Disclaimer: I do not own South Park. I am purely writing this for entertainment purposes and receive no money.
Author's Note 12/18/18: Hi everyone, I've been on hiatus for quite some time and decided there will be some changes. I realize now that I can't just change Cartman's personality without some character development. So I'm adding a prologue. If you remember the original version of this story it was a train wreck. So without further adieu let's get this show on the road.
Important! I will be taking down the previous chapters and editing them so they make more sense! I strongly encourage you to reread them!
-Boneheart
Prologue
It had started out as an average October morning in South Park, Colorado. Halloween was exactly a week away and Eric T. Cartman was as obnoxious as ever. He had grown into his body just a little, but was still well into the obese range. Falling just short of 5'4, he was positive he'd hit a growth spurt soon. He'd also traded in his coat and hat for a simple, red hoodie, a pair of blue jeans, and a grey beanie. He still had the same short, neat hair he's had since childhood.
The porky 7th grader was in his fourth period class texting away as usual,laughing louder than ever. He continued rocking back in forth, laughter hysterical. Pounded his fist against the table for the fourth time since class started.
" Haha, yea she really is a bitch." He absent mindedly shout-mumbled, looking down at his phone.
"Mr. Cartman that is enough, if you don't put your phone away I will send you to the office!"
Cartman gave a lazy eye roll, "Yes , I'm so sorry for disrupting your class. "
He slipped his phone into his pocket for the first time that day and looked around at the other students. He was so bored, he hated English.
Maybe I could bother Kyle, He thought, It's always so much fun.
With that Cartman put on the best shit-eating grin he could muster and turned to his left, propping his elbows on his desk with his cheek resting in his hands.
"Hey Kahl."
"Cartman. Don't start." The redhead glared
Kyle was now 5'7 and lean-muscled for a boy of his age. He had completely ditched the hat and had traded in his previous coat for a black field coat with an orange inside. His red curls fell just an inch or two below his ears.
"Stop what Kahl? " Cartman grinned
Kyle turned back towards the teacher with an eye roll, intent on acing the next exam. This action annoyed Cartman, over the years it had gotten harder and harder to get a rise out of people. Lucky for him he was always up for a challenge. The fat boy decided to cut to the chase and go for a direct assault.
He reached into his bag for what would've been his lunch, but he had a better use for it. With an amused chuckle he quietly swapped his bacon, cheese, and ham sandwich with Kyle's undoubtedly kosher one. Once his mission was complete he couldn't help but giggle, this would be epic.
"What're you laughing at fatass? " An irritated Kyle demanded
" Oh nothing " Cartman leaned back in his seat
" Whatever " the ginger turned back to his paper and began to write again.
There were 5 minutes left of class and then it would be lunch time. Cartman couldn't wait for the shit show to start. As soon as the unsuspecting jew bit into his sandwich he'd get a lovely, unkosher surprise.
He'll probably faint Cartman thought giddly
Right on time the bell rang and students quickly packed up and rushed to lunch. Cartman eagerly followed the mob to the cafeteria, staying closely behind Kyle. They made their way to their usual table, followed by Stan and Kenny. Once the group settled down he pulled out "his" lunch and watched as Kyle pulled out his. The unsuspecting redhead put the sandwich to his lips and bit into it.
He chewed for a few seconds, the look on his face growing more and more confused. At this point Cartman couldn't help but laugh. It was at this moment that Kyle looked at the contents of his sandwich, his eyes going wide.
"What the fuck fatass!" The engraved boy immediately spit the foul meat out," How dare you pull shit like this, I'll kill you!"
Kyle leapt over the table intent on strangling the the fatboy. Stan and Kenny immediately jumped up to hold him back, Cartman laughed the more he struggled in their grip.
"Guess you're not so kosher now, huh jewboy? " He wheezed in between chuckles
Kyle let out an enraged cry, " I swear to god, Cartman, this was the last straw. I'll never talk to you again."
Cartman continued to laugh, "Whatever, I need to find some real food, yours is shit." He walked off, laughing all the way to the lunchline
In the days to come Kyle had been true to his word. No matter what Cartman did he just couldn't get a rise out of him. He wasn't worried, at first, but then a week passed and another. Until it had been a month. He finally gave up and stopped talking to him all together. He decided he could just but Stan, but then Stan followed Kyle's example and so on until finally, in ninth grade, he found himself eating alone with no one to talk to.
