Dragon Slaer: Eh.

South Down: Thanks.

Nicole980: Wait for what?

Pinkamonproductions: I haven't watched that show, but I'm flattered.

Kyle, Heidi and Cartman all had to go to the hospital after the incident at the bridge. Cartman's injuries were most severe; he'd suffered heavy bleeding and a minor concussion, along with a couple fractures, which would keep him in the hospital for well over a week. Kyle and Heidi were far more lucky; they only needed to be at the hospital for about a day or so.

"Oh, my poor baby," Sheila was lamenting, hugging Kyle as he sat up in the hospital bed. "I hope you're not too hurt."

"I'm fine, mom, really," Kyle reassured her, even though his body still stung from the blows he had received.

"Just look at your eye," Sheila said, gesturing to his red eye. "It's filled with blood."

"It'll go away eventually," Kyle replied, rubbing his arm awkwardly. A burst blood vessel was honestly nothing compared to what he'd done to Cartman. He knew his arch-enemy deserved it, but he couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable knowing he was the one who'd injured him so badly.

At that moment, Dr. Doctor appeared at the door. "Mr. Broflovski, you have some visitors," He informed Kyle. Immediately, several of Kyle's friends crowded into the room, Stan and Nichole at the front.

"Oh, hey guys," Kyle said, managing a smile as Nichole climbed onto the hospital bed next to him. "How are you doing?"

"We're doing fine," Clyde replied. "Here, we just wanted to give you some Get Well Soon cards." The kids quickly began practically throwing gift cards onto Kyle's bed. Kyle took the time to read each one.

"'Get well soon'," He read. "'You're a tough cookie'. 'Lots of love'. Gee, thanks, guys." Opening them up, he also saw some cash and other gifts inside the envelopes.

"So, Kyle," Craig said, exchanging glances with the other kids. "We wanted to know if, perhaps, you wanted to redo the presentation? You know, since that whole incident came up that kind of interrupted."

Kyle's mouth was a thin line as he thought to himself. Finally, he said, "There's no need to."

The other kids looked surprised. "But you worked so hard on it," Stan pointed out. "And it meant so much to do."

"And we finished it, didn't we?" Kyle asked. "The whole point of making it was to spread awareness. Everyone in our town is already aware of it, so what should be done is getting it out online so more people can see it."

"Kyle, that's very thoughtful of you," Sheila commended.

Nichole wrapped an arm around Kyle's shoulder and gave him a small hug. Then, she turned to Stan and gave him a small nod. Stan looked her in the eyes, and gulped slightly.

"Um, guys?" He said before turning to Kyle's parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Broflovski? Uh, can me and Kyle be alone for a bit. We need to talk."

Kyle's parents exchanged glances with their son. "Sure, Stan," Gerald said after a while. Everyone except Stan and Kyle quickly exited the room. Nichole was the last to leave; as she closed the door, she gave one last look towards Stan.

As soon as they were alone, Kyle asked, "What is it, Stan?"

Stan took a deep breath before speaking. "Well, first of all, I'm sorry," He said. "For everything."

Kyle nodded, and Stan continued. "Second of all. . . when Cartman and Heidi spearheaded all of that teasing, and I joined in. . . how did it make you feel?"

At first, Kyle furrowed his eyebrows. "How did I feel?" He asked, as if the answer was obvious. "Well, what did you think? I felt terrible! How do you. . ." He trailed off, however, when he realized why Stan was asking this.

"Oh," He said, calming down. "Well, I felt like shit, really. It wouldn't have bothered me if it was just Cartman doing it; he does that all the time. But that everyone was joining in. . . I just felt so lost. I didn't even know what was going on in everyone's heads. I mean, everyone hated Cartman, and some of them hated Heidi more. But it was like they didn't want them to stop, or change, or anything."

"I think they did," Stan replied, rubbing the back of his head. "But they. . . well, I. . . just thought it wasn't gonna happen. I guess we all thought that was just how things were gonna be, and there was no point in questioning it."

"It didn't have to be," Kyle replied, slumping into his pillow. "I was so close. Me and Heidi were actually friends, and were almost something more. She was such a good person. And then. . ." He cut himself off with a sorrowful sigh, turning his head to the side.

"Why?" He asked, to himself more than Stan. "Why couldn't things have turned out better?"

Stan stared at Kyle silently for a moment. "I don't know," He replied eventually. "This world isn't perfect, like, at all. I wish things did always turn out right, but they rarely do. But you know, if there is a benefit to that, it's that at least people get to learn from it, so maybe next time won't be as shitty."

Kyle turned to stare at Stan. "Will they, though?" He asked. "You think Cartman's sitting in his bed, repenting from all his sins and resolving to change for the better?"

Stan opened his mouth to respond, but hesitated. "Okay, some people, maybe even most, won't learn from it," He admitted. "But just because they won't, doesn't mean we can't. And that's something, right?"

Kyle managed a weak smile. "I guess it is," He whispered. "Thanks, Stan."

"No, Kyle," Stan replied, returning the smile. "Thank you."

