Locked In (Heart)

thirteen

STAN'S POV

"uh...um, of course. i wasn't trying to shut it in your face or anything i just didn't see you there and all—" i stammer out as i held out the door for him to walk right through.

"it's no trouble," he says calmly and stands right before me. it took me a couple of seconds to take him in as an actual person and not some entity.

he's shorter than i remembered, either that or i grew since the last time i saw him. he's wearing all black (go figure) and his hair is so long that you could probably put it in a ponytail.

he still has that intimidating aura that he carries with him though, that never left.

"um," i clear my throat, "damien, i was actually looking for you."

his eyebrows raised, "oh were you now....stan isn't it?"

"yes and...yes i'm stan," i started feeling nervous, "about the thing tonight, there's something i'd like to discuss."

he takes two steps closer to me as if he wanted me to lower my tone, even though the hallway quite literally empty his voice low, "don't tell me you're not going."

my eyes widened at that accusation, "wha? no, no i'm going. it's just....one of my friends isn't and i'm really confused as to why he's not invited when other people were."

he looks at me, as if he's studying me, "who's this 'friend'?"

"kyle," i quickly answer, "kyle broflovski. he's my best friend at that and we do everything together. he's super cool, so it's like — if you invite me it would be obvious that you'd have to invite him too. and i'm not just saying this because he's my best friend — he's just...really great. and i know there are certain rules or whatever about who gets in but i genuinely think it's a mistake not to invite him."

i breathed out after i said all that, i really didn't think i was going to say all that but the thoughts just kept coming out. i figured this is the last shot that i have on getting him an invite.

damien looked at me, face morphing with a huge grin — almost like the cheshire cat, "one takes with what they're given. with you, you're given the opportunity of a lifetime and yet, you're still unsatisfied with the result because of something that's in the way."

i furrow my eyebrows, "well of course i'm glad that i got an invitation, but it just won't be the same without my best friend there too."

"that's not what i meant," he said, "but let me let you in on a secret."

he leans into my ear and whispers, "your friend has already got an invitation and he is aware of it."

i gasped and leaned back nearly yelling, "what?!"

"yes i personally invited him, a very good guy. it would make sense that you guys are friendly." damien says.

i'm...very confused. just yesterday kyle was going on about how he doesn't care any more about this so i took matters into my own hands, just for him to get personally invited by the goddamn president himself?

how did this even happen? he never mentioned knowing damien personally.

and he didn't tell me.....

i should be very happy about this, and i am! i'm happy that he's coming so it won't be awkward between us, but i couldn't help but feel a little bitterness as well.

why didn't he tell me? we tell each other everything.

"you don't seem content," damien says and i jump forgetting he's still here.