Wow! I totally didn't expect all the love I am getting from this fanfiction! I hope this chapter is worth the wait. Thanks for all the support! It keeps me from hiding these stories away on a private computer.
I got home without any striking events. Ike was sitting on the couch watching some show on MTV.
"Where have you been?" Ike asked, not taking his eyes off of the TV. Ike was five years younger than me, but acted like he was years ahead.
"I was out with friends, why?" Ike shrugged and grabbed for his cellphone to respond to a text message before he answered me.
"Stan stopped by twice looking for you." I was surprised to hear that. Usually if we hung out, it was at his place.
"I was with Kenny. Thanks for telling me, I'll call him back right now." I was walking down the hallway when I heard Ike mention one more thing.
"Good, he seemed pretty pissed." I would have to talk to him about using that kind of language. He was way to young to be using that kind of language!
I shut the door behind me and pulled my cellphone out of my desk drawer. I never carried it around with me and Stan knew that, but he called three times and texted five anyway. I sighed and dialed his number in. Stan picked up after the second ring.
"Kyle, where have you been? I've been trying to get a hold of you all day!" I heard Stan half say half shout.
"Dude, I was at Kenny's. You know that, you were on the bus with us." I felt uncomfortable even though I knew I had done nothing wrong.
"Right, I know that. But it's almost seven! What were you two doing for so long?" There was an unnecessary amount of concern in Stan's voice. He sounded almost betrayed.
"We were watching horror movies for-" Stan sighed loudly before cutting me off.
"I knew it. I knew he just wanted to goof around, man do I feel bad for you. I bet you are doing all the work already!" I felt defensive instantly. Kenny was a great partner!
"Weak, dude. Kenny is totally doing his share of the work. He even came up with the project! I am happy to be working with him." I heard Stan sigh and waited for his response. He was quiet for a while before saying anything.
"Be careful around him, Kyle. I don't want you to end up getting hurt." I was instantly confused. How could Kenny hurt me? Sure he was more daring than most but he never got any of involved in his schemes. Hell, Stan was worse at that than any of us!
"What do you mean? Kenny is our friend, dude."
"Just trust me. I know what I am talking about. There is more to Kenny than you know and it is better left that way." I knew Stan wasn't going to give me any more than that so I just moved the conversation on.
"Ok, dude whatever. What did you want anyway?"
"Oh, I just was um. Wondering where you where and stuff." He stuttered out a response and I knew instantly that he was just calling to rip on Kenny.
"Listen, I don't know what your issue is with Kenny but I am not going to stop hanging out around him. He's been a better friend to me lately than you have anyway!"
"What? What is that supposed to mean? We're better friends than you and Kenny, always have been." I stood up angrily and paced around the room, unable to sit still now.
"Really? Because you haven't thought twice about me since Wendy and you got together at the beginning of this year. Hell! Even after you broke up with her you have been spending more time with her than with me." I heard Stan laugh on the other line.
"Is that all? Kyle, you should have just told me you wanted to spend more time together." I felt a bit annoyed by the way he trivialized my anger, but I was really happy to hear he would spend more time with me.
"Really? Well, cool." I felt short on ways to respond.
"Totally cool. How about we hang out tomorrow? Just you and I." His request sounded innocent enough in words but something about the forceful way he said it made me feel a bit nervous. I shook it off figuring I was just trying to pick out a reason to hold onto anger towards him.
"Yeah, that sounds great! What do you have in mind?" I heard Stan hum in thought before responding.
"Well, Wendy is having a party. It would be totally cool if we went." I held the phone away from my ear and threw myself backwards into the bed with annoyance. Of course, typical Stan. Everything was always about his convenience, never anyone else's.
"Seriously, dude?" I heard Stan laugh nervously on the other end.
"Well, I sorta promised Wendy I would help her set up and stuff so-"
"Forget it, dude. Have fun with Wendy. I'll see you at school tomorrow." I didn't wait for him to respond before hanging up. I tossed the phone to the foot of my bed and grabbed for a pillow, holding it close to my chest. I shouldn't have been surprised. Stan had been doing the same thing for months! Ever since Wendy batted her stupid eyes at him, I was second in his book. So much for Super Best Friends!
