Back to Reality

[KyleDenny]

Come on, did you really think i was done writing about Denny? I couldn't possibly have stopped now. This is a brand new story i've been working on for a little over a week now.

Chapter 1- Changing

It had been 3 weeks since Denny Creed and his girlfriend, Violet, had so much as gone anywhere that wasn’t located within the hospital that they had spent day in and day out in. Finally being outside after all that time was like being reborn and Denny smiled for the first time in weeks. His doctor had finally become happy enough with the progress of the broken ribs healing and so had allowed him to start becoming accustomed to being in a wheelchair.

They had reopened the school after closing it several weeks before and Kyle, Stan, Kenny, and Ivy, having been discharged from the hospital weeks before, described the atmosphere there as being one in an advanced state of shock.

“I thought we would be bombarded with questions about what had happened but nobody said a word.”, Kyle had said. “I think the teachers told everybody to keep their mouths shut.”

Denny and Violet, meanwhile, were recovering at home. They both were in a newer atmospheres than they were used to (Denny in a new room and Violet in a new house altogether). They were both doing really well and getting ready to have their bandages removed. This also meant the next leg of their recovery, which was physical therapy. On the night before the first day back to school, them, along with Kyle and the others, gathered in Denny’s room to plan things out.

“Are you guys sure this is a good idea, so soon?”, asked Stan, nervously, as Denny announced the plan to the room at large.

“You know, I’m surprised at you, Stan. I didn’t expect you to be so touchy about it.”, said Kenny, eyebrow raised.

“Why wait any longer? Besides it’s getting boring being stuck at home all day.”, said Violet.

“Don’t you have to take the special ed bus to get there?”, asked Kyle.

“I think Mom said there’s a van with a lift to pick us up since we aren’t actually special ed.”, said Denny.

“That’s good.”, said Violet. “Honestly, I would’ve been a little nervous if it had gone the other way.”

“It’s all right. Those guys don’t bite. I’ve rode with them before in Arizona.”, said Denny.

“Really? When was that?”, asked Ivy, having just arrived at the house..

“The first few years of school, actually. My mom was so touchy about me doing anything that put me at risk of a blow to the head.”, explained Denny. “But now, we’re dealing with a totally different thing. We’re still sticking to the buddy thing at school, right?”

“Yeah, Mom already talked to Victoria about it.”, said Kyle. “They want the fourth graders in the gym for an assembly during homeroom tomorrow.”

“Because of us?”, asked Violet. “Can’t they just do it in Garrison’s class?”

“This is my mom we’re talking about here.”, Kyle reminded her.

“True that.”, said Violet.

Violet’s phone rang in her pocket and she picked it up. After talking for a minute she hung up and was about to pack up and head home.

“Shit, dinner’s done so I gotta go.”, she said.

“Ok, we’ll see you at school tomorrow then.” said Denny, as he kissed her and she waved to the others.

“I better get going too, before Dad gets drunk again.”, said Stan, getting up with Kenny and Ivy.

“An assembly? Is that really necessary?”, asked Denny, as Kyle got up to close the door after Kenny stepped out.

Kyle shrugged as he sat back down. “That’s what I heard. I wouldn’t be too worried about it. It’s not like Cartman’s around anymore to screw everything up.”

“Thank god for that.”, said Denny. “Whatever did happen with Ivy when she got discharged? She didn’t go back there, did she?”

“I guess one of her other cousins moved here before we got out and she went and moved in over with them.”, explained Kyle. “I would’ve been scared for her if she did go back to Cartman’s.”

“True that.”, said Denny, copying Violet. “I just hope Liane Cartman isn’t planning some sort of revenge plot or something.”

“I used to wake up late at night and couldn’t sleep for hours thinking about that, in between you and that fucking coma.”, said Kyle seriously.

There was a knock on the door and Sheila poked her head in, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“Hey you two, dinner’s ready. What are you kids talking about?”, she asked, curiously.

“Just realizing how precious our friends and family are once again.”, said Denny, as Kyle stood up quietly. “You ok, dude?”

Kyle jumped like he was breaking out of a doze. “Huh? What the hell just…?”

