If Stan Marsh was sure of anything in this world, he was sure that things in South Park would always stay the same. But unlike Kyle, this fact didn't bother him. His family was perfect, if not crazy. Sure, his dad embarrassed him most of the time, but it was his father, and he loved him. His sister wasn't the greatest either, but he had learned to accept her and her idiosyncrasies. And he loved his mom to death, even though she sometimes worried too much about his well being.

In addition to having a loving family, he had a girlfriend whom he loved with all of his heart. They had been dating steadily since the eighth grade, but had been good friends before that. He couldn't picture his world without Wendy. They matched together perfectly. He knew that one day they would get married and start a family; there wasn't a doubt in his mind that they were meant to be together. It hadn't gone unnoticed by Stan that Wendy was sometimes very similar to Kyle, but that was why Kyle and he got along so well. He loved Kyle just as much as he loved Wendy. They had gone through everything together. He also had Kenny and Cartman with whom he was much attached. Overall, Stan was surrounded by people who he loved and who loved him back. He didn't care if his world never changed, because it was perfect just the way it was. In fact, it was best if nothing ever changed at all.

It was hard for Stan to accept Kyle's absence, especially since the last month Kyle had stopped all communications. It had been the longest he had gone without speaking with his best friend. He felt hurt and betrayed, as if Kyle had chosen the outside world over South Park, and therefore, over Stan. He knew before Kyle walked up that fateful September morning that he would forgive him, but that didn't stop him from being upset about the matter.

"Hey guys."

Cartman made a soft grunt in response as Kenny gave a short, muffled greeting. Stan said nothing, staring straight ahead. Kyle blinked, glancing at Stan.

"…Stan?"

Stan didn't answer immediately, but reluctantly said "hey" after a few seconds.

"Dude… what's wrong?"

Stan sighed. "Kyle, what the fuck? I haven't talked to you in, like, a month."

"I'm sorry… I got really busy at the end of camp… But I should have made the time. I'm sorry, Stan."

Stan sighed again. He could never stay mad at his best friend. "It's… ok dude. Let's just-"

It was then that Stan glanced over at Kyle, and words failed him. His jaw dropped as his stared at his best friend.

Kyle studied him in silence, not offering any explanation.

"K-KYLE?" Stan exclaimed.

It was at this moment that Kenny looked at Kyle, and he too gave a muffled shout. Stan vaguely heard Cartman sigh, but then give a surprised "-the fuck?"

Not only was Kyle not wearing his hat, but he wasn't wearing his usual outfit at all. Kyle's hair had been cut. No longer did he have a 'Jew-fro.' Instead, his hair was shorter, framing his face in soft, red curls. He was wearing a different jacket, unzipped slightly to reveal a black graphic tee. He was also wearing a pair of grey, slightly tight jeans. Stan barely recognized his best friend.

He looked amazing.

Even though he knew Kyle was staring at him, Stan's mouth opened and shut speechlessly, his eyes darting all over Kyle's body, trying to comprehend what he was seeing. Stan couldn't believe that his best friend suddenly got…

He didn't want to finish that thought. There was no way he was finishing that thought.

Stan wanted to hug his friend, who he hadn't seen in three months. He wanted to get angry, demanding to know what the hell happened. But most of all, he wanted to puke.

Oh, god, how he wanted to puke.

"Stan?" Kyle asked, studying his face carefully. "Are you ok? You look a little green."

"I-I'm fine," he croaked, hoping to god that he wasn't going to lose it.

"Mph mmph mmm hmm mpth mm hmph," Kenny observed.

Stan shook his head. "No, no I'm not."

"Are you sure, dude? Because you really look like you're going to." Kyle gently placed his hand on Stan's shoulder.

Stan continued to shake his head, not looking in Kyle's direction.

"God, get a room," Cartman grumbled.

"Shut the fuck up, Fatass!"

"Make me, you filthy Jew."

"Come over here and I will, lard ass!"

There was a moment of silence.

"…Welcome back, Kahl." Stan glanced over at Cartman, and he could have sworn there was a smirk playing on his lips.

"T-thanks," Kyle stuttered, obviously taken aback. Stan peeked over at him, catching the confused but slightly pleased look on his friend's face, then quickly looked away, covering his mouth with his hand.

This was going to take some getting used to.

-.-.-.-.-.

"So what the fuck?"

Stan and Kyle sat together, as always, on the ride to school. Kyle blinked, glancing at him.

"What?"

"You know what."

Kyle paused, studying his friend. He then sighed, brushing his hair out of his eyes as he faced forward again.

"You know how depressed I was."

Stan nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"I… well, I went to that camp, and it was awesome. Like, epic Dude! And… I met so many cool people, and it made me realize that life outside of South Park is completely different. I seriously had an epiphany. Why am I going around, acting like I can't control anything in my life? Why am I just letting myself get sucked into what people expect of me? It was killing me. I felt like I had no control, but in reality, I do! I mean, why dress the same way I have since I was a kid? Why force myself to study to get into the school my parents picked for me since I was little? I'm tired of just living my life how others expect it to be. From now on, it's going to be how I want to live."

