First of all, let me just say I'm sorry that I've been on hiatus for a few months. I've been busy and at the time it didn't really seem like anyone was reading. But recently I went through my reviews on my stories and got a lot of happy-ish feelings. So I'm updating again, now that I have time to and know it's worth it.

Thank you so much to everyone that gave me good feedback!!!

And now, without further ado, chapter nine of Exploitation: Interval.

Stan awoke from a dream about insects covering the planet to a light tapping. It got louder and more aggravated as it went on, and eventually he had to give up the idea of going back to sleep.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes, mumbling under his breath about if it was that creepy Mr. Jefferson he was going to be pissed. He opened the blinds and almost, almost let out a cry of surprise and joy. Luckily, he didn't, or he would forever be known as The Pussy That Squeals.

Stan stared at his visitor for at least twenty seconds, which is twenty too many not to say anything.

Kyle gave Stan a dull look from outside and tapped on the glass again. Stan blinked out of his dead state of mind and opened it, trying not to think about every single overwhelming thought that rushed in his head during those twenty seconds.

Kyle pulled himself inside. "Hey, dude," he offered as he dusted off snow from his boots. He walked to Stan's bed and sat down, automatically hugging a pillow as he got comfortable. Like nothing had happened. Like everything was ok. Stan was trying not to think about Kyle's chapped lips.

Kyle toyed with the edge of the pillowcase, like he was waiting for something. All Stan could think was that Kyle was here for make-up sex (which wouldn't be the first time) and how quiet one would need to be not to wake his sister or parents.

"What are you doing, Kyle?" Stan finally managed to ask. Weather it was referring to the cold shoulder he'd gotten weeks before or why the redhead was in his room was questionable. Really, he just wanted to stop thinking about Kyle's too-loose pajamas.

Kyle took another moment to play with the pillowcase, and then answered very bluntly.

"I couldn't sleep."

Kyle and Stan back-and-forth would go to each others' homes at night when one needed to talk or couldn't sleep, even before they were dating. So maybe to Kyle this seemed like a valid answer, but it just gave Stan more questions.

Stan kept himself together outside and tried to be casual. He had to remember that he still didn't know what the other day was about. He had to think that there could be any number of reasons for Kyle to have acted that way but still feel cozy about coming into Stan's room at…

A quick glance at his alarm clock.

Two fourteen in the morning.

So he tried to roll with it. He couldn't falter. He sat down next to Kyle and tried not to touch him, while at the same time trying not to look like he was distancing himself. He didn't know if he was succeeding greatly or failing horribly before Kyle pulled his legs up to his chest and leaned full-on on Stan's shoulder.

Stan froze in his spot. Ok, he didn't have to think about distance anymore, that was pretty much taken care of. But still he had to try and not think about Kyle's chest on his arm and Kyle's head by his neck. So of course he thought about those exact things.

"Stan…" A sad, soft mumble came from Kyle.

Stan felt a million things explode in him at once. He wanted to stand up, to shove Kyle off him, to grab him by the shoulders and shake as hard as he could. He wanted screaming and tears and questions and answers. He wanted the magic of logic and the blasphemy of empty promises. But more then anything he wanted to kiss Kyle and just never stop kissing him.

But he didn't move.

"It's…" Although in his head Stan was screaming and cussing Kyle out, his voice was as soft and quiet as Kyle's was before. "Ok." He brought a hand up and rubbed Kyle's shoulder. "It's ok," He said again.

All you get is opportunity. It all depends on what you make of it.

Rubbing Kyle's shoulder led to rubbing Kyle's back, which made Kyle's eyes close peacefully and made him fall asleep on Stan's shoulder.

Stan couldn't help but smile despite everything. He laid Kyle down gently on his own bed and took the floor for the night.

Stan didn't know what was going on, no matter how many scenarios he thought up. But when he told Kyle it was ok, no matter what it was, he believed it for a moment.

Then Stan was falling asleep on his rug and doing everything he could to keep the thought he had of how calmed those green eyes were for the moment.