So I decided to continue it. Fair warning, this chapter contains references to songs, bands, etc. I only mention it because that sort of thing usually rubs me the wrong way, but I find myself writing song references into fics more and more often now that I'm writing South Park things. Perhaps because it's a contemporary show....Also a fair warning, don't expect continuity. Each chapter is a separate instance and not a continuous plot.

In any case, enjoy the continuation of the fic.

South Park does not belong to me.

Butters was half in love with Kenny McCormick. Ever since the day the other boy had called him by his real name he had been feeling decidedly more affectionate toward Kenny and his scruffy rapscallion ways. Somehow Kenny's use of his name had caught on surprisingly quickly, and now everyone but his parents and the pesky voice of his own conscience called him Leo. One day he was Butters, same as he'd always been, the next Stan, Kyle, and even Eric were all calling him by a name he hadn't heard anyone use since…ever. Of course they still referred to him as gaywad, queerbag, and the like, but the fact that each insult was paired with his given name made him feel, for the first time in a long time, like a normal person. Butters hadn't a clue as to how Kenny had managed to free him of his old nickname, but he was eternally grateful. Every time he saw Kenny at school he made a point of breaking out of his personal bubble, greeting him with a warm smile and a wave. And what was better, Kenny waved back. Kenny didn't look at him with irritation or disgust, didn't speak to him like he was stupid or some kind of joke. Kenny was just a nice guy, and Butters could hardly help but fall for him.

But if there was one thing Butters knew about himself, it was that he always fell for the nice ones. Sexual attraction had never really played a part in Butters' crushes. At a young age he'd gotten into the habit of blindly following anyone who treated him with the tiniest bit of kindness. He'd suffered a broken heart over a girl who'd treated him sweetly only to pick up an extra buck, and had spent the better part of three years swooning over Bebe Stevens simply because she'd offered him a hand up when a rogue janitor knocked him flying in the middle of the hallway. His feelings for Kenny were much of the same. His heart fluttered at the sight of the other boy, his palms became sweaty from nerves, he smiled awkwardly, maybe flirtatiously, when Kenny asked him how he was doing each morning. All because Kenny had called him by his name, had treated him nicely. Butters was hopelessly in like with him.

.

Class trips were far less frequent and not nearly as exciting as they'd been back in grade school, but a break from the boring, everyday school schedule to take a trip to a museum was a refreshing change of pace. Sure, it was some kind of really dull museum with exhibits about world currencies and global economic conditions, but Butters was still pleased to be getting away from the classroom for a while. The bus ride in particular was appealing to him, thanks to the opportunity for one of his favorite kinds of daydreaming, musical daydreaming.

Headphones already popped into place, Butters was contentedly drifting in and out of reality in time to a shuffled mix of songs before the engine even came to life. He watched his classmates scurry to find seats next to their desired bus-mates and eventually choose their places: Craig and Tweek across from Token and Heidi (she'd been all over Token like a cheap suit ever since the homecoming dance), with Clyde sulking in the seat behind them, next to Kevin. Stan and Kyle sat together, as was expected, in the middle of the bus, across from Wendy and Bebe, so Stan could hold Wendy's gloved hand and Kyle could ignore Bebe's frighteningly predatory, flirtatious stares. Eric sat at the front of the bus, opting to share a seat with their economics teacher, possibly because she was surprisingly attractive for a woman of over fifty, but more likely because she was a former politician and he was hoping to charm his way into the business. And Kenny-

Butters' imagined that his heart skipped a beat as Kenny climbed up the steps of the bus, but that was probably just the stutter of the bus engine turning on. He watched Kenny walk down the narrow aisle between the rows of seats, momentarily breaking Stan and Wendy's hand holding and taking the opportunity to high-five Stan in the process, then stumble and latch onto the nearest seat (god almighty, his seat,) as the bus began to move. He grinned to cover his embarrassment and quickly slipped into the seat, sliding across vinyl until his thigh bumped against Butters' own.

