"...and that's why I believe that the media uses objectification and sexualization to increase profits in make-up and dieting products." Wendy's voice was clear, loud, and was sure to turn the heads of anyone who had walked by the stage in the cafeteria, which most people had. "So, if you'd like to join me in my campaign to send letters to the companies that use these ideals to sell their products to women, please contact me after school. Thank you!" Bowing, her black hair fell from her shoulder to hang freely in the air. As she stood back up, the Debate Team gave her a round of applause, and so did the Women's Rights Club, and the Mathematics group, until the entire cafeteria was rowdy with jeers and claps. The girl's face flushed, a smile bright on her face, and she walked off the stage, small heels clicking against the steps. She looked like she was glowing, her brown eyes shining and cheeks a brilliant shade of red. Absolutely gorgeous.
And that's when Eric Cartman, self-proclaimed 'genius', and excelling violin player (if he said so himself), realized that he may or may not have stared too hard. He tried to remind himself that she wasn't that pretty, she still had that stupid birthmark on her neck that looked kind of like a star if you got a good glimpse at it and she still had those stupid freckles on the bridge of her nose that she earned after being a Girl Scout in middle school for all three years before quitting because she broke her leg and she still had that stupid way she spoke that she'd always look like she was a bit happy even when she was fuming and GOD, he hated it.
He hated all of it.
"Dude," a hand grazed his shoulder, and he turned to see Kyle giving him a concerned expression. To be honest, he hadn't really changed since elementary school. Freckles were everywhere on his face, and probably everywhere else, if Cartman had to guess. His hair, a short mass of thick curls, was still a bright orange, earning him the nickname "Carrot-top" among some of the kids at school. Being a member of the Agriculture Club didn't help the moniker, either.
"What's up?" Eric sneered, turning around fully so that he wouldn't have to spend his time staring at Wendy again. She really was on his mind a lot lately.
"You've got it something awful. You were looking at her like she was a five-star meal, man." The violinist found himself turning red, and letting out a small "tch" in reply.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. She's just a bitch in the Debate Club." Well, not exactly. She was captain of the Debate Club, co-captain of the Women's Rights Club, second to Bebe, and the treasurer of the South Park Charity Movement down the street. Wait, how did he know all that...?
"She's just a bitch in the Debate Club that you're totally sweet on." The ginger retorted, smiling. "Yo, McCormick, you saw him ogling at her too, right?"
"Mmhm!" Nodding, the hooded boy gave them both a toothy grin. "I thought he was spacing out, but nah, that was a total check-out he checked out!" Kenny was too talkative for his liking. After the unfortunate death of his mother, he was picked up by a foster home along with his sister, Karen. He heard from some other kids that they were loaded, but he hadn't really looked for himself.
Kenny and Karen, who was a year younger than them, both worked hard for the South Park Charity Movement, but that's really all Cartman knew. He looked near the same as he did years ago, with shaggy blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and never lost the hood. Sometimes he wonders how that thing still fits, but hey, it's South Park, anything goes.
"Fuck off, guys. I wasn't looking at her. I wasn't even paying attention to her. What was she even talking about, anyway? Something about the sexualization of women in America's society or something?"
"That's exactly what she was talking about."
Shit. He really did have it bad.
"A-anyway," he tried to change the subject, stuttering, "what's everyone doing tonight? I was planning on dropping by Stark's Pond to go smoke one or two."
Kyle took out his iPhone, clearing his throat as if to make an announcement. "I'm going to Ag Club, you know that. Kenny has a promotional dinner to go to for the McCormick-Eisenhower Charity Branch. Stan has football practice again, and you know how all of Team Craig, sans Tweek, does football or track. Coffee kid's working overtime, too." Sometimes, Cartman had to wonder how the hell the boy he picked on in the fourth grade became such a social butterfly.
"Bebe, Red, and Heidi are doing another meeting in the girl's lair with the other chicks. You know how strict they are about those things." Kenny added, chipping in. Karen's probably going to be there too. Dammit.
"What about Wendy?" Cartman blurted, causing the two boys who had previously been blabbering to go silent and look at each other.
"Actually..." Kyle started, flipping through the pages on his phone.
"...he has no idea!" The blond finished, adding a giggle for emphasis. "She told Karen that she wasn't going to the meeting because she was 'busy', and I heard from Clyde that Bebe said Wendy's not going to WR tonight, either." He gave Eric a grin. "You plannin' somethin'?"
"Of course not." Opening a cola with a satisfying pop, he took a large swig. "I was just. Just wondering."
A quiet set of feet tapped by, sliding into a seat next to Kenny. "Wondering what?" She asked. "Come on, guys, I'm part of this group too. You keep forgetting that just because I'm a girl."
Marjorine was a subject no one could really forget about, but at the same time, wasn't something that anyone mentioned until the fateful day in 8th grade that the innocent blonde boy they all knew said that he wasn't exactly a he. Maybe he was a she. No one knew the details for sure in such a confusing time of their lives, but Marjorine slowly came in, and Butters faded out, with no questions asked.
She was a nice girl for South Park standards, with soft blonde curls reaching her shoulders and blue eyes. Eric would even say that she was pretty, but of course, girls aren't important to him at this point. All he needs is his violin and a quiet Friday night like tonight. Which is exactly why he's taking out his phone and asking Kyle what Wendy's number is.
That's exactly why.
Marjorine listened intently as Kenny whispered to her the situation, smile widening at every word and Cartman's grimace growing ever so slightly with it. "Really?" She squealed, voice nearly cracking. "Gosh, Eric, that's awesome! Best of luck to you!"
"Wait, wait, wait!" He barked in reply, eyes glaring like daggers over to the boy. "What did you say, McCormick!?"
"Just that you were going to ask Wendy out. No big." He shrugged, and the brown-haired boy could feel his face setting ablaze.
"One," he held up one finger, trying to mask his embarrassment. "Fuck you, Kenny. Two, I'm not asking Wendy out, and three, I'm going to Stark's Pond alone, for your information. I don't need you guys anyway."
"Fine then," Kyle said, waving his hand nonchalantly. "Do what you want, lover boy. We're not going to stop you."
Eric slipped his phone into his pocket, mumbling angrily as he stood up and left the cafeteria. "Tell my English teacher that my essay's on her desk and my history teacher to look in his third drawer on the right, Kyle."
"Got it. Where are you headed?"
"That's none of your business. Just do what I said, okay?" Carrot-top couldn't really argue, so he turned back to the boy and girl he had been talking to as Cartman opened the double doors and ventured out into the (eternally cold) weather.