Here are the best chapters I've been looking forward to setting up. Sorry, I know I didn't update this in such a long time. At least understand whenever I'm not getting up new chapters it only means that I'm not around internet. Anyways, glad to return to the story. Continue on reading!
Here we were again. Back at Hell's Hospital where our friend was immediately whisked away on a stretcher and taken in by doctors to quickly treat his wounds. Stan and I had no choice but to wait here in the Waiting Room…Where we had nothing to distract us except for the distracting thoughts in our heads. We prayed that we wouldn't receive any more bad news. I was especially feeling guilty about what happened.
"It's all my fault," I said sadly. "Why did I ever drag us off to see that crazy Trent Boyett? I should have known better…"
"Don't blame yourself, Kyle. If it wasn't for Kenny, I would have been the one in that emergency room," Stan said, sounding just as torn up as I was. "I never saw it coming. Why the hell didn't I dodge?"
I don't know how long we sat there, beating ourselves up about it. I couldn't stop feeling like shit. How could this have happened? An half-hour later, the doctor finally entered the room where Stan and I automatically jumped to our feet, ready to take the news. Wrapping the stethoscope around his neck, the doctor had a reassuring smile when he saw us looking so anxious.
"Relax boys. Your friend is going to be okay. He has some nasty cuts on his back but luckily it wasn't bad enough to damage his spinal cord, otherwise that would have caused paralysis. Your friend will have to remain in the hospital for a few days so he can rest up his back," the doctor informed us.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Stan and I were already rushing to the hospital room. Once there, we spotted Kenny safely tucked into bed with his bare chest wrapped in bandages and his back resting on multiple soft pillows. He looked up and a grin appeared on his face. I noticed that Kenny was no longer wearing his orange-parka. We could see everything of him. As usual, his golden-blond hair was in messy tangles which added to his boy-charm. Nonetheless, I was super stoked to see him looking okay and acting like himself. Stan was the first to rush to his side.
"Kenny! Thank god, man. How are you feeling?"Stan said happily. "I thought Trent was seriously going to kill you. I can't believe that unimaginable prick would pull an ambush like that."
"I can believe it," I said good-heartedly. "But all I care about is that you're safe and alive, Kenny. Word to the wise? We need to stay the fuck away from Trent."
Stan and Kenny couldn't have agreed more. Now I stood there feeling happier than I've been in the last hour or so. Again I took notice of Kenny's behavior toward my best friend. I don't think I was seeing things here. Kenny reached out to gently grip Stan's shoulder and it looked like he wanted to bring him closer. No… More like Kenny wanted Stan to be close to him. With his hoodie off, I had no trouble reading the look of adoration on Kenny's face. Am I the only one noticing this?
"I didn't mean to scare you guys like that," Kenny started to apologize. "But when I saw Trent coming at Stan with that knife…I…I don't know what possessed me. It was all I could think of…" There Kenny gazed up at Stan with a look of longing in those sky-blue eyes.
"I'm real glad you've managed to come out of that alive. Just don't ever scare us like that again, Kenny," Stan scolded.
I watched as Stan and Kenny turned to each other for support and strength. I felt envious to see them sharing a bond like that. Was it me or was Kenny attracted to Stan? After all, my best friend was officially single now that Wendy left him for a more glamorous boyfriend. And yet Stan wasn't gay…or was he? Suddenly I was starting to feel like a third wheel here so I turned and made my way toward the door.
"I'll be right back, guys. I'm going to go find myself a snack-machine," I told them. If my theory was correct, I was deliberately leaving those two alone. Now let's see what kind of sparks fly between those two.
The second Kyle left, Stan thought he should seize the opportunity to let out the emotions that he'd been having a hard time deciphering. He couldn't get the images out of his head, the ones with Trent coming at him to attack and Kenny moving in front of him like a shield. While Kenny was massaging his back up against the pillows, he was suddenly aware that Stan was staring at him with tears in his midnight-blue eyes. Before Kenny had a chance to ask what was wrong, Stan was giving him a sharp punch in the shoulder.
"Why Kenny? Why did you have to go do that for me? Are you out of your fucking mind? Were you trying to get yourself killed?" Stan said all this very fast that he wondered if Kenny would be able to give him a straight answer.
"Damn it! He was aiming for me! I'm the one who should be sitting here in this hospital bed, not you!" Stan frowned angrily as the volume of his voice rose. "Why did you have to go risk your life like that? I'm not worth that!"
"YOU ARE WORTH IT!" Kenny interrupted with a shout, hardly caring who heard him. "Look, I don't know what Wendy might have told you, but you've always been loyal, honest, well-meaning, sensitive, sweet, and the handsomest guy that no cunt should ever have to keep trading in for someone else. I know the break-up was bad, but don't you ever let it take away your self-esteem!"
Kenny never meant to end up being emotional himself, but it all just slipped out. He'd wanted to say that to Stan for a very long time. He couldn't bring himself to admit his feelings…there was a good chance that he would be rejected. Even so, it still made Kenny mad to think of the way Wendy left Stan. If Kenny had been lucky enough to have someone like Stan, he would never let him go. Now that Kenny inadvertently confessed all that, he could no longer look Stan in the face anymore and instead chose to stare down at the floor.
