NOTES: so here's the last chapter, I hope you have all enjoyed reading it. Thank you for all the reviews :)
At the bus stop, Kyle, Stan and Kenny were waiting at their usual stop point. Stan noticed Kyle wasn't talking, at all. He glanced at Kenny who just shrugged. "I tried calling you last night, you know, to make sure you were ok"
"I'm fine. I don't need checking up on Stan. You're not my mother"
"I just thought- well, I am your best friend; am I not suppose to care?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm fine, I did what I needed to do. I don't feel like talking about it; especially to you"
Stan and Kenny stare at Kyle in shock. The boy seemed distant and somewhat void of emotion. Stan figured it was because of Eric, that Kyle had realised the boy wasn't coming back and now he was upset and angry. But did he have to take it out on the rest of them? Stan would stick by him, no matter how Kyle decided to deal with it. The bus pulled up and the boys boarded and it drove off again to their destination. Kyle purposely sat right next to Butters as Stan sat at his usual seat. Kenny then took the empty seat next to him as Stan looked at Kyle with a hurt expression. "Dude, have you pissed off Kyle?" Kenny asked
"No! I don't know what's wrong with him. He at least gives me a reason if he's ever angry with me"
"You should talk to him"
"Not yet. I will, but I'll wait until he's cooled off a little"
"Hey Kyle" Butters greeted "Why aren't you sitting with Stan? I mean not that I mind you sitting with me of course"
"I just felt like sitting here is all"
"Oh. Ok, is everything ok? You just look a little pissed off I guess"
Kyle snorted a laugh "It's fine Butters"
"Ok then"
The boys took their seats as the bell rang for class to begin. Kyle was facing the front, a small scowl on his face. Stan peered over at him, trying to get his attention; he then stared down at his desk. He had no idea what he'd done, Kyle had never suddenly ignored him like this.
"Do you have a pencil I could borrow?" Levi asked Kyle. Kyle seethed, how dare this new kid even talk to him.
"Fuck off new kid"
Stan was surprised, he knew Kyle had given him a hard time yesterday because he had sat in Eric's seat. But damn, it wasn't Levi's fault. "Here Levi. You can borrow one of mine" Stan said, handing him a 2b pencil.
"Sure. Of course. You can be best friends now" Kyle said.
"Dude, what the hell is wrong with you? What have I done?"
"I'm not talking to you right now. You'll find out sooner or later. I'll be glad when this whole day is over and everything can go back to normal"
"What are you talking about?"
"I said I wouldn't say anything. Unlike you, I'm not a betrayer" despite how much of an asshole dick he is.
"Betrayer? I'm not- I never betrayed you"
"Uh huh. Sure, you never betrayed me"
"Of course not!"
"Ok, we can all quiet down now. I'd like you to read part of the text book in front of you from pages one to five. Then I'll ask you some questions" the teacher said, frowning at Stan and Kyle who had been talking too loud, enough to get the class' attention.
The boys sunk into their chairs as they picked up their books. "I'd never betray you Kyle" Stan continued in a whispered tone.
"Go to hell"
Stan sighed sadly and began to just read the text book.
Stan and Kenny made their way through the lunch line until they were greeted by their friend. Today was the most awkward day. At least from Kenny's point of view, the poor boy was stuck in the middle of the two supposedly best friends. At least Kyle was still talking to him. But he couldn't help but feel the only neutral one in their class. He briefly wondered what Kyle meant when he said he couldn't wait for the day to end so things would be back to normal.
"Hello there children" Chef greeted, the group of friends were getting smaller. He noticed Kyle wasn't with them.
"Hey Chef" Stan replied
"How's it going?"
"Bad"
"Why bad? Where's Kyle?"
"He's not talking to me"
"How come?"
"I don't know"
"You don't know?"
"I really don't, he was completely fine with me yesterday"
"Well, what did he do between finishing school yesterday and starting school today?"
"I know he went to visit Cartman's grave. He said it was time"
"Oh, so maybe he's just dealing with his emotions right now. It must have been hard to finally say goodbye"
"But he's talking to Kenny, and everyone else in class. Except for that new kid"
"What'd he do?"
