A/N: Hey everyone….I'm sorry for not updating last week but I ran into some computer trouble the same way SP Studio ran into electric problems. I decided to take the extra time to improve this chapter, I feel like they keep getting longer. Anyway, I hope I make the wait worth it! Enjoy!
Chapter 3: Chapter 2—Insults
Cierra continued to impress in the classroom, even performing circles around Kyle in Math. Her skills in each of the subjects managed to take the pressure off of all the kids in the classroom right up until the lunch bell. As it rang, Kyle, Stan and Kenny watched Cierra rush to the classroom door, disappearing into the hallway before anyone even left the room.
"Who knew Cartman's cousin was so smart?" said Craig as he put his books away.
Clyde nodded putting his books away. "Let's just hope she doesn't screw with the grading curve too much."
As the two left the room, Stan and Kenny waited for Kyle to put away his books.
"If Cierra's trying to be the substitute Cartman," said Stan, "she's gonna have to start being a little dumber."
"Try a lot dumber," mumbled Kenny.
"I still can't believe how many times she managed to show you up on those Math problems, Kyle," said Stan but Kyle didn't seem to hear him. "Kyle?" Stan called to his friend.
"Huh?" Kyle responded. "Oh...yeah…"
Stan and Kenny looked to each other and Stan stepped forward to his friend. "Kyle? Are you ok?" he asked, concerned by Kyle's distractedness.
"Guys…" Kyle began, "do you think, maybe, the tripping on the bus was an accident?"
"What? This morning?" asked Stan. "No," he said simply. "Why?"
"I don't know," said Kyle. "I guess... hearing Cierra say she's Cartman's sub and then...what happened in class…."
Stan realized where Kyle was going. "Being smart doesn't mean you aren't an asshole, Kyle," said Stan. "She might be trying what she did at the bus stop; acting one way, then doing something else."
Kyle still seemed uncertain. "Maybe...You know what? Forget it. Let's just go to lunch." Kyle walked past his friends to the door.
"Dude…" said Kenny, "What's up with him?"
"I don't know," said Stan. "Let's just keep an eye out for anymore asshole moves by Cierra."
"Yeah," agreed Kenny and they both followed Kyle to the lunchroom.
Because the boys arrived much later than their classmates, the lunchroom was heavily crowded with a long line to get food. The three boys settled themselves at the end of the line and found themselves moving only millimeters every minute. Kyle surveyed the lunchroom to pass the time and noticed, despite the cafeteria crowd, Cierra had managed to sit by herself at a large table. He saw her reading the same book she was reading in class and still couldn't make out the title.
'How To Be A...' he thought, trying to think what the title could be.
"Dude!" shouted Stan, drawing his attention from Cierra. "Move it! I'm hungry!"
A large space had formed in front of Kyle and he quickly scuttled forward to close it.
In another part of the cafeteria, Wendy, Bebe and a few of the 4th grade girls were looking for a place to sit.
"Ugh," groaned Bebe. "All the tables are taken. Where are we supposed to sit?"
Wendy looked around and noticed Cierra's empty table. "Look," she pointed to Cierra. "She's got a full table to herself."
"I don't know, Wendy," said Bebe in a concerned tone.
"Oh, come on, Bebe," said Wendy. "We all saw what happened in the classroom. She's pretty smart and seemed pretty scared introducing herself to the class."
"Well, yeah, I guess," said Bebe.
"Maybe she's not an asshole like her cousin. I say we at least give her a chance," said Wendy, who began to approach Cierra's table.
"If you say so, Wendy," said Bebe still skeptical, but following her to the table.
Cierra noticed the girls approaching her table and quickly put her book under her lunch tray.
"Hi, Cierra," said Wendy.
Cierra looked down to her food and wrung her hands nervously. "Hello," she said softly.
"Do you mind some company?" Wendy asked. "All the other tables are occupied."
Cierra stared at her for a moment, and then said, "Mm-mm," shaking her head. "Go ahead."
