South Park: One Shots

Goodbye

Stan × Kyle

The redhead chased his former friend down the sidewalk, stopping him just before his father's van. Stan clutched his bags tightly, clenching and unclenching his fists. An uneasy atmosphere filled the space between the two as former friends stared at each other, ferocity in the younger's eyes. Stan coughed to clear his throat, seemingly to have closed up with anxiety. "Hey. You, erm. You doing alright?" The shorter boy's patience grew thin before exploding anger, his face growing as red as his hair.

"Dude. What the fuck? You never told me you were moving." The raven haired boy hesitated for a moment.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it Stan. I found out from Cartman. Of all people, you told Cartman before me?" He scanned the taller boy, tears of frustration pricking his eyes. "You told the boy that made your life hell before you told your best friend. Were you ever going to?"

Stan shuffled his feet awkwardly, motioning to his family that he needed a few minutes. "Kyle, honestly I didn't mean it like that. I just... kept forgetting is all."
"You don't forget your friends. Or was that the plan all along? Do you think I'm stupid?" He took a step forward.
"Did you think I'd just forget you? That I wouldn't notice my fucking friend had moved away?" Hot tears ran down his flushed cheeks.
"Don't you even care how I felt? Goddamn it Stan, are you that naive?"
The black haired boy opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by an angry demand. "Tell me why."

"I... I didn't want to say goodbye."
"Why?" He had no answer.
"Stan. Tell me why you don't care."

"Of course I care! That's why I didn't say anything." Stan dropped his bags, letting them burst open and the contents spilling out onto the concrete curb.
"I didn't want to say goodbye because I don't want to lose you."

The two stood in an uncomfortable silence.

"I didn't say goodbye because I didn't know how. I don't have a choice, Dad got moved to another state for his shitty geologist job. You think I wanted to leave you? Of all people, I thought you would have clocked on."

"What do you mean Stan?"

He threw his arms up in frustration. "I don't know." He knelt to scoop his possessions back, not as neatly packed as they had once been. Kyle knelt too, helping him. "I didn't want to say goodbye because," he licked his chapped lips.

"Because I love you Kyle."

Kyle's mouth dropped, agape in awe. Had Stan really said that?

"I love you and I can't be with you. It hurts to leave you, it really does. You think I'd want to go? I love you so much, but it's not going to happen."

Kyle tried to talk but Stan had started to walk away. "Stan. Please, don't go."
But he kept walking.

~~~

It's been three years since Stan left. No one knew where they had moved to, not even the Broflovski family.

Ike had grown, had his first love. But it wasn't Kyle who comforted him.
Ike had his first soccer game. But Kyle wasn't there to watch.

He stayed in bed most days. Going to school was the last thing from his mind.
Everyone had left him.

Cartman and his mom packed up and left. Kenny and Karen were taken to foster care after their parents had been involved in another scandal.

So Kyle had no one.

But now?

After all this time, Stan decided to come back. Today was the day. Kyle had been counting the very hours until his friend - no, his crush - returned. He could barely contain his excitement. He was planning to confess, as Stan had done three years ago. And maybe, just maybe he would accept. Maybe he could have this, if nothing else.

It was this day, that would be their downfall.

~~~

"Kyle, where are you going?"
"Sorry mom, can't talk. Stan's back today!"
"Oh, tell him hi from me. I always liked that boy."
"Bye mom!"

He dashed into the street, hat removed but hair slicked back. His orange jacket was discarded for one of leather. The boy had changed a lot, some day for better though others, for worse.

He was there. He was stood right outside his old house. Kyle's heart fluttered and butterflies swarmed his stomach. Just say hi. Don't be stupid.

"Hey Stan." The darker haired boy turned, revealing a figure beside him. It was a girl.
She had long fire red hair and dark chocolate eyes. If Kyle didn't know better, she could be his sister. "Oh hey man. Been a while. This is Tayla, she's my girlfriend."
"Hey, you liking Colorado?"
Her voice was smooth and melodic. "It's cold, but I must say it's very nice here. Stan and I were really excited about coming here. I take it you must be his friend?"
He gulped, tears threatening to fall. "Yeah. We were, I'm Kyle." He shot a glare at Stan. He mouthed sorry.

"Sorry, mind if I pull him away a minute?"
"But of course! It was nice meeting you Kyle."
Through gritted teeth, he said "You too." She stepped in the house and closed the door.

"Hey. Before you get mad-" Kyle struck him on his cheek, a red welt raising from the hit.
"I can't believe you." The taller stumbled, trying to find his footing once more. "How long?"
"What do you mean?"
"Stop pretending Stan!"
The street fell silent, reminiscent of when Stan had confessed. The dull sun hid behind grey clouds, rain dropping onto the cold concrete.
"Just stop lying. How long have you been with her?"
Stan drew a sharp breath. "Two years." The rain started to fall heavily, soaking the two boys.
"So that's it, is it? Tell me you loved me and then leave me alone. Kenny was taken away, Cartman moved. Hell, even Wendy's gone. But I've been stuck here, hoping that you'd come back."
"Well how long was I supposed to wait?"
"Wait? You had to wait." He laughed but it wasn't of humour. It was cold, and no emotion was present. "I waited three fucking years for you. I called you, I emailed you. If I had your address, I would have fucking sent letters." Stan went to talk, but was quickly cut off. "Just go inside. Don't catch a cold."
"Kyle. I still love you."

Kyle began to walk away, he couldn't stand to hear the lies and excuses anymore. He just couldn't.

"Please. I love you."
"Goodbye Stan."

He wiped away the water on his cheeks. Was it raindrops or tears? He couldn't tell. The grey sky lay dull and flat, as if the world were mourning a friendship past, never to be rekindled.

Years of waiting, for naught.
Years of waiting, only to say goodbye for the final time.