A/N: I just realized that I didn't thank all my reviewers in the last chapter, something I've been doing only for this story and would like to continue. So, huge thanks to Isabella387, Daire, kyleisgod, nina-neko, Emerald's Shine, ktkitty4, Otempora42, shadowiscool28, Lady Dragon010, and Forts. (Phew!) Oh, and a special mention to my friend Amu, whose (quite interesting) reviews you may have seen on some of my stories; she doesn't watch South Park, but she reads and critiques all my stories anyway. Now that's a friend.

Anyway. I'm glad you guys are liking this story. It's a little roller-coaster-ish, in my mind - up and down with every chapter, and this one's no exception. Also, some of you will notice that I'm playing around with different Kenny pairings; he'll probably be with someone eventually, but I'm not sure who yet. Oh, and I snuck in some Craig/Tweek here for absolutely no reason - I don't even like the pairing, but I felt like putting it in. Weird, huh?

Enjoy the longest installment (so far!) of Secrets. Reviews are greatly appreciated, as always. :)

disclaimer: I don't own South Park... I don't own Care Bears... I don't own Seventeen. Done.

Ch 10

Kenny's already crappy day got worse as the school day progressed. His science teacher gave him shit for not having his backpack, his math teacher gave him shit for not having his homework, and his Spanish teacher gave him shit for everything else (all en espanol, leaving Kenny to wonder if she'd said "You failed the test" or "Your mother is a whore.") Finally lunchtime came, though, and he allowed his tired body to be carried along through the sea of hungry students racing towards the cafeteria.

"Kenny!" A hand, light and slender and decorated with sparkly purple fingernails, grabbed his wrist and yanked him out of the traffic. "Did Stan give you the invitation?" Bebe tucked her blond curls behind her ear and bit her tongue expectantly.

"Um. Yeah. Yeah, he did," Kenny muttered.

"Oh, okay! Good. You think you can come?"

Kenny nodded. He didn't really feel up to all that excitement and drama, but hey, it got him out of the house for a couple hours.

"Great!" squeaked Bebe. "Omigod, this is gonna be sooo much fun! See you then!" Another wave of purple, and then she was gone, her miniskirt bouncing up and down as she disappeared into the crowd.

Kenny wandered through the halls and towards the lunchroom, quickly spotting Stan, Kyle, and Cartman already seated at the usual table. He sat down at his spot, noticing the tray in front of him was full of food.

"Uh, I think I have Cartman's lunch." Stan laughed and Cartman rolled his eyes.

"No, that's yours," said Kyle. "Remember, I said I'd get you a lunch?"

"Yeah, but what's with all the food? There an eating contest I don't know about? Not that it would matter, Cartman would win anyway."

"Ey!"

Kyle shrugged, ignoring Cartman's outburst. "Thought you looked hungry." I'm not a damn charity case! Kenny thought, but he couldn't say that kind of thing to Kyle, not after this.

"Oh. Thanks," he mumbled instead, picking at a piece of Salisbury steak (not anywhere near as good as Chef used to make it). He was aware that though he was starving, he'd probably only have a couple of bites.

Next to Kenny, Cartman was grimacing at his lunch tray, which was considerably less full than usual. "What'sa matter?" Stan asked through a mouthful of steak.

"Damn Jew took all the food for Kenny!" He banged his fist on the table. "It's not funny, Kenneh!"

"I never said it was. Here, you can have my steak." He stabbed it with his spork and dropped it onto Cartman's tray.

Kyle looked pissed. "He doesn't need that, Kenny. C'mon, you've gotta be starving."

"I'm okay, really." Kyle didn't look convinced.

"Hey, so, are any of you guys going to Bebe's party?" Stan cut in, spearing a piece of lettuce and shoving it in his mouth. Kenny grinned at him to show he was grateful for yet another interruption.

"I dunno," said Cartman. "I mean, it sounds kinda boring. But then again, Bebe's a total slut- "

"She is not!" Kyle threw down his spork.

"Hell yeah she is. Look at her freaking skirt." And he was right, Kenny observed – Bebe's mini barely covered her underwear.

"That doesn't make her a slut, Cartman."

"Yes it does."

"No it doesn't!"

"Why the hell do you care, anyway?"

"I don't like hearing you insult people."

"That's not it. I think- I think you like her. Kyle has a boner for Bebe!" Cartman laughed as he said this, but his eyes told Kenny something else.

"I- do- not," Kyle hissed, his face turning noticeably red. "I- I just- what has she ever done to you?"

"Everything." Cartman began gnawing on a drumstick.

"He- heya, fellas. Mind if I join you?" Butters slid into their table, preventing Kyle from spitting back a retort.

"Go away," sighed Stan, who looked thoroughly exhausted, possibly more so than Kenny.

