Love is Abuse (Kyle x Cartman)

Part 8

As Cartman and Kyle sat next to each other at lunch on Monday, a new overwhelming sensation of joy came over them. Cartman had been greatly relieved that Kyle had asked him the question that nagged at him for so long. Oddly enough, there were some weaknesses that he did not want to expose around Kyle and asking him out seemed to be one of them. Nevertheless, everyday after that they felt more comfortable around each other, they looked into each other's eyes and instantly knew they were both happy.

Despite this, holding back their affection in public became torturous. Now sitting at lunch, Kyle and Cartman sat side by side, only their legs casually leaning against each other as they tuned in on the middle of the conversation.

"I don't believe you," Stan exclaimed.

"I shit you not," Kenny said, holding his hands up in defense. "The kid actually believed I was the Russian secret police. You can do anything with a phone nowadays."

"What happened? What'd the kid say?" Kyle asked.

"I texted him saying he needed to 'take a personal survey for data purposes only,'" Kenny said, making air quotes with his fingers. "I asked him to elaborate on any psychological problems he had and how he would feel participating in a 'human experiment.' He started getting paranoid; it was hilarious."

"That's fucked up," Stan said, grinning.

"But funny," he corrected. He looked up at Cartman who was looking down playing with his food. "You've been quiet," he pointed out.

Cartman brought his head up. "Just... tired, that's all."

Kyle stared at him but Cartman avoided eye contact.

After a few seconds of silence, Craig approached the table with Tweek at his side. They all looked up.

"Hey," Craig said. "You all are free this weekend, right?"

The boys all averted their eyes and mentally shuffled through their weekend plans.

"I'm open," said Kenny.

"Yeah, me too," agreed Stan.

Kyle and Cartman subtly made quick eye contact. "Uh, I'm free this weekend."

"I think I'm good. What's going on?" Cartman asked.

Tweek excitedly interjected and responded in a strained tone, "We were all planning on driving up to Craig's log cabin in the mountains that his parents never use. You guys should come."

"Your parents are just letting you take people up there?" Kyle asked.

"No," Craig responded. "They're gonna to be in Vegas for like a week."

"They leave on Friday," Tweek added. "We have the whole weekend."

"Who's taking care of your house then?" Stan inquired, slightly concerned.

"What's there to take care of?" Craig shrugged. "Meet me at my house on Friday at 7 pm, okay?"

"Okay," they all agreed. Craig and Tweek turned and walked back to their table.

"I didn't even know Craig's parents had log cabin in the mountains..." Stan said, and as the boys began conversing again, Cartman rubbed Kyle's thigh, looked him in the face, and smiled a genuine smile for the first time that day. Kyle smiled back as the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.

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The days throughout that week seemed a blur. Both Cartman and Kyle conceived a grumpy attitude, but not towards each other. They had not been able to spend as much time as they wanted to together and it was driving them crazy. Like Kenny mentioned, Cartman had been quiet lately. He resented the fact that he had to hide his affection towards Kyle in public. Cartman was always the one to act on impulses and now that he was deprived of it, he couldn't help but become greatly irritated by it.