Just a quick author's note (last one for a while): After some thought, I've decided to change the POV from third person omniscient to first person POV, alternating between Kyle and Cartman (and occasionally Stan in later chapters). I don't plan on labeling each POV change as it occurs, but if it gets confusing to anyone, just let me know and I'll start labeling the different POVs.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. You guys are great! And don't forget to review this chapter, too! Hope you enjoy!
It's been about a month since I first started "tutoring" Cartman, and for the most part, we've been hiding it really well. I've gotten a lot better at lying, and now I doubt that Stan (or anyone else, for that matter) suspects a thing. But today I'm worried; something's coming out that could really make people wonder.

That something is Cartman's report card.

In all the time I've been Cartman's tutor, we've only gotten about, say, five percent of any type of studying done, and most of that was in the first couple of times I came over. I always bring books and assignments when I go over to Cartman's house, hoping to at least study for half the time, but we never get around to it. I want to help him learn, but I always get so damn distracted.

Considering how often I've been going to Cartman's to tutor him lately, it's gonna look really goddamn peculiar to see that his grades haven't improved…at all. Even if he is a dumbass.

Which is why I'm filled with a sense of dread as Cartman walks up to me at my locker, report card in hand. He doesn't look happy, and neither do I. Just for the sake of optimism, I ask him, "Any A's?"

He says nothing and shoves the report card in my hands. When I look down at his grades, I'm shocked. There are A's on this report card…several, in fact! This whole report card is filled with good grades!

I don't understand!

I look up at him, and he's grinning boldly. Now I really don't understand. "Cartman, how did this happen?" I pull him aside and mumble discreetly, "We haven't exactly done much studying in the past month."

Cartman looks like this thought doesn't faze him. "Meh, maybe not together, but I've been studying those notes you've been bringing me for tutoring. I've been trying to pay more attention in class, too. Seems to be working."

Cartman continues to grin at me, and I continue to be confused. "But Cartman…why? No offense, but since when do you actually care about schoolwork?"

Cartman's grin begins to falter in the process of thinking, and he stops looking at me in the eyes. "I don't know. My mom always told me I could be really smart if I just applied myself. I told her she was a stupid bitch, but I knew she was right because I am smart. I just never felt like doing work. Now I do."

I still don't quite get it. "But why the sudden change?"

"I guess I've just been feeling better about myself." Cartman answers quickly, and I find no need to question him further. I'm filled with a sudden urge to hug him.

So I do.

He stiffens when I abruptly wrap my arms around him, but eventually he returns the hug. This reminds me a lot of that time I hugged him during one of our early tutoring sessions. I was proud of him then, and I'm proud of him now. The only difference between then and now is that we were alone when we hugged before, and now…shit, we're at school.

People are looking at us.

Cartman and I seem to realize this at the same time. Quickly, we break away, and I notice Stan at the opposite side of the hallway, giving us (namely, me) a "what the hell" look. As he walks toward us, Cartman punches me in the arm.

"What the fuck are you doing, Kyle?!" Cartman screams at me and everyone else in my general direction.

I know he's just pretending to yell at me, so I go along with it. "Fuck you, Cartman. I'm sorry that knowing I helped you not fail something for once got me excited! And God, I'm sooo fucking sorry for hugging you because of it! Believe me! I won't be able to get the smell of fatass off me all day!"

Stan arrives just in time for Cartman to finish up. "Ay! I smell, fine, thank you! And I don't need your goddamn hugs! Don't ever touch me AGAIN!"

"Gladly!" I shout as he huffs off. We both know full well that "agreement" won't last the whole day. I turn to Stan, who still looks mortified at my display of affection to Cartman.

Time to explain my way out of it.

"Dude! Why the hell were you hugging Cartman?!" His eyes are opened wide, demanding an explanation.

"Honestly, Stan, I have no fucking clue what possessed me to do it." Half true. I have no idea why I hugged him with so many people around. Stupid, stupid me. "He showed me his report card. He had made so much improvement, I guess I just got overwhelmed, and…I hugged him. Couldn't regret it more."

"So…you actually taught Cartman something? And he learned stuff?"

Well, no. But yes. "Yeah, I guess I did." I couldn't help but smile a little at the thought.

Stan still looks like he's trying to process everything. "Hmm. I guess that makes sense. If I were you, and I had actually gotten through to somebody like Cartman, who doesn't usually listen to anybody, I guess I'd be excited too. But to hug him? Sick, dude."

I stick my tongue out in pretend disgust. "Believe me, I know. I'll never make that mistake again."

I hope Stan believes me. I don't want to talk about this anymore.

"So, how did you get through to Cartman? You must be one awesome tutor."

Thank God he changed the subject. "I don't know. I guess I am."

"Hey, maybe you can tutor me sometime. I'm almost failing algebra."

Suddenly, the thought of "tutoring" Stan like I tutor Cartman comes into my mind, and I blush. I've never thought of Stan that way, and the idea of kissing him makes me uncomfortable. It's definitely something I'd never want to do, no offense to Stan. Not that he'd find my not wanting to kiss him to be offensive. I don't feel like answering him now. I'm too embarrassed by my own thoughts.

Luckily, the bell saves me the trouble. I mutter a quick, "Maybe, dude; gotta go," before I dart off to my first class, hoping to be only slightly tardy. My thoughts travel back to Cartman as I slide into my desk.

I don't exactly know why the improvement in Cartman's grades made me so happy, to the point of thoughtlessly hugging him in public. Maybe it was the fact that he's obviously making an effort to improve himself, which seems pretty uncharacteristic of him. Then again, we've both been doing pretty uncharacteristic things lately, which brings me to wonder why he's trying to improve himself.

He didn't say it outwardly, but it seems like he's doing all this because of me. He said he's been feeling better about himself…is that because of me too? Why would I have that kind of effect on him?

All of this is getting too confusing, so it's probably best that I not think about it at the moment. I really need to concentrate in class anyway.

But now I can't.

God dammit, that dumbass Kyle shouldn't have hugged me today. And I shouldn't have hugged him back. He must've gotten me with those damn Jew tactics again. For example, he seemed genuinely happy to see me get good grades. He never used to like seeing me succeed! He used to be the one trying to prevent me from succeeding. Most of the time it was for one of my evil schemes, which were usually at his expense (heh, those were the days)…but still.

I keep thinking about this morning for some reason. I actually made Kyle happy today. And seeing him happy made me happy. That's really fuckin' weird. That must be why I hugged him back.

What the hell is wrong with the world nowadays? Why do Kyle and I actually like each other now? I used to hate the stupid bastard more than anything, and now I'm actually paying attention in class (just not today, though) so I can get good grades and impress him.

Why the fuck would I want to impress him?

I don't get it. I've noticed lately that I feel better than I used to, in a lot of ways. Being around Kyle excites me; the thought of seeing him after school gives me something to look forward to. And Kyle likes being around me for once. It's different…but not so bad.

Part of me wants to get to know Kyle better. We talk, but it's mostly when we're fighting, which is usually at school around our friends. There, we're pretty much expected to be constantly fighting or insulting each other. But I don't always want to be fighting with Kyle, as much fun as it is. I want to see what it's like to talk to him away from everybody else and what they think.

I wonder how we could do that. Him coming to my house is one thing, but we never really talk there. I want to be around him in a different setting for once. Maybe we could go somewhere and hang out. And we can both get to know each other.

When I think about it, the idea almost sounds like a date, but it's not.

I don't want to go on a date with Kyle. Dates are for fags.