Chapter Five - Baby Steps.

By the time Bebe finally spotted Wendy crossing the dance floor back towards her, she had been just about ready to send out a search and rescue team looking for her.

The blonde girl had been trying her absolute hardest to have fun that night, but after Wendy vanished, all she could think about was why she had run off and whether or not she was okay. Bebe had eaten dinner, taken photos with her girlfriends and even snuck in that requested dance with Kyle. But none of it even seemed half as fun without Wendy being there, too.

It was pretty obvious to Bebe and everyone else within ear shot that her best friend had not been all too happy about being pushed into a nice little dance and chat with Denver boy Derrick, but the entire Homecoming dance was almost over now. It felt like that Wendy had been missing for hours.

"Where have you been, girl?" Bebe asked, detaching from the group of girls as she took a few steps towards her friend.

Wendy felt queasy in her stomach. Aside from the fact that she hadn't eaten a single bite all night long, the lasting image of Stan and Darcy that still pounded in the front of her mind was making her extremely unsettled, "Can we just go now?" she asked, almost pleading.

Bebe frowned, "Uh, after party?"

"Uh, not that interested!"

The minor patience that the dark haired girl had was starting to wear very thin. She had just spent close to the last forty-five minutes held up in a cramped cubicle of the women's rest room trying not to have a panic attack. The absolute last thing that she felt like doing was going to a crazy house party with even crazier guests, especially if two of those guests were you-know-who and his new arm candy.

"Oh, come on Wendy," Red suddenly chimed in. She and a few of the other girls were now glancing over to where the two best friends were standing, "We've barely seen you all night. It's gonna' be fun!"

"I'm not really in the mood for anymore 'fun'," she sniped back sarcastically.

"But you'll be with us," Nichole urged.

"Yeah," Heidi agreed, "You've gotta' at least try and get things back to normal."

The last word that spilt from Heidi's mouth immediately made Wendy's face turn red in a flash of anger, "Well maybe I'm still not ready for everything to go back to normal, has anyone ever thought about that?"

The callous venom that was all too clear in Wendy's tone drove all her girlfriends to an instant silence. Her breath was so heavy in her chest that it very well may have been affecting her thinking. She didn't think that she had sounded so vicious in her words, but the shocked expressions on everyone's faces told a different story. Everyone except for Bebe, that was. The blonde girl sighed sadly, trying to resist the urge to kick herself as she simply took Wendy by the arm and gently lead her away from the rest of the group.

Wriggling out of her best friend's grasp, Wendy soon folded her arms across her chest, waiting in stewed frustration while Bebe gathered her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Wendy. For tonight, for Derrick, for everything," she offered sincerely, "I guess I was so caught up in showing you a good time that I never stopped to think that maybe I was doing the exact opposite?"

Wendy chewed stubbornly on her bottom lip. She tried to roll her eyes and grunt in annoyance at her friend, but she knew it was no use. She could never stay mad at Bebe, not ever.

"It's okay," she eventually conceded with a sigh, "You just got a little… or, a lot carried away."

As both girls burst into a small array of giggles, Bebe pulled Wendy into an apologetic hug, "So you're still staying at my house tonight, right?" she mumbled into her shoulder before the two separated.

"Yeah, of course."

The blonde girl nudged Wendy softly in the arm, "So let's go to the party. We'll just swing by and see how everything is?"

Before Bebe's sentence was even completely out of her mouth, Wendy groaned, "Bebe, I dunno'…"

"Well, look, it's at one of the Middle Park guys' houses. There's gonna' be heaps of people there, not just people we know," she began, taking Wendy by the arm once more as they headed for the gym's exit, "We'll go back to my place, change into something more comfortable and then just go and have fun and a couple of quiet drinks with the girls."

Wendy cocked a suspicious eyebrow, "A couple of quiet drinks?"

As her cheeks flushed pink, Bebe shrugged, "It's mine and Kyle's rule. So things don't… ya' know, get out of hand again."