"Um, ha- have you guys heard about Bebe's party?" Butters asked, popping a Care Bears fruit snack into his mouth.

"Yeah, are you going?" Cartman's face showed interest – probably feigned, Kenny decided – as he turned towards the blond.

"Mhmm. Bebe's not too nice, b-but I heard you guys were comin', and Wendy too, so I, uh, I think I'm gonna go." He bit off the head of a yellow fruit snack. "Aw, darn, I killed Funshine Bear." You bastard, Kenny thought with a smile.

"Oh, well, that's totally awesome, Butters," said Cartman. "So totally awesome. Can't wait to see you there."

"Thanks, Eric," smiled Butters. "It'll be real- real fun, huh?"

"Oh, yeah. Real fun," Cartman smirked.

"C'mon," said Kenny softly. "Leave him alone."

A split second of silence, and then Cartman burst out laughing.

"Are you kidding me? Leave Butters alone?"

"Well, I…" He didn't really know what to say; they all knew he hated Butters as much as they did. But for some reason… maybe all the abuse he'd taken from his family, from Cartman, had added up – maybe he felt sympathetic for Butters?

He shook his head. Nah.

"Just kidding," he muttered. Cartman grinned.

"Good. Hey, Butters, can I have a fruit snack?"

"Uh- uh, sure, Eric, which one d'ya want? I only have Grumpy Bear and, uh, Tenderheart Bear left, 'cause I always s-save Tenderheart Bear for last, since he's my favorite and all-"

"I'll take Tenderheart Bear, then," said Cartman sweetly, holding out his hand. Butters sadly placed the red snack in the cupped palm. "Watch this." Cartman tossed it up into the air and half-attempted to catch it with his mouth.

It landed on the floor.

"Oh, I'm so sorry about that, Butters," snickered Cartman. Kenny noticed the fat boy shoot a glance at Kyle, who was trying to hide his giggle. Butters's eyes watered a bit, and he got up from the table.

"I- I gotta go, fellas," he said quietly. Next thing Kenny knew, Butters had disappeared into the sea of students leaving to go play out on the fields.

"What a loser," Cartman laughed, scraping the last bit of mashed potatoes off of his tray.

"I know." Stan crumpled up his napkin. "Jeez, he's so annoying!" Kenny thought Cartman was much more annoying than Butters, but thought it best not to say anything.

"Let's do something to him at the party," said Kyle nonchalantly, stretching his arms in front of him. Cartman grinned.

"Hell yeah! I- I mean, I'll think of something. Your stupid Jewish plans suck, Kahl."

"My Jewish plans?" Cartman nodded. "Screw you, fatass."

"You want to? Be my guest."

"Wha- ew!" Kyle stood up. "Listen, Stan, guys, I'm gonna go- um- I need to get a homework assignment from someone." He looked quickly at Kenny, then walked off.

"I'm in all his classes except for History," said Stan, rubbing his forehead. "But don't you have that with him, Kenny?"

"Yeah." He was pretty sure he knew what Kyle was up to. Stan craned his neck to look for his friend.

"Dude, what's he doing at the girls' table?"

Cartman looked pissed. "You sound like a third-grader, Stan. Ooh, cooties!"

"I- I didn't say- "

"He's sitting with them," muttered Cartman. "See? Next to Bebe and Red. He's talking to them. Guys, we need to get him out of there!"

"Now who's acting like the third-grader?"

"Stan, he's in danger over there – I'm seriouslah! Everyone knows Heidi tries to give makeovers to any boy who comes within- " Kenny looked, and sure enough, Heidi had pulled out a case of who-knows-what and was leaning over the table, reaching for Kyle's hat.

"Oh, this looks bad," Stan snickered. "Kyle hates his hair- "

"Aren't you gonna help your friend?" Cartman demanded. Stan shook his head.

"I gotta watch this." Cartman rolled his eyes and got up as Kyle struggled to keep his ushanka on his head, which was getting harder and harder as more girls joined in.

"Listen, Stan, if you're gonna let him get attacked like that – what kind of friend are you?" He marched off towards the girls' table. Stan turned to Kenny.

"What kind of friend am I? He hates Kyle!"

"No he doesn't," Kenny mumbled, but Stan's eyes were riveted on Cartman and he didn't seem to hear.

Ten minutes later, Cartman came back, dragging Kyle behind him. The redhead's face was decorated with what Kenny assumed must be the season's hottest shades, and his lips had been messily covered in cherry-red lipstick. It actually didn't look that bad, he decided, but then again, it wasn't Kenny's face resembling a page in Seventeen.

"Toldja," said Cartman. "Just look at them." Heidi and Wendy were high-fiving, and Bebe was shaking with laughter. "What, may I ask, compelled you to go anywhere near- "

"I told you, I needed a homework assignment!" Kyle scrubbed furiously at his eyelids, which were painted light pink. "Damn- Heidi- "

"Dude, you've got- is this blush?" Stan looked at Kenny, who shrugged "You've got blush on your hat!" Kyle snatched it out of Stan's hands.

