This chapter is a little longer than the last one.

Chapter 5

The next afternoon, Stan, who was still a little weak from the concussion, was having a little trouble during football practice. He's already come close to fainting three times, he's having trouble catching the ball and he's been tackled fifteen times. Just as he's tackled again, the coach blows his whistle.

"MARSH! BENCH!" Coach Fields yells.

"What?"

"I SAID BENCH!"

"Damn it!" Stan takes his helmet off and throws it on the ground. He takes a seat on the bench next to Butters.

"Well gee Stan…I n-never thought I would see you here." Butters tells him.

"Shut up Butters!"

"I-I didn't mean to offend you Stan. I'm j-just shocked because you're our star quarterback, but lately you've s-sucked."

"I'm only going to tell you one more time to shut up!"

"I-I'll be quiet now."

Stan rolls his eyes just as the coach blows his whistle to end practice. "Hit the showers! I'll see you tomorrow at 3."

Stan gets up just as Kenny comes up to him. "Hey dude."

"Hey Kenny, what's going on?"

"Nothing really. I just wanted to let you know that Kyle, Cartman, and I are going to Whistlin' Willy's for pizza. You should come."

"I don't know Ken…"

"Oh come on, you never hang out with us anymore."

"I'm really busy."

"Yeah busy being pussy whipped."

"Watch it…" Stan shoots him a warning look.

"Sorry, but seriously, you should come."

"I'll let you know when I get out of the shower."

"Works for me."

They head towards the locker room when Coach Field comes up behind them. "Marsh, I need to have a word with you."

"See you Stan." Kenny walks off.

"What did you want to talk to me about sir?"

"Your performance today for one thing."

"I'm sorry sir, you know I had a concussion yesterday."

"I'm very well aware of that. You should've told me you weren't up for practicing."

"I thought I would be ok."

"Well your performance proved otherwise."

"Again, I'm sorry. I'll be fine tomorrow." He turns to walk away.

"I'm not done Marsh. Another thing we need to discuss is your weight."

"What about it sir?"

"I've noticed that you've lost a lot of weight within the last month or so. Have you been eating?"

"Yes, I have."

He examines Stan's arms. "Well it sure as hell doesn't look like it. You're nothing but skin and bones. You spent the summer bulking up for the season, but that's gone to hell now. What a waste."

"Well my weight has nothing to do with football."

"Yes the hell it does. You've seen the guys on this team and the other teams. A scrawny thing like you could get crushed."

"I'll be ok."

"I'm not taking any chances. The homecoming game is around the corner and I need all my men. So either you pick some weight up or you're going to be benched for the rest of the season."

"You can't do this!"

"I can and I will. Don't forget that if you fail another trigonometry test that you're off the team for good and you'll lose your football scholarship."

"I know."

"So I hope you're studying."

"I am."

"Good, because I would really hate to have to kick you off the team. Now go hit the showers."

"Yes sir." He heads to the locker room teary-eyed. "I can't get kicked off the team, I just can't." He wipes his eyes just before entering the locker room. Kenny approaches him.

"Hey Stan, what did the coach want to talk to you about?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." He tries to walk off, but Kenny stops him. "What do you want Kenny?"

"Hey calm down, I just wanted to know if you were going to come to Whistlin' Willy's?"

"I probably shouldn't. I have to catch the bus and I don't know the bus schedule from there."

"I can take you home. Just come on, we won't stay long."

"Ok, I'll go. Just let me go take a quick shower."

"I'll be here waiting."

Stan grabs two towels and heads into the shower. He takes off his clothes and its revealed that he has bloody bruises all over his back. He begins running the water which causes the scars to sting him. "SHIT!" He tries his hardest to ignore the pain, but he can't. He breaks down in tears. "WHY? Why did she do this to me? Why can't she just trust me?" He continues crying. "I've always been a good boyfriend to her. I've never EVER cheated on her. I would never cheat on her. I love her too much. Why can't she love me the same way? I don't want to end my relationship with her, I just want her to stop beating me. It hurts so much. I can't eat or sleep because of it. I'm probably going to get kicked off the team and lose my scholarship. Why did it have to be like this?" He continues sobbing a little while longer. Eventually he turns off the water and dries off. He wraps one towel around his waist and other towel around his midsection to cover up the scars on his back. He heads to his locker to grab his clothes. Kenny comes over to him.

"Damn you took a long a shower."

"It wasn't that long Kenny."

"Shit, it was long enough." He notices Stan's towel. "Why the hell do you have that towel wrapped around you like that? Take that silly thing off." He pulls the towel off of him and he notices the scars on his back. "Dude!"