Taking this thought in her stride, Wendy then began to tick over everything else that Bebe had said. At that particular point in time, there was nothing that the raven haired girl wanted to do more than just go back to Bebe's house, make some cocoa and then pile together in her bed and put on a cheesy chick flick. But on the other hand, Wendy knew how much Bebe enjoyed going out and having fun with everyone – everyone and Kyle, of course. And aside from all that, the rest of her friends were already beginning to see Wendy as somewhat of a prude. Did she really want to keep dragging them all down in her own selfish misery?

Throwing her head back with a reluctant growl, Wendy allowed a chuckle to escape from the back of her throat, "How do you always manage to talk me into these things?"

This was the sentiment that remained with Wendy right up until the point where she and Bebe found themselves on the front doorstep of the loud, thumping, party-infested house – which was also, assumedly, parent-free.

The drive from South Park to Middle Park that Bebe's mother had very kindly offered to take Bebe and Wendy on hadn't really been as relaxing for the latter as she had hoped. Despite the fact that she now had a million and one other concerns regarding the Homecoming after party on her mind, there was still that one major factor that was controlling the way her whole body was functioning. Was Stan going to be here? Was Stan going to be here with Darcy? Would he talk to her? Would he even look at her? Would –

"Come on, Wendy!"

As the sound of Bebe's voice once again saved Wendy from being completely drained by her own paranoia, the teenager narrowed her eyes, spotting the blonde standing the middle of the large, crowded living room.

Sifting her way through the throngs of wild people, Wendy took a moment to examine everything that was happening around her. Amongst the loud music and stale stench of alcohol that coated the air, there were a number of exuberant teenagers jumping over furniture, yelling, dancing, drinking and hooking up with one another. As chaotic as it all may have seemed, in reality it was nothing short of a typical, high school after party. But even so, Wendy still wasn't sure how she felt about being there.

Finally catching up with Bebe, the young girl was just about to voice her further concerns when the two best friends were suddenly distracted by a someone calling out to them from across the room. The blonde girl frowned as she followed the sound of her name before her eyes eventually settled on Kyle. She smiled, waving back to him where he sat.

The Jewish boy was cramped on the living room couch with Kenny, who obviously had been informed about the huge party. They each had a beer in one hand and the red-headed young man was beckoning Bebe to come over and join them. Immediately, Bebe wanted to take a step forward, but she soon stopped herself. Turning back to Wendy, she imploringly batted her eyelashes, giving her friend and a pleading expression that didn't need the addition of any words.

Wendy sighed, but soon smiled with a roll of her eyes, "Go on."

"Are you sure?" Bebe exclaimed with a gasp.

"Yes, yes, go," Wendy insisted, "I'll be fine."

The happiness on the brink of Bebe's vision was all too clear as she gave Wendy's hand a quick squeeze before spinning around the spot and dashing across the living room.

Sweeping her curly blonde locks over one shoulder, Bebe grinned at Kyle, slowing down as she approached him. She placed her hands on her swaying hips with her thumbs through the loops of her black, tight skinny jeans. She flirtatiously looked him up and down where he sat. Like most of the boys at the party, Kyle was still wearing his suit pants and his dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled half way up his arms and his tie and jacket were gone as well. He glanced up up the stunning girl in front of him and tapped his knee, hinting at her to take a seat.

Bebe raised a curious eyebrow, "Oh, so now you're the one into all the PDA?"

The corner of Kyle's mouth turned up in a smirk, "Should I take that as a 'no'?"

Remaining stubbornly silent for a second or two, Bebe soon chuckled softly to herself, inching closer towards her Homecoming date. Instantly taking the hint, Kyle elbowed Kenny in the ribs, making him shuffle down the couch just far enough to allow Bebe the space to plonk herself down into the green-hatted boy's lap. She smiled sweetly, adjusting herself so she was straddling both his legs and looking at him face-to-face.

The butterflies in her stomach were doing backflips, "Ya' know, there's probably a million people from South Park looking at us right now."

Taking another sip of his beer, Kyle shrugged his shoulders, "Let 'em look," he spoke simply, "And the reason I'm into the PDA is because I'm into you."