"Thanks for being so supportive, Stan." Stan laughed harder. "Listen, I'm gonna go to the bathroom… wash this off before English…" He shoved his hat (which was dusted slightly pink in places) onto his head and rushed out of the cafeteria.

Ah, yes, lunch was Kenny's favorite subject.

All good things must come to an end, unfortunately, and before long the carefree cafeteria scene was gone, replaced by the significantly less scandalous and gossip-worthy backdrop of PE. PE wasn't that bad, really, for Kenny; or at least, it hadn't been until today. It seemed like with every step he took, a different limb ached. He was beginning to feel really exhausted again, and his head hurt.

"Kenny!" Craig waved to him from the basketball courts. "C'mon!" Reluctantly, Kenny walked across the soccer field and towards the group of guys that had assembled at halfcourt.

"What's up?"

"We need you to balance out the teams," explained Token. "Now we have an even number of people."

"Let's pick, then," said Craig, a little impatiently. "Token, you first."

"All right, I get… Kenny," decided Token.

"I get Tweek." Tweek looked surprised at being picked second. Craig shrugged. "You're a fast runner."

"Clyde."

"Pip."

"You… you, the goth kid." The boy sighed, flipped his hair out of his eyes, and walked over next to Kenny.

"Uh… Tweek."

"You already picked him."

"Oh." Craig looked at the last two standing. "You sure I picked Tweek already?"

"Yes, dammit!" shouted Cartman (one of the two left standing, of course.)

"Oh. Um… I pick Butters… no, Cartman… no…"

"I get Butters," interjected Token. "Since we'll be standing here all day otherwise." Craig turned and gave Pip the finger. Kenny was unsure as to why he did this, but then again, Craig's middle finger was his trademark body part, similar to Nurse Gollum's fetus and Cartman's fat.

"Ey! That's not fair! Token's team is stacked!" Token sighed.

"Cartman, how could my team be stacked? We all suck at basketball. The only one who can play is Kyle, but he has PE fourth period." Everyone grumbled at this; how could the world be so unfair?

"You're black!" Token rolled his eyes.

"Does that automatically make me good at basketball?" Cartman nodded. "Stereotyping asshole."

"Can we just play?" cut in Clyde. "PE's over soon." The boys disbanded and set up.

Kenny wasn't too bad at basketball; he was better than Cartman and worse than Kyle (but then again, that was true for most of them). He made one or two shots, blocked Pip's attempt at a layup, and got some nice passes in to Clyde, his team's best player. It seemed as if the game would go without a problem until Tweek, who had lost control of the ball and was barreling downcourt to get it, smashed into Kenny and knocked him straight to the ground.

He landed hard on his battered left arm, wincing as the still-fresh bruises collided with the hard blacktop. Hot pain shot through his arm, making him cry out.

"Jesus! I'm sorry! I'msorryI'msorry! Gah!" Tweek flung the ball aside, narrowly missing Butters, and kneeled down next to Kenny. "Are you okay? Are you?! Did I kill you? Oh my God I ki- "

"Calm down," said Craig, grabbing Tweek's flailing wrists. "Kenny, dude, you 'kay?"

"Yeah- " Kenny tried to push himself up. "Ow! Ow, crap- ow- " Hands- he wasn't sure whose- grabbed his side and helped him up.

"Is it your arm?" Token asked.

"Oh, is it broken?" The goth kid craned his neck to get a look.

"N- no, I don't think so…" It wasn't broken, thankfully, but it still hurt like hell. He pushed up his jacket sleeve to inspect the damage, then remembered where he was and yanked it back down again.

"Sh-should I get you some ice, Kenny?" Butters looked concerned. "Or, or do you wanna go to the nurse?"

"I'm fine, Butters," he said. The boy looked a little hurt, so Kenny added, "But thanks, you know, for trying to help and all."

"So shall I assume this sporting event has concluded?" Pip leaned into the circle that had gathered around Kenny, but Cartman immediately pushed him out again.

"Pip, I didn't think it was possible, but you get gayer every year."

"Listen, guys, the bell's about to ring. I don't think there's much of a point in finishing," Clyde said.

"Well, who won?" Craig was like this, Kenny noticed – didn't matter what happened, didn't even matter if he won, as long as he knew the score.

"I think we did," said Token. "Yep, we got 12 and you guys got 8."

"Aw, c'mon! Told you they were stacked!"

"Our team wasn't stacked!"

"Yes you were!" The boys quickly circled around Token and Cartman, preparing for a fight. Kenny thought it best to stay out of it, and, as the bell rang, he wandered away, dreading seventh period almost as much as he was dreading going back home.