Kyle

Kyle slowly opened his eyes, slightly disoriented, until he remembered where he was. The next thing he noticed is that he was half sprawled across Stan's chest. Sliding over slowly, so as not to wake Stan, he got up and dug through his coat pockets until he found his phone.

Unlocking the screen he saw 3 missed texts from his mom. Settling back on the bed he scrolled through his phone, answering his mom, who had texted to say that she was taking Ike to Denver for the day.

A low, sleepy voice startled him from his scrolling.

"What time is it?"

He looked over to see Stan peering at him sleepily.

"It's 9:15."

Kyle smiled to himself as Stan groaned and threw his arm over his face.

"I should probably get up. Kenny never said when he'd be here." Kyle laughed, and Stan gave him a questioning look.

"Dude, this'll be great. He doesn't know I'm here."

Stan laughed and leaned back against his pillow. Kyle reluctantly got up and grabbed his clothes. "I'm gonna go change."

Stan gave him a thumbs up in acknowledgement, then dropped his arm over his face.

Kyle slipped out the door and headed to the bathroom, noticing Shelly standing in the doorway of her room. She leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, a slight smirk on her face.

"Morning Kyle, sleep okay?" There was a hint of teasing in her voice. Kyle froze, heart thumping. Did she see us?

"Um, yeah. I slept fine, thanks." She grinned at him, stepping back in her room and shutting the door. Kyle hurried into the bathroom and closed the door, heart still pounding. It's not gay to cuddle with your super best friend, right? Right?! He used the toilet, and slowly got dressed, before scrubbing his hands thoroughly while thinking about last night. Kyle had always been uninhibited while sleeping. It was the only time he let down his carefully constructed walls and relaxed. During the day he kept a tight hold on his feelings, as he was prone to being short tempered.

Drying his hands, he shoved all the uncertainty to the back of his mind, and went back to Stan's room. As he opened the door, Stan was just slipping a t-shirt over his head. Kyle averted his gaze and shut the door behind him. Stan pulled his shirt down and looked at him. "Kyle? You okay?" Giving himself a mental shake, Kyle plastered a smile on his face."Yeah dude, I'm fine." Stan looked at him doubtfully, but let it go. Kyle breathed a quiet sigh of relief, and sat on the edge of the bed, as Stan dug around in his sweater for his phone. Kyle felt the bed dip, as Stan sat down.

"Is this about last night?" Dammit Stan. Kyle rubbed his face, groaning, and flopped back on the bed.

"I'm sorry."

He looked at Stan, brows furrowed. "Why are you sorry? I'm the one that was all over you."

Stan shrugged and stared at his shoes.

"It's not like I didn't reciprocate. I was half afraid I'd wake up, and you'd be gone"

Kyle turned to look at his best friend as Stan's voice wavered. He had his head down, looking anywhere but at Kyle. Kyle sat up and put his hand on Stan's shoulder. "Me too."

Stan gave him a small smile. "Dude, you're still my best friend. Don't cover shit up with me, okay?"

Kyle nodded. "Okay."

Stan started to get up, but Kyle grabbed his shirt, stopping him. "Stan, I think your sister saw us." Stan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. Kyle smiled to himself at the familiar gesture. Stan sighed and looked down at him.

"It's fine, she won't say anything to anyone. But she might tease us about it."

Kyle eyed him skeptically. "Are you sure?"

Stan nodded at him. "Yeah, Shelly's changed a lot."

Kyle chuckled. "Yeah I've kinda noticed. She's not as obnoxious." They both giggled and got up to go downstairs.

When they got to the bottom, Kyle heard a knock on the door. Stan grinned at him and pushed him towards the door. "Dude, It's probably Kenny, you answer it." Kyle laughed, a knowing look on his face as he reached for the doorknob. He swung the door open to reveal Kenny and Karen, the former wearing a look of shock as he gaped at Kyle.

"Kyle! What are you doing here?!" Kenny's shocked expression morphed into guilt as he avoided Kyle's gaze. Kyle moved over as Stan pushed the door open wider, revealing himself.

"Don't worry dude, I told him I swore you to secrecy."

Kyle watched Kenny breathe a sigh of relief, then they all burst out laughing. Kyle and Stan moved back so Kenny and Karen could come inside.

"I hope you guys don't mind that I brought Karen." Kenny said, his tone making it clear that he didn't care if they minded or not.

"Of course not Kenny, don't be stupid" Kyle reassured him.

Stan smiled at the little brunette clinging to her brother's coat.

"Hi Karen."

She blushed and hid behind Kenny, her voice barely above a whisper "Hi."

