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It started with cheap alcohol; you should have known it would have. Stan hugs against the wall of the cheap shitty dive, he loved his hometown more than he’d admit to anyone, but he longs for a better bar, or at least more girls that don’t remember him from when he’d throw up if he got just a tad bit too nervous. That was until he sees you, new people draw more attention than anyone would care to admit, it makes South Park feel much more cult-like than he’d ever liked. But, here you were, new in town, or so he’d heard. Freshly tipsy on what Kyle would refer to as, “the good shit,” which was really just beer with a lime slice lazily bobbing in the glass bottle, he made the decision to saunter over to you, not knowing just what he was planning on saying yet.
“So,” He leans against the table you’re sitting at alone, “Where’d you come in from?” He asks as you break out of the cycle of simply staring at the wall you’d been doing before. “Oh! Sorry, I’m new in town, from Salt Lake City.” Stan’s eyes widen a bit, awkwardly pondering for a bit at that, “So are you..?” You begin to laugh as you point to your espresso martini, “Not Mormon.” He bounces back with your enthusiasm, gesturing to a seat, “Oh definitely not, is it okay if I sit?” You nod in affirmation, “Sure!” He smiles, awkwardly fiddling with his jacket, “What brings you into town?” He asks you, “It’s just weird to see people not from here move here, is all unless they’re like… weed farmers.” You laugh a bit, taking a sip from your drink, “I just needed a change of pace, so… here seemed as good as anywhere, I have some friends who grew up here so I’m roommates with them right now... Besides, what’s your story..?” You pause, realizing you both haven’t exchanged names yet. “Stan, my name’s Stan.” He smiles, “Truthfully, I just got back myself from San Antonio. I was there doing my basic training for the Space Force.” You nod, grinning a bit, “But other than that, haven’t left town much. My sister lives in Colorado Springs with her husband, but she visits us a lot.”
“That’s nice! Being close with family is nice.” You say, swirling your martini around its glass, Stan seems to perk up a bit and smiles, “So you said you had some friends who grew up here?” He asks, pondering if he knew them, it’s almost comical to him how life works sometimes.
“Oh yeah, I was friends with this guy in college, named Kyle Broflovski? He dated one of my honors society friends and we had a few classes together, so I’m living with them for now.” Stan chuckles to himself at that irony, and shakes his head, “No shit! Kyle Broflovski?” He sighs nostalgically, “We were best friends growing up!” You laugh a tad, his excitement palpable from his formerly more reserved attitude. You smile, “Really? So you’re the best friend, Stan?” And he nods, a bit less humble now in his attitude. You grin at him and sip the rest of your drink slowly, savoring it.
“Well, Stan, suddenly I know so much about you, but you only know a little bit about me.” You muse to him, flirtatiously, “Do you want my phone number?... I mean, just if you want to stay in touch, it’d be nice to make a few more friends in town.”
He nods, and you write your phone number down on a napkin in the car, your legs feeling like jelly as your unusual gust of confidence catches up to you. Stan is there as a shoulder for you to steady yourself on. “May I walk you home?” Stan asks as you finish off your phone number and hand it off to him, “Are you sure?” You ask him, and he smiles and nods.
“Of course I’m sure.” He says, “That lets me make sure you get home safe and lets me talk to Kyle for the first time in 8 weeks.” You smile, leaning against him. “Then, we’ll just have to do that.”
Stan nods, as the two of you walk out the air is thin and cold from the elevation, and you realize now you should have bought a heavier jacket before getting into town. Your teeth chatter slightly at the cold, and Stan notices, wordlessly placing his blue hat on top of your head to marginally help with your chill. “Thank you, soldier,” You tease him slightly and he simply chuckles.
The walk is quiet, save for you almost wiping out once on a patch of ice, “Just was never a good skater,” You laugh and he shakes his head, “Utah has worse weather than ours,” He teases you allowing you to stabilize. “I never said I relished the weather outside, my soft spot for the cold is best enjoyed inside.” There’s a huff from your throat and he nods simply.
You both continue your walk, deciding to simply take in one another’s silent company and as Kyle’s house gets into sight you see Stan’s eyes light up softly. It’s endearing how much he seems to cherish the life-long friendship and you can’t help but see his loyalty in a whole new light with him walking you home tonight.
“Hey, Stan?” You pipe up, and his eyes shift over to you, “Thank you for walking me home tonight, I appreciate it… Seriously.” You change the tone of the conversation, and he seems to straighten up a tad, “And also,” You finish, “Text me if you want to. It’d be nice to know a few people in town, either as friends or…” You trail off, leaving him to paint whatever picture he’d like to in his head, and he smiles to himself, punching your number into his contacts.
“I’d like that,” He says, as you both approach the door and you ring the doorbell, “I’m glad, I met you tonight.” He finishes the sentence and before you can finish the sentence, Kyle swings open the door to greet you, and then he sees Stan.
“Oh, Jesus man… I fuckin’ missed you!” He pulls Stan into a hug and then sees you standing at his side, “So, you met Stan?” He has a hint of something , coating his tone, protectiveness towards you, or teasing despite knowing he couldn’t have planned this? You couldn’t be able to know.
You nod, “Actually, with that, I have an interview tomorrow, and I’m not sober.” You laugh, attempting to get out of the situation and get to sleep, but before you do you turn to Stan and smile, “It was nice meeting you too, Stan. Thank you, again.” The moment between the two of you is warm and laced with an undertone that is too hazy to define in your lack of sobriety.
You slip behind Kyle and into the confines of the house, and from the top of the stairs you hear Kyle and Stan enter the house, and begin to shoot the shit with each other.
“Change your mind on not settling down so soon?” Kyle asks him, and you hear a chuckle that makes your stomach turn in knots, “If it comes my way, I’ll be willing to make some sacrifices for it.”
And that’s all you hear before your phone vibrates in your pocket with Stan’s number.
This is Stan. Do you wanna go get dinner after your interview? I’m free around 6.
Your eyes light up as you sit down on your bedroom floor back against the wall, feeling suspiciously like a high schooler with the fluttering in your stomach, as you scan the message over and over again with your eyes as you finally begin to type back.
6 works. Anywhere in particular good around here?
You exhale sharply and begin to change into pajamas for bed when finally your phone vibrates again. You check it as you connect to the charger.
Lol. God no, but, I know a place. Lots of stories to tell you for sure.
You can’t help in the back of your mind but hope that you’ll get the chance to be a part of his stories one day.