Happy New Year. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own South Park; it rightfully belongs to Trey&Matt!

Friday I'm In Love

To this day, Jenny Simon could not stand cupcakes. The thought of them was revolting to bear. She refused to be in the same room with the dessert. When dances were held in the gymnasium at school, she sat as far away as she could from the snack table. She avoided their presence, but a flood of paranoia instantly washed over her. As if the cupcakes were staring at her from deep within, sensing her greatest fear. Taunting her in their little Eric Cartman-esque voices…

This happened during birthdays, too. From Bebe to Lola, Sally and Esther… every party provided the same, sickening treats. No matter wherever Jenny went, the cupcakes were always there. Watching her. Stalking her. Preparing their next attack.

Kyle Broflovski was her saving grace. As the horrifying incident of Eavesdropper and the problems caused by the evil Wikileaks died down, Kyle went to visit Jenny in the hospital after her surgery. He returned every day and assisted her with homework and told her the latest news of what was happening around South Park Elementary. He even brought her a bouquet of periwinkle roses as a welcome home gift. From then on, Jenny harbored a giant crush on the Jewish boy. Eventually they began to hang out with each other more often. They'd usually have lunch, study, or play videogames together. They'd have deep discussions that would drive them into the late Friday evenings.

Tonight would be one of them.

Kyle had invited his closest friends over for a sleepover; including Jenny and Karen McCormick for Kenny's sake. Which struck everyone as odd… a girl (well, girls) being invited to a boys' slumber party? Not even Stan invited Wendy to his! Kenny, on the other hand, had slept over at Henrietta Biggle's house a couple of times with the other Goth Kids, so he didn't find it bizarre. Perhaps it was just Stan and Ike, because, unlike those who were too deeply infatuated with their romantic interests, they were the only sane ones of the little partygoers?

Kyle stirred awake. He rose from his sleeping bag and blinked a couple of times for his groggy vision to clear. His eyes then set on his digital clock. It was past midnight. He slapped his lips together, his throat aching for a drink.

Ah, what the hell. I've got nothin' better to do anyway.

He crawled out of his snooze pouch, careful not to wake his little brother. He tiptoed through the narrow trail, stepping lightly wherever he went, reminding himself not to rudely wake his sleeping guests. Stan was snoring softly in his Broncos sleeping bag as Karen cuddled closely with Kenny. Kyle was nearing towards the bedroom door when realization slammed him square on the brain.

Shit, my hat!

He retraced a couple of his steps, avoiding Kenny and Karen's heads as he made way for his bed. Quickly he snatched up his ushanka from the bedframe and hoisted it over his fiery red hair.

There we go… Milk and cookies, here I come!—Huh…?

From the glow of the clock, he saw that his bed was completely empty.

Jenny? Where could she be?

With no time to lose, Kyle quietly slipped from the bedroom to investigate his friend's whereabouts. He found the upstairs bathroom was left untouched. Thus, the Broflovski residence remained silent.

"Huh," he said aloud, "maybe she did think being invited to a boy's sleepover was a little strange after all…"

Ignoring the swelling of pain in his heart, Kyle began to make his way downstairs. He chewed the inner of his cheek in an irritated fashion as angry thoughts erupted in his mind. What made her leave in the first place…? Could she hear Dad snoring all the way from his room? Did Mom scare her off? Ike didn't hit on her too badly like he usually does… He gasped and clutched his hands into fists. Cartman probably has something to do with this! He stepped into the house when I wasn't looking and stashed laxatives into Jenny's brownies! That asshole's going to pay, God as my witness! I'll avenge you, Jenny! Mark my words—

He was so angry that once he reached the bottom of the stairwell he marched over to the coatrack, grabbed his jacket and stormed towards the front door.

"Hi, Kyle! … Where are you going?"

Kyle screeched at a halt and turned to the owner of the voice. Facing him was no other than Jenny Simon, who was sitting comfortably on the cushioned window seat near the entrance. She was wearing a baby blue nightgown with white ribbons at the hem and matching slippers. The girl currently wore a puzzled expression.

Immediately the boy dropped his coat, sprinted over to Jenny, lifted her off the seat and spun her into the air.

"Oh my God," he exclaimed, relief in his voice. "You're still here! I… I thought you had left! Jenny…!"

He finally put her on the ground only to sweep her into his arms again and warmly embrace her. Jenny, wide-eyed and beet red, having trouble following on why Kyle was so happy in the first place, reluctantly hugged him back.

"Of course I'm still here," she laughed, petting one flap of his ushanka tenderly, "I never left! Well… I did leave your bedroom, but I never left your house! I couldn't sleep and didn't want to wake anyone, so I came downstairs." She then looked apologetic as she pulled away, staring into Kyle's eyes. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

But Kyle shook his head. "Of course not! I came downstairs because I was thirsty, but since we're both up... would you like anything?"