Kenny ruffled her hair then looked back at Stan and Kyle. "So what do you guys want to do?" Kyle turned to look at Stan, who just shrugged. Before any of them could say anything more, Stan's mom startled them by poking her head into the room. "None of you are going anywhere until you've had breakfast."

Stan groaned, but Kenny grinned at her. "Sure Mrs. Marsh, what are we having?"

She smiled at him, gesturing for them to follow her to the kitchen. "Waffles, and I think you're all old enough to start calling me Sharon."

As they all sat at the table, Kyle saw Stan grin deviously. "Ok Sharon."

Stan's mom glared at her son in warning. "That's enough Stanley." Stan grinned at his mom sheepishly. "Sorry mom".

She rolled her eyes, hiding a smile, turning back to the counter. "Go tell your sister breakfast is almost done."

"Aw, mom." Stan groaned loudly, thumping his head down on the table.

"I'll do it." Kyle interjected, pushing up from the table not wanting an argument to break out. He got up from the table and headed upstairs.

He stopped outside Shelly's door and knocked lightly. She opened it, staring at him, eyebrow raised. "Um, your mom said breakfast is almost done." Kyle fidgeted with his fingers nervously. She stepped into the hall and closed her door, following behind him. As they neared the top of the stairs, Kyle was stopped by Shelly's hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at her curiously. She was looking at him seriously.

"I just wanted to say thank you." He shot her a quizzical look. "What for?"

"For still being Stan's friend."

He shook his head and started to answer, but Shelly held up her hand, cutting him off.

"But I need you to promise me something. If things get rough, you can't give up. He needs you." She stood there arms crossed waiting for an answer.

" I'm not going anywhere." He said firmly.

Shelly narrowed her eyes, at him. "I'm gonna hold you to that." She moved past him, and headed downstairs. Kyle followed after her, lost in thought.

They walked into the kitchen, joining everyone at the table, Shelly's face lighting up when she spotted Karen. "Hi Karen, do you remember me?"

Karen squinted at her, then smiled. "You used to babysit me."

Shelly nodded, smiling.

Kyle ate his waffles in silence, listening to everyone else talk and catch up. He felt someone nudge his shoe and looked up to see Stan looking at him, brows creased in concern. Kyle smiled at him and pushed against his shoe. Stan grinned at him and Kyle felt a warm feeling in his chest, as a genuine smile spread across his face. Goddamn I missed you.

~~~~~

After breakfast they all piled Into the front room. Kyle had offered to help clean up but Sharon had shooed him off with the rest. Shelly and Karen had gone up to Shelly's room, after Shelly had said she had a few things for her. Kyle, Stan, and Kenny were still trying to figure out what they wanted to do. Kyle jerked when Kenny suddenly jumped up from the couch, and clapped his hands together loudly. "Dudes let's go to the roller rink."

He looked at them expectantly, grinning. Kyle looked at Stan, who nodded, blue eyes lit with excitement. "That sounds like an awesome idea."

Kyle stood up and followed Stan upstairs to grab their coats, Kenny trailing behind them. They both retrieved their coats from the floor, and waited in the hall, while Kenny went to tell Karen it was time to go. Karen poked her head out of Shelly's room, pouting. "Aww, I wanna stay here and hang out with Shelly."

Kenny shook his head and smiled. "You better ask her first." The door opened wider and Shelly smiled down at Karen, before looking at Kenny. "It's fine, I'll keep an eye on her."

Kenny nodded and looked back down at his sister. "Okay Kare-Bear, I'll see you later. Be good."

Karen smiled and rolled her eyes. "I will."

Karen and Shelly disappeared into the room and Kenny joined Kyle and Stan in front of Stan's room, the three of them heading downstairs.

Kyle waited with Kenny while Stan went to tell his mom they were leaving. Stan reappeared and they stepped outside into the crisp morning air, shutting the door behind them.

They walked quietly for a few minutes when Kenny turned to look at Stan. "Your sister's changed a lot."

Stan nodded."Yeah she has." Kenny's face split in a wide grin "She's really hot without the headgear."

Stan glared at him, smacking him in the shoulder. "Dude, sick, that's my sister."

Kenny laughed and darted away as Kyle grabbed Stan's shoulders, preventing him from lunging at Kenny. "Dude, it's not worth it."

Stan sighed and glared at Kenny. Kenny held his hands up in surrender.

"Truce. I got it, sister's off limits" They all stared at each other, tension breaking when Stan burst out laughing. Kyle looked at him in surprise.

"God, you're still a fucking perv." Kenny laughed, raising a hand in the air. "Guilty." Kyle rolled his eyes at them, marching

forward.

"C'mon you two, let's go."

Stan straightened up and fell in step with Kyle, Kenny squeezing between them and throwing his arm over their shoulders. "Damn, I missed this."

