Stan's POV
A 7-day roadtrip to Califonia. Just me and Kyle. Finally alone with no blond roommates, no nosy or embarrassing moms and a perfect way to solidify our relationship. It took a while to plan and an amount of money so big for a freshman on a student loan that I can never tell Kyle about, but we're finally on the highway out of Boulder.
Kyle is on the phone, talking to his mom on his earphones. But thanks to knowing Mrs Broflovski and seeing Kyle's reactions, I pretty much can piece together what they're talking about. "Ma, Stan and I just left Boulder about an hour ago. It's hardly our first trip, Stan said he's got everything planned out." He suddenly jolts as his whole face turns flush red and screaming into the poor microphone. "NO! Oh god, mom why would you… Ugh!"
He hangs up and takes one hand off the steering wheel to pull the earphones out. "Urgh, I need my ma out of my personal life."
"What did she do this time?"
"Ma was asking about our trip. She thinks you're gonna try and violate me or something without her watch."
Well she might not be wrong there, Ky…
No. Stop thinking that, nothing like that is happening… yet.
"Well, I hope your dad's not making me sign a restriction order or something."
"No…" He groans, "My ma's the only one asking, and the most vocal about how fucking excited she is. God, did she have to talk about safe sex? I can never look at Ike without thinking about his laugh mocking me now."
"You know she means well." I muse, much to Kyle's annoyance.
"She doesn't need to know if I'm getting laid or not. And she actually researched gay sex and… Ugh just kill me now… Be a good boyfriend and end my misery." He woes dramatically and I feel kinda bad for chuckling while I'm watching my redhead banging his head on the wheel.
"Can't do that, Love." I deny him playfully. "You have no idea how hard it was to get those tickets, and your Jewish side won't waste that money."
Yeah, one of the biggest reasons why we're heading for California is for this year's San Diego Comic Con. After spending weeks on deciding what I wanted us to do for the trip, I found out that Terrance and Philip are gonna have a panel there this year. As diehard (literally) fans of them, it seems like the perfect event to take him to. It took a few sleepless nights and heavy duty
"Whatever." He pouts a little and I really had to stop myself from laughing at his reactions. Kyle's always been the one who pretty loud and proud about his thoughts and emotions but he rarely lets people see him like this.
"C'mon, Terrence and Philip will be worth it." I remind him, watching as his frustration slowly melts away for a small smile to appear.
"I know." He sighs before turning to me, "You still haven't told me how you got this all set up. 3-day tickets, a 4-star hotel close to the arena and all without any of us knowing how."
"Dude, I told you I was saving up with all the part-time work I've been doing."
"You told me all that was for a new guitar."
"Well, it won't be much of a surprise if I told you from the start. Plus, there's a contract Cartman and I have been working on with this record label. If I get signed in, I'll get training and I'll be getting a proper salary outta it." I tell him. While Kyle doesn't really know much about it, he's been nothing but supportive and I figure he should be the first one I tell about this.
"That's awesome." Kyle smiles enthusiastically, "How does it feel? Finally having your musical dreams come true."
"Don't say it like that! It sounds hella gay." I snide.
"Says the guy who just said 'hella'." Kyle scoffs in response. "Besides, you were more musically talented than any of us."
"I hate to say it, but I guess I have my dad to thank for that." I grimace at the thought.
Kyle seems to catch on and changes the subject, "So where are we stopping first?"
As shotgun, I have the responsibility of keeping track of where we're heading and entertaining Kyle so that he doesn't fall asleep and we end up on the front page. I take a look at the roadsigns and maps, "Well we're about 4 hours away before we hit the border. I'm thinking that we hit a diner before heading into Utah."
"Sounds like a plan." We leave it at that and I just connect my phone to the radio, playing a playlist of summer songs Sue and I have compiled.
"Stan, did you really have to do that?" Kyle groans as he curl himself into a small ball of shame. I chuckle as he glares at me, not really threatening with the red blush coating his face.
"What? That waiter should've kept his eyes to himself." I respond with a sense of pride, sitting across him at the booth we're seated in.
"And you think possessively pulling me away him and flipping him off is the best move?"
