Chapter 3

Author's Note: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCHHHH I can't get enough of these reviews! As long as you guys keep sending me feedback like this, I'll keep writing! God I ship Kyman so hard it's starting to hurt lol. Alrighty then time for Chapter 3 :D

…..

I let my bookbag dangle close to the ground as I carried it in my right hand and dragged my feet through the fresh layer of snow. It was about 7 in the morning and I forced myself to get up early so I could get out of the house before anyone else was awake. As I neared the empty bus stop, I slowed down and let my thoughts wander.

No matter what I had to deal with today and for the week to come, I had to forget all about what happened last night. This was already proving to be a challenge, as each step I took was an excruciating reminder. I could do this. I practiced my excuses and now I knew how I was going to get through the rest of SAT preparation.

I finally reached the bus stop and dropped my bag in the snow. Looking down at my feet, I took a bottle of pills from my pants pocket and turned it around in my hands. The normal dose was two, but I highly doubted that would cover the pain I was going through. I popped four pills in my mouth and swallowed them without anything to wash them down. I sighed in exhaustion, burying the rest of the bottle in the depths of my bag. Hopefully that would last for the day. …Hopefully.

"W-well hey there Kyle." A voice said behind me. I jumped, startled, and turned to see Butters smiling at me. I swallowed nervously. Off to a great start Kyle.

"Hi Butters. …What are you doing here? Isn't there a bus stop near your house?" I asked, raising my eyebrow. He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yes there is… but I came here so I could see you before school." He replied. "I wanted to come by your house last night, but I was playing pretend at home and well… I forgot."

"Forgot what?" I mumbled, lifting my head to look at him. He handed me a folder with my name on it.

"Our homework. I know its due today and all… but you can blame it on me and give it in tomorrow! I hope you're not too sore with me…" Butters said, looking guilty as I took the folder from him.

You don't know the half of it, Butters.

"It's fine, dude. Thanks for getting it to me." I replied, trying my best to smile. It probably came off as more of a grimace. Butters looked satisfied either way, and awkwardly looked forward as we both waited for a bus that we were almost twenty minutes early for.

"…So I heard you got real sick yesterday. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better buddie?" Butters asked with genuine concern. I looked at him shook my head.

"No but thanks anyway. I'm fine now, I was just stupid and forgot to take my insulin yesterday that's all." I said. "…What happened after I left?"

"Well Eric came back to class and when we were being assigned our group projects, he told us all that you were going home. He was pretty mad about his shoes, after you threw up on them and all." Butters said. I rolled my eyes. Figured the asshole would mention that. "But then he got real quiet and said something about you being really unhealthy and neglecting yourself. He seemed real worried. I mean he did take you to the nurse…"

I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't know what to say. Cartman? Worried? About ME? Yeah. Right.

"That's probably your imagination, Butters. Cartman wasn't worried about me. He just took me to the nurse to get out of trouble from our fight." I explained in a dry tone.

"Figures you would think that you jewrat."

I heard from that from a few feet away. I turned my head to see Cartman, Stan and Kenny walking towards the bus stop. I sighed and looked at Stan, who smiled the second he saw me and ran over to me. I was happy to accept the hug, until I felt a gut wrenching pain in my side at the impact. I held my breath, barely able to return his embrace as I blinked away tears.

"This is really touching fags, but get a room. Seriousleh." Cartman snorted, shoving his hands into his pockets. Kenny snickered and lowered his hood.

"You okay dude?" Stan asked me, letting go and scanning my pain-stricken face. I managed to nod and cleared my throat.

"Y-yeah… I just… I'm still recovering. I have a doctor's appointment after school today and I need to get my blood sugar regulated." I said, trying to keep my breathing steady as the pain slowly subsided. I thought drugs were supposed to be fast acting. What bullshit. Stan looked convinced, but Cartman was glaring at me suspiciously.

"What?" I sighed, returning his gaze. He walked over staring me down, his nose inches from mine. I felt my face burn slightly and backed up. "What is it, fatass?!"

Cartman's jaw clenched as his eyes burned into mine for a few more seconds, as if searching for something. I felt my mouth grow dry and my heartbeat escalate in my ears. …Why the hell was I getting so worked up? Stan and Butters looked very confused, but Kenny had a really stupid smile on his face. I looked back at Cartman who squinted at me.

"…Nothing." He said calmly and backed off, moving away.

"What was that about?" I demanded, getting nervous.

"I said nothing." He replied, now purposely avoiding my gaze. I growled under my breath.

"If you have something to say then fucking say it Cartman!" I exclaimed. Then he looked at me with that stupid, irritating, obnoxious smirk on his face! I clenched my fist.

"Temper temper Kahl." He replied. "You need to learn how to relax."

"You don't exactly make it easy for me to relax, asshole!" I spat at him. "What the hell is up with you? You're acting weird!"

"He's only acting weird because you're acting weird." Kenny interjected. I looked at him, raising my eyebrow. Cartman looked at him too.