"I dunno. I think he feels that if Levi sits in Cartman's seat it'll replace him"
"He'll get over that, but it'll take a bit of time. Try talking to Kyle later, perhaps when he's alone and calmed down"
"Yeah. I suppose so"
"Now move along children"
Stan and Kenny walked to their seats with their lunch trays. Stan searched around for Kyle, he wasn't anywhere to be seen. They sat down with their food and soon some of their other friends joined them.
"He's really mad at you" Kenny said as he started scoffing some mash potatoe
"I know"
"Whose mad at you?" Token asked
"Kyle"
"Why?"
"He keeps saying I betrayed him"
"Why did you betray him? Aren't you best friends?" Craig asked bluntly
"I didn't!"
"Maybe you did and you just can't remember" Clyde said
Stan frowned "I would remember something like that Clyde"
"He should tell you what you did wrong. Otherwise you can't fix it. That's too much pressure" Tweek said.
"Right? Surely I have a right to know what I did, if I don't know what I did in the first place" Stan was glad someone was on his side.
"But if you don't know what you did, Kyle probably won't forgive you easily" Craig said
"Shut up Craig" Craig flipped him off and continued eating
It was their ending lesson, the class were doing an english exercise in groups of three. Stan and Kenny had to be in a group with Levi because Kyle refused to be in the same group as Stan, although he had apologised to Kenny for it. Kyle was in a group with Craig and Tweek, their tables were next to each other but his back was to Stan.
"I'm going to talk to Kyle after school" Stan said
"You think he'll listen?" Levi asked
"Worth a try, he's still my best friend after all; even if he isn't talking to me at the moment"
"Have you thought about what you might have done?" Kenny asked
"I've gone through it over and over in my head. The only thing I can think of is that he found out that we were talking about him just before we played COD that day. Remember? The five stages of grievance thing?"
"That doesn't really scream betrayal"
"I know, but I can't think of anything else. Unless-" Stan's eyes widen "Oh shit!"
"What?"
"Oh shit, oh shit!"
"What dude!?"
"I think I know what it is"
"Fucking tell me"
"Ok. So em, the last day of school after we'd all gone home. I called Cartman and asked him if he'd gotten the new COD game yet. He said he hadn't and I told him that my mom wouldn't get it for me and I had no money. At first he said that's too bad and told me to fuck off because he was busy and that I shouldn't bother him with my hippie problems and to talk to my faggy boyfriend Kyle instead"
"Go on"
"So anyway. A couple of hours later he called me back. He told me that he would give me the money to buy the game if-"
"If what?"
"If I planted some tracking chip thing on Kyle so that he could spy on him while he was at his Grandma's"
"Dude! Holy shit"
Stan covered his face with his hands "I know. I know. I didn't want to do it, I just- I wanted that game so much and I thought it might be cool if I was the only one who had the game. Kyle said he had a lot planned, I didn't know what at the time but I just wanted to contribute"
"So you did it?"
"All I had to do was plant the tracker. I didn't have to do any other spying"
"No wonder he's so mad"
"But Cartman was the only one that knew and he's gone, the plan failed anyway when he died in the explosion"
"Oh yeah, did he tell anyone else what you were doing?"
"He wouldn't have risked that, he knew I wouldn't tell Kyle myself. If he did, Kyle has only just found out; otherwise he would have ignored me way before today"
"So are you gonna still talk to him?"
"I have to. Now that I know what the problem is; I can at least try and explain myself. I just hope that he forgives me"
"Where the hell did Cartman get that kind of tracking chip anyway?"
"Who knows. Who knows how Cartman got a lot of the stuff he did. It doesn't matter now anyway. I think he's paid his debts, let's leave him and his sins at peace"
Kenny nodded
Kyle felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He discreetly pulled it out and looked at the message he'd received.
I'm ready
He had given Eric his old phone so that they could communicate. He had no idea why he was helping him, especially after what he'd done. But he kept remembering that piece of karma that was heading Eric Cartman's way. It would be worth it, even if he wasn't there to see the look on his face; it was still worth it to grit his teeth and help him. Kyle got up from his seat, walked over to the teacher to excuse himself and then left the classroom.
