Golden

Token W.

"What do you think about San Francisco? I hear the weather is actually pretty good there. Or maybe New York. But there is going to be a lot of snow in the winters, so I'm not sure."

"It snows 90 percent of the time in South Park, what difference would it make in New York?"

"Toke, I thought we decided we will live somewhere where our commute to work wouldn't take as long or be so much of a hassle. Ice roads are a hassle."

"I actually like that it snows. Most people don't get to take in the sights we have."

"You're right although, I don't really care too much for snow. Compromises must be made to ensure we live comfortably."

"Fine." I amend.

"Honestly, I don't think San Fran would be great after all. Maybe Santa Monica."Nichole says after a moment I nod try not to express the exasperation I sincerely feel right now. I just let Nichole continue mapping out our lives. My life.

Instead I watch the digital clock on my dresser and silently beg for this to be over. Its not that I don't love Nichole, I do. Im not ready to plan my whole life out. I dont even want to plan anything out. Why cant we just live and take everyday as it comes? I know that I work my ass off, but for what? To get a good job, get married, have kids and white picket fence? No, Ive decided that is not enough for me. Where's the excitement?

If I even say as much to Nichole she'd flip. She has everything mapped out right down to our first two kids' names. We are supposed to graduate high school at the top of our classes, and attend Princeton together. We are both set to become doctors and eventually open up our own practice together and in our early thirties live comfortably with two kids and a golden retriever. I dont want that. But how can I tell her that I don't want what she's dreamed her whole life about? That I don't plan to attend college at all. It would ruin her and I can't do that to her. But I can't let her do this to me either.

"Token, are you listening? I said I have to go now. My parents want to go out for my mom's birthday tonight."

"Yeah, I just have something on my mind. I'll walk you out." I smoothly cover as Nichole gathers her things.

I walk her down to the front door and we pause as she wraps her arms around my neck in a hug. She kisses me softly and I nip her bottom lip, pulling gently before we pull away. She grins at me giving me one hard kiss before leaving, swaying her hips as she walks up to her car before getting inside. I watch until her car is out of sight before closing the door. God I love her.

(*)

I head into the kitchen and grab my mug and start up the coffee pot before flipping on the tv on the kitchen wall. I sit at the island and begin putting the finishing touches on my English midterm paper. Kyle, Butters and I started on it together Monday and I'm honestly happy I can scratch this off my to do list. Mrs. Green seriously gives no fuck about how much work she gives us. I guess that's another reason why most students don't care for her. I save a copy of the document on my computer and my flash drive.

I glance at the time on the bottom of the screen and it reads 9:50, three hours since I started. I should probably order in something, pizza sounds good, but there is a good thai place that delivers. The wait is shit, but it's better than City Wok. I place the order and as soon as I hang up my computer chimes.

I see that it's a skype call from Red. Random. I don't really talk to Red and funnily enough I don't have much of an opinion on her. I accept the call and Red pops up on my screen. She looks to be in her bedroom that is ironically painted red. Everything is red instead of the black writings on her wall in what most likely is sharpie and paint.

"Hi," She greets and I'm kind of at a loss of what to do other than greet her back.

"Hey."

"So, um I know you're probably wondering why I'm skyping you and it's because I heard that you are really good in math and all your subjects really and it was suggested that I get a tutor." Tutor? What?

"I'm not really much of a tutor Red. And I don't really know how much I can really help you."

"You are like one of the smartest people in our entire school. And I...really need someone to help me out. I'm kind of in some deep shit, okay."

"How bad?" I ask curious.

"Lets just say if I don't pass finals in the spring then I won't be graduating." Red looks unbothered by her statement, but by how intently she's staring at me through the screen I can tell she's serious.

"Why couldn't you ask Kyle or Wendy?" I ask bluntly.

"Kyle and I aren't on speaking terms... and Wendy's busy with other things."

"Maybe I'm busy with 'other things'," I say and Red doesn't look the bit perturbed at my statement.

"Really. So do you always answer skype calls from people you don't usually speak to, the school's biggest whore at that?" I don't say anything to that and instead take a sip of the coffee I made earlier. "C'mon, please I really do need the help. You see this face I'm not smiling and I'm never not smiling." I almost choke on my coffee. I rest my mug on the marble island top beside my laptop.

"Is that a smile? It is, isn't." Red points out happily.

"No, and if you want me to tutor you, you're gonna have to be serious about this."

"So is that a yes? You'll tutor my fugly ass?"

"Maybe. I need to see if you're committed to actually learning, so I need you to show up at school tomorrow morning at 6:30 on the dot."

"What? Who comes to school at-who is even awake at that hour? School doesn't officially start until 8:30."

