Chapter 3- Was Moses An Illusionist?
Meanwhile at the Broflovski house, Kyle was seated on the closed toilet lid in the bathroom, going over his notes for the next debate. His little brother was in the tub taking a bubble bath. Kyle "watched" him half-heartedly.
"Kyle, whatcha lookin at?" Ike said with the innocence of a little brother, the curiosity of a child.
Kyle nodded absently to Ike and furrowed his brows in concentration. He HAD to get Wendy on his side of this debate. He groaned. Manbearpig. Did they REALLY have to drag that shit out any longer?
Ike squeaked his rubber ducky and added some more bubble formula to his bath water.
How could Kyle get Wendy on his side? He asked himself this question over and over again. He had once gone camping to disprove Manbearpig's existence, but that was hardly a good enough argument.
"KYLLLE!" Ike squealed. He playfully splashed his brother, dousing his notes with water.
"Ike, you asshole!" Kyle screamed, forgetting who he was talking to. "You ruined my notes!" he cried as some of the paper went to immediate pulp in between his fingers. Suddenly he smiled. This meant he could call Wendy for some pointers. Better yet, he could maybe get together with her. After all, his brother had ruined his notes.
"Thanks Ike," he finally said. "Don't drown," he commanded before leaving the room to get on the phone and dial Wendy. After all, this was an emergency.
Two rings and a friendly girlish voice picked up. "Wendy?" Kyle asked eagerly.
"Kyle?" On the other end, a genuinely surprised Wendy made no effort to mask the suspicion in her voice.
"Um, yeah." he confirmed. "Listen, I have a huge problem with the debate coming up."
Wendy sighed. "I KNEW you wouldn't be able to live up to defending the utter ridiculousness of this made up creature!"
"Um...no...my little brother drenched my notes," Kyle explained, a bit taken aback, and a bit hurt. "Mind if I come over and you help me out?"
"...Oh." Wendy said, a bit embarrassed by her outburst and also a bit uncertain about Kyle's proposal. "I don't know Kyle...You can copy my notes if you want," she counter-offered instead.
Kyle went in, balls-deep. "What are you doing tonight?"
Wendy sucked some air through her teeth, already seeing that Kyle was unrelenting in his desire to see her. She went with an old female standby. "Washing my hair."
"That's something I never understood about girls," Kyle mused. "I mean, it doesn't take you HOURS to do that. So it's obviously a ploy to get the guy out of the picture. Because you don't think he'd press on after getting rejected like that, but you obviously overestimate me. What are you doing after that?"
"Studying," she admitted with a sigh. While Wendy admired Kyle's persistence and attention to logic, she still wasn't so sure about seeing him.
"So let me study with you."
"I'm...not...I mean...my appearance..." she began. But Kyle cut her off.
"Oh Wendy, stop your excuses. Come'on. I REALLY need this. I wouldn't DREAM of letting you down...on this club." He flashed her a cheesy grin that she obviously couldn't see.
She sighed into the phone. If Kyle really did need help, who was she to deny him it? That'd be mean, and Wendy Testaburger just wasn't that mean.
"Okay Kyle," she caved. "Come over at seven?"
"You can count on it," he assured her. He hung up the phone and glanced at his clock. That meant he had seventeen minutes to decide how he was going to wow his lady. He had quite a few tricks left up his sleeve, but he figured none of it would work on Wendy. He sighed. Stan was right, she MUST have had voodoo on him to drive him crazy. He nervously changed shirts a half-dozen times before heading over to Jmart to pick up some...extras.
Kyle pushed his J-Mart shopping cart over to the condom aisle. Obviously he didn't need a cart for those, but with it by his side he would appear to not be nearly as perverted.
Speaking of perverts, Kenny turned the corner with his own shopping cart in hand. His was at least actually filled with a few supplies.
At first registration of the blonde, Kyle shyed away, ducking his head and heading the opposite direction. He didn't want Kenny to know what he was doing...it was weird. The longer he stalled, the more he wondered what Kenny's plans were. He decided to show his face.
Kenny had noticed it a long time ago, but he was trying his best to remain hidden as well.Kenny continued to push his cart down the aisle, walking past the frozen Kyle, eyeing him cautiously. He stopped at the end of the aisle but didn't bother to turn left or right since he too needed some items from that section. He was hoping Kyle would pick up his items and be on his way, while Kyle hoped Kenny wound turn his cart and go somewhere else already.