Bebe's cheeks flushed an embarrassed shade of red at the sweet words from Kyle. Her heart was thumping lightly in her chest, but suddenly it stopped altogether and skipped a beat as she felt one of the Jewish boy's hands subtly begin to creep up her leg. He brushed the inside of her thigh before she quickly flicked him away.

"Hey, whoa buddy, slow down," she warned him. There was a joking giggle in her voice, but Bebe's tone was still firm at the same time.

Watching from where he sat beside his friend, Kenny slapped Kyle on the back with an encouraging laugh, "Ha ha, yeah man, get yourself some!"

"Do you mind?" Bebe snapped, turning her head to face the blonde mechanic, "Surely there's some girl around here that you could be making out with?"

Taking a quiet moment to mull over what he had just heard, Kenny quickly skulled down the rest of his beer, wiped his mouth and jumped off the couch, "You're absolutely right," he just managed to mumble out coherently before stumbling away in search of a female partner to do just that.

Shaking her head, Bebe's serious demeanour remained as she turned back to Kyle, her arms folded across her chest.

"S-sorry," he stuttered, avoiding her narrowed green eyes.

Tittering away to herself again, Bebe grabbed onto the front of Kyle's hat and playfully pulled it down over his face, "It's fine," she assured him, "But I'm still not ready for a relationship, you know."

Kyle hiccuped, "I never s-said you we-were."

The next laugh was loud as it exploded from the back of Bebe's throat, "Your words are slurring," she teased, tapping on the tin can of beer in his hand with her long nails. Making a quick mental note to herself to make sure not to drink so much tonight, Bebe then flipped back to the previous subject, "And good, by the way! Because I've got too much else on my plate right now to worry about having a boyfriend."

"Oh, yeah? Like what?" Kyle challenged.

"Well," Bebe began, scooting closer towards him and wrapping her arms around his neck, "I've got school and cheerleading and my part time job at the mall and now Wendy and - "

"Ugh, Wendy?" Kyle echoed in disdain.

"Hey," Bebe spoke threateningly, prodding Kyle in the chest, "You're not allowed to say mean things about her around me. For your information, she's been through just as much as Stan has."

"Oh, she has-s?" Kyle asked, his tone dripping in sarcasm, "C-care to enlighten-en me?"

Almost as soon as the sentence had left her mouth, Bebe wished that she hadn't said anything at all. It was nearly impossible for her to not defend her best friend, but that didn't necessarily mean that she had to go spouting off about all of Wendy's hardships whenever anyone said anything bad about her. That would certainly be the last thing that the raven haired girl would ever want.

Chewing down indecisively on her bottom lip, Bebe took a quick look over her shoulder and around the living room to see if she could spot Wendy anywhere. There were still numerous, blaring teenagers running rampid over the whole house, but the blonde girl couldn't see her friend standing on the opposite side of the room anymore. At least she had found someone else to socialise with, Bebe thought.

Turning back to Kyle, Bebe paused for a moment longer before smiling affectionately at him and licking her lips. Slowly she leaned in, gently clutching onto the back of his neck as she brought the two of them together in a soft, warm kiss. The sensation of his skin against hers was almost too much to handle as she reluctantly broke away, still beaming at him, "Maybe another time."

Kyle had basically already forgotten what he had even asked Bebe as all he could do was gaze at her, his eyes wide with frenzied desire.

Dropping his beer cold on the ground, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his close grasp, locking their lips back together in a much more steamy exchange. Goosebumps exploded up Bebe's arms at the delightful taste of Kyle's kiss as he delicately opened his mouth and invited her to enter further. The teenage boy slinked his hands up under the gorgeous young girl's white crop top. The sensation of her bare skin under his fingertips was indescribable - each one of the faint hairs that stood up on her back like a shot of adrenalin coursing through his veins.

He wanted her. Kyle wanted Bebe so badly. But there was one thing he wanted more, and that was to not ruin everything that they had between them.

As much as his brain was screaming at him to keep kissing her, Kyle reluctantly pulled away, quickly and tenderly pecking her on the nose as he did. He may have been slightly tipsy, but he wasn't anywhere near drunk enough to risk taking things one step too far.

"D'ya wanna' grab a drink or s-somethin'?" he asked, stumbling over his own tongue.

