, you know that's not what I'm talking about."
"Then what are you talking about?"
"Kenny don't play stupid! I'm talking about Craig using you as his own personal punching bag!"
I shake my head. "That's not true!"
"No? Then what are all these bruises?" He pulls up my shirt revealing bruises on my back and stomach. I quickly pull my shirt back down.
"I'm clumsy, I just told you that!"
"Cut the shit Kenny! I'm trying to help you here, but I can't help you if you don't talk!"
"I really should get Demi..." I stand up.
"She's not here."
"What? Where is she?" I begin the panic.
"Relax! Nichole took the kids to get pizza."
"I see." I sit back down.
"I wanted her to take them so we can talk. This is your opportunity to spill the tea!"
I look away from him. "I told you everything…"
"Dude, I can't help you if you don't talk to me!"
"Just let it go Kyle."
"I can't let this go. Do you know that Demi knows something is going on? I overheard her telling Nick how awful Craig treats and how you pretend like everything's okay. She's even certain she heard him hit you!"
Wow, all this time, I thought Demi didn't notice when we had fights. I have to tell Craig to be more mindful of it. "She's 15, you know kids have active imaginations."
"You're one of my best friends! I want you to be happy...and safe!"
"Fine Kyle! Yes, Craig hits me!" I stand up and shout. "Are you happy now?" I can feel myself shaking with anger.
"Leave him!"
"It's not that easy!"
"Why not?"
"Because I love him!"
Kyle stands up. "Kenny, that's not love!"
"You don't understand..." I lower my head in shame.
"I understand that you can do better! Why do you get yourself in these toxic relationships?"
"Maybe I can't do better."
"Why do you say that?"
I look at him. "Think about the life I had growing up. It's not like I witnessed a loving relationship. My parents were alcoholics and constantly fought! Sometimes my dad would hit us!"
"Don't you want better for yourself?"
"Of course I do, but it never seems to work out that way! Bebe and I cheated on each other multiple times, Butters was pimping me out and beating me up, and now Craig beats me up."
"Maybe you should try being alone."
I'm taken aback by that. "Alone?"
"Yes dude, you hop from one relationship to the next. Take time for yourself."
"I don't want to be alone."
"Why not?"
I sigh. "I just don't. I'm so use to being with someone. I wouldn't know what to do if I were by myself."
"That's the problem. You need to take time for yourself. Focus on Kenny for awhile! You damn sure don't need to adopt!"
"It's not that easy. Everyone can't be perfect like you!" I snap at him.
Kyle shakes his head. "I'm far from perfect."
"Oh please Kyle! Do you and Nichole even argue?"
"Of course we do!"
"Yeah right! You've been married for 24 years…happily married might I add. You guys have great careers, three kids that are practically geniuses, a big house, two vacation homes, and a dog. You know all of us envy you two!"
"I didn't realize…"
"Sure you didn't Kyle! You thrive off of it! It's so easy for you to give us advice because you don't have these problems! I wish you did so maybe you would stop being so judgmental of everyone!"
Kyle looks away. "Kenny, I was only trying to help. Obviously you don't want it, so I won't say anything else about it."
"Thank you!" That's all I wanted from him all along.
"However, if you decide you want my help, you know where to find me."
Just then Nichole and the kids return. "Hey guys!" She greets us. She then looks back and forth at the two of us. "Who died?"
Kyle puts his arm around Nichole. "Everything's fine baby, right Kenny?"
I nod. "Right." I look at Demi. "Are you ready to go home?"
"I didn't get a chance to eat pizza." Demi tells me.
"I'll order pizza at home. We need to talk." I have to talk to her about the accusations Kyle overhead her telling Nick.
"Okay…" Demi says with a confused look on her face.
"Sorry we can't stay, but thanks for letting Demi hang out here."
"No problem. See you next time." Nichole smiles.
"Remember what I said Kenny." Kyle adds in.
"Bye Kyle." I tell him just before we leave. I didn't mean to snap at Kyle the way I did, but I really don't need him telling me how to live my life. Hopefully now, he'll back off.
Shannon's POV
I'm helping Julia get ready. We're going out to dinner with Kobe and Josh. Kobe and I are home this weekend so we thought it we would get Josh out of the house since he doesn't get out much. I made it clear that we're just hanging out as friends so he doesn't get the wrong impression.
"I hope he doesn't get lost." I tell Julia.
