"Last night, I had a terrible sleep. I kept tossing and turning all night," I say, glancing over at my best friend behind the wheel before I gaze back out the window again, absently watching the town whizzing by. Stan keeps his eyes on the road, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel.

Stan got his license a couple of months ago and his dad sometimes lets him drive his car, today being one of those days.

I called Stan this morning and told him I wasn't taking the bus, for obvious Cartman reasons, though I didn't tell Stan that. He offered to drive me to school in his dad's car, which I gratefully accepted.

Stan isn't actually a huge fan of driving. He was thrilled when he got his license but now he isn't fond of it. He tenses up a bit while driving, terrified of crashing. Cartman often rips on him for it, which can actually be quite funny, though I really don't want to think about him right now.

"Aww, that sucks, dude," he answers, listening though keeping most of his attention on the road. "Why's that?"

I shrug, but then remember he's not looking at me. "I don't know," I lie. "Just having a bad week is all."

"Oh. Well next week should be better," he says, trying to comfort me, though unfortunately it doesn't work. I know next week won't be better. It will get better eventually but not as soon as next week.

"Thanks, dude," I answer anyway, not wanting him to worry about me.

He smiles. "So why didn't you want to get the bus today anyway?"

I freeze. I was hoping he wouldn't ask me that.

"Oh, I… uhh… I just…"

I trail off, unsure of what to say.

As Stan stops at a red light, he gets the chance to glance over at me, seeming to notice I'm uncomfortable. He drops the question and changes the subject.

"So… uhh… can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I reply, eager to switch subjects.

"Umm… you know the way everyone in school is saying you're… uhh… gay?"

I frown out the window, almost regretting accepting Stan's offer to let him drive us to school. I should have just walked.

"Stan, it's just a stupid rumour, okay?" I snap. "I don't want to talk about it."

"…So, you're not gay?" he asks me, eying me curiously.

"No!" I cry, my voice louder than intended, slightly startling him.

"Okay, dude, okay," he says, smiling as if it's no big deal.

I sigh and gaze out the window again, feeling annoyed at Stan for no good apparent reason.

Finally, to my delight, we finally arrive at school and Stan parks inside, where the student parking lot is. I jump out of the car, a little too quickly, eager for some fresh air.

Stan doesn't seem to notice and he gets out of the car at his own pace, locking it before stuffing the keys in his jacket pocket.

We head up to the door in silence and walk in.

Once I'm done at my locker, I head to my first class, Chemistry, which unfortunately, to my luck, Cartman is also in. I walk into the lab, smiling in relief when I see Cartman's not here yet, and take a seat.

I absently look back over the chapter we're currently on and study silently. I barely have to wait three minutes until I see a flash of red at the corner of my eye and I look up to see Cartman standing near me, looking around for a seat, wearing his favourite red jacket as usual.

He catches my eye for a brief moment before I quickly avert my gaze, feeling anger bubble up inside me as I recall his plan.

At that moment, our teacher Ms Kaye walks in and tells everyone to take their seats. Seeing no other spare seat nearby, Cartman takes the seat next to me, to my deep disapproval.

"S'up, Jew?" he greets me icily as he sits. I guess he's still angry about yesterday. Well, that's good. It'll make it easier for me to ignore him.

"Okay, class, I'm sure you all revised that experiment I gave you the last day for homework, right?" Ms Kaye says. "Now I'd like you all to carry it out in pairs, with the person sitting next to you."

I quickly glance the opposite way of Cartman but the boy beside me has paired up with the person on his left. Cartman is at the edge of the table, which means I'm the only one beside him, which means we're stuck together. Just my luck.

Well I won't have to talk to him. We'll just do the experiment and get it over with.

"Listen, Jew, I'm really not in the mood to talk to you right now but I have no idea what we're meant to do so you have to help me."

I scoff. I should have known he wouldn't learn his homework. Like I'm going to help him.

He shoots me a glare. "Just tell me what we have to fucking do, Kahl."

I sigh loudly. I guess I will have to talk to him after all.

But, I swear, that after this class, I'm avoiding him for life.

"Fill these two test tubes with water and then I'll explain what to do next," I tell him, shoving the two pieces of equipment in his hands. "Only fill them about halfway."

I start to do the rest, slowly and carefully, remembering the method of the experiment I learned on Saturday night.

