Con Te Partiro

Chapter 7

Kenny watched Cartman walk out the door, and wondered if he'd live long enough to see Eric walk back through it again. It seemed like lately, he was just watching his friends leave. Stan couldn't even stand the sight of him. He hoped Cartman made it back before it got too late. Kenny wanted a chance to say goodbye before he died. People, he knew, needed closure when someone died. If they didn't get a proper chance to see a loved one off, a person could carry around the guilt for years. That's how people like John Edward made money.

Speaking of goodbyes, there was something he had to do. Kenny pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket, picked up the phone, and dialed the number he'd scribbled down so long ago.

The other end rang twice before a girl with a perky voice picked up. “Hello?”

“Kelly? It's...its me.”

“Lenny?” She sounded surprised.

He took off his hood. “Kenny,” he corrected gently. “Its been a while.” They'd broken up quite some time ago, mostly because Kelly had commitment issues and couldn't handle the distance, and also because catching the bus to see her had been too big a strain on Kenny's wallet.

“Oh my god. How have you been?”

“I'm doing all right,” he lied. “How are you?”

“Good. I kinda miss you.”

Kenny's heart beat a little faster at that. She still liked him. “Are...are you still doing kids' choirs?”

“Yeah. My mom signed me up for a group that promotes awareness about Muscular Dystrophy.”

Oh, the irony. He chuckled, but the laughter caught in his throat. Kenny coughed violently, holding the phone away from him to try and muffle the sound.

“-you okay? What's wrong, Kenny?” he heard her saying when he put the phone back to his ear.

“Yeah, I - I'm okay.” He took a deep breath and tried to steady his voice. He had to tell her the truth. “Actually, no. I'm not okay. In fact, I'm in the hospital, dear.”

“You're sick?” The worry was plain in her voice.

He hated that she sounded so distressed, but he needed to tell her everything. “Yeah. I'm, um, the doctors say things don't look too good.”

“Oh, Kenny...you're...you're not dying, are you?” Kenny could hear the start of tears in her voice. In his mind, he could see her blue eyes welling up. He wished he could be there to hold her and tell her everything was all right.

“Kelly,” he said softly. “Kelly, I don't want you to worry about me.”

“You are dying, aren't you.” It wasn't a question. “I'm going to come see you.”

“You don't have to do that.”

“But I want to, Kenny. I should be there for you. I'll be devastated when you die, but you shouldn't have to face the end alone.” Sweet little Kelly, still as indecisive and dramatic as ever. She hadn't changed a bit.

“I...don't want you to see me like this. I just...I called because there's something I need to say before...you know.”

“Oh god. Kenny...” she was crying now. Kelly had always been a little too emotional, and way too complicated for him to understand, but he'd never heard her cry before.

“Hey, don't cry, dear,” he said soothingly. “Its okay.”

“No. No, it isn't. You're going to leave and I'll never see or hear from you again and I can't take it and-”

“Kelly?” The quiet question silenced her.

Sniffle. “Yes, Kenny?”

“You saved my life once, and I never thanked you for that...I also never got around to telling you this, but I think you're the smartest and prettiest girl I've ever known. I think...I think I love you.” There. He'd said it. It didn't even matter if she loved him back or not, Kenny just wanted to be sure Kelly knew he loved her before he died.

“Oh.” Her voice was soft and warm. “Oh, Kenny. I love you too. I'm sorry things didn't work out between us. That was my fault.”

“It's okay. Maybe it wasn't meant to be, but...you made me happy while it lasted. I just wanted you to know that.”

“I'm not going to hear from you again, am I?”

Kenny hadn't really thought about that, but he knew the answer. “No. I want you to remember me the way I was. Is that okay?”

“I think so. I'm going to miss you.”

“I'll miss you too.” He swallowed. This conversation was getting to be too difficult. Time to end it. “Goodbye, Kelly.”

She hesitated, as though there were something she wanted to say, but instead she sighed softly. “Goodbye, Kenny.”

Click. The line went dead, and Kenny placed the handset back in the cradle. He wondered if that call had been worth it. He felt a little more at peace, knowing he'd told Kelly what he'd always wanted to say, but now he was worried about her. And there was still Stan to think about, and his parents to reassure, and Cartman to say goodbye to. Kenny sighed. Dying slowly was so much more complicated.


Chapter 7 end.


Damn. That chapter sucked too. The fact is, there just isn't enough out there about Kelly to write well about her. Well, I promised a Kenny/Kelly chapter and I've given it. Sorry it was crap, but I don't think I can make it any better. My apologies. I do, however, guarantee that the next chapter will be great!

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