Chapter 3: School

Monday. The word that instills fear and terror in the hearts of even the bravest humans on Earth. Mondays sucked - it was a fact of life. No-one knew that better than the students of South Park High School, having to wake up on a Monday morning after a weekend of relaxation to go to school for seven hours of boredom.

It was the first lesson of the day, English. Normally, that was a subject Stan enjoyed, but due to a certain emptiness in his homework folder, he sat down uncomfortably and prayed Mr(s) Garrison had forgotten.

Mr(s) Garrison was a complicated individual. Some days (s)he was kind and acted in a caring way towards h(er)is students but could suddenly turn into a demon ranting on about past relationships, personal experiences and sexual activities (s)he enjoyed. It was a well known fact that Mr(s) Garrison had transgender tendencies, which the vast majority of students and staff accepted. However, because h(er)is gender identity changed on an almost hourly basis, (s)he preferred people to use both pronouns mixed together. It was confusing, but everyone goes along with it in a similar way that they go along with whatever other crazy methods of teaching (s)he uses. Now don't get me wrong, (s)he's an incredible teacher, but tends to have some pretty insane teaching techniques.

"Alright class, get your homework out. We're gonna be going through your book reports on 'Of Mice And Men' and discussing whether George and Lennie were closet homosexuals". (S)he stated as (s)he started h(er)is lesson. (S)he began eyeing the room to check for nervousness on the students' faces. Two stood out as acting awkward and out-of-character: Stan and Kenny. "Does everyone have their homework?" (S)he asked, looking specifically at the pair. "Hands up if you don't". Stan and Kenny raised their hands. "Alright, that's detention after school today." (S)he informed them as they groaned in annoyance. To the class' surprise, Kenny stood up, walked over towards the window and carefully opened it, staring out for a few seconds. "Kenny, what the hell do you think you're doing? Take a seat mister!". Kenny muffled something along incomprehensible before jumping out of the second floor window, landing on his head, leaving his lifeless body for another brief vacation in hell. Mr(s) Garrison shrugged and continued with h(er)is lesson.

"Right class, so George puts up with everything Lennie does, he wanted to own a ranch with him and get some pets... What do we think about their relationship? Friends, more than friends, friends with benefits? What're we thinking here?" (S)he questioned to the room of students as they pondered both the question and their teacher's sanity.

Stan, however, had other things to think about. Things which had been going through his mind all night, all morning, and especially as he walked from his home, with his best friend Kyle, towards their regular bus stop to get to school. Stan was thinking about what had happened the night before with Kyle. He continued to get flashbacks of them talking, Stan's arm around his best friend and how at peace they both were together. Just the two of them, alone, doing nothing together and being completely relaxed and away from the rest of the world. Such an incredible moment - no... the perfect moment.

"Stanley Marsh!" he jolted in his seat to find his teacher peering over towards his desk along with the rest of the class staring and appearing to be waiting for something. "Well? What were they?" (S)he asked him who quickly remembered the previous topic of discussion - the relationship of George and Lennie. "Uhm, I think that George and Lennie were great friends, best friends" he responded, only to receive a stern scowl from Mr(s) Garrison who was expecting more. "Elaborate..." and so he continued. "Uhh... Well maybe, George thought of Lennie in.. um, another way" he subconsciously turned to face Kyle "and maybe he liked Lennie more than you would like a friend". He looked around to see people looking at him with a confused expression. "Well, it's possible that they have strong feelings for each other, and maybe George liked cuddling with Kyle". He stated, not giving too much thought into his response.

Mr(s) Garrison, looked at Stan with a brow raised, then turned to face Kyle who's face was now comparable to a tomato. Stan's eyes widened after realising what he had just said, turning around to see the look of shock on his classmates' faces and buried his head into his copy of the book. "Right, that's a good point Stan. Anyone else?" (s)he asked and continued the discussion around the classroom where the incident was seemingly forgotten.

Throughout the remainder of the lesson, Stan continued receiving awkward glances from pretty much all of the students in the classroom, with the exception of Kyle who had been mute since Stan's comment. After what appeared to be the longest lesson ever, the bell rang and the students all made their way out of the room, Kyle being at the front of the beeline to escape.

It was lunchtime when Stan finally had a moment to himself after all of the interrogation he had been through over a 'simple dumb comment' as he had said many times that day.

Urgh! Now Kyle's gonna think I'm gay for him or something. Why'd I have to f**king say that?! I mean, I don't like.. like like Kyle, he's my best mate. I just wanna make sure he's happy.. and smiling... and cuddle with him.. and look into his eyes.. and..

"Dude! Hello?! Earth to Stan?!". His inner monologue of thoughts was briskly interrupted with Kyle standing in front of him and waving his hand in his face. "Duuuuuuuude? You there?" the red-head asked sarcastically. "Yup, what's up? Didn't think you were speaking to me or something?" was Stan's somewhat monotonous response. "It was just awkward, but don't worry, people'll forget by tomorrow" Kyle assured, seeing Stan sigh in relief as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. "Besides, it's not like you actually like me" Kyle jested whilst laughing a bit at the notion he had just brought up. Stan immediately laughed with him, reaffirming "Yeah dude, that's pretty funny" as he moved his head to the side, still unsure about what was going on.

The pair of seventeen year olds nudged in each other before finishing up their lunch quietly and headed off to their next lesson.

I've got to get this under control.. What's wrong with me?