"Hey Leo." Kenny greeted cheerfully, and seemed pleased when Butters reached up to take out his headphones, proving that he was willing to listen.

"H-hi Kenny."

He was nervous, always nervous. But with Kenny he felt the good kind of nerves. He had that whole butterflies in the stomach thing going on and it didn't bother him in the least. The little rush of adrenaline that Kenny brought to him was more than welcome.

"What're you listening to?"

Butters glanced down at his iPod, beaten to hell from use, and looked back to Kenny without ever reading the screen, "Um…something in German. It's…it's dance music, I think. I don't know…I just felt like listening to something, something…happy."

It was times like these he wanted to hit himself. If he could just keep from talking so much, maybe he might come across as a normal person and maybe Kenny would…like him? Or something? Butters wasn't sure what he was hoping for, but making a good impression was important, his father always said so, and he didn't want to look like a complete loser in front of Kenny.

If Kenny thought he was a complete loser, he didn't show it. He simply nodded, saying, "Ah. Cool."

Cool indeed. Kenny was cool, so unbelievably cool, and Butters just wanted to stare at him in hopes of absorbing some of that cool. But staring was definitely too freaky, and since he was afraid to try and make conversation beyond the usual "Hi, how ya doin'?" Butters held out one earbud in offering, shrugging his shoulders.

Kenny took it without hesitation, smiling almost smugly as he hunkered down in the seat and popped it into his ear.

Now there was just the question of what to listen to, a question that had Butters practically breaking out in a nervous sweat. Music was such a personal thing, he felt like he was offering up a good chunk of himself for Kenny to view. A playlist could show a hundred aspects of a person's personality, and Butters wasn't sure exactly what the music he listened to might show. Or even, what he wanted it to show.

Rules of headphone sharing etiquette demanded that he allow Kenny, as the guest listener, to make a song choice. Butters handed over the device, allowing Kenny to scroll through song choices for a few moments. After what seemed like an eternity, the beat of a drum came filtering out of the tiny speaker in his ear, and a bit later, softly sung lyrics.

"We Laugh Indoors?" Of all the music currently stored in his iPod, the now ancient indie rock song was hardly one Butters would have expected Kenny to choose. But he seemed content with his choice, sitting in a relaxed pose with his head tilted back against the seat. Butters watched him as he listened to the music, eyes half closed, lips moving just slightly, and Butters could hardly believe that he knew the words. He recognized them as they formed on Kenny's lips, "…and I want purity, I must have it here right now," and found himself wanting nothing more than to lean over and still the movement of Kenny's lips with his own.

Thinking of kissing Kenny was a new low as far as hopeless romantic dreams went, and Butters immediately looked away, cheeks going hot in silent embarrassment. He stared at the seat in front of him, concentrating on the patterns in the vinyl until his mind began to drift away. His brain weaved together images to match the music; thick smoke, swirling clouds, charcoal sketches inside his head that moved jerkily, a la "Take On Me-" a couple's tearful embrace, a lonely figure walking to god knows where, a melancholic atmosphere. When the song ended and Butters glanced back at Kenny, all thoughts of kissing the other boy had thankfully vanished.

"Hm." He said softly.

"Hm?" Kenny repeated, one eyebrow raised questioningly as he handed the iPod back to Butters, signaling his turn to pick a song.

Butters took the iPod back and began scrolling through songs, somewhat mindlessly. He had no idea what to choose.

"I…didn't think you were a Death Cab for Cutie kinda guy." He said, laughing slightly, nervously.

Kenny shrugged and responded with, "They're pretty chill." Then, after a pause, added, "My last girlfriend was seriously into shitty, mopey music. I guess it kind of grew on me."

Butters nodded and selected a song at random. He was glad now that he hadn't let himself fantasize about that kiss for too long- it'd only make the reminder of Kenny's obvious heterosexuality more painful to hear.

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