Chapter ten: Monday

"Hey buddy, glad to see you're back!" Kenny cheered excitingly as Cartman made it to the bus stop.

"Hey! I'm sorry I was late getting here, I had trouble fitting all of my homework into my bag."

Kyle smiled shyly when Cartman arrived. He hadn't told Stan or Kenny that he asked him out yet. Cartman saw the Jewish boy and beamed.

"Hey Kahl! How are you!"

"Oh, um, hey Cartman. I'm doing well. Thanks for the homework help on Friday I really appreciate it."

"No problem at all. Stan, you've been quiet, how are you?"

"Oh, fine."

"GET ON THE DAMN BUS!"

The boys all boarded the bus, Kyle muttering a curse to the obese woman in the driver's seat. For once, she hadn't heard him. Cartman smiled at the lady though.

"Hello, Ms. Crabtree! How are you this fine morning?"

"SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!"

Shaken, Cartman quietly sat down in an empty seat. Kenny sat with Butters, so he was alone. That is until Clyde Donovan changed seats.

"Hey Cartman! Glad to be back at school?"

"Yeah. As much as I enjoyed the time to recover, it'll be nice to be able to do stuff. Old me would love to avoid going to class as much as possible, but new me would rather spend time with all of his friends than lay in bed all day."

"Good point. It must have been really boring being stuck at home. Did you leave the house at all?"

"Not at all."

They arrived at school soon after. While getting off the bus, Cartman was swarmed.

"You're back!" Wendy chimed cheerfully.

"How was your week off?" Bebe asked curiously.

"Did you have fun? Anything exciting worth sharing?" Kevin piped in.

Cartman was asked a bunch more questions. His head was gathering too many words at once, so he tried to shut it out, to no avail. His head was spinning and he covered his ears, trying to avoid any more questions. He felt like he was going to faint; that is until he felt himself being pushed out of the crowd. He opened his eyes and turned his head to find out who his saviors were. It was Stan and Kyle. He heard yelling, from what he heard it was Kenny lecturing the crowd. When Stan and Kyle had gotten him far enough away, he thanked them immensely.

"Thank you guys so much. I really owe you."

"Don't mention it. Are you okay?"

"I feel kinda light headed, I think I just need to sit down."

"Are you sure you should have come to school today?" Stan asked out of concern.

"I'll be fine. I just need to take it easy is all."

In class, the situation didn't get much better. When Cartman walked into the classroom, Mr. Garrison made a big (For his standards) deal about it.

"Now class, as you probably know, Eric Cartman has returned to school after being bed ridden with a head injury for the past week. There are some changes in his personality and attitude, so you need to be patient and stuff. Yada yada yada. To be honest I don't really give a shit. So please welcome back Eric and whatever."

The class cheered for his return. Cartman smiled awkwardly and took his seat.

"Now, your homework assignments I gave you on Friday are due today. If you could please hand them up to the front that would be nice. Eric, I doubt you did your homework, so there isn't much point in-"

Cartman smiled and walked his homework that Kyle and Kenny had brought him from the past week up to the front. He handed them to Mr. Garrison (Who just stared at him in shock) and took his seat. The entire class (Minus Stan, Kyle, and Kenny) was also in complete and total shock. Soon enough it was lunch time.

"Hello there, children!"

"Hey Chef." The boys chimed, like usual.

"How are things?"

"Good!"

"That's good. Eric, I see you're back at school. How are you feeling?"

"I feel fantastic Chef, how nice of you to ask! How are things here in the kitchen for you?"

"Things are well I guess. Stan, Kyle, Kenny, is this what you meant by him not acting like himself?"

The three boys just nodded.

"Ah, I see. Well, here's your food children, move along now you're holding up the line."

"Thanks Chef!"

They sat down with their friends, like normal. Only one difference; people kept trying to sit with them all lunch. First it was Heidi.

"Hey, Eric, Bebe is throwing a party this weekend and wanted to know if you want to come."

"Um, no thank you Heidi. I would love to, but I'm still recovering so I don't want to push anything too soon."

"Oh, okay. I'll go tell her."

Then it was Red.

"Hey, Eric, I was wondering if you would want to go see a movie this Saturday. If you can't go to Bebe's party we could at least do something fun."

She wrapped herself around the large boy's arm and batted her eyelashes at him flirtatiously, making Cartman feel really uncomfortable. He looked at Kyle for help.

"Sorry, but he's NOT interested." The ginger boy stated firmly, getting a look of disgust from Red.

"How about letting Eric answer, dipshit?" She spat angrily.

