So, Kenny and Henrietta are spending the night together. Fun! I'm sure this will only bring them closer and Cartman will in no way exploit this for his own nefarious purposes! Also, whom might Ike be crushing on? I know, but I'm not going to tell you yet!

Chapter 8 – Half and Half

I never had a girl sleep over at my house before and I typically don't spend the night after I have sex with a girl. So, I was a little confused/surprised when I woke the next morning with someone in my arms until I remembered Henrietta had spent the night.

The goth girl was still fast asleep in my arms. At some point during the night she had rolled over to face me and had one arm slung around my shoulders. I blushed slightly at the position I found myself in. I'm sure it hadn't been intentional, but it was still rather intimate and close. Also, I really had to pee and I couldn't figure out how to get up without waking her.

With great difficulty and carefulness, I slowly unwrapped my arms from her and wriggled my way out of bed. Then I quickly shuffled off to the bathroom to relieve myself and brush my teeth.

When I got back from the bathroom, Henrietta had just opened her eyes and was waking up. As she blinked sleepily, I smiled at her.

"Good morning, angel," I greeted, "How did you sleep last night?"

"Ugh, don't call me angel," she grumbled, "It makes me sound like some conformist preppy goody two-shoes."

"Noted," I said.

"Anyway, I slept fine," she replied, "Your bed isn't as bad as you made it sound. And I hate to admit it, but I rather liked having your arms around me." I couldn't help but feel good about myself at that.

"Hey, I was thinking of something," I told her as she got and started getting dressed, (I remembered to turn around first,) "We should have a little get together with our friends."

"And why would we do that?" Henrietta wondered.

"I just think it would be good for them to interact," I replied, resisting the temptation to sneak a peak at my girlfriend, "I don't expect them to get along or become buddies or anything. But maybe compared to my friends, I wouldn't seem so bad in comparison."

Henrietta smirked at me. "Ok, but you're stopping any fights that brake out," she said, "And we're not having it at my house."

"Don't worry. I'm sure Kyle will lend us his house," I replied, "He loves me and lets me borrow anything!"

"Didn't you drive his car into a ditch?" she wondered.

"Where did you hear that?" I exclaimed, "I mean, uh, he got over that."

After we were dressed, I made my lady some breakfast before we went to school. She walked to school with me, though she swatted my hand away every time I tried to hold it. Thankfully I didn't have to worry about making myself a lunch as we only had a half day of school for some reason that I forgot.

"Hey, Pete, Michael, and I are going to stop by the middle school after we get out if you want to come with us," Henrietta told me, "Usually when the high school has a half day we get out about the time the middle and elementary schools are having lunch, so we were going to go see Firkle. He always eats outside."

"Oh yeah, I wouldn't mind going along," I said, "Maybe I could catch a glance of Karen. See how she's getting along. She says she's doing ok in school, but it would make me feel better if I could see it with my own eyes."

Despite walking to school, we got there in record time. I didn't take the bus anymore because I didn't trust the bus driver. I think she hated me. Anyway, if I was really desperate for a ride I could always get Stan or Kyle to drive me. Besides walking kept me in shape.

Before we parted to go to homeroom, I leaned in to give Henrietta a kiss on the cheek, but she smacked me before bidding me good-bye. I guess that was her way of telling me no public displays of affection. When I got to homeroom, which I had with my friends, I went over and sat with Kyle and Stan. Fatass also came over uninvited.

"Hey," I greeted Kyle, "Did Ike get in trouble with your parents?"

"Yeah," he replied with a slight sigh, "He tried to explain that he was standing up for someone but because he wouldn't tell them who, they thought he was making it up and grounded him for two weeks. They were really upset that their 'perfect little angel' even got in a fight."

Stan looked at him. "Do you believe him?" he asked.

Kyle hesitated before sighing. "I believe him," he said, "I just don't know why he won't tell me who he was defending. Even if he has a crush on the person, it's not like I'm going to judge him or anything."

"Maybe he's worried you wouldn't like the person he has a crush on," I mused, "Like, maybe he's gay?"

"Ha!" Cartman suddenly laughed, startling us, "Your little brother is gay! I knew he was a fag! Ha!" Kyle glared at him.

"He said 'maybe,' fatass," he growled, "Pay attention!"

We chatted a little bit more before I remembered my idea. "By the way, Kyle, can I ask you for a favor?" He gave me a skeptical look.

"I don't know," he murmured, "The last time you asked me for a favor my car ended up upside-down in a ditch on fire."

"Don't worry, it's nothing too extreme," I assured him, "I was just wondering if I could host a get together at your house because my house is kind of, you know, shitty."

"Hmm… who would be at this get together?" Kyle asked.

"Well, there'd be us and maybe your girlfriends if you really wanted them there," I explained, "And then there would also be Henrietta and her friends."

Cartman's lip curled at the mention of my girlfriend. "Ew, the goths would be there?" he scowled, "No thank you."

"That's fine," I muttered, "I would prefer you didn't come anyway." I turned back to Kyle. "You wouldn't have to worry about snacks or anything. I would pay for stuff."

"Fine," Kyle replied, "I'll ask my mom and dad after school."

"Thanks Kyle!" I said, "You're the best!"

After that the first bell rang and we went off to our shortened classes.

"I love half days," I mused out loud as the goths and I walked towards the middle school, "Nothing's better than only having to go to school for half the regular day. I wish every day of school could be like that."

"I don't know. I think not having to go to school at all is better," Pete said with a shrug.

"Same," Michael agreed.

"Yeah, I could do with out my teacher getting on my case all the time," Henrietta muttered, "Bitch always complaining that I don't conform to her standards. Who does she think she is? My mom?"

