A/N: There's only so many times I can go over a story without feedback, so here you are. This is my first chapter fic... Hopefully it goes well. A Creek fic is in the works, too, and it's farther along, but I figured I should post them in chronological order. Anyways, happy reading.

Luna

Butters sat in the diner, thinking. At one a.m. in the morning, Butters hadn't been able to sleep, and it had gotten to the point where he needed to get out of his dorm and away from campus.

Now he sat in the near-empty all-night diner, hot chocolate in hand, and observed the other people, his fellow insomniacs.

There was a woman sitting at a table across the room. She was wearing a short skirt and a tight top. Her eyes were puffy, and the makeup was smeared. She sniffled between large gulps of something Butters could only assume was alcoholic. Two men were sitting in the booth behind him. He could hear them talking about the woman. Butters blushed, and then frowned. They weren't saying very nice things.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and two young men walked in. One of them was short, stocky, muscular and brunette, the other was tall, skinny and blonde, with curly hair. The men were laughing loudly, arms around each other. The brunette yanked the blonde's collar, pulling him down to his level, and kissed him unabashedly. The brunette was staggering a bit, and the blonde was supporting him. They made their way to the booth in front of Butters. They reached the booth, and just as they were about to sit down, the blonde paused. "Butters?!"

Butters started. The man was staring at him, a look of amazement on his face. Butters studied the man... there was something familiar in that face... he remembered it nine years old and streaked with tears, he remembered the eyes wide with fear and shifting nervously in their sockets. Now, however, the countenance was calm and confident, eyes exuding warmth. "Bradley? Is that you?"

He smiled. "Yeah! How are you? I haven't seen you since... camp."

Butters nodded eagerly. "I'm fine-- studying theatre at the university-- but how have you been? Not confused anymore, I see," he added, looking at the brunette, who looked slightly befuddled and a little hostile. When he noticed Butters' eyes upon him, he smiled and took Bradley's hand, gripping it possessively.

Bradley looked down at his partner. "Oh, yeah-- this is Conrad. Conrad, this is Butters, my friend from Camp New Grace. Why don't you two get to know each other while I get us some food?" As he left for the counter, Conrad slid into the seat opposite Butters.

Conrad stared at Butters, still smiling. Butters noticed that his smile didn't reach his eyes. His fists were clenched. "Pleased to meet you," he said. He had a slight southern drawl similar to Butters' own, but his words were a little slurred. "Bradley never said anything about you." His last word was more than a little contemptuous. "Or...camp." Butters could tell that this man didn't like him one bit, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out why. Conrad's blonde boyfriend reappeared with three cheeseburgers and a basket of fries.

"Here, Con, burger and fries. Get something other than beer in your stomach." Bradley set the food down and Conrad began to eat slowly.

"So tell me about Camp...?" Conrad asked between bites. His question was directed only at Bradley.

"New Grace." the blondes said in unison. Conrad glared drunkenly at Butters, and Bradley looked like he was pretending not to notice.

"Oh, yeah. I never did tell you. Here's the story: When I was nine, my parents. being intense homophobes, sent me to this Christian camp to" -- he scowled-- "'pray the gay away.'"

Butters nodded. "You know, I was never quite sure why I was at that camp. Turns out some... asshole stuck his penis in my mouth before I knew what was happening and my dad walked in on us."

Conrad laughed unkindly. Bradley, however, looked a little nonplussed. "So you weren't really confused?"

"Oh, no, I was pretty confused, all right."

"No, I mean confusedconfused."

"Ooooh. No, I don't think so."

"Ah. That's ironic. You know I had the biggest crush on you," said Bradley, chuckling.

"-- Let's go," interrupted an irritated Conrad. "I don't want you around this guy."

Bradley looked confused, and a little apprehensive. Butters couldn't blame him, the drunk's face was dark with contempt. "Who, Butters?" Bradley asked. Conrad scowled.

"Look at the way he's looking at you," he said angrily, jerking his head towards Butters.

"He's not looking at me in any way!"

"Shut up, Brad. You don't know what you're talking about." Conrad seemed really irate now.

Butters felt the need to interrupt. The people in the diner were staring at them, and Bradley looked embarrassed and afraid. "-Excuse me, fellas--"

"No, you excuse me,asshole! Brad is mine, so you stay away from him, you little shit!" Now Conrad was in Butters' face, and Butters could smell the beer on his breath.

Butters was really afraid now. He'd always hated confrontation. He wasn't quite sure what to say, and desperately racked his brains. Thankfully, he didn't need to. Conrad suddenly yawned, sat back in his seat, and closed his eyes.

"He fell asleep," Bradley said wonderingly. Butters looked at Conrad more closely. The brunette was indeed passed out, his head on the table, snoring quietly. "I don't really like him, you know," Bradley said softly. "He's a nut job and an alcoholic. The only person I've ever wanted since I left that camp was you. And now I learn that I can never have you." He smiled sadly. "But you know, Conrad is trying to change. He's really sweet when he's sober. If I can't have you, he's the next best thing."

Butters laughed nervously. He was slightly flabbergasted by the revelation that he'd been loved for a decade and not known it. "Well, Bradley, I'm flattered. And I don't really know what to say, to tell the truth."

"I know. I'm sorry I said that. It must have been awkward for you. And I'm sorry for Conrad. Like I said, he's not always like this."

"Well. These things happen." Butters checked his watch. "Oh, hamburgers. I have a performance tomorrow-- er, in six hours. I've gotta go."

"Yeah, me too. I'd better get this one home." A jerk of the head toward his boyfriend. "It was so great to see you again, Butters," he said, standing up and dragging his companion to his feet.

Butters stood up as well. "You too, Bradley. Maybe we'll see each other around sometime." The two young men embraced, and Butters felt a warmth shoot through his body from his feet to the tips of his fingers.

And they parted ways.