AUTHOR'S NOTE: Much thanks to everyone who has read so far. I'd especially love to thank xichxliebexdichx for answering my lame question about how to add this blurb in. As y'all have probably noticed the boys ARE only 9 here, unlike most Fanfictions you'll read about South Park. There is a reason for this actually. I wanted to introduce the new characters in a more natural way when they're young so that they would fit more seamlessly into the story later. After chapter 3 there will be a time-skip and Chapter 4 will begin with Kenny's 16th birthday (March 22). From time to time I will be adding short stories that are set in the time between the third and fourth chapters. Those stories will be Canon with the main story. ^_^ Anyway, I'm done rambling here. Please enjoy my story. Reviews and comments are always appreciated.

Edited as of 3 September 2010

Chapter 1: New Students

Even in September snow glistened in piles on either side of the basketball courts as they played, passing the ball from one 9 year old boy to another. In the chilly Colorado air breath puffs floated along from the four and a pair of eyes studied them without their knowledge. The tallest boy caught the ball in his green mitted paws and took a shot, the ball sinking easily into the hoop with a clang. "YES!" He shouted, wiping the snow from his mittens on the tan coat he wore.

"Nice shot Kyle!" The next in line called. His red tufted blue hat slipped back slightly, revealing a snippet of black hair before he pulled it back into place without thinking. His cerulean eyes narrowed in concentration, and he took a shot, grinning as the ball once more swished into the chain link basket.

The invisible eyes continue to watch as he then tossed the ball to a rather overweight boy who caught it with a scowl before making his shot. Bouncing off the rim, the attempt failed. "God Damn it!" he yelled crossly.

"Hah, Fat-Ass!" The first boy, Kyle, yelled at him. "You have an O now!"

"Shut up you stupid Jew!" The heavier child screamed back, throwing the ball rather roughly in the general direction of the last 4th grader. It bounced past the final boy and flew behind the nearest building, to his obvious annoyance. Most of his face was shrouded in a bright orange Parka hood, but his blue eyes narrowed and his muffled speech sounded angry.

The black haired boy glared at the fat kid. "Go get it Cartman." He instructed.

"No, it's Kenny's turn, make him get it!" The hefty one answered crossly.

"C'mon, the exercise would do you good." Kyle insisted.

"Hey!" Cartman yelled back. "You know what…screw you guys, I'm going home!"

"We have school Fat-Ass!" Came the unison retort from the others.

"Fine, I'm going to the classroom then!" With that, he stormed away, leaving the three more evenly tempered boys glaring after him. Finally the one in the parka sighed and started towards the run-away ball, and unknowingly towards the figure that had been watching them.

With his hands shoved in his pockets he rounded the corner, shocked to find the ball held out towards him in the small hands of a girl his own age. Fingerless black gloves held the orb, which shielded most of her face from him. He did notice however, her startling green gaze looking straight into his own blue one. "Thanks." He mumbled, taking it from her. She almost seemed reluctant to release it, but finally the ball was his once more and he trotted back to the other two boys.

"What took so long Kenny?" Kyle asked. His green hat was now held in one hand, revealing a wild mess of red curls. Wiping his brow with the other hand he motioned towards the basket.

"It's still your turn dude." The other boy added.

"Sorry." Rang the muffled response from Kenny. "There was a girl back there, she wouldn't let go of the fuckin' ball."

"Dude, Weak." His companions chorused.

The hooded child stepped back, starting to take his shot when the bell rang, signaling the beginning of another school day at South Park Elementary. "Damn it!" He cursed, dropping the ball. It bounced off of his foot then rolled towards his friends before Kyle picked it up.

"C'mon Stan, Kenny, we don't want to be late again!" he called to them, trotting with the ball in hand towards the open back door of the school. The other two followed him, but at the last moment, Kenny found himself looking backwards towards the building. The girl wasn't there, and he shrugged, she'd probably gone to her class by now.

