Chapter 12: Kevin? Whuat?
Kyle
Kenny was lying on the bean bag chair, and I was insisting that he come lay beside me. His bullshit excuse was that he didn't want to get busted by my mom. But mom really wouldn't care. It was ten thirty when he put the Torah down, and mom knocked on the door. She opened it, and spotted Kenny.
"Very nice choice of literature, Kenny." she said walking over to him and kissing his forehead. "Now, why don't you get into bed with Kyle?" she said gently. "Come on, bubby. It's getting late, and you two have to be in school tomorrow. We don't need you to freeze, Kenny." she said looking at his bewildered expression.
"Told yuh." I muttered.
She lifted an unresisting Kenny into the spot beside me, and covered us both. She leaned across him, and kissed my cheek. She gave me an understanding hug, and sighed.
"Night, ma. Love you." I said hugging her back.
"Night, Bubula. Love you too." she said smiling.
"You make sure you try and relax, Bubby." she said as she hugged Kenny. "Good night."
"Good night, Mrs. Broff." Kenny said softly. "Thank you so much."
"You don't woyee about a thing, Bubby. Tomorrow's a brand new day." she said kissing him. "See you two soon."
No sooner had the door closed, when Kenny's arms wrapped around my waist. I gasped as I snuggled up close to him.
"Kyle." he said softly as he held me. He moved his lips close to mine, and they collided. I closed my eyes and held on to the feeling that washed over me. I let out a soft moan, and it got lost in Kenny's mouth.
"Kyle." he whispered after he pulled away. "I love you so much. I'm sorry I fucked up your first kiss."
I unwrapped my arms clumsily from around his neck and I twisted my fingers through his hair. Kenny started shaking violently in my grip, and I knew that the poor boy was still not done with his break down. So, I let him cry. I don't know how I was going to do it, but I was going to help Kenny piece himself back together. I just needed to find a way to show him that I was here for him. Like he'd always been for me.
Kenny
I felt my chest seize up, and my lungs collapse into themselves. I held my little Jew for dear life as I lay wrapped in his thin frail arms. What the hell had gotten into me? Would I ever be just plain old uncaring Kenny again? Or was the first break down in my life gonna make a broken fool of me? Like Kenny didn't have enough to make a fool out of him, now it was this crap. But I let it flow over me, and crumbled. Kyle's soft delicate hands twisting gently through my hair, bringing us as close as he could. I opened my eyes and met his. For once, I couldn't quite read my gentle Jew's face. His expression was blank, and still.
"K-Kyle?" I stammered. "I feel sick."
"How?" he asked hesitantly.
"My stomach." I said trying hard to string my words into sentences. "My stomach, Kyle."
"Kenny?" he said with trouble. "What would you like me to do?" he asked.
I shrugged my shoulders not really knowing what, myself.
"Just leave it, Ken." he said softly. "Forget about it. We'll have plenty of time later."
"You mean it?" I asked as I felt one of the Semite's hands wipe tears from my face.
"Yes." he said simply. "Things are fine."
I don't know how long I lay there with him crying. It felt sort of different. It felt triumphant. Like I was telling everything else to go fuck itself. If that even made sense. Kenny needed this. I finally ended up falling asleep sometime later that night. My sleep was full of Kyle Broflovski's face, voice, and pretty much all of him. I woke up the next day when rays of sun hit me in the face. Kyle was curled up almost cat like against me. I didn't want to move away from the warmth my red head radiated. I felt comfortable.
"Kyle?" I said softly smashing the golden silence to pieces. "We gotta go to school, don't we?" I asked sighing.
"Ma wants me to. But looking like you do, you can probably stay home."
"Naw. I feel a little better." I said smiling. "And if you turn the fuck around and let me see those beautiful green eyes of yours, I'll know life's worth it." I said bluntly. "Oh, sweet." I said as he turned to face me. "You got a blush to add to the beauty."
"Kenny." he muttered looking completely caught off guard. "I hate it when you fucking do that. You catch me off guard." he muttered.
"Yeah?" I asked resting my hand on his cheek. "And what were you guarding?"
