One Year Later – Stan's Group

I'm going to try to get this out as soon as possible so you aren't all left in the dark. So this and Craig's version starts a year after the kidnappings when everything is (relatively) back to normal. But there are still things that need to be wrapped up and given closure with both groups. This is that.

These chapters probably won't be that long, by the way.

Chapter 1

To say that South Park acted like the kidnappings that happened a year ago didn't happen would be an understatement. Everyone who wasn't directly affected seemingly moved on and ignored the distress of the others.

Kyle couldn't move on. He could never forget the pain and torment he went through. It broke him.

Stan and Kenny tried to help, tried to cheer him up, but nothing worked. They were the only two who knew what Cartman had done to him. And though they tried to keep Cartman away, every sighting of the teen would send Kyle into a panic.

Every night Kyle had nightmares. He always had someone over to keep him company, but he felt bad because he always woke them up in the middle of the night. He started limiting himself to only asking Stan and Kenny over and sometimes Butters.

"Maybe I should consider getting homeschooled," Kyle suggested to Stan as they sat in Kyle's room. Stan tilted his head.

"He really scares you that much, huh?" Stan said in a low voice. Kyle nodded.

"I thought I could trust him, but he betrayed me," he muttered, "Now I keep thinking I see him everywhere."

Stan said nothing, staring at the screen. Neither of them were really into the game they were playing, but it was a nice distraction. For a while, Kyle had seemed back to his old self.

"If you do decide to do homeschool, I would support you," Stan told him, "I would miss you at school of course, but at least we could hang out afterwards. And it would be worth it if you were happier."

Kyle looked at him with a small smile. Stan let out a small laugh.

"Besides, with how terrible the school system is, you're probably better off getting homeschooled," he pointed out. Kyle laughed as well.

"You're not wrong!" he agreed.

…

From across the street, Cartman stared at Kyle's house, unmoving and unblinking. He had been standing there for an hour, waiting for Stan or Kyle to come out.

And that's how Kenny found him as he was walking by. He happened to glance across the street and saw him. An angry frown came to his face.

"Cartman!" he growled, storming across the street, "What are you doing here?"

The teen startled, as if he had just noticed that Kenny was there. He blinked once then scowled.

"What's it to you, Kenny?" he hissed, "I'm allowed to go where I want! And if I want to stand here, I can stand here!"

"Yeah right," Kenny scoffed, "I know what you're doing! You're stalking those two, aren't you? Kyle told me what you did to him!"

Cartman let out a dismissive laugh. "Do what? Pleasure him? Give him the best experience of his life?"

"What are you talking about?" Kenny snarled, "You raped him!"

Again, Cartman scoffed. "Whatever. He liked it," he said.

"No, he didn't!" Kenny shouted, "You're a terrible person, Cartman! I don't know why I ever thought that you had changed!"

"Say that again," Cartman growled. Kenny got right in his face.

"I'm warning you," he said lowly, "Stay away from Kyle. Stay away from Stan. And stay away from me." Then he turned and stomped away.

Cartman's face grew dark. "You're going to regret threatening me," he glowered.

…

"I-I guess I'm doin' all right," Butters said as he and the other survivors of the kidnapping sat in a circle at Token's house, "I still have nightmares, but at least my parents have been a lot nicer to me. They don't threaten to ground me all the time."

"That's good," Wendy agreed, "At least they know to value you now."

"Yeah, my parents have been fighting less because of this," Kenny mentioned, "I just wish this wasn't what caused them to finally change."

There was a chorus of agreements at his statement.

"Unfortunately my parents are as bad as ever," Jason sighed, "They keep blaming 'the liberals' and saying that if Garrison was still president this wouldn't have happened. I keep trying to tell them that they have nothing to do with it, but they won't listen."

"Some people never change," Nichole said with a shake of her head.

"My parents have agreed to homeschool me," Kyle told them.

"Oh that's great!" Red exclaimed, "I hope you feel better from that!"

"Me too. I just… haven't felt safe at school since we were saved," Kyle murmured.

Kenny stared sadly at him and wished at that moment he could hold Kyle's hand. The others had no idea what Kyle had went through. No idea…

"Stan and I have become closer than ever," Wendy announced, "I don't think I could ever leave him now."

Kyle slouched lower in his seat as the others congratulated her. Kenny watched him, many thoughts entering his head.

They would have a talk later.

I'm gonna end this chapter here, because I want them to be brief. Sorry this took so long to come out. I've been going through some things and my mental state hasn't been the best. Also, I have to finish both of these fics at the same time. It gets hard.