Kenny didn't consider himself smart by any means. He had killed himself a million times from doing really stupid things, and had even done it on purpose from time to time. However, he did take pride in the fact that he could be rather observant. He could read stranger's emotions almost instantly, which had made it easy for him to start socializing with others in the school as of late. He could judge group dynamics, and theorize if there will be relationship problems or not. He could look at a person and instantly know what mood they were in.

Yet although Kenny was good at reading other people, he was particularly good at reading his friends. After all, he had known them on a personal level longer than anyone else. It was probably easiest for him to read Cartman. He and Cartman had shared a special bond once when Kenny was dead, and somehow Kenny was never able to shake that strange connection with the other boy. So the fact that Cartman was struggling with his relationship with Kyle as of late wasn't lost on Kenny. He was also aware that Cartman's anger toward Stan mostly stemmed from Cartman's strange urge to protect Kyle. Kyle was probably the second easiest to read in Kenny's life. Even though Kyle had undergone what Stan called "a change," Kenny knew that Kyle hadn't really changed at all. In fact, if anything, he had gone back to who he used to be. Kyle was being more true to himself that anyone Kenny had ever known, except perhaps, Stan.

Stan… well, Kenny could read him rather well too. He had instantly known that Stan's comfort level around Kyle had been compromised due to Stan's sudden attraction. He had also known that a lot of Stan's anger stemmed from Kyle's betrayal at camp, but also from Stan's belief that he wasn't good enough for Kyle. As Stan rambled to him, Kenny silently congratulated himself for knowing these things, even though Stan hadn't directly told him before.

"Thanks," Stan muttered quietly.

Kenny laughed softly. "For what?"

"For listening. And not getting pissed at me."

"Well, I'm a little pissed, but… I know that in the end you'll choose to do the right thing."

Stan was quiet, obviously pondering Kenny's words. Kenny was also silent. Although he knew Stan rather well, he had been wrong before. In fact, he had been the one who told Kyle that the fight would have been long over by now. He had also told Kyle that Stan wouldn't give Kyle the silent treatment, and that was pretty much exactly what he had done.

So it wasn't lost on Kenny that sometimes, he could be dead wrong. He just hoped that he wasn't this time.

-.-.-.-.-.

"Hey Ken," Kyle said miserably as he opened the door.

"Holy fuck!" Kenny practically shouted, seeing Kyle's black eye.

"Sh! My mom's home, dude."

He lowered his voice some, but didn't stop the bad language. "Sorry, but holy shit. That's one black eye."

"Well, Stan can hit pretty hard."

"No kidding. But," he stepped into Kyle's house, "I saw Stan, and you didn't do so bad yourself."

"I guess. Wait, you saw Stan? Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah. He's pretty bummed out about what happened."

"Well, it's his fucking fault," Kyle growled, closing the door.

Kenny just shrugged. "Maybe my talk with him will encourage him to apologize to you."

"It better be one good apology to make up for all the shit he has put us through."

"Kyle! Is that Kenny?" Kyle's mom called from the kitchen.

"Yeah!" Kyle replied.

"Oh good, dinner is almost ready. Why don't you boys wash up?"

"Ok!" Kyle turned back toward Kenny. "By the way, did you know that Cartman is coming over here tomorrow night?"

"What?"

"Yeah, I know."

"Who would have thought that Stan and Cartman would have switched places?"

"Yeah," Kyle muttered darkly. "Who would have?"

-.-.-.-.-.

"What the fuck happened to you?"

Kenny winced as Cartman shrieked practically in his ear. The two boys had beaten Kyle to the bus stop the next morning and Kenny hadn't warned Cartman of Kyle's new look. When Cartman had seen the red-head and his black eye, he freaked out.

"Come here, let me look! What the fuck, Jew? Who the hell did this to you?" Cartman had grabbed Kyle's chin, jerking Kyle's head to the side so he could get a better look at his eye.

"Shit, Cartman, calm down!" Kyle sputtered, his cheeks flushing pink.

"Who, Jew?"

Kyle hesitated briefly. "S-Stan…"

"I'm going to kill him."

"Don't kill him."

"I don't care what you say, Kyle, I'm going to kill the son of a bitch."

Kenny bit his lip, amused as he watched the two.

"Cartman," Kyle said evenly, prying Cartman's hand off of his cheek, "I deserved it."

"The fuck you did."

"I hit him first."

"That doesn't give him a right to hit you back!"

