Cheeks of Glitter

Chapter Thirteen

"It's so plain to see that she is for me," Stan sang softly as he sat over the edge of his bed while playing his guitar in a slow manner. "But why is it so clear that it's so unfair for my friend-no. Dammit!" Stan harshly sat the instrument down next to him and instantly leaped for his pillow, face down."

Stan's nausea was mostly gone, but he felt it could come back any minute at the thought of the most recent events in school. He had thought everything was going so well, until he realized what a mistake it was to take a girl from one of his friends. Afterall, Butters took Wendy away from Stan, and that bothered him. The boy didn't blame Eric for being upset.

After Eric's speech in school, Stan hadn't talked to or approached Heidi in any way. He was too embarrassed and ashamed. Not to mention that he didn't know what to say to her, because he didn't know what he was doing anymore.

It's against guy code, he thought to himself. I don't care how much of a jerk Cartman is; it's still against guy code. He candidly didn't care if Butters was doing the same thing, because Stan didn't want to stoop so low in doing something practically illegal.

Besides, it wasn't as though Stan wanted Wendy back. He wanted Heidi and Heidi alone, and now that he clearly realized that, it was as if he couldn't have what he wanted.

The more he continued to roam through his thoughts, the more the boy hadn't realized that his phone had been ringing. It only took a second call for him to come to his senses and reach for his phone before answering. "Mm."

"Stan?" Kyle said in a somewhat soft and tired voice. He could tell that Stan was not alright, but he acted as though it was normal for his best friend to answer with a tired moan. "Did you check Facebook?"

Stan suddenly felt his stomach twist into a knot as he slowly sat up. "What, no. Why?" He waited for Kyle to answer, and bit his lip when he heard him tell him that Heidi had made a special video on saving the dogs at the animal shelter, with an addition of Stan loving on Stitch.
The boy went wide eyed before he hung up on Kyle and checked the video on his phone. The clip was justas Kyle had said, and it was in perfect quality with special effects of sound and text.

"Please, come love and adopt one today," Heidi's soft voice said over the video. It gave Stan a pang in his chest, as if he lost something wonderful. However, what he was looking at didn't explain the loss. It was a message of hope.

So many wonderful things about the girl rushed through Stan's mind. Her caring, patient, innocent nature. He loved it all, but he was sure he wasn't the only one who felt that way. Eric had once dated her, and there was no doubt the obese child felt the same way about Heidi like Stan did.

That's what was so awful. Stan never really did think through about how it was illegal to date a girl of one of his friends. It scarred him because he knew now that he wasn't supposed to have Heidi, and seeing her face once again made him clench his fists in sadness.

All Stan's emotions happened at once that he hadn't realized his phone was ringing once again. He saw that it was Kyle, and he knew it would be right to answer it. He didn't want to, though. He wanted to mope in his room and sulk in his sadness. It lasted all night and as the boy got up the next morning for school.

He had gotten three text messages from Kyle, and he was half annoyed and half sorry. However, he didn't feel like showing his best friend compassion, even when Kyle questioned him at the bus stop.

"You just hung up and never answered my next call?" Kyle said before looking up at the sky, looking a little irritated. "You know, sometimes people need space, Stan. Maybe that's why Heidi needs it."

Stan flinched at the sound of Heidi's name being used, and then he refused to listen to Kyle's continuous nagging. He was so sure that Heidi didn't want space from him. In fact, he had gotten one text message from her last night, asking if he was okay.

Am I okay? He had thought. What exactly is she asking me? Am I sick? Am I guilty? Am I at loss?

Stan let his mind wander as Kyle spoke to him as if he were listening. Kenny stood there silently like a statue,but he was clearly listening to his friends' conversation.

"Kyle, shut up," Stan said rudely. He only glanced at his best friend a couple seconds, and saw that Kyle was too tired to fight knew that his broken foot weakened him. That, and the fact that Ike was keeping him up, which didn't make things any easier.

Stan knew. He just didn't care. He only cared that he was most likely not going to have Heidi, and that scared him.

The bus arrived, and Eric didn't show up. Stan wasn't surprised, and neither was Kyle. There was no doubt that their friend decided to play Hooky after a crazy message in school. Kenny briefly chuckled at that when Kyle brought it up as they rode the bus to school. There was something funny about what Eric did, but Stan and Kyle felt pity for their obese friend, even if they didn't show it.

When they got to school, they still had thirty minute until the first bell rang. Kyle took the time to finish up homework he was unable to get to, due to his condition.

Stan had planned on just grabbing his stuff, showing up to class,and keeping to himself. However, that plan fell over when he heard someone hissing him over to the drinking fountain.

It was surprising to hear Wendy's voice, but somehow Stan didn't feel sad about it. He had already decided that he only wanted Heidi. Still, he was highly curious.

"Butters said he talked to you," she said after the boy approached her. "You're really okay with him and I going to the dance?"

Stan bit his lip. He didn't know Butters would go that far, but he should have seen it coming. However, it didn't really bother him, so he nodded as he placed his hands in his pockets as he looked the other way. "Yeah, it's cool with me," he said, suddenly wondering if Wendy was bothered by his approval.

The girl, however, only smiled. "I'm glad you think so. I feel like we have a connection. It's a little weird, but, well, you know how it is."

Stan wasn't sure what she meant by that, but he replied with a nod. Soon after that, Wendy flipped her shiny black hair, and left for class. Stan decided he would do the same after using the restroom.

It was a nice quiet moment and a way to get away from the hallway crowded. Stan always took this opportunity to keep to himself, but it didn't last when he heard an all too familiar sound coming from the second stall.

Retching and gagging, and the sound of a slight splash. Somebody was throwing up and that got Stan apprehensive. He quickly pulled his pants up and attempted to leave, until he heard the sound of sniffling.

The boy froze, feeling kind of weird to be leaving somebody alone in their tears. He sighed and made his way over slowly. "Hello?" No response. So, Stan crouched down and peeked under the door.

There,sitting there holding himself, was Clyde.