Stan studied his friend quietly, taking in his words. He knew that Kyle hadn't been himself lately, but he wasn't expecting such a huge change.

"I… I guess," he said quietly. "Are… you sick of us?"

"What? Hell no! Stan, you know you're my best friend, and I wouldn't change that for the world." Kyle smiled warmly at him. "I don't want you to think that this is because of you. I like you the way you are, dude."

"T-thanks," Stan muttered, feeling slightly embarrassed. But despite Kyle's kind words of encouragement, Stan still had a sinking feeling that because his friend had changed, things wouldn't be the same between them. After all, how could they?

-.-.-.-.-.

Stan couldn't believe how oblivious Kyle was. He walked through the hallway at school, unaware of all the stares he was getting from boys and girls alike. Kyle had, seemingly overnight, become hot. He didn't have the awkwardness in his body anymore. His clothes weren't the most trendy or stylish, but they fit him well. Also, everyone loved the new hair. Yet Stan knew that the sudden interest that the others had wasn't just because Kyle had become hot. It was also the fact that suddenly he was different. Not once, as long as any of them could remember, had another person in South Park changed their appearance. The only exception was when they were younger and constantly played dress up. But at the end of the day, they always returned to their usual outfits.

Random classmates had approached Stan all morning, questioning him about Kyle's sudden transformation. They wanted to know if the change was temporary, and why he decided to dress differently. Stan had no idea what had happened to Kyle, and he wondered how much of his friend truly changed.

When Kyle entered the lunchroom, Stan noticed all eyes were on his friend. Kyle calmly got his lunch before sitting down next to Stan at the lunch table. Stan avoided looking at him, while Kenny was busy doing the opposite.

"Hey guys. How are your classes so far?" Kyle asked.

"Weak," replied Cartman. "My German teacher is a total douche bag."

"That sucks." Kyle paused, frowning for a moment. He then looked between Stan and Kenny. "… Is it really that weird?"

"Yes," replied Stan immediately, trying not to sound as miserable as he felt.

"Why?"

Stan sighed, pinching his nose. Kyle took a swig of his Mountain Dew.

"Mph mmph hm mm!"

Kyle almost spit his soda out. He coughed a few times, then gasped at Kenny, "WHAT? What do you mean, 'hot?'"

Stan sunk into the seat further. There was no way he was going to puke.

"Mph MMPH."

"Jesus Christ, Kenny…." Kyle's cheeks flushed, which seemed to interest Kenny. He quickly looked over at Stan, who was sitting next to him. "Stan?"

"… No comment."

Kyle gaped at his friend. "But… you're straight."

"Yeah."

"But… I'm hot?"

Stan didn't respond.

"If it makes you feel any better," Cartman piped up, "I think you're just as ugly as you've always been."

Kyle glared diagonally across the table at Cartman. "Shut up, Cartman!"

"I think it's your Jew DNA… it's impossible to be good looking with such a huge nose."

"Goddamnit, Cartman!" Kyle growled. "Why do you always have to be such an asshole?"

"But Kaahl… I'm just being honest…"

Kyle made a frustrated sound in his throat before turning back to Stan.

Stan sighed. "Kyle, look around the lunchroom. Everyone is staring at you, and not just because you look differently than you did last year. Everyone's been asking me what the hell happened."

Kyle looked around the lunchroom. The girls who were staring at him blushed and quickly looked away, stealing quick glances when they thought he wasn't looking anymore. The guys kept awkwardly looking over in his direction, looking nervous and confused. Kyle looked back at his friends.

"Mph? Mph hm mmph mhmmmph!"

Kyle blushed. "Kenny? You're creeping me out." He looked back at Stan. "Dude… you really think I'm hot?"

"Mhm!"

Kyle ignored Kenny's agreement, waiting for Stan's answer. Stan wasn't sure why it mattered so much to Kyle, but there was no way he was going to admit that Kyle was hot.

"Shit Kyle, what do you want? I'm not gay."

Kyle stared at him, looking shocked. "Well, I know that!"

Cartman snorted. "Fags."

Kyle glared over at Cartman, but it was Stan who blew up.

"Shut up, Cartman! You know that we aren't, so shut the fuck up." Stan stood up. "I'm gonna go…"

"Huh? Stan, wait!" Kyle stood, but Stan was already gone. He quickly made his way out of the lunchroom, avoiding the looks that he was being given. He especially made it a point not to look in Wendy's direction. He couldn't face her now.

Not that he could face anyone at the moment. He quickly entered the boys' bathroom, locking himself into a stall.

"I'm not gay," he repeated to no one in particular. He took a few deep breaths, barely bothered by the strange smell of bleach and cigarette smoke. He wasn't gay. Maybe this was all just a phase. Maybe Kyle would go back to how he used to be in a few days. Stan could only hope, because as he thought about his friend and how his ass looked in those jeans, Stan suddenly heaved into the toilet.