"Ike, Bubby!" Sheila was yelling. "Time to get up! You too, Kyle! Kenny! Blintzes are almost ready!" she yelled.
"Can I get seven?" I heard Ike from across the hall.
"No!" Sheila shouted. "You'll be sick to yuh stomach. Ca'mon now, you three! Gerald and I'll meetchu in the kitchen."
"Kenny, give up!" Ike yelled as I stood behind him in the bathroom while he finished brushing his teeth. "It was a mess than, it's a mess now." he said before rinsing his mouth.
"I can fix it." I said bitterly trying to make my hair stay in place.
"Blintz, anyone?" Mr. Broflovski shouted from somewhere down stairs.
"We're coming!" shouted Ike as Kyle ran past us and slid down the banister.
"Damn." we both said turning to try and catch a glimpse of him. "He runs fast." Ike muttered.
"Heuh yuh go, Kendoll." Sheila said putting a plate in front of me.
It was kind of like a pancake. Only it had apple in it, and honey slathered all over it. It was heaven. I savored every bite I had. Before I could stand to put my plate in the sink, Gerald flipped a fresh blintz on to my plate.
"Eat up, Kenny, there's plenty to go around." he said encouraging me.
"How boo I go get a permit," Ike said with a mouthful. "So I cam marry this blintz?" he asked.
"Manners, Ike!" Sheila reprimanded.
"Canadian dumb ass." Kyle said under his breath.
"Faggy Jew fink." Ike said kicking him under the table.
"Fucking lard face!" Kyle said a little louder.
"Flaming gaywad." Ike said bitterly.
"Barbara Streisand." I said putting my two cents into it.
"Nice!" Gerald said as Sheila refilled my glass of milk.
"Gerald!" she yelped.
"I mean, Kyle you respect your little brother! Ike, you quit belittling your own religion! Kenny, fix your hair!" he scoffed.
"His hair's a lost cause." Kyle said across from me. "It's been over."
The school day passed by swiftly. I had every class with Stan. We had an A B day schedule going, and four classes a day. I had History with Stan and Wendy, Psychology with Stan and Kyle, Lunch with all, Science with Stan, and Art with Stan and Butters. So, it was pretty safe to say, my class schedule wasn't a complete fuck up.
"Kenny McCormick, please pay some attention to the lesson, for once." said Mr. Garrison's familiar drawl. "You will be needing this subject when you graduate, if you graduate."
"I know what you said." I said truthfully.
"What did he say?" Garrison asked Wendy.
"He says he knows what you said." she translated as I sat in silence with my hood tightly securing my head.
"Oh yeah? What was the answer?" Garrison asked bitterly.
"Ellie Wisel." I said taking off my hood and saying it with a perfect French accent. "I'm not a complete worthless fuck, Mr. Garrison, you over dramatic she bitch."
"Kenny McCormick you go straight down to the principal's office!" he yelled loudly.
"Yeah, yeah, you fat ass dip shit." I said standing up to leave.
"Excuse me?"
"Barbara Streisand." I spat as I left.
I did as he said, for once. I actually went down to the principal's office. Why did I? I don't know.
"Go on in, Kenny." said the lady at the front desk. "He's waiting for you."
"What you did," he drawled as I sat down across from him. "It was bad, mmmkay?" he lectured. "Kenny, are you listenin' to me?"
"Yes, Mr. Mackey." I said smirking under my hood.
"Kenny, why do you have that thing on?" he asked. "What makes it so special?"
"It's my shelter." I said half pulling it off. "It's where I am myself. I can make whatever facial expression, and say whatever the fuck I want, and only a chosen few will know what I said." I said smiling at him. "May I go back to class? I was paying attention and everything."
Wendy
"Do you think he went?" I asked as we all went back to our work. "To the office, I mean?"
"Yep." Stan said smiling. "He went, all right. Will he come back? I don't know. But he left all his shit here, so he has to."
"Stanley Marsh, do I have to get rid of you, too?" Garrison piped as he came over to our table.
"Will you calm down?" asked a very unfamiliar voice. "Man, at this rate, if you were a girl we'd all say you were on your period!"
