Chapter 15
Author's Note: Hah GUYS GUYS I just realized that the teacher Ike had sex with in pre-k's name was Ms. Stevenson! I didn't even realize that :O it must have been in my subconscious when I wrote that lmao oh well. It's still a totally different person I promise. You know cuz the old one jumped off a building and all? Ahh… that was funny. *Wipes tear of laughter from eye* Whew… ANYWAY, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to serendipityrain711! She suggested an idea having to do with Butters and Cartman. (and a little hint of Bunny ;)) Hope I did it justice :3 ENJOY ALL! Read, Review, Favorite, Follow, blablablablablaaah lol Love you all so very much! HOLY COW ALMOST 100 REVIEWS WHAT?! :D
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**KYLE'S P.O.V**
"W-…Waaaaaaaaaahhahahahahahahhahhhhhhh…" Clyde held his hand over his nose as he cried, backing away from me until he hit the lockers behind him. Craig, Token and Tweek seemed to form a protective circle around him as Kenny, Butters, Stan and Cartman pushed me behind them. I watched helplessly as Token placed his hand on Clyde's shoulder.
I… punched him.
"Clyde stop crying like a little bitch." Craig said in his usual monotone. Clyde dropped his hand and glared at me angrily, his teeth bared. Blood was dripping from his nose down his chin.
"You b-broke my n-n-nose!" he whimpered and tried to lunge at me, but Token held him back. A huge wave of guilt swept over me.
"I'm… I'm sorry…" I almost whispered.
"You're sorry?! YOU BROKE MY NOSE!" Clyde spat. I winced at the volume of his voice.
"YEAH WELL THAT'S WHAT YOU GET CLYDE! YOU FUCKING BUTTHOLE!" Cartman yelled. Stan's hand clutched my shoulder.
"N-Now fellas… let's just all calm down." Butters stammered, pulling Cartman back a little bit.
"What the hell is going on in here?!" The P.E. teacher's assistant walked inside, tightly clenching his clipboard. He gasped after taking one look at Clyde. "Jesus boy! What happened to you?"
"Kyle punched him in the face because he called him a qu-" Craig began but Kenny shoved his hand over his mouth before he could finish. I didn't even feel like I was there anymore as the assistant looked over at me in disappointment, only to turn back to Clyde who was crying again.
"Does it hurt?" he asked, reaching out to touch Clyde's nose.
"Yeah it fucking hurts! It's broken! I want to go h-h-home waahhaaahhaahahahhhh…" Clyde slapped the assistant's hand away. The assistant started to lead Clyde out of the locker room, but turned to me at the last second.
"Go to the councilor Broflovski. Right now." He growled and left. I stared at the doorway for a while after they disappeared with the rest of the class. Cartman, Stan, Kenny, and Butters stayed behind with me.
"HAHAHAHAH! Did you see Clyde's face when Kahl punched him?! He was all like BAM and Clyde was all like Wahaahahhhh no please Hahahahahah!" Cartman laughed.
"I have to admit Kyle, I didn't think you had that in you." Kenny punched my shoulder playfully, as if proud of me. I felt my jacket being placed over my shoulders by Cartman.
"Let's get this trip to the councilor over with, Jew. I have a job interview in twenty minutes over at KFC." He muttered.
"Cartman! Kyle's in trouble!" Stan exclaimed. "This is serious!"
"Pff no its not. Clyde was being an asshole so Kahl socked him. Clyde started it. You'll just turn on the water works, give me my ten dollars, and then blubber on about how you're a victim of bullying. Easy peasy lemon squeezey, right Kahl?" Cartman looked at me with that manipulative grin. I looked at him, but didn't really see him. I had no response or thoughts in my head at that moment. I could only think about one thing. Stan turned me to him in concern.
"Kyle? …Kyle? Hello?" Stan asked shaking me slightly. I blinked once and tried to think of some response. Nothing came to mind.
"W-What's wrong with him?" Butters asked as he poked my face. Kenny grabbed Butter's wrist gently and stopped him.
"I think he's in shock." Kenny murmured.
"Shock? Crap we gotta snap him out of i-"
"I punched him." I stated, interrupting Stan. They all kind of craned their heads at me. I gulped, looking down at the ground and zipped my coat all the way up. My eyes didn't leave the floor.
"C'mon. I haven't got all day-" Cartman started but Stan growled in annoyance, turning to him.