"But the school opens at 6:30 for the custodial staff to begin their daily processes." Red raises her eyebrows in curiosity, and I don't humor her, she doesn't need to know why and how I know that. "So be there or find someone else to tutor you."

"Fine," Red agrees after exhaling loudly, "I'll be there."

"Great. Meet me in the library 6:30 sharp." Red nods and I disconnect the call.

A tutor. I don't think I'm cut out to actually teach anyone. I know my stuff but to actually help someone else learn it, I know it's going to be tougher than it sounds. And do I really need this on my plate right now? With all the school work, club organizations, and Nichole? I doubt it, but I guess I can make it work long term, that is if Red shows up tomorrow morning.

I'm sitting at my usual table outside at a brand new Harbucks that opened over the summer, extra large vanilla bean creme frappe with extra creme in hand, a long red and black flannel shirt covers my arms to match my dark wash jeans and brown knee-length boots. I didn't bother wearing any type of jewelry and instead pushed a pair of dark large square framed sun glasses over my eyes. I've gotten here at my designated time and Skylar should be here soon. Surprisingly, he's been consistent with meeting me at the specific times I set. I take a long sip of my frappe and it tastes so fucking good. I feel bad for the customers that were behind me, that didn't get to taste anything similar to this.

The red haired girl who made my order left immediately after she made my drink, grabbed a book bag and quickly moved out the way only for a older nervous boy to take her place. He looked like he was going to piss himself at the line standing before him. That was just at 5:50 and I don't even blame him, people are savages before getting their morning cup of coffee. Looking through the window beside me I see that the line is still long, but the boy seems to be holding his own.

"Nice of you to show up," I comment as Skyler slides into the seat in front of me. And I couldn't help, but say something snarky to a grim faced Skyler as he takes a long swig of his similar vanilla bean creme frappe in front of him. He just glares at me and I hide my smile behind my own drink, "What crawled up your ass?"

"Parents." Is all he says and a bit hesitant at that.

"You live with your parents again?"

"Temporarily while I'm here...for the time being." I don't like the way that sounded. What does he mean 'for the time being'.

"You don't plan to stay in South Park?"

"No, I'm just not staying with my parents any longer than I have to. I love em' and came back to visit them, but I need my own space."

"How long have you really been back?" I decide to ask. I heard that Skyler was back for a while.

"Not long. Back and forth from LA. This is actually the longest I've stayed in a while."

"Well, thank you for helping me with this."

"No problem, ts' for an old friend." Hmmm old friend.

"Do you think you'd have to go back to LA soon?"

"Trying to get rid of me?" And he doesn't sound like a kicked puppy this time.

"I was wondering if…" I take a sip of my already half gone drink to think. "If I could go with you." Skyler raises his eyebrows in surprise.

"I don't know… what about school. You are still a college student right?"

"Yes, and I'm going back to campus later today, but can you make your next trip to LA sometime during December." Skyler doesn't seem to agree to this suggestion and stares intently at me as I explain myself, "I will be on winter break and you can take me to see Larry."

Skyler still looks skeptical and sits back, one arm hanging off the back of his chair, "I don't know, that's a long time to be away from LA seeing as it's only the middle of September now. But...I'll do it despite how compromising this is." I fight the urge to ask why being in LA is so important. Instead I give a small nod.

"Thanks. I'm most likely going to be done with finals and such around the first week so it's not going to be so much of a wait."

"Yeah, hopefully." He comments drinking more of his frappe and before I could stop myself I reach across the table, laying my palm on top of his hand.

Skyler stares at my hand before looking at me, "Don't stress it," I say. Skyler doesn't say anything, he just stares at me with this annoying blank face. My phone rings and I remove my hand to answer it. "Hey," I greet without looking at the caller I.D.

"Hey Shell," Casey's warm tone fills my ear and I smile at the thought of him somewhere probably looking stunning in snug grey sweater, a dark pair of designer jeans and boots.

"Hey, I was just about to leave home."

"Okay, well I will meet you in your dorm after my last class tonight."

"Sure, but only if Jessica isn't there. She's such a sore thumb sometimes." I mentally groan at the thought of my bestie.

Casey laughs and it's so warm that all I have the urge to do right now is run my hands through his brown quiff. But, alas, he's not here. "She's cool a bit weird, but no worries, if she is there we can just go back to mine."

"Ugh, and hang out with your frat brothers."

"No, we don't have to hang with them. We'll just go to my room or something."

"Sure." I say and I can tell Casey is practically rolling his eyes at my indecisive tone.

"Seriously Shell, I promise, cross my heart and all that."

"Okay," I laugh, "I believe you."

"Alright, well I'm gonna let you go now, see you soon."

