Locked In (Heart)

seven

STAN'S POV

thursday, 12:30pm

approximately less than 35 hours until the lock-in

"if we're going to do this, i'd say we just ask him straight up," cartman says as we spot clyde talking to bebe at his locker, "i mean look — he's literally with bebe right now they could be discussing important shit!"

"you think so?" i ask wearily. im not opposed to just asking him because we really don't have time to create a stealthy and ninja-like mission to get information.

"my intuitions are tingling so yes," he answers and i cringe at that.

"never say that again, let's go." i say as we both walk up to the brown haired, popular boy-next-door himself — clyde donovan.

he was leaning up against the locker, listening to bebe rant with stars in his eyes like he's in love.

which he is, they have been together for as long as wendy and i have.

they even joke about us being brother-in-laws, so realistically i think this shouldn't go as bad as i'm visualizing in my head.

we both approach them and they didn't seem to notice, too engrossed in their own conversation to pay attention to anything else.

which shouldn't be surprising, i'm pretty sure a meteor could crash through the school and clyde wouldn't notice until bebe was finished talking.

so cartman coughs and says, "yo!"

clyde jumps in surprise but then quickly morphed into a wide smile seeing his friend, cartman. meanwhile bebe looks pissed to be cut off.

"yoooo, what it do???" clyde greets and does a little handshake with cartman. he then looks at me and gives me the tightest hug i've ever experienced.

"nothin' man just, yanno, tired of this school shit,"cartman says leaning against the locker beside him.

what ever happened to just being straight up?

"dude me too...all that shit that's supposed to be due this sunday and i haven't even started!" clyde laughs.

"me too," i decide to say, "i might just use chat gpt on these papers or something."

clyde laughs even harder, "you're a GENIUS! babe, have you heard of chat gpt?" clyde asks bebe excitedly.

bebe just flips her curly blonde hair to the side, not seeming to be excited about this exchange, "yeah and i wouldn't recommend using it but whatever, i'm gonna go."

clyde quickly changed his demeanor, obviously noticing she was annoyed, "woah, you good?"

she forces a smile and adjusts her purse, "yeah i'm fine. i'll catch you later. bye stan and fatass." she says and walks off in the opposite direction.

cartman seemingly wanting to bite back but i noticed he didn't, thank god.

"she seems off," i decided to start up the conversation.

clyde rubs the back of his neck, "yeah...these days she's been under a lot of stress for the you know."

i perk up at the mention of the lock-in and so does cartman.

"what do you mean?" i egg on wanting him to explain.

"well, she's secretary so you know shes really like damien's errand girl. getting everything he says and he's very specific about it too. it can be a lot and it's weighing on her," he spills.

"he seems like a prick," cartman says, "it's supposed to be a party or whatever it's supposed to be relaxed."

clyde looks at him for a moment and then smiles almost sympathetically, "it's been everything but relaxing. ive been busting my ass too."