Chapter TwoWhat You're Dying To See

"Let's start with point one." Clyde said, ignoring me. "This way."

I tried to argue but he just put a finger to my lips, making me fall instantly silent. He then set off in the direction of the gym. I tried to remember what the first point had been. It seemed so long since I had last read it.

We reached the locker room closest to the gym and Clyde turned to flash a grin at me. He then raised his voice and yelled, "Stan!"

It took a few seconds for me to process exactly what was going on when Stan Marsh appeared. Then it clicked. Clyde was going to tell Stan. My brain started overtime work to get me out of this potentially hazardous situation.

"What is it, Clyde?" Stan asked, running a hand through tussled black hair and eyeing me wearily.

Instinctively, I grabbed Clyde's arm to stop him spilling the beans. Instead he just flashed me a grin that made me go weak at the knees and turned back to Stan.

"I was just wondering how things with you and Wendy are going." Clyde said casually.

Stan turned his gaze to Clyde, looking a little annoyed. "Fine."

"And how's Kyle?"

"How the fuck should I know?" Stan said, frowning at me instead of Clyde.

"You know if he likes anyone at the moment?"

"I don't know. What the fuck are you on, Clyde?"

"It's a long story and maybe I'll tell you one day."

Clyde grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the locker room, leaving behind a thoroughly confused Stan. I was a little caught up in the intimate contact of our hands to really think about it though.

"What you think?" he asked suddenly, letting go of my hand and turning to me in the middle of the corridor.

"I… I think it didn't prove anything." I said, trying to keep myself emotionally under control.

He smiled at me and stepped closer to me. I felt my face instinctively flush.

"You trust me don't you?" he said, smirking slightly and running a hand over my cheek.

I narrowed my eyes at him, doing my best to not appear flustered. "Don't try to manipulate me."

"Ha… but it's so easy with you." He said, cupping my face and bringing me closer to him, his lips a hair's breadth from mine. Suddenly, like a knife through the moment a history text book came between us.

"No kanoodling in the hallway!" Wendy screeched, using the book to push us apart.

"Ah Wendy, I knew you'd come." Clyde said, giving me a wink. "You must tell me how you know some time."

"What do you want Clyde?" Wendy said, crossing her arms.

"I don't know how to say this subtly, so I won't. Are you seeing Cartman?"

Wendy's look of mild annoyance turned to a look of horror and disgust so real it was unquestionable.

"I would rather go out with Mr Mackey." She said, turning and walking away. The look of disgust still plastered on her face.

Clyde watched until she was a round a corner.

"Follow her."

Before I could protest Clyde had shot off in the opposite direction leaving me to do as he had instructed.

I quickly ran after the rapidly retreating back of the still thoroughly disgusted Wendy until she came to a stop by a locker, the same one I had seen her and Cartman talking in low voices beside.

She stood tapping her foot impatiently and I slid in-between too sets of lockers so she couldn't see me. After a few minutes of nothing happening Wendy let out an irritated sigh.

"Where the hell is that fat ass?"

"I'm not fat, I'm big boned!"

The large form of Cartman appeared around a corner and waddled up to Wendy.

"Well, you got the stuff?"

"Yeah, yeah." Cartman said, producing a brown paper bag and handing it to Wendy. "Don't forget your end of the deal."

"Of course. Now go away." Wendy said, checking the contents of the bag.

Cartman shrugged and turned, waddling past my hiding spot and down the hallway. Wendy then walked and turned the corner. I slid from my hiding place and went to follow her again.

"Well that was unexpected."

"Clyde!"

There he was in all his glory, leaned up against a nearby wall.

"Yep, you saw all that too I assume."

"Yeah. What was that about?"

"I'm not sure. I noticed the other day that Cartman's lunch period had been moved so it was at the same time as Wendy's, and she is the only student who could approve that, being the Head Girl. I also had seen them down here a couple of times before and I was a little suspicious too."

"Oh, I see." I said, feeling dirty from having spied on the two of them. I was all for finding out what was going on, but being the one who actually found out felt wrong.

"You busy this weekend?"

In an instant my apprehension disappeared. Was it possible that Clyde was going to ask me out?

"N-No. I'm free. All weekend. Nothing on."