"No one gives a shit about your stupid interview Cartman!" he barked. Cartman rolled his eyes and I looked up at him.
"It's okay Cartman. I'll come over after football practice. Stan and Kenny will still pick me up like we all planned, right?" I asked, my voice weak. They both nodded as I started to leave, but Cartman stopped me.
"Yeah. You have company but now I have to walk to KFC by myself!" he complained. I blinked, not really having a response in me.
"Well I'll take you Eric!" Butters chirped. There was a short pause.
"…Fiiiiine." Cartman groaned, but moved out of my way so Stan, Kenny and I could pass. As we did I shared an apologetic glance with Cartman that did bring some heat to my pale face. Kenny and Stan quickly walked me to the councilor's office and paused at the door. I turned to them and sighed.
"We're here for you." Kenny put his hand on my shoulder. I smiled sadly and looked over at Stan, who had his hands shoved into his pockets.
"…You don't have to wait for me guys. Especially not you, Stan. I was really unfair to you before. I'm sorry for what I said in front of Wendy. I was just so angry…" I grumbled and locked eyes with him briefly. He smiled in support.
"I'm not going anywhere dude."
I felt an incredible urge to hug him, but I held it down and just nodded with a smile of my own plastered on my face. I put my hand on the door and took a deep breath before opening it, heading inside, and closing it behind me.
"Hey there Kyle. Take a seat, Mkay?"
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**CARTMAN'S P.O.V**
Damn that Jew! Always doing something stupid! He always manages to take the good out of my day and fuck it up!
As I walked down the street, I almost forgot Butters was walking along next to me. …Almost.
"Loo loo loo I've got some apples."
I mean, who does that kike think he is? Ruining my perfectly good day. No. No! Ruining my perfectly good week. All week the only thing that I've been able to concentrate on is… well him! And my mom. OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES MYSELF. God damn. I might as well be the one on that damn cross.
"Loo loo loo you got some too."
I felt a sharp pain in my head and winced, rubbing my temples. Its alright Eric. It alright. Clyde Frog is dead, so now the only person you have to deal with is yourself. …and the jew. NO! Damn it what the hell is happening to me?
"Loo loo loo lets make some applesauce take off our clothes and loo loo l-"
"GOD BUTTERS WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP ALREADY?!" I screamed, pointing my finger in his face. He stopped immediately and blinked a couple of times in fear at my finger.
"Oh hamburgers! S-…sorry Eric. I was just keeping myself preoccupied while you were spacing out and stuff." He muttered to me innocently.
"…Whatever Butters. God you're so lame." I groaned and let my hand drop as I continued to walk down the street. He tilted his head to the side and followed close behind, keeping quiet until we reached the end of the block.
"Hey Eric?" he asked. I pinched the bridge of my nose in the way Stan usually does.
"What?"
"Do you think Kyle's going to be okay?"
I stopped and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. He seemed to be unfazed, which worried me.
"What makes you think I give a shit about that stupid jewrat?!" I snapped, feeling a slight blush take over my nose.
"Well because he's our friend. He's one of the fellas and fellas need to stick together. …Um could you put me down please, Eric? This is starting to hurt a little and people are staring." He stammered, hands over mine in an attempt to loosen my grip. I wasn't taking that shit. Butters is such a horrible liar.
"Alright Stotch." I pushed him back. "How much do you know?"
"I uh… I don't know what you're talking about." He fidgeted and tried to continue walking, but I grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Butters." I warned. His eyes filled with fear at the sound of my low tone. He sighed and his gaze changed to a sympathetic one.
"Having a crush on someone is nothing to be ashamed of, Eric."
I stared back at him, the burning spreading into my cheeks and neck. I swallowed as he judged my reaction silently.
"GOD DAMN IT KENNY!" I snarled, turned and started to go back the way we came. Butters attempted to pull me back, but just sort of let himself get dragged behind me.
"Oh Jesus! W-w-wait your job interview! Please don't go that way!" Butters begged and I bit the inside of my cheek starting to slow down. "N-Now Eric please don't be too sore at him…"
"That was personal!" I snapped, looking back at Butters. "And it was a secret that he wasn't supposed to tell anyone! And-"
"Now you listen to me mister!" Butters raised his voice which caught me off guard. I watched him in surprise. "Kenny told me because he knows that we're friends! And Kenny said that you need to talk to me! That you needed my advice! A different uh… what did he say… point of view."