“Is there something wrong, Kyle?”, asked Sheila at once. Her hand went out at once toward his forehead, which went backward when she hit it.

“Mom, what the hell? I’m fine!”, protested Kyle, trying to duck under her hand.

“Then what the fuck just happened?”, asked Denny, in a don’t-fuck-around voice. “You looked like you were in a trance or hypnosis.”

“I was just thinking so hard about that thing you said. That one little sentence wakes me up at night too.”

The case was closed. The emotional trauma from three weeks ago had clearly left it’s loud and clear message for everybody listening, Watch Your Ass.

Denny led the way out to the dining room, Kyle pushing him from behind. Sheila followed quietly behind, she opened her mouth a couple times, waited, and closed it again.

They sat through a mostly quiet dinner. Gerald showed up from work about halfway through, greeted everybody, and had already picked up his fork, going on about his day when Sheila kicked him from under the table.

“And then the phone rang and… Ow! What’d you do that for?”

[KyleDenny]

Sheila jerked her head at the boys and mouthed, “Show some respect!”.

“What are you talking about?”, asked Gerald, not getting the message.

Sheila jerked her head at the boys again, this time popping her neck because he was pissing her off. “Give them some quiet! They need it!”, she mouthed.

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”, said Gerald, shrugging.

Sheila kicked Gerald again, only harder. She got up, mouthed something that might’ve been “motherfucker!”, and walked over to Gerald, grabbed him by the collar, and growled, “Get in here, you blithering idiot!”, shoving him into the kitchen.

“What the hell is wrong with you? I just got home and you’re already bruising me!”, whined Gerald.

“That’s because you’re a moron who doesn’t understand simple-to-understand lip reading and head jerking!”, whispered Sheila, loudly, so as to avoid yelling which she ached to do.

“So then explain it to me! You don’t have to beat me up!”, whispered Gerald, indignantly.

“In case you didn’t realize, our sons are trying to have peace together! They’re in serious need of compassion!” said Sheila.

“Oh!”, exclaimed Gerald, getting the point at last. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize!”

“I think we need to have another talk with them tonight. I’m not sure if they should go to school tomorrow with this hanging over their heads.”, said Sheila, finally calming down now that Gerald stopped being an idiot.

“Yeah, all right.”, said Gerald, uncomfortably. “Let’s let them make the choice about school though. I don’t want to interfere with what they choose to do.”

Kyle came into the kitchen, carrying his and Denny’s empty plates. He looked around at his parents, stuck the plates into the sink and began to walk away without a word.

“Kyle? Are you boys all right?”, asked Sheila, gently.

“Huh? Yeah, we’re fine. We’re just going to go back to Denny’s room for a while.”, said Kyle.

“All right. We want to talk to you boys an hour before bedtime. Just to catch up.”, said Sheila.

“All right. We’ll be in Denny’s room when you’re ready for us.”, said Kyle.

“Kyle? I’m sorry for my intrusion when I got home.”, said Gerald, gently.

“Thanks Dad.”

Sheila sighed as Kyle walked out. “This has been so tough on them.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Denny and Kyle went back to Denny’s room, not talking much. This was not something they wanted to have happen the night before Denny went back to school. He remembered only too well of being in almost exactly the same place a month ago and it had not had any time to sink in.

Eventually, Denny picked up the stereo remote and turned on some alternative, which helped, if only a little bit, when he was feeling down.

“How are you feeling over there?”, he asked his brother.

Kyle seemed to be deeply lost in thought with his head in his arms.

“I feel a little better. That music usually helps.”, said Kyle. “I know this is pointless to ask but you aren’t still going to school tomorrow, are you?”

“I’m not sure yet.” said Denny. He decided this was not the time to be a coward. “I’m a little scared to go back there because of what happened after school that day.”

Kyle turned and gave Denny a much needed hug. “Hey, you don’t have to be ashamed of that. I know it must be really hard on you and I’m here for you when you need it, same with Violet, and Stan, and the others.”

“Thanks.” said Denny, gratefully and letting the tears fall.

The boys fell silent again and listened to Awolnation on the radio.

An hour later, Sheila knocked gently on the door and looked in.

“Hi boys, are you doing all right?”, she asked kindly.