"Oh Kenny…," Stan whispered softly. He didn't know what else to say. But he did know how he felt. Touched…
Meanwhile… I was busy standing at the snack-machine, trying to count how much change I had left from my allowance. Kenny was going to be okay. We wouldn't dare press charges against Trent Boyett; otherwise we'd just be giving him more reasons to come after us. Suddenly I felt two big arms wrap themselves around me and pulled me into a tight embrace, followed by a very familiar voice in my ear.
"Oh god, Kahl! Are you okay? What the hell happened here? What did that crazy motherfucker do to you? I heard what happened with Trent Boyett. Did he try to hurt you? Why are you here?"
It was Cartman. I don't know what surprised me more, the fact that he was here or that he was hugging me as if he thought I was the one who got hurt. I had to concentrate on breathing as Cartman held onto me and started checking me over as if determined to find something wrong at once. How did he even know we were at the hospital? With him was Butters who came forward to gently pull Cartman off me and consolingly patted him on the back.
"There, there Eric. It's okay. Kyle looks fine to me. Maybe he wasn't the one who got hurt," Butters reassured Cartman.
Cartman nodded understandably and turned away to look at Butters who was smiling. I was beginning to feel angry that Cartman had stop paying attention to me like that, although I didn't know why. Trying to ignore this irksome feeling, I managed to explain what happened to the both of them. Cartman and Butters were equally horrified by what happened to Kenny. Once I'd finished, Butters started tugging on Cartman's sleeve to hurry him along.
"Come on, Eric. We gotta go see if Kenny's alright," Butters urged.
Cartman was about to go follow Butters when I suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of his sleeve to stop him from leaving. "Wait! Before you go, I really need to talk to you about something, Cartman," I quickly told him.
The words fell out of my mouth unexpectedly. Butters stopped to look back at us uncertainly but Cartman assured him that he would be there shortly. Once Butters left, it was just the two of us now. Cartman looked at me and waited. But I didn't say anything. Instead it occurred to me that I only wanted him here…with me…alone. I've missed him. He was the reason why I was interrogating villains all day. When I remained quiet, Cartman narrows his eyes at me.
"Well Kahl? Did you have something you wanted to say?" Cartman asked me.
The truth was I just wanted to be with him. I didn't know how to express these feelings into words, but maybe I didn't have to. Cartman seemed to understand what I wanted. To show it, he stood right by my side and I was happy. I wanted us to stay like this…to be together. I didn't want to be away from him. How is it that I'm starting to realize all this now? Was it because he'd been hanging out with Butters? But still, this was nice. Being with Cartman…unfortunately it was not to last.
"This is a touching scene. The Nazi and the Jew against all the odds. Or is that what he's led you to believe so far, Eric?" A cold voice interrupted our moment.
Cartman and I spun around toward the source of the voice. Oh shit, things just took a turn for the worst. Scott Tenorman had just entered the hospital…why he was here I had no idea. Smirking at the surprised looks on our faces, he seemed to strut his way over to us. Almost right away I felt Cartman become tense at the mere sight of the ginger-teen. He wasn't the only one. To think that earlier today, I'd just been having a cozy chat with Scott at the high-school. So why was he here now?
"So sorry about your friend. You know, I could have warned you that Trent doesn't like to have his buttons pushed. Looks like you've found that out on your own. But enough about that…," Scott turned to Cartman. "You've never answered my question, Eric. What does Kyle have you believing? Has he never told you the truth about you and him?"
Puzzled by this, Cartman looked at me. "What? The truth about you and me? What is he talking about, Kahl?"
"Keep your fucking mouth shut, Scott," I growled under my breath. "You better not tell him anything! He doesn't need to know about any of that. It's…it's in the past now."
"Is it?" Scott said in a dramatic voice. "Are you curious yet, Eric? Want to know what your little Jewish pal has been up to? What he's been lying to you about this whole entire time? You've got questions, I've got answers!"
While Scott was enjoying the performance he was putting on, I could already see Cartman starting to have doubts. He was starting to look at me with confusion and something else. There was mistrust in those chocolate-brown eyes. I knew where this was going and I had to put a stop it. No…not like this…Cartman can't find out this way. Not from him…not from Scott…He can't know the truth about is. He's not ready.
"Kyle? Cartman spoke my name weakly and my heart ached. "What does he mean?
"Yes Kyle. What do you mean?" Scott mockingly repeated the question.
As this was being done, I was forced to watch as Cartman's expression went from being confused to utterly tormented. He was quickly becoming disheartened at the thought that I was lying to him. I knew this was where I should be explaining myself to him, but I couldn't do it. I was a coward. And because I didn't want to lose him… I didn't want for him to go back to thinking the worst of me. Therefore Scott Tenorman was free to plow ahead with the truth.