After a short period of sulking a walked over to my desk and grabbed my backpack. I pulled out the pages I would need to complete before class and sighed. I flipped through a few trying to find something easy to start with. I smiled when I came across the rubric for the project in English. I smiled and thought over the day spent with Kenny. It was probably the most fun I had in a while.
My mind trailed off to this past afternoon. My heart beat with excitement realizing I could spend the entire week with Kenny like that! The project was the perfect excuse for private time. Not that I needed an excuse or cared if it was just us. It wasn't a big deal, we were just friends. But it made me feel pretty good to know I had his undivided attention. He wasn't popular, per say but he still had quiet the following. Kenny was great to be around. He wasn't like everyone else in South Park. He had ambition for more than the usual career oriented shit.
I felt embarrassed as I looked at the clock realizing how long I had been mentally gushing over my friend. I grabbed for my computer programming book and calculus homework. I needed something to distract myself.
After a long evening of spacing out and doing homework, I finally was ready to go to bed. If it hadn't been for the unplanned nap earlier- I felt my face burning as I recalled the specific details. Kenny always wore that parka, so it wasn't my fault he felt puffy enough to be a pillow. I mean, he was much warmer than a pillow and probably harder but- I shook my head. It was an innocent and justifiable mistake.
I woke up the next morning feeling unrested. I was riddled with dreams of Kenny and Stan and weird scenarios lightly based around whatever assigned reading I had in other classes. I felt my stomach growl a painful reminder that I had skipped dinner the night before to finish school work. I grabbed a granola bar and was heading out the door before my mind flashed back to Kenny and our meal of peanuts and water the day before. I grabbed another and jammed it in my pocket before finishing getting ready.
I was later getting to the stop than usual and seen that Stan and Kenny where already there. I was about to greet them until I seen they were in the middle of what appeared to be a heated conversation.
"You know I am right, Kenny." I heard Stan say angrily.
"No, I don't. Infact I know you are wrong." Kenny's voice was much more calm but still threatening.
"Stay away from him. You're no good for him." Kenny laughed and shook his head.
"And you are? He was there for you every second during your parents last divorce threat and what happened the day it ended? You disappeared right back up Wendy's ass." Stan opened and shut his mouth a few times before speaking.
"I am always there for him and he knows it." Kenny smiled and crossed his arms.
"Does he? Because I sure see something different. You aren't the one he's coming to anymore." I seen Stan's eyes widen in disbelief.
I had no idea what to do! Sure, Stan had been being an ass but had I really been keeping things from him? I felt guilty as I thought over a few things I confided only in Kenny. I knew I would have told Stan if he hadn't been so busy though. I knew I should tell them I was there, but curiosity and awkwardness kept my mouth glued shut.
"You're full of shit, Kenny. Why would he ever trust you?" Kenny shrugged, not even justifying Stan with an answer. Stan was visibly irritated now and rose his voice a bit louder. "Kyle is way more comfortable with me than he would ever be with anyone else." Kenny smirked and looked off into the distance.
"I beg to differ, just judging by our time alone last night I know that isn't true." Stan was getting even more flustered.
I couldn't understand why Stan was getting all bent out of shape. If he wanted to be better friends then he just needed to be there. He is still my best friend- right? If I had to choose between the two I would still choose Stan- I'm pretty sure anyway. I felt a bit embarrassed with Kenny twisting what happened last night into a way to upset Stan. We were just watching movies!
"What did you do to him? You're sick, dude!" Stan gritted his teeth, trying to contain himself. This only amused Kenny more.
"I wasn't the one who did anything." What was he doing? He was making the whole night sound totally different than it was! I couldn't just walk out now and say something though or they would know I was there the whole time. I ducked down further behind some shrubs to continue listening.
"Now I know you're lying. Kyle would never-" Kenny put a finger to his lips and smiled.
"Sshh I think someone's coming." He looked over his shoulder and stared directly at me before looking back to Stan. Stan seen Butters and Tweek walking over and ended his commentary.
That bastard! He knew I was there the whole time! I straightened myself out when Stan turned around and made my way over to them, trying to act as normal as possible. Stan stared at me a little too long before saying anything. I felt embarrassed instantly. I hadn't done anything wrong though! The ending part of the night flashed through my mind with Kenny pretending to kiss me. I tried to find something to distract my mind with.
"Kyle?" Stan asked. Oh no! I completely ignored whatever he had said just a few seconds earlier. I heard Kenny snickering quietly.