People rarely acknowledged him. He had quit trying to get a rise out of people and started to sink into himself. After all, what was the point if no one responded? Halfway through ninth grade Craig began to pick on him. It had been small jabs at first, but over time it had gotten worse and worse. Everyone else continued to ignore him, but Craig remained there no matter how much Cartman tried not to respond.
By eleventh grade he actively avoided Craig. He didn't want any confrontation, he just wanted to be left alone. Cartman had truly changed, but not for the better. Somewhere along the way his conscious caught up with him. He felt awful, like he deserved the bullying. That didn't mean he had to like it though, at most he thought it'd help him repent.
Craig often got physical with him now. He was approximately 6'0 and much stronger than he looked. His clothing hadn't changed at all throughout the years, the sizes just got bigger. It seemed that he got more aggressive everyday, he was honestly terrifying. The only time he showed real emotion was when he abused Cartman, nothing was more terrifying than when he laughed. Cartman first found this out at the end of tenth grade. Finals had just began, school would end in a week and Craig was hostile as ever. They were in the cafeteria for lunch and he'd insisted Cartman join them for once.
"Don't hide in the stalls today, join us ", Craig purred with his arm wrapped around the boys shoulder
Cartman's heart soared before suspicion set in. Why would they suddenly want him? He'd eaten in the bathroom with no problem for over a year. When he ate lunch at least.
Since his isolation he'd come up with a number of ways to get people to like him, but it always went back to his looks. His attitude was fine now, so the only thing left to change was his weight. If that didn't work nothing would. It'd be a lost cause.
So he started dieting and saw some results, it was only five pounds, but it was encouraging. But it was taking so long, so sometimes he would skip lunch. It helped a little and he figured if he could get to 130 pounds he'd be safe. It was a lot smaller than 250 after all. He really didn't want to ruin his progress by eating with Craig.
" Why? You guys don't like me "
"Well " Craig cocked his head, " Maybe it's time you got another chance "
Cartman considered it for a moment, it was worth a shot at least. Besides, he was so desperate for acknowledgement.
"...Okay, but I need to use the bathroom first. "
" No, you can hold it ", the taller boy began leading Cartman to the cafeteria
" But I really need to-"
" Go when the bell rings ", Craig snapped
Cartman stayed silent as they sat down, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. The bell wouldn't ring for at least another 25 minutes and he hadn't gone since this morning. He looked around the table and decided it was best to keep his head down after seeing the glares from everyone else. The only people who weren't glaring was Stan, Kyle, and Butters, they refused to make eye contact.
" Here. Drink this ", A milk carton was shoved in his face
" N-not thirsty…" he stuttered
" Just drink it ", Craig demanded, " You need the fluids
Cartman reluctantly chugged the milk only for Clyde to shove a carton in his face. The process repeated until he'd chugged 4 cartons in a row. He felt nervous and very full now. Something was off. He needed to pee badly. His face was flushed and he broke into a sweat.
" C-can I be excused please ", he looked at Craig desperately and attempted to get up
" No, you can't. Now sit ", the taller boy put his arm back around Cartman's shoulder, holding him in place.
Cartman squirmed, he wasn't sure he could hold it that long. When would the bell ring?
" Please " , he pleaded ," Craig I really have to go. "
He heard a few chuckles in the background and it hit him. Did they plan this?
No, they wouldn't be that cruel he thought desperately
His eyes began tear up as he looked around. Almost everyone was smiling. The only ones who weren't were once again Stan, Kyle, and Butters. Once again they refused to look at him.
Maybe they'll help he thought
He bit his lip and looked at them desperately, if he didn't try he'd piss himself. He was struggling in Craig's grasp, but couldn't break free.
" K-kyle…", his voice wobbled and Kyle glanced at him, " Make them s-stop...Please. "
The redhead turned away at that and wouldn't look at him again. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he shut his eyes as he felt his bladder give out. He started to sniffle and bit his lip again in an attempt to silence himself. He heard the rest of the table begin to laugh before Kenny began to shout,
" He pissed himself, he actually pissed himself! "
Cartman began to cry harder, his face burning with shame. He felt more eyes on him as the whole cafeteria was alerted. Insults were thrown at him and the laughter got louder.
" Ew, what a piss baby ", he heard a girl shout
" Do you think he needs diapers? ", another laughed
Craig leaned in closer to the shaking boy, his lips an inch from his ear now.
" You can go now ", he whispered," Pissbaby"
He immediately got up and ran, hiding himself in the bathroom until he could safely go home. He was traumatized that day and grew increasingly suicidal until he began to cut. The bullying got a lot worse and the nickname would stick with him until senior year, when things would start changing.