Kyle sighed. "Just promise me you won't kill him."

Cartman growled, not responding.

"Cartman!"

Kenny shook his head. "Cartman, killing Stan is not the answer."

"At least he would learn his lesson," Cartman grumbled.

Kyle gave him a warning look. Cartman finally threw up his hands, sighing.

"Fine, FINE! I won't kill him. But he fucking deserves it."

Kyle looked relieved. Cartman still looked pissed. Kenny bit back a laugh.

-.-.-.-.-.

"Do you get the feeling that more people have changed today?" Kenny asked casually, watching the students walk down the hallway around them.

"Yeah," Kyle groaned miserably. "It's like they're multiplying."

-.-.-.-.-.

"See? I promised, and here I am!" Kenny exclaimed, sitting in his usual spot next to Cartman. Kenny could see Kyle still getting his lunch.

"I'm shocked," Cartman mocked, which only caused Kenny to grin.

"I heard you and Kyle are going to hang out tonight."

"What of it?" Cartman quickly retorted, and Kenny could tell that he had gotten defensive.

"That's awesome! I'm glad you guys are getting along."

"We just tolerate each other."

"Yeah, and I believe that. You know, Carman, Kyle seems excited that you two are going to hang out."

Kenny relished the embarrassed expression that crossed Cartman's face.

"Hey guys," Kyle said, sitting down across from Kenny. "Glad you joined us today, Ken."

"I told you both that I'd be here, and it's like you didn't believe me!"

Kyle glanced at Cartman. "What's wrong with you, Cartman?"

"Nothing," Cartman curtly replied.

"I was just giving him a hard time," Kenny explained.

Kyle didn't ask for any details. "So you'll never guess who just interrogated me about being gay."

"Who?" Kenny asked, eying Cartman's lunch.

"Bebe."

"That doesn't really surprise me. She's had a crush on you since elementary school."

"Yeah, but… I don't know. I guess I wasn't really expecting it. I think that it made her feel better, though, to know that I never went out with her because I was gay and not because I didn't like her."

"I can see how that would be comforting."

"I'm glad none of us went out with her," Cartman commented. "She's annoying."

"You think all girls are annoying," Kyle pointed out.

Cartman just shrugged. "I guess. But the biggest bitch is Wendy. I'm so glad that she didn't ever sit with us during lunch."

"I like Wendy," Kyle said.

"I guess it's now my goal to ask Bebe out," Kenny announced.

"What? Why the fuck would you do that?" Cartman turned toward him.

"Because it will piss you off."

"You're such an asshole, Kenneh!"

"I know!" Kenny chirped happily. "She might be out of my league though."

"Why do you say that?" Kyle asked, taking a bite of his pizza.

"Well, you know. I'm not exactly a catch."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? You're fucking hot, Kenny. You could get any girl in this school."

Cartman made a face. "Ew."

"Thanks Kyle!" Kenny grinned, ignoring Cartman. "But I don't know. She knows how dirt poor I am. I've been pretty much going after girls outside of our grade because of that."

"I bet if you turned your charms on her, you could get her easily," Kyle argued.

"You really think so?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I seriously question your tastes, Jew," Cartman objected.

Kyle laughed. "Yeah, sometimes I do too."

Kenny practically laughed out loud. These two were just hilarious. He smirked. "So, what IS your type, Kyle?"

"H-huh?" he sputtered. "W-well, shit, I don't know."

"Yeah you do."

"I don't really want to talk about it."

"Why not? Come on, please? I'm sure Cartman wants to know too."

"I do not," Cartman protested.

"He does not," Kyle said simultaneously.

Kenny just laughed as the other boys quickly steered the topic of conversation elsewhere. He spent the rest of the lunch period stealing food from Cartman's plate. He knew that Kyle purposefully got more food than he needed, just so Kenny could have something, so he ate from Kyle's tray as well. However, Kenny found it more fun to leech off of Cartman. Kenny didn't have any actual proof, but he knew that Cartman bought more than he wanted as well, just for Kenny's sake.

"Son of a bitch!" Kenny suddenly exclaimed, spotting a girl he had gone out with a few days prior. She was holding hands with Butters. "Butters stole my girl!"

Kyle and Cartman both looked in the direction Kenny was looking. "Shit," Kyle exclaimed, "I didn't notice Butters changed his look too."

"He looks gay," Cartman retorted.