"Well… You won't let me kiss you in public." I pout with my arms crossed. Kyle rolls his eyes and his flat expression just says 'Really…?'
"Oh c'mon Kyle, that guy was eyeing your ass." I smirk.
"You people keep saying I have a nice ass, I just don't get it."
"Bebe wrote a love letter for your ass." I remind him, "Anyone would want someone with an ass like yours."
"Stan-"
"Anyone. Kyle."
"Fine." He relents with a bored look.
Soon, the booth is filled with small talk and things we want to do when we get to California. The same waiter shows up and serves us our food. I make sense to send him a scowl before he runs back into the kitchen with his tail between his legs. I watch as Kyle cuts his pancakes with his fork, giving me a great idea for romance. I pick up a sausage with my fork and hold it in front of him, Kyle just looks at me with confusion, "What are you doing?"
"Feeding you." People still do this, right?
"…Why?"
"Huh?"
"Too much food on your plate? You could just put it on my plate." Kyle just shrugs and turns his attention back to his stack. I put some of my eggs on his plate and suddenly bacon doesn't seem that appetizing.
Attempt #1 was a bust.
We pay for our meal and get back into the car, I'm not really satisfied with how it turned out but we still got a lot more time and we've just hit the border.
"I'm so tired. Utah is so boring." Kyle whines bored from the driver seat, not that I blame him. I feel like we've been passing the same tree for the last 4 miles.
"You should've just let me drive."
"No way I'm letting you drive with a fucking hangover." Kyle glares at me before letting out a frustrated sigh. "Every time you go out with that kid, you come back drunker than I've ever seen you. That kid needs a better role model."
I wince a little at his words. I did feel a little bad for getting shitfaced when I met up with Z last night, I had to tell him that I was going away for a trip and I spent most of the night spilling all of my plans to him. Z did seem genuinely happy that I'm so serious with Kyle but he seemed distanced, like I was abandoning him, and that kinda guilt me into it. Let's just say Kyle wasn't too happy when he found out I got back 2 hours before we were supposed to leave…
"I'm not hungover anymore." I defend myself, granted letting me drive with only a few hours of sleep is still probably not the best idea. "And fuck you, I can be a great role model. Z looks up to me like his brother, not like his own would do anything about it…"
His face shifts from disapproving to worry, "Stan, drinking boozes under the bridge of a park with a minor is never a good idea. Maybe you should let his mom know and let her take it from there."
I stop answering him and turn my attention to my phone, Kyle seems to get it and lets it drop. I suppose I shouldn't be that defensive about our friendship but I hate the idea that Kyle thinks that he knows what's best for the kid, Kyle wasn't there when Z was getting beaten into a corner, he wasn't there when Z was crying over what was left of his family, Kyle wasn't there like I was.
I send Z another message, asking if he was alright. I haven't heard much from him since he disappeared from the bridge when I woke up there, hopefully he'll text me soon. I have this unnerving feeling...
Kyle turns my attention back as he asks, "So where's this camping site you booked for us?"
"It should be somewhere here…" I look out to find a roadsign, finally seeing the name of our campsite, just a few more miles down east. "There it is."
We get out of our stuffy car and stretch a little before unloading our camping gear. With my experience, it isn't long before our tent is pitched and our campfire burning before the sun fully sets. OK, time to go with attempt #2.
There's a reason I planned an outdoor camping night: watching the stars and night sky, very romantic. Also, there's supposed to be some
"S'mores and roasted marshmallows on a campfire, if that doesn't scream summer I don't know what does." I smile proudly at my perfectly roasted marshmallow, while Kyle's always seem to be burned on one side.
Kyle smirks as a response and he walks over to the car and pops open the truck. He pulls out a box I didn't notice there before. "How about fireworks?" He winks, opening the box. Inside are a wide array of fireworks of all sizes, some of which I'm pretty sure are illegal.
"Dude! How did you even get these?" I gawk in disbelief.
"We're from South Park, remember?" Kyle rolls his eyes and starts sifting through the collection, "Your uncle Jimbo still have like 7 shipments of these things." He smiles as he pulls out what I'm sure is the biggest bottle rocket I've seen.
