South Park © Matt & Trey.

So, I've been thinking about something. For possible ideas for any of my future stories – what would you guys like to see me write about? Plots ideas/pairings/themes are welcome for future stories or for my WIPs (listed on my profile!). If you guys have any suggestions you can drop me a PM or leave a review. Thanks!

Kenny's POV

Stan has been moody, but I haven't gotten him alone so I haven't had the chance to ask him what's up. It probably has to do with his parents or Kyle. It's one of the two. He'll talk when he's ready.

I see Craig in the crowded hallway at school on Friday. He looks tired as ever dressed in pajama pants, a t-shirt and an oversized hoodie. He looks small. It's funny. When we were young, he was one of the tallest kids in class.

I offer him a smile and hold up my hand. He doesn't say anything, but he takes a few steps towards me. When we're standing in front of one another, be presses the palms of his hands flat to my chest and sinks into me. I wrap my arms around him, holding him close.

"Craig…?" I say his name, trying to ask if he's all right.

"Shut up," he murmurs. "Don't ruin the moment… Let's just be for a minute, okay?"

"Okay," I say softly, burying my face in his hair. He smells like vanilla. There are kids staring at us, but I don't give a shit. When he pulls away, he takes my hand and we go to the boy's locker room. He unzips my parka and we proceed to claim a bench and make out.

"I want you…" I mumble.

"Please, don't," he says with blunt distaste, drawing away.

I shake my head. "I mean it. I fucking want you. Shit, maybe it's love. I can't help it."

He closes his eyes. "Stop… You're making this too complicated. You're ruining everything."

"You're views on love are too warped," I tell him. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You're a liar," he murmurs.

"Just because you've been avoiding me, it doesn't mean your feelings are going to disappear," I point out.

He leans his head against my shoulder. "Skip your morning classes today," he says. "We'll do something interesting."

"Interesting?"

"Yeah, interesting." He lifts his head and gives me a peck on the lips before standing. He takes off his sweater and lifts his shirt up over his head before stepping out of his shoes. He slips his fingers in the rim of his pajama pants before tugging them down.

"Craig?" I say his name yet again, dry mouthed and painfully aware of my growing erection.

"Sh," he commands.

"What if someone comes in?" I ask, glancing around. That would be a bit of a mood killer for me.

"Don't tell me you're scared?" he asks and there's something in his voice that's taunting me.

"I'm not," I insist.

"It's Friday," he states, stepping towards me again. "There are no gym classes in the morning, so it's not likely."

"Oh," I say.

He sits in my lap and reaches a hand into my sweatpants and pulling out my dick. He then arches forward, grinding his hips against mine in a steady, ongoing rhythm. He stares at me with eyes half lidded as his breathing quickens. I move forward and close the gap between our faces. We kiss sloppily, panting and moaning. He grabs my shoulders, steadying himself as we continue to rub up against each other, causing friction.

I wrap one hand around his back while I wrap the other around both of our cocks. I have him like this yet again. He came to me this time… and maybe that means something. I really want it to.

Craig rocks his hips upward, into my hand. "Fuck…" he breathes. "I'm close…"

"Me, too…" I work my hand faster as the familiar feeling explodes in my groin. Craig throws his head back and pants loudly. I wonder if I'll ever get used to seeing this side of him. It leaves me wanting more.

I let out a pleasured sigh. "Mm…" I've also gotta say I'm pretty satisfied at my aim. I didn't jizz on my clothes.

Craig lets go of me and moves away, staring down at the mess of rapidly cooling spooge sitting on his stomach. Without another word and without getting dressed, he walks around the corner. I zip up my parka, pick up his discarded clothing and follow him.

"I'm going to wash off," he says, entering a shower stall and turning on the tap.

"All right," I murmur. He doesn't seem to be upset today. I'm just hoping he won't suddenly start crying and then tell me to leave him alone. He's confusing. I don't know what he's thinking and I don't know what he wants. He doesn't know, either.

After Craig rinses himself off, he fetches a towel from his gym locker and dries off. "Here," I hand him his clothing and he gets dressed.

He offers me the smallest of smiles, taking my hand again as we leave the locker room. "We just humped each other," I state. "And a little while ago we had sex."

"Yes, we did…" Craig says. "Very astute observations. I never knew you were so smart."

I ignore the sarcasm and ask, "What does it mean?"

"Does it have to mean anything?"

"Well, I'd like it to…" I admit, "but I'll give you more time if it's what you need."

He simply nods his head.

I know he likes me, though. Why else would he hold my hand? "We haven't played the game in a while," I mention. "So, I'm going to ask you a question and remember – you need to answer it."

He closes his eyes, tightening his grip on my hand as we walk. "Just don't ask me anything important."

"Then what the fuck's the point?" I sigh, exasperated. "You're missing it completely, Craig. No matter who wins and who loses, you end the game with a fucking friend. Let yourself feel something good for a change."

After a pause he opens his eyes. "Maybe I don't want a friend," he says.

"Then what do you want?" I ask.

"I don't know what I want. I already told you that."

"Why don't you try and figure it out?"

"Because that takes too much effort," he says.

I drag him into a nearby empty classroom and shut the door.

"Why are we in here?" he asks, looking unimpressed.

"Tell me how you saw your mom die," I request, knowing it's probably his most important memory. It's the memory that shaped him the most and influenced him to become who he is today. I just want to understand. Maybe this will help me do so.

"You're an asshole, McCormick," he whispers.

"Yeah? So are you" I retort.