Cartman returns moments later and I tell him what to do next, making sure to give him the easy tasks for fear of him making a mistake and ruining the chance of me getting an A.

By the look on his face, he seems to not be fond of the idea of me bossing him around but he obeys anyway, knowing he has no other choice.

We finish the experiment before anyone else and we sit down in our seats, saying nothing for the first few minutes, watching the others in our class as they fiddle around with the apparatus, most people having no clue what they're doing.

"We're getting an A for sure," Cartman says, smirking while watching Bebe nearly trip while carrying a retort stand.

"And who's that all thanks to?" I ask, looking over at him as he glances back, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah yeah, you. Whatever," he mutters, and I can't help but grin slightly.

Ms Kaye finally notices we're done, after not realising we've been just sitting here for ten minutes, and she comes over to observe.

"Wow, well done, boys, and very quick too," she comments. "You two clearly work well together."

Cartman and I share a look of astonishment as we both think of how so very wrong this woman is.

"You each get an A," she says. "Well done."

With that, she walks away, leaving the two of us to continue to stare incredulously at each other.

"Did she seriously just say that we work well together?" Cartman asks.

"She clearly doesn't know us at all," I reply, laughing at the very thought.

Of course we don't work well together. We despise each other. I hate Cartman so much that in the next ten minutes, I'm going to remove him from my life completely. How's that for working well together?

"We did manage to get an A together though," Cartman points out. "And we didn't fight."

I shrug. "That's true, I guess."

It is true that we didn't argue while working together. Cartman was on surprisingly good behaviour today and didn't complain when I was telling him what to do, though maybe he's doing that on purpose.

Maybe that's all part of his plan. Maybe he's acting nicer to me to make me think he really does like me, so then I'll fall harder for him so he can break me.

Well I'm not letting any of that happen. I know Cartman's plan and I won't let my guard down.

"Why the hell are you glaring at me?" he suddenly asks, warping me from my thoughts and back to reality.

I blink in surprise as I realise I've been glaring at him while so absorbed in my thoughts. I feel my cheeks redden and I quickly avert my gaze.

"N-no reason," I mumble, focusing my eyes elsewhere.

I feel Cartman's eyes linger on me for a moment longer before finally looking away, leaving me at peace.

The bell rings minutes later, signifying the end of class. I note in my head that from this moment on, Cartman means nothing to me. I'm going to avoid him from now on. I'm going to forget the past and move on, leaving all memories of Cartman behind me.

I quickly leave the classroom and head to my next class, for once feeling happier than I've ever been in a long time.

Lunch arrives soon enough and I wait by Stan's locker for him to finish so we can head down to the cafeteria together.

While standing next to him, I notice a few more people whispering to each other while looking in my direction, no doubt talking about me being gay.

Most people are used to the rumour by now and they don't discuss it anymore, though they still treat me differently to the way they used to, but others still talk about it.

I don't exactly care anymore though. Since I've removed… him from my life, I've also removed that stupid rumour from my memory, or tried to at least.

"Alright, I'm done now," Stan tells me, closing his locker. "Cartman and Kenny have probably gone down already to get us a table. Let's-"

"Actually, Stan," I interrupt, "I was hoping you and I could sit together. Just the two of us."

He gives me an odd look. "Why?"

I shrug, at the moment not having a good excuse.

"Is it anything to do with Cartman?" he asks.

I nod, noticeably wincing at the name. Thankfully, Stan doesn't pry about what he's done, to my delight.

"Well I don't mind not sitting with Cartman," he says. "In fact, I love the idea, but I feel bad leaving Kenny out."

"I know," I answer, honestly not wanting to abandon my blonde friend. "But if he sits with us, then the fatass will follow."

Stan nods slowly, thinking hard. "Well, the two of us will just sit together for today and later we'll explain everything to Kenny. Then one of us will let Cartman know we're not sitting with him anymore."

I nod, suddenly recalling a memory. I remember the last time we left Cartman alone, he was sitting at a table, looking sad and lonely. It killed me to see him like that. I don't know if I can bear witnessing it again.

"You know, Stan, just because I'm not sitting with Cartman anymore doesn't mean you and Kenny can't. You two can sit with him whenever you want," I say hopefully.