When all the other students had gone, a small shape emerged from behind that building, gesturing behind her with her fingerless gloves. Finally another girl grabbed her hand and the two made their way through the door after the other children.

ooo

Stan sighed as he sat down at his desk, remembering just now that he'd forgotten to do one of the math sheets assigned to them by last week's substitute teacher. "Shit dude…" He hissed at Kyle. "Did you do that multiplication chart?"

"No. Mr. Garrison won't ask for it anyway." His best friend answered. "He never does."

"Yeah, but just in case-" He was interrupted as a green clad man stepped to the front of the room.

"Okay class; now I know we're all relaxed from the 3-day weekend, but it's time to get back to work. I have a worksheet packet here all about last week's episode of Entertainment Tonight, read it and memorize it because we're going to have a little quiz right afterwards." His slightly twangy accent rang to sounds of misery, students rolling their eyes even though they were used to his unorthodox teaching style. "Token, hand these out to your classmates please." The balding teacher instructed, handing a thick stack of papers to the only African-American student in the classroom. Turning, he picked up a piece of chalk, about to write on the board when a curly haired blonde woman poked her head in the classroom door.

"Mr. Garrison, we have a couple of new students to your class, do you mind letting them introduce themselves?"

"Oh well I guess not." He answered. "Class, it looks like we have some new students joining us today. I want you all to pretend to listen while they introduce themselves and applaud when they're done, okay? I'll take it from here Principal Victoria."

"Yes Mr. Garrison." Stan Chorused with the other students, taking his worksheet from Token and looking to the door curiously. It wasn't every day that new students showed up. "Hopefully they're not aliens this time." He muttered to Kyle and Kenny.

Kenny laughed with the rest of the class, but then stopped dead when he saw the familiar startling green eyes staring at him again. This time he got a good look at the girl as she stood there in front of the class with another girl clutching her hand tightly. She was clad in normal blue jeans with ripped knees and a baggy black sweatshirt was zipped almost all the way up, hiding most of her green shirt. Her hair was in a low, short ponytail and it was an orangey red somewhat lighter than Kyle's. From his left Kenny vaguely heard Cartman mutter: "She's a Day-walker!"

"I'm Naomi." She said quietly, looking at Mr. Garrison as though wondering what to say next.

"Well go on, tell us where you're from and stuff like your favourite colour, animal, and T.V show." The man snapped impatiently.

"I'm from California, I like green, my favourite animals are snakes, and I like to watch Terrence and Phillip." She finished, glaring back at him. "There." With that she tucked an escaping strand of hair behind one ear and gently pulled the other girl forward.

Her companion's blue eyes remained mostly on the floor, but finally she looked up and spoke. "I'm Sara. I like blue, cats, and I don't watch much T.V….I like to read." Her hair was pale yellow, and fell in frizzy curls just past her shoulders. She wore jeans as well, without the holes, and a gray sweatshirt over her purple top.

"Thank you both." Mr. Garrison said. "You can sit in the two empty seats next to Eric. Raise your hand Eric."

"I don't wanna sit next to them!" The fat boy complained. "That half-ginger one looks like she'll eat me or something!"

"Just shut up and raise your hand Fat-Boy!" Kyle hissed. "And there's nothing wrong with red hair!" Sara looked up and smiled slightly in his direction, obviously approving of his retort.

"Yeah dude." Stan agreed, pointing to the red-haired newcomer, who was glaring in Cartman's direction. "And I think she should be more worried that you'll eat her."

The two girls made their way back and sat down in the aforementioned seats, Sara with her eyes less downcast and Naomi with one brow raised. "Hmmph." The red-head snorted. "He'd have to catch me first." With that statement made she opened her black bag, pulling a notebook and pens out and arranging them on her desk almost methodically.

"Calm down children." Mr. Garrison toned obviously bored. "Now, let's all continue with our hand-outs. Who can tell me why are Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt fighting this time?"

"Who cares?" Sara's voice ventured. "They're just movie stars…"

"Young lady, do you want a detention on your first day in my class?" The gay man asked angrily, pointing his ruler at the new student.