"Well at least it's the weekend now," I pointed out before the three of them could start ranting, "And we don't have to deal with teachers again until Monday."

We reached the middle school and went around to where there were outdoor tables for students to eat their lunches outside if they so desired. I remembered my friends and I spent a majority of our time out here when we were in middle school since it was our one opportunity to get some fresh air that wasn't gym.

Firkle was sitting by himself at a table away from the other kids when we arrived. I also spotted Ike, Karen, and Craig Tucker's younger sister Tricia sitting together at a table. I was glad to see that Karen seemed to be getting along well with them.

We couldn't actually walk up to the young people, as there was a chain link fence surrounding the area, but it still allowed us to see everything. The goths walked up to the fence and hissed at their friend.

"Psst! Firkle! Over here!" Michael called softly.

Firkle perked up and looked over to where we were standing. His face instantly lit up with joy and he got up and ran over to us. I didn't know Firkle as well as Henrietta and the other two, but this was the most emotion I had ever seen on his face.

"Hey guys!" he greeted, slipping his fingers between the links in the fence, "What are you doing here?"

"We had a half day at school so we thought we'd come visit you during lunch," Pete explained, gently touching his friend's fingers.

Firkle seemed overjoyed by this and began rambling to his friends about something. While he did, I looked back over to where my sister was sitting and suddenly noticed what Ike was doing. He didn't seem to be listening to anything Tricia was saying and was staring right past her to where Firkle was standing. Even from here I could see that his cheeks were tinted red. Odd.

The goths chatted for several minutes until Firkle realized that lunch was almost over and he would have to go back inside soon. He bid us good-bye, well more so his friends than me, and started back inside. It seemed to me that he seemed a little sad to go.

We were about to start walking away when I heard someone call my name. I turned around and saw Karen coming towards me. I smiled as she approached.

"You didn't think you could get away with coming here and not saying hello to your little sister, did you?" she scolded me.

"Sorry," I apologized, "I didn't think you noticed me and I didn't want to interrupt your time with your friends." Karen smiled sweetly.

"It's all right," she said, "Just say hi next time you drop by, all right?"

"All right, kiddo," I replied, "I'll see ya at home." Karen nodded then ran back inside before the bell rang.

The goths and I started walking home together, though I had much farther to walk than they did. We walked in silence for a minute before I decided to ask.

"Does Firkle always sit by himself like that?" I wondered.

"Yeah," Henrietta replied, "There aren't any other goths his age and he would never sit with a conformist."

"I think he prefers to be alone anyway," Michael added. I wasn't too sure about that, but then again I didn't really know the kid that well so I kept my mouth shut.

We reached Michael's house first where Michael and Pete said good bye to Henrietta and ignored me before going into the house together. Henrietta smirked at me.

"You know, Firkle and I have walked in on those two fucking more than once," she told me as we started down the street once more, "You would think they would learn to give some sign that they're doing it. Like turn on some music. Or put a sock on the door knob. Or lock the damn door."

I chuckled. "Yeah, you've gone on this rant before," I informed her, "Three times, in fact."

"I bet they're going up to Michael's room right now to do it," she continued as if I hadn't spoken, "I think suppressing their affection during the day makes them really horny at night."

"Eh, I can see it," I said.

We walked in silence for a few minutes before Henrietta sighed. "By the way, did Firkle seem a little… sad to you?" she asked.

"He did look kind of lonely," I replied, "Especially when he was going back inside, like he didn't want to leave you guys. I would've said something, but Michael said he likes to be alone and I didn't want to contradict him about someone I don't know that well."

"Well, when Pete and Michael first started hooking up, Firkle and I started hanging out more," Henrietta explained, "Even if they were busy, I was always available. But now that I'm dating you I haven't been able to hang out with him as much and I think that's made him feel left out and really alone."

"Aw! Well now I feel bad!" I whined. I didn't like to think I was making someone miserable by dating Henrietta. She patted me on the arm.

"Well, you know, Pete and Michael could try harder to spend time with him," she pointed out, "Why should I be the one who always has to fix their problems? I don't want to have to stop dating you because those two can't step up and be better friends."

I couldn't help but blush slightly at her words. She wanted to keep dating me.

"I'm sure you guys can work something out," I said as we reached Henrietta's house.

"Yeah, I hope so," she sighed lightly. I walked her to her door and kissed her lightly on the lips. I was about to walk away but she suddenly stopped me. "Wait, before you go, I have something for you."

I watched as she ducked into her house and a moment later came out with a large lumpy package and handed it to me. As I started to unwrap it, she explained. "I noticed your parka is falling apart and I felt bad that you have to wear it all the time, so I bought you a knew one," she told me.

I stared in awe as I unfolded a brand-new parka. It was much like my old parka, only this one was dark orange in color and had an even softer inner lining. It was wonderful.

"Henrietta," I breathed, "This is… I don't even… You didn't have to do this."

She smiled slightly. "I know I didn't," she replied, "But I wanted to. I hated seeing you shivering all the time. I hope you like the color. I asked Stan and Kyle and they said your favorite color is orange, but all the oranges they had were too bright and obnoxious for my tastes. So I got you something a bit darker."

I couldn't help but fling my arms around her in a hug. "I love it!" I told her, "This is the nicest gift anyone has ever given me!"

Henrietta was taken aback slightly by my hug, but she soon reciprocated it. "I'm glad you like," she said.

I thought we could end the chapter on a cute note. Next chapter will have Kenny getting snacks for the get together and then the get together. Wonder how that will go? Also he gets to show off his new parka. Anyway, please leave a review!