Bound By A Book (KYMAN FIC)

The finale (pt 1)

After one of the worst days he could remember, Cartman found himself trudging down the school hallway, shoulders slumped and a frown darkening his face.

First, he'd bombed his history test, not even coming close to passing. Then, he'd somehow lost his lunch money, leaving him to watch everyone else enjoy their food while his stomach growled in protest.

And as if those weren't enough, he'd just been assigned a massive project due next week, which was going to consume his entire weekend. He could already feel the weight of the stress pressing down on him, and every little thing felt like it was making him angrier.

To top it all off, Kyle had been relentlessly snarky all day. Every time Cartman slipped up in class, there was Kyle, ready with a biting remark or an insufferable look.

Kyle seemed to be scrutinizing him more than usual, asking why Cartman kept getting so quiet when he was around or giving him looks like he was trying to figure him out. The worst part was that Kyle's attention made Cartman's heart race, which only frustrated him more.

When the final bell rang, Cartman couldn't get to the art room fast enough. He needed a space to breathe, a place to release the tension that had built up throughout the day, and drawing had always been his escape.

Unbeknownst to him, however, Kyle had noticed his hurried exit and, feeling both suspicious and curious, decided to follow him at a distance, keeping to the shadows and walking quietly.

Inside the art room, Cartman settled down at his usual spot and opened his sketchbook. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar calmness settle over him.

His hand moved instinctively, pencil scratching across the paper as he began sketching. But this time, the drawing wasn't like his usual sketches of Kyle—angry, exaggerated, mocking. Today, he drew Kyle in a softer light, with a gentleness that felt almost... vulnerable.

He worked on each detail carefully, from the way Kyle's hair fell over his forehead to the faint lines in his expression that suggested a mix of warmth and openness. As he shaded Kyle's eyes, Cartman found himself drawing them with a hint of admiration, making them look kind, almost affectionate.

For a moment, he let himself get lost in his work, admiring how the drawing was turning out. The version of Kyle he was creating on paper looked almost... welcoming.

Without realizing it, Cartman began to add a note at the bottom of the page, his handwriting messy and rushed. He needed to put his conflicted feelings into words, to release the thoughts that had been weighing on him.

In a quick scrawl, he jotted down how he didn't know if he'd ever have the courage to tell Kyle what he felt, and how much he looked forward to seeing Kyle every day—even if it was just to argue or exchange insults. Deep down, he admitted he'd dreamed of something more, of a day when they might see each other differently.

After finishing the note, Cartman stared at it for a moment, a pang of embarrassment hitting him. He hadn't meant to pour so much of his heart into it.

But he also couldn't bring himself to erase it; somehow, it felt good to put those feelings into words, even if they were just for himself. He shut the sketchbook and stood up, realizing with a jolt that he desperately needed to use the bathroom.

As he walked out of the art room, he didn't notice the pair of eyes watching him from down the hall. Kyle, who had been hiding near the doorway, waited until Cartman was out of sight before quietly slipping into the room.

His suspicions had only grown stronger with each passing day, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Cartman had been hiding something. Now, with Cartman gone, Kyle felt compelled to find out what it was.