"Maybe not tonight." I look at him and the firework in his hands, "I don't wanna get kicked off the campgrounds and sleep in the car."
"Well what do you wanna do then?" Kyle asks, bemused.
"Stargazing."
"Stargazing? You never cared about that before."
"Kyle, the Stan before was a hyperactive 10 year old boy. I'm not the same kid I was then, just let go of that. I'd rather you learn more about present me."
"Stan, when did you become such a pussy?"
OK, low blow, Kyle. You go vegan one time and they never let it go. "Fine, just not anything that showy. I can't believe you'll risk our camping stuff for a couple of pretty explosions."
"Are you mocking the awesomeness that is fireworks?!" He gasps in mock-shock, but once he notices my unamused expression, he gives in. "Fine, what about these? We used to blow up toy soldiers with these." He asks, holding a few smaller ones. They're nowhere as bad as that atomic rocket Kyle had earlier but that's still probably gotta get the park ranger's attention.
"Umm… How's about something that won't get us kicked off the campsite? Like-" I spot something near the bottom, I get an idea and pull them out of the box to show them,"-these sparklers?"
Kyle raise his brow as he takes the sparklers from me and gives them a look-around. "Ugh, fine. Only because they're still better than boring ass snakes.".
Just before Kyle lights one of them with the campfire, I stop him and quickly hop into the tent. "Wait, Kate lent me her camera." I find the camera in my backpack and get into position, "Go on." I point the camera at him, much to his confusion.
"Write with it, Einstein." I roll my eyes, stating the obvious. "I can't believe you're the smart one."
"Well not all of us are sensitive artistic souls." Kyle grumbles, before getting into postion himself, "Ready?"
I give him a thumbs up. He lights the sparkler with the campfire and starts using it like a pen, writing with it while I capture it. The picture appears on the camera's screen to show Kyle with a faint glow from the sparkler and his name written in front of his chest. "Not bad. Not very creative though."
"Oh yeah? You try that Mr. Pop star." He challenges me.
"Hey, you think I can be a pop star with just a guitar?" I switch the camera in my hands with Kyle's sparkler. "Get ready."
I take off from my starting position and break out into a dance. My mind goes back to my reservoir of self-taught dance moves, thank you YouTube dance tutorials and past Stan for those endless hours of practice. I start dancing on instinct, mirroring that dance video of Closer I learnt a while back. I finish my dance, slightly winded, as I put out the dying sparkler in my hand.
Kyle looks absolutely flabbergasted before he shakes himself out of his shock and into a salty-looking pout, not that he'd admit that. "… No fair. You know I can't dance."
"Too bad." I smirk. Kyle is clearly not amused by that, and I better fix this before I lose my tent sleeping privileges.
"Here, try this move then." I show him a simpler dance move, just a few well-timed arm movements and light footwork. He mirrors them slowly but I think he's getting the hang of it.
Kyle lights up another sparkler and starts dancing again, no doubt trying to show off. "This isn't so- OH SHIT!" Things suddenly goes south when Kyle trips on his own feet and the sparkler flies over another campsite… and lands right on the pile of newspaper there!
It doesn't take long before a small flame spouts from those sparks, thanks to the fuel and the summer heat. We hear a ruckus from the tent by the campsite, I think they're up and boy are they panicking.
"Hide!" We don't think twice about hiding all the evidence in our sleeping bags and putting out our campfire before the rangers show up.
"We should just go to bed." Kyle says before I could say another word. Dammit! Another chance ruined. I was really hoping that tonight would end a little differently. Ugh… Better luck next time.
After we finish packing up and eating a diner near the camp site, we continue our drive. Thankfully Kyle lets me drive today. I called Mom and Kenny to let them know we're still alive, I even sent Z a text but he hasn't said anything back yet. I hope he's OK.
We soon pass the border of Nevada, I start getting excited over all the plans I have for tonight. The last few times might be flukes but you can't go wrong here.
Las Vegas, home of neon lights and spontaneous romance.
I wake Kyle up from drooling onto my passenger side window, he opens his eyes and groans, "Why are we even stopping here? We can't get into 80% of the places here."
