The police were quick to wrestle Cartman to the ground and cuff him. I was sympathetic to Kyle who stood screaming his lungs out as he struggled in Christophe and Gregory's hold. Wendy was kneeling next to Stan both frightened at his state and angry with Cartman. 'Maybe I'm that weird outside observer who doesn't have enough sentimentality to empathize with the events around me but seems to me that Stan brought this on himself' I thought in a rare moment of maturity. Cartman seemed apathetic as he was manhandled out of the cafeteria into the awaiting police car. The sirens faded away and the veil of shock lifted over our classmates. It was as the whispering started that I made my way over to Kyle and half pulled, half carried the quiet boy over to our table. Gregory immediately reassured us that he would have the best lawyers in South Park on Cartman's case while Christophe seemed to be strategizing on how to spin the events leading to Cartman's arrest. Kyle's listlessness worried me much more than Cartman's arrest, after all I know he was arrested at least twice before this time. I made sure to walk with Kyle on his way home if only to prevent him from walking into a busy street or something. When we arrived at his house, it was to see Ike sitting on the front steps seemingly waiting.

"I heard what happened," Ike said in explanation as he stood and took his older brother into his arms.

"Must be all over South Park by now," I grumbled good-naturedly, knowing how fast our grapevine ran.

"Yeah, Dad decided that he was going to personally take Cartman's case and began talking to as many as he could to figure out what exactly happened. He said that if it came to a trial he would ask Gregory, Christophe, Kyle and you to testify since you are the only ones who were direct witnesses. Plus I told him about what happened the other day," Ike said flippantly, obviously not worried. We made a bit more small talk and I was about to leave when an angry cry made me turn back toward where Ike was helping Stan into the house.

"Your bastard of a boyfriend beat Stan to a bloody pulp!" Wendy screamed from where she must have followed us and hid behind a building.

"He was protecting me from your ex-boyfriend so what does it matter? If anything you are just as responsible considering you abandoned Stan again instead of just helping him through whatever is going on with him," Kyle hissed reminding me of a disgruntled cat.

"I abandoned him? I abandoned him! You fucking abandoned him! You started dating Cartman and didn't even care about Stan enough to tell him. You kicked him out of your house in him moment of need-" Wendy started accusing.

"His moment of need, that's bullshit. I'll tell you like I told him, I'm not a fucking shrink and I am not responsible for listening to every minute of his life. I have my own life and that life includes Eric who I love. My not telling Stan was because of his bullshit, I had no doubt that this would happen no matter if I told him then or now so excuse me if I wanted a stable relationship with Eric before I included the whirlwind that is Stan's fucked up feelings," Kyle said huffing much like he used to when we were kids. Wendy seemed to be at a loss as to what to say because she stood there opening and closing her mouth like a fish, it would have been entertaining if I were not getting so annoyed by all the drama. 'Maybe I have been alive for too long' I thought.

Gregory and Kyle's dad were good on their word because Cartman was out of jail only days after his arrest and just in time for the dance. To get Kyle's mind off everything, Gregory drug Kyle and me shopping for outfits. I would have made some smart-ass comment about seeing boobs growing on the two gay boys if only I could be sure that they wouldn't kick my ass. Watching the two boys chatting and trying on different outfits at each store was slightly disconcerting, but that all changed when a busty redhead asked if I could give her a "gay" man's opinion on her outfit. Of course, to make an accurate assessment I had to see the beauty from every angle and even convinced her that I needed to see how each piece fit by itself to judge the piece as a whole. Amazingly, I was able to get her number without being slapped. Turning my attention back to Kyle and Gregory, I saw the shock and slight respect on their faces at my successful conquest. Getting done much sooner than a shopping trip with females would take, we were soon sitting in Carman's kitchen much like during the tape recorder incident.

"Heard anything from Bebe?" Cartman asked gruffly.

"No, she has been suspiciously quiet. Although, I think she was very pleased with your recent incarceration. She may be planning some type of confrontation soon," Gregory stated factually.

"Most likely at the school dance tomorrow night," I said with a shrug.

"Why at the dance?" Christophe asked confusedly.

"It's always some type of public blowup in the movies," I said with another shrug, "and really will this be anything but predictable."