"I guess not…" She answered quietly.

"Then you'll learn not to be a smartass in my classroom." He finished. "Now then, as I was saying, who can tell me what's gotten into the world's most beautiful couple this time?"

Naomi rolled her eyes and turned to Cartman. "Is this a joke?"

"Don't talk to me Ginger Spawn!" he hissed back at her angrily, making the sign of the cross against her as though she were some sort of demon.

"Listen you fat fuck, I just want to know why he's not teaching…you know teacher stuff." She growled back.

"He always does this." Kyle answered. "We never learn anything good unless there's a sub, right Kenny?"

"Yeah, but at least he's not using the fucking puppet anymore!"

"Puppet?" Sara asked.

"Yeah dude. He used to have this puppet called Mr. Hat and he talked to it and acted like it was a real person and everything…" Stan explained.

"Dude, Mr. Hat was possessed or something!" Kyle exclaimed. "That thing broke him out of prison once, don't you remember? How could a normal puppet drive a car!"

"Class, shut up and read your worksheets or you're all getting after school detention!" Rather than frustrate him more, the students complied, reading the packets with their heads bowed until the lunch bell sounded.

ooo

The cafeteria echoed with bits of conversation as always and the four boys stood in line with their trays, watching the two new girls as they sat alone at a corner table. "Dude, why do you think they moved here from California?" Stan asked curiously. "Who would do that?"

"Maybe they're in the witness protection program!" Kyle mused.

"No way. I bet they killed someone. That Naomi girl probably set some poor guy on fire with her evil day-walker powers and that other girl is probably psychic or something!" Guessed Cartman.

"I heard their parents are dead and they have to live with a traveling circus that goes from town to town." Said an unmistakable nasal toned voice behind them.

"No way. Where'd you hear that Clyde?" Stan asked.

"Bebe told me that Rebecca told her that Butters heard from that British kid Pip who saw them move in." He answered.

"Pip's not here today!" Kyle groaned.

"We'll just have to ask Butters. C'mon guys." As usual Stan led the group, leaving the line to head towards the table where a little blonde boy sat surrounded by a few unpopular kids.

"Well hiya Fellas!" he cheered upon seeing them. "Why, you guys don't usually sit over here…how come you wanna see me?"

"Butters, this is very important." Cartman asked with an intense look in his eyes as he put a hand on the kid's shoulder. "We need you to be very honest with us."

"Well…I guess I can do that…" he answered, rubbing his hands together nervously. "What's all this about?"

The overweight boy cleared his throat. "Did that Day-Walker and her blonde tumor kill Pip so he wouldn't tell that they're on the run from the law?"

"Shut up Cartman!" Kyle screeched. "They did not kill anyone, and she is NOT a tumor!"

"Yeah dude, that's not cool. Butters, just tell us what you heard from Pip." As was usual, when Stan spoke, the rest of the guys listened.

"W-well he just told me that there's a house down the street that lots of different kids live in, mostly teenagers, and that there's a lady that lives with 'em. I guess the other day this van pulled up and those two girls got out...that's all he said."

"Were they bloody…WERE THEY BLOODY BUTTERS, I NEED TO KNOW!" Cartman harassed, shaking the tiny boy roughly.

"Oh shit…" Kyle hissed as from the corner of his eye he saw the girls walking towards them.

"Dude, shut the fuck up already!" Kenny yelled, punching Cartman in the shoulder. He knew that Stan and Kyle were hoping like he was that they hadn't heard.

The two passed them completely and they all heaved a sigh as the girls dumped their trays in the trash. Just then however Naomi turned and walked back to their group with her hands in the pockets of her sweatshirt. "No Cartman, we weren't bloody….but you might be later…" A small click was their only warning and suddenly a small, sharp knife was pressed to the heavy boy's throat. His eyes bugged slightly and he whimpered. The instance was brief however and before anyone really knew what had happened the knife was gone and she was walking back towards Sara, who waited at the trashcan. The blonde had apparently been watching the entire scene play out and she leveled the boys with an icy stare before high-fiving her companion as they exited the room.