"S-sorry, dude. What did you say?" Stan shot Kenny a look before answering me.
"I asked if you were busy after school today." I remembered his talk of Wendy's party and was about to shoot him down, but with the conversation I just overheard it wouldn't be that easy.
"Well, a little but-"
"Great! So you want to come over and play video games?" Stan said eagerly. Much to my relief, Cartman made his presence known.
"Ey! What are you doing trying to make plans without me, hippie?" I never thought I would be happy to see Cartman, but I was ready to hug him at this moment!
"Uh, well you weren't here or I would have invited you." Cartman waved his hand dismissively in his direction before turning to Kenny.
"You're going too right, poor boy? I still owe you an ass kicking from last time." Kenny smiled victoriously at Stan and spoke for the first time since their dispute this morning.
"Kick my ass? Not on your life fatso." Kenny and Cartman then engaged in one of their weird conversations. I looked over to Stan who stood awkwardly with a forced smile. It was almost laughable to see how uncomfortable he looked!
"What's up?" I asked him.
"Just the usual, what about you?" He asked with a bit too much faked interest. I laughed.
"The usual. Ike's being a trouble maker and school sucks." We laughed and talked briefly about trivial things before the bus pulled up. Things were seeming pretty good between us. As pissed as I was that Stan was trying to pick who I could and couldn't be friends with, it was nice to see he still gave a shit.
"So what has Ike been up to anyway?" Stan asked as he took his seat next to me. I saw him glance over a few times to the back of the bus no doubt trying to find Wendy. I tried to ignore that and decided to just try to keep his attention and answer his question.
"Dude, he's being a total asshole!" I started and shook my head. It really had been bugging me, so I was glad he asked. "He's in eighth grade and acts like he's some Hollywood celebrity. He's dated more women than anyone I know!"
"Even Kenny?" Stan threw in quickly. I laughed and shook my head.
"Even if you consider the women he's been with as dating, Ike still has been with more!" I added for dramatic effect. I actually never counted either of their scores before- it wasn't something I really ever wanted to know.
"Dude, sick!" Stan said with a laugh. "How's your mom taking this whole rebellious thing?" I was excited to see he was trying to keep the conversation going on. I wondered how much of it was out of curiosity and how much was out of wanting to talk to me. I felt a bit smug either way.
"She doesn't even know the half of it." I frowned and leaned back in the creaky bus seat. "I do everything I can to keep it a secret. From covering for Ike when he's out to cleaning up his messes, I do everything!" Stan shook his head and leaned back as well.
"That's totally weak, dude. Why are you doing all that? It seems like more work than it's worth." I shrugged, not really knowing how to explain the dilemma I was in.
"You know my mom. She is great and everything but when she flips..." I shuddered at the thought. "It is like World War 3 in that house! I hate to see her so upset and I hate how she takes it out on everyone. Ike is too young to understand what he is doing so-"
"Too young my ass." I heard Kenny chime in. I didn't even know he was paying attention! I felt Stan tense up next to me and looked over to Kenny.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Kenny slid over to our seat, squeezing himself on and crushing himself against Stan in the process. Cartman was still rambling on about something in the seat across from us. I don't think he noticed that Kenny left. The fat ass probably couldn't see past himself anyway!
"Dude, there is not enough room here for three people! We're not in fourth grade anymore!" Kenny laughed and scooted closer to Stan. I pressed myself close to the window, trying to give everyone as much room as possible. Kenny ignored Stan completely and looked over to me.
"He's totally using you and you're letting him walk all over you." Stan sighed in annoyance but kept whatever he was going to say to himself. I never realized Ike was such an interesting conversation piece.
"I am totally not! He is just-" Stan laughed, cutting off my response.
"I hate to admit it, dude. But Kenny's right." I felt annoyed and ganged up on. I was just being a good brother! Kenny nodded to Stan and then looked back at me.
"He will try to get away with as much as he can and you are giving him free reign over it all. You know that he knows what's right and wrong by now. I know you did by his age." The wind was taken out of my sails for any chance at argument. Everything Kenny said was true. "Just let him get in trouble a few times and he will get his ass in line."
"Yeah, just do that. Now go finish story time with Cartman, Kenny. We were in the middle of a conversation." Kenny smiled and leaned back in the seat.
