Chapter Text
The air was crisp when Stan stepped foot out of his house's front door. The type of cold that steals your breath like a sucker punch. It was going to snow soon.
He tugged his hat further on his head, hoping to shield his ears from the cool breeze. Another droning day at school was the only plan for that day. At least he’d be able to see his friends. Or more specifically, a certain short-tempered redhead.
His relationship with Kyle had turned somewhat complicated on his part. They’d known each other for almost all of their lives. There’s no one else he would trust closest to Kyle, and based on what he assumes, it seems like the feeling is at least mutual. In an honest confession, Stan doesn’t know what changed between the two of them, if there’s any change at all. Perhaps it’s all in his eyes. Or maybe it’s because he knows his time with Kyle is shortening every day.
A step further into the sludgy snow, and he’s at Kyle’s house, with Kyle waiting at the front door already. Their gazes caught one another already, and a grin appeared on both faces equally.
“About time. I was nearly freezing my ass off over here,” exclaimed Kyle, already stepping down from the porch, increasing the proximity between the two. His cheeks were already reddened by the cold, Stan almost smiles at that.
“Dude, you say that every time you spend only a second outside.” Stan returned. Kyle only smiled in response, lightly hitting Stan’s shoulder. Both began their short journey to school, ditching the bus stop years ago. A bad idea on Stan’s part, especially when it increases the risk of his asthma acting up. Although the cold killed them both, maybe it was their way of finding more time to spend with each other, even if it was a short walk.
“Did you want to come over today? We could play some games or watch a movie?” Kyle broke the silence. The idea was appealing to Stan, even though he should be taking his senior year more seriously. His grades were lacking, as usual, but he knew he wouldn’t make it out of South Park in general. At least not like Kyle, whose hard work finally shone through. His acceptance letter was bound to come in any day now, and then Stan would lose him forever. A gentle tap on his shoulder broke Stan out of his daze.
“Dude? You good? Did you even hear me?” Kyle questioned with a semi-concerned face.
“Oh, um. I would have to talk to Wendy but I’ll be there.” Stan reassured. Stan could already picture how the conversation with Wendy would go. He’s been canceling plans with her left and right, all for the same reason, to hang with Kyle. She’s no doubt caught on now, and now Stan plays a waiting game with her to see when she reaches her breaking point. It seemed like Kyle reached his first.
“Isn’t this like the sixth time you canceled on her? There’s no way she can be okay with that. We can just reschedule, man. Don’t worry.”
“No!” Stan interrupted. Kyle’s eyes widen a bit. “I’d rather hang with you. I just have to talk to Wendy for a bit.” And the conversation died after that. The rest of the walk remained uneventful, with a deafening silence between the two boys.
-
“Hi, Stan!” Wendy wraps her arm around Stan’s, leaning in for a kiss on the cheek. It hadn’t even been ten minutes since Stan arrived at school before she found him. It’s as if she has a built-in chip to locate him. “I can’t wait for our date tonight. It’s been too long since it’s been just the two of us alone.”
She peers at him with a hopeful expression. The more Stan looks at her, the more beautiful she becomes. A gentle face with soft lips, and always perfect hair. How Stan managed to date her is a mystery to himself and the hundreds of other men who pine over her.
“Right, well, Wendy, I think we should talk about that.” Stan cautiously begins, cringing at his own words. Wendy’s eyebrows furrow and a small frown begins to form. She’s already caught on. “I ca-”
“You’re canceling on me again? Wendy’s mad now, and she lets go of him entirely. “Are you serious, Stan? This is the eighth time this month!”
Yikes, so it was more than six.
“Do you just not like me anymore?” she continues, tears welling in her eyes now. Heads started to turn, curious about the commotion that’s begun before the first period could even start.
“Wendy, I promise that’s not it. I jus-” The bell rang, cutting Stan off short. Wendy still stared at him expectantly with angry tears threatening to spill. “Can I speak to you after school?” Stan tries again. Wendy’s unsatisfied with that answer, but unable to do anything but agree. She offers no response, simply a turn as she heads to her first-period class.
-
By the time lunch rolls around, Stan is not in the mood to eat. Wendy had been giving him the silent treatment, which was well deserved, but he also hadn’t seen Kyle at all. However, that was mainly due to the different classes, given that Kyle was always ahead of him in his courses.
