Here it is! The final chapter! I know you guys are disappointed it's a short story! Sorry guys! :-( As usual, R&R! Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Wendy's POV

We did it! We finally graduated high school! I was valedictorian and Kyle was salutatorian. I was so nervous about giving my speech, but I survived. I guess it turned out well since no one booed. The best part about graduation was I didn't have to uphold my end of losing the bet! God, that would've been so embarrassing!

"Great speech Wendy!" Stan comes over to me and hugs me.

"Thanks Stan."

"You're welcome. You and Kyle did great!" He looks around. "So what are you doing later?"

I shrug. "I don't have anything planned. Why?"

"My parents are taking me out to dinner to celebrate. I was wondering if maybe you want to join us."

"I don't know about that." I really don't want Stan or his parents under the impression that we're back together or even getting back together.

"Why not? You said you didn't have any plans."

I look over and see Cartman talking to Butters. "I'm sure I'll end up getting into something."

Stan looks over and looks back at me. "Are you fucking kidding me Wendy?" He snorts angrily.

I look at him confused. "What?"

"Please tell me you're not about to stand me up for Cartman? The bet is over so why are you still messing with him?"

"He hates me and I'm trying to do whatever it takes to get him to forgive me."

"You really want him to forgive you?"

I'm surprised Stan even cares. "Yes I do."

"I'll make his fat ass forgive you!" He storms off.

"Stan, wait!" I follow him. He rushes over to Cartman and shoves him from behind nearly knocking him over.

"Hey! What the f-" He turns around and realizes that Stan is the one that shoved him. "Oh…it's you…" He cowers immediately.

"Now Stan, we don't want any trouble!" Butters tells him standing in between the two of them.

"Shut up Butters, my beef isn't with you! It's with him!" He points at Cartman.

"Butters, it's ok. I can handle it." Cartman whispers to him.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." He smiles and looks at Stan. "So what do you want?"

"For whatever reason, Wendy seems to give a fuck about your stupid ass! Why don't you fucking man up and forgive her already! I'm sick of hearing about you!"

"She hurt me! Why should I forgive her so easily?"

"Because she said she was fucking sorry! What more do you want? For her to grovel at your feet?"

He shakes his head. "No, I just want her to leave me alone. Am I supposed to be ok just because she said sorry? That doesn't take away from what she did."

"Get over yourself! If it wasn't for Wendy, half of the people here wouldn't even know you existed!"

"Whatever! I've accepted her apology, but I don't forgive her. Now please stay away from me!" He tries to walk away, but Stan grabs him by the collar before he can even turn around. Suddenly all the attention is on them.

"Hey, let him go!" Butters jumps in.

"This doesn't have anything to do with you!" Stan tells him. He glares at Cartman. "You're going to forgive Wendy right now or else!"

"Or else what? Are you going to hit me?" Cartman asks him.

"I will if you don't do what I say!"

Cartman shrugs. "Do what you have to do."

"Excuse me?"

"I said do what you have to do. I don't see the point though. You've proven before that you can beat me, so what is hitting me going to prove?"

"It's going to prove that it will make you do what I say!"

He shakes his head. "Actually it won't. You can nearly beat me to death and I'm still not going to change my mind."

I look at Stan and see how angry he is and I begin to fear for Cartman's life. Surprisingly Stan lets go Cartman and I let out a sigh of relief.

"High school is over dude, it's time to grow up!" Gasps are heard among the crowd. I mean damn, does Cartman have a death wish? "You can't go out in the real world bullying people that are weaker than you. You can get shot over that shit. Is it really worth it to prove you're the "big man"?"

"Eric, please stop talking..." I hear Butters whisper.

Stan smiles. "So you admit you're weaker than me?"

Cartman rolls his eyes. "It's not like it's a big secret. You've beaten me up before and I can admit, you're strong as hell...physically. Mentally, you're not so strong because if you were, you would be able to demonstrate some kind of self control when you see me. Really I'm not the one you should be angry with." He points at me. "Wendy is the one who pursued me. She came to my job, I didn't go to her. Sounds to me like you have your own insecurities you need to work out and not that's not my problem."

"You motherfucker!" Stan raises his fist.

"Hit me Stan if you must. You're just going to prove my point..."

He puts his fist down and smiles. "I don't need to hit you physically, I'll hit you where it hurts most...your pockets. Your mom can say goodbye to her cleaning job."

"She has others." He shrugs.

"I'll make sure she's fired from all of them!"

"Honestly, you really don't have the authority to fire her from your own house because YOUR parents are the ones that hired her."

Stan's face turns red. "As soon as I think of a way to get you back, I'm coming for you!"

"Don't hurt yourself thinking too hard big boy!" Everyone starts laughing.

Stan looks at me, his face is beet red. "You're on your own!" He rushes off.

I walk over to Cartman. "I'm really proud of you for standing up for yourself Eric."

He smiles. "Thanks."

"All this time, I thought you were afraid of Stan. I guess I was wrong."

He shakes his head. "You weren't wrong, I was afraid of him. But you told me before that I need to stand up to him. What better time then now? I guess thank you again."

"You're welcome." I smile back at him.

"Let's go Eric, your mom is waiting." Butters tells him.

"See you around Wendy…" Cartman tells me.

"See you around Eric. I really hope one day you'll forgive me and maybe we can be friends."

"Maybe…"

"I want you to remember something for me."

"What?"

"You can't stay broken forever."

"I'll keep that in mind." He walks off with Butters.

I watch him once again walking away and out of my life. One thing I've learned over the last six weeks from Cartman is you shouldn't judge someone just because they're different than you because you don't know what struggles they're going through. Everyone has a story. I wish that I had gotten a chance to know him under different terms, but I'm glad I did take the time to get to know him. I know we'll cross paths again one day. Who knows, I'm going to Harvard in the fall, maybe he'll be in Boston for some reason or another. Either way, if things were meant to be, they'll fall into place. In the meantime, good luck with everything Cartman!

The End

A/N: As you guys requested, a sequel is coming! YAY! Stay tuned for Second Time Around. Should be up between tomorrow night and Saturday!