Chapter 2

"Mfpmppffm, ffmppffmf pmppppppffpp fppmfpmmmfmp mff mfpmppmmmpffmpm?" Kenny asked Cartman during lunch.

"What?" Cartman asked, half-intrigued.

"Mff mfpmppmmmpffmpm fmpmfpmmmfmp pmpffmpmfmpp pmfmffpmpmppfmm fmmppfppmmppppfpppmpp!"

"Get out of here, no way! Who is it?" Cartman was now totally aroused by this news, "Wait, I bet it's some goddamn Jewess."

"Pppppf, mfffmpfmm-"

"NO!!" Kyle rushed to Kenny, slapping him in the cheek.

"Fppmfpffm, pmpffmpmfmpp, fppmfpmmmfmpfmm fpppffppfpppmfm?" Kenny thought that what he did could not make him guilty.

"If you tell Cartman who it is, you're dead," Kyle uttered with a cross tone.

"Mmpfmffmp mff mpmmffmpp mmmpmfpmf fmpmfpmpp fmpmffppmmpp! Fppmfpffm mpmppfmppfmm mfffmp ppmmmmfmpfmpmpppff?"

"That's not the point!" Kyle slapped Kenny's other cheek, then took him to the side, "Listen. Apart from Stan, you are my next best friend. I am trusting you to do the right thing and not tell anyone-"

"Anyone what?" A voice crept from behind Kyle and Kenny.

"Stan! What are you doing here?" Kyle nearly leapt into the sky.

"What are you guys talking about?" Stan smiled endearingly.

"Nothing!" Kyle appeared to be angry, "Just get away from me, will you?"

Kyle finished his lunch in 10 more seconds, bolting for shop class as soon as he was done.

"Damn, what's his problem?" Stan eyed Kyle oddly as he left.

"Ppfmfp, mff mpmppfpppfmp pmppppppffpp..." Kenny giggled cutely.

"You and me both, dude!" Cartman spoke with a hint of annoyance.

~Back at the Marsh home that night...~

"Hey, dad..." Stan asked his father at dinner.

"Yes, son?" Randy asked.

"What happens if your best friend is pissed off at you for no reason and treats you like an archenemy?"

"Oh, no..." Randy began to choke on his food a little. His wife patted his back lightly.

"What? What does it mean?" Stan begged to know.

"Well... Et... Exactly what happened today?" Randy got back under control.

"I just walked up to Kyle, and he shoots up like a rocket! Then I asked him what happened to him. Next thing I know, he acts all hostile towards me the rest of the day!"

"Um, son, I need you to listen very closely..." Randy's tone grew shakier.

Stan moved closer to his old man.

"When a man gets really angry, embarrassed, and surprised at a woman, it usually means... It means... Oh God, Sharon, you take over. I can't go on," Randy looked away in embarrassment, acknowledging his wife, Sharon.

"Well, Stanley, it would mean that he would... um... like her?" Sharon tried to word it delicately, barely succeeeding.

At this astonishing news, Stan spat out the food in his mouth all over the Marsh dining table.

"What the HELL?" The enraged 16-year-old boy got up with his hands firmly planted on the table.

"Now,, now, Stanley..." Randy set his son down, even though Stan was still fuming, "Notice how I said when a man loves a woman. It doesn't apply to you, son."

"Oh," Stan continued with the rest of his dinner. It was just then that Sharon noticed Stan's injured hand.

"My goodness, Stan!" Sharon was somewhat aghast, "What happened? Was this at school?"

"Mom, I'm fine..." Stan insisted, obviously annoyed by a typical mother's overprotectiveness, "Yes, it happened at school. Nurse Gollum said it was just a simple rash that would heal in about half a week."

"Oh, okay, then," Sharon calmed down, kissing her son's head, "Good night."

As soon as Stan left the vicinity, he heard his parents discussing something. At first, it sounded like one of those adult matters that kids found drab, but when he heard his name mentioned, Stan was all ears.

"About Stanley's hand..." Sharon hesitated to speak.

"What about it?" Randy said in reply.

"Do you think... it's the mark?"

"The mark? But... it can't be!!"

"His powers could be awakening..."

At this, Stan gasped and thought, My God, this rash is a good thing? Wow!!

With that, Stan went back to his room to sleep with this awesome thought.