The Day You Saved Me

To Love Someone Like That

Stan

The walk to Kenny's doesn't take long, which I'm thankful for. I'm already cold again.
We stand in front of his apartment and Kyle knocks on the door.
A few seconds later it swings open to reveal a slim blonde, dressed only in a baggy t-shirt and a pair of boxers.
"Who's at the door, Buttercup?"
I hear Kenny's voice come from inside somewhere and take a closer look at the blonde boy in the doorway. Butters smiles awkwardly, his face bright pink.
"Hey fellas."
Kenny comes up behind Butters and wraps his arms around his waist. His eyes light up when he sees me, smirking when he sees Kyle's hat.
"Hey guys, come on in."
We follow them inside and I notice Kenny only has on a pair of sweatpants and no shirt.
I grin as I sit down next to Kyle on the couch. "Are we interrupting something?"
Kenny smirks and sits in a worn recliner, pulling Butters into his lap. "Nope. We were done already."
Butters groans and buries his face in his hands.
Kenny just smiles at him and kisses his shoulder.
I shake my head, still smiling.
Poor Butters.

Kenny looks over at me
"So Stan, what're you doing in town?"
I shrug, glancing at Kyle. "Isn't it obvious? I ran away from home to be Kyle's sex slave." I gesture to Kyle's hat.
Kenny and Butters laugh and Kyle rolls his eyes and smacks my shoulder. "In your dreams."
I smile at him lasciviously. "Ohh baby."
Kyle sighs loudly and we all burst out laughing.
I wrap my arm around my middle, trying to ease the pain in my side. I haven't laughed like this in a long time.

Butters excuses himself and disappears down a hallway.
I lean forward and look at Kenny.
"So how long have you two been a thing?"
Kenny shrugs. "A few months. Butters doesn't want anyone knowing though."
I nod. "Understandable."
Butters' parents are giant douchebags.
Kenny leans back in his chair, looking at me pointedly.
"So really, what're you doing in town? I figured after your birthday, you'd bail."
"I tried to, kind of."
He nods, waiting for me to elaborate.
I shift uncomfortably. I really don't want to talk about this.
Kyle seems to pick up on my hesitation and rests his hand on my leg, looking at Kenny. "Dude, just drop it okay?"
Kenny nods, but I can almost see the wheels turning in his head. I watch as it dawns on him, and he looks at me sadly, but doesn't say anything. That's the great thing about Kenny. If you don't want to talk about something, he won't pry.
Unlike a certain redhead.

Butters comes back into the living room, fully dressed now, and tosses a t-shirt at Kenny.
Kenny smiles appreciatively. "Thanks Buttercup." He puts the shirt on and pulls Butters back into his lap.
I hide a smile when Butters blushes and rolls his eyes, but I can tell he's happy.

The conversation fades around me as I watch Kenny and Butters. Kenny has one arm wrapped around Butters' waist, running his hand up and down Butters' side. His other hand is holding Butters', their fingers laced together. Every so often Kenny's gaze flicks over to the boy in his lap, a soft look in his eyes.

I wonder what it would be like. To love someone like that.
I haven't been with anyone since Wendy.
When I was twelve.
Which means I've never been with someone intimately.
I never even thought about being with someone like that.
Sure when puberty hit I looked at porn, like most young teenagers.
But the depression had worsened shortly after, and I didn't really think about sex much, let alone being in love with anyone.

But I'm thinking about it now.
Loving someone that deeply. Because even though Kenny said it's only been a few months, I can tell he loves Butters. It's clear in the way he can't stop touching him and the way he looks at him.

I jump when I feel Kyle's hand on my leg. "Stan? You okay?"
I blink and realize everyone's staring at me.
"Yeah I'm fine."
Butters giggles. "I thought we lost you there buddy."
I feel my face heat up and I mumble. "Sorry, I was spacing off."
Kenny chuckles. "It's all good. I was just asking if you guys wanted to get pizza and play Mario Kart. Karen's at Tricia's, so we have the house to ourselves."
I nod, smiling as nostalgia hits me. "I'm in."
             
             *************
              
We  spend the next four hours stuffing ourselves with pizza and trash talking each other while we play Mario Kart. Badly on my end. I haven't played in a while and it shows. But no one cares. We're having too much fun insulting each other.
It almost feels like when we were kids.
I groan loudly as I come in last yet again. "Fuck, I suck at this."
Kenny laughs. "You said it."
I flip him off and Butters giggles.
Somewhere, someone's phone chimes.
Kenny scoots backwards from his spot on the floor, and grabs his phone off the coffee table.
He looks at it briefly, then shoves it in his pocket. "I gotta go pick up Karen."
Kyle gets up from the floor, stretching his arms over his head. "Yeah, we should probably get going."
I barely hear him as I stare at the exposed strip of skin where his shirt rides up.
"Stan?"
I jerk my head up to look at him, face hot.
"You okay? You look a little out of it again."
I nod quickly. "I'm fine."
He frowns, but doesn't push the subject.
Which I'm thankful for. What the hell would I even say? Sorry, I was being a total weirdo and staring at your hip bones.
Why was I staring anyway?
My thoughts are interrupted when he holds his hand out to me. I grab it and haul myself off the floor, wincing. I'm still sore and sitting on the floor didn't help.