Stan shakes his head and smiles. "No way, dude. I'd much rather sit with you than Cartman, and I'm sure Kenny will feel the same."

I mentally sigh, the previous memory lingering on my mind, and I gaze down at the ground. "But Cartman will be on his own," I mutter quietly.

I look up in time to see Stan giving me a strange look. "Dude, who cares? Don't you want him to feel alone after whatever it is he did to you?"

I know the answer to that, and unfortunately I can't change it.

"Well, not really," I answer awkwardly, honestly. "I don't exactly want him to be alone. I just want him to stay away from me is all."

Stan stares at me, looking surprised. "Well… uhh… okay, I guess. Maybe Kenny will sit with him sometimes, or we could get Butters to. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

Hmm… I'm pretty sure Butters would be Cartman's least favourite person to sit with at lunch, but I guess it's better than sitting by himself. And I'm sure Butters would love to sit with him. I'm pretty sure the blonde has a secret crush on Cartman.

"Yeah, good idea," I praise my best friend. "Well let's hurry down. I'm starving!"

He smiles and nods. "Race you down!"

Before I can speak a word, he dashes off ahead of me, running. I laugh and don't hesitate to run after him, feeling like a child but loving the feeling.

-/-/-/-/-

Lunch is definitely a lot different today. Stan and I are sitting together at a table two away from where Kenny and Cartman are sitting.

The two of them noticed us not sitting with them but Cartman seems too into his food to really care. Kenny, on the other hand, occasionally glances back at us, a questioning look on his face. Stan mouths the words 'later' and eventually Kenny understands and returns to his conversation with Cartman. Stan and I are silent for the first few minutes of lunch, unsure of what to talk about.

As I munch quietly on my sandwich, I suddenly hear my name being mentioned at the table behind me, coming out in a hushed tone though I can hear nearly perfectly. It sounds like Bebe's voice though I can't be sure, and I'm not going to look back to find out.

"Yeah, I think they're going out," the same voice says. "They've been best friends for years now so it doesn't surprise me that they're finally dating."

"What! Kyle and Stan! No way!" another female voice cries out in surprise. "They aren't seriously dating, are they?"

"I think they are. They're not sitting with Kenny and Cartman today. They're sitting alone at a table."

I have to use all my power to not turn around and yell at the girls behind me. They actually think I'm dating Stan! Sick, dude!

"They are not dating, you guys," a familiar voice speaks up. Wendy Testaburger. "I am still with Stan, you know, and I know he's not gay. Just because he and Kyle are sitting alone together doesn't mean anything. They're best friends. And maybe they just had a fight with Kenny and Cartman or something."

A smile slowly spreads on my face. Wendy is seriously the only sensible girl in our school.

"Dude, what are you smiling at?" Stan asks me, breaking my train of thought.

"Nothing," I reply quickly, not wanting to tell him I've been eavesdropping on his girlfriend and her friends' conversation.

He continues to eat and I allow my mind to wander, stopping myself from accidentally eavesdropping again. The rest of the school day passes quite quickly and I'm relieved when we're able to go home again. I finish at my locker slower than usual, finding myself in no rush. Today was a pretty good day, excluding the first class, and so I'm not hurrying to leave.

I take my time exiting the building, feeling happier than usual, before I suddenly remember the bus. Without a moment's hesitation, I sprint off through the school grounds, trying to reach the bus in time but knowing it's too late. I glance down at my watch and realise the bus must have already left by now.

I stop running and kick the ground angrily, cursing quietly. Stan offered to give me a lift home this morning when I was at his house but I told him I'd get the bus. I regret that now.

As I slowly make my way out of the school grounds, heading towards the gate, I hear a door open a few yards behind me. I stop and turn around to see a teacher talking to a student, though I'm too far away to hear anything they're saying. The teacher says one last thing before shutting the door and letting the student head home.

The boy turns around and starts heading my way, though he hasn't spotted me yet, and I suddenly realise that it's Cartman. I curse again and quickly begin to walk, praying to God that he won't see me.

I reach the gate in a matter of seconds, smiling as I realise he still hasn't spotted me yet, until my luck turns.

As I'm looking back over my shoulder, making sure he hasn't seen me yet, I suddenly slip on a small patch of ice and fall flat on my face, the coldness of the snow beneath me sending shivers throughout my body.