"Dude." Kyle said lowly.

"Yeah." Stan answered.

"That fuckin' rocked!" Kenny finished, putting words to what the other two were undoubtedly thinking.

"Man California girls are lame bitches." Cartman complained. "They should get back in the kitchen where they belong…I coulda kicked her ass, stupid Day-Walker cunt."

Stan rolled his eyes and Kenny Glared.

"You were about to pee your pants Fat-ass. She scared the shit out of you and you know it!" The Jew shot back.

"No I wasn't! She didn't scare me at all!"

"Dude, you whimpered." Stan recalled.

"Nuh-uh….I was just…I was just you know letting her feel good cuz she's new and ugly and has no friends and I'm totally awesome like that!"

"She's not ugly you vaginal belch!" The parka-clad boy responded, throwing the crumpled brown paper bag from his lunch towards his crude friend.

"I think you saw your life flash before your eyes Cartman." taunted Kyle as they started walking out of the cafeteria.

ooo

The next week passed normally, although Kyle noted that Naomi and Sara didn't speak at all in class. The two girls seemed almost ensconced in a world of their own, never straying from each other's side and always somehow apart from the rest of the 4th grade students of South Park elementary. For some reason, he felt a bit guilty, feeling like they had been somehow offended by Cartman's words. That wasn't at all normal. Everyone knew that the fat kid was an asshole and usually ignored everything he said, but being new, he supposed the girls hadn't gotten that memo yet. Finally, he resolved himself to apologize, at least to Sara. Quite honestly, Naomi scared him a little bit and he imagined himself being skewered on that little knife as he tried to say sorry. The day came and he saw his chance in the form of Sara walking into the classroom without her constant red-haired companion.

"Hey." He tried, smiling nervously at her.

She kept her eyes down, focusing on getting homework from the blue trapper-keeper in her backpack. "Hi."

"So…uh….where's your friend?" He tried again, hoping the subject of the red-head might make her open up a bit more.

"Sister."

"Huh?"

"Sister." She said again, correcting him and looking up as if daring him to question it.

The Jewish boy didn't heed the look. "But you two look nothing alike."

"We're Foster Sisters." She clarified. "We've been together for a long time, so if she's not my real sister, she's the closest thing I've ever had."

"Oh…Right…Wait, what's a Foster sibling…my brother's adopted, does that mean he's my Foster Brother?" Somehow, he lost track of the apology in his curiosity.

She laughed quietly and he couldn't help but notice that she looked completely different when she smiled. "No. Naomi and I live with other foster kids at a Foster home." She explained.

"Why? Don't you have a Mom and Dad?" He blurted before he could think.

Her eyes darkened and she looked down. "No. My parents died in an accident when I was really little and Naomi got taken away from hers. A Foster home is where you go when they decide that no one wants to adopt you, but you still gotta go to school and stuff. I think Naomi scares people and I'm just…not what people want…" she grew quiet then and Kyle mentally slapped himself.

"Um…" A bit angry at himself Kyle searched for something to say and looked around the classroom. "Hey, why don't you come to Stan's birthday party tomorrow?" He blurted.

She looked up in surprise. "Why?"

"Because….everyone cool will be there, and you guys should make some friends here." He answered quickly. When she began to glare he added "You can bring Naomi with you." Hastily.

"I don't know. Naomi's sick at home right now…She might not be better by then…"She answered. "I like to take care of her when she's sick, and we don't have a present."

He thought for a moment. "You don't need one. Stan's my best friend, he's really nice. Come if she's feeling better, to make up for the fat-ass being a jerk, please?"

The blonde girl thought for a moment then nodded. "Well okay I guess. I don't think she'll mind too much."

Relieved, Kyle scribbled the address on a piece of note paper and handed it to her. "Thanks. I feel really bad about what Cartman said and I want to make sure you guys know that none of us believe him. No one ever listens to that asshole you know."