A few minutes pass before static and interference came over the schools intercom. "Would all students report to the gymnasium for a special announcement, Mmkay. I don't know what it's about myself, but Kyle broflovski wishes to tell you all about it himself"
The groups of the class shared confusing looks and then scraped their chairs as they got up similtaniously and left the classroom. "Dude, he's going to tell everyone about my betrayal" Stan said to Kenny as they made their way to the gym
"Really?"
"Yeah. It'll totally suck. Wendy will hear it and she'll start thinking I'll do it to her and start ignoring me"
"Are you sure that's what he's doing?" Levi asked
"This will be a good way for him to get back at me"
"Doesn't seem like his style" Kenny said
"If he's angry enough it does" everyone began to make their way into the gym. All teachers and students started occupying the benches. Stan stopped beside Kyle. "What's going on? I wanna talk to you about why you're angry with me"
"Just sit down Stan"
"Talk to me"
"Later"
Stan folded and joined Kenny and the others on the higher benches.
Kyle waited until everyone was seated, either on the benches or on the floor. Microphone in hand, he breathed out nervously. He hoped to fucking god Eric showed up and didn't leave him standing there to look like an idiot. "Um, hi everyone. Thanks for coming here"
"What's going on Kyle?" Mr Mackey asked
"This will come as a pretty big shock. I was even shocked myself. He asked me to tell you not to rip his head off until he explains himself. Personally I'd rather you did, but if I can hear him out; I suppose you all can too"
"But he didn't hear me out Kenny. He wouldn't even talk to me. I'm so busted"
"Shhh"
"You can come out now" Kyle said. Stan was about to stand up until the doors from the back of Kyle opened. They waited for a moment. "Get your ass in here!" Kyle then shouted.
Everyone gasped in shock, their faces paled as Eric Theodore Cartman came into the room. No one said anything, they were too stunned, too frozen.
"Eric's ghost!" Butters screamed, and he continued to scream as he pointed at Eric and ran out of the gym.
Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose "God dammit Butters"
"Hey guys" Eric said, slightly nervous
"Eric? You're alive?" Chef asked, his wide eyes glued to the boy.
"H-hey Chef, long time no see..."
"What the fuck..." Stan said, he was utterly confused
"No fucking way" Kenny said
"Well, I guess no one saw that coming" Craig said
"Oh Jesus! It's the ghost! He's here to haunt us. He found out what we did" Tweek said
"Calm down Tweek, he's alive, it was all a trick"
"Why would he do that!?"
"I know you're all wondering what happened. I have a totally good explanation" Eric said. If he didn't win them over, they were going to really kill him.
"You better have a good explanation!" Wendy shouted
Everyone was frowning at him, Kyle grinned, it served him right. Eric let out a sigh. "Things had been changing a lot between the students at this skewl. I started to realise, would anyone care If I even died? I know I wasn't the best person to everyone. I know I was a total asshole to specific people here, including my friends" Kyle stared at him, what was he doing? "But I thought at least people might care a little bit right? I knew I didn't deserve it. I never did anything worthy of being missed by you guys. I just thought that maybe, maybe I could see things from others point of view. To see that If I really did die, how much I mattered. How much they mattered. I know it was the wrong way to see it. But I knew that if I could be missed, me of all people. It would help me to become a better person" Kyle couldn't believe it. Did he just- did he just fucking lie? Lie right through his teeth. This was not the plan. Surely they wouldn't buy that. They had to be angry. They had to be furious. "Please. I just hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. I didn't mean to deceive you guys. I just wanted to know that people would miss me"
Kyle looked up as everyone began clapping. Soon the entire gym was filled with applause. Kyle scowled and raised his arms in utter disbelief. "Oh come on!"
Eric smiled and then grinned as he turned to Kyle so only he could hear him. "You were right Kahl. This way was easier"
"You fucking piece of shit. This wasn't the plan and you know it. You were supposed to tell the truth!"
