Drifted - Stan and Kyle

[Chapter 7]

"Kyle Broflovski to the principal's office, Kyle Broflovski to the principal's office please." 

Shit.

Kenny looked at me with eyes of pity, and Craig clapped my back with his hand.

"Good luck dude," He said, before entering the cafeteria.

"Just tell them what I told Cartman, it's gonna be fine, Ky." Kenny looked at me sidelong before following Craig into the lunchroom. 

I sighed and made my way to the principal's office. Who tattled? I thought, What am I even going to say? Fuck Fuck Fuck. I could just leave school now and escape the country, or I could say they had the wrong ginger, yeah, that'll definitely work.

I got so lost in my thoughts I hadn't realized I'd made it to the main office. Next to the secretary's desk sat Stanley Marsh.

Stan was pretty badly beaten, I felt terrible. His eye was swollen, with a big black bruise to accompany it. His lip was busted and swollen, and he just looked overall roughed up. If you didn't know the situation, you'd have thought I initiated the fight.

I slumped down next to him, and he muttered something inaudible.

I looked over at him. Damn it, Stan. I put my head in my hands and was searching for the words to say, but he beat me to it.

"I'm so sorry, Kyle," Stan said, looking away from me, but I could tell he was sincere.

Stan always had a way of avoiding apologizing for anything he had done. It was the same as when we were kids; we always made someone else take the blame, though it seems I was the only one who grew out of that habit. I met his eyes, he was looking at me, tears in his eyes, biting his lip. He looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn't have to. I already knew what he wanted to say. He looked so small in this state- like he was a little bug caught in a spider's web.

"It's okay, Stan, it's okay." I sighed and leaned my head back against the wall. I closed my eyes until I heard a door click open

"Stanley Marsh and Kyle Broflovski, my office, now." PC Principal, was the head of the high school now? Fuck.

Stan and I looked at each other and I just shrugged. Normally I would hold a grudge but it's Stan- and he seems like he's in a dark place. I don't even know what to think anymore. 

PC Principal motioned to the two seats in front of his desk. He waited for Stan and me to sit down before he sat down. I glanced at Stan, and he was staring down at the floor. 

"Would either of you care to tell me what happened?" PC Principal asked, crossing his arms. I looked at Stan, then back to PC Principal

"Just- just a misunderstanding, sir," I said, scratching the back of my neck. I then realized my bruising knuckles were visible, and then hid them in my flannel sleeve.

"Right. Now why in the world would a misunderstanding result in you two looking like you just got beat up in an alleyway?" 

"Um." Stan stammered over his words, "It was my fault, really," he said quietly. PC Principal motioned for him to keep talking. Stan gulped loudly, "I thought... I-"

"I had accidentally knocked over one of Stan's guitars in the practice rooms and he thought it was on purpose- it was a really nice guitar too, I don't blame him!" I blurted. Why are you even covering for him, he called you conniving. Stan's head snapped towards me, his face contorted

Just go with it, I mouthed. Stan nodded.

"Yeah, turns out I hadn't secured the guitar on the stand well enough and it must've fallen over when I shut the door." Stan continued, fidgeting with his hands.