The rest of the week was fairly uneventful and Violet didn't even get much time to talk to Kenny since Mrs. Smith was just giving lectures on the basics of things. At the same time, enough had happened that she couldn't wait to tell Mysterion she made a new friend on the first day. She wondered what he would think though when he found out it was a guy. She did like Kenny, but it was still Mysterion that was capturing her heart. It was hard to tell though if she was capturing his in return but she would never be brave enough to ask. It was silly anyway, just a crush since they'd only known each other a short time, and she couldn't expect someone like him to feel the same way.

Saturday at midnight. That's when Mysterion had come to see her. She hadn't even been waiting long since she had his usual time range figured out. Both smiled at the other as he nearly glided across the roof to take his seat next to her.

"I've missed you."

"Same. How was high school hell?"

"Not bad actually. Teachers are cool and I even made a new friend." He smirked.

"See? I knew you would."

"He's a guy I met in my home economics class of all places but he's my partner for the year so we kind of have to become friends anyway. Still, he's funny and nice so it should be fine."

"Good. I'm glad to see you making progress."

"Me too."

Kenny found himself smiling that night when he returned home, and laughing a few times. It was kind of funny that he'd turned out to be the new friend he was hoping that girl would make. It would definitely be interesting to be around her as his normal self, and hear what she said about him as his other self. For some reason he felt compelled to use his other side to help her out even more. It was obvious she was shy and could probably benefit from a little push in the right direction to get her socializing a bit more. Maybe it would help her feel a little less depressed, and that was reason enough to meddle.

School dragged on and on with nothing too exciting happening in any of Violet's classes. The worst was probably algebra. How she absolutely loathed equations and all that went with it but it was the class where she got the most drawing done on all the sides of all her notes. Then came home economics where she looked forward to the one class where she barely had to take notes and seeing Kenny who always managed to make her laugh at least once every class, and it felt good to be really laughing again. Today's project was making little crocheted potholders. Violet's was going okay, but Kenny was having trouble as his yarn kept getting tangled and he just kept making it worse the more he tried fixing it.

"Here, let me get that." She reached over and carefully untangled the little ball of knots. Kenny found himself a bit entranced as he watched the intensity with which she focused on such a small task as she easily loosened the knots with her slim fingers. It brought a smile to his lips. When she was done, she carefully handed it back.

"Thanks a lot. I'll try to keep it untangled."

By the end of class they had made a lot of progress but were reassured they would all have plenty of time to finish next time. Violet gathered her things and swung her backpack onto her shoulders. Her mind was already thinking of what she would do for lunch today. Maybe she'd just listen to her iPod if the battery wasn't dead yet, or find a new book to read from the library? It'd been awhile since she'd read a truly great novel that pulled her in until she was lost among its pages. Before any of those things could happen though, Kenny interrupted her.

"So, I was wondering, where do you always run off to during lunch? In case I ever need help again with school stuff." He ended with a nervous laugh. What a lame excuse, but it had sounded better in his head anyway.

"Oh, um, well I guess I usually eat on one of those outside benches. Sometimes I go to the library after I'm done eating."

"So you eat alone?"

"Not always. Sometimes I eat lunch with Wendy... but I don't know her that well."

"Well, if you want to that is, would you like to eat with me and my friends today?" That had caught her off guard. She always hated being in a crowd where she didn't know anyone, but Kenny had been so nice to her so she couldn't turn him down. She'd feel too guilty. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad.

"Um, sure, sounds good." Kenny lit up with her reply and before she knew it, he was dragging her through the crowds, with a firm grip on her wrist.

"I like to beat the rush if I can help it."

"I can see that."

She was so thankful when they finally reached the cafeteria line. It was difficult keeping up with Kenny, especially since being the taller one of the two he moved much quicker than she could. That and she didn't usually run to lunch.

"Now, I probably should warn you, my friends can be... well, jerks, sometimes. If they give you a hard time though I'll just have to punch them for you." He held up his fist, slamming it into his other palm.

"Thanks, that's good to know..." She was glad to know he was willing to stick up for her at least. In no time, at all they reached the front and piled up their trays. She was happy to see it was one of her favorite menus. Chicken nuggets with macaroni and cheese, corn, and a cookie. Kenny led the way out into the cafeteria. They approached a table in the middle that already had three guys sitting there on one side of the table. One was a bit chubby wearing a red jacket and blue and yellow hat. The second wore a brown jacket with a red and blue hat. The third wore an orange jacket with a green hat.
"Hey guys." They all looked up from their trays. "This is Violet. Violet, this is Cartman, Stan, and Kyle. Is it cool if she sits with us?"

"Yeah, dude, it's cool." Stan said, and they both sat down on the opposite side of them.