"I'm having a party if you'd like to come."

Ok, so it wasn't a date, but he obviously considered me a good enough friend to be invited to his party. It was probably only a small get together anyway.

"Hey! It's Kim. I can't get to the phone right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you. Love you!"

"Hey Kim, when you get this message, please call me back. There is something I really need to talk with you about."

Typical, it would have been midday over there and she was probably still in bed. It was even harder to get hold of people when you really wanted to talk to them. Especially when your friends had a habit for sleeping in late on weekends.

I rolled onto my back and snuggled further into my blankets. I was nervous about the party, more nervous then I had ever been before in my life.

It was getting towards two in the afternoon when the doorbell rang. As my mother was currently out of the house I answered the door. I was surprised to see Red and Anne standing in my doorway, both of them carrying bags over their shoulders.

"Ah…"

"Hey Katie, nice house." Red said, walking in before I could protest. "I'm glad you answered and not your parents. That could have been awkward."

"Why are you guys here?" I asked slowly, a little confused.

"The party." Anne said.

"It's not here." I said, suddenly worried Clyde had somehow thought I meant my house was free all weekend.

"We know that." Red said, "We're here to get ready together."

My mouth formed a silent 'o' as it sunk in. The girls were treating me like any other friend. I smiled.

"My rooms upstairs."

While I appreciated being treated as a member of the group I was not expecting to be dressed by them. Before I could protest some clothes were shoved into my hands and was told to dress straight away.

I didn't ask whose clothes they were, or even really look at them until they were on. I was surprised by how well the two girls had managed to find the right sized clothes and find something I felt comfortable going out in.

As it turned out they had also gotten dressed and had time to raid my own closet.

"You have some nice stuff in here. Why do you always wear such boring stuff to school?"

"Because it's just school." I said with a shrug.

Red and Anne exchanged a look. Red shrugged and Anne pulled a make-up bag out of her bag.

"This is the place." Red said, straightening out her top before ringing the bell. I could hear the sound of distant music then the door swung open. Instead of Clyde answering the door it was Craig.

"Oh, hey. Come in." Craig said, stepping aside so we could get through.

"Playing bouncer are we Craig?" Red said, poking her tongue out at him.

"More like playing door opener because everyone else is too lazy to get off their asses." Craig said slamming the door. Suddenly, as if he had just noticed me, Craig froze looking at me, then abruptly turned and headed in the direction of the music.

I tilted my head to one side, slightly confused by Craig's reaction to my presence. Red and Anne were giggling together as they walked in the direction Craig had headed.

Twenty or so students our age were already in the back yard drinking or chatting away. Clyde was seated at a small table with Craig, Token and Tweek. I was surprised that Tweek was hardly twitching at all.

"Ah, you girls are finally here." Clyde said, raising the bottle of beer in his hand in our direction. "I was beginning to think you got lost."

"You mean like how you lost you're brain?" Red said, "I'm sorry Clyde, but it's not coming home."

"Nice to see you made it Katie." Clyde said, winking at me and ignoring Red. I flushed red and sat down before I made a fool of myself by fainting or something ridiculous.

"Drink this." Anne said putting a passionfruit flavoured Cruiser in front of me.

As it turned out, it wasn't just a small get together, rather every teenager in the Park County rocked up and got very drunk before leaving.

Everyone has a drinking problem. It isn't the same problem for everyone, but there is always a problem.

My drinking problem is that I suddenly think it's ok to say whatever I like. Sometimes it's the truth and sometimes it's lies. But the thing is, everyone believes every word that comes out of your mouth when you are drunk.

So, I decided to take it easy with the drinks and just watch as everyone around me fell into various states of drunken stupor and slowly fade away home.

Before long only a few of us remained, holed up in the lounge room with what remained of the passionfruit cruisers I had been drinking.

"Share?" Craig asked for the third time.

"Nope." I said, taking another mouthful. For the last hour or so he had been following me around like a lost puppy. I had taken the opportunity as a sign that now the time for me to get on his good side

"Oh, come on." Craig said, putting his arms around my waist and snuggling into my stomach.

"Craig." I whined, "You're making me look unavailable."

"What?" Craig said with a snort of laughter, sitting up and letting go of me, in order to better laugh.