All the girls sat around Cierra and began eating their lunch, with Wendy sitting next to her. Cierra made little to no eye contact with the girls as they chattered around her. Wendy noticed her lack of participation and tried to include her.
"Cierra?" asked Wendy. "I thought the point you made during my presentation was very insightful."
Cierra perked up and looked toward Wendy. "Really?" she asked sounding surprised.
"Mm-hmm. You made a solid counterpoint without being disrespectful to mine," said Wendy.
"Yeah…" said Cierra. "Except for the whole calling you a bitch thing," Cierra cracked a small grin before it fell and she looked back to her food.
Wendy tried to capitalize on Cierra briefly opening up. "So...what's your opinion on Lady Gaga?"
Cierra looked to Wendy with a raised eyebrow. "Lady Gaga?" Wendy's face fell but Cierra then added, "A brilliant musician more focused on gimmicks than making music with substance."
"Oh…my…God!" said Wendy. "I know right?! She's a brilliant pianist and yet she puts out these surreal videos for overall mediocre songs."
"At least they're just mediocre," said Cierra sounding more comfortable. "Justin Bieber's a great drummer and what does he focus on?" Cierra stuck her finger in her throat and made a gagging noise as Wendy laughed. Cierra laughed with her and smiled and this time let the smile stay on her face. Soon, all the girls joined in on their conversation, forgetting their lunches in the process. As lunch was five minutes away from being over, Cierra seemed to have won over Wendy if not all the girls. Cierra and Wendy cleared their trays and returned to the table. All the other girls left to clear their trays and Wendy and Cierra sat alone.
"Wow, Cierra," said Wendy. "You really surprised me."
Cierra raised an eyebrow to her again. "How so?"
"Well," said Wendy. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I didn't think I could ever be friends with you."
"Why?" said Cierra becoming slightly agitated.
"Well, I mean," Wendy said. "You know how your cousin is, and after the whole 'liberal, hippie, bitch' comment. Well...I'm just glad you didn't turn out to be like Cartman."
Cierra narrowed her eyebrows at Wendy. "Yeah…"
"I don't mean anything by it, it's just—" Wendy put her arm on Cierra's shoulder and tried to explain less harshly, but Cierra interrupted her.
"It's ok. You're not anything like Eric says either."
"What—what does Cartman say about me?" Wendy asked.
"Just that you're a liberal, hippie, bitch of a slut who can't keep her legs closed," Cierra said flatly.
Wendy narrowed her eyebrows and spat, "Figures."
"But I don't believe that, Wendy," said Cierra quickly.
"Oh, good," said Wendy.
"Yeah, I mean you're not nearly pretty enough to be a slut," Cierra added matter-a-factly.
Wendy froze and felt like the entire cafeteria went silent.
"What?" she said, taken aback by the statement.
"Well," Cierra explained, "in order to be a slut, you have to be attractive. You should have either beauty or money to attract boys. But, let's face it, Wendy; I'm surprised you were able to land Stan."
Wendy took her hand off of Cierra's shoulder, her mouth open and silently gasping.
"Wendy," said Bebe returning to the table. "What's going on?"
"Just two friends being honest," said Cierra brightly.
Wendy got up and left Cierra sitting at the table.
"What's wrong?" asked Cierra. "I said you're not a slut."
"You called me ugly!" squeaked Wendy.
"No, I didn't!" shouted Cierra. "Just because I'm prettier than you doesn't mean I called you ugly!"
"Oh, so now you're prettier than me?!"
"Not that hard to be, Wendy. So, Stan likes brains over beauty. So what?"
"Stan likes me for my brains and looks!" snapped Wendy.
"Must have low standards," Cierra muttered.
"Why don't you shut the hell up?" said Bebe. "You think you're hot shit? You don't even have a boyfriend. But how could you get one with those fake hair extensions anyway?" she added with a smug grin.
"Oooh!" said all the girls.
"Hair extensions?" said Cierra with her hands on her hips. "Bitch, don't even. At least I'ma natural blonde. Sad that even in a hick town like this, people have to buy their hair in a discount, ghetto bottle."