He sighs angrily, letting go of my hand and crossing his arms. "I was twelve," he starts tersely, turning around so he won't have to face me. He stares out the classroom windows, down at the falling snow. "It was the night before Christmas Eve. Dad was asleep… So was Ruby. I heard footsteps outside my door. Before that, I never had trouble sleeping but I was a light sleeper. So, I got out of bed and quietly followed my mom downstairs. She pulled a gun out of a cabinet they kept locked. I never knew why they kept it locked, but I knew then. It was where my parents kept the guns. With it, she walked onto the balcony out back. I was frozen. I didn't know what to do. She was only wearing a nightdress. Her feet were bare and she was walking on the snow. I knew she must've been cold. Slowly, I made my way to the open door. I just stood there, staring at her. Snow was getting in the house. I felt it in my feet. It was cold and the wind was blowing straight through my clothes. I was scared. The whole thing was eerie and my voice got caught in my throat. Just as I tried to call to her, she raised the gun and shot herself in the temple. Just like that – blood everywhere. I watched it happen… I watched her die." His voice is far away, as if he's mentally trying to distance himself from the things he's talking about. "So, I screamed. My dad and Ruby woke up, but he made her stay upstairs. I guess he had a bad feeling. So, he came downstairs and called 911 when he saw it… You know, sometimes I feel like he might blame me for not acting quicker. Maybe that's why he won't look at me."

I take a step towards him. I put a hand on his shoulder and force him to look at me. His eyes are closed and his cheeks are dry, but his face is flushed and his nose is red. I can tell he wants to cry. "I'm really fucking sorry," I say sincerely. I guess I understand why he hates Christmas now.

His lips part and he inhales deeply before exhaling. He nods and when he opens his eyes, they're glassy, but still, he doesn't cry. "Let's go," he says.

"You can ask me a question," I tell him. "You can make it painful."

"I can't think of anything," he murmurs.

"Okay, that's fine."

We leave the room and Craig gets his jacket from his locker. Once he puts it on we leave the school through the back exit, sitting on the cement stairwell.

"What's wrong with Kyle Broflovski lately?" Craig pries suddenly. "He's all emotional and shit…"

"He's got pretty intense OCD," I say. "Plus he was hospitalized a couple years back and everyone is worried that a relapse is in the near future."

"He was anorexic…" Craig states as if recalling a distant memory. "Are you worried, too?"

I shake my head. "Kyle is tough. He's smart. He's learned from his mistakes. He's not going to hurt himself like that again."

"Hm," Craig muses thoughtfully, but says nothing more and we fall into another silence. We watch it fall and eventually the bell rings, signalling lunch break. We go back inside and part ways without another word.

It's progression – yeah, it's slow, but it's progression nonetheless.

Knowing Craig Tucker is like trying to breathe under water – it's fucking impossible. Knowing Craig Tucker is like trying to swim when you don't know how – it hurts and there's a fear of drowning. I never got that before. I used to think love was always something effortless. Now I see that it's anything but.

After lunch, I have my philosophy elective with Bebe and Kyle. I don't know why Kyle insists on taking philosophy classes. Debating his existence freaks him out on a big scale, but he is still as engaged as ever, answering all the teacher's questions. Sometimes it's fun hearing about all these little theories and then being able to know for myself whether they're true or not. I'm special. I know more than I should.

After class, I ask Bebe to talk. She accepts and we walk home together. "So, what's on your mind?" she asks, giving me an encouraging smile.

I let out a sigh before laughing somewhat bitterly. "I'm into someone," I reveal. She nods, urging me to continue. She's still smiling that same smile, so I guess she isn't too surprised. "I want to pursue him… I know I'm just going to end up fucking myself in the end, but I still want to try," I tell her.

"Okay," she says. "It's Craig, huh?"

"Yeah," I snort. "It's that obvious, huh?"

"A little," she laughs. "I've never really seen you take an interest in someone as much as you've taken an interest in him. I knew for a while. I was just waiting until you were ready to tell me."

"Oh," I say softly. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Bebe can read me like a book. I can do the same to her. That's part of what makes us so special.

"You taught me a lot," Bebe says, "but I think Craig needs you now. I'm okay with that."

"I fucking love you," I tell her sincerely. "I mean that, you know."

"I know," she grins. "I love you, too." My relationship with Bebe was like a fucking fairy tale. I can tell whatever is happening with Craig will be much different. "If anyone can help him out, it's you," she continues. "But be careful. I was talking to Clyde and he said Craig hurts people who care about him so they'll go away."

"I know," I murmur, frowning. "He's tried."

"He acts like he's a horrible person… but I don't think he truly is. I don't think he is really as mean as he likes to pretend he is."

"Me neither," I agree. "It must get tiring…"

"Yeah," she sighs.

"Well," I deadpan, tossing an arm around her, "it's okay. I'll try not to get my hopes up because I know he's stubborn. He's just too scared to think about other people."

"I hope it all works out perfectly," she says, putting an arm around my waist.

"Me, too…"

"Hey, Kenny?" she glances over at me.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember a while back when you were hung over and I was talking to you about important things… Like the first time I saw you, and when you asked me out… and things like that?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say fondly.

"I guess we should talk about that now, huh?"

I take off my hood as we reach her driveway. "If you're ready," I tell her, offering a smile.

"I wanted you to know how important you are to me," she says, "and even though the relationship we have now is starting to disintegrate, you'll always be one of the most important people in my life."

"Likewise," I agree. We were perfect. It lasted for two years, but everything comes to an end. It's okay. Besides, it's not like I'm losing her.

"But… I've been spending a lot of time with Clyde lately," she continues. I've noticed that. I know what is going to happen and for some reason, it feels all okay. "Do you want to come over for a bit?" she offers.

"Yeah, sure," I accept. But this time we don't have sex or fool around. Now that everything is out in the open, it wouldn't feel right.

"So, you and Clyde?" I say knowingly.

She smiles. "It appears that way… Hey, if you and Craig do end up together, we'll all be able to go on double dates."

"I bet that would absolutely thrill Craig," I chuckle.