So when I got up from a chair, my cell phone fell out of my pocket with such force that the screen stopped working. I had to buy a new one, but with annual contracts now gone, it actually brought the monthly bill down. I guess it ended up being a lucky break :)

Butters seems pretty happy to see Bradley, but how is Kenny handling having to compete for his little Melvin's attention?

Love Is a Contact Sport

Bradley, who was usually shy and reserved, ended up laughing out of pure enjoyment. "Wow, playing Cops 'n' Robbers was a blast!"

"It sure was, by golly!" Butters agreed. "It's even more fun with three people, isn't it, Kenny?"

"Yeah, loads of fun," he answered sarcastically.

"Say, my parents haven't met you yet, Bradley. Why don't we go inside and I'll introduce you?"

Bradley bit his thumbnail as his insecurities returned. "Gee…I don't know if they'd like me very much."

"Sure they would!" Butters patted his back. "What's not to like about you?"

Bradley suddenly felt warm and tingly from Butters' touch. "OK," he gave a small smile.

"We'll be back out in a minute, Kenny," said Butters as Bradley followed him into the house.

"Oh sure, take your time. I'll just be out here looking for shapes in the clouds…by myself."

…

Butters found his parents sitting in the living room reading, as usual. "Hey, Mom and Dad. This is Bradley, my accountabilibuddy."

They dropped their reading materials and looked up with shock. "Accounta…bilibuddy?" his mom repeated.

"Yeah, from Camp New Grace. You remember, right, Dad?"

"Uh…Butters, your mother and I need to have a talk. Why don't you take your little buddy upstairs and play?"

"Maybe we should just go back outside…"

"Oh, I'd really like to see your room," Bradley perked up.

"B-but Kenny's still waitin' for us."

"He told us to take our time, didn't he? Please?"

"W-well, all right, but just 'til my folks get done talkin'."

…

Kenny watched the clouds roll by. He sighed as every shape he picked out always ended up reminding him of Butters. He was jolted from his quiet gaze when his cell phone rang. He was a little surprised to see who was calling. "Cartman?"

"Finally, a friendly voice," he groaned.

"What do you mean?"

"She's driving me insane!"

"Who is?"

"Testaburger—that secret weapon I inspired was peer counselors, and they set me up with her!"

"No way," Kenny laughed. "Wendy's your peer counselor?"

"She follows me around everywhere I go to make sure I'm not cheating. And if that's not enough, that blond bitch has been hanging around her making things twice as bad!"

"I know it's not easy, Cartman, but nothing worth having ever is. Don't let her being there ruin everything for you."

"Fat chance of that… Heh heh, fat chance…'cause it's fat camp!" he laughed.

"Got it."

"So how are you holding up without me?"

"Well, it's a lot quieter around here."

"Ey!"

"I'm kidding. You actually kinda helped me out of my boredom a little. I'm supposed to be hanging out with Butters, but he got a surprise visit from some out-of-town friend, so he's entertaining him now."

"Man, you've sure been spending a lot of time with Butters lately. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Kenny's pulse started racing. "No, of course not," he lied. "You know me—I'm all about the tits, dude!" he laughed with bravado.

"Yeah, what am I thinking? Well, I gotta get back before Testabitch comes looking for me. Thanks for the pep talk—you might wanna try it on yourself, too."

"If you say so. Bye, Cartman."

"Later, bro."

…

"You have a nice room," Bradley commented.

"Aw, it's OK, I guess. It's not as cool as my friends' rooms, though. You should see some of the neat stuff they have."

Bradley bit his lip. "I'm really happy to see you again, Butters."

"Well shucks, Bradley, I'm happy to see you, too."

"I haven't stopped thinking about you since we left Camp New Grace."

"Aw, that's real nice," Butters smiled.

"Do you…ever think about me?"

"Well, sure I do! I always hoped you were doin' OK. You gave me quite a scare on that bridge, boy howdy! Why, I dunno what I woulda done if somethin' happened to you."

"You really like me that much?"

"You know I like you."

"You mean…like like?"

"You're funny, Bradley. Yeah, I like like you a lot lot!" Butters chuckled.

"Oh, this is so great!" he threw his arms around him. "I knew there was a reason I had to visit you!"

"Boy, you sure get excited about seein' people's rooms, huh Bradley?"

"Butters," Mr. Stotch called up.

"Yeah, Dad?"

"Come downstairs, son. Your mother and I want to ask you something."

"OK. Let's go, Bradley." When they arrived, Butters asked, "What is it, Mom and Dad?"

"Bradley, sweetie," Linda said, "would you mind waiting outside for Butters?"

"Sure thing, Mrs. Stotch," he walked out the door.

"Now, Butters," his dad started, "we have a very important question for you, and we'd like you to tell us the truth."

"Uh…OK."

"Butters, are you still bi-curious?"

"Well, n-no, not exactly," he fiddled with his fingers.

"So you only like girls now?" his mother asked.

"Uh…" he looked down at his shoes.

"You answer your mother right now, young man!" Stephen commanded.

"I l-like b-boys!" he shut his eyes tightly.

"You're…gay?" his father raised his eyebrow.

"Y-yes, sir," he nodded and cringed.

His parents looked at each other, then back at him. "All right, Butters," said Linda. "That's all we wanted to know."

"Huh?" he opened his eyes. "Y-ya mean ya ain't gonna holler at me for bein' queer?"

"No, sweetie."

"Just so long as you're careful and don't go putting on another blindfold waiting for any more 'surprises' with your mouth hanging open."

"Gee, I thought you guys would be sore at me for sure!"

"Butters, we love you very much," said his mom. "If you aren't interested in girls, we don't want to pressure you into something you aren't comfortable with."

"I can understand your love of the male form, son," his dad said. "Why, I remember one particularly strapping young lad down at the White Swallow…" He caught Linda glaring at him in his peripheral vision. "Ah, well, the point is everything's fine, Butters. You can join your pal outside now."

"OK!" he exclaimed happily and left the house.

"See? I was right," said Linda. "He did turn out gay. Time to pay up."

"Yeah, yeah," Stephen handed her a fifty dollar bill.

…

"Well, my parents are ready to go, so I guess I have to leave now," said Bradley.

"Oh, but we were having so much fun!" Kenny feigned disappointment.

"Let me give you my number," he said to Butters. "Do you have a scrap of paper?"

"Not with me. I can go get one."

"That's OK. Here," he held Butters' hand out and wrote the digits on his palm.

Butters giggled. "That tickles, Bradley!"

Kenny had to suppress the urge to growl like a wolf protecting its territory from an intruder.

"Give me a call tomorrow," Bradley told him. "Maybe you can come to my house."

"He can't!" Kenny burst out.

"I can't?" asked Butters.

"No. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I got us tickets to see Man of Steel tomorrow."

"Oh boy!"

"Well, maybe another time then," Bradley said. "You can still call me later tonight if you want."

"All right," he agreed.

"Bye, Butters," he hugged him.

"See ya later, Bradley," he waved as the car drove off. "I better go write down Bradley's number before it smudges. I can't wait for tomorrow, Kenny! You're so sweet," he kissed his cheek before running in the house.

Kenny sighed. "Great, now I have to scrape together some money for tickets. Anything worth having really doesn't come easy."

Writing multiple plotlines in a single story is turning out to be a real challenge. I sure hope I didn't bite off more than I can chew o_O

Disclaimer: I don't own Man of Steel or the Whitney Houston song "Love Is a Contact Sport."