Neither boy budged. To any outsider, their intentions were so completely obvious, they might as well just have reached for the condoms and screamed at their soon-to-be purchase. Still, Kenny was unyielding, and Kyle was growing impatient. Stan rounded the corner, but he pivoted immediately after noticing the silent duel.
Not caring to stall anymore, Kyle rammed his cart into the display case, knocking a few random packs of condoms to the floor. "Oops" he said quietly, before bending down to, naturally, clean up the mess he had made.
"Oh, let me help you!" Kenny chimed in, immediately rushing to Kyle's aid. He failed to see Stan's spying eyes from the aisle hallway next to them.
Kyle smiled politely at Kenny as he picked up the access packs, inconspicuously pocketing several for himself. He'd surely dump them out at the register--he wasn't a criminal.
Kenny certainly was a criminal. Or at least he'd shoplifted a handful of times before. But, potentially getting busted for stealing condoms was a little too embarrassing. Kenny stuffed a few packs into his own pockets, with the intent to pay. Neither boy paid attention to what kind they'd actually grabbed, and placed the rest of them back on the shelf.
"I can be such a klutz sometimes," Kyle said through nervous laughter. He spied Stan behind Kenny's shoulder, but said nothing.
Stan had seen Kenny. Sure, he'd saw Kyle, but Kyle wasn't important at this time. He saw Kenny take his fair share, and he stood frozen at what this could mean. Perhaps it was cause Kenny didn't get to shop very often--he could quite possibly be stocking up for the winter. Either way, Kenny had condoms. Kenny had lots of condoms."Well, see ya." Kenny dismissed rather quickly. "I gotta go buy things. Other things. LOTS of other things!"
"Uh-huh" Kyle nodded. "Me too. S'why I have this cart here. To buy...food and stuff."
"Right! M-me too!"
"See ya."
Kenny steered in the opposite direction of Stan, practically RUNNING to the next aisle. He picked up the first thing he could grasp onto--shredded cheddar cheese--and watched the aisle like a hawk.
Kyle, meanwhile, strolled not-so-nonchalantly out of the aisle, whistling and nodding to Stan as he neared his shocked friend. "Hey Stan, what's up?"
"..." Stan blinked at his friend, his jaw dropped open.
"...What?" Kyle asked innocently, though he already thought he knew the reason for Stan's odd behavior. "Haven't you ever seen a person shop before?" he defended, grabbing at random produce.
Stan shook his head, clearing any Kenny-induced glaze he had been submersed in. "Dude, you're going over to see Wendy soon, aren'tcha."
Kyle stood uneasily. For some reason, it bothered him THIS time that his sex life was being broadcasted.
Stan gestured to the produce in Kyle's hand. "You don't need cumquats for that, dude." He looked to Kyle in mystery. "Unless...DUDE!"
"Will you shut the hell up!" Kyle snapped in as low a whisper as he could manage. A blush began forming on his face.
Stan brought his hands up beside his face, surrendering. "Whatever you do on your own time is your own business, Kyle."
Kyle's cheeks were as red as his hair. "What are YOU doing here anyway? Its Friday night...you are the last person I'd expect to see here."
It was Stan's turn to redden. "Uh...Kenny and I are here to pick up a few things."
"...Oh?" Kyle said, cocking his head to the side. "...Oh." He repeated with growing understanding. His blush deepened. "Well then...G-good for you..."
Stan felt the need to explain. "He wanted to go camping. I took him up to the place that...you know...we used to go."
"Yeah...It's a good place." Kyle admitted. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
Stan chuckled nervously. "But the stupid guy didn't bring any supplies," he continued on with his explanation, but Kyle had tuned him out. His attention was focused on what Kenny and he were picking up earlier, and as if the pieces at all fit together, he heard a SNAP in his brain.
"Well, you two have fun," he said in all seriousness. He knew that Stan had liked that place a little bit better than he did, for reasons Stan never could seem to explain. Kyle just sort of figured it out later on.
"You too," Stan replied just as quickly, happy to have an out to this awkward conversation. He turned around and began walking away to finally give Kyle some peace.
"...Hey Stan?" he called out, also feeling the need to say something.
"Yeah?" he replied, turning only his head back to look at Kyle.
"...Well, I just want you to know that...All that stuff I said about you being..." He lowered his voice for the next word "...queer...I-I didn't...I mean...I-I don't...hate you or anything. Ya know?"
