Final chapter. I'm taking a break after this, to come up with new plots (if I can).

Kenny had finally come home. His dad was awake.

Stuart: Hey, Kenny...

"Great. Here comes the apology for being a drunk asshole."

Stuart: ...Listen, I can barely remember what happened, but I-
Kenny: Oh, shut up, dad. You get drunk, then you yell and then you apologize like it makes everything better. And that's if I'm lucky.

Kenny's dad lowered his head in shame.

Kenny: ...I'm sorry, it's just... something happened and I'm-
Stuart: No, don't apologize. You're right.

Kenny hadn't snapped like that at anyone in years. He wanted to apologize, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Not after what he said.

Kenny: ...I should go.

With that, Kenny headed to his room. He sat at his desk and started thinking. Why was he so upset? Sure, Kyle kissed him, but he told Kyle it was a mistake, and he understood it. Kenny turned on his computer. He needed to forget about today's events.

Meanwhile, Cartman was feeling depressed. He wanted to talk to someone. He could talk to his mother, but she would just tell him that everything would be alright, as usual. He wanted someone who would tell him the truth. He grabbed a paper from his desk drawer and looked at it. It was a very old drawing Butters made for him. Despite all that he had done to Butters, he still considered him a friend. Cartman held the drawing with great care. It made him feel better. It made him feel safe. He put the drawing back in its place and lied down on his bed, thinking about Butters.

Kyle was still sleeping when Butters arrived at his house. He heard the doorbell but remained lying down.

Leopold: Hello, Mrs. Broflovski. Is Kyle home?
Sheila: Oh, yes, he's upstairs. Come in, I'll make you some tea.
Leopold: Thanks, but that's alright. I just came to talk to Kyle.

When Kyle heard Butters heading upstairs to his room he quickly wiped his tears, opened a book and pretended to read it.

Leopold: Hey, Kyle.

Butters sat down beside Kyle and gave a long, weary sigh.

Kyle: What's wrong?
Leopold: I could ask you the same thing. You've been crying, I see.
Kyle: How did you know?
Leopold: Aside from the fact that you're holding that book upside down and that you look like crap?

"He really is smarter than he lets on..."

Leopold: I'm guessing you didn't follow my advice... I had already called Kenny to ask him about it, but you didn't tell him yesterday. Judging from your face, you told him today, though. And he didn't take it well.
Kyle: I didn't really tell him anything, per se, I just... I just... grabbed him and kissed him.

Butters was astounded by the way Kyle dealt with his feelings. Everyone always thought Kyle was a coward, so this was completely unexpected. Butters smiled a bit.

Leopold: How did you manage to do that when you couldn't even talk to him about it?

Kyle looked at Butters and, seeing his smile, laughed a bit.

Kyle: I have no idea.
Leopold: What did he say?
Kyle: He pretty much told me that it was a mistake.
Leopold: "Pretty much"?
Kyle: He didn't really finish his sentence, he kept changing how he was going to say what he wanted to say, I just assumed that that's what he meant.

Butters' smile disappeared and he went deep into his thoughts. Kenny didn't loose his ability to speak unless it was something that made him confused or embarrassed. Realizing this, he smiled once more.

Kyle: What are you smiling about now?
Leopold: It's nothing. Look, don't worry, Kyle. It's gonna be alright. I have to go now, though. There's some stuff I gotta do.
Kyle: Alright... It was nice seeing you.
Leopold: It was nice seeing you too, Kyle.

Butters got up and left. He thought about talking to Kenny directly, but that would never work. There was someone else who would be better suited for that task. Cartman.

Liane: Hello, Butters. Would you like some tea?

"What's with the fucking tea?"

Leopold: No, that's alright, Mrs. Cartman. I just came here to talk to Eric.
Liane: Oh, I'm afraid Eric isn't feeling very well today. You should come back tomorrow.
Leopold: Oh... Well, that's alright. Thanks.
Liane: You're welcome.

Butters was slightly worried about Cartman, but he tried to ignore it. He was probably just faking it so his mom wouldn't make him go to school on Monday.
Meanwhile, Cartman had heard the whole conversation and was staring out of his bedroom window. He looked at Butters as he was walking away.

