Thanks for the reviews! For the sake of the story, Cartman didn't hang out with the others prior to the outing at gym. They know each other, but they never hung out. Anyway, as usual R&R! Enjoy! :-)

Chapter 5

Wendy's POV

First thing Monday morning while I'm at my locker, I'm forced to endure Stan's presence. "Hey Wendy." He greets me.

I grumble under my breath. "Hi." I say as I close my locker and try to walk off.

"Hey, wait a minute!" He says grabbing my arm.

I turn and look at him. "What is it Stan?"

"Is it true that you're now hanging out with Eric Cartman?"

"What if I am? What's it to you?"

He looks at me. "Come on Wendy, seriously, Cartman?"

I glare at him. "Why do you care? Where's Heather?"

"He's beneath you..." That had to be the rudest thing I've ever heard!

"You don't even know him!"

"Do you even know him?"

"I'm getting to know him."

"Why? Is this your way of getting back at me for dumping you for Heather? You could've picked someone more your speed. He's not even your type!"

"It's not like we're dating, we're just friends."

"That's not the way I heard it."

"What did you hear?" Oh God, I guess Kyle and Kenny told him about our outing. Why couldn't they leave him out of it?

"I've heard you two have been spotted all over town together. At restaurants, the gym, the library. Plus you can barely keep your hands off of him. It actually sounds pretty fucking disgusting!"

I can't believe he really believes that last part. "I'm tutoring him that's all."

"At the gym and at restaurants?"

I shrug. "So we worked out and got food. I don't see why you care. You have Heather, remember?"

"Are you jealous of Heather?"

I roll my eyes. This guy is so dense and full of himself. "She's nothing to be jealous of. I just don't understand why you're so concerned about me and Eric when you have Heather."

He starts laughing. "Eric? Since when do you call him Eric?"

"That's his name…"

"Everyone calls him Cartman."

"Yeah and he really doesn't like it. He's just too timid to correct you guys."

"You're sticking up for him now?"

"No, I'm just telling it like it is."

"Whatever. Trust me when I say you can do much better. You've done better, I mean you were with me for crying out loud!" God, what a smug asshole he's being. "You could've at least picked someone from your own social circle."

"You could've picked someone your own age…"

He shrugs. "Ok, you got me there. Just be careful and hopefully that fat bastard doesn't hurt you."

"He's not going to hurt me. No one will ever hurt me the way you did!" I can feel my eyes begin to water.

"I'm sorry I hurt you. But come on Wendy, you picked Cartman as your rebound dude…why?"

"He's not my rebound guy, it's just a stupid b-" I catch myself before I tell him what I'm really up to. "Never mind, you wouldn't understand."

He shrugs again. "I'm going to meet Heather, I'll catch you later."

UGH! He makes me so mad! I can't believe he insulted me thinking I could really be into Eric Cartman of all people! I can't tell him it's a bet! That's all it is, it's just a bet!

That afternoon, Cartman and I are in another tutoring session at his house. After my conversation with Stan, I figured it was best that we meet at his house. I didn't want to take the risk of others seeing us in public and getting the wrong idea. I really hope no one saw me come over here to be honest.

"Wendy?"

I snap out of my thoughts. "Yes?"

"Is everything ok? You seem distracted."

I smile. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. I'm just thinking…"

"About what?" I glare at him and he turns red. "Sorry, that's none of my business…"

"No it's cool. I'm just thinking about…my future." I lie.

"What you mean like college?"

I nod. "What are your plans for college?" I ask him trying to take the attention off of me.

"I don't think I'm going to go to college right away. I need to work and help my mom."

"Why can't you continue to work and take classes?"

"I need money to take classes. Besides, with my grades, what college would accept me?"

"You know Eric, you're not as dumb as you think. Everything we've gone over, you've understood the material or have it memorized so I don't get why you're failing."

"That's because sometimes I leave school to go work so I miss tests and quizzes or I don't get homework assignments turned in on time."

"Why do you ask your teachers for a makeup tests?"

"I've tried, they always say no because my absences are unexcused."

"That's crazy. It sounds like they're failing you out of spite."

He shrugs. "It could be."

"Well I'm going to make sure you get your grades up so you graduate with us."

He smiles. "I know, and I appreciate everything you're doing."

"I'm also going to help you fill out some college applications. You can apply for student aid. Have you talked to the career counselor at school?"

He shakes his head. "I haven't had the time to." Oh my God, this kid is full of excuses! I can see if I didn't step in, he was going to grow up to be a complete loser.

"Are you working tomorrow?"

"No, I'm off until Thursday."

"Good, I'm going to personally drag you to the career counselor."

He raises his eyebrow. "Why are you doing this? Why are you going out of your way to help me?"

"Because I want to see you make something of yourself! There's no reason why you can't go to college in the fall like the rest of us!"

"What about you? What are your plans?"

"I'm still trying to decide if I want to go to Yale, Harvard, or Berkeley. I've been accepted to all three schools. Whatever school I go I'm going pre-med. I want to be a pediatrician."

"Wow, you have the option of three really good schools? That's impressive!"

"Yeah. I originally was going to pick the school that was the closest to whatever school Stan gets accepted to, but obviously that's not going to happen…" I look down.

"His loss…" I hear him mumble.

"What did you say?"

"I said it's his loss."

I'm shocked that he's saying this. "You really think so?"

"Yeah, he's a fool for dumping you."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you're really pretty, smart, and nice. You could have any guy in the world that you wanted. Any guy would be lucky to have you." I notice he's blushing a little.

"Wow, thanks Eric! That really means a lot to me."

"You're welcome. I really truly mean that."

"I know you do." I look at our books. "Let's get back to tutoring…" I'm trying to make this as less awkward as possible even though that may be too late. I can't believe all those nice things he said about me. Does Cartman have a crush me? God, I hope not, that will make this plan go horribly wrong. You know what, it doesn't matter if he does or not. This is strictly business, it's a bet! Nothing more, nothing less!

Preview:

Nicole gives Wendy some friendly advice.

Stan and Cartman have a heated confrontation