Stan stood motionless, as if registering the impact of such a simple statement. In it, though, Kyle had admitted that he DID know about Stan, that he wasn't just joking for no reason, that he knew that Stan had liked him, and that Stan was afraid that Kyle had stopped camping with him because of that very problem. AND that Stan now liked Kenny. LOADED statement. His shoulders released a five-year weight, and he sighed. "I know," was his simpler reply.
Kyle sighed in relief. "Okay, good...Well, see ya."
"Yeah, see ya."
The boys once again turned to go their separate ways, paused, and then turned their heads back once more.
"Let's never speak of this again." Kyle said.
"Deal." Stan agreed.
Kyle turned back around and headed for the cash register, dropping off the cumquats in the process. "Fuck it," he said aloud. He didn't care anymore whether his cart was sparse--he just wanted to get out of there. He dumped his pockets before reaching the register, and picked up a pack of gum...for good measure.
Kyle arrived at Wendy's, promptly at seven. She let him in and led him to her bedroom-and her work desk. Her notes for the debate were already laid out in neat little sections. "There you go," she offered, pulling out a chair for Kyle to sit on while he copied her work. Wendy, in the meantime, sat down on her bed and went back to reading a book.
Halfway through the first page, Kyle looked up to Wendy, as if he was studying her. He had brought his reading glasses along, and adjusted them on his face as he chewed the tip of his pen. "You didn't wash your hair," he noted aloud. As soon as he caught Wendy's attention and her baffled expression, he smiled, and continued to copy.
"I'll get to it,." she answered once she caught the drift of his statement. That was technically a lie, but she refused to be caught in it. She went back to her book, which she appeared to be about half-way through.
Kyle continued to watch her more than the notes. He observed the book she was reading. If there was one thing he'd learned from Eric Cartman through the years, it was learn about the person you're trying to persuade, screw, blackmail, befriend, or whatever.
"The Beneficial Gift of Being Psychic?" Kyle read the back cover in question. He looked to Wendy with raised eyebrows. "Don't tell me you actually BELIEVE in that shit, Wendy."
Again, Wendy's attention drifted to Kyle, who sat so innocently at her desk, she had a hard time not breaking into a girly "awwww". Instead, she looked back with firm eyes, as if saying, "so what if I do?"
"That stuff's a buncha crap." Kyle continued.
Wendy shrugged. "According to whom? The people who don't believe in it?"
"According to logic. People can't tell the future and stuff. If they could, they'd be put to use by the government or something."
"They probably ARE working for the government. Some of them at least," Wendy reasoned. "You know, there are a lot of branches in it that the public can't even fathom."
"Yeah, I know, AREA 51 and etc. That doesn't mean they've got psychics working for them. If that's the case, WWII could have been avoided."
"Maybe they didn't know about them back then!" Wendy snapped.
"Well, I say they aren't true."
"Well that's your opinion, but it's not fact. For a phenomenon like that to have lasted this long, there has to be at least some truth to it."
"It's only lasted that long because poor schmucks like you fall for it!" Kyle yelled. He blinked, recalling as he, too, had fallen for it before. He smiled. Wendy had so much more in common with him than what he even knew.
"So if they aren't psychics, what are they?" she asked.
"Magicians. Tricksters. They don't really have powers."
"Hm. What about Moses?"
Kyle blinked. "What about him?"
"Who's to say he's not an 'illusionist' too? If it's impossible for psychics to have powers, maybe it was impossible for the religious figures also."
"Th...that's different," Kyle said, unsure and stumbling. "They're, like, from the bible. You don't argue with fact."
Wendy snorted. "Fact," she repeated, obviously not convinced. "Kyle..."
Kyle looked at her in anticipation for a religious lecture.
"Get back to work," she ordered.
The boy breathed a small sigh of relief that they weren't about to get into a religious discussion. Religion and politics were the two subjects to avoid, since they were the two most likely to divide individuals. Kyle would much rather focus on his and Wendy's similarities. Like debating.
"Why?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"Why should I get back to work?"
"Because that's what you came over here for," Wendy announced, proud of her ability to shut Kyle up. But he was far from being shut up.
"Actually, I came over to see you," he replied, shoving his pride down his throat.
Wendy picked up her book again and opened it, if only to try and hide the grin growing on her face from Kyle's statement. "Well now you've seen me," she held firmly. "But you still have to take notes."
