Chapter Text
The bar was unusually empty for a Friday night.
Only two students sat at a corner table, half-asleep over untouched iced coffees, and the soft hum of the refrigerator behind the counter filled most of the silence. The neon sign above the entrance flickered lazily, casting blue light over the polished floor.
Kyle — or rather, Matt as everyone here called him — leaned on the counter with his head resting on his hands. His red curls were tied up in a loose bun, a few strands falling into his green eyes. Metal glinted under the warm bar lights: the industrial bar at his ear, the septum ring, the tiny silver ball on his lip.
Linda drummed lightly on the counter with two pens, bored fingers mimicking a rhythm she’d play on the drums later. Harper sat next to her, eyeliner smudged perfectly, chin on Linda’s shoulder while scrolling aimlessly on her phone. Malik sat on the other side of Matt, arms crossed, expression unreadable as always — hood up, tattoos tracing down his fingers like dark ivy.
They were rarely all free at once. Tonight felt… calm.
Harper stretched her arms over her head dramatically. “Okay. Someone please talk. I’m one bad playlist away from falling asleep standing up.”
Matt huffed a small laugh. “You’re the one who begged for the late shift.”
“And I’d do it again,” she replied, leaning forward with a grin. “But only if someone tells a story. Malik, you go.”
“No,” Malik said instantly, voice low enough to vibrate through the counter.
Linda nudged Matt. “Your turn then, Mattie. Tell us something about where you grew up. You never talk about it.”
He went still for a moment.
He always avoided the topic — not because he hated South Park, but because talking about it made something in his chest twist. Eight years in Jersey had put distance between him and that snowy, chaotic little town. Distance he wasn’t sure he wanted to cross again.
But his friends were all looking at him. Even Malik, whose eyes softened just slightly.
So he sighed.
“Alright. But don’t expect anything exciting.”
Harper slapped the counter. “YES. Story time.”
Matt wiped his hands on a dish towel, staring at a line on the countertop as he spoke.
“There were three guys I used to hang out with all the time. Stan, Kenny, and…” He hesitated. “…Eric.”
Linda leaned in. “Ooooh, people with names. This is serious.”
“Shut up,” Matt muttered, but she only grinned wider.
“Stan was… he was like a brother, I guess. Always calm. Always trying to keep the rest of us alive. Kenny was—” He smiled without meaning to. “Crazy. Sweet. Somehow alive no matter how reckless he got.”
“And Eric?” Harper asked, eyes glinting mischievously.
Matt stared at the wall for a moment.
“…Complicated.”
All three of his friends exchanged looks. Malik raised an eyebrow.
“Complicated how?” Linda pushed gently.
Matt shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Point is, we were close. And then… we weren’t. When my mom wanted to move to Jersey, I didn’t exactly get a choice.”
Harper’s expression softened. “Matt… that sucks.”
He shrugged, trying to push the heaviness away. “It’s fine. It’s been eight years.”
Linda leaned her chin on her hand. “Do you miss it?”
The question caught him off guard.
He swallowed.
“I… don’t know.”
A beat of silence settled over them — not uncomfortable, just thoughtful.
And then Harper, unable to tolerate quiet for more than ten seconds, snapped her fingers.
“Okay. Listen.” She leaned forward, eyes bright. “Why don’t we go there this summer?”
Matt blinked. “What?”
“South Park!” Harper said, throwing her arms out. “We visit, find some dumb summer job, hang out in the snow, meet your old friends — it’ll be fun!”
Linda nodded immediately. “Honestly? I’m in.”
Malik didn’t say a word. He just looked at Matt, waiting.
Matt rubbed the back of his neck. The idea sounded… insane. And yet…
He felt something warm flutter in his chest. A pull.
A memory.
“…Yeah,” he murmured. “Maybe we could.”
Harper pumped her fist. “YES! Summer trip unlocked!”
Linda laughed, slapping her shoulder. Malik gave a tiny, approving nod.
And for the first time in years, Matt let himself imagine it — the cold air, the mountains, the stupidly familiar streets. The people he left behind.
It felt unreal.
Three Months Later — Summer
The group chat was exploding.
Group Name: “Chaos Gremlins & One Responsible Adult”
(name, according to Harper, as “completely accurate” — with Malik being the Responsible Adult)
📱 Harper: I’M PACKING AT 2 AM NOBODY CAN STOP ME
📱 Linda: babe please put the sword down
📱 Harper: YOU NEVER LET ME HAVE FUN
📱 Matt: why do you even OWN a sword
📱 Harper: EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
📱 Malik: no swords in the van
📱 Harper: traitor
📱 Matt: anyway— my mom says you can all ride with us.
📱 Matt: van has 8 seats, so there’s room
📱 Harper: HELL YEAH
📱 Linda: I call the middle row
📱 Malik: I call silence
📱 Harper: you’re literally ALWAYS silent
📱 Malik: exactly
Matt smiled lightly, watching the messages flood in.
His mother, Sheila, was already planning snacks. Ike was ecstatic. Gerald was pretending not to be excited but absolutely was.
South Park.
After eight whole years.
He exhaled slowly.
This was happening.
Dorm Room — Harper & Linda
Harper was sitting on the floor, surrounded by piles of winter clothes even though it was June. Linda was on the bed folding three different versions of the same black hoodie.
“Do we need snow boots?” Harper asked.
“It’s South Park,” Linda said. “We need a sled at minimum.”
Harper gasped, grabbing her phone. “Matt! MATT! Do we need a sled?!”
His voice crackled through speakerphone.
“No, Harper— we’re not bringing a sled.”
Linda kissed her girlfriend’s cheek. “Told you.”
Harper sulked and put a pair of fingerless gloves into her bag anyway.
Dorm Room — Matt & Malik
Matt sat on the edge of his bed, shoving mostly black clothes into a duffel bag. Malik sat on the floor beside him, folding Matt’s jacket with military precision.
“You nervous?” Malik asked without looking up.
Matt froze.
“…A little.”
Malik hummed. “We’ll be with you.”
The simple sentence made Matt’s chest warm.
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”
They zipped up their bags at the same time.
Outside the window, the night was cold.
And somewhere far away, a small mountain town waited.
Summer had only just begun.