A/N: For those of you who are sweet enough to still stick with this story (and actually read the Author's Note), I thank you. A BUNCH.

Disclaimer: South Park meet Trey Parker; Trey Parker, South Park. South Park, Matt Stone; Matt Stone, South Park. The quote is from a journal entry they had us do one day in Literature, "If you found out your best friend was gay/lesbian, how would that effect your friendship?" That's what I wrote. I love gays. I love lesbians. I love love. Other than that, there aren't any references in here, I don't believe.

When the World Comes Down…

A South Park Tale.

Chapter Six

"As long as they keep who and what they do in their bed to themselves, I'm cool."

Walking into the bus you would see thirty-two students from all sorts of cliques, grades ranging from fifth to twelfth grade, interacting in loud shouts and hushed whispers. Typical teens…

"Ike! I was wondering where you went! How did you get on here before us?" Kyle, over-protective brother, interrogated as he sat down and scooted over towards the window a seat behind the Canadian. Setting his bag down, he looked up to see Stan sitting down next to him, hiding his bag deep within his lap. 'Is he trying to sneak Sparky into school again?' the young Jew pondered as he turned back to face Ike, light curls bouncing from beneath the edge of his worn ushanka.

Ike turned around to hear him better and to show that he was listening; the boy next to him just continued to look out the hole he had made through the frost on the window. With a glance at Stan's bag-complex, Ike piped up, "After you struggled those wretched shoes off of me – without even leaving me your high tops, thank you very much – I was found by Georgie. He was walking to his stop with his friends and they asked if I wanted to come and then one of them called me a… What did your tall friend say to me, George?" He asked as he looked down at the dark head now deemed Georgie.

The boy looked away from the window and up towards Ike, just barely visible to Kyle – who then sat forward – and said, "'You poor, blinded conformist. Did that Justin-Wannabe kick you out like a $300 whore after a night of dry humping?'" He then looked back out the window as if that hadn't sounded completely like offset, shock-humor.

Kyle stared at the boy for a long while with a comical, unhinged mouth. Then Stan looked up and said, "Dude! Georgie?! As in Georgie, Georgie?? What's up kid, you know Ike?" He shot forward – still careful of the bag – and lifted the fifth grader's head up to look at his face.

George's face, a round cream colored one, was decorated with heavy black liner, purple lipstick, and a poorly cut 'flip'. He was the spitting image of the kindergartner that Stan had once associated with during his Goth phase.

"Holy Leper eating a taco! I haven't seen you since Wendy broke up with me in the sixth grade! How goes the pain, man?" Stan was now quite engaged into this conversation, his smile at it's brightest when he was around people who had respect for themselves and others. And when he was around Kyle, it was even brighter.

"God, you are such a conformist, Raven," Georgie had a dull tone, but his face held an awkward sideways smirk and his eyes twinkled with hidden mirth.

"What? No I'm not, dude!"

"You're as conformist as they get, Jockey Boy - your perfect girlfriend, your great football gig, and your loving parents. You have no idea how mislead you are. You should have stuck to the coffee, not your Justin/Brittney Wannabe orange juice." The tall, big nosed, senior droned on from his standing position in the isle in front Stan. He pulled back his jacket and put his hand through his belt loop.

Leaning over, the new company handed 'Raven' a small note. "That's from that one girl back there," a point towards Wendy who was three seats back on the opposite side, "I wouldn't normally have done it, but she said that since she had broken up with you, we were probably hanging again. She wouldn't shut up."

Stan looked up at the Goth with a questioning expression, he knew very well that Wendy would not think that – they had been tight friends ever since eighth grade when they finally got over each others silly little tushes. He was about to say something, but then he saw something akin to warding in the upperclassman's eyes. "Okay…" was all he managed instead.

"He's hoping you two will break off whatever it is you have now, you know," Georgie said. He had sat back down and was now scratching something down in a thick black bound book with a small quill pen.

By this time Kenny had become engrossed with the interactions and could no longer hold in his opinion on the riddling subject, "Dude, he's gay for you." A pale hand shot down and tussled the now blushing Stan's head. "To-tally gay."

"That is such bull, Kenny. That Goth kid wouldn't be gay!" Kyle snapped at the blond behind them.

"Oh please, he so is! They're all 'non-conformist' up our asses, right? Well, how conformist is it to be gay in a town 95% straight?" Kenny argued, letting go of Stan's head and leaning over to stare Kyle in the face, his own completely serious. Ignoring Cartman's protests against having the poor boy leaning on his head, Kenny waited expectantly for Kyle's answer.

Unfortunately Kyle didn't really have one. Kenny had raised a good point, and they both knew it. The boy with the auburn hair turned to look at the senior in question, only to give a start and look away quickly. The Goth, who had returned to his seat prior to the conversation, was watching the whole thing from his place two seats ahead on the left. He didn't seem unraveled by the accusation and didn't try to hide that he was expecting an answer from Kyle.

"Well," he looked over at Stan who was suddenly finding a keen interest in a loose string on his bag, "I suppose that's true," a glance at the Goth, "The only way to know for sure is to ask him." His face set, he stared up at Kenny.

Stan, finally tired of this, took a chance and peeked over at the big-nosed teen. Luckily, the Goth had found the discussion boring and was currently engrossed with his cup of coffee and something the other Goth, Alfie Haynes, said as he flipped his red bangs out of his face.

"Whatever, dudes," Having had enough of the personal debate, Stan pressed on, "I really don't care if he does or not, the guy is still the same. Let's just let this go. It's his choice on which he prefers. If you're right, and that is what he wants to discuss, let me handle it when the time arises."

With his part in, Stan snaked his hand into his bag and took out his reading material for Literature and quickly became engrossed in Lord of the Flies. 'That Jack guy is so hardcore,' was his last thought as he tuned out Carman's pleas for a change of subject, instead enjoying the Samneric characters.

Kyle couldn't help but smile. Even when Stan was embarrassed to no end, he would defend any of his friends. 'He's scared shitless to see that guy though…' Kyle noted indignantly, 'I'll go with Stan at whatever time the note specified.' He then dismissed himself from the conversation as well, deciding to become familiar with the sophomore's reading material early.

"Gahd, Stan needs to choose his 'woman' and stick with her," said Cartman, ignored completely, save a smack upside the head, served by Kyle.

"One must stay out of love triangles, Young Grasshopper. For Jews become very jealous, and Goths are likely to take you down with them," a smack was then earned for Kenny.

Sok~Munki: Sitting here reading this, I can't help but laugh at the fact that the Goth kids are taking the bus. Psh, how non-conformist is that, haha! I imagine Henrietta as being in her first year of college right now (same as Shelley) even though we see her hanging with the other Goths at South Park Elementary... She could be, like, skipping her classes to chill with the others.

Other than that, I would say that Stan is pretty fly for a white guy.