Granted I should've known that Kyle's reaction to Vegas wasn't gonna change, whether he saw it in our itinerary or whether he was here in person. "C'mon Kyle! We're in Vegas!" I try to light up Kyle's enthusiasm "There's this cool magic show that's touring here and I got us front row seats."
Kyle really liked magic shows when we were kids. He's pretty susceptible to believing in the surreal and the supernatural, part of growing up in South Park I guess. Anyways, I catch him stare at street magicians and those freaky drama kids in college with their top hats and playing cards. I figured I'd treat him to some real magic. As real as 30 dollars would get you at least.
"Fine. But please for all that is good in the world, don't start exposing magic secrets while we're there." Kyle warns me. I can't stop that I see through all their bullshit, and that's before all this cynical crap.
"… I'm gonna need some more whiskey." I groan, but the smirk on my boyfriend's face tells me I ain't getting any sympathy from him.
"Well…" Kyle frowns, kicking the cinder block wall in front of me. "This wasn't how I wanted it to go down."
"You're the one who punched the guy on stage, in front of security." I call him out while sitting on the bench on the side of the jail cell.
"He fucking deserved it, who does he think he is? Putting moves on my boyfriend?"
Kyle and I were watching the show, he was pretty entranced while I was drinking out of a paper bag. I was a little tipsy when I scoffed and called him a joke. He challenged me by pulling me up as a volunteer for his next trick. It got a little handsy and Kyle was not happy about it.
"You were pretty hot when you decked that creep." I bemuse. I sometimes forget about the fire my redhead has. I never really saw Kyle as the jealous type, but I'd be glad to see that side of him a little more, without getting my balls cut off, of course.
"How many times have we been caged by now?" Kyle asks, which actually got me wondering about that. The answer: far too many time for a couple of kids.
"Meh, we probably shouldn't mention to our parents."
"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?" We laugh until some guy shows up in front of our cell and gives us a snarl. The laughter reduces to a smug smirk and snickering behind the dick's back.
"Probably for the best. You know when I planned coming here, a Nirvana jail cell was not where I wanted this night to end on." I remark. Tonight's probably another bust, but I'm not that mad about that this time.
"Hopefully fatass could bail us out before sunrise."
A few hours later, the officers that threw us in here open our cell with a begrudging grunt. Obviously they're not happy about letting us off the hook, I wonder what did Cartman do to make them let us go like that?
Just as we step outside of the station, I hear Cartman calling on my phone. I pick up and the first time I hear him say is, "You owe me big for this, Stan."
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks Cartman." And I mean it, it'd be a disaster if we had to get our parents to bail us out, not to mention that I really don't need this on my criminal records. "Now if there's nothing else, I'm gonna try and seduce my boyfriend again."
"Ew! I don't need to know what you're planning to do to that Jewfuck." Cartman wails in disgust and discomfort before shifting into his more serious 'manager' tone. "Actually there is something. The label called, you passed their little audition but they got one more thing they want before sending the contract over. They want it pop-ed if that makes sense. No one has songs with pure instruments and they said 'kids won't buy it without a beat in the background' so you find someone who can get it done."
Ugh, people just don't appreciate good acoustic pop these days. So I need someone to remix my work… Wait a minute! "You know what? I know the perfect guy for the job. But I need you to make the call for me."
We talk about it for a little more before he concedes. "Fine. Just give what they want, Marsh."
I smile as I walk up to Kyle, who has been waiting patiently on the side while I was on my phone, he said he didn't trust himself enough to be grateful. Tomorrow we'll be arriving at Califonia, I wasted enough time trying not to get in trouble. Hopefully things will work out before we see the Colorado border again.
Kyle's POV
We make it to San Diego and check in before we head to Comic Con. Parking was a bitch to deal with, but the amount of awesome cosplay and fan merch for the past few days has been worth it. We even manage to get good seats for the Terrance and Philip panel on the last day of Comic Con. They're as funny as I remember them to be, they've even prepared some skits to perform there. I can't really remember the last time I laughed this bad, but that laughter falters a little when I look over at Stan. He's watching them too, with his hand in mine, but he looks distracted. I've noticed it for a while, he wasn't nearly as excited about this as when we left Boulder. I wonder what's bugging him.