"Ohhhhhh!" said the girls.
"Ah!" squeaked Bebe. "Who's the fake blonde? I'm a natural!"
"Really?" said Cierra in mock surprise. "Could've fooled me. When's the last time you ran a comb through that ratty mane? Maybe it would look half as good as mine with a three-hour trip to the salon...and then another 5 for the actual beautician work," Cierra added with a snap.
Bebe, Wendy and all the girls stood there stunned while Cierra left to collect her things at the table.
"Later," she said, not even looking back at them.
The boys made their way out of the lunchroom after inhaling their food. They had just let the door shut behind them before seeing the girls stomp through the doors in a huff.
"Ugh!" Wendy exclaimed. "That smart-ass bitch!" She clutched her fists in anger. "Who does she think she is?"
"Cartman's cousin, Wendy!" said Bebe just as enraged. "What did you expect?"
"Where does she get off? See if she makes any friends here now." Wendy added.
"Whoa!" said Kyle. Soon Cierra left the lunchroom as well, looking unfazed as she passed through the doors. "What happened at lunch?"
"Not my fault they're so sensitive," said Cierra bitterly. "But what should I aspect from the girlfriend of Stan Marsh?" she added sassily.
"Hey!" shouted Stan as he pointed to her. "You better watch what you say, kid. Just because you're a girl doesn't mean I won't kick your ass!"
"Ha!" Cierra laughed arrogantly. "You don't have the balls to touch me."
Stan closed in on her face menacingly. "Talk bad about Wendy again and see," he said while gritting his teeth.
Cierra scoffed. "Get your stank breath outta my face." She took a step back from Stan. "I'm just doing my job. I'm Eric's substitute, remember?"
"Try not to do your job too well," said Kyle. "We don't need two Cartman's around here."
"Pfff, whatever," Cierra said, rolling her eyes. She stuck her nose in the air and left the boys behind.
The rest of the day seemed to go by in a blur. Before the boys knew it, dismissal had come. Just like at lunch, Cierra made sure she was the first one out of the classroom, while the three boys left last. Outside, the boys crossed the street and headed toward their school bus's stop but Kyle hesitated.
"What's wrong, Kyle?" asked Stan.
"I don't know, dude," he began. "Maybe we shouldn't go on the bus today. After what happened earlier—,"
"Move it, fags!" said Cierra pushing the boys out of her way. "Ever hear of 'ladies first'?" she added with a haughty tone.
The boys looked to each other, all of them frustrated.
"What do you think, Kenny?" asked Stan. "We walking home?"
"Yeah," mumbled Kenny. "Fuck that bitch."
"You guys go on ahead," said Kyle. "I have to wait for Ike."
"Alright, dude," said Stan. "See you in a minute."
As Stan and Kenny waved goodbye to Kyle, he looked over to see Cierra still pushing others to clear a path to the bus.
"Kyle!" said a high pitched voice. Kyle saw his little brother about the cross over to his side of the street.
"Ike, hold on!" Kyle shouted. "Wait until the light's red! I'll come get you!"
But Ike didn't listen. He looked both ways but the light was still green. As he wobbled across, a fast moving car was closing in on the crosswalk, trying as hard as possible to get through the now yellow light.
Kyle ran frantically to get to his brother but the car passed by before he could get to him. Ike screamed as he froze before the car.
"AHHHHH! KYLE!"
"IKE!" Kyle screamed as the car passed where his brother stood. For a moment, there was silence but soon Kyle saw his brother: He was in one piece; safely wrapped in the arms of Cierra Cartman.
Cierra broke her huddled position over Ike and asked the little Canadian, "Are you ok?"
Ike babbled happily when he realized he was safe, even going so far as to give Cierra a hug. She smiled at this but felt her heart sink when she saw Kyle approaching and left to return to the bus. As Kyle came to his brother, he just caught a glimpse of Cierra hopping on the school bus as it drove away.
A/N: Wow! This chapter is LONG! Hope you like it! New chapter next week; please read and review.