Kyle groaned loudly. "You sound like a teacher." He waited for her response, but she stood firmly, like a rock. He finally gave in, letting out an exaggerated sigh and turning once more to finish copying the notes. He made extra sure to forget some so that he would have to come back at a later date. They were so sloppy he could barely make out any eligible letters.
Wendy flipped a few pages in her book, but she was unable to focus on the words. Kyle's words, and his actions, were far more interesting to her at the moment. She once again let the bookmark hold her place as she closed the bookends and caught Kyle's attention herself.
"...Are you actually taking notes over there?" she questioned. She stood up and walked over to Kyle to see for herself.
Kyle quickly scrambled his papers together, outstretching his arms over them in protection. He peered up to Wendy with big dough eyes. "Wouldn't you like to know."
"Kyle, if you're even doodling when you're supposed to be working, I will kick you out of my room faster than you can say 'what the-'".
"Well I am working. But I'm also taking my own notes."
"Well you're seeing mine. Why can't I see yours?"
"Because mine are poisoned with a rare blood found only in psychics," Kyle explained while grinning.
Wendy rolled her eyes. "Get out of my room then."
"Christ, I'm kidding. Here!" he offered, showing her a select page of notes. The last thing he wanted to do was leave her bedroom. At least yet. "God, now you're checking up on me?"
"And what's wrong with that?"
Kyle swiveled around in his chair and stood up so that he was less than a foot away from her. "Are they of an acceptable quality, ma'am?" he asked, with coated sarcasm.
Wendy raised her eyebrows at the boy staring her down, and pretended to study them. "They'll have to do. For a boy." She threw them back at his chest. "They really are quite pathetic, SIR."
"For a boy? That has nothing to do with it!"
"What's your problem, anyway?" Wendy wondered out loud.
"My problem? My PROBLEM!" Kyle repeated, getting up in her face. "I don't HAVE a problem!"
Wendy accepted his hostile stance and returned one of her own. "You have a goal in mind, Kyle Broflovski. I see it. In your eyes."
Kyle feigned an innocent puppy dog look.
"And in your pockets," Wendy continued. "Don't THINK I haven't seen the circular outline of a you-know-what in it!"
Kyle was about to spit more venom back at her, but paused upon taking in her words. "...A you-know-what?" he repeated, slightly amused. "Dude, you ARE being a teacher."
"Stop saying that!" she snapped. "You come over here with your goal in mind, you call me a 'teacher' when I make you do what you're supposed to be doing, and you take crappy notes because your focus is only one thing. One thing that I won't give you, because you aren't here for that. Which frustrates you and makes you insult me, which makes me not want to even THINK about giving you what you're really here for...And THAT'S why being a boy matters in this case! JERK!" she closed.
Kyle's mouth, still wide open, formed a smile. He took one step back, closed his mouth, and brought his hands up to his chest. He stood in admiration at the pair of angered eyes in front of him. He began clapping. "Bravo, Wendy, bravo," he applauded.
Wendy was absolutely so flabbergasted, her eyes failed to blink.
"You're right." he admitted. "My mind's on one thing, and I'm pissed off I'm not getting it. So I'm lashing out at the person not giving it to me. It's wrong, you're right, and I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"...That's...That's not fair!" she argued, putting her hands on her hips with softening anger. "You can't just agree with me!"
"Sure I can. You just wanna stay mad, and you can't when I admit you're right."
"I...can SO!" Wendy weakily retorted. She leaned in forward to Kyle, staring right up into his apologetic stare. "You can't just...abandon your defense! What kind of debater are you?"
Kyle grinned at how close Wendy was. He could smell her hair. "A damn good one."
"Your tact is disgraceful."
"Yet endearing," Kyle offered. He bravely took one more step forward so that Wendy's lips were within reach.
Wendy growled slightly, her eyes melting as she stared into Kyle's. He was right once again. He was a good debater. An unorthodox one, but a good one. She valued intelligence, and his honest and persistence were nice qualities too. Finally giving in, Wendy leaned her own face forward a bit, pressing her lips to Kyle's. It would, hopefully, call a ceasefire to the very, very heated debate.
---
"Turn right here," Stan instructed, as Kenny's pathetic truck made its second trip that night to the secluded camp site. The whole ride back up into the mountains had been silent except for Stan's occasional directions. He was too busy thinking about what else Kenny had bought. He pretended to be leafing through a magazine as Kenny purchased his...items...at the register.