"Oh," said Jenny, "milk, if you don't mind!"

"Sure thing! Want a cookie, too?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Cool."

They stood there for a few more seconds until Kyle realized his fingers were squishing into Jenny's backside. Face hot and feeling that physical steam could explode from his ears at any second, he politely excused himself from the room to fetch the refreshments. A flushing Jenny retreated to her seat by the window, smiling wildly with her heart pounding a mile a minute. Being here, alone with the boy of her dreams… The very thought of romantic love made the butterflies hammer their wings against the insides of her stomach.

Kyle soon returned with two cookies and a couple glasses of milk in the crook of his left arm.

"Here," he said, offering Jenny the goodies.

"Thank you," she said kindly, taking them. "Oooh, snickerdoodles! Yummy!"

Kyle climbed onto the cushion beside her and began taking a sip of milk. He brushed away his mustache with his knuckles and smiled at Jenny.

"So," he started, hoping to establish conversation, "why're you up at this hour?"

Jenny chewed her snickerdoodle cookie slowly. She took a drink of her beverage and afterwards, heaved a sigh.

"Well… I suffered a nightmare, actually," she replied. "Um…" She bit her bottom lip in hesitance, but still carried on with her story. "Before you arrived, I was crying. I didn't want to bother anyone, so I pulled myself out of bed and rushed downstairs to put my mind at ease."

Kyle observed her closely. How could he have not noticed this before? Was he too blinded by his own happiness to notice her distress?

"Hey… talking helps," he suggested. He put his glass of milk on the floor and gave her a smirk of determination. "You of all people should know that… right?"

Scarlet had begun to flare everywhere on Jenny's face. "Oh, yes! I do, but…" She hesitated.

Kyle, concerned, scooted closer to his special guest. "But what?"

Jenny stared into the depths of the snow white liquid for a minute before giving her answer. She then set it on the ground next to Kyle's. She folded her hands together in her lap and rose her eyes to the window to watch the snow powder from the sky.

"I thought I had been over this whole ordeal for a while now," she said quietly. "… I've been in the same room with them, I've tolerated seeing them at parties, but… somehow they know where I'm at, what I'm doing at every waking second…"

She froze in place as she felt a tingle shiver down her spine. Kyle had wrapped an arm around her, and now he was holding her close, listening to every word she spoke. Blinking, Jenny glanced down at her hands, seeing that Kyle's free one was placed on top of them. He squeezed them in such a loving manner it made Jenny's little heart jump high into her throat.

"We were at a school dance," she continued, "it was simply ordinary… until you had gone off to get some punch for the both of us. I started wandering around, minding my own business, when I bumped into somebody. I apologized, and once he turned around, his head… was suddenly a red velvet cupcake! The mid-section ripped itself open, dripping with shit as its filling! What's also crazy about it is that Clyde's voice was completely normal! Wendy, Heidi, David… everyone's heads magically became cupcakes! I… I tried pushing my way through the students to escape but they kept coming, one after the other. Soon, I found myself surrounded. Kids were reaching out at me, yanking my skirt, clawing at my arms, practically begging me to give the treats a taste. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide..." She paused for a brief moment. "I was so frightened that I finally gave in and collapsed." She blushed madly at this, as though she was mortified of her impulsive decision making.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the snow together, until Jenny said,

"I'm glad that I eventually revealed all of this to you."

Kyle squeezed her hand, looking pleasantly relieved. "Well, I'm glad that you did, too. It was obviously bothering you…"

"It does sound a little silly," Jenny admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, dreaming about talking cupcake heads with poop for filling can be pretty messed up, but… you're still in the process of getting over this trauma," said Kyle softly. "Maybe you ought to pay a visit to Mr. Mackey on Monday. I could go with you and be your support!"

Jenny's smile broadened. "I would appreciate that."

They continued to watch the snow a little longer, but Jenny could feel herself finally beginning to drift off into dreamland. She woke immediately as she heard Kyle's voice in her ear.

"Come on," he said, taking her by the hand, "we should get you to bed."

She didn't protest.

After finishing their milk and putting the glasses in the sink, Kyle led Jenny upstairs. Once reaching the top, they began strolling toward Kyle's room when Jenny suddenly halted. Something didn't feel quite right… as though one of her bare feet was padding against the floor without some certain, cozy protection. She looked over her shoulder and discovered the lone houseshoe at the edge of the staircase.

"Oh, my slipper!" she gasped.

"Allow me," said Kyle. He went to retrieve it. Once the slipper was secure in his grip, he hurried toward Jenny and knelt down on one knee before her, beaming. "Here you are, Cinderella."

Gratitude swarmed the girl's heart.

She curtsied. "Thank you, my king."

He stood and bowed deeply. "It's no trouble at all, my queen."

Jenny snuggled her head comfortably against Kyle's shoulder and continued to hold his hand all the way to his bedroom, sighing happily.