Out in the hallway, the kids lounged about, some of them listening in on Stan and Kyle's conversation.

Nichole felt someone tap her on the shoulder, and turned around to see a familiar face. "Oh, hey Token," She said, giving an awkward wave.

"Hey," Token replied, rubbing the back of his head. "Um, I've seen the way you've kind of been looking out for Kyle these past few weeks."

"Oh, that," Nichole said. "I hope you didn't take that the wrong way."

"No, it was really cool," Token replied. "Kyle's a good friend, and it's nice that you were there to help get him back on his feet. He needs someone to let him know he's appreciated, I guess."

"Oh, thanks," Nichole replied.

The two shuffled awkwardly, staring into each other's eyes. They both looked like they were trying to find the right words to say.

"So, uh," Token continued on after a tense silence. "I was wondering, if you have the time. . . maybe we could, you know, talk, this week. You know, if you're not busy and all."

"Oh," Nichole replied, shifting her eyes. "That sounds fun, I guess."

"So, see you, then?" Token asked. "Maybe?"

"Maybe," Nichole replied, nodding.

Nearby, Butters quietly entered Cartman's room and approached where he was lying on the hospital bed. "Hey Eric," He said in a somewhat nervous tone.

Cartman mustered the strength to twist his head in Butters' direction. His body was covered in stitches and bandages, and his right arm was in a cast. His face was ridlded with cuts and bruises that had barely begun to heal, a testament to Kyle's fury.

"Hey Butters," He croaked out, sounding like even speaking was painful for him.

"I hate to see you like this, Eric," Butters said, placing a sympathetic hand on Cartman's shoulder.

"Yeah, I bet," Cartman groaned. "It's your fault this happened."

"Yeah, and I'm really sorry for that," Butters replied.

"That's not even the worst of it," Cartman grumbled. "I got my ass kicked in front of Heidi, and by a fucking Jew. She must think I'm a total pussy now."

Butters bit his lower lip. "Well, the thing is, Eric," He said. "You've spent all this time letting Heidi get to you. You've let it keep you out of school, away from your friends, and now it put you in the hospital. But really, Eric, all you're doing is letting Heidi win."

"What do you mean?" Cartman asked.

"All you're doing is hurting yourself fussing over Heidi," Butters said. "That girl doesn't deserve you anyways. She dumped you in front of everyone and pooped all over your heart. Is that really a girl you want to waste your time worrying over?"

Cartman looked up at the ceiling. "Huh," He said, squinting his eyes. "I didn't really see it like that, but I guess you're right. She doesn't deserve me, does she?"

"Yeah," Butters said. "After all she's done to you, she should be the one crawling back to you, begging for you to forgive her and take her back."

"Yeah," Cartman agreed, smiling. "You're right, Butters, I shouldn't be beating myself up over her! I bet she's already starting to regret ending things with me!"

"I bet she has!" Butters replied, nodding.

"Oh, I can already see her begging for me to take her back!" Cartman declared. "She'll be all, 'You have to take me back, Eric!' and I'll be like, 'It's too late for that, Heidi' and then she'll be all, 'You have to or I'm gonna kill myself!' and then I'll be like 'That's not gonna work this time, baby!'!" He started to laugh, only to groan in pain immediately afterwards.

"Gee, I'm real proud of you, Eric!" Butters told him. "It's nice to know you're moving on and won't let her consume your thoughts anymore!"

As he said this, he turned towards the open door to see Craig, staring at him with a blank expression in the hallway. He grinned widely and gave him a thumbs-up. Craig merely rolled his eyes and went off to try and find Tweek.

In her hospital bed, Heidi sat up, her hands clasped together and her head lowered. Truthfully, she didn't feel like she needed to be in the hospital, especially given how minor her injuries were compared to Kyle and Cartman, but her parents had her sent there anyways. They'd also revoked their grounding of her, but for her, that was preferable to being in the hospital.

Her head snapped up when the door opened and she saw her female friends pour into the room. "Oh, hey guys," She said weakly. "What are you doing here?"

"We're here to visit our, friend, silly," Lola replied. "Why else?"

"Well, there is another reason, actually," Wendy said, standing at the front of the girls. She exchanged glances with all of them, each of them nodding to her, before she turned to Heidi.

"Heidi, I just want to speak for all of us when I say that we're sorry," She said. "For everything."

"You don't need to apologize," Heidi replied. "I made a bad decision."

"We're still your friends, though," Wendy replied. "At least, we're supposed to be. And lately, we weren't very good ones. We let crusading against the boys take priority over helping you when you were in a dark place. You needed us and we let you down."

"And we'll do anything to make it up to you," Bebe promised. "Right, girls?" They all nodded in response.

Heidi thought to herself. "Well, there is one thing you could do," She said. "Please be nice to Kyle and his friends, from now on."

"If that's what you want," Wendy reassured her. "Truly, I think we all want things to go back to the way they were before."

"Yeah," Heidi whispered, sinking into her bed and looking up at the ceiling, smiling softly. "There's nothing I would want more than that."

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