Kenny turned right as Stan had instructed. It was hard as hell seeing at night, but luckily they were in the mountains. The worst that could happen was...Well, Kenny didn't want to think about that. Not that he hadn't fallen off a mountain or two in his life, but this time he had Stan with him. He hoped that Death would at least leave him alone when he had some innocent company by his side.
Luckily for Kenny, they made it back to the camp site in one piece. As soon as the truck came to a rolling stop, he shut the engine off and unstrapped his seat belt. He turned to Stan and raised his eyebrows, grinning at the seemingly nervous boy. Almost immediately, he jumped out of the truck and grabbed the plastic bags of supplies from out of the truck bed. "Lets do this," he said.
Stan grabbed a few bags himself, helping Kenny set up. "'Kay," he replied in a tone of voice cracking with nerves.
Kenny walked over to where he had begun building a fire before. He knelt down and began searching through his purchases until he found a starter log and a lighter. He tore up the newspaper he had grabbed when leaving, and set fire to its corner. Through the corner of his eye, he watched Stan face the lake again and stretch . Kenny shook his head. Cold or not, he was going to get Stan in that lake.
"It'll be a while." Kenny announced as he attempted to fan the flames of their campfire.
"That's cool." Stan said absentmindedly, still looking off into the lake.
Kenny rolled his eyes at the boy's behavior. His eyes were already glued on Stan's body anyway, but Kenny felt it would've been nice if Stanley was more interested in him than the lake at the moment.
"We'll have to do something in the meantime." Kenny said again.
Stan shook his head and blinked his eyes, as if ridding some unknown thought. He turned to Kenny with clear blue eyes. "What'd you have in mind?" When he smiled, Kenny stopped fanning the fire and just absorbed the toothy grin of his friend.
"Wanna swim?" Ken offered, unable to help but return Stan's smile now that he had successfully captured the boy's attention.
"Oh." Stan blinked. That wasn't the answer he was expecting. It was along the same lines of what he thought Kenny would say, but Stan had already warned his friend about the temperature of the water. "It's pretty cold, dude," he reminded him.
Kenny inhaled sharply. "Yeah..." he turned his attention to the lake, and then once more back to Stan. "I'll bet we can stay warm."
Stan nervously shuffled his feet in response to the statement. He looked to the lake, then back to Kenny. "I uh...I-I don't have a bathing suit." Stan announced sheepishly.
"That's apparently never stopped you before," Kenny reminded him, his own grin growing wider. "I don't either." he said.
"Kenny...I..." Stan sputtered.
Kenny sighed. Maybe he had the wrong idea about Stan. But there was something that told him to keep pressing on. Stan just had to be nervous. That's all. He continued. "Look, how often do we get to take a swim in a mountain lake?" He stood up and walked hastily over to Stan. "Where's your sense of ADVENTURE?"
Stan bit his bottom lip in contemplation. He DID like adventuring, which Kenny knew, and it had been a while since he'd gone on one. He suspected Kenny knew that as well. The idea of risking pneumonia only to get out of the cold lake and run naked to a warm fire sure was tempting.
"Stan, it's your choice." Kenny said. "You can either spend this trip thinking about memories of Kyle, or you can have fun with me and make new memories."
"I wasn't thinking about memories of Kyle, Ken," Stan answered all-too-quickly. He failed to tell Kenny what he was REALLY thinking of.
Kenny frowned. His approach wasn't working...he needed to try something else. He approached Stan even closer, and stared at the dazed boy. "Well, if you need me, you know where I'll be." And he took off running toward the lake, peeling off his shirt.
Stan had to admit, Kenny sure did make it look fun. He tried to look away as Kenny took off more and more clothing, but he couldn't help glancing back every now and then at his blond friend...Because what Kenny was doing looked like fun.
...Yeah, that was it.
"Hey Ken, wait up!" he screamed, unable to contain his anxiety any longer. He took off in a full sprint, almost sailing past Kenny as he too stripped off every piece of clothing covering him. He stopped only when he splashed his feet into the brisk water. He looked around and found no Kenny before him. He turned his head to find Kenny behind him, stopped just at the water's edge.
"...What're you waiting for?" Stan asked.
"Dude, that water's fucking COLD!" Kenny said with much surprise in his voice.
"What! Yeah I told you that!" Stan argued, embarrassed that he seemed to be the only one going along with the plan now.
