Chapter Six

So, you guys are probably thinking; hey Craig. You're never in classes. See, classes are boring. You and I both know this so there's no point me explaining how little we do in class. That's the last thing anyone who hates school wants to listen to. So I'm doing you a favour and only bringing you to the stuff I actually like doing.

Like today, a new day. I'm in the media room and beginning to transfer all the footage from last night's training session. It was probably the easiest thing to film because most of them were from the drama club. To which we've now decided we may as well make dramatic videos for all potential clubs to try get the masses in.

I heard a light knocking on the door, and I swivelled around to see that freshman boy standing with a folder. He seemed to look out of place but entered the room anyway and came to lean against the table.

"Uh, hey. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He started, his fingers tapping the underside of his folder. "Wendy said you'd be here."

"Yeah I'm just working on videos for next week. I mean, it's not important, you aren't interrupting me."

'Good. I came because I had an idea to propose to you as a student head. Wendy liked it." He then looked like a deer in the headlight. "Um, sorry. My name's Brad by the way. I should've introduced myself first."

"As long as I know your name I think we've made progress today." I give him a smile. "So what's up?"

"Oh, well I had an idea to try and not only hold a fundraiser for school and charities, but make it an equality pride type event. Since you're both advocates for diversity in different ways, I figured why not make an event for it where everyone benefits? If we market to the town, people can sell what they're proud of producing knowing they're helping someone else."

"I like it. And it sounds doable given we can prove the funding is worth the turnover."

He seemed to light up and hand me the folder. "Already done. To be fair, I had this in the works before but it's hard to get anyone interested."

I took it and began flicking through. This kid seriously had it all figured out to the last cent. "This is actually amazing. Can I keep this to propose? It has your name attached right? Because it'll definitely be accepted and we'll need you on board to help out."

He seemed to go a little pink. "Sure. I printed it out for you guys to keep. And I'm always happy to help out. Actually, most of my year will probably willing to help."

"Oh, really?" I creased my eyes cautiously. "Why the enthusiasm?"

"Because they think you're both really hot and want to take a crack." He merely gave a shrug. "So speak now or forever hold your peace."

"Wendy is dating a friend of mine and I'm not comfy with anyone not my age." I saw his face turn to slight disappointment. "Sorry if you were gonna go for it too. I mean you still can and I'd play along to make you feel better but it's just not my thing."

"It's all cool. My offer will still stand regardless." He smiled again. "I mean I thought I'd test the water anyway but at least you're cool about it. Class will be devastated though."

"I already feel guilty for future broken hearts." I pointed to the folder. "But seriously, thanks for this. We need more people like you to help out."

"Glad to be of service. I'll see you around then." He pushed himself off the desk and I stood up from my seat to see him out. Only he collided into Kyle and seemed to be really sympathetic to it. Kyle on the other hand looked like a woman scorned and turned to me.

I said nothing and just stared back. Brad stood behind Kyle as if to make sure we didn't get into a punch up. Instead, Kyle strode over and enveloped me in a very tight hug, burying his face in my shoulder. I looked at Brad, who seemed to put two and two together. He smiled, gave me the thumbs up and left us alone. He even went that step further to close the door for us. What a champ.

"Kyle." I sighed and held him back.

"I'm sorry." He said softly. "I didn't mean to send the wrong message yesterday."

"It's fine. I understand."

"No. It's not okay. I put us in a position where I almost took advantage of you and that's really not okay." He pulled back slightly, arms still around my back. "Then to make you think I was ignoring you was a bigger dick move. I just figured that I would let you have some space while I thought about what I tried to do."

"I knew it wasn't bad but yeah. The main problem wasn't you trying to come onto me. Everyone sees me as that go to for gay experiments." I tapped his hip a couple times. "It's the fact you wanted to act like it didn't happen was the issue. Look,"

I breathed out tried hard to keep my gaze on him. "I'm not and will never be Stan. But I would hope we've hit a stage where things like that can be discussed and not relying on circumstance to change it or fix it. Just tell me next time okay? So I don't freak out. I honestly thought what I did first made you weird or sent a wrong message."

"I didn't say anything because I knew you'd feel bad if I did." He looked away and let his hands drop to my lower back. "It didn't bother me. I thought it was a grateful gesture. And yet I took it as the opportunity to make a move on you? Not cool."

"Well, why did you? did Kenny tell you about me?" I was more curious than anything.

"No, he wont tell me because he thinks its cute how I'm out of the loop." He clicked his tongue. "Look, I honestly haven't been further than making out with Stan that time when he was drunk and thought I was Wendy and well, you know. I'm a permanent dry spell but it's still not an excuse."

Right. Forgot he was a total virgin. Which makes what he did even cheesier more than anything. "There's a reason I'm called McFucker. I'm that go to guy when guys want to fuck a dude to test if they're gay. Which is why I'm used to people trying to sleep with me? My self esteem is incredibly high as you can tell."