"Trent Boyette, will you shut up?" I asked turning back to face him. "That is so stereotypical of-"
"And I'm sorry, Windy! But he needs to calm his ass down! I'm sure Slave would agree with me if he was here. Kenny's having a rough day, and Stan is just making an observation. We're all doing good in class, so quit making all our lives hell! We should get twenty points each day just for showing up!" Trent said standing up. "I need a fucking pain killer."
The bell rang. I gasped.
"I'll take his crap with me." Stan said sighing. "Lord knows he's already over there anyway."
Kenny
I spotted two familiar figures coming over to me at the back of the class. Kyle took a seat beside me, and Stan took the other one. He sighed as he slipped my bag underneath the seat.
"You forgot your shit, Ken." he said yawning. "You look so tired, man. It's rubbing off on all of us. Trent made a scene after you left."
After the boy related what had happened, I sat back in my seat and closed my eyes. I would have to thank him when I saw him again. He rarely spoke in class. But he really didn't need to speak. His demeanor said everything for him. Leave me the hell alone, or else. I felt a hand touch my thigh.
"Get your book out." Kyle breathed sweetly into my ear. "Or you'll get it here, too."
"Yes, mom." I said under my breath as I reached down and got my book out.
Time passed by swiftly. I found it easy to let Stan and Kyle talk to each other, and stay out of the conversation. Soon enough, the teacher came up to the front, and started lecturing. It wasn't as if I didn't try. I liked learning, and I did want to become something of myself. Today was just not my day, though, and I ended up slumping into my seat, with my head on Stan's shoulder. This sleep was a little different, because I still heard the lady droning in the back ground. I knew what she was saying, and I could retain it very well. But my eyes were closed, and my breathing was slow and deep. And I dozed gently on Stan's shoulder. Until I felt a hand squeeze my arm.
"Kenny! You need to be awake for this, man." Stan said softly. "We're watching Sybil."
"Shit." I moaned. "Like I really need to watch a woman get abused." I moaned.
"Dude, you're reading Hannibal in English class." Kyle said bitterly. "This should be a breeze."
The day flew by as fast as it could, for South Park standards. Before I knew it, Stan was leading me out of class and we were all headed down to lunch. It was the middle school and high school combined, and all the surrounding counties were part of the school district, so it was full. Our table was full of the same familiar faces. Stan was sitting across from me with Wendy on one side, and Bebe on her other side. Soon, Kyle and Ike were both sitting on either side of me. Both with heaping trays of food.
"I'll just take these." Ike said taking an orange and a half a sandwich. "I'm not even sure this is Kosher. Here."
Ike shoved his tray over to me, and I grinned sheepishly at him. "Thanks, Ike." I said as I took out my book.
"What's that?" Kyle asked as I propped it up against Bebe's water bottle. "I thought you were reading Hannibal."
"No. That's just on my own. I have to read Call of the Wild in order to pass English." I said as I read.
It was easy to read and again keep myself out of conversation. I really needed to do that right now. I can't say quite why I didn't want to, but talking to my friends, even my three best friends, was a pain in my side right now. So, I just read my book as Kyle, Wendy, Stan and Bebe amused themselves by sneaking pieces of food on to the plate Ike had already given me.
"Ken, I brought you a coke." Ike said into my ear when the others were turned away. "You drag too much, man. I figure you'd need the caffeine."
"Thanks, Ike." I said softly. "I'll pay you-"
Ike's soft hand fell gently against my mouth. "Don't worry, Kendoll. It's fine." he said smiling at me brightly. "Let it go."
"Why?" I asked almost firing up. But I found I didn't have strength to do even that anymore. "Because I'm your charity case?"
"No. Because you're my sort of step brother thing." he said seriously. "And in my logic, I see fit to do nice things for the people I love. Without expecting them to pay me back, or because they're the poor kid." he said as we sat there. "You're not my charity case, and I sure as hell don't take pity on you. No one here does, Ken. It's just our way of saying we love you, without saying… we love you." he said coldly. "Get it?"