"No, it's all good. I'm pretty comfortable right here. But you can go if you want, Stan. I think Wendy is sitting next to Token today again. You better go make sure he isn't trying to score with your woman." Kenny mocked him. I looked out the window and sighed. We were just passing the strip of houses that indicated we were halfway to school. We still had at least ten minutes to go.
"Fuck you, Kenny! I was talking to Kyle." They bickered back and forth for too long before I was fed up with it. I got up and squeezed past my two now very confused friends and sat down in the empty seat next to Cartman.
"Hey, Jew boy! What's going on? Trying to scam the hardworking man out of his-"
"Shut up, fat ass." I said and stared at the seat infront of me. Stan left to go sit with Wendy and Kenny sat in the seat by himself. He didn't seem to care so neither did I.
"Oh no." Cartman said and began fishing through his backpack quickly. "No no no no no!" Cartman went off in his too loud and over dramatic voice.
"What is it now, Cartman?" I was jolted forward as Cartman began shaking my shoulders violently.
"It's due today!" He let me go and slammed his head against the seat infront of him causing a few angry comments to be sent back his way.
"What is?" I tried to straighten my ushanka after Cartman's attack.
"My life is over." Cartman sighed Kenny scooted to the edge of his seat and looked questioningly to me. I shrugged and waited for Cartman to continue.
"Are you talking about the speech due?" Kenny offered. Him and Kenny were in almost every class together, so it made sense that Kenny would know what Cartman was referring to. Cartman nodded and shot up in his seat.
"Hey, Kenny. How would you like to make five dollars?" Kenny rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Doing what?" Cartman smiled and leaned closer towards him. I shoved him away because getting closer to Kenny meant leaning across me.
"Ey! Cut that out, Jew!" Cartman cleared his throat and continued. "Give me your speech. No one expects you to pass anyway." I shoved Cartman hard causing him to slam into and then bounce slightly off of the window.
"Don't be such an asshole, Cartman!" Kenny laughed and nodded a thank you to me.
"What the hell was that for? I am creating jobs, Kyle!" He crossed his arms, getting all pissed off.
"I'll give you everything in my pocket not to help Cartman!" I pulled out two granola bars and heard Cartman gasp.
"Not fair! Bribing the poor kid with food is totally cheap!" I tossed the food over to Kenny who shrugged and looked to Cartman.
"Sorry, Jew runs a hard bargain." He said and opened the first bar. I sighed happily to myself, glad that I grabbed those this morning and got the chance to give it to Kenny in a totally not embarrassing way.
We got to school not to long later and I was happy to disappear into my first few classes without any of my friends there to make it weird. I liked being around them and stuff, but not with the amount of weird lately.
The lesson in calculus was a review of the past chapters. I assumed this meant the teacher was going to announce a test at the end of the period. I spaced out and pretended to take notes. It would be neat to play video games with everyone after school. We hadn't done that since pretty much forever. As exciting as it sounded though, I was a bit bummed I had to waste alone time with Kenny.
"-and that is why I know none of you will be objecting to the test on Friday!" I heard the teacher say in a too cheerful voice. I knew it.
Not that hanging out with everyone was a waste of time. I mentally worded that wrong. It was just that time with Kenny was more- I don't know. More something. Things were changing like crazy ever since we got into high school. Hanging out as a group wasn't always an option and when we were all together, it was almost always weird. Stan spent most of the time text messaging Wendy, Cartman was still his usual ass self and often off getting himself into trouble and Kenny was... Kenny.
I smiled to myself and realized he was always just as awesome. He was always there for us when we needed him and never really asked anything in return. I felt guilty realizing how much I blew him off to try to fit into Stan's schedule. I wondered if that was on purpose. I was broken out of my thoughts with the bell sounding.
The rest of the day went by without much event. There was a long lecture in english which prevented any conversation between Kenny, Stan and I. I didn't see them extensively in passing and though the day dragged, it still seemed to end pretty quickly.
"Hey, Kyle." Stan waved and walked over to my locker. I tried to wave while pulling out a book and sent a notebook flying halfway across the hallway. Stan laughed and grabbed it.
"Thanks, man." I shoved it back in my locker and closed the door. Stan and I used to share lockers, but he had a serious issue with cleaning. I am not a neat freak, but he drives me insane! We had to move out or it would have driven us insane.
"You ready to head out?" Stan pointed to the door and took a step forward.