He seemed a little hurt by the comment. "Oh. I see. That kind of makes me feel worse. When was the last time you…you know?"

"The night Stan made out with you. so yeah eight months ago."

"I see." He leant his head back in my shoulder, hands slipping down more. I don't even know what to think anymore. But I put my arms up around his shoulders. It was nice. "Either way I still feel bad."

"Seriously don't even worry about it." I rubbed his arm and leant my face into his hat. "If you want to make it up to me you can help me man the door at the Valentines dance."

"Done." He shifted to signal it was okay to let go, I let my hands slide down his arms and hold his wrists. "I had a feeling you'd jump at the opportunity to not attend."

"I thought you'd go so the guys could all bro up." I smiled at him to signify that it was back to normal.

He screwed his nose up and shook his head. "No thanks. I'd rather sleep if that was my only option. Least we'll be kind of there together. Consider it a date I guess? Do friends do that?"

"Friends do whatever they want with each other. So yeah, friend date." That hurt to say. Really hurt.

"I better let you get to work. I also need to do some paperwork for my dad so I may as well do it now while you're here." He didn't make a move to leave though.

"Hey." I felt my fingers tremble a little bit as I let him go and my face completely heat up. "Why don't you take this for the road, might make you feel a little better too."

I cupped his face with hands shaking, and although short, I still savoured it as I leant in to kiss him softly. "Feel a little better?"

He gave a sheepish smile and a nod. "Yeah I do. Thanks Craig."

He left me to work, and I slapped a hand over my mouth. God I was a mess of a human being.

…

"I know that smile." Kenny's stupid face was right up in mine while we were in gym. Boys were doing….what were we doing again? Oh, watching girls play volleyball.

I glared in his direction. "What smile? I don't smile. It hurts too much." I scratched my leg in the hopes my pasty white thigh would distract him. It didn't work.

"So did you pull the ropes on that guy? Come on, you've got the look like you totally got laid." He clapped me on the back. "Not that you need the encouragement because half the school would drop their pants for you, but I'm glad you're not storing the McFucker in you away just yet."

"And at what point would I be able to fuck someone at school." I shake my head and turn my attention to the game. Or well, my cousin doing that stupid squat girls do when they wait for the ball. Tennis players do it too. That worked in my favour though.

"Eyyyyy mama bring dat ass over here if you gonna shake it like that." Kenny yelled across the gymnasium. A middle finger was raised in reply. Definitely my family. He smirked and was back in my ear again. "Is your ass that good?"

"I can't see it so I can't tell you. Not that you'd find it interesting anyway because it's mine."

Kenny opted to lift my shirt and inspect regardless of what I said. Kyle and Stan had decided to join us; Stan giving a dramatically concerned look, Kyle glaring at Kenny.

"Have you seen this ass? Nice and round like Red's. Must run in the family." Kenny wiggled his eyebrows. "Don't you think Kyle?"

"At least something runs in my family I guess. Unlike someone." I grinned hearing a loud 'EY' from the bleachers. "But yes, Kyle sees my ass a lot more than he'd like to. Hell he's touched it."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I have touched the butt. It's a nice butt. Unlike your boney ass Ken."

Kenny acted hurt. "You wound me. I thought you loved me." He went back to cheeky as fuck. "But then you wouldn't have room for that other person now would you?"

"What?" Stan and I said at the same time, just blinking and staring at one another. Kyle fumed.

"Shut up. You promised you wouldn't say anything."

"But it's so funny because you make it so obvious and you haven't hooked up yet!" I don't even know how to describe Kenny's hands but they were doing too much work meaning he was trying to rub it in my face. It was kind of working.

"We might have. And you'd never know because I'd never tell you." He huffed in response. "He'll figure it out when I want him to."

"Wait, wait, wait. He?" Stan had finally cut into the conversation like I had clearly. "Since when?"

"I'll blame you for the conversion. And you know, the shit luck I have with psycho women." Kyle shrugged, leaning his weight on one leg so his hip was thrust out. Kenny looked from it to me and gave a thumbs up.

"Good shit right here."

"Kenny, fuck off." Kyle gets wound up really easily. But you knew this. It's funny to watch and kind of cute. "Everyone stares at my butt because of Bebe pointing it out."

"Shake it baby shake it!" She yelled over to us as she jogged past. I gave her a wolf whistle in reply and she blew a kiss in my direction.

"So does Kyle know about you two then? Or did you skip over that part?" Kenny ducked as I swung an arm to try take his head off.

Kyle went really quiet, trying to compute what was said. He scowled once it finally hit. "Are you fucking serious? Am I the only person you haven't slept with?"