Sara smiled again, shyly, and nodded. "That's good to know…we didn't kill a guy you know…"

Mr. Garrison walked in just then and everyone started gravitating towards their respective desks. "I know you didn't." Kyle answered, smiling back at her. "You two don't seem that bad."

"It was a woman we killed." Sara finished, turning and walking to her desk without another word, though she did wave back at him airily.

She was just joking. He hoped.

ooo

"You did what?" Stan exclaimed, looking at Kyle through somewhat annoyed blue eyes. "Why dude!" His foot connected solidly with a rock as they walked from the bus stop towards their homes.

Kyle sighed. "I couldn't help it. They seem nice and it sucks that what Fat-Ass said would make them feel like no one wants to be their friend…besides, what do you say when you hear that someone's parents are dead?"

"You say 'I'm sorry for your loss' or some junk like that, not 'hey why don't you and your scary foster sister come to my best friend's birthday party and give Cartman another reason to open his fat mouth'." The slightly shorter boy answered. "That's what you say."

"Aw c'mon dude, it won't be so bad." Just then Kenny joined them and Kyle turned to the parka wearing boy. "Hey Kenny, what do you think of the new girls? Was it weird of me to invite them to Stan's party tomorrow?"

"I think it'll be funny. Cartman will probably piss himself when he sees that red-haired chick!" Kenny replied, shoving his hands deeper into the pockets of his parka. "He still starts sweating whenever she passes him in the hall."

Stan laughed. "Well okay, I guess it's worth it to see that asshole scared by a girl."

"Yeah dude. You better go tell your mom that 2 more people are coming. I'll go with you." The Jewish boy offered.

"Sure. Kenny, don't tell Cartman that they're coming, okay? We'll see you tomorrow!"

At their street the boys parted ways, Kyle and Stan turning in at Stan's house to tell Mrs. Marsh about the extra guests, and Kenny across the tracks to the miniscule bad side of town where his family lived in relative poverty.

"Kenny, go to the bar and get your no good father!" His mother screeched the second he walked in, her heavy white-trash accent even more obvious than usual. Oh how he hoped he never acquired that trait. "And while you're there put some peanuts in your pockets to go with dinner, we're having microwave pizza bagels again tonight."

With a sigh he walked directly back outside, vaulting the torn up couch on their lawn out of habit and heading downtown towards the bar where he assumed the greatest redneck population in the world spent most of their days. The bell rang as he entered, just in time to hear a familiar voice say. "Hey, you're just a kid, we don't take kindly to your types in here…." Kenny rolled his eyes and ignored him.

"Now Skeeter, he aint hurtin' nobody…" the bartender protested, trying to calm the redneck's ire.

Kenny flipped the man off and ignored the hick, trying to locate his father in the dimly lit room. Somehow, amidst the stench of alcoholic drinks and the fog of cigarette smoke he vaguely heard the rest of their conversation.

"No, I wanna know why them kids is always bargin' into this here bar when it's supposed to be only people over 21 year olds that walk in this place…."

"Now Skeeter, we don't want no trouble…" Kenny finally tuned the conversation out when he saw his father slumped over a table in the corner.

"Dad, Mom wants you to get your butt home for dinner, she's putting the pizza bagels in the microwave right now..." He said, tugging on his dad's shirt sleeve.

"Oh boy, pizza waffles…c'mon Ken, let's get home…be sure to shove some peanuts in your pockets too so that we can have something with dinner." His father's nasal toned, and obviously drunk voice answered.

"Yeah I know, mom already told me that." Pouring bowls of peanuts from the bar and the nearest couple of tables into his pockets Kenny followed the adult onto the street, leaving the bar just as the newest hit song began playing on the radio.

As they walked, the radio DJ's voice echoed behind them from the still open door of the bar. "And now on Denver's YJ17 we have the beautiful music of Wing, singing her new single, a remake of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Stay tuned for all the newest, hottest music here in Colorado on Yj17."