A/N: Ugh, I'm in an awful mood today. I'm just going to spend a few hours watching my favorite episodes to make me feel better! Sorry about this chapter being a little dialogue heavy, but that's what happens when you try to write a phone conversation ^^;

Aunt Nellie had told Butters once that if you get a call late at night, it was hardly ever good news.

Butters fumbled around in the dark, searching for his ringing phone. The light of his clock, reading 2: 45, was hardly enough for him to see by. If he didn't answer it soon, his dad would wake up and ground him for staying up past his bed time. His fingers curled around it when he reached in his backpack and he flipped it open, answering before seeing who it was calling so late.

"H-Hello, who's this?"

Whoever it was, there was a lot of noise in the background where they were. "Butters? It's Kenny."

"Kenny?" Butters asked, not sure if he was hearing right. Kenny knew not to call him this late at night. Why was he on the other line at this hour? Had something happened? "What's the matter, is something wrong?"

Kenny sighed into his phone. "You're not going to like this."

"What is it?" He asked, truly worried now.

"Well, the thing is… I got arrested."

Butters nearly dropped his phone, he was so shocked. He couldn't say anything as Kenny waited on the other line for him to speak. It was a while before Kenny finally started talking again.

"Butters, did you hear what I said? I've been arrested." Pause. "Are you still there?"

Finally, Butters found his voice again. "What do you mean you got arrested?"

Kenny laughed a little, though Butters didn't know how he could find something like this funny. "I didn't do anything wrong, if that's what you're wondering."

"How did you get arrested then?" He asked.

"Cops hate McCormicks." Kenny said, as if that explained everything.

Butters frowned. "Kenny, that wasn't the real reason. Was it?"

"No, but the cops really do hate my family." Kenny said.

"So what happened that made them arrest you?" Butters asked him.

"Hang on." Kenny said. There was someone yelling on the other end, and Butters was afraid that something was happening to him for a second until he heard Kenny laugh. "Sorry, the cops just brought in a drunk and he puked all over the big one's shoes."

"Is he okay?"

"Which one, the cop or the drunk?"

"Um… either one. Both of them."

He could hear Kenny shifting to see. "Well, the drunk is being thrown into the jail cell, but he looks fine. The other dude's pissed though. His whole face is red!"

"Kenny…" Butters started, wanting to get back to the fact that Kenny was in jail.

"Oh right, the reason I'm here." Kenny's voice sobered up. "It's total bullshit, just letting you know. It turns out my parents were cooking up meth in that shack behind the house."

"Meth?" Butters' eyes went wide. "How did they manage to do that?"

"I don't know, Butters. I should have noticed, my room's the one that faces the backyard." He sighed, frustrated. "When the cops came, they arrested everyone in the house, except my sister. They're convinced Kevin and I were in on it. I have no idea if Kevin's involved, but I haven't done anything."

"I believe you. That's awful, Kenny." Butters murmured, feeling pretty awful at the whole situation. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Actually there is. Can you call Kyle? I was hoping that his dad would be able to help somehow."

"I can do that, definitely." Butters said, nodding into the receiver. "I'll even check up on Karen in the morning, if you want me to."

"Yeah, if it's not too much trouble." Kenny said, clearly relieved. "Thanks a lot Butters, I knew I could count on you."

A thought came into Butters' mind. "Shouldn't you have called Kyle first, if you need to talk to his dad?"

"I thought about that." Kenny said. "But I wanted you to hear it from me that I was in jail. Kyle would have made it sound worse than it was, and I didn't want you to get worried."

"It's a little late for that. I'm already worried for you." Butters said, a small smile growing on his face.

"Yeah, but at least you know I'm alright this way."

That managed to get a laugh out of Butters. "Okay then, is that everything?"

"Pretty much. They'll let me out in a little while, since I'm a minor, so don't be surprised if you see me on the bus stop in a little while."

"Then I guess I'll see you soon." Butters said. "Should I call Kyle right now?"

"Not if you want to get your head bitten off." Kenny said, laughing. "Call him in the morning, okay?"

"Okay."

There was a side conversation on the other line. Kenny came back sounding disappointed.

"My time's up now." He said. "Fuck, I wish I could just keep talking to you. This conversation's the sanest one I've had all night."

Butters hummed in sympathy. "Would you believe it's the sanest one I've had all weekend?"

That made Kenny laugh again. "Can't wait to see you again, Buttercup."

And then there was some more arguing in the background. They barely had the time to say goodbye when the call was ended. Butters hoped that Kenny would be okay over there.

The light switched on overhead. He turned to see his father standing there, arms crossed over his chest.

"Butters, what are you doing up so late? You are grounded, mister!"

"Oh hamburgers." He moaned.