I stared at the zipped backpack not knowing what to do or say. Why in God's name would Kenny steal Wendy's books? He seemed to be up to something when Wendy ran over to get Stan's attention. He must have had the books before she came over because we didn't separate after that.
"What are you staring at?" I jumped about a foot in the air, not hearing Kenny come up behind me. He laughed and looked over to his backpack. His face didn't change, but I heard him take in a quick breath. I decided to just ask him why the books where there. He must have had a good reason!
"So, uh. Why are Wendy's books in your backpack?" Kenny laughed and walked around the couch, setting the food on the table before sitting down next to me.
"Poor nosey Kyle." Kenny shook his head and leaned back in the couch. I expected him to say something else. Instead, he grabbed for the laptop and a piece of pizza.
"Dude, that isn't an answer." I grabbed the laptop out of his hands and put it on the table. Kenny laughed again, unphased. I shoved him in annoyance and grabbed his backpack, dumping the books on the floor.
"Busted." Kenny said through a smile. I rolled my eyes, feeling increasingly irritated.
"What the hell? Why did you take Wendy's damn books, Kenny?" I stomped my foot on the ground, trying to give my words more impact.
"Isn't it obvious?" Kenny cocked his head to the side, staring me down. I frowned, not understanding at all- more like not wanting to.
"Text books from shitty South Park High School won't get you that much money and it isn't even that funny of a joke. It's weak, dude." Kenny shook his head and rose to his feet as well, mirroring me now.
"You've got that right. So if it isn't for shits and giggles or for some cash, why would I steal poor Wendy's books?" I stared at him, trying to think of some sort of answer. I shook my head and laughed.
"Dude, trying to figure you out is damn near impossible. I don't know why you do most anything!" Kenny seemed satisfied with that answer and gathered the books off the ground. We settled ourselves down back on the couch and waited for the next horror movie to load. The question was still eating at me. Risking sounding like a broken record, I decided to ask once again.
"But seriously, why did you take them?" Kenny stared thoughtfully at the loading screen on the computer, as if it held some secret intrigue other than a distraction from answering me. After a few moments of silence, I gave up on an answer before I heard Kenny let out a small laugh.
"Would you still have come over if Stan hadn't blown you off?" The sheer amount of effort Kenny put into his voice to sound like he didn't give a shit about my answer surprised me. There was almost a tinge of hurt hanging at the end of his words.
"If you had asked me to, of course I would!" I spoke the words too quickly before realizing how silly they must have come off. Kenny raised an eyebrow and looked over to me with a smirk.
"So it's as easy as that?" He asked, the smile spreading across his face. I tried to ignore the obvious look of malice growing in his eyes and answered his question with my own.
"What is?" I couldn't tell what he was referring to.
"Separating you from the super best." I opened my mouth, trying to will the right answer to come out separate from my brain. I felt defensive and embarrassed at the same time.
"It's not like we're always together, dude." I muttered out, not knowing what else to say. I was my own person these days. Stan and I had once been copies of eachother, or so it felt anyway.
"I'll hold you up to that, Kyle." Kenny smiled and turned to face me. I shrunk back in the couch feeling unusually nervous around him.
"What do you mean?" I now took to Kenny's previous job of watching the loading screen on the laptop. It really sucked as a distraction.
"Whenever I tell you to come with me, you will." I shrugged and tried to laugh it off.
"Sure, dude. Whatever. Let's just watch this movie already." The way Kenny twisted the simple statement into a device to get what he wanted was so typical of him. I had seen him do it a million times, but never thought I would be the one being done over. The idea excited me more than it should have, but it felt nice to know I was wanted, especially by Kenny.
The movie was pretty decent, nothing out of the ordinary though. Kenny took out any chances for it being scary by laughing at every other scene. Had I watched it alone or with someone else, it might have been much creepier.