"You OK, Stan?" I ask worryingly as we make our way through the crowd to the food court, "You've barely said much since we left."
"Sorry, I mean that panel was awesome. How could anyone have guessed that 'Uncle Fucka' was based on seeing how many swear words they could fit into an insult?" Stan replies with a little more enthusiasm than usual. An act… Why does he think he can hide shit like that from me?
OK, Kyle. Time to demand for answers. "OK, what's wrong? You've been like this since Vegas."
"What?"
"Don't 'what' me, Stanley Marsh." He visibly winces as I use his full name. "I know you better than you think."
His shoulder sag a little and he sighs, "… I'm just a little annoyed at how this has been turning out."
Annoyed? I've been having a great time so far. What's annoying him? It can't be me, I mean I'm not that bad of a travel buddy, right?
"What does that mean?" I ask with a little more accusingly than I'd want to admit.
Stan seems to have noticed it too as he stutters, "Wait- I'm not saying I hate this! It's just- I've had this amazing romantic getaway planned and so far we've started a fire in Utah, got arrested at Vegas which is honestly a surprise that didn't happen sooner…"
"Stan."
"Right, rambling again. Sorry." Stan pinches the bridge of his nose as he recomposes himself. "Nothing's really going my way. It's date night all over again."
"Stan. This trip has been amazing for me, we got to hang out and catch up on so much that we lost because we fell apart. You even got us a chance to see Terrance and Philip! What more could you ask for?"
"Yeah… But it's a romantic getaway, I feel like there's still so much I don't know about you and we haven't-" Stan flounders like he's trying to find the right words. "We're not really acting like a couple."
I have to actually resist rolling my eyes when I hear this. "And who dictates how couples should act? Cheesy 90s rom-coms?" I stop when I notice the emotions swirling behind those azure blue eyes, how this trip turns out must mean more to him than I thought. I change my tone to a more calm and understanding one. "Stan, wasn't the whole point of this trip to have fun? Do you care more about your little checklist? Aren't you happy?"
"I'm happy but I still feel some barrier between us. You kiss me more and you're OK with it now but I still feel like you're closed up, and I don't just mean sex."
I freeze up a little at his words. I know what he means and trust me, I can tell him every time I had to take a cold shower thanks to him but now's not the time. "Sex isn't the problem. I can tell you that. I just need time to figure out what I need to say."
Stan seems like he has more to say but he just closes his mouth and smiles, "OK."
"I will… Soon." I reassure him. I didn't think he'd think about that, we have been kissing and holding hands more. Stan's gotten me more comfortable with PDA, even if we're not locking lips on the corners of San Diego. I just have all these strong emotions swirling around inside me and Ma has been breathing down my neck, and it's gotten me riled up again, I thought I've gotten over this but I guess not, and now it's bothering Stan.
Ugh, I really to have to talk about this… Soon. Not now. I have a boyfriend to make up to.
"All right. We've got a few more days here, where to?" I ask him. I need to make this up to him so we'll do whatever romance stuff he wants, whatever will make him happy.
At the end, we decide to head back to the hotel to pick up some stuff. Stan seems to have something planned out but he's not spilling anything to me. Not even to his super best friend. Shame.
We start driving out of the city and closer to the shorelines until he stops and leads to me to a cove. It's small and I don't know the name of it, if it even has a name. It's pretty well-hidden from all the loudmouths and whining kids, I wonder how Stan even found this place.
"Found this last time I came to San Diego. I was hoping no one would be here now." He tells me, "You'd think beaches in California would be a lot more packed than this."
I take one good look at it and I'm really glad that it's just me and Stan here. The sand here is soft with the water looking like a beautiful clear mixture of green and blue. It's amazing and, I'll even admit it, romantic. "I don't mind it, it's nice to have a place like this all to ourselves."
"You'd be content with just staying in one place like this?" Stan raises an eyebrow.