~~~~~~~~~

Standing at the counter, they paid the rental fee for their skates and sat down to put them on. Kyle watched Kenny lace his up with lightning speed and skate over to flirt with some cute blonde girl. Typical. Kyle sighed and finished lacing his skates, getting up and following Kenny. He looked back to see Stan clinging to the wall surrounding the rink.

"Dude, you okay?"

Stan nodded, taking a deep breath. "I can't even remember the last time I skated."

He let out a shaky laugh, face tinting pink.

Kyle felt his heart squeeze in sympathy and extended his hand out to his best friend. "C'mon, I've got you."

Stan grabbed his hand and they moved forward slowly, Kyle keeping a tight hold on Stan, until they both found a rhythm.

Skating in sync now, they made a few loops around the rink, Stan's hand still clasped firmly in his. Kyle felt a surge of warmth spread through his chest as he glanced over at his best friend, Stan's face lit up in a wide smile, blue eyes sparkling. Kyle smiled to himself, a sense of everything being right with the world, washing over him.

~~~~~~~~~

After a couple of hours Kyle and Stan sat watching Kenny as he flirted with a brunette, having given up on the blonde. Kyle shook his head in amusement and looked over at Stan. His face was flushed and his breathing slightly labored. A jolt of alarm coursed through Kyle as he watched his best friend worriedly.

"Stan? Are you okay?"

Stan nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, just peachy. I forgot my inhaler."

Kyle swore under his breath, pinning his best friend with a glare. Stan shrugged, grinning at him sheepishly. "I'll be okay. I don't use it very often anyway." Stan looked down, not meeting Kyle's eyes.

Kyle hummed noncommittally, before waving at Kenny to get his attention. Kenny blew a kiss at the brunette he was flirting with and made his way over to them. "What's up?"

Kyle gestured to Stan who was struggling to untangle the laces on his skates. Noticing how flushed Stan's face was, Kenny nodded. "Hey, why don't we go to Tweek Bros. I could go for coffee."

Kyle saw Stan look up with interest. "Speaking of Tweek, are him and Craig still a thing?"

Kyle grinned, letting out a laugh. "Yeah, they broke a up in 7th grade for a few weeks, before realizing they really are gay and were miserable without each other."

"Yeah, now they work at the coffee shop together." Kenny added.

Stan smiled, shaking his head. "Nice to see some things never change."

They all stood up and returned their skates to the checkout counter, Kyle thinking about what Stan had said. He smiled to himself as Kenny flirted with the checkout girl, and Stan sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. Yeah, some things never change

~~~~~~~~~

They stood in line at the coffee shop, waiting their turn, listening as Kenny tried to convince them he'd gotten both the blonde and brunette's number. Kyle rolled his eyes and glanced at Stan. Their eyes met, and they smiled, trying not to laugh.

The person in front of them left, and they were next in line. "What c-can I get you g-guys?

Kyle watched as the twitchy blonde did a double take when he noticed Stan. "H-hey Stan, I d- didn't know you were…gah.. back in town."

Stan smiled kindly at the blonde boy. "Yeah I just got back yesterday. It's good to see you Tweek."

Tweek smiled and took their order, before turning to hand it to a tall black haired boy behind him. Kyle watched Craig turn around and glance at them briefly, his eyes coming back to rest on Stan. A rare smile flitted across the tall boy's face as he flipped them all off. Tweek smacked his shoulder glaring at him. Stan laughed. "Nice to see you too, Craig."

They waited patiently while their drinks were made, then sat at a table along the wall, with a view of the front window. Kyle slid in next to Stan as Kenny sat across from them.

Kyle listened to Stan and Kenny catch up as he sipped his coffee, bouncing his leg under the table. Coffee made him jittery sometimes. He stilled when he felt Stan push his leg up against his. Kyle relaxed and gave his best friend a grateful smile, the two of them missing the smirk on Kenny's face. The three of them continued sipping their coffee as they steered the conversation toward school starting in a few weeks.

"Are you nervous about coming back to school?" Kyle waited for his friend to answer, hoping hadn't brought up a sore subject.

"Yeah a little." Stan fidgeted with the sleeve on his coffee cup. Kyle nudged his shoulder, smiling. "It'll be fine Stan, you'll see."

Kenny leaned forward, serious. for once. "Yeah dude, you have us." Stan smiled at them, abandoning the coffee sleeve he was picking at. "Yeah. you're right, I -"

Kyle watched as all the color drained from Stan's face, as he stared out the window. Kyle turned to see what had his friend in a panic and was met with the very pissed off gaze of his mother. "Shit"