Eric: Butters...

Kenny, Kyle and Cartman spent the rest of the day in their houses, each for his own reasons. Butters, however, decided to talk to Kenny directly. He couldn't wait for Cartman to start "feeling better".

Butters arrived at Kenny's house fairly quickly. He wanted to talk to him as soon as possible. He knocked on the door and took a deep breath to calm himself down.

Stuart: Hey, you're Kenny's friend, right? Uh... Butters, is it?
Leopold: Yeah. Hello, Mr. McCormick.
Stuart: So, how can I help you?
Leopold: Well, I just came over to talk to Kenny. Is he around?

Stuart, recalling the earlier discussion with his son, once again lowered his head slightly.

Stuart: Yeah, he's upstairs in his room...

"What's with him?"

Leopold: Can I come in then?
Stuart: Sure. You know where his room is, right?
Leopold: Yeah. Thanks.

Kenny's strategy to play video games to forget about the kiss wasn't working. He couldn't focus on anything.
Butters ran up the steps and stood outside Kenny's room. Before he knocked on the door, a thought crossed his mind: What was he going to tell Kenny? "Hey, Kenny, I know you like Kyle, I think you should tell him?"

"Trial by fire, I guess." thought Butters as he knocked on the door.

Kenny quickly got up from his chair and opened the door. He was surprised to see Butters.

Kenny: It's nice to see you, Butters.
Leopold: It's nice to see you too, Ken.
Kenny: Come in, let me get you a chair.

Kenny wasn't the smartest of the four boys, but he knew Butters came to his house to talk about Kyle. He got a chair that was near his bookshelf for Butters and sat back down at his desk.

Kenny: So, I'm guessing you came over to talk about Kyle.
Leopold: Is it that obvious?
Kenny: Well, considering that we haven't talked in a week or so and that he kissed me today, yes.

Butters was surprised that Kenny was talking about it so openly. After speaking with Kyle, he expected some sort of denial or embarrassment. But there was nothing like that. In fact, there wasn't much of anything. Kenny said it with such a monotonous voice that for a second Butters thought he might be dying.

Leopold: Ken, are you alright?
Kenny: Yeah. Why do you ask?
Leopold: ...It's probably nothing. Never mind.

Kenny was tired of that answer. "Never mind" was all Butters would say to him when asked about something important.

Kenny: Butters, just tell me what the fuck it is.
Leopold: It's just that... you don't seem to care about what happened. It's not like you not to care.
Kenny: I care, but it's over. I told Kyle it was a mistake and he understands that.

"That's a lie." thought Butters.

Leopold: You didn't tell him anything. He had to guess.
Kenny: ...He knew what I meant to say. That's all that matters.
Leopold: Really? I've known you for as long as I can remember. You don't stutter. Ever.

Kenny grew increasingly uncomfortable with the conversation. He wanted Butters to stop talking about Kyle.

Kenny: It was nothing.

"Why won't Butters just leave me alone?"

Leopold: Kenny, we both know that's not true.
Kenny: Butters, I'm sorry, but if all you're gonna do is stand here and call me a liar while talking about something I don't want to talk about, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. Now.

Butters thought Kenny was serious so he got up and left.

Despite what Kenny told Butters, he knew he was right. It meant something. But was it meaningful in a good way or a bad way?

Butters finally decided to go home. There was no point in going around the town for no reason. His parents were in the living room, but he didn't talk to them. He didn't want to be bothered by their hurtful comments again.

Stephen: Butters, there's-
Leopold: Shut up, dad. I'm going up to my room.

"Fucking dad."

Butters went up the stairs, ignoring his father's "You're grounded!" comments and closed the door behind him. When he turned around, he saw the last person he expected.

Eric: Hey, Butters...

"The fuck is he doing here?"

Leopold: Hey. I wanted to talk to you, but your mom said you weren't feeling well.
Eric: Yeah, I wasn't...

Butters was once again worried about Cartman. If he was really faking it, he wouldn't have come all the way to his house. Even his mom wouldn't believe he suddenly felt better and then got worse less than 24 hours later.