"I did"
"That was not the truth fatass. That was a partial cover up and you know it"
"Same thing to me. I got what I wanted and I got away with it too. See you tomorrow Kyle" Eric pat him on the cheek and left the hall humming 'it's a beautiful day' as he did so.
"You asshole Cartman!" Kyle shouted over the clapping. Students and teachers soon started to desperse.
Stan caught up to Kyle and they stopped by his locker. "Kyle!" Kyle sighed and turned to his friend. "I know why you're mad now"
"Tell me"
"Cartman told you about the tracker, didn't he?"
"Why Stan? You of all people"
"I know! I'm sorry! I don't know why I did it! I just wanted the game. I just wanted to contribute"
Kyle's face softened, he was no where near as angry at Stan as he was at Eric. "If you had asked me. I would have leant you the money dude"
"I know. I'm sorry. I'll never do that again"
"You're forgiven I guess. But it did hurt Stan"
"Yeah"
"At least you didn't know about Cartman's death"
"Guess you were right all along. We should have believed you"
"Yes. But even I believed it at the end"
Stan grinned, "Did you say you missed him?"
"What?"
"You did. Otherwise he wouldn't have shown himself"
"I don't know what you're talking about"
"You admitted you missed Cartman"
"Shut up" The two boys left the school building "Asshole"
Eric took a deep breath as he stared at his front door. This was it, the last loose end to tie up, to make it right. He honestly hoped his mother would understand. Just as he was about to make a move, his phone vibrated. He pulled the old phone out that Kyle had given him and read the text.
I took the liberty of asking Levi to record your whole gay ass speech. I didn't plan on you completely lying though, dickhole. I did however, send it to your Mum. Goodluck with that.
"Son of a bitch" He decided to knock on the door rather then barge in. When the door opened, Eric looked up at her. She stood there, eyes beginning to water; but she didn't make any moves to hug him just yet. He was so screwed.
"Eric?"
"It's me. I know Kyle sent you a video"
He was suddenly embraced in a tight hug. He wasn't expecting that. "I missed you so much sweetheart"
"Ow. Geez. Okay. I missed you too"
Once he was released she gave him a stern look and he gulped a little. "What do you have to say Eric?"
Eric looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry for pretending to be dead"
"Good. Now, how about pancake donut surprise? You must be hungry"
"Wow really!? You mean- You're not mad? I'm not grounded or anything?"
"No. I think you've been through enough"
"Awesome!" Eric ran to the bottom of the stairs "I'm just gonna shower real quick"
"Okay hun" Lianne watched nervously as her son ran up the stairs. She waited a moment, she really was so happy that he had come home to her; that he was alive. She just couldn't be angry with him. Then she heard it, her son screamed and she winced.
Eric came barralling back down the stairs "Mum! Where the fuck is all my stuff!? My room is completely empty!"
"Oh...erm, sweetie; I thought you were dead. I wanted to keep it all, but I needed to move on"
"After how long!?"
"Four weeks"
"Four weeks? Four fucking weeks!? Jesus Christ!"
"I really wanted to keep it poopsikins. But your friends told me I'd move on more if I didn't"
"Was Kyle one of them!?"
"Yes. We gave it all to charity..." Lianne realised what she said too late. "Oh dear"
"Ch- charity?" Eric stumbled back. "You gave my stuff to charity!? What the fuck Mom!?"
"I knew you would have disapproved-"
"Oh gee Mom you think!?"
"I'm sorry hun. But, you were dead"
"Fuck! This is bullshit!" Eric was so pissed "Was it Kyle's idea!? Did he give my stuff to poor people!?" Eric didn't need an answer. He ran back up the stairs and grabbed his phone from his pocket.
Kyle was sitting on his bed, just waiting. Waiting for that phone call he knew was coming. His phone soon flashed. He answered but didn't speak.
"Kyle! You fucking filthy Jew! I'm gonna fucking kill you! You piece of crap! You dare give my stuff to charity, I'm so pissed off!-" Kyle simply grinned and hung up. He sighed in contentment.
Wasn't Karma a bitch?