Stan snatches the towel away from him and quickly covers himself up. "I'll go change and I'll be right out." He runs to the bathroom. Kenny just stares in shock.

In Kenny's car, they're heading to Whistlin' Willy's. Both Stan and Kenny sit in silence. "So…" Kenny starts.

"So what?"

"How did you get those bruises all over your back?"

"What bruises?"

"Don't play dumb with me. I saw those bloody bruises all over your back."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Yes you do, you wouldn't have went out of your way to cover them up if you didn't know what I was talking about. Now tell me, how the hell did you get those bruises?"

"I did it to myself! Can we drop it now?"

Kenny stops the car. "You what?"

"I did it to myself."

"But why? How?"

"I…I used a whip."

"Why though?"

"I've done some things that I'm not proud of so I'm punishing myself."

"Dude, that's stuff from ancient times. Nobody does that anymore."

"Well I need to be punished."

"Yeah right, what did you do that was so bad Stan? Did you go to bed without brushing your teeth? Maybe you forgot to floss or something?" Kenny bursts into a fit of laughter.

"I won't say what I did, I'll just say I need to be punished."

"Dude, I think you need help."

"Kenny, you have to promise me you won't tell anyone. Especially Kyle."

"Kyle's your best friend, why don't you want him to know?"

"I don't want him to worry. Please Kenny, keep this between us."

"Fine, I will." He starts driving again. Both of them are quiet the rest of the way there.

They finally arrive at Whistlin' Willy's and both Kyle and Cartman are shocked to see Stan. "Damn Kenny, I'm surprised you were able to get the fag to come out." Cartman states.

"Shut up fat ass!" Kyle retorts. "Stan, I'm glad you made it." Stan gives him a half smile.

"Yeah I can't believe Wendy let you off the leash."

"Yeah…she did." Stan replies.

"Ah, come on Stan. You're going to have to do better than that."

"I'm not in the mood Cartman."

"Aww, the poor little baby isn't in the mood? What's the matter?" Cartman asks in a baby voice.

"Leave me alone Cartman."

"Goddamn you suck Stan. Why did we invite him out again?"

"Because he's our friend fat ass!" Kenny states. "Now shut the hell up and leave him alone." He looks at Kyle. "Did you guys order already?"

"Yeah we ordered a large pepperoni and a medium cheese. It should be out any minute."

"Good I'm starving."

Just then the waiter brings out both pizzas. All the boys, excluding Stan, pick up three slices each and began stuffing their faces. Stan takes one slice and just picks at it. Kyle is the first one to notice this. "Stan, why aren't you eating?"

"I'm not really hungry."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure."

"Shit, more for us." Cartman states.

"For once I agree with Cartman." Kenny adds.

"Stan, since you're not hungry, can I have your pizza?"

"Sure Cartman." He hands it too him.

"Sweet!"

"Dude! You never give Cartman your food. What's up with that?" Kyle asks.

"I don't want it to go to waste."

"Something's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong Kyle. Just drop it ok?"

"Fine."

"Seriously guys, if Stan is going to be a sour puss we shouldn't invite him out with us anymore." Cartman states.

Kenny looks at him. "Cartman, he's just having a bad day. Lay off of him."

"Whatever. We usually do this without him and I personally think it's better."

"Shut up Cartman! Like I said, he's having a bad day."

"Then let his bitch ass have a bad day somewhere else. He's spoiling our fun."

"Cartman, stop."

"No, I'm not going to stop. He has to take that shit somewhere else. I don't feel like putting up with it!"

Stan stands up. "Fine Cartman! You win! If you want me to leave, I'll go. Ok?" His eyes began to water.

"Stan, don't listen to Cartman," Kyle begins, "you know he's just being an asshole as usual. Sit down." Stan sits back down. Kyle looks over at Cartman. "Back off Cartman. I mean it. I'll kick your ass if you say anything else to him."

"You guys suck! I was just joking with him. He doesn't have to be such a pussy about it."

Stan's cell phone rings. He sighs before answering it. "Hey babe."

"Where the hell are you?"

"I'm out having pizza with the guys."

"Where?"

"At Whistlin' Willy's."

"I'm coming to pick you up."

"Can you come in about 30 minutes?"

"Don't tell me when to come Stanley! I'll be there in less than 5 minutes."

Stan walks away from the table. "Baby come on, I hardly ever get to hang out with them anymore. Just please give me 30 minutes."

"Is Kyle there?"

Stan sighs again. "Yes he is."

"Then absolutely not Stan. I refuse to let you spend anymore time with him."