"Yet." Stan added. "It'll happen one day. Just wait. You'll be studying and next minute you're smoking and wondering life."

Kyle shook his head and left our group. Clyde slid in to take his place. "This circle looked like fun. What's goin' on?"

"Clyde! How nice is your ass." Kenny gripped his chin thoughtfully. "We're comparing ass cheeks."

"Uh, what now?" He looked at me, and I shook my head.

"Just don't resist. Just let him do his work."

…

Talking to Kyle after that was awkward, naturally. He first burst into a lecture (that Stan clamped a hand over his mouth to shut him up), followed by a mumbling about how he wish I would tell him this stuff so he didn't feel like an idiot, to then trying to brush it all off and claim that he's happy that I'm out doing stuff that I enjoy. Through gritted teeth.

"You haven't slept with Kenny have you?" He asked me as we sat down for lunch with Butters, who spat out his drink and choked a few coughs.

"Ew, god no. He's saving himself for you." I responded, patting Butters on the back a few times to help him out. Does that even work?

"After everyone else in the school; which I know he keeps a book of." Kyle offered Butters a tissue to wipe his mouth with. "I think I'd drag you to the GP if you have. Speaking of which-"

"Stop." Butters placed a finger on Kyle's lips and coughed once more. "No more lectures or I'll tell your ma to ground you."

"Damn. That's harsh. We'd never see him again." I took a bite of my sandwich, which I regretted and swallowed with disdain. "Ew, tuna."

"Swap, I got chicken." Butters handed me his bag and took mine off me with a smile. "So how's the dance prep going?"

I shrugged and opened the zip lock. "It's okay. Wendy has been shoving folders under my nose left right and centre to sign and fill out to get approval. Which is weird but they insist on a government body to take responsibility for everything. So don't let anyone break shit because we can't afford it."

"I'm sure Wendy will be chopping fingers off if that's the case." Kyle sipped on his freshly opened drink. "I'm glad we have the door. Are you taking anyone Butters?"

Butters turned to me to grin, before turning back to Kyle to answer. "Well, I guess you could say it's a date. I'm taking Annie Nelson."

"Wow. Good for you." I glanced over at the girls' general sitting area, and they were all giggling and pointing at random guys before whispering amongst each other. So weird.

"Thanks. She asked me so I was a bit surprised." He was so innocent bless his heart. "She seems really nice too."

"From what I know of her, yeah she is." Kyle glanced at me, before going back to his drink. Stan had slipped in next to him, and Clyde next to me. Kenny perched on the end of the table and wrapped an arm around Butters' shoulders.

"So, who's taking who to the dance then?" Clyde smirked. "Butters you're a sly dog. I heard about Annie."

"Oh gee, I guess all the girls will know then." He knocked his fists together. "Well, if you're all taking your girlfriends, then who is Kenny taking?"

"I have just asked a, friend. To go as friends." Kenny seemed uncomfy as he spoke, and kind of directed it at me. That son of a bitch.

"Good luck and have fun with that one. Crazy ass." I shook my head and leant over the desk. "I am so glad I'm at the door. I can barely handle Stan and Wendy sucking face but all of you will be a heart attack."

"Glad I got your blessing I guess? Like I said, just friends."

"Oh please. Since when have you not tried to take one of the girls home?" Stan shot at him. "I bet you anything you at least ask her to go home with you."

Kenny was making the motion with his hand across his neck for them to stop because I was there. "Look, better than my sister I guess. Still a bit too close to the family bloodline but far enough away to not have you around all the time."

"Damn that's cold." Kenny pet my head a couple times, pretty sure it was to mess my hair around under my hat. "And who are you taking?"

"No one. I'm on door duty. So be nice to me or I'll make you sit with me all night." I gave a small smirk.

"Please don't, I love you a lot deep down." He shifted his attention to Kyle. "And you? Anyone asked you yet? I know there was talk."

"Well sucks for them because I'm also helping at the door." He glanced at me before turning his attention back. "I did try to ask that person and got rejected and I'm not interested in taking anyone else to hang out. If I wasn't helping I'd be in bed that night."

"So you're essentially on a date with Craig then?" Kenny gave that signature evil grin he was now known for. "Cute. That's really adorable."

"Bro dates are absolutely okay to do man." Clyde clapped me on the back. "Right bro?"

"Yeah. We used to do them all the time. No harm done and we still had fun." I gave a yawn.

Clyde kept a hand on my back. "You know, we should start getting back into those. Bebe has girl dates with Wendy all the time, so we should go out too."

"As long as my other stuff isn't on, sure."

"Other stuff? Like what? The gay agenda?" Stan seemed curious to know. "You haven't actually said what this other stuff is."

"Because it's not important and I want to keep that to myself at least." The bell rang to end lunch, and thank god because I was not going to sit through twenty questions over what I do in my other free time.