"So where are we even going to start with making this into a paper?" I asked, not really caring right now about the question but more wanting to fill in the void of sound that fell over us with the ending of the movie. Kenny shrugged and ran a hand through his hair.
"Amount of boobs shown?" Kenny suggested. I rolled my eyes. Typical Kenny response.
"Great plan, Kenny." He smiled and crossed his arms, looking over at me now.
"What? You don't like boobs?" Kenny asked. I felt like the question was loaded and with whichever answer I went with I would wind up regretting it.
"No one on Earth could like boobs as much as you do, dude. Don't be threatened." There! Turn it back on him. I figured I that would throw him off a little. Of course he proved me wrong three seconds later.
"Awhhh what's wrong, Kyle? Jealous that I might be paying more attention to something than you?" I stared at him without a word ready to grab for in response. With the growing gap in
"Right. Because that is what I worry about at night, Kenny. Whether or not you are thinking about me or boobs before you go to bed." I rose to my feet and walked over to grab my backpack which had apparently been tossed into the corner. I didn't need anything out of there, but I needed an excuse to stand up.
"I knew it." I heard Kenny say from the other side of the room. I looked over to see him shaking his head with a fake sad look on his face.
"What did you know?" I asked, knowing he wouldn't say anything unless I spoke.
"That you are in love with me." I froze, feeling very weirded out by these words. I knew he was joking, but my mind still combed through the possibilities anyway. I decided the best thing to do in a time like this was just play around. There was less harm in that then trying to be serious around Kenny when he was acting like this.
"You caught me." I shrugged and walked back towards the couch. "All these years I was just waiting for you to stop chasing girls and be with me." The amount of sarcasm in my voice should have made it very clear I was messing around, but something in Kenny's face made me wonder.
"But what would Stan think?" Kenny said, mumbling into his parka. I laughed, relaxing now. I was sure he was messing around now too. I put a hand to my head and leaned against the table.
"Oh, Kenny. You know it was only ever you I wanted!" Kenny jumped to his feet suddenly scaring me and causing me to nearly trip over the end table. He caught me around the waist and pulled me up part way, keeping me still slightly suspended. Kenny grinned and leaned his face close to mine, a leering expression on his face. My heart was pounding against my chest so hard I wondered if it was audible.
"Good." With that, Kenny closed the distance between us. His lips grazed against mine, kissing me for the briefest second before I lost any balance I had and crashed to the ground. Kenny laughed lightly and stared down at me with a proud smile gracing his face.
"What was that?" I hoped the words would come out more condemning. Instead it came out as a pathetic sounding question coming from a confused me still lying on the floor.
"Whatever you want it to be." Kenny stated evenly. I pushed myself shakily to my feet and stood still for a few seconds, waiting for my mind to catch up. I tried to force myself to laugh which ended up coming out sounding like a cross between a cough and some strange animal call.
"Good one. You totally freaked me out." I started. Kenny cocked his head to the side, still smiling. I looked around for something, anything to get away from this- whatever this was!
"Freaked out, huh?" Kenny reached over and slid a finger lightly over my cheek. "Is that why your face is all red? So scared that all the blood just rushed right to your face?" I took a few steps back, more careful about my footing now than before.
"Yeah, probably all the movies and stuff too." I did that weird laugh thing again and looked to my watch. It was not nearly as late as I wished it would have been, but it would have to do. "Well I am probably going to get heading back." I turned on my heel and teetered towards the door. "Lots of-"
I gasped feeling an arm wrap around my chest and the other around my waist, pulling me roughly backwards into Kenny's chest. "Kenny! I- I"
"Going so soon?" Kenny spoke softly, his lips brushing against my ears. My heart was pounding so hard I couldn't even see straight. I cleared my throat and tried to step away but that was not anywhere near what Kenny wanted. He pulled me back harder, making an exit impossible unless it was by him.
"Quit it, ass hole!" My words wavered audibly which apparently entertained Kenny. I felt Kenny laugh and drop the arm from around my waist and brush my hair behind my ear before returning.