Kenny curled his toes in the sandy brush. "Well its just that..." his cheeks flushed,"...being cold makes stuff...shrink..."
Stan rolled his eyes. "Ken, where's your sense of adventure?"
"I KNEW you were going to throw that back on me," Kenny muttered, crossing his arms to his chest.
"Just come on!" Stan ordered. "I'm not gonna freeze my ass off alone out here!"
Kenny sighed and continued removing his clothes. "Okay fine...Just keep in mind that it's cold."
"Like it won't be...cold for me?" Now Stan felt his cheeks heating up due to the nature of the conversation. "Just get in!" he repeated, embarrassed.
Kenny made sure to splash up a mountain when entering so that Stan couldn't see the initial contact of his...skin with the water. This of course earned an "aw dude!" from Stan as he shielded his face from the chilled water droplets hitting his face.
"SHIT its cold!" Kenny yelped, trying desperately to hide his lower body, only to discover that the lake was about three feet deep around him.
"I know, I know," Stan replied. "So stop splashing the water," he suggested, his back turned so that Kenny too couldn't see the effect the water had on his body.
Kenny squirmed, finding a comfortable position where he could drop to his knees.
Stan took a few steps and turned around. The water came up to his abdomen, and his water-soaked body glistened in the moonlight. "Come out here. It's deeper, you don't have to crouch."
Slowly adjusting to the temperature, and wanting to be closer to Stan's quite attractive nude body regardless of the cold, Kenny stepped forward in the water.
"There you go." Stan said with another smile. He too was now becoming comfortable with this idea. Partially because the water level was higher than his privates, and partially because of Kenny.
Kenny nodded his head in approval and smiled, taking a look around at the desolate location and deep, almost black sky. "Not too bad!" he said, as he leaned back against his arms, which were now above his head. He started kicking, splashing water once again.
"Awww, dude!" Stan scolded. He swam over and grabbed onto Kenny's feet, pushing them under. "I told you not to splash."
Kenny laughed slightly. Stan's whining was cute. The idea that he could be tough and controlling was even more amusing to Kenny.
"I mean it dude. That's not cool."
Kenny kicked his feet back to the bottom, immediately pulling his body upright. He stared Stan straight in the eye. "Sorry, man." He lingered in the same position just long enough to flash an apologetic grin, and to gain notice of that grin from Stan, before he leaned back onto his hands again.
"S'okay." Stan replied. "It's not so bad now," he admitted.
After awhile, Stan took the cue from Kenny and leaned back on his arms himself. He gazed meaningfully into the endless sky, thinking about his life. He had to admit, he DID miss his swims with Kyle out there...but with Kenny, there was this element of mystery. He knew Kyle like the back of his hand...Kenny was unpredictable.
As he thought just that, he received a mouthful of water. He turned his neck to see Kenny sitting, pleased with himself for providing such a big splash.
"You'd better cut that out!" Stan warned with his eyebrows raised.
"Or what?" Ken questioned. "You gonna punish me?"
Stan glared--as much as you can possibly glare at someone you secretly want to jump--and resumed his soul-searching quest.
"Aw, your no fun," Kenny said, kicking steadily up so that he was side by side with Stan. He observed Stan for a few moments. Then, without warning, he reached up and dunked Stan's head under water. This caused Stan's back to arch and, well, his lower body to surface.
Stan protested from under the water, trying to reach up and swat Kenny away. Ken took the opportunity to look over Stan's wet lower half. Even when factoring in the shrinkage, Stan looked like he had much to offer. Ken became so focused on Stanley's crotch region, he briefly forgot that he was holding his potential mate under water. A splash from Stan's hand reminded Kenny to ease up, which he did
When Stan resurfaced, he growled through clenched teeth, playfully. He dove for Kenny's face, missing completely, and only succeeding in falling into the water behind Ken, belly first. Kenny bust out in laughter, but made sure to meet Stan up close when he came up for air.
"Aww, you're all wet." Kenny observed with mock concern.
"Duh"
"Such a pity. This water IS rather cold."
Stan smirked. "I know you want to join me."
Kenny shrugged. "Nah, I'm cool. Think my legs are numb enough."
"You wanna get out?" Stan offered. "The fire's going now."
Kenny looked over to the bright, engulfing flames. It was REALLY going. A little too close to the tent for his comfort, he noted. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan." He gestured an "after you" to Stan, who accepted the invitation. Close to the shore, however, Kenny ran up and kicked Stan's knees behind him, and he came crashing down. Kenny turned around to point and laugh and then jogged to the campfire.
