Do You Even Care? / STYLE SOUTHPARK

☆Chapter 06 ☆

...Stan's POV...

Kyle!!!

Hey
Sorry I missed ur party
Can u come get me?

No.

Seriously?
wtf how do I get home Kyle
I said sorry dude

I set my phone down and let out a groan. My head is throbbing with pain and my mouth is like the Sahara desert. Sitting leaned up against the backside of Clyde's couch isn't where I want to be. I want to be at home, sleeping this hangover off. Of course, Kyle being the stubborn asshole that he is won't come to get me. A part of me wants to call Shelly and see if she'd help me out but I know she wouldn't. She'd hang up so damn fast.

Around me are other people from the party last night but most of them are asleep still. My trucks at home, I walked here last night. With desperation starting to sink in, I open my phone again. I go to my contacts. I stare at her name for a moment. Should I? ... might as well try.

I click the call button next to Wendy's name. On the third ring, she picks up. "Hey, Wendy," I mumble.

"Hey Stan," she says. I imagine she's confused as to why I'm calling. We barely talk. If she called me out of the blue I would be confused as hell. "So what's up?" she asks me.

I open my mouth, unsure what to say. "Uh... well, I guess I should just get to the point," I sigh. I push myself up more against Clyde's couch. "Last night I was at Clyde's party and I passed out behind his couch. Now I'm hungover as fuck and... can you please give me a ride home?" I ask.

For a moment she's silent. Then there's a noise of her shifting around. "Yeah, I'll be there in ten," She says and hangs up. I think she might be angry at me.

...

Wendy texts me when she arrives and I head for the door. God damn why it is so bright out here? I jog over to her car, a small white car that must be at least nine years old. I remember it from when we were together. When I get in Taylor Swift is playing. She pauses it and she smiles at me gently. Maybe she isn't mad..?

We start to drive. "Do you have any money on you?" She asks me, slowing to a stop for the sign.

"Yeah, like 20 bucks," I tell her. She turns left, the opposite way of my house.

"Then that's my condition for me picking you up," she smiles, "Tweek bros."

Fair enough. I have enough to get myself something too. "What are you gonna get? I think I'm—"

She cuts me off, "Nothing for you." I glare at her, she doesn't see because she's looking at the road, like the responsible driver she is. "You need to drink water."

I sigh. Why does everyone care so much about me? It's quite irritating. "Despite what you all seem to think, I am capable of taking care of myself," I grumble. She sighs loudly. I see Tweek bros up ahead.

"You called me Stan, I didn't have to get you so just listen to me," She replies calmly. I guess I can't argue with that.

She pulls into Tweek Bros and parks. We go in with no further words exchanged. I watch as Wendy orders and I hand the cashier the money, he hands me the remaining change.

"Thanks by the way," I practically whisper as we sit. She nods in acknowledgment. "I was pretty desperate," I admit. To avoid her gaze I fidget with my fingers.

"I could tell," she tells me. Damn did I really sound that desperate? "Was the party fun?"

I shrug, "What I remember was alright."

She doesn't say anything. I can see that look in her eyes though that says "Oh Stan..."

"Yeah, yeah I know I should be more responsible and—" she cuts me off again.

"It's fine, Stan," she mumbles. The barista calls Wendy's order number and she hops up to get it. She thanks the barista. I stand, getting ready to leave. "No, sit for a minute."

I almost groan but I stop myself. I sit. She sighs a bit as she sits. She takes a large sip of her drink. "Stan," she breathes. "I'm worried about you, I mean I know you're gonna say that you're fine, that it's fine, but... I dont know if — you just seem like you're not actually fine," she sputters all at once.

I suck in a sharp breath. That's a lot. "I really am fi— I don't need your help ok? Can you just take me home please?" I plead. She nods and stands up. I follow her out.

We get back in the car and she turns Taylor back on.

... your hometown skeptics called it, champagne problems. You had a speech, you're speechless. Love slipped beyond your reaches and I couldn't give a reason. Champagne problems...

The mood is sad and annoyingly fitting to me and the mood. They say the first step to recovery is accepting that you have a problem. I've accepted that but I definitely haven't done anything about it. I'm so annoyed by how fitting these stupid-ass Taylor Swift lyrics are that I nearly snatch her Wendy's phone and change the song. I don't but the thought is there.

I'm happy when the song changes. I'm happier when we pull up to my house. She pauses the music. "Do you need someone to stay with you? Like should I call Kyle?" she asks me, concerned.

"No just— don't," I grumble.

She parks the car and opens her door. "Fine I'll be coming in for a bit to make sure you're ok then," she explains.

"Fine," I shrug. "Sorry for bothering you," I apologize as I open the door. We walk in and sit on the couch. For what must be forever we sit in an awkward silence. Just silence. I wish she would either say something or leave. We continue to sit until I pull out my phone.

Suddenly and decisively, she stands up. "Drink water, I'm leaving now," she announces. She leaves quickly without another word. I sit in the silence due to her absence. I miss the silence of her presence. And I really miss Kyle. Can't help but wish he were here.

Taking Wendy's advice, I get a tall glass of water. I take a large sip. It reminds me of last week when me and Kyle did sock sliding. That was fun. Kyle always has ideas on how to not get bored when we're together.

I sigh. As angry as I am at him, I still wish he were here; I really wish he were here.

(AN: the song is up there cause it's referenced in the chapter so yeah)