"Are you going to go run and tell Stan I was picking on you?" He pulled me tighter into him before continuing. "Are you wishing you had listened to him?" He taunted.
"Let me go!" I tried again to pull away from his embrace. I could hear my ears ringing and felt weak in my knees, neither of which helping my case.
"What are you getting yourself all worked up about, Kyle?" He squeezed his arm tight around my waist, knocking the air out of me. "Don't you trust me?" I struggled to take in a breath before being released and falling to the ground on my hands and knees. I took a few quick breaths in, trying to calm myself down. Kenny slid down next to be and leaned his back against the door, smiling coyly back at me.
"What's your problem?" I asked angrily, staring back at him. Kenny shrugged and looked at me innocently.
"With what?" I jumped to my feet and tried to open the door with him leaning against it. It was a useless effort.
"With what? With what? Are you kidding me?" I shouted. Kenny laughed and stood up slowly. I took a step back instinctively.
"So sensitive." He walked over and sat back on the couch. The door was clear for me to leave, but even without him physically doing so I was still trapped.
"You're an asshole, Kenny." I turned to face him. He shrugged and leaned back in the couch, completely calm.
"You have so much to learn." He said absently, reaching for him computer. "Well? I thought you had somewhere to be?" He said without raising his eyes from the screen. I looked between him and the laptop a few times, feeling defeated.
"Yeah, I do." I tried to sound a portion as intimidating as he did. I could tell how effective the attempt was when he laughed.
"Don't forget your backpack." He pointed to the corner. I walked over slowly, keeping an eye on him. Though it seemed now that he was completely disinterested. Maybe I was just over reacting. I tried to shake the thoughts off.
"Uh, well I guess I'm going now." I put my hand on the door knob, waiting for something. I didn't know what. I didn't know why. He spent the past God knows how long tormenting me, that should have been motivation enough to run out the door.
"I'll see you again tomorrow." He looked up and grinned. "Same time, right?" I blinked a few times before nodding and quickly ducking out the door, wishing I had left much sooner now.
I didn't even know where I was going, but I was walking there as quickly as I could. Before I knew it, I was standing at Stan's door step. What was I planning on saying? Hey Stan! I found out Kenny stole Wendy's books to make sure I came over alone today and then he totally tried to jump me. How was lunch? Before I had time to turn and leave the door flew open infront of me.
"What are you doing, turd?" Shelly barked at me. I hadn't even heard her coming! I must have been more lost in thoughts than I thought because she was not quiet about her movements.
"I, um. Is Stan home?" Shelly rolled her eyes and stomped back into the house.
"Stan!" She shouted. I took that as a yes.
"Yes?" Stan ran down the steps at the sound of his lovely sister's voice. Even though he was in high school, he was still terrified of her. Luckily enough for him she was off at college most of the year now. Shelly pointed at me before traipsing back into the living room.
"Dude, are you ok?" Stan walked over to me quickly. I shook my head quickly and smiled.
"Oh yeah, totally fine. Just surprised to see Shelly is all." Stan looked over to his sister and back to me and laughed.
"Yeah, great surprise huh?" We both laughed. I followed him back up to his room and was relieved to see that Wendy was not there. I was silent for too long and apparently prompted Stan to start one of his awkward attempts at small talk. He tried to tell me about a squirrel he seen while walking home.
"So it barked at you?" I laughed and held my head.
"Dude! I am totally serious! I ran and it barked at me!" He was trying to hold back a laugh as well, but I could tell he was being serious.
"Do you think it was the neighbors dog or something? Last time I checked, squirrels don't bark!" Stan slumped over in his chair and shook his head.
"One day you will see that squirrel. Then you will never doubt what I say again." We both laughed, but his words made me think about the whole incident with Kenny. I quickly tried to change the topic, but Stan was already one step ahead.