Stan got up, dusted himself off, and raised his middle finger in Kenny's direction as he walked toward the fire, still dripping wet. He sighed in relief as he felt the heat nearing his body. He suspected Kenny was enjoying the warmth as well.
"Saved you a seat, slowpoke," Kenny said, offering the other half of a horizontal log that appeared to be smoothed down and placed there specifically for the fire pit. Kenny was knelt down a bit in front of it, shadows covering up most of his body.
Stan mouthed a sarcastic "thanks" and took the offered seat.
They sat there in silence a few moments, drying off and enjoying the warmth of the fire. More than that, they were enjoying the secluded area around them. They were sitting here, their totally nude rumps resting on a log with no one around but each other, and it felt rather good. The freedom, the mountain air, and especially the thrill of being somewhat bad.
"What kind of food did you buy?" Stan asked, curiously peering over Kenny's shoulder at the bag he held between his legs.
He clamped his legs shut and narrowed his eyes at Stan. "No peeking." He was referring to something other than his bag of food.
"You wish." he muttered. "Did you bring marshmallows?" he asked more audibly.
"Mm-hmm." Ken confirmed. He reached into the bag and rummaged around a bit.
Stan leaned over again. "Good. Cause if you didn't bring those fucking marshmallows, you'd have to deal without them."
"Or go back down and get them," Kenny replied. He grabbed the bag and brought it to his face and smiled. "But it doesn't matter. Here they are." He tore open the bag. "Mallow?"
"We gotta roast them, stupid." Stan reminded him, keeping his own legs closed as the growing fire caused more light to illuminate his body.
Kenny looked quizzically at the bag and then plunged his hand straight in. He dumped the contents of a few marshmallows into his mouth, chewed a bit, and smiled at Stan, revealing a creamy white paste.
Stan chuckled. "You're sick, dude." He reached into the bag and took one out for himself.
"Yeah, but in a good way." Kenny replied.
Stan nodded in agreement, and placed his marshmallow on a stick. Once it was toasted a bit, Stanley slowly inched the stick close to his mouth, licking up the warm white goo at the tip.
Suddenly, Kenny felt the shrinkage go away.
Kenny sat, mesmerized. "You're...good…at that," he said, quickly scolding himself for voicing his thoughts aloud.
"At eating?" Stan chuckled. "Thanks?"
"Heh...Yeah..."
"Give me another one," Stan demanded, licking the sticky mess off of his fingers and smacking his lips together.
Kenny possessed the bag and leaned away from Stan. "Nu-uh," he replied.
"No?" Stan glared slightly. "Why not? Come on dude, stop being a prick." he said, referencing the incidents in the pool that he assumed Kenny was continuing now that they were back on dry land.
"I'm not being a pr-" Kenny began.
He was caught off-guard at Stan's strong arm lunging for the bag...accidentally slipping and scraping the inside of Kenny's thigh instead. Stan's face went as white as the marshmallows as he resumed a straight-back position, refusing to look at Kenny. "S..sorry," he mumbled.
"S'okay." Kenny assured, smiling weakly. He made sure to keep the bag between his legs, so that Stan wouldn't know just how very okay it was with his groin.
Stan turned away from Kenny even further, pretending to stare at the fire so that he too could hide his shame. Not that he had anything to be ashamed about when they weren't in the water.
"...I-I guess we should get dressed again." Stan said
"Oh...are you dry?" Kenny asked, hoping the answer would be "no." Sadly, Stan nodded and, without much other conversation, he stepped behind the log and around to search for his clothes. Kenny memorized the curves and indentions in Stan's ass as he walked back out to the pond, retrieving stray articles of clothing. He sighed in satisfaction as Stan bent over to gather it all. "Thank God for the moonlight," Kenny thought.
Deciding to hide his own growing erection, which was now almost at full-mast thanks to the view of Stan's backside, Kenny looked around for his own pants. He sighed as he felt the condoms in his pants pocket, thinking to himself that it would only be a matter of time.
Stan could feel Kenny's eyes on him as he searched in the dark for his scattered clothes. The scene in Jmart kept flashing through his mind, and he wondered, just when, exactly, did Kenny plan to use his purchase? He took a deep breath as he slipped on his boxers and headed back to the warmth of the fire.