A/N: Yeah…have been lazy and not updating…sorry! School, homecoming, yada yada! Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Kyle's P.O.V.

"Ike…this isn't funny! Don't lie about Stan dying just to get me to come back there."

"It's really not a joke Kyle! He got way to drunk and had to go to the hospital…he's been there for three days!

Ike had persistently argued with Kyle for an hour about whether he was lying or not and Kyle had to admit that he knew his brother was telling the truth. It all fit, they had an argument, Stan had gone out to drink, and Kenny and Eric hadn't stopped him because he had been having "fun." Yes, it all fell together. Kyle just didn't want to believe it.

"Ike…I don't know, even if you're right…"

"Which, I am."

"…you know Stan and I had a major fight…he probably would rather I left him alone…" Kyle sighed. "I'm most likely the reason he started drinking…you know."

"All the more reason to come home and make up with him!" Ike cried, exasperated. How could his clever brother be acting so damn stupid? "O.K., maybe I, well, exaggerated a little bit. He might not be dying anymore…but he's still very sick. Come on…your relationship is on the bottom of the well…how much lower could it go?"

"Yeah…that's an uplifting thought."

"Seriously though! I mean, it can't get that much worse! What's he going to do…kick your ass? He can't! He's hospitalized.

"He'll have Kenny or Eric kick my ass. They're like…eight times bigger than I am! I don't want my face to be messed up for my wedding!"

"Oh no…we couldn't have that, no. Kyle's beautiful face messed up. What would we do? The world might stop spinning and fall off its axis and go hurtling into space. Jesus Christ! Get over yourself you vain piece of shit!" The phone clicked…Ike had hung up.

Kyle was too stunned to reply. Was he vain? Decidedly, yes. He had just stated that he would rather keep his face in perfect condition then see his sick friend. God, who was he these days? He thought about it. He began to think that Stan had been quite right about him. He was an ass now. He was. Had Cassadi made him that way?

No. Don't think like that, you love Cassadi, Kyle.

Do I? Do I really?

Of course…your marrying her, aren't you?

Yes, but does that really mean I love her?

Well…no….

I think…I love her money, not really her?

Then it's like Stan said… you're a male whore.

No…I'm not!

Yes, Kyle…you are.

No I'm not!

Yes you are.

"I'M NOT A FUCKING WHORE." Kyle screamed out loud at his mind.

Oh honey…you've really gone off the deep end.

Stan's P.O.V.

"I don't know if I'm ready to see him, Ike. It was such an awful fight." Stan sighed sadly. He had been released from the hospital only days ago. Now Ike told him that Kyle is coming back to town so the boys, or rather men can make amends. Even if they didn't ever become friends again, neither had any desire to be enemies.

"That's too bad…he'll be here and minute."

Stan shook nervously. He had been awful to his friend…but he still felt Kyle had been awful to Kenny, Eric and himself as well. Now they were going to meet again and Stan would have to discuss his feelings with his ex-best friend again…only this time in a much more fragile tone. He gave another shiver. Somehow, he was terrified of Kyle now. Who Kyle had become just frightened him. He wasn't the adorable, kind, slightly nerdy best friend who Stan had befriended in kindergarten and grown up with in a small, redneck town. He was older, obviously, not cute but (and Stan felt slightly awkward admitting he felt this way to himself) extremely handsome and well built. He wasn't really kind anymore. Even before the fight he had seemed stiff with his old friends. Plus he hardly looked like books could interest him anymore. Now he looked more like the…yacht riding, croquet playing kind of guy.

The doorbell ringing brought him hurtling out of his thoughts.

Young Ike quickly opened the door and flung himself into his older brother's arms. Their parents were away for the night and wouldn't get to see Kyle until tomorrow morning.

"I can't believe you just left like that Kyle! I'd hate you for it if I didn't love you so much!" Ike cried, not letting go of the tight embrace he had on his brother.

Stan blinked. All of a sudden he felt confused. What would he even say to Kyle? Oh gee, I'm sorry for calling you a slut? That'd go over big.

(Kyle) Looking around his brother he saw Stan. What would they say to each other? Why hadn't he thought of this before? They were just staring at each other.

S: I'm going to look so stupid.

K: I'm going to appear an idiot.

S: Now that I think of it…I've kind of missed Kyle.

K: We used to be best friends, there had been times where I've needed him…and he was so far away…

S: Sometimes I think the reason our relationship didn't work out is because he was to far away…

K: He was in Denver…

S: I lived in Denver…

K: I was around the world…

S: He was…who the hell knows where.

K: We're just staring at each other…

S: Have we even blinked?

K: I can read his eyes…I think.

S: We're thinking the same things…I'm almost positive.

K: He's got the same things on his mind as I do.

Stan grinned at his friend slightly and Kyle shot the same awkward grin back at him. Then the two old friends burst out laughing until they were tearing up from laughing so hard. They were still laughing as they wrapped their arms around each other and shared the first hug they'd had since departing for college.

Ike just stood in the corner, grinning ear to ear while his own happy tears stuck to his eyelashes.

NOT THE END. MORE DRAMA TO COME.

A/N: Really enjoyed the words "vain" and "awkward" in this chapter. Sorry…those words are just soooo wonderful sounding!  REVIEW FOLKS. WE'RE LIKE A CAR, WE CAN'T RUN WITHOUT ANY GAS.