Iodine ch.2: Inner conflict

In his room Eric sat on his bed and felt terrible. Not because how he treated Kyle, but because of what Kyle said. His mother deserved to know whole truth. But if she did she'd be worried.

Lying down he sighed heavily. Before he knew it he was sleeping.

"When did I...?" Cartman sat up. Looking around bit confused he finally remembered that he's came back home. Sighing he stood up. "Time to unpack." he muttered to himself looking at clock. "Dinner first. Steph would kill me if I skipped any meal for any reason..." he decided seeing that it was already 1p.m..

His mom was nowhere in sight. Well she said she was going to work, so he wasn't surprised.

Preparing simple stir fried veggies Eric still wondered if he really should tell his mother whole truth. Same when eating. It just bothered him. Yet not because he felt guilty, but because of what Kyle said. And it pissed him off. "Fuck." Cartman muttered washing dishes. "Why can't he just leave me alone. He doesn't know a thing." He complained to himself walking upstairs. In his room he quickly opened bag he brought here taking out white box.

Inside there were ten or twelve neatly packed in small cubic, transparent boxes each harbouring same set of colourful pills and twice as much empty containers. Syringes, insulin, metaformin and some other pills for sugar levels, glucometer. And bottle of iodine accompanied by cotton balls. Cursing once again Eric went downstairs and came back with glass of water. Sitting on bed with box after setting glass on night stand he takes off his shirt. His ribs are slightly visible just as his pelvis, but not much.

Measuring sugar, then insulin shoot followed by pills and finally rubbing iodine on his arm. Another sugar test and everything is put back in it's box. Small smile present on Erics face. It wasn't happy smile. It was sour like tea he was drinking earlier.

Hiding old photos Eric stops smiling sad and sour smile, it gets bit more honest till his eyes meet photos with Kyle on them. With smile falling down Eric turns those around to just tip them over so now they face shelve they previously smiled at him from. His closet was empty so he just put all his clothes there making mental note to buy clothes more fitting weather in South Park. Philadelphia was either cold or devilishly hot never something like here. His university diploma and deans letter of recommendation are just put down on his desk next to his old computer he ignores taking out his new laptop. Sighing at lack of place for thing he just moves pc screen to floor and then sets laptop on desk.

Yawning widely Eric decides to get back to sleeping out his journey. As he changes out of his jeans his eyes land on box holding his medicine. "He's right she has right to know. And it'll be better if I'll tell her myself than if she finds this box not knowing." Eric decides putting on simple sweet pants and lying down. Soon he was sleeping again.

…

At the same time Kyle couldn't sit in one spot. He just kept changing spots in his parents house. At one moment he was in his room thinking if he should tell Stan and just minute later he was watching TV – more like switching channels unable to decide what to watch, just to go to kitchen to drink tea two to three minutes later.

He just couldn't think about anything that wasn't connected to Eric Cartman.

"What got into you, bro?" Ike asked walking in ans Kyle silently drunk his tea. "Nothing." Kyle said "Why?"

"You behave weirdly. And drink tea without sugar." his younger brother explained. He made it sound like most obvious thing in universe, which it possibly was.

"It's nothing. Just... Cartmans back and I have no idea how to talk to him." ginger Jew admitted. "He's just so different. It's like he's completely different person. Ugh. I can't stop thinking that he's hiding something he shouldn't hide." he added ending with heavy sigh. "I'll just take a nap." he decided and left confused Canadian behind.

…

When Liane came back home Eric was already awake. "Hi, popkins." she smiled at her little boy. Well he wasn't little but for her he'll always be her little baby.

"Hi mom. I have something to tell you." Eric greeted with small smile.

"What is?" Liane asked.

"You'd like to sit I think. It's a long story." Cartman said. He was ready, he thought but now it was hard. He never really liked talking about it. But it has to be said sooner or later...

#Dramatic pause.

This time a bit shorter chapter, but next time: Cartman tells about this five years he wasn't in south park. Will he be able to tell everything or chicken out in middle of story?

Review if you liked this chapter.