"Okay, bye." I hang up and stare at my phone as Casey's picture disappears before pocketing it in my back pocket. I hear someone clear their throat and I look in front of me at Skyler. Admittedly I forgot he was still here, my mind was totally wrapped up in Casey. "Sorry-" I begin, but Skyler holds up his hand.

"No need to apologize. That's your boyfriend I assume?" I nod and we begin to collect our trash. I have to be on the road in the next two minutes if I wanna make my classes today. "Well, I'll see you later Shelly."

Its all Skyler says before departing and I notice that he didn't drive here as he makes his way down the street and I get inside of my red chevrolet cruze, watching as his figure disappears from my view.

"Hey, thanks for meeting me here."

"No problem I've been so swamped lately."

"I can tell," I say eyeing the many cups of coffee Wendy places on the long oak table between. Wendy looks so tired right now and it's only been two weeks. Wendy sees me staring as she grabs a cup for herself.

"Those are your dad's, I actually have to make a run down to his office in," She looks at her lavender wrist watch, "thirty minutes." I hold back my laughter at how frantic she is. I warned her about taking this internship, that it was going to be hell. My dad is one of the nicest people, but he's a perfectionist at heart. I nod not even questioning my dad's coffee chugging habits.

"Okay, I just wanted to talk about the senior winter getaway for a few minutes."

Wendy sits her empty coffee cup down, "I think all we have to do now is book the hotel and rooms. We also have to figure out who wants to bunk with who."

"Yes, that's the problem. I doubt school staff or whatever administrator comes with us on the trip will let girls and guys share a hotel room. And it's the question of how many should occupy a room."

"I agree and we should just ask everyone who they would want to bunk with. I would make a list and place people, but I'm swamped already."

"I think we should try to keep it under wraps until at least November. So, I think we should have some sort of lottery to decide who bunks with who."

"How would that work?" Wendy asks glancing at me shortly before typing quickly on her phone.

"I'll write a color on a each piece of paper for everyone in our year and put it in a bowl and just go around and have people pick."

"That may be a good idea. They'll have no idea what's going on, we can just say its for a research project." Wendy agrees as I make note of all of this on my phone.

"And I think it would be okay if only two people share a room. Principal Victoria gave me permission to book suites instead of single rooms."

"So four to a suite and two to a room. That's a plan. Well, everything should be set. We have transportation, a hotel, rooms, and activities." I nod and Wendy and I begin to pack.

"Are you seriously going to write a color on each paper? It's like at least a hundred of us." I laugh. Yeah fucking right.

"Nope. I'm going to write the colors on a few pieces of paper and make copies. I'll get someone else to have people pick."

Wendy laughs, "Kyle, you can't make people walk around with bowls all day." I snort. I can and will.

"Minions Wendy, minions. And they are seriously willing to do what I ask them to."

"I know, it is weird when someone literally wants you to boss them around. I don't mind the extra help, it's just kind of strange sometimes."

"What isn't at Park County High."

"Yep, I'll see you soon Kyle." Wendy waves before going out the back exit towards the student parking lot.

(*)

I continue out of the library's front exit and as I'm pushing the door open I spot someone all the way on the other side of the room from where Wendy and I were. Sitting alone at a table, books and a notebook spread out around her and staring at something on her phone is Red. I don't have anything to say to her since our last incident, so I continue out into the hallway. I'm on my way to the side exit of the school when I pass Token heading in the direction I just came from.

"Hey Toke," I stop and greet.

"Hey Kyle, what's up?"

"Nothing, just met with Wendy, but I'm about to go run off somewhere. Where are you headed?"

"To the library, to finish reading a couple chapters for Math."

"Oh," Is all I say before noticing something, "Where's your books?"

"I left them in the library I was here at around seven." Token says and I nod with a grin.

"And I thought I was addicted to work."

"Looks like I've got you beat, but anyway we'll talk later," Token says before continuing down the hall and into the grey metal library doors. I continue down the hall and out the side door. I pull a single cigarette out of my pack in my jacket pocket along with the silver skull lighter. I light up and inhale deeply. I put my lighter back into my bag and decide to take a walk around to the football field.

As I reach the football field I notice Coach Mick yelling at the football players to pick up their speed as they jog around the track. So much for walking, instead of getting ran down by the football players I go sit in the empty stands and smoke my cigarette. I don't smoke often, I smoke when I'm stressed or overwhelmed. And times like now when I just really need a good smoke to clear my mind. I watch the admittedly fit players run around the track for another twenty minutes before coach calls them in. They all stop and gather around in a circle to listen to something coach has to say. Coach Mick is a old coach in his mid 40s that has been doing this for most of his life.

