Chapter 14:

A/N: For all those asking why the updates are so fast, it is because I have been on study leave and all my exams have finished before other people's. Hence why I have started a new book. However, now I am back at college and I am afraid updates will probably be a bit slower so bare with me!

Kyle PoV

Nervous didn't cut it. I had skipped school yesterday with a 'migraine' but mom was adamant that I was well enough to go in today. I didn't want to. I didn't want to see any of my friends. I didn't want to see Cartman's sneering face or the concerned teachers asking about yesterday's absence. The only advantage of going in today, would be that I didn't have to exchange more awkward glances with Sian whenever she was prancing around the house.

I especially did not want to see Stan. Not only had I totally humiliated myself in front of him, but I had also been really... weird around him afterwards. I didn't really know what had happened, it was just the way he was talking to me and his eyes seemed so deep and meaningful. When I had looked into them I had gotten butterflies. I had no idea why that had happened, maybe because I had been so shattered that evening anyway. He probably thought I was even more of a freak now, it wouldn't surprise me, I didn't understand myself either.

I had begged a lift off mom this morning, so at least I didn't have to catch the bus. She pulls up outside the school and I hesitate for a second, my hand on the car door.

"Well go on then Kyle." Mom persists. "Else you'll be late."

I reluctantly get out of the car without further conversation and hastily walk up the path to the double doors. There are students milling around; freshmen scribbling down homework and juniors chatting excitedly. I did not want to go to homeroom. Maybe I could skip it? No, I had to be registered. I take a deep breath before entering the classroom and push the door open. I see Stan, Kenny and Wendy all look up at me, concerned. When Bebe raises her head however, she gives a slight cough but doesn't seem to care that much.

"Hi Kyle!" Stan exclaims, looking half shocked half relieved at my appearance. At the mention of my name, I see the majority of the class look up and stare at me. Shit. I see Clyde and I few of his friends begin to chuckle, followed by a couple of the Raisins girls. Other people were looking confused or even disgusted. They all knew. My worst nightmare had come true.

I was going to kill Cartman.

I slowly move over to my desk and slump down in my chair next to Stan. I just tilt my head downwards and pretend to be writing notes on a piece of paper.

"Hey dude." Stan tries again, nudging me. Fuck off Stan. Why did he always have to make a big deal out of everything? If he hadn't announced my name when I came in, people may not have noticed me. "Kyle, are you ok?"

"No Stan, I'm not ok." I hiss. "How does everyone know? Did Cartman tell everyone in the morning announcements or personally? Maybe he shouted it out in the cafeteria, or stuck up pictures of my face on the notice board?"

"It wasn't Cartman." Stan interrupts me. What? "It was more... A word of mouth kind of thing... Starting with Bebe."

Bebe? Bebe started this off? "Why?" I stammer and he just shrugs. She was such a bitch; always trying to get attention by spreading rumours. Why did I ever like her?

Cartman PoV

Once the announcements were over I was called straight to the principal's office. Yet again, they were going to lecture me on how my speeches were not appropriate and I had to stick to the notes I was given, which I did, I just elaborated on them. They would probably try and push me out of the role, giving it to someone like Casey Miller instead, because he was the kind of boring student they wanted to read the announcements. Like, who was going to enjoy those? The reason people come to school is probably to hear me voice what everyone is thinking to the teachers and pupils. I'm sure it was the highlight of their day.

"Look, I know what you are going to say-" I enter the principal's office without knocking. She was sat at her desk, accompanied by Mr Mackey, the school councillor. He had been working with us in Elementary school, maybe he just loved us so much he had to follow us through... Yeah, doubt it.

"Eric, take a seat please." She looked pretty serious. Ok, time to get out my list.

"Before you give your reasons as to why you are going to sack me." I begin. "I would like to voice to you a few of mine."

"Eric, we're not sacking you." She states. "Just take a seat please."

I reluctantly sit down on the chair and glance from Mr Mackey to Principal Victoria repeatedly.

"The catering staff are a bit worried about you." She cuts straight to the point. "They have noticed you have stopped purchasing food."

"Yes." I nod. "So..."

"Eric, we need to ensure you are having a balanced and nutritious diet mkay." Mr Mackey reasons with me. "You have been purchasing school dinners since kindergarten mkay, why have you suddenly stopped?"

"Because I'm bringing a lunch bag now." I lie, but it is believable. "Kenny does it every day, what's so wrong with that?"

"Well, that's because Kenny McCormick has a... lower family income than other students." She informs me. "I'm sure you know that."

"...No I wasn't aware." I joke but keep a straight face. How dumb did she think I was? "I've just been his best friend since Elementary and all..."