"What?" Cartman and I both asked at the same time. We looked at each other and I felt my face burn again, so I looked away. Kenny started to laugh.

"Kyle, I don't know about Cartman, but Kenny's right about you. You've been so distant lately. I know studying is important, but your mom should understand that you have a life. If you let yourself get this stressed out, you'll never be able to sleep. And you'll go insane!" Stan exclaimed in concern. I was listening to him, but I couldn't help but think back to yesterday at the nurse…

'Well maybe he wouldn't forget if you let him get some goddamn sleep you fat bitch...'

That's right… Cartman stood up for me…

I looked over to Cartman who had already been staring at me. The look he was giving me was extremely intense, and yet, completely unreadable. The burning in my cheeks got worse and I looked down, kicking some snow.

"Look… guys…" I began. "I know I've been really busy lately and I know I haven't really been taking care of myself… but my mom just wants what's best for me and she's just encouraging me in a really drastic way. That's how she does things and when this test is over, she'll lay off. So let me handle it alright?"

The bus pulled up to the stop and the doors opened. Stan still looked concerned, but went on the bus. Kenny was still laughing under his breath as he passed me, and Butters followed. Cartman paused at the door, once again inches from my face. I felt my breath hitch in my throat.

"What exactly are you capable of 'handling' you weak jew?" he growled at me, his warm breath hitting my face. I glared at him, ignoring the inferno in my cheeks, and didn't answer him. "…I'm going to find out Kahl. If you think you can hide shit from me than you're sadly mistaken."

"AYY!" The grumpy old woman bus driver snarled at us. "GET ON THE BUS NAOWWW!"

"Shut up you two faced bitch!" Cartman replied angrily.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" She demanded. I slid past Cartman and got on the bus, Cartman following.

"I said I need some new laced kicks. A jew puked on my old ones." He explained, rolling his eyes as he sat next to Kenny. I eased myself down in my seat next to Stan as the woman closed the bus doors.

"Oh alright then." She muttered and drove us to school.

The ride to the school was long and rickety. I had to bite my lip to keep quiet, my aching body screaming with every pothole we ran over. I just lied to Stan and told him I was still a bit nauseous, but I could have sword Cartman was glaring at me from the corner of his eye the whole trip. What was with him lately?

The day started to get a little better for me, no doubt because of the pain killers kicking in at some point, but Mr. Prickclit wasn't so sympathetic with me. He seemed convinced that I was faking it to get out of trouble just like he suspected Cartman had. He wouldn't even sign my excuse slip so I could get out of gym class. I wasn't looking forward to that. We were assigned group projects in Biology, so Stan, Cartman, Kenny, and I decided to tackle the project together.

In Calculus, Mrs. Fergleson surprised everyone with a pop quiz. I wasn't that phased, but I found myself incredibly distracted after I finished my test. I had handed in my paper and tried to work on my part of our group project while I waited for class to end, but I kept feeling my eyes creep over to Cartman's face.

I never understood why he took Calculus in the first place. He sucked at math! But it seemed like he was actually putting in effort with his work. I watched him write down formulas on the side of his paper as he frantically tried to figure out the solution. His brow scrunched up, eyes completely focused on his goal as a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face… it was kind of… attractive.

I blinked a couple of times.

Wait… what the hell was I thinking?

"Take a picture jew. It'll last longer." He whispered under his breath, not even glancing over at me, eyes still glued to his work. I tore my eyes away immediately and felt my heartbeat in my throat.

How the hell did he know I was looking at him?

I forced myself to stare into space for the rest of the class, and when thoughts of Cartman tried to creep into my mind I did my best to change my train of thought. The bell rang and I stood up, bending down to get my bag. The pain had returned… and it was pretty bad. Hopefully the P.E. teacher would just let me sit out without giving me a zero for the day. I winced as I lifted my heavy bag over my shoulder and started for the door. Cartman passed me with a smirk.

"Your bag can't be that fucking heavy. So dramatic, Kahl." He said, amusement dancing in his eyes. I glared at him with all the hate I could muster.

"Go away Cartman." I replied in annoyance.

"Are you sure your ginger eyes don't want to absorb some more of my eye candy?" He asked flexing his biceps, which were actually quite large…

NO! Bad thoughts bad thoughts…

I shook my head, covering my burning face and tried to walk away from him. What the hell was wrong with me?

"You can't escape me yet Kahhl we both have gym remember?" Cartman grinned, easily catching up to me. I looked away quickly.

"Don't remind me!" I snapped at him slowing my pace, my side screaming for me to sit down. He unzipped his jacket and slung it over his shoulder.

"We're all heading to my house after school to work on our project. You should come over after the doctor's appointment." Cartman mentioned absent-mindedly. I swallowed nervously and he noticed. "…unless you're not going to the doctor's appointment anymore."

I stopped walking altogether. Cartman looked back at me with that sly smirk on his face. I was at a loss for words. How did he…?

"Come now Kahl, we mustn't be late for gym class." He chuckled and headed down to the locker rooms. I slowly followed.

No. No fucking way.