Stan’s trance was short-lived when a certain orange parka wearer threw an arm across his shoulder. The peer up to look at Kenny’s face was almost embarrassing, considering how Kenny was the tallest of everyone in the group.
“Stan, where have you been, man? I haven’t seen you all day!” A side smile forms on Kenny’s face. Out of everyone in the group, Kenny came out to be the most attractive, and it showed in his inflated ego.
“I’ve been in my classes all day. There’s not really anywhere else I could go.” Stand responds, nonchalantly, making his way to the lunch line. “You’ve seen Kyle?”
An amused look pops up on Kenny’s face then. “Wow. Here I am, gracing you with my presence, and you go on asking for your boyfriend.” Kenny nudges him softly as they move down the lunch line, sad-looking tacos on both their trays.
“Not my boyfriend,” Stan replies, rolling his eyes. “Did you forget I have a girlfriend?” Kenny remains amused as they both walk to their table, empty as they’re the first to arrive.
“Oh, so you mean to say that interaction this morning wasn’t you two breaking up?” Stan pauses. He didn’t realize how public that conversation had actually been.
“Nah, dude. Wendy and I are just going through something.” Stans picks at his food, with no intention of eating it anytime soon. Kenny stares at him for a minute. They both gaze at each other, an unspoken competition that both sides intend to win. Kenny folds first.
“Just break up with her, man.” This does end up getting a reaction from Stan.
“Dude! What? Why would I do that?” Stan exclaims.
“Be real, dude. When’s the last time you actually cared for her?” Kenny accuses. Stan gapes at him. “You both are obviously not happy, her more than you, man. Maybe you guys were all lovey-dovey before, but that’s clearly gone. Besides, we graduate this year, and high school relationships are all going to break up at some point.” Kenny finishes.
Stan remains quiet at that comment. What bothers him isn’t the fact that he and Wendy are bound to break up, but that he’s a senior. All his relationships will change then. He and Wendy might never see each other again. Lunches with Kenny will become faded memories.
And Kyle.. Stan forgets how to breathe for a moment. He’s gonna lose Kyle forever when his acceptance letter comes in.
“Stan?” Kenny calls out, a worried look on his face. Stan glances at him, a sad expression visible on his face.
The moment is interrupted by the presence of a certain trapper hat wearer. Kyle placed his bagged lunch down and settled into his seat directly across Stan.
“Hey guys! What’s up?” His voice rang sweetly to Stan’s ears. Oh, how badly he’ll miss that voice, even if it’s angry most of the time. Stan offers his full attention to Kyle and his arrival. Kenny glanced between the two of them, before settling on a small smile on his face.
“Stan’s gonna break up with Wendy.” Both Stan and Kyle’s heads snapped towards Kenny at that. Kyle was the first to find his voice.
“What? No way!”
“Either that or Wendy will break up with him first.” Kenny finishes shoving a taco down his throat with water shortly after to prevent choking on the usually dry lunch.
“Why didn’t you tell me, man?” Kyle looks straight at Stan, his face a conflicting mix of shock, confusion, and the tiniest bit of betrayal. Stan has to look away from him.
“Kenny’s just saying shit, nothings going on between me and Wendy,” Stan mumbles.
“Yeah except the fact that you’ve canceled on her eight times and she’s sick of it,” Kenny adds on. He keeps his eyes down at his tray, but Stan knows better than to assume he’s only half paying attention. Kenny’s playing instigator like always.
“You heard that?” Stan looks over at Kenny, who only shrugs in response.
“Like I said, you weren’t discreet this morning.” Kenny sips his water slowly.
“Wait. Hold on, I’m sorry, you and Wendy are gonna break up? And you’ve canceled on her eight times? That’s pretty fucked up, man.” Kyle rests a hand on his cheek, still watching Stan, waiting for a response. There’s a moment of silence as Stan tries to find out what he could say next.
“Look guys, it doesn’t eve-” Stan’s cut short by Cartman finally joining the table, double the serving of tacos on his tray.
All three of them promptly shut up, letting Cartman ramble about the new game his mom bought him. They all share the same annoyed glances with one another.
However, Stan and Kyle maintain their eye contact, another challenge that Stan finds himself in again. Kyle’s eyes are harsh, he’s always been persistent and stubborn. Even if he wanted otherwise, Stan’s never stood a chance. He breaks the gaze first.