"I thought fat ass and Kenny were coming?" I questioned.
"Nah, Cartman got detention again for being a racist asshole in speech class." I laughed and clapped my hands together.
"That is perfect. What an idiot!" I followed after Stan who seemed to be rushing to leave. I felt someone throw an arm around me and looked over to see Kenny had caught up.
"You guys weren't planning on leaving without me, were you?" Stan rolled his eyes and kept walking.
"We all have to take the same bus. It's not like we could anyway." He said flatly.
"Ouch, Stan. If I didn't know better I would think you didn't want me around." Stan turned around to continue the argument with Kenny. I stepped away from both of them and turned to face them.
"I am so sick of both of you acting like this!" I shouted. "If you can't keep your shit together, I'm going home right now!" Stan sighed and looked over to Kenny who was smiling back at him.
"Fine, whatever. Let's just go." Kenny shook his head and pointed to Wendy's approaching figure.
"I think she wants to talk to you." Stan looked between the two of them before a tearful Wendy approached.
"Oh, Stan. It's horrible!" Wendy covered her face with her hands and began to cry a little louder.
"What happened?" Stan asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. I felt my heart sink to my feet. Of course, leave it to Wendy to ruin everything.
"Someone must have taken my text books. They aren't in my locker or any of the classrooms!" She sniffed and held up her backpack. "I only have my notebooks! My dad is going to freak out, Stan!" Stan looked nervous before declaring the words I knew I would hear.
"Don't worry, Wendy. I'll help you find them. They have to be somewhere! Who would steal text books?"
"Dude, what the hell? We have plans remember?" I crossed my arms, not wanting to back down just yet. Wendy looked over to me and frowned.
"It's ok, Stan. Token already offered to help me find them so-" Stan shook his head and smiled.
"No, school is more important than video games anyway." Stan looked over to me with an apologetic expression. I shook my head and walked towards the exit. I knew nothing had changed. Kenny was right this morning to call Stan out on his shit! I was glad I didn't interrupt.
"How lame." I heard Kenny say. I looked over and seen him keeping pace with me. I slowed down and nodded.
"Totally, lame." I concluded, not wanting to say much else. I felt all choked up and angry and knew I would say something I'd regret if I kept talking.
"Want to come over and work on our project?" Kenny suggested. My spirits lifted immediately. Leave it to Kenny to find a way to make everything awesome again.
"Sweet! I'm in!" I said with a bit too much enthusiasm. Kenny laughed and patted my back.
"Eager today, aren't we?" He grinned. I felt my face flush and shoved him.
"Shut up, dude!" Kenny was always saying and doing weird shit like that. I felt totally lame getting weirded out by it now.
Stan and Wendy weren't on the bus when we got on. I was glad for it. I didn't want one of Stan's lame ass apologies. Kenny grabbed for my ipod and looked over to offer me an ear before frowning. I guess it was clear I was still pissed.
"You seemed more pissed than usual. What's up?" I thought of making something up before just deciding to give him the full story.
"Stan and I talked on the phone last night and he promised he was going to stop ditching me for Wendy all the time. He said he would make more time for us and I believed him. Then of course, the second Wendy comes calling-" I shook my head, too annoyed and frustrated to continue.
"He's always doing that." Kenny shrugged but spoke in a sympathetic manner. "We've said things about that to him before. Cartman and I did anyway." I was surprised to hear this. Not so much about Kenny, he was always defending us.
"Cartman too, really?" I half laughed. Kenny made a face and laughed a bit as well.
"Yeah, well Cartman mostly commends him for blowing you off." We both laughed and exchanged commentary mocking Cartman. Kenny handed me the other ear for the Ipod, finishing the rest of the trip in silence, minus the Iron Maiden accompanying us.
I followed after Kenny into the empty house and took a seat on the couch.
"I'm going to grab something for us to eat. Is left over pizza cool?" I nodded and grabbed for my backpack to get the grading rubric. After searching through my folder I realized Kenny still had it. I slid his bag over to me and began to unzip it, hearing the microwave humming.
"Hey, do you have the rubric?" I asked and unzipped the bag. I was surprised to see how many books were piled into his bag. I frowned, seeing books for classes he wasn't even in. They looked like classes that-
I quickly zipped the bag and pushed it away. The mystery of where Wendy's book had gone just ended!