Leopold: Are you alright now?
Eric: Sorta...

Cartman was growing increasingly uncomfortable around Butters. He felt like someone was surfing inside his stomach and it was getting harder for him to talk. Every time he looked at Butters he could feel his blood rushing to his face. Because Cartman had never felt love before, he didn't know what was going on. He knew it had something to do with Butters, but that was pretty much it. In the back of his mind, almost unconsciously, he wondered if this was love.

Leopold: I'm glad you're here, Eric.

With that, Cartman smiled a bit. He didn't know why, but knowing that Butters liked his presence made him happy.

Eric: Really? Why?
Leopold: Well, I needed to talk to you. It's about Kenny and Kyle...
Eric: Oh... That...
Leopold: So you... saw?
Eric: You're asking if I saw Jew-boy kissing Kenny? Yeah, I saw.

Butters was astonished that Cartman hadn't mocked them. "Maybe he's changing..."

Eric: What do you wanna talk about, specifically?
Leopold: Uh... Well, um... I think we both know that Kenny-
Eric: Yeah, Kenny enjoyed it. So what? Are they dating now or something?
Leopold: No, that's the thing. Kenny... Kenny won't admit that he likes Kyle.
Eric: ...And you came to me for help?
Leopold: You're the only one who can talk to him about it. I've tried, he wouldn't listen to me, and Kyle won't do it.
Eric: Butters, I don't give a shit about what those fags do in their free time. I'm not gonna help you.

Butters was getting angry at Cartman. Why was he such an asshole to everyone?

Leopold: Why the fuck not?
Eric: Leviti-
Leopold: Oh, shut the fuck up, Eric. I've had enough of that from my parents.

Cartman felt bad about hurting his friend. It was another new feeling the fat boy had to deal with. Like Kenny's father, he lowered his head in shame, much to the blond boy's surprise.

Leopold: I'm sorry... Look, I know why you didn't mock them. And I think you know too. I don't care how much you hate the thought of being gay, but this isn't about you. I know that deep down, you care about people. You need to help me with this.
Eric: What can I do?

"Why didn't he say something about the fact that I called him gay? Is he..."

Leopold: You can talk to Kenny.
Eric: And tell him what?
Leopold: I don't know. But you need to talk to him, tell him something.
Eric: Very helpful.
Leopold: I'm sorry, I just don't know.
Eric: Alright, I'll do it...

"For you, Butters."

Cartman walked out of Butters' room. But he still wanted to ask him something else.

Leopold: Eric, I need you to tell me something.
Eric: What?
Leopold: ...Are you... gay?

Cartman lowered his head even more, turning it slightly so his voice wouldn't be heard downstairs.

Eric: ...Goodbye, Butters.
Leopold: Goodbye, Eric.

When Cartman left, Butters closed his bedroom door and lied down on his bed. He was thinking about Cartman and what just happened. He had never done anything for anyone. Why now? Why this? Why for him? Cartman made fun of him for just about anything. Another thought crossed his mind: Why did he always forgive him? Cartman had never done anything to deserve his friendship. He had never done anything to deserve anyone's friendship. But only Butters forgave him for all his crap, the other boys just tolerated him.

"Why?"

Meanwhile, Cartman was still thinking about what to tell Kenny. He would have to come up with something by tomorrow.

The next day, Cartman was the first one to wake up. As soon as he got up, he went downstairs to eat, as usual. However, his mother hadn't made him breakfast yet.

Eric: Mom, where's my breakfast?
Liane: Oh, I was just about to make it. It's too early, sweetie, you should go back to sleep.

Cartman glanced at the clock in the kitchen and saw that his mother was right. It was way too early. He went back upstairs to try and go back to sleep, but he couldn't. The only thing on his mind was what he should tell Kenny.

A few hours later, all four boys had woken up. Cartman headed to Kenny's house, without a plan. He knocked on the door and was greeted by Kenny's mom.

Carol: Hello, Eric.
Eric: Hello, Mrs. McCormick. Is Kenny here?
Carol: Yeah, he's up in his room.
Eric: Can I come in?
Carol: Sure.