"So where have you been, anyway?" I squirmed nervously in the bean bag I was seated in and looked out the window for a second.
"Just here and there." I shrugged. I felt guilty lying to him, but there was no way in hell I was about to tell him about anything that happened with Kenny! Stan frowned, but nodded and accepted my answer without any question.
"Wendy ended up running off with Token to have him help find her books." At least I got to hear about the new updates with Stan's jealousy over the girl he claimed to be over. He went through every detail of the story which was just unbelievably dull.
"Wow, so do you think they found them?" I asked even though I knew exactly where the books were and knew they wouldn't be seeing them any time soon.
"Nah. I bet Token stole them so he could try to spend more time with Wendy. I would put money on it!" I looked away. The books were taken with the intention to steal more time, but not on either of their parts.
"Totally weak, dude." I said with a laugh. Stan reached over and turned the TV set in his room on and switched it to some news show. He also did this. Turn on the news, get pissed off about something and try to rally up the forces to go and change the world. Well, that is what he used to do. Now every story somehow related to Wendy.
My mind slipped back to the afternoon's events. The way Kenny acted was so uncalled for. He was like a completely different person almost. I frowned, realizing the last thought was wrong. It was exactly like him, but without reserve. He was intimidating, overbearing and that was what made him Kenny. Beneath his goofiness and seemingly light hearted nature, he was really stupefying. It was kind of sexy. I mentally slapped myself for the last thought and nearly jumped out of my skin when Stan's phone went off. He raised an eyebrow at me and laughed before grabbing it.
"Kenny? What could he possibly want?" I felt like my heart was going to explode out of my chest. Why would he be calling Stan? Stan answered the phone. "What do you want?" He asked, forcing more annoyance in his voice than needed. I couldn't hear what Kenny had said, but it clearly pissed Stan off. He narrowed his eyes and pinched his fingers over the bridge of his nose. "Yeah. I'll tell him." With that, he hung up the phone and turned to look at me.
"So, uh. What did Kenny want?" I tried to act as innocently as possible. The look on Stan's face changed from angry to hurt to confused before he answered.
"Kenny told me to tell you that you left your hat at his house when you came over this afternoon." I felt my heart drop to my feet and my eyes soon followed.
"Oh, well it was such a quick visit that I-" Stan sighed loudly and paced the room a few times before turning to face me.
"What is going on with you two?" The voice he used was a clear attempt at condemnation, but it came off almost completely as concern which made me feel even worse.
"Nothing, dude. We're just working together-"
"Don't give me that shit!" Stan stomped his foot on the ground to add emphasis. I sunk back into the bean bag chair, feeling very small for the second time today. "What is he holding over you?" Stan's voice was much softer now. He lowered himself down to my level, but did not make eye contact. "You can tell me, dude."
"Nothing! He just- I mean I just, we- we just- it was. Nothing, he doesn't have anything over me." I put a hand to my head, realizing how incriminating my inability to form a sentence sounded.
"It's okay, Kyle." Stan sat down next to me. I sighed deeply and hugged my knees to my chest. There was no way getting around any of this.
"He really doesn't. I don't have anything to hide. We've been working together is all and things are getting- weird I guess." I shrugged and looked over Stan. He was obviously trying to figure out if I was telling the truth or not.
"What is he doing to make things weird?" I felt my face burning red and looked away quickly, knowing it would betray any hope I had to keep everything super weird a secret. I seen Stan's mouth drop in horror. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back towards him. "What did he do?" I shook my head and waved my hands.
"No, dude! It wasn't anything like that it was just a kiss and- oh shit!" I slammed my hand over my face. Stan was quiet for a few seconds. It seemed to stretch on for hours.
"You kissed Kenny?" He finally asked in disbelief.
"He kissed me! And it was only a second. Not even really-" I shut myself up. Nothing was going to justify what I had said.
"And you're okay with this?" He asked gently.