"Well I'm sure Kenny would see it differently mkay." Mr Mackey coughs and receives a withered glare off the principal.

"What we are trying to say is that we need to make sure you are eating." She concludes. "That you are not doing anything... extreme regarding your diet."

"Principal Victoria. Would you look at me, just for a second?" I stand up on the chair and spin round a few times as if modelling a new outfit. "Ok, do I look like I am not eating?"

"Well you have lost a bit of weight-" She persists.

"But do I look like I am not eating?" I repeat and they both shake their heads. "Good, I'm glad that is cleared up then." I sit back down and stare at them intently.

"That is all Eric, you can go now." She tells me.

"Sweet." I pull myself up and walk out of the door. Inconsiderate uncle fuckers, why couldn't they mind their own business?

Stan PoV

"Right, tomorrow, you and me." I point to my phone screen. "We have to go see this new movie, it's got five star reviews."

"Tomorrow?" Wendy questions.

"Yeah, you know. I think we need a night out and hey, I'll even buy you popcorn." I nudge her playfully.

"We went out the other night." She points out. Ok, she was pissed off for some reason. "Besides, I can't tomorrow night, sorry Stan."

"What? Why?" I frown, checking my mental calendar.

"I'm helping Craig with that composition." She tells me and a wave of jealousy washes over me. Yes, I know Craig is with Tweek and that I could trust Wendy, but I still hated her hanging out with other guys.

"Right." I swallow. "That's fine, maybe I'll go with someone else then." I was hoping maybe it would make her jealous. She would turn around and say 'actually, I'd love to come, I'll just tell Craig its off'. But no, she continued to stare down at her magazine, chewing on her salad as she did so.

"Why don't you ask Kyle?" She suggests, still not making eye contact. Kyle? What was she trying to achieve here? Kyle and I hadn't done anything together... alone in ages. As if reading my mind, she adds; "It will be good for you to have a catch up."

"Yeah, ok." I nod. "I suppose."

Kyle has not shown up in the canteen for lunch, so I took this as an opportunity to go and find him. I also had no idea where Kenny and Bebe were located; probably having a quickie in the janitors closet. Hence why Wendy and I had been alone this lunch time. I see her move over to sit with the girls as soon as I walk away though, so I didn't feel all bad. Although I was still annoyed at her for being very vague with me all lunchtime. I find Craig and Tweek, up against the lockers talking. I decided to corner them before they started kissing.

"Craig?" I called and he looked up. I wanted to punch him in the face or yell at him about asking my girlfriend to do some project with him. But instead, I swallowed my anger. "Do you know where Kyle is?"

"Er, no." He shrugs. "With his cousin maybe?"

Dickhead. I walk away from him without another word before Tweek pipes up.

"He was in the toilets earlier." He stammers. "Just standing against the wall on his phone."

"Ok, thanks." I smile, what the hell did he see in Craig Tucker? I head for the boys toilets and swing the door open. It was empty, that was weird, the toilets were hardly ever empty at lunch time. I double check the door to ensure it was not the transgender one; Wendy had got a petition signed to make them look exactly the same as both the boys and girls bathroom's, so that there was no inequality. Nope, definitely the boys. "Kyle?" I call out. No response. I begin to leave before I hear the faint sound of someone snivelling. I tiptoe over to the furthest cubicle, where the door was locked. Well done detective Stan, maybe you should have checked the doors first. I pause outside, it was Kyle, I knew it was Kyle; it was the same cry I endured when he got that haemorrhoid, or when he was rated ugliest in the class by the girls. He hadn't actually been the ugliest, it had been altered so it was safe to date the rich boys who were at the top. Not the time Stan. "Kyle? Let me in."

"...Go away Stan." He whispers.

"...No." I laugh in a friendly manner. "What's the matter?"

"What do you think is the matter?" He retorts, sliding the lock across and pushing the door open, almost knocking me to the side. "Everyone thinks I'm a freak."

"No, they don't." I argue. "Anyone with maturity levels higher than Cartman doesn't and besides, it's just a shitty rumour. I will give it three days before everyone has forgotten. Hey, it's only a bit of gossip, you wait till Pete Melman craps his pants again or Butters dresses up like a girl or people find out I'm still hoarding things in my locker. Do not, tell Wendy that."

He gives a slight laugh and wipes his tears. Success. "Thanks Stan." He smiles and hugs me.

"Oh." I pull my phone out of my pocket when he has let go. "I wondered if you wanted to come and see a movie with me tomorrow night?"

I see his face crease up slightly in anguish. Don't tell me he was busy too. He looks up at me and then the floor. Wait, he was doing that weird look again, the same one he gave me the night we were sat on the sidewalk. This time he didn't run away though. "Yeah, I'd love to."

Ok, that was confusing...