“Yeah, just a little depressed.”, said Kyle, heavily. He looked at Denny, who was awake despite crying himself to sleep moments before.

“Oh my,”, whispered Sheila. “Are you boys ready to talk or do you need more time alone?”

Denny spoke up in a steady voice. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“All right, let’s go.”, said Kyle standing up, as Denny turned off the stereo.

As they left the room and turned the corner into the living room, they discovered that Gerald was already sitting on the couch, waiting for them. He had changed out of his work clothes and was wearing a somber expression. The tv had already been shut off.

“Please sit down and make yourselves comfortable.”, said Sheila, gently. “The reason we asked you boys out here is that we feel we need to talk with you again about the events over the last month and the emotional damage it has caused.”

“Your Mom has filled me in on what you’ve been feeling tonight and we want you boys to know that we will always be here for you, when you need to talk.” said Gerald. “I know the bond the two of you have with each other can’t be replaced by anything else but your parents are also here.”

“Is there anything you boys have on your mind, that you would like to talk to us about?”, asked Sheila. “We were thinking if you boys want to postpone going to school tomorrow then you are most welcome to do so.”

“We were talking about that too.”, said Denny, quietly. “I’m not totally sure if I want to do it. I was telling Kyle that I’m a little scared to go back there since it’s where we were before that shit started.”

“You are perfectly within your right to feel that way.”, said Gerald. “More has happened in the last month than what happens with most people in a lifetime.”

“I told Denny about how I sometimes lie awake at night and can’t sleep for hours because I’m thinking about what happened and what could have happened.”, said Kyle.

“It’s shock from what happened.”, said Gerald. “I don’t know how long it will be there. It won’t go away overnight but with any luck, it will get better.”

“I think we’ll get you boys excused from school tomorrow and we’ll just spend the day together, give you some time to recover.”, said Sheila.

Denny looked at Kyle. “Maybe they’re right, dude. What’s the betting that if we go tomorrow the same thing won’t happen and we end up in some kind of limbo?”

“Yeah, all right. But what are you going to tell the school?”, asked Kyle.

“Don’t worry about that.”, said Sheila. “I’ll tell them you guys aren’t feeling well and that we’re keeping you home.”

“We’ll all get through this.”, said Gerald. “We always get through it and we’ll all be in it together, including your friends.”

The parents each give both boys a warm hug and sat back down.

“How are you boys feeling otherwise? Is there anything else you want to get off your chests?”, asked Sheila.

“I don’t know about Kyle but I’m wiped out, I know that. You want to crash with me tonight, dude?”

“Sure, but first maybe some ice cream? That always cheers me up a little bit.”, said Kyle.

“What kind do you want?”, asked Sheila. “I got mint chocolate chip and regular.”

“I’ll have mint chip.”, said Denny.

“Me too.”, said Kyle.

Everybody ate their ice cream in mostly silence once again, but the mood was lighter. Denny headed back to his room to change as Kyle did the same, then Kyle went back downstairs. He pulled out the air mattress and got everything ready as the parents came in to tuck the boys in. Denny turned his radio back on and turned it down, something he had got accustomed to doing every night, as it helped him to relax.

“I should start doing that.”, said Kyle thoughtfully. “Maybe I won’t wake up so much. What kind of music is it?”

“Alternative rock.”, said Denny. “They play pop sometimes too but it‘s good stuff. I started listening to it when Mom got sick and it made life a little more tolerable.”

The parents didn’t say anything about the music but instead tucked the boys in, give them one last hug, bade them good night, and closed the door.

As the room went mostly dark, Denny went over in his mind all they had talked about and his own thoughts about everything. The price of going through everything they had seen and done was so hard to put up with sometimes. He looked over where Kyle was, his eyes were reflected in the light from the radio but he seemed to be half asleep nevertheless. Denny closed his eyes and concentrated on the song that was playing on the radio, this time a song called “Changing” and one of his favorites, as he drifted off to sleep.

Changing? That’s what things were doing all right. But Gerald was right. They would all have to take it a day at a time.

*End of chapter 1*

Ch 2 is finished too and will be posted tomorrow. These song mentioned here are real songs, btw.