He was a sports athlete (football, baseball, basketball, swimming, hockey, and track and field) all his life and still competes down at the local gym sometimes, and an awesome coach. He honestly doesn't even look his age, nor act like it. He constantly bitches about his ex wives and spoils his two labrador dogs. He sometimes brings them to practice with him and everyone loves them. He's hilarious, but doesn't take shit from anyone, and he pushes us so fucking hard but it pays off. Park County has won the championships on all sport teams for five years and counting. We're the best and everyone hates us for it. Even Coach Candice (one of Coach Mick's ex-wives) is great at her job. Our cheerleading team kicks ass (literally) and it's because Candice doesn't take shit not even from Mick.

I look at the hot cheerleaders complete their routines for the uptenth time since I've been sitting here. They hold their poses and stance with bright smiles on their faces. I can literally see the sweat dripping from their bodies in their short dark blue and silver spandex workout shorts and tops and black sneakers. I wonder what their captain had to say to get out of practice. Taking Wendy's place is Bebe her co-captain.

"Mellissa, you are too stiff. Its not supposed to be so stiff! Losen up your muscles, but not too much. Like this," Bebe does a fast example of how the move is supposed to go, "It's supposed to look a bit sultry after the first jump and handstand flip. Now, I want all of you to thank Ashley, Mellie, and Melissa for having to do this again. The girls groan and glare at the three girls. "I'm not saying this so you can pick on them. No, you need to get your team members in check and help them get in line, not harass them. Because if one of us messes up then what?" Bebe asks loudly.

"Then all of us messed up!" The girls shout.

"And if one of us looks bad?"

"Then we all look bad!"

"Yes, now on the count of three start over. One, two, three!" The girls redo their routines and it looks great, nobody misses a beat and Bebe watches them intently, biting her pink glossed bottom lip. I know for sure that if she doesn't get them ready for this afternoon when Coach Candice shows up it'll be her and her best friend's ass on the line.

My attention is suddenly diverted to the football field as I hear the sound of loud laughing. I notice that the group has dispersed and practice is over as some players head to the locker room, some stand on the field to talk, and coach treks across the field to his RAM 1500 that he parks behind the gym.

"Broflovski!" I hear someone shout at me and I look down to see Clyde on the track in front of me with a grin adorning his face.

I stand and make my way off of the huge bleachers and down to the track, "Sup, how was practice?" I ask and Clyde pushes me as I laugh.

"Horrible and as usual I feel like my legs are about to fall off." Clyde complains and my smile widens.

"Its not so bad," I say with a hard clap on Clyde's back.

"Not everyone is a track star." Someone comments behind me. Turning around I see Stan walking around me. And Clyde's muscles visibly tenses as Stan stands beside him and looks at me.

"True." I say simply as Stan shifts, his abs showing through the dark blue sleeveless compression shirt. I turn my attention to Clyde again. "The first game is this Friday right?"

"Yep, yeah," Clyde says quickly, "Can't wait."

"First game of the season is the most exciting and the best. Aside from championships."

"Right," And I know Clyde is only being awkward because the air is obviously tense with Stan standing inches away from me.

"I was thinking about inviting the guys out to Shakey's or that new sports restaurant that just opened in town."

"Yeah, I heard about that." Clyde acknowledges, but doesn't give me a direct answer. I know it's because Stan.

"I want to invite you and Stan." I say and Clyde brightens instantly.

"Yeah okay, that's cool."

"I'm actually going out with Wendy after the game Friday." Stan says bluntly.

"That's cool, well I'll see you there Clyde?" I ask unfazed by Stan's answer.

"Right, I'll be there." Clyde agrees and Stan walks away and Clyde gives me a mock salute before following.

(*)

I take my leave as well and walk past the cheerleaders towards the front side of the school. I shoot a smile at the girls that greet me and ignore Bebe's silent glare as she calls the girls to do one more routine. My finger itches for another cigarette, but I push it down and continue walking. I'm honestly not worried about whether Stan will actually show up or not. But by knowing him for majority of my life, I know he most likely will. But then again I don't know him anymore, so it could go either way. I'm still clinging to the knowing feeling that he will. Why? Because he'll be a fucking thorn in my plans if he doesn't show up. I have to get Stan to feel like we're making some progress and that I actually want to fix things between us. I really don't give a shit, but I have to at least pretend to.

I didn't lie when I said Heidi's party made me think about our little 'feud'. It made me realize that it can only be one of us. I've come to the conclusion that South Park and Park County High aren't big enough for the two of us...not anymore. I got to get rid of the golden asshole. I'm not going as low as to stoop down to Cartman levels, but the best way would be to just ruin Stan completely. To leave him with no one...but me. To put the last nail in the coffin that is Stanley Marsh. I enter the front doors of the school and smile to myself as I make my way to homeroom. I knew it the moment I came up with it that this plan would be golden.