"You think everyone looks gay, Cartman," Kyle pointed out. "Holy shit, dude! Look at them make out!"

Kenny felt sick as he watched Butters and his now ex-girlfriend make out in one of the corners of the lunch room.

"Who would have thought that Butters would score a senior chick… or any chick for that matter," Cartman said, turning back to his food.

"I can't believe this," Kenny whined, unable to tear his eyes away from the horrible scene in front of him. "Butters stole my thunder! This is bad… what if my chances with the seniors are diminished by all of these posers?"

Kyle laughed as he turned around. "Kenny, please. You have a natural finesse that Butters doesn't. You'll be fine. I'm sure you'll score with lots of different girls, just like before."

"I hope so. I can't imagine living without sex now that I've had it."

Cartman snorted. "Kenny, you couldn't have imagined living without it when you were a virgin, you sick fuck. I know how much porn you have."

"I can't help it that I love the ladies."

"I don't think love is quite the right word," Cartman muttered sarcastically.

"Get out of my fucking way, you stupid cripple!"

Kenny's head jerked toward the loud voice that suddenly rang through the cafeteria, and Kyle and Cartman did the same. Another student, most likely a senior, was towering over Jimmy, who looked like he was about to piss his pants. He was stuttering an apology, but that only seemed to piss off the senior even more.

Kenny narrowed his eyes. Who the fuck did that kid think he was? Jimmy most likely had done nothing wrong. Besides, who the hell didn't like Jimmy?

"What's wrong with you?" the senior continued. "Did you think that changing your clothes would make you talk less like an idiot?"

"I-I-I…" stuttered Jimmy.

"I can't believe that asshole," Kenny heard Kyle hiss, and before he knew what was going on, Kyle was storming up to where Jimmy and the senior were having their confrontation.

"Hey! What the fuck is your deal?" Kyle challenged. Kenny quickly looked over at Cartman.

"That stupid Jew is going to get killed," Cartman groaned. Kenny nodded in agreement. They locked eyes, sharing the same thought that they better join their headstrong friend. They both simultaneously rose and headed over.

"Ah, Broflovski again, huh? Didn't have enough the last time?" Kenny briefly wondered how Kyle knew the senior.

"Leave Jimmy alone. It's not his fault that you don't watch where you're going."

Kenny and Cartman stood behind Kyle. Kenny hoped that this wasn't going to turn into a fight, because it seemed like the senior had friends, and they were making their way toward them.

"What's going on in here?" Everyone's heads whipped around to see two teachers peek their heads into the lunch room. One of them must have immediately guessed what was going on, and approached them. The senior hissed his disapproval.

"Is there a problem here?" he asked, his hands on his hips.

"No sir," Kyle said smoothly. "This senior, here, started verbally attacking my friend Jimmy here for being disabled. Eric, Kenny, and I just came over to tell him to stop."

"H-he ca-ca-ca-called me a g-g-gi-gi-gimp," Jimmy chimed in.

The teacher sighed. "Come on, Michael, let's have a little chat in my office," the teacher said, placing a hand on the senior's back and leading him out of the lunchroom.

"T-t-thanks g-guys," Jimmy exclaimed.

"No problem, Jim. That guy was a total asshole," Kyle replied.

"I can't believe we didn't get in trouble," Kenny mused.

"That teacher is my math teacher. I think he just trusted that I wouldn't get in trouble," Kyle grinned.

"Even despite that huge black eye you've been sporting?" Kenny teased.

Kyle laughed. "I told him earlier today that it was done by someone who found out I was gay, and that I didn't know who it was. So I am still maintaining my 'good boy' image. Besides, I think that senior causes a lot of problems, especially lately."

Kenny wanted to ask about how Kyle knew the senior, but the lunch bell rang just before he could open his mouth. Kyle led the way back to the lunch table, and the three of them started heading out of the cafeteria.

"Hey, Kenny, what time are you coming over tonight?"

"Well, I'm not really sure, but like I said, I'll be over for a shower. It won't be too late."

"Ok, well, we'll see you then!"

Kenny waved to Kyle and Cartman as they headed toward their next classes before he started heading toward his. Kenny pursed his lips. He didn't like the tension in the air. It seemed to drift throughout the hallways during school, and it caused everyone to be on edge. He worried that the tension would grow and then suddenly break, and when that happened, all hell would break loose.

He shook his head. Better not to think about it until it actually happens. Who knew? He had been wrong in the past.