"Well, we've been through the galaxy and back as kids. I won't mind staying on Earth for a while." I just shrug. We had so many adventures as kids thanks to the madhouse magnet that is South Park. Back then, all I wanted was out of there and get a sense of normality. I bet little Kyle would find it hilarious that this is my version of 'normal' now, having a picnic in a little cove at San Diego with my super-best-friend-turned-boyfriend.
We finish our food and chocolate-dipped strawberries (Stan's idea, not mine) as we watch the sun sets and the stars light the night sky. We're lying side by side on the beach towel we brought with Stan's hand combs through my red curls, this feels nice. "I guess. I won't mind coming back here next year." I mummer.
"Anywhere else you got in mind?"
"Actually yeah, I wanna go to Israel."
"Israel?" Stan asks, sounding surprised.
"Yeah, as much as I've 'strayed' from Jewish traditions I do want to learn more about my culture."
Stan closes his eyes and a soft smile slowly appears, "I can see that."
"You don't mind?" I ask skeptically.
"Why would what I think matter?"
"… I thought you'd ask to come along or be mad that I'm planning for a trip by myself." I explain to him, but now that I'm saying it aloud. It sounds insanely stupid.
Stan seems to think that too. He chuckles as he pulls my head closer to him and kisses my forehead. "Kyle, you have your dreams and I have mine. Why would I need to force myself into that?"
I give out a tiny sigh of relief and I let myself enjoy this moment. "I don't know, I see couples argue about it sometimes. When one excludes them out of a part of their lives."
"Ky, you've probably had that dream long before I came back into your life. It's your dream." He pulls back and looks me in the eye as he says that. I can't stop staring at the soft emotions pouring from those blue eyes of his.
I kiss him on the cheek and simper, "God, you really are perfect for me."
"Who's the 90s rom-com star now?" He smirks.
I roll my eyes but I lean back in to claim his lips again. Stan gladly reciprocates, our kiss turning into something hot yet soft, slow and comforting. It gets even stronger as Stan props himself above me, not once separating our lips from each other until air becomes a necessity.
I take a look at the sight before me, and man is it a sight. Stan's hair lightly messed up from my hands running through it, his eyes dilating to show more black than blue now, his flush red face and lips, openly panting with a content smile on his face, as the starry night night acts as our backdrop. All those strong emotions I feel for him are back in full force; but it feels like less urgent, not more a need than a want, a desire to hold him closer and give him everything.
I pull his lips onto mine again with a new purpose. Stan seems to notice it too, as he responds with just as much passion but a little more hesitant. "Kyle… Stop." He pulls us apart slightly, looking at my green eyes as he asks, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, you make me feel loved." I nod, never feeling surer in my life.
I notice Stan shallowing a gulp of nerves as he starts moving his hands over my chest and under my shirt, slowly caressing the skin I can tell that he's been wanting to touch. He places a few soft kisses along my jawline and peppers some onto my neck. He stops to take off our shirts now as we lie slightly exposed to each other. He seems anxious and excited, looking at me like I'm the stars in his world.
He lean back closer to me as he asks softly, "Is this OK?"
I'm pretty sure I have this huge goofy grin on my face right now. Normally I'd be terrified of ever letting myself get this far. But with Stan, I never felt safer. "Yes." I respond as I close the distance between us again, giving myself over completely to him.
A/N: Ha, I bet you were expecting a smut scene, huh? This is rated T, Loves. Sorry. I'll let it for you to imagine c;
Go Stan for bringing it home! Next chapter will focus more on Kyle's issue as well as Kenny and Charlie's.
University life has started again and it has been killing me so far, but I can't miss my own anniversary for "It's Okay That's Love". Tomorrow marks 1 year since I started posting fanfics. I'm so glad that people love this story and I thank the people who haven't given up on it.
Updates might be really slow now that school has been taking over and my chapters have become much longer than when I first started, but I have been promising you that I will finish the story. Everything is pretty much planned out, it's the matter of putting them to words.
By the way, the sparkler scene is from an end credit scene from a pretty popular anime I finally got around watching and I had to add it in XD
Anyways, as always feel free to check out the drama this story is based on, "It's Okay That's Love" by SBS. Please let me know what you think, reviews and comments make my day.
Take care, Loves.