I let out a soft sigh. I took the coke he handed me, and popped it open. I took a sip and it felt surprisingly good. Ike must have seen my expression, because he reached out and stroked my cheek.
"Good Kenny. That's a good Kenny." he said as he stroked me.
I started shouting at him in Hebrew. Ike started laughing really hard.
"When did you manage to teach yourself how to speak Jew?" he asked.
"I've got no life." I said trying to deflect his question.
From out of nowhere, Token came running up to us. He bent down, gave me a one armed hug, and breathlessly spoke to Ike and I. "I gotta go! Just realized I had a dentist appointment, and haven't even brushed my teeth." Token dumped his fries on to my plate, and ran off.
Five minutes to Science class. Both Stan and I said bye to our friends as we left. Ike seemed to be reluctant to leave me alone for some reason. "I'm not sick, man. Go home." I mumbled as he leaned into me and hugged me.
"Here." He drained his water bottle and took the last sip. He took my coke, which had only been slightly drunk, and poured it artfully into the bottle. "It'll do you good, Ken. Kay? I gotta go. I'm meeting Philmore by the fucking locker. Bye."
I hugged Kyle, and told him I loved him in Hebrew. If he was shocked, he didn't show it, and he replied passionately with a quick hug back.
"You guys suck balls." Stan said as he laid a hand on my shoulder and led me off to Science class. "I thought we were all loyal Chimpoko masters."
"We are." I said. "I speak fluent Japanese. Hebrew's just my support system."
Science and Art were easy to get through. I dozed off in Science, but Stan hid us in the back, and no one saw me. I dozed lightly on his shoulder, again. One of his arms hooked possessively around my waist, to keep me from falling off my stool. I have no clue how it happened, but soon, all five of us were standing outside of Stan's car. Wendy, Stan, Ike, Kyle, and I.
"How are we gonna fit into this little car legally?" Ike asked smirking.
"My car's not that small, Canadian." Stan spat slapping his friend's brother's shoulder.
"It is if Butters catches your eye." Wendy muttered sadly.
"Aw, fuck. Butters just got on the bus, but look who else is walking towards us." Stan said smiling. "We can't refuse."
My sister came running up to us. She wrapped me up in a tight hug, and I smiled sadly at her. She sighed.
"I was hoping to see you. You're needed home right after school." she said smiling wide. "You forgot what today is, didn't you?" she asked kissing my cheek.
"No. It's Kevin's birthday." I said simply.
"Yeah. We need you home, right now."
"Hop in, Karen. We're all goin' home." Stan said smiling at her.
"Okay, remember there is a legal limit to the amount of passengers allowed to fit in your car, Stan." Ike said shifting a little.
"Don't be such a Kyle, Ike. Leave that for him." Stan said smiling back.
"Hey!" Kyle piped from the other side of the hood. "Fuck off, Stan."
Stan was driving, Wendy in the passenger seat, Karen and I in one seat, Ike beside me, and Kyle behind Stan. Stan revved his engine, and we drove off before anything could happen, or anyone else could come up and ask us for a ride. The car ride home, surprisingly, was silent. Stan seemed to be preoccupied with some shit of his own, and at the first gas station, he and Wendy switched seats, and she drove the rest of the way. Well, until the next gas station, when Stan and I switched seats, and Karen rode in his arms while I sat up front with Wendy. I played around with the radio, and Stan's IPod. I was set on trying to find a happy song to play. It seemed wherever I went, it was all depressing. Even Stan's complete library. Damn.
The first stop was Karen and I. We all said bye, and I told Kyle his usual I love you. To which he would readily reply, his Hebrew rolling off his lips so perfectly. Ike didn't pry, or make fun. He just gave me a knowing look, and I walked off with my sister. My house door was opened, but we both took the long way, and climbed into my room through the window. I quickly closed it, and we both walked into the hall. That's when I realized there was something strange about my place. It was full of commotion. We both walked into the living room, Karen all smiles.
"Hey, Kenny." my dad said in his Texan twang. "Where were you the whole time, son, we've been waiting for you."
"School, dad." I said tiredly.