"We're not friends, Butters." I spat. His eyes narrowed a bit.
"Hey that's not very nice, Eric. I know we've had our …u-ups and downs and all… but that doesn't mean we aren't friends." He replied. I looked away, tightening my fists.
He's right.
"…I don't have a fucking crush on Kahl. Kenny was lying." I growled.
"Really?" Butters walked over to where my face was, and I looked away again before he got a good look. Or so I thought.
"Really!" I snapped.
"Well then why are you blushing silly?" He laughed. I groaned audibly and started walking to KFC again.
"I have an interview."
"We still have fifteen minutes, buddy. …So why are you pretending like you don't have a crush on Kyle?" he asked.
"Because I don't!" I snapped.
"…oh." He muttered quietly. We continued walking for a couple of minutes in silence. "…But you do."
"Shut up." I rolled my eyes. "I don't know what Kenny thought you could give me advice about. You're Butters. What do you know?"
"Oh! …W-Well I know a lot of things!" he exclaimed, smiling like an idiot. "Like you're not supposed to ignore your feelings… and follow your heart… and-"
"Shut up with your clichés already! They don't apply to me!"
"W-Well sure they do!"
"Butters, are you even gay?" I asked with a scowl. He blushed a bit.
"Well no I'm bi-curious…" he muttered. "At least… at least that's what Dad told me. But if it's okay for me to be bi-curious, then it's okay for anyone to be gay or straight or a tranny or uh… what else is there?"
"Butters." I warned. "This better have a point."
"R-Right. The point is that the kids at our school are just being stupid. I think that if it's wrong to be yourself, then nothing else in the world could be right." He replied with that goofy smile. I stopped in front of the KFC building and looked over at Butters, considering what he was saying. He took that as permission to continue. "Honestly Eric… I think this was a long time coming. Y-you and Kyle have always hollered at each other and called each other some pretty bad names, but… now that you both grew up with the rest of us, I think you're really close. From the way you protect him and the way he looks at you in classes and when we all hang out… it's not that h-hard to see how much you're attracted to each other. And well… I think that's p-pretty special."
If I didn't know better, I would have reached out and hugged the little twerp. His words seemed to answer every question I had in my head, but at the same time did not cure the undeniable anxiety I felt.
"…Yeah. Okay? Yeah. I am worried about him." I mumbled.
"Well so am I. And so are Stan and Kenny…" he counted on his fingers. "…but wait. Do you think it's going to distract you from the interview?"
"Pffff." I scoffed. "Butters do you know me at all? No one knows KFC better than me. By the end of this interview they are going to be begging to be around my very presence. …It is distracting though."
"I-I don't think you can help him at this point, Eric. He'll come over tonight. Right now you need to focus on this job. I believe in you!" he smiled, patting my shoulder.
I walked inside the KFC, my thoughts never leaving that ginger.
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**KYLE'S P.O.V**
"Hi Mr. Mackey…" I muttered and sat down in the familiar chair.
How many times have I sat in this chair?
Too many times to remember. I looked over at Mr. Mackey who was adjusting his glasses and looking through the pile of papers in front of him. How the years had aged him. I sat back in the chair as he cleared his throat.
"Haven't seen you here in a while Kyle. …I think you should tell me what happened, mkay?" he said in a quiet, comforting voice as he folded his hands on top of his lap and watched me intently.
"Don't you already know what happened? I mean, if you have to call my mom and tell her I punched a kid, then just do it." I sighed. Mr. Mackey tilted his head to the side.
"Now Kyle… I want you to think of me as your friend… mkay? Yes, I have to call your mother before you leave as per school regumalations… mkay... but I'd like to find out why you felt angry enough to lash out and hit Clyde, mkay?"
"I… I really don't want to talk about it." I looked down, fidgeting in my chair uncomfortably.
"Was he saying mean things to you?"
"…Yes."
"What did he call you?" he asked.
I sighed. He tilted his head slightly. Might as well spit it out.
"A queer."
"M…Mkay…" he replied. "And how did that make you feel?"
"…Um… angry? I sort of punched him in the face so… yeah."
"But Kyle you need to understand that you boys are in high school, mkay, so sometimes your fellow classmates will "insinuate" things about your sexuality in an attempt to be "funny". …Mkay?" he began. "But that doesn't mean they're serious. If you want them to stop saying those things to you, you just have to ignore them."
