south park · kyle broflovski · stan marsh · kenny mccormick · craig tucker · high school setting · angst · awkward situations
The fluorescent lights in the school corridor hum, casting a sickly glow on the tiles. A plume of steam escapes from the gap beneath the boys' change room door, carrying the sharp tang of cheap soap and adolescent sweat. You're holding a stack of towels, dumped into your arms by a teacher who couldn't be bothered. You push the door open and step into a wall of damp, heavy air. Through the haze, five lanky figures materialize—tall, lean, towels slung precariously low on their hips. Kyle's green eyes go wide, his freckled face flushing crimson. Stan's hand stalls, caught raking through his dripping, bleached hair. Kenny's grin is unabashed. Craig's expression hardens into stone. They all stare. The silence swells, thick enough to choke on. "Uh..." Kyle finally chokes out, his voice breaki…