1 week later...
16 year old Kyle Brovfloski stood at the edge of Stark's Pond, staring down at the frozen water. After having an extremely long talk with Kenny, Kyle decided what he wanted out of life. He wanted Stan. What had happened to him to make him so sour? He missed the warmth and gentleness Stan used to show him. he thought they'd been in love but people change. Feelings change. Why did Stan's have to? He heard snow crunch behind him and he turned around.
He saw Stan, standing there with a guilty look on his face. He was staring at Kyle with a mixture of horror and sadness. "I – I didn't think anyone else would be here." Stan said shakily. "I can go if you want to be alone." He started to retreat, but Kyle stopped him. "No. It's ok. We should talk anyway." They both sat down on one of the green benches that were scattered around the pond.
They were silent for a moment, neither one sure how to begin. Stan thought he and Kyle would always be together. "Look, Kyle –"he started. "Stan, I – "Kyle said at the same time. They laughed nervously. "You go first." Kyle said. He toyed with the edge of his orange parka. "Ok." Stan took a deep breath.
"Kyle, you deserve better than me," he blurted out. Kyle started at Stan. This was definitely not what he expected to hear. "You deserve someone who'll always be there for you, someone who won't desert you when you need them." Stan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the pain he felt. This was harder than he thought it was going to be. Breaking his best friend's heart was not his idea of a good time.
"What do you mean, never desert me? You'll always be right here, won't you? You'll never leave me?" Kyle stared at him, not quite sure what Stan was trying to get at.
"I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you. I thought if I ignored and blocked you out of my life, then I wouldn't have to tell you this." He opened his blue eyes, starting to feel the tears form behind his lids.
"Tell me what?" Kyle whispered. Stan was starting to scare him. Whatever he had to tell him obviously wasn't something good.
Stan slowly took both of Kyle's gloved hands in his own and looked deep into beautiful green eyes. "Kyle, I – I'm moving."
Kyle was too shocked to say anything for a moment. His mouth went dry. Had he heard him right. He was moving? But he couldn't. They were supposed to be together forever. Kyle clutched at Stan's hands in a desperate gesture. "Where? When?"
The tears were coming fast. "We're leaving 2 weeks after New Year's Day. I'm going to a new school in Woodsbury, Maine." He couldn't stop the pain from showing now. "No. You can't leave me. Why?" Kyle asked.
"My dad got offered a job out there that pays a lot better than what he's making now. He'd be a fool not to take it. We have to go. I don't want to, but I have to." His eyes shone with bitter tears.
Kyle moved closer and Stan grabbed him and held him tightly, never wanting to let go. They held each other for what seemed like eternity. Stan was the first to pull away. "That's why I've been so rough on you. I was angry about moving, about leaving you, my best in the whole world. I know I shouldn't have done it and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Stan's voice was thick with emotion as he sobbed. "Shh. It's ok." Kyle reassured him, even though it will never be ok for him. He leaned forward and placed his lips on Stan's, finally feeling the tenderness he longed for, but a moment too late.
"Let's go before we freeze out here, huh?" Stan asked after several minutes of lip lock. Kyle nodded dumbly and they stood up. Stan laced his fingers with Kyle's as much as the gloves would allow, and setting off at a leisurely pace, they took off towards home.