Kyle stared at the contents inside the folder with wide eyes as Cartman plopped in his desk chair, making himself comfortable and dusting the used tissues off the computer keyboard. Everything was so… organized. So concise. 

He didn’t even know what kind of work he would have to catch up on after the accident, and finding out that Cartman had not only collected it all, but completed every single assignment… it baffled Kyle. Even the essays, they were so similar to his own writing style. How did Cartman even do this? It was as though he had figured out a way to clone another Kyle and made HIM do these assignments.

“Dude I have to show you this video I made, it’s brand new and fucking amazing. Clyde’s in it cuz Stan chickened out, but it’s still awesome.” Cartman spoke as he logged into my computer. I stared at the back of his head not knowing what to say. Sure, Cartman had kept him company on and off these last four months while he was bed-ridden and baby sat Ike some days, but this…?

This was so… strangely thoughtful. Kyle guessed this was possibly the first time Cartman had ever done so much school work, and it was all for Kyle’s grade, so Kyle wouldn’t be stressed out. He wasn’t even saying anything about it, like the folder wasn’t real. He was just going on and on about a video I had already watched this morning.

“Dude…” Kyle said and got to his feet, thankful he didn’t need his crutches to do so anymore. Cartman stopped mid ramble and very cautiously met his eyes. He didn’t glare or call Kyle rude for interrupting as the redhead lifted the folder and gestured to it in total astonishment. Instead, Cartman smiled.

“Don’t worry about it, Kahl.” He said waving his hand. “We’re even now.”

Even…? Suddenly, Kyle knew what this was about.

“You never owed me.” Kyle said, tossing the folder down to the ground harshly. Cartman’s eyebrows furrowed, clearly caught off guard.

“What?” He said. “Shut up, Jew. Don’t be dumb.”

“You’re being dumb.” Kyle retorted. Cartman rolled his eyes and started to spin the chair back around. Kyle caught it and yanked it back violently. Cartman grabbed Kyle’s wrists, eyes instantly ablaze with a mixture of annoyance and concern.

“Don’t hurt yourself more.” He growled, inches from Kyle’s face.

“Saving your life wasn’t a favor,” Kyle said. Cartman’s face went blank at that. Kyle shook his head, gripping Cartman’s shoulder. “And I’d do it again.”

Cartman’s jaw tensed and he sat back a little in the chair, his cheeks burning and his voice lowered. “…Just take the fucking folder, Kyle.”

There was a long pause of contemplation as Kyle tried to figure out what was going through Cartman’s mind, why the brunet was acting like this. He finally looked away from Cartman and at the folder on the floor. 

“…Alright, Cartman.” Kyle relented. “We’re even.”

Cartman looked down at the dead animal at his feet and then to his cat.

‘Mr. Kitty what the fuck is this?!”

The cat just gave him a look and meowed. This was the first time his cat ever did something like this. At least it was not stealing his pot pie.

“Cat you have so problems thinking bringing a dead animal to me is a way to show love”

The cat went up to him to rub against him and started purring. Cartman picked her up and scratched the side of her cheek. The fur on her was super soft and was a nice gray color. Cartman looked down at the dead animal again.

“I need to clean this up you fucking dildo”

Though Cartman had the cleanup that disgusting mess he felt a happiness inside. Cats give dead things to you because they care for you. They can do much else because of their nonexistent thumbs.  It was strangely thoughtful thing to do.

    Kyle had always resented Cartman. They always fought and bickered about something usually Cartman provoked. On bad days, it would end up with either one or both of them getting hurt. It was absolutely true, they hated each other.

   But lately, the once foul mouth and crude Eric Cartman had grown strangely distant. He didn’t talk to anybody anymore, not even Kyle. In class, he would always stare down at his desk, only looking up once in a while to memorize whatever writing was on the board. He never acknowledged anybody in the halls while switching classes, which left him occasionally bumping into someone. He would then become alert for a few seconds, and then carrying on without saying a word. It was like as if Eric was dead and all was left was a hollow, lifeless shell.

   Despite the hatred for Cartman he possessed, Kyle cared about him. He was well aware of his resentment towards him, but, something pushed him to reach out. Letting out a light sigh, he walked over to Eric who was sitting on an old, decaying bench. He quietly sat down, trying not to make the wood creak. He put his arm around Cartman and, without hesitating, consoled him with a few words,

“I’m here for you.”

“I don’t get it, Kyle” Cartman said while looking away, out of everyone in this whole, this whole world why did you pick me?”

Kyle finally understood why Cartman was acting weird this whole week when he said those words. Cartman was some who would act like he was confident about everything, but Kyle did know that Cartman had insecurities.  Extreme ones.

“Cartman why is this coming up all of sudden?”

“It hasn’t just came up I have been thinking this way as soon as we got together”

Kyle cringed at what he said. He didn’t notice this, hell Cartman look like he was at the top of the world when Kyle asked him out. But the more he thought he remember moments of Cartman showing these insecurities, such as when they told their friends.

Stan overreacted and thought that it was all a form of blackmail from Cartman. Wendy right out said that he could do better. Cartman did show an angry face but Kyle could tell that he took it personally. This made Kyle feel like shit because he did not say anything about it. Maybe if he did stop these feelings that Cartman was having back then this conversation would not happen.

ohhh god-wolfthed

“I dont get it”

Cartman scoffed as he stared at the television blankly, his vision too blurry for him to watch even if he wanted to.

“You never do, Stan.” He slurred. “How many times do I have to say it?”

“You don’t know her like I do. She’s just changing and I’m not changing with her. Wendy-”

“She’s a fucking whore!”

Cartman’s voice was raised more than it had to be and everyone in Skeeter’s made that apparent with their instantaneous silence. Stan felt his face grow hot as all eyes fell on the two of them. He grit his teeth and looked into his drink, knowing that Cartman would ignore the stares until they went away. Once the ambience returned, Cartman spoke again.

“I just hate how fucking dumb you get with her. Stop trying to win her back, she fuckin hates you. And you hate her. So stop.”

Stan felt his chest ache and he stood up, stumbling at first, but steadying as his bar chair clattered to the ground.

“You don’t know anything about her OR me, Cartman!” He yelled. “You’re not a fucking expert of love even if you say so or tell yourself that! Look at you! You’re alone and you’ll be like that forever if you keep going around telling people who they should and shouldnt be with! You think you’re the only person in the god damn world who thinks they know what I should do?! You and Kyle can both go fuck yourselves! Kyle probably sent you! That’s why you’re here every damn time I am!”

Cartman was silent for a moment, too long of a moment. Stan lost his patience and grabbed Cartman’s shoulder in anger. A fist collided with Stan’s jaw and he was on the floor in seconds. Cartman stood over him, foot over his chest to keep him there. His eyes were hard to read. Hard and cold with rage, but shiny and wet with hurt.

“Where is Kahl, Stan?” He taunted, his voice shaking slightly, but whether or not it was from anger or sadness was unclear. Stan looked back at Cartman, his body shaking under his foot, like a ticking bomb. “He doesn’t WANT to be here.”

“Get OFF!” Stan said. Cartman pushed down with his foot a little, making Stan grunt in pain. Cartman finally moved his foot away and shoved the bouncer off of him.

“I’m not starting shit.” He said.

“Where the fuck are you going?!” Stan shouted as Cartman walked away. He paused at the door and looked back at Stan over his shoulder.

“See you next week.”