"Focus. You can do this. You have to do this."

Cartman knocked on Kenny's bedroom door. Kenny opened the door.

Kenny: Hey, Cartman. What are you doing here?
Eric: I came here to talk to you. Can I come in?

"Great."

Kenny: ...Sure.
Eric: I think we both know what I'm here to talk about.
Kenny: I'm surprised you didn't come here to make fun of me before.
Eric: I'm not here to make fun of you, Kenny... You're my friend.

"So now I'm your friend? I remember one time when I was dying that you decided to make some money out of it."

Eric: I know you like K-
Kenny: Shut up, fatass. You don't come here and tell me how I feel. I know how I feel and I most definitely do not like Kyle.

Cartman didn't know what to do. He decided to risk it all. For Butters.

Eric: ...Kenny, don't be like that. Don't be like... me. If you really don't like Kyle, why didn't you get angry? I know you. You've been Kyle's best friend, ever since Stan... you know. Don't... screw it up... Please.

"'Please'... Cartman never says that."

Kenny: ...What should I do?
Eric: Go talk to him. He's at his house right now.
Kenny: Alright. Let's go.

Kenny and Cartman got up and left Kenny's house. When they got to Kyle's, they split up. Cartman was going back home, and Kenny was going to talk to Kyle.

Kenny: Cartman...
Eric: Yeah?
Kenny: ...Thank you.

Cartman smiled at Kenny and went home. Kenny knocked on the door, but it was slightly open. He went through and overheard Ike.

Ike: -ust go to his house. Trust me.
Kenny: Ike? Is Kyle here?
Ike: Sorry, I gotta go. Yeah, Kyle's upstairs, in his room.
Kenny: Alright, thanks.

Kenny ran up the stairs and went into Kyle's room. Kyle had something in his hand, but Kenny didn't see what it was. He put it in a drawer and closed his bedroom door.

Kyle: Kenny! Why are you here?
Kenny: Kyle, I'm... sorry. About what I said. I... I didn't mean it. I thought I did, but I didn't. I... I want us to be friends.
Kyle: ...Just friends?

Kenny remained silent. He approached Kyle, who turned bright red. He took off his hood and hugged him as tight as he could. No words were spoken, but there was no need. Kyle put his head against Kenny's chest and smiled. He knew Kenny would never leave him alone.

Meanwhile, Cartman had just arrived at his house. He closed his bedroom door behind him and got a small box from under his bed. It had a revolver in it, which he bought five years ago when South Park was attacked by zombies for the second time.

"There's only one thing left to do..."

He loaded the revolved with a single bullet and laid it down on his desk. He stared at it for a long time before he picked it up again and aimed it at his head. He heard his bedroom door open, followed by a few steps and the sound of the door closing once again.

Leopold: ...What are you doing, Eric?
Eric: ...Leave me alone, Butters.

Butters slowly approached Cartman and put his hand on his shoulder.

Leopold: Eric, put the gun down. Please.
Eric: Why should I? I did what you asked, I got Kyle and Kenny together. I just need to do this one last thing and I'll be done.

Butters put his hand on Cartman's, gently took the gun away from Cartman and put it back on the desk. Cartman broke into tears and hugged Butters.

Eric: I'm sorry... I'm sorry...
Leopold: It's OK, Eric... I'll always be here for you.

Cartman didn't understand what Butters said, but it made him feel better. Butters put his arms around Cartman and both boys stood there for a long time, until Butters was sure Cartman was no longer crying.

THE NEXT DAY

Kenny, Kyle, Cartman and Butters were out on their first double-date. Cartman was uncomfortable with an open display of his feelings for Butters, but he knew Butters wouldn't leave his side.

Kyle: Kenny, are you sure you're okay with this?
Kenny: Yeah. I want everyone to know I love you.
Eric: ...Fags.
Butters: Look who's talking!

The four boys laughed, unaware that just a few blocks away, Ike was watching them.

He smiled.

Ike: ...Perfect.

Everything had gone according to his plan.

Well, that's the end of the story. I hope you liked it. Originally I was going to have Cartman kill himself, but I decided to "give him a break" after the other stories.