As that day drew to a close, orange and yellows ushered the sky into a curtain fall. The other citizens of South Park were unaware, but to Kyle, the show had just begun.

This story started with a bell being rung, initially innocent. And a teenager rose to answer it, too old to be a boy, but too young to be considered a man.

With a sigh, Kyle unlocked the front door to his home, and swung the wood open.

"What could you possibly want?" he snapped. After school hours were meant to be relaxing, time reserved to his own comfort and pleasures. He only wanted to eat some leftovers from last night's supper while he watched tv, peel off his clothes, and climb into his bed. Simple.

Eric smiled in return, body outlined by the glow of the afternoon. Unlike Kyle, Eric had managed to change from the dirty clothing he wore today, and into something fresh. From the space that separated them, something that could have been easily closed in two steps, Kyle caught a whiff of the brunette's scent. It was a mixture of the intense mint gum he seemingly always chewed, and the laundry detergent his mother used on their wardrobe. Peaches and brown sugar. Somehow it fit with the summer's unwavering heat, enough to make Kyle believe he lived further south than he actually did.

"Why Kyle, can't I visit a long time friend?"

The named teenager didn't have to think, the door ended their short conversation as it abruptly shut into place.

And just as swiftly, the doorbell was held down until it squealed for an ungodly moment. Kyle wished Cartman would just give up, and finally leave him to his peace and quiet. But today, the brunette was as stubborn as a mule and wouldn't back down. And both already knew that Kyle had misplaced the charger for his phone, so he couldn't drown out the sound with his music.

With a bitter taste in his mouth, Kyle opened the door again.

Eric's smirking face was there to greet him, plucking all the right strings to have Kyle's body humming with annoyance.

"Don't you have something better to do?"

Eric shook a finger at him, "It's my turn to ask a question." The brunette paused, as if considering his own words. "More like a demand." he admitted with a coy smile.

Settling with humoring the teenager before him, Kyle ran a hand through his hair, "Oh? And what would that be?"

Cartman's smile grew, like a beloved pet had done an action deemed cute. "I want you to join the track team at our school."

"And why would I ever do that?"

The taller of the two stepped forward, making the now sudden closeness intimate in a way.

"If you don't..." he whispered, "I'll tell your mother that you haven't been going on those dates she's arranged, and instead you've been running around in the woods."

"You wouldn't" Kyle hissed, making the short distance between the pair shorter.

"Oh I would, and I have the evidence to prove it...Unless you join the track team."

Kyle threw his hands up, "Why do you want me to join some fucking team!?"

Cartman shrugged, "You'll have to find out." He gave one last smile, sending a shiver down the other's spine. "See you tomorrow, 4:00 pm! And don't be late!" he shouted over his shoulder, whistling as he walked off the redhead's porch and down the street.

As far as Kyle saw the matter, he had no choice. He didn't really feel hungry after the incident, and headed right to bed. Only sleep was chased away by some inescapable tension. When he finally managed to shut his eyes long enough to slip into slumber, it was filled with a nightmare.

Kyle ran down an endless forest path, and behind him was a monster. A deformed creature made up of the girls his mother paraded in front of him, each stretched and marred in some sickening way. Every step he made brought him closer to the abomination, and their shrill voices that screamed his name.

He didn't get much sleep that night.