The heaviness of my schoolbag atop my back makes it hard for me to get up straight away and as I move my right foot, I feel a sharp pain pierce me.

I groan and just lie where I am, too sore and cold to move. I shiver wildly as I lift my face off the snow, my face feeling so cold that it numbs me.

"Kahl?" a familiar voice suddenly says from behind me, startling me.

I only groan in response, unable to speak from the coldness throughout my entire body.

"Kahl, god dammit. You stupid clumsy Jew, come here."

I suddenly feel two hands move under my arms and slowly lift me off the ground, my schoolbag falling off in the process. I'm suddenly back on my feet again and leaning back against Cartman for balance. I begin shivering again, many pieces of snow stuck all over me, and I feel my teeth chattering loudly.

"Jesus, Kahl, here," Cartman says, letting go of me with one hand while shrugging off his red jacket until it's off and he's holding it in his free hand.

He hands it to me and I eventually get my balance and can stand properly. I stare down at the jacket and then back up at Cartman, surprised and puzzled.

"Just put it on, Jew," he says.

I mentally sigh. I really shouldn't do this. I'm supposed to be avoiding Cartman, pretending he's a stranger, yet here he is, helping me off the ground and giving me his favourite jacket.

I shouldn't really accept it but I'm just so cold right now. If I stay the way I am any longer, I'll catch pneumonia.

Reluctantly, yet also eagerly, I put on Cartman's jacket, breathing a sigh of deep contentment as warmth begins to flood through my body, warming me up in an instant.

Cartman seems amused at my sigh and smirks slightly. "So you understand now why it's my favourite jacket, right?"

I nod, completely understanding.

He chuckles. "It looks huge on you."

I look down and laugh when I realise he's right. It does look pretty big on me.

Cartman smirks wider for a brief moment before it suddenly fades, being replaced by a curious stare.

"So, Kahl, why have you been avoiding me today?"

I stare at him, surprised by the question. I decide to play dumb. "What do you mean, Cartman?"

"Cut the crap, Kahl. You know what I'm talking about. Besides the first class, you've been avoiding me. You didn't even sit with me and Kenny at lunch. Why? Is it because of last night?"

I sigh, knowing I can't avoid the question. I might as well tell him the truth.

"No," I say.

He frowns. "No what?"

"No, it's not because of last night," I say.

"Well then why are you avoiding me?" he presses, eager for an answer.

"When I was walking out of your garden, I found something sticking out of your green bin."

He stares at me strangely, looking slightly amused. "What was it?"

"This," I say, bending down to search through my schoolbag. I find what I'm looking for and pull it out, revealing his art project.

His mouth drops open and he gapes at the sheet of paper I'm holding, his eyes widened.

"H-how…" He leaves the question hanging in the air.

"I told you. I saw something sticking out of your bin. I went to put it back in but then I saw what it was and I took it," I explain, watching as all the blood drains from his face.

He finally averts his eyes from the page to look at me, his eyes slowly narrowing.

"Why the fuck did you take it, Kahl? I threw it away. No one was meant to see it."

"The hell with that!" I cry, glaring at him. "I know your plan, Cartman. I know everything. It's not going to work on me."

He frowns. "Plan? What the hell are you talking about, Jew?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, fatass."

"No, I actually don't, Kahl," he says.

I scoff. "You're pathetic, Cartman, you know that? Only you would go to all this trouble just to mess with my feelings. Only you would do anything you could just to break me. Well it's not going to work. I'm well informed on your plan."

He stares at me, various different emotions crossing his face. "Kahl, I-"

"Shut up, Cartman!" I interrupt sharply. "I don't want to hear it. I am sick and tired of your stupid lies and your ways to hurt me. I've decided that I don't want to deal with it anymore, and this time, I mean it."

Cartman frowns. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you're no longer a part of my life, for real this time. I'm avoiding you forever and I will never accept you back. Never!"

Cartman stares at me, his mouth slightly agape and an odd look in his eyes.

"Kahl, I'm not planning anything. I can explain why I drew the picture if you'll just let me."

I shake my head. "No, Cartman. Just please don't talk to me ever again."

With that, I grab my schoolbag off the ground and walk away, desperate to get home and leave my memories with Cartman behind for good…

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-