"Um... Red, I don't wish to be rude or anything, but you're making me feel uncomfortable. And I do apologize, but Kahl is right. I do not wish to see the movie with you on Saturday."

The Ginger simply tsked before getting up and sitting with her friends again.

"What is happening?" Cartman uncomfortably muttered after shooing away the ninth girl. It's only been 10 minutes.

"I told you Cartman. You're new personality is making people feel drawn and attracted to you." Kyle calmly explained.

"Well, if this is how I'll be treated for my new personality, I think I just want my old one back."

"No you don't." Wendy retorted simply as she inserted herself into the conversation (And the spot next to Cartman).

"Why? What about me is so terrible that if I so much as think for one second of turning back to my old self, people try so hard to steer me away from that decision?"

"Simple. You were a self-centered cynical asshole who would do anything in his power to make those around you miserable. You were a murderer, a thief, a liar, a bully, and a racist. Now you are kind and care about the well beings of others. That is why people are drawn towards you. Now, the reason I'm here. Why did you shoot down Red like that?"

"I'm not interested."

"Why? She's a nice girl who I've known a long time. You can't go off saying she's mentally abusive because as her friend, I know better than to believe that shit. Why did you turn her down?"

"Because I'm already seeing someone, okay!"

Kyle stared at Cartman. Was he talking about him? Or was he seeing someone else, but Kyle is just a pawn? He quickly shook of that thought. Cartman wouldn't do that, nice or not. Even he wasn't that cruel, was he? He listened intently to find out.

"Really? Who is she?"

Cartman laughed.

"'Her' name is Kahl Broflovski."

Everyone at the table gasped and stared at him. Kenny nearly choked to death on his sandwich (Stan saved him). They even tried to clean out their ears with their fingers. Were they hearing that right? Cartman and Kyle? Though it wasn't entirely out of the blue, Kyle did already say he kissed him. But Stan couldn't help feel hurt. Kyle had started dating Cartman, and hadn't told him? They were super best friends; they were supposed to tell each other these things.

"When did that happen?" Stan looked at his two friends in bewilderment.

"Friday!" Kyle exclaimed happily, taking Cartman's hand. "I asked him on a dinner date Friday night. There's an amazing kosher restaurant in Denver, I'm sure he'll love it!"

"I don't care where we go Kahl, as long as I go there with you." Cartman cooed, pecking Kyle on the cheek.

"Cartman... You're embarrassing me in front of our friends!" Kyle blushed, pushing away from him with a grin on his face. "If you want to kiss, we'll do it when we're alone."

"Ooh! What's this alone time?" Kenny teased, leaning onto the table with a smirk. The two boys blushed profusely. Butters elbowed his boyfriend in the arm. "Ow, what? I was just kidding!"

"Keep teasing them mister, and I won't kiss you for a month!" Kenny looked defeated.

"A MONTH!? Come on Babe..."

"Apologize, Kenny!" Butters ordered.

"Sorry guys..." He grumbled. He wasn't sure if he liked the new, more assertive Butters Stotch.

"Now, was that so hard?" Butters asked, pecking Kenny on the lips.

"Aw, I guess not..."

Cartman giggled adorably at their dispute. Kyle's heart pounded. It sounded like a little kid's. He looked over at his boyfriend in envy. Cartman's honey coloured hair, and soft blue eyes always made him melt. Kyle thought all of his male friend's eyes were beautiful (Especially Stan's. There was just something about the iciness of his dark blue eyes that he was drawn to). But Cartman's eyes were a whole other level of gorgeous. His long eye lashes and big round eyes would give most people the illusion of a girl. And the softness of his irises made them look even fuller. Kyle could never resist getting lost in those soft, beautiful eyes. That is, until the feeling of their lips colliding flooded his mind. He hadn't even noticed himself leaning in, but god he didn't regret it. It was like fireworks erupted in his mind. Cartman obviously saw it coming, and let it. As soon as their lips collided he kissed back, they wrapped their arms around each other in the embrace, getting teased by their friends in the process.

"Come on guys, get a room." Kenny teased.

"Yeah, not all of us have someone in their life right now." Token chipped in. "No need to rub it in the face of these sad, lonely boys." He laughed, pointing at Clyde and Stan. Even Wendy couldn't help but laugh at that one, and she was Stan's girlfriend.

Kyle and Cartman broke apart their kiss, blushing. They had completely forgotten that their friends were there. Butters gave them a reassuring smile.

"Aw, just ignore them fellers. They're just jealous."

"Thanks Butters." Kyle responded bashfully, grabbing back onto Cartman's hand.

Soon, the bell rang, meaning they all needed to head back to class.