"Hi everyone." She gave a small wave before putting down her bag. Cartman, of course, had crossed his arms and Kenny started wondering the best way to punch him from this angle.

"How come she suddenly gets to sit with us? Just 'cause she's some pretty girl don't mean she can come over here and ruin our guy table." He received a hard shove from Stan.

"Just because you throw in a complement doesn't mean its okay to insult her like that!" She looked down, quite unsure how to respond to such an insult.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was guys only." Seeing the look on her face, Kenny then kicked Cartman under the table.

"I invited her, so shut up. Nobody ever said it was guys only." Kenny was glaring daggers, hoping to silence him.

"I'm really, sorry, he's just an ass." Kyle said, and gave you an apologetic look.

"Ugh, Jesus Christ, fine! She can stay, but only if she gives up her cookie."

"What? But I really want my cookie!" Why one earth did she agree to this? She felt herself growing angry but mostly wanted to run away. Confrontation was not her forte and chocolate chip was her favorite... but before she knew it Kenny had throw his cookie at Cartman.

"There you go fatass, enjoy your cookie."

"Thanks, I will."

"Sometimes I really don't know why we're still friends with him." Kenny leaned over and said quietly.

"Yeah, us neither." Stan said, giving a smile. Violet then took her cookie and split it in half as best she could.

"Here, you shouldn't go without some chocolately chip goodness just because of me."

"You are just too awesome Violet."

Though they'd gotten off to a rocky start, Violet actually enjoyed spending lunch with Kenny's friends. They were funny and talked mostly about action movies and comics. They were so shocked that she actually liked many of the same ones they were into at the time. This even seemed to get her on Cartman's good side since he started talking to her normally. Most of the time anyway. After lunch was done, they went their separate ways but Kenny walked with her to her next class since it wasn't too out of the way.

"Listen, I hope Cartman didn't hurt your feelings too bad earlier."

"No, it's alright. It didn't bother me too much since you and your friends stuck up for me."

"Yeah, don't take it personally. He's kind of a jerk to everyone, even us, but especially girls too for whatever twisted reason. Now the pretty part, that, you should take personally." Violet chuckled and looked down at her feet.

"I'm really not that pretty..." Now Kenny was laughing.

"Of course you are! You're beautiful."

"No I'm not." She shook her head and felt her face growing warmer, but Kenny thought her embarrassed reaction was just too cute.

"How about, hot? Gorgeous? Stunning? Breath-taking and amazing?" His voice got more corny and dramatic with every word and it had her laughing. She raised her hands in defeat.

"Okay okay, I'm pretty. Happy now?"

"Very."

That afternoon when she returned home, she found herself smiling after that whirlwind of a day. She even began humming a bit, as she made her way through the front door and past the living room.

"Violet? Honey, is that you?"

"Yes aunt Pearl." Violet changed direction and headed for the kitchen where her aunt was busy putting away a few groceries.

"I just wanted to ask you how school has been going so far this year."

"Oh, it's been going well."

"Make any new friends?"

"Actually, I did, or at least one really good one." Though she was busy, her aunt was watching her carefully and saw her looking down at her feet, shy as usual, but there was definitely a smile on her face. For once, her little niece looked happy again with a smile that came easily.

"Well, tell me all about them won't you?"

"Um, his name's Kenny and he's my partner in home economics class. Today I sat with him and his friends. They're okay except for the big guy, Cartman, who is kind of a jerk, but the other two were okay. Their names were Stan and Kyle I think."

"Wow, four new friends already? It seems you're getting popular with the guys too." Her aunt chuckled and Violet sighed in frustration.

"If you say so. I've got homework so I'll see you later for dinner."

"Alright, see you later honey."

Violet hurried up the stairs to her bedroom before her aunt could bombard her with any more embarrassment. She tossed her backpack unto her bed and then slipped out of her jacket, tossing it onto her chair. Above her dresser, the mirror was calling her and she cautiously answered. With a skeptical look, she eyed the girl who stared back. Usually she avoided looking at herself in the mirror too much since like everything else in her life, she didn't like the way she looked. Just as her depressed days seemed to be leaving her little by little, today when she faced her reflection those dull green eyes looked a little livelier. Her long eyelashes seemed to complement them beautifully and her light brunette hair seemed to frame her slightly pale face just right as it fell a little past her shoulders.

"Hmm, well I guess I'm not too terrible looking." Violet and her double both smiled before they each turned around to start up their respective computers as every teenager does as soon as they have the chance.

A/N: Yay for more characters! This chapter wasn't too exciting but now the other guys have been introduced. In the next chapter Wendy and Bebe will show up too! I meant to update with this one sooner but I kept getting an error trying to add it.