"I don't know." I said, examining the half empty bottle of cruiser in my hand. "Want a mouthful?"

"Thanks." He said, taking a mouthful and handing it back. "I didn't realise laughing at you would make you share. I would have done so earlier otherwise."

"You'll just have to remember for future reference."

"I will."

"You like guys?" I asked.

"What?"

"You know, are you gay?" I said it, then immediately wanted to shoot myself.

"Haha… nope. I like boobs way too much for that." Craig said. Then, in order to demonstrate his point he sat on my legs and stared at my boobs. "You have a pretty good pair you know."

"Thanks." I said, unphazed in my current state of mind. I took another mouthful of my cruiser and handed over the bottle to him again. "In that case what is the story behind you and Tweek."

"Well, we've been friends since fifth grade. I guess we just know each other really well."

"Fair enough. Makes sense." I said

"Now I ask you something." Craig said. "Where are you from?"

"Australia."

"Ah… That's the accent."

"Sure is."

"That makes sense then." Craig said. I suddenly realises my legs were starting to go numb.

"Hey, I can't feel my legs anymore."

"My bad."

I looked around the room and saw Clyde was deep in drunken conversation with Bebe, which of course meant the people two blocks away could hear their conversation.

"No… no… no, I disagree."

"I don't think you get it Clyde."

"No… no… no, I understand, it's you who don't get it. The power rangers would never beat the teenage mutant ninja turtles."

I took a moment to wonder how they had got onto such a random topic before I turned my attention to the rest of the room. Red and Anne were fast asleep on a couch with Kyle. Nearby Stan and Wendy were sharing what appeared to be a glass of Guinness.

I knew from earlier that Kenny was also still in the house, as he had asked Clyde directions to the spare bedroom at one stage, Heidi hanging off his arm at the time.

"Hey, another question." Craig said, sitting next to me against the wall. "Do you like Clyde?"

"Why would you say that?"

"I don't know. I just have a feeling." Craig said, sounding dead sober. "It's cool if you do. Just… yeah."

"Just… yeah?"

"Ah… I was going to say something but I decided not to."

"What?"

"It's probably better if he tells you himself."

"What?"

Craig sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "It's not cool if I tell you, he's one of my best mates."

"Ok… this is sounding suspicious. Should I be concerned?"

"If you really like him it won't be an issue."

"Ok then." I said. I decided to change the topic. "You had braces when you were younger?"

"Unfortunately." Craig said, narrowing his eyes.

"Same…" I said, "I still have a bit of metal holding my front teeth together."

"Really?"

"Yep… I-"

I was cut off by Craig's mouth on mine and his tongue in my mouth. I didn't react, just stayed dead still in shock. After a couple of seconds he pulled away and nodded.

"So you do."

I put a hand up to my mouth and blushed furiously. There was no way in hell that Craig was gay.

"Hi, this is Kim"

"…"

"Hello?"

"Oh my God! You answered!" I squealed, "I thought you had died or something!"

"Haha… Ok, ok! I get it. I'm sorry, I've just been busy with exams and stuff."

"It's ok. It's great to hear you again. What's up?"

"Oh my God! You won't believe it. Tad is going out with Beth!"

"Really? Wow, that's so unexpected!"

"I know right, I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself. Anyway, what's up with you?"

"Ah, well I went to a party yesterday."

"Oh my God! Where there any hot guys?"

"A couple."

"Well, tell me all about it!"

"Well…"

"Alright, so I'm thinking we move on to point three today." Clyde said as we left Chemistry class on Monday.

"That's ok, I crossed that one off by myself." I said, my cheeks flushing slightly.

"Oh yeah? Remind me what that point was again?"

"Ah… the one about Craig and Tweek."

"Oh yeah?" Clyde said, "That would have been an easy one anyway. But what convinced you?"

"I asked Craig on Saturday night."

"Ah I see." Clyde said, then added "What's point four then?"

"Um…" I said, pulling out the book which I had made time to cover over with black paper, "Kenny."

Clyde grinned, clearly excited to share what he knew about this one.

"This one is going to be a real South Park experience for you." He said, "See you at lunch time."

"Ah… ok. See you." I said, watching his retreating back as he headed to his next class.

I frowned to myself