"Isn't it obvious, Eric?" Scott placed a brotherly hand on Cartman's shoulder and seemed to move him away from me. "Kyle isn't your friend. He lied. Before all this, you two were sworn enemies. Kyle really hates you…"
Cartman didn't believe this at first. All he did was stare at me but I couldn't look him in the face. Instead I hung my head in shame. It's not like I can deny it…because it was the truth. Because deep down inside, I hated lying to Cartman. I only wanted to protect him…I didn't mean to lie…I just wanted us to get along for once. I didn't want to think it was selfish of me. Next thing I knew, I raised my head and finally looked at the pain I've caused Cartman.
"That…That's not true. It can't be. You wouldn't lie to me. After everything you've told me…taught me…it…it couldn't have been a lie. You tell me!" Cartman sounded angry but I knew it hurt him more than he was letting on.
Finally I decided that he deserved to hear it from me. So I told him. "Yes Cartman. I haven't been honest about certain things. But you need to understand, I did it to protect you. I was never trying to be deceitful on purpose. We may never have been friends, but I did care for you. That's why I did it. I cared too much about your feelings!"
"Bullshit…," Scott scoffed. "You claimed that you did it out of protection? No, Kyle. The real truth is that you've wanted to manipulate Eric. You put all those lies in his head and made him think he was somebody else. But you're wrong… Eric deserves to know who he really is. I should tell him…"
"No! Don't listen to him, Cartman. You need to listen to me! I've been trying to help you, trying to help you get better. I really do care about you and I want to become your friend!" I said desperately.
All of a sudden, Scott's eyes gleamed calculatingly. He saved one last nasty secret for last. "Did I ever mention the accident up on the mountain cliff? You don't know this, Eric, but the police have investigated it. I'm sorry to say…but Kyle Broflovski is their prime suspect.
At these words, Cartman's feelings hit rock-bottom. He didn't react at all and instead he was disturbed by the startling news. I was acutely aware that he was now staring at me unlike I've ever seen before. Cartman looked crushed. He continued to have the look of somebody who just had a dagger thrust deep into his heart. Feeling the tears threatening to fall down my cheeks, I had to make him understand the circumstances. I reached out to take Cartman into my arms and tried to get him to look at me.
"Cartman…it is true. The police did question me, but I swear to Jehovah that I would never harm you in any way. It wasn't me! I didn't do this to you. You know me…please Cartman…for once in your life, use your heart and look inside yourself…What is your heart telling you right now?"
It was no use. Cartman couldn't look into his heart because he didn't know how. All he did was push me away and put distance between us. He didn't want to be anywhere near me. No matter how many times I'd reach out to him, he'd only swat my hand away. What was even more despicable was the triumphant look on Scott's face who proudly stepped forward to stand by Cartman's side.
"Do you see now?" Scott bragged. "Can't you remember that Jews are compulsive liars and will say anything to ensure their schemes are carried out? You've been nothing but his little pawn. Come with me and I'll help you get back your real memories, Eric."
But Cartman was backing away from Scott too and regarding him with utter disgust. I realized what we were doing to him. We were putting him in the middle. The choice between me and Scott. Cartman didn't know who to believe. With that, Cartman gave us one final dirty look before turning his back on us and silently walk toward the exit. If there were turbulent emotions raging inside him, he never showed it. From the moment Cartman was out of earshot, I attacked Scott Tenorman on the spot.
"You unbelievable bastard! How dare you come here and ruin everything! I'll kill you!" I started to advance on Scott with fists clenched but stopped when Scott pulled out his gun half-way from his pocket as a warning.
"Tsk-tsks… Better control your temper, Kyle," Scott leered down at me. "It looks like I underestimated you. You seem to have a lot of influence over Eric, but it won't be for long. Now that Eric knows what a conniving kike you are, I don't think he'll want to be hanging around the likes of you."
"You think this is all about control? You're wrong! I do these things because I want to help Cartman. I'll never let you get to him, you hear me?" I warned. "You will never get to him!"
I was fuming with so much anger as I watched Scott place his gun back into his jean pocket and leisurely make his way toward the exit as well. But before heading out, he looked back at me. "You're way too naïve, Kyle. Do you honestly think Cartman can change? For people like us, we're sociopaths. Sociopaths don't change their stripes."
In the middle of the hospital hallway, I was left alone with nothing to keep me company except for my guilty conscience. Scott was wrong… Cartman was capable of change. I've seen that potential. Eric Cartman was not a lost cause… This wasn't some stupid project I was doing…this was life. With the right lessons, I can help Cartman take back his heart. But how was I going to do it now that the truth was out? For all I may know, Cartman would never forgive me and it would all be in vain. I heard footsteps from behind, followed by a friendly voice.
"Kyle? Where…where did Eric go? Wasn't he here with you?" It was Butters coming to check up on me.
I'm not sure if Butters witnessed all that, but I was too upset to talk to anyone. How was I ever going to make this right? Cartman most likely wouldn't want to see or talk to me again. I've given him a reason not to trust me. Thanks to Scott Tenorman, another wedge had come in between us. And I truly feared that I would lose Cartman for good. Worst yet, how could I convince him that I wasn't the one who tried to kill him up on that mountain cliff? Would he believe it and then revert back to his old self?
This made for a pretty emotional chapter. I'll bet the reviews will be begging me for the next update already. Gonna take a little break, but like always, the story must go on. And I promise that new chapters will finally reveal what happens from here. So stay tune!