"He's made it to South Park before. I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Yeah, I guess I'm worried for nothing. I'm surprised Kobe isn't here yet."
"He's going to meet us there. He had to run an errand for his parents."
"No surprise there!"
"Speaking of parents…I think mom and dad might be splitting up."
I wasn't expecting the conversation to take that turn. "Why do you think that?"
"Dad is always leaving and he's gone for long periods of time. When he is here, all they do is fight."
"I'm shocked to hear that. They love each other so much."
"I know! But the way they are now, I'm not so sure. I really hope they don't split up, I don't want to go through another divorce."
I put my hand on Julia's shoulder and smile. "I'm sure everything will be fine." Just then, the doorbell rings. "That's probably Josh." I head to the door and answer it and sure enough it's him. He's looking around in shock and awe. "Hi Josh. Is everything okay?"
"This is your house? This place is huge!"
I laugh. "Come on in." He walks in and I close the door. "I'm just finishing up on Julia's hair. We'll be out in a few. Make yourself at home."
"Okay." He sits down on the couch, I notice he's still looking around.
I head back into Julia's room and I close the door. "Was that Josh?" She asks.
I nod. "Yeah, he seems shocked by the house. I don't know what that's all about."
"Maybe he's never seen a house this size." Julia shrugs.
"I guess not. It's just weird to me."
She laughs. "Oh leave him alone Shannon. You critique everything about him."
"I don't mean to. I'm just baffled by some of the things he says."
"You said he lived a sheltered life, right?" I nod. "Well there you go! He's not use to it."
"Whatever! Are we done here?" I ask, referring to her hair.
She looks in the mirror and touches her hair. "Yes! I'll text Kobe and tell him we're on the way."
"Sounds good." We head out into the living room and we see Josh holding a picture frame. "Are you checking out the family photos Josh?" I laugh.
He holds up the picture that has dad, Wendy, Julia, Eric Theo, and Isabella in it. "I don't understand…" He says softly.
"The picture?" Julia asks. "That's our family photo from last Christmas."
"Why is he in here?" He points at Dad.
"Because he's my Dad…"
Josh's eyes widen. "Eric Cartman is your Dad?"
Julia nods. "Yes and that's my mom and my brother and sister."
"He's my Dad too…"
Julia and I look at each other in shock. I look at Josh. "Shut up! He's my father! Are you telling me…I was dating my own brother?" I feel like I want to throw up.
"Wait…he's your dad too? I thought you two were cousins?" He asks confused.
I nod. "We are! Eric is Julia's STEP father she just calls him Dad, but he's my biological father. He never mentioned that he had another son."
"He never told me he had other kids. So he lives here?"
"Yes…"
Josh puts the picture down, but continues to stare at it. "I had no idea. That explains why he told me not to come to South Park and to end things with you."
"I wonder why he kept you a secret."
"He hates me."
"Why do say that?"
"He yells at me, hits me, calls me names. Anything bad you can think of, he does it."
"Now you wait just a damn minute!" I yell. I'm not going to allow him to slander my dad's name like this! "My dad may not be perfect, but he would never mistreat his kids! Don't you dare say that again!"
"I have to agree with Shannon." Julia steps in. "I'll admit, when he and my mom got married, we didn't get along, but he never mistreated me."
Josh looks down. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
"No you shouldn't! Especially if you're going to tell lies!" Josh backs away slowly as I'm yelling.
"A-again, I-I'm sorry. I better go…"
"You don't have to leave." Julia tries to stop him. "What about dinner?"
Josh tries to force a smile. "I'm going to have to take a rain check. Please whatever you do, don't tell dad I was here."
"Okay…" With that, Josh leaves. Julia looks at me. "Wow…I wasn't expecting that!"
I shake my head. "Neither was I. Wow, I have another little brother." I feel a little chill. "I was dating him…no wonder it never felt right."
Julia nods in agreement. "I wonder if Mom knows about this."
"Maybe she doesn't. I'm sure she would've said something if she did."
"I'm going to tell her."
"I'm going to confront my dad about this when he gets home. Tell Kobe we can't make it tonight. I'm not in the mood to hang out…" I head into my room. I'm wondering if there's any truth to what Josh said about dad. My dad isn't abusive, I just refuse to believe that. But I do want to know why he didn't tell anyone about him. As far as I'm concerned, there's no excuse for that.