"It's not only him, it's Kenny and Cartman too."

"I don't like them either. So I'll be there in a few."

"Wendy, please…"

"This is not up for discussion Stan!"

"But Wendy I-" She hangs up on him. Stan rolls his eyes and walks back over to the table.

"I'm guessing that was Wendy?" Kyle asks.

"Yeah."

"What the hell did she want?"

"She on her way to pick me up."

"Already? Dude, it's so early."

"I know." Stan's eyes begin to water again.

"Well why didn't you tell her that one of us would give you a ride home?"

"I didn't even think about that."

"Call her back and tell her."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"She's going to help with trigonometry and she wanted to get started on it ASAP."

"I can help you with that."

"No you can't. We've already been through this."

"I'm I can help you more than Wendy can."

"Maybe, but I just want to respect her wishes." He notices Wendy's car outside. "She's here, I got to go." He runs out the door. He gets in the car with Wendy. She immediately slaps him.

"I've been waiting here for two minutes!"

"I'm sorry." He starts to cry. "I'm really, really sorry. Let me explain-"

"Don't cry yet, you'll have reason enough later." She speeds off.

Back inside Whistlin' Willy's the boys are discussing Stan. "I just don't understand why he lets Wendy control him like that."

"I think that's the least of his problems." Kenny informs him.

"What do you mean?"

"Uh, fag talk…I'm out of here." Cartman leaves.

"What a dick. So what do you mean Kenny?"

"I promised him I wouldn't say anything, but I can't keep this to myself."

"Keep what to yourself?"

"Stan has been…beating himself."

"What?"

"When we were in the locker room he had a towel covering his back and I was just playing around and I took it off and I noticed a bunch of bloody scars on his back. He told me he did that to himself because he needed to be punished."

"Are you talking about self-flagellation?

"Yeah. At least that's what it sounded like to me."

"That's not like Stan at all."

"I know, that's why I'm worried. He told me not to tell you, but you're his best friend and I figured maybe you could talk to him."

"Well he hasn't seemed like himself lately."

"What do you mean?"

"He's not eating, he's lost a lot of weight. I don't think he's getting enough sleep, I notice he has dark circles under his eyes. He's been unusually quiet, and he looked like he was going to cry before he left."

"I think you should talk to him."

"I tried talking to him after he was attacked yesterday, but I wasn't getting any answers."

"Well I think you need to find out why he's beating himself. He may need help."

"You're right. I'll go see him later."

"Good. I just hope he's going to be ok…"

Back at Wendy's house, Wendy and Stan are both in her room. Stan is lying on his back and his arms are tied to the bedpost. Wendy stuffs a sock in his mouth and tapes his mouth shut to keep him from screaming out loud. "This will teach you not to disrespect me!" She starts beating him, but this time instead of using a belt she's using a whip. Wendy hears Stan's muffled screams and cries, but she ignores him. "This is what happens to men who cheat on their girlfriends!" She hits him again. "How many times have you slept with Kyle and Red?" She hits him four more times. Stan continues screaming and crying. "Don't cry, you brought this on yourself." Wendy realizes something. "You probably gave me something didn't you? You son of a bitch!" She hits him so hard with the whip that it takes off some of his skin. Stan screams as loud as he possibly can given his current state. "SHUT UP!" Wendy hits him in the back of the neck. Wendy hears something whistling, she leaves the room.

'Maybe I can try to break free.' Stan thinks. He wiggles his arms around, but to no avail.

Just then Wendy returns with a teapot in her hand. "Now for the finishing touches." Stan looks up and sees what Wendy is getting ready to do and starts whimpering. "You may want to close your eyes darling." She then pours hot water all over his back. Stan starts kicking and screaming. Wendy smiles. "I think I really want to hear your pain." She takes the tape off and the sock out of his mouth.

"OH MY GOD! IT HURTS SO MUCH!" Tears are now streaming down his face.

"Now you know exactly how I feel when you go off cheating on me."

"I've never cheated! You're so cruel to do this to me!"

"You're the cruel one. Now stop you're crying. I'm sick of listening to it."

"What to do expect? You're hurting me! Physically and emotionally."

"You hurt me emotionally so it's only fair that I return the favor."

"I've never-" Wendy puts her hand over his mouth.

"No more talking. It's time for you to go to sleep." She stuffs six pills in his mouth. He looks as if he's going to spit them out. "SWALLOW THEM!" He does as he's told.

"What did you give me?"

"Sleeping pills." Within moments Stan falls asleep. "I will call your mom and tell her you're staying the night. Goodnight my love." She kisses him on the forehead.

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