Chapter Text
Stan was quickly scribbling his English paper. For once luck seemed to be on his side as the teacher was going in alphabetical order. Henrietta was talking about the impact of social media or something. Stan didn’t care as his essay was not even near completion.
His head was still hurting from the argument between his parents last night. Shelley decided to go to college out of state and they were blaming the other for pushing her away. Stan felt like crying because he was going to be left on that farm of horrors on his own but he didn’t blame his sister for leaving.
What was the point of writing some stupid argumentative essay on why cell phones should be used in school? Stan searched for his thesis sentence and he just felt an annoying presence tickle his skin.
“Hey Stan!,” the equally grating voice stated behind him.
Stan turned around to see no other than Eric Cartman, a boy he tried to avoid as much as possible since their friendship fallout in fourth grade.
But that was hard to do when he, Cartman, Kyle and Kenny had the same exact English class. Stan only joined Pre-AP English because Wendy told him, Kyle was there naturally, Kenny was actually not half bad in English and Cartman was there was reasons unknown…and Stan didn’t really want to know.
“Late again fat ass,” Stan muttered.
Cartman crossed his arms and a flicker of indignation danced in his brown eyes.
“That’s no way to greet an old friend,” Cartman exclaimed, “so what are we writing about today?”
Stan rubbed his eyes and put his arm up to guard the two out of four paragraphs he had written.
“No, man, you aren’t stealing my essay idea,” he growled.
“Screw you, Stan,” Cartman growled.
“Stan, Eric,” the teacher stated, giving them a pointed glare, “let Tolkien finish.”
Stan felt fear cool his blood, he thought Henrietta was still giving her speech? There was Kyle, Cartman, Nichole…he had time, Marsh was like in the middle?
“Of course, Mr. Garrison,” he said through gritted teeth. Why did that asshole pull a Mr. Feeny and follow them to high school, Stan had no idea.
“Great job, Tolkien,” Mr. Garrison eventually, “Kyle, you’re up.”
Stan made a mistake and glanced up at Kyle getting up. Stan frowned, Kyle looked thinner than usual and he had deep bags under his eyes and his hands shook as he held his paper.
Stan shook his head, why should he worry about Kyle? Kyle’s parents are happily together (for their town’s standards at least), he had perfect grades, a little brother that adored him, and now since Kenny’s deciding to spend more time with him, most of Kenny’s attention.
“Is it just me or does Kyle look more like a twig than usual?” Cartman whispered.
Stan rolled his eyes but he couldn’t suppress that one tiny part that still cared for Kyle.
“You better get to that paper man,” Stan stated, hoping to change the subject away from Kyle’s appearance, “you know we are presenting in alphabetical order, Cartman .”
That seemed to shut Cartman up and Cartman pulled out his notebook in a panic and started writing.
Stan looked over to Kenny, who looked at Kyle with such obvious adoration in those big blue eyes until Stan had to mentally sigh.
But then something even more strange happened, Kyle gave Kenny a smile back, a hint of flirtation flickered in his green eyes.
Stan must be hallucinating Kyle…flirting with Kenny back? He shook it off, he must be sleep deprived from his parents arguing all night and simply continued writing his paper.
Kyle went on about the dangers of over censorship or whatever. Stan raised an eyebrow, perhaps he could use that for his essay.
Stan was starting his fourth paragraph when Kyle finally finished.
“Well that was a little wordy, Mr. Broflovski…but you get an A none the less,” Mr. Garrison nonetheless.
Kyle smiled, his braces making a rare appearance.
“Metal mouth gets an A,” Cartman muttered, “surprise there.”
Kyle shot Eric a glare before sitting down.
“Eric Cartman, you seem nightly talkative,” Garrison muttered,”let’s see you are ready for your speech.
“You know Mr. Garrison,” Cartman started, his voice dripping in fake innocence, “I was so busy at the cat shelter all weekend for research, I must have left my paper.”
Stan frowned, he knew it was bullshit but Cartman did seem to love cats more than most other creatures…believable enough.
Garrison gave Cartman an incredulous look before the bell rang.
“We won’t have time for you anyway but, we will start first thing tomorrow I should put you in groups for your guys semester project.”
Stan crossed his fingers, he just hoped he was with Wendy. Stan ran up to the wall where the paper with group assignments were stapled to the wall.
But as he looked at the group assignments, Stan felt the ground disappear beneath his feet as he read his assigned group:
Group B: Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, Kenny McCormick
“Oh goddammit,” Stan stated before looking up to Garrison, “do you think you can like change the group?”
Garrison rolled his eyes.
“Come on, Stan,” Garrison started, “I know you four had your little issues but maybe it’s time for y’all to grow the hell up.”
Stan turned around to the three boys. Kyle crossed his arms and gave him a look that practically screamed “if you fuck up my grade, I will fuck up your arm”, Kenny smiled and put his arm across Kyle’s shoulders, Cartman looked annoyed and bored with the whole ordeal.
Stan closed his eyes and pinched his nose, this was going to be a fun time. So fun.