Bebe's head was spinning as she smiled a goofy, adoring smile at him. She raised her hand to her lips, right where Kyle's had just been. Despite the fact that there was a near limitless volume of alcohol available to her, and an even greater amount of fun that she could be having with all her friends, that was all suddenly seeming rather trivial to her at that moment. There was something else that she'd much rather be doing - something that definitely packed more of a punch than even the strongest drink ever could.

Seductively taking the collar of his shirt between her fingers, Bebe pinned Kyle's back into the soft cushions of the couch, "Mm... after I'm done with you," she teased, instantly lunging back into him.

There may have been dozens of eyes gazing upon them at that point, but as they continued to smack their lips together in the heated session, all they could focus on was each other and the pure electricity that sparked between them. It felt unbelievable to finally be taking one new, small, brave step forward.

Wendy's hands were stuffed into the pockets of her purple jacket as she wandered up the main hallway of the house. She had lost count of the number of people that she had bumped into while exploring the space of the party, and yet, she had still hardly recognised anybody. Aside from Bebe, she had seen a couple of her other close girlfriends, but they were all rather preoccupied with their Homecoming dates. And when they were all subtracted from the equation, it didn't leave many people for Wendy to lean on.

Sighing to herself, she spotted a light on in the room at the very end of the hallway. With a shrug of her shoulders, she stepped over a couple that were drunkingly lying in the middle of the floor as she reluctantly decided to make her way down there. Maybe Bebe had been right – maybe it would be good for Wendy to meet some new people.

As she had just about made it to the doorway of the room, Wendy was abruptly almost barged over by a small-framed figure who came bolting out of the room, covering their mouth and coughing aggressively as if they were about to throw up. She frowned, shaking her head in disgust at how some girl could let themselves get that drunk.

Wait...

Some girl? It had been a girl that had ran by, but when Wendy stopped for a moment and thought about the specifics of what she had just seen, she froze at the flashing image of a full head of auburn hair and a white dress dashing past her.

Without even realising that she was already in the doorway, Wendy slowly turned around on the spot. She was just in time to see a small group of two girls and a guy exiting out the back sliding door and into the back yard. But the room wasn't empty. The only person that they had left behind was a tall, dark haired, teenage boy who was sitting in a beanbag with a beer in the middle of the room.

It was exactly the same as it had been for the entire week, including earlier that night. Although there was a deathly silence that iced over the awkward air between them, Wendy and Stan just couldn't tear their eyes away from each other.

Wendy's heart was racing. Her lips were slightly parted in slim surprise. As much as her brain was trying to force her to do something – anything, it was no use. Her limbs and her tongue were all completely frozen. She was desperate to say something to him, but she was far too controlled by the fear that he would just ignore her and leave. Or tell her to piss off, that was also a very viable possibility.

Stan, on the other hand, wasn't so solidified in his nervous state. His chest may have been pounding just as heavily, but was still able to allow his eyes to examine her up and down as he adjusted his blue and red beanie that was back sitting on his head. She was wearing a fluffy looking purple jacket with a white singlet poking through, skinny jeans and white wedges. Her hair was still curly from the dance but was now pulled back in a ponytail that sat on the top of her head.

She still looked so -

No.

Immediately, Stan reminded himself of everything he had managed to achieve that week. He had gone all this time so far without talking to Wendy – he had barely even looked at her over the past five days. He knew how worried his mother was about him, and he also knew he would never hear the end of it from Kyle if he caved and decided to talk to her. The choice was clear to him. Placing his beer down on the floor, he subtly rolled down the sleeves of his dress shirt and relaxed back into the beanbag. He couldn't talk to Wendy. She didn't deserve the time of day from him. He knew what he had to do.

So, naturally, he did the exact opposite.

"Do you like beer?"

Okay, so I was far too excited not to post this chapter! :')

I would love to hear what you all think here! Stan's actually initiated a conversation with Wendy... what will she say back to him, and how will it go from there? Leave me a review! I appreciate it :)

... I love a good cliffhanger ;)

Till next time guys,

Reneyyyyyyyyy x