"Class." the substitute teacher called, gathering attention. "Today's assignment will give you need for partners, so can everybody get that over with?"
The room bustled as students walked around scooting desks and switching spots. Kenny sat browsing potential partners. Stan and Kyle, of course, were side by side. They were out. Cartman caught his attention, trying to wave him over. Kenny was quick to flick him off as a rejection. Cartman had been an ass all day and he didn't want to put up with it anymore. Around he looked again. The whole class seemed to have already assembled with partners. Almost. Kenny noticed the quivering head of blond hair beside him. Butters? Had he sat there all year?
"Butters?" He asked through his hood.
The boy looked over startled.
"Y-yeah?"
"You need a partner? Cause I do."
Butters broke into a relieved grin.
"W-well sure Kenny! That'd sure be swell to have a partner!"
He moved his desk over so they both connected.
"What the hell Kenny! You chose Butters over me! What kind of-"
"Eric Cartman! Go to the office!"
Cartman's sneer was directed at the teacher.
"Suck my-"
A loud crack went off through the classroom. Everyone stared at the lead pipe the sub was holding against the broken pile that was Cartman's desk.
"Eric Cartman. Go to the office. Now."
Cartman came out of his flinch position, snot and tears running down his face.
"Yes, ma'am." he whimpered before running out the door. The sub put the pipe back behind the desk and turned towards the board.
"Ok. Your assignment, due next week, is…"
"Holy fuck! Isn't that illegal or something?" someone whispered.
"Oh my god she's gonna kill us!"
"Ha! Did you see Cartman's face!" another snickered.
"Class I would appreciate it if you were quiet!"
Voices settled, but the tension was still high. As class bore on, Kenny couldn't stop focusing on Butters presence. And it was annoying how right now, he felt drawn to it. It was only that same boyish face with pale skin and big, innocent, blue eyes, he'd seen since the 4th grade. It was just Butters. And he still couldn't look away. The said boy, looked over.
"Something wrong Kenny?"
Kenny looked down at his desk, rubbing his eyes.
"No."
He hadn't realized he'd been staring and now his eyes seemed completely dried out. The bell rang. Kenny listened until everybody had left, and finally decided to make his way out. Butters was there, waiting nervously.
"Hey. Why haven't you gone home yet? "Kenny asked, stopping in front of him. Butters rubbed his knuckles together, still nervous.
"Gee Kenny. Considering you're my partner and all…I just thought that we could start on our project."
"Right." Kenny said leaning up against the lockers "But I was kinda distracted during class…what are we doing?"
"We have to write something about a week in our lives or something…so which one of us do you want to write about?"
Kenny thought back to home. No heat. No food. The smell. Trashy look. Violent mother and father.
"You."
Butters nodded.
"Well, ok. How about you come stay at my house then? My parents went off on a two week vacation so you wouldn't have to worry about them…"
Kenny watched as Butters eyes zoomed back and fourth across the floor as if he were looking for his next words to jump out.
"But only if you want to come…B-but of course I should let you ask your parents first…but if you didn't want to come over I guess you wouldn't need to..."
"My parents wouldn't care even if I was-"
Kenny was stopped short by Butters look of concern.
"But I'll ask them to be sure."
Butters picked his head up cheerfully.
"That's great! Just show up when you can!"
Kenny slumped lower as Butters left for his house. He had no intention of going home like he said before. And no one seemed to notice if Kenny decided to go home or not, because in reality, they didn't even care if he were alive or dead. In 7th grade, he didn't come home for a strait month because he fell asleep in the back of someone's truck and woke up in Rhode Island. Not even a second glance once he was back.
The bell hadn't even finished ringing before the door opened.
"Your parents let you stay!" Butters piped up.
Kenny pulled his hood down as he entered.
"Yeah."
Butters left him by the door as he went into another room. The light went off and he was back again.
"Well, you got here kinda late, but that's ok! I was gonna go to bed so do you want to follow me?"
Kenny shrugged and followed Butters to his room. There was a sleeping bag ready next to the bed.
"You can sleep on my bed if you want to. I'll be fine on the floor."
"No thanks, I can sleep on the floor. You take your bed."
Butters eyed Kenny to make sure he wasn't just being polite.
"Ok then."
He was quickly under the covers, blue eyes peeking out. Kenny pulled his parka off and tossed it next to the sleeping bag.
"Kenny! What are ya doing!"
Kenny looked down at his bare chest.
"Well I usually don't sleep with just my shirt off, but it's my first night."
Butters ducked under the covers as the lights went out for the night.