"But I was ignoring them. ALL day! They were calling me all kinds of names all day and throwing papers at my head. I just couldn't keep ignoring them anymore! Ignoring them doesn't work!" I exclaimed in absolute frustration. Mr. Mackey sat up.
"That's not an excuse, Kyle! Under no circumstance is violence the answer. Punching is BAD, Mkay?" he said in a matter of fact way.
"I don't normally lose my temper like that, Mr. Mackey. It won't happen again. I still don't know what came over me! I've been under a lot of stress lately, alright? No one understands." I folded my arms across my chest angrily.
"I know your family has been going through a divorce, mkay, but that's no reason to allow your temper to thrive and take it out on other students. Mkay." He replied. I sucked my teeth.
"This isn't about the divorce! This is about everyone in the school ganging up on me!" I snapped.
"Now calm down Kyle, Mkay? Why would everyone be doing that?"
"It's all because of a stupid rumor that Bebe has been spreading about me."
"And what would that be?" he asked curiously.
"That… That I'm gay." I muttered.
"But Kyle, it's just a rumor… Mkay?"
"No. It's not Mkay." I growled.
"M…kay. If it's just a rumor, then why does it bother you so much?"
I didn't respond to that. I felt my heart beating loudly in my ears.
"Kyle I'm your councilor, mkay? You can talk to me about anything. …Why don't you tell me why you're so upset about this… Mkay." He placed a hand on my shoulder. I sighed and looked at him sadly.
"…Because it's not a rumor." I explained. "I really am gay. And everyone is treating me differently now. …I hate it."
Mr. Mackey gave me a kindhearted smile. It was the kind of smile that made you want to smile too. But I didn't.
"That's nothing to be ashamed of, Kyle. Have you come out to your family yet?" he asked. My eyes grew wide.
"What?! No!" I exclaimed. "And I'm not going to!"
"Kyle… Being in the closet is bad. …Mkay? You need to accept yourself for who you are. If you do that, then the other kids will leave you alone." He replied. I raised my eyebrow.
"What? How?" I asked.
"Right now the other kids are calling you names and laughing at you because you're unsure about your sexuality, mkay. Instead of you telling them proudly that you're gay, they had to hear from one of the girls in your class. Now, when they call you names, mkay, you feel insecure and you lash out at them. You give them attention and that's what they want. Mkay. So they're going to keep doing that until you stop giving them attention. Just ignore them until they lose interest and move onto the next kid to make fun of. Mkay?" he asked. I tried to take in what he was telling me, but it was a lot. He left me to my thoughts and turned to his desk. I was snapped back into reality when I heard him speak into the phone.
"Hello, Mrs… I mean Ms. Broflovski? Yes this is the school counselor, Mr. Mackey, Mkay? Um… theres been a little incident at the school and your son was involved. …What? …Oh no he didn't get beat up, mkay. He seems to have punched another child in the face after gym class and broke his nose. …Yes… well there seems to have been some sort of bullying directed at Kyle all day today, Mkay, and seeing as this is his first major offense in many years he won't be suspended or anything like that. ….Right. Just detention starting next week until the end of the month mkay…uh-huh…" Mr. Mackey looked over at me as he listened to my mom on the other line. I felt a bead of sweat travel from my neck down my back.
"Right… Mkay… M…Mkay. …What was that? Oh the bullying? It seemed to be about your son's preference in-"
I shook my head violently and waved my arms to get his attention. Mr. Mackey paused to look at me and I mouthed, "NO NO STOP".
"…well I think he wants to talk to you about it when he gets home, Ms. Broflovski. I don't believe it's my place to say, mkay."
I slouched in my seat, exhaling loudly in relief.
"…Uh-huh… Mm-hmm…. Alright yes. I'll tell him, mkay. …Mkay, no problem. Bye bye now." He muttered and hung up. "Alright Kyle, your mother said to come home right away, mkay?"
Fuck that shit. I have football practice.
"…um… thanks for not saying anything." I replied quietly, getting up. "It would have been really bad if you did."
"Well what do you mean by that?" he asked, lifting his head. I froze at the door.
"N-nothing!" I said quickly.
"…If you ever need to talk, I'm always here Kyle." He replied honestly. I looked behind my shoulder and gave him a small smile.
"I know. You're always here, Mr. Mackey." I said and closed the door behind me.
"Mkay."