Hey guys, back with another chapter. Sorry it's so short, but the next one is longer. I may upload ch 18 today, I'll see how I feel about it once I am done revising it. Thanks again for all of the reviews, you are all awesome. I'll reply to them when I can, I've just been quite busy lately. If you liked, please leave a review, it helps me continue the story.

Ch 17

Kyle was dreading school. It was Wednesday now, and the week was almost over. Kyle sighed as he made his way to the bus stop. Stan had texted him telling him that he wasn't going to be at school again. His mother wanted him to rest for one more day before she would let him return to school.

Kyle was the only one to board the bus at his regular bus stop. Cartman wasn't seen, and Kyle huffed a sigh of relief. But Kenny was gone, too.

Where is everyone?

Kyle hadn't seen Cartman all day. This worried him. He wasn't worried for Cartman, however, he was worried as to what he was planning. Lunch rolled around and Kyle grabbed his food and sat alone in the corner of the lunch hall. He just wanted to contemplate in solitude. All he could think about was Stan and how he was doing. He wanted to know if he was okay. Kyle fished out his phone and texted Stan.

"Hey, dude. How you holding up?" Kyle texted, and there was a fast response from Stan.

"Fine. Is Cartman at school?"

"No. He and Kenny are both gone. Haven't seen a sign of either of them."

No response from Stan for a few minutes. Kyle sighed.

"Well, that's good. Sorry, I can barely keep my eyes open. I'll uh, talk to you later."

And with that, Kyle put away his phone.

Cartman sat at his desk, contemplating. His hand rested on his chin, tapping his fingers on his cheek. He had convinced his mother to stay home today so he could work out his master plan. He wouldn't tell her that, of course.

It was 4:00 PM. Kyle hadn't shown up at Stark's Pond. Cartman knew this would happen. That's why he had a backup plan.

Cartman paced the pond bank. "Where is that stupid fucking Jew rat?" A thick fog started to form around the bank, making it hard to see.

7:00 rolled around and still no sign of Kyle.

Goddamn it!

Cartman had waited three hours. Three goddamn hours and no sign of Kyle anywhere. He would have to wait until he was asleep. And he would get him at his weakest. Cartman's expression contorted into an evil smile. He would get Kyle while he was down.

Kyle snored softly in his sleep, the sheets kicked off of him, as usual. Cartman stared at him through his window, glaring daggers at the sleeping boy.

I'll fucking teach you a lesson.

Cartman slowly opened Kyle's window, and, pulling himself up into the windowsill, dropped down onto the carpeted floor of the room.

Kyle felt as if someone was staring at him. His eyes fluttered open, only to see Cartman standing over him on his bed.

"What the-" Kyle started, only to be silenced as Cartman clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Shut the fuck up."

There was a muffled cry for help from Kyle.

"Why didn't you come to Stark's Pond like I said, huh, Kyle?"

Kyle struggled under Cartman's weight, a look of fear flashed in his eyes.

"If you did what I said, we wouldn't have to do this the hard way."

There was a muffled response from Kyle. "Fuck you!"

Kyle kicked Cartman between the legs when he let his guard down. Kyle gasped for breath as he bolted towards the window, jumping outside into the cold air. He landed into a pile of snow, shivering. He knew he had to get away.

"Kyle! KYLE!" Cartman shouted. "You can't run forever, Kyle!" Cartman huffed as he ran after Kyle, panting. "Goddamn it!"

Kyle ran until he found the playground near the basketball court he and Stan frequently visited. He ran into the tube slide, gasping for breath. He didn't know how much more his lungs could take. Shaking as he heard Cartman approaching, Kyle clamped his hand over his own mouth to stop Cartman from hearing him.

"Kyle, come out and I will make this easy. I know you're in there."

After a few minutes, Kyle surrendered. He exited the slide, his hands up.

"Alright, Cartman. Can we just talk about this?" Kyle shivered in the cold Colorado night. He rubbed his arms for warmth.

"What's there to talk about?"

"Please… just leave us alone about this. Stan is finally coming to terms with his feelings. He's finally happy and I am too-"

Cartman cut him off. "I hate seeing you happy!"

"I know. But you need to accept this situation. I want to keep Stan happy for once in a long time. I've seen him happier and happier each day. I just want to keep Stan happy, and you're ruining it! That's all I care about, his happiness over mine!"

Cartman's fists were shaking. He had a look of pure hatred in his eyes. "End it now."

"Why do you care so much that Stan and I like each other in a deeper way?"

"I already told you, dumb ass!"

"Is it because you think you'll never find love, Cartman?"

Cartman's eyes glistened in the dark.

"When Wendy rejected you? It hurt, didn't it? You liked her. But now you like to see her suffer just as much as you make Stan and I suffer."

"S-shut up!" Cartman stammered, walking backwards slowly.

"You just want someone who will like you back, for who you are."

"Just shut the fuck up, Kyle!" Cartman covered his ears.

"You don't like to see me happy. I get that. But at least let Stan be happy. That's all the matters to me."

Cartman lunged for Kyle. "Shut the fuck up, I said!" The breath got knocked out of Kyle as he hit the ground, hard.

The two boys rolled around in the dirt, Kyle avoiding every blow Cartman was trying to dish out. Instead, the fat boy had punched the ground beneath him, bruising his knuckles. Cartman was seething with rage. He grabbed Kyle's wrists and pinned them to the ground, standing over him. Kyle tried to mask the fear in his eyes, but to no avail.

"I'll fucking end you…" Cartman hissed.

"Cartman." There was a voice behind the two boys.

"Let him go."