"Kenny?" my mom drawled from the kitchen. "Is that you?" she asked.
"Yeah." I said yawning a little. "I brought Karen with me."
"Head over and help mom and Bonnie, lil sis." said a very familiar out of place voice. "She needs all the help she can get."
I turned around, and saw a tall figure standing right in front of me. Almost nose to nose. Kevin?
"Hey, Kendoll. Come with me. We gotta go for a walk." he said. "Leave all these pisspoor shitheads to their bullshit."
Kevin
My brother and I walked out of the house, and off around the block. He looked so surprised, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" I asked smirking at him.
"Well, yeah. But here?" he asked. "Now?"
"I felt considerately nice this year, sport." I said smiling. "I felt like returning to you little wusses."
We found a tree stump concealed in a wooded area, and both sat down. I sighed as I lit a joint and handed it to him. He and I both sat passing it back and forth until it was over. I should've thought about it before I smoked one with him. Not realizing that the weed may make Kenny feel worse than he already did.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" he asked with a faltering voice. "It's n-not like I'm not g-glad to see you." he stuttered hastily.
"I heard about what happened." I said simply. "Thought I had to come give you a break."
"God dammit! Who the fucking hell hasn't heard?" Kenny yelled so loudly it echoed around the place. "Kenny McCormick gets ran over by six cars, and trampled by cows, and no one gives a flying fuck! Kenny McCormick falls apart at Kyle Broflovski's place, and the whole world decides to fucking be there to witness it!" he said bursting into fresh tears. "Let me guess? You came to feel sorry for me?" he asked.
This was so not the reaction I expected. I expected him to laugh, and agree, and sweep it all under the rug. But I guess I was wrong. Oh well, Kenny. I can deal with this. After all, who deserves it more than you, little brother?
"You and I both know that as much as you are strong, you also get tired, Ken. And you need a fucking break, for goodness sakes. And no, I didn't hear anything from Kyle. I just know that you were having trouble because Bonnie told me."
"From the c-coffee house?" he said as tears fell from his face.
"Yes." I said simply. "She's my girlfriend. Who by the way, is moving in with mom, dad, and I. I'll get Karen's old room with her, and Karen can move into your room. I'm sure you can share with her. No biggy. Besides, I have a feeling you'll be spending less time here now that I came back." I said wrapping my arms around the boy's shoulders.
"Why?" he asked pressing his face into my chest.
"Because, Kenny. I'm here. We all know that for some reason, dad just can't keep his hands off you. And that's not necessarily good." I said sighing and rubbing my fingers across a prominent bruise on his arm. "So, I'm here to take care of everything. You don't have to fucking whore yourself to anyone anymore, because from what I've been hearin' you found a person to focus solely on."
He didn't deny it, but he didn't confirm that what I heard was true. He just lay in my arms, crippled, and crying. Hopefully he'd let me help. I didn't see any protest, so I'm sure he really needed me here.
"So, how about it, Golden locks?" I asked. "You think you can handle stepping aside for someone a little more grown to handle things for once?"
"On the condition that you never let me handle anything again." he sobbed. "That you just leave me alone, and only make me handle things when absolutely necessary. I don't wanna have to pull mom and dad apart when they're beating on each other. I don't wanna have to babysit dad when he's pissdrunk. Or got beaten because he's angry. I just want a normal as can be life. Even though we all know that's never gonna happen." he moaned.
"Okay, turd face." I said kissing his wet salty cheek. "Come on, dude. Pull your sexy little ass together." I said smirking. "I heard what you can do, little bro. You've got the McCormick touch. Tell Kyle the first time you make love to him, that he better be careful. He won't wanna let you go." I said as my brother erupted into a red flame all over his cheeks.
"God dammit, Kevin." he moaned laughing.
"Hey, puts a smile on your pretty little face, don't it? Anyways, let's go see what your big brother brought for you as a belated birthday present."
"How many times do I have to tell you-"
"No presents." I interrupted. "But hey, it's not your choice. They're presents, Kenny. And you can't choose when people give 'em to you. So, just take them, love them, and thank the people who did it."