"It's just a kiss and it's Kenny, I mean he's kissed like a million people I mean, I doubt it even meant anything to him he was probably just goofing around and. And-" The words were not coming out at all like they should have. Stan exhaled and leaned back against the wall, like the conversation was literally weighing him down.
"So you don't care? If someone just kissed you right now, it would just be a little weird? That's it?" I covered my face with my hands and shook my head.
"That's not what I mean!" Stan slammed his hand against the ground.
"So what do you mean then, Kyle? Because I sure as hell can't figure it out right now!" I looked hugged my knees tighter and stared at my feet, unable to take in a steady breath. He hated me. There was no doubt about it. My best friend thought I was the scum of the Earth. I bit the inside of my lip hard, trying to find a different pain to focus on.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled into my knees. I heard Stan sigh and get back up to his feet. I didn't bother watching where he was going. He was probably going to march out the door and wait for me to leave. When I felt him grab me up by the arms and pull me into a hug, I was so surprised I could have screamed.
"I'm not mad at you, Kyle." He said lightly and pulled back to face me. "I'm fucking pissed at Kenny, but not you." I stared down at the ground and frowned.
"Why are you mad at him?" Stan was fine when he found out that Butters was gay, but he clearly hated the idea to be applied to me.
"Because-" Stan sighed and was quiet. I looked up to ask him his reasoning but was cut off when he pressed his lips firmly against mine. He leaned back and smiled sheepishly. "Because I should have been the one to do it first." I was awesome at responses today. My awesome response pattern showed again when instead of speaking, I stared at Stan for a good minute. He laughed nervously, neither of us moving an inch.
"But I thought you liked Wendy?" I had considered the idea of being with Stan like that, but I never seen it as realistic. He shrugged.
"So did I. But seeing you with Kenny, I can see how much I care about you." That stung a bit. I frowned and took a step away.
"So you didn't care until you knew about Kenny and I?" Stan blinked a few times and shook his head before responding.
"No, dude. That's not what I meant." I felt frustrated and confused. Had this been even a few weeks ago, I would have been going insane out of happiness. But now it just felt wrong.
"Well then when did you know?" It was a stupid and egotistical sounding question, but I really did need the answer right then!
"Well we were talking and you came up in conversation. Kenny said-" I put my hands on my head and growled a noise of frustration.
"Are you kidding me?" I didn't have time to ask anything else before I heard Stan laugh.
"So it's true then?" He laughed again. I looked up to see him crossing his arms and begin pacing the room again. "You like Kenny."
"What?" I half screamed. Here we were in the middle of a conversation about us and he had to go and throw his whole jealous ranting into it.
"If you don't then call him and tell him right now." Stan tossed his phone over to me and plopped back down in his chair. "Tell him you're not interested." I stared at the phone in my hands, not knowing what to do. If I told Kenny, he probably would let this whole thing go. But I didn't know if I wanted that or not.
"Stan, listen-" Stan shook his head and walked over to me, snatching the phone out of my hand.
"I should have guessed it. Just remember what I told you, Kyle. You can't trust him. He will not lead you to any good. I guarantee it." I stumbled to my feet and moved quickly towards the door.
"Fine." I mumbled and reached for the door knob. Stan caught my by the wrist.
"Kyle, I'm sorry. Don't go." I pulled my hand away and opened the door.
"Get over yourself, man." I closed the door behind me and left the house without another word. Almost every part of me wanted to run back in and make up with him, but I was entitled to being angry. I was tired of always being the one to do anything.
I rushed home, wanting more than anything to sit down and clear my head. But upon reaching the steps to my house, I knew that wouldn't be the case. Sitting on the steps was the source of all of the change and craziness going on right now.
"Welcome home." Kenny said with a smile. "We need to talk."
Ok let me know what your thoughts and opinions are! Sorry for the stall in putting out the chapter. I wasn't sure how I wanted it to go and wrote and rewrote about a million different scenarios. Hopefully I made the right choice!