A/N: So, I wrote this chapter at four in the morning while watching Tosh.0. Sorry if it sucks… Thank you for all of the reviews thus far. I offer my deepest, sincerest apologies for how late this is… The next chapter's halfway written though!
Suspended. Dylan and Cartman had been reprimanded for their actions in the way the principal had seen fit. The fight wasn't even that big of a deal in comparison to some of the other bouts that had occurred in just the past school year, but the combination of communal distaste for Cartman and Dylan's bad attitude as of late was just enough to help make the final decision.
Kyle had heard the news from Kenny, who had walked the humiliated red-head to class before leaving to go sit in the office and listen in on the conversation. He received a tardy slip and left to go rejoin Kyle in fifth hour, spilling to him every detail he had overheard. The two were currently waiting to be picked up by their parents, according to the blonde, who urged him to go speak with Dylan before it was too late. "He's going to be suspended for two weeks, dude. If you don't talk to him now, you may lose your nerve by the time he gets back," he had said. Kyle scowled at his friend's inducing but oh-so-equitable advice, but eventually he sighed and resigned to try to meet up with him after class.
As the bell rung, Kyle felt his heart leap at both the sudden noise (even though he had been watching the clock most of the class period and should've been prepared for the sound), and from anxiety unexpectedly shooting through his body. He grabbed his bag and took a deep shaky breath, turning to see Kenny offering him his genuine grin, laced with encouragement. He returned the smile as best he could, becoming slightly reassured by his friend's confidence in him. He turned to look at the door and left without another thought. He knew that if he were to overanalyze what he was about to do, he would bypass the office and go straight to his last period of the day. The thought was very intriguing, but he pushed it to the back of his mind, replaying Kenny's words for reassurance.
He approached the door way far faster than he would've liked, but he ignored the bitter feeling and entered the room, several eyes falling on him briefly before resuming their previous tasks. He gave a polite smile to any whose eyes lingered, and that was enough for them to join the others in not caring. Once he briefly adjusted himself to the atmosphere of the slightly crowded and business-like room, he allowed his eyes to scan it over, seeking out the noirette. As nervous as he was, a small part of him was actually quite disappointed when he didn't see him among the crowd.
"Can I help you?" the lady at the desk asked in a slight country accent, and it took Kyle a moment to realize she was talking to him. He jumped slightly and directed his attention to her piercing blue eyes, trying to make out in his hazed mind what she had said. Once he realized, he shook his head. Just as the lady was about to look back down at the computer, an air of irritation and intolerance plastered about her, Kyle decided to take advantage of the situation.
"Umm… Actually, ma'am, could you tell me where Dylan is? I was asked to bring him the work he missed from last period." Of course it was a lie. But it was the perfect opportunity to talk to him, and teachers and school officials in general loved it when someone mentioned schoolwork or anything similar. If he would've said something like, 'he forgot something at lunch' or something of that sort, she would've stuck up her nose and made him leave it with her. But just as Kyle had predicted, she beamed at him and stood from her chair to lead him directly to his doom. He felt his sweat-covered palms start to shake slightly, and he wiped them against his pants leg in an attempt to both steady them and get rid of excess perspiration.
She opened the door, and there-in all of his beautiful gothic glory- sat Dylan, stoic and uncaring as usual. He looked up expectantly, as if he had been awaiting Kyle's arrival. But that statement was disproven when Dylan's features shifted from that of his customary indifference to one of shocked horror, then to what Kyle dared to call…amused delight? Kyle thanked the lady, who smiled in return and left, leaving the door ajar. He had a feeling that the action wasn't an accident either. Realizing that there was no way of backing out now, he faced the problem head-on, looking from the pale stone floor directly into the dark eyes of the enemy. But as the eye contact lasted for more than a few mere moments, and they seemed to have a conversation with no words involved, Kyle realized that they weren't enemies at all. It was as if he could almost sense the words buried deep within Dylan's heart that he longed to say.
Nevertheless, he dared not mention his thoughts, out of fear of them just being high hopes. They stood in complete silence for a brief moment more before the sound of a door closing in the distance broke their concentration. Kyle's green eyes immediately averted the dark ones they had been previously examining and he looked back to the ground, feeling his face heat up.
"Kyle…" The voice sounded desperate, longing. He felt his heartbeat quicken at the sound of his name falling from the lips of the boy who hadn't spoken to him in weeks. It was the most beautiful sound in the world. Just hearing his voice, directed toward Kyle himself, was enough to make the red-head content and want to burst into tears of happiness. It was strange and probably stupid, but it was the complete truth. The words that followed that single consonant that had the red-head in fit of emotions were more than Kyle could've ever asked for. Dylan's voice was soft but distraught. "I never meant to hurt you…"