Hey guys; there's this playlist called Peaceful Guitar that helps me write these chapters; honestly, I think if you have a Spotify account (without ads because they ruin it) I'd listen to it quietly while reading this chapter; it helps the effect of it, honestly. If you want any more recommendations, DM me. Also, thanks for reading; let me know what you think once you are finished the chapter. I've been experimenting a bit with this story. xoxox

I dropped Butters' bike off in his garage and headed to Kenny's place for the night by foot; South Park was somewhat scary at night. I was almost to the train tracks, however when I felt like I was being followed. I looked around me and saw nothing and therefore continued. However, only a moment later the Mysterion thing flashed in front of me, standing still, and I froze.

"Um, hey, I guess?" I greeted. I figured he wouldn't harm me but I still was afraid of him.

"What are you doing away from home?" He asked. His voice was scratchier than the last time; I wondered if he was hurt. He didn't look fully confident in the way he stood this time, as if he was limping on one of his legs.

"Are you, um, okay?"

"Where are you going?" He asked, ignoring my question, coughing a bit.

"I was going to my friend's house, because I can't go home tonight…" I said, uncomfortable, slightly backing away. He only came closer, keeping the same distance we originally had. "Um, can I help you? It's kind of late."

"Kenny isn't home," He said. He knew Kenny?

I didn't respond. He sighed.

"Listen, I know more than you think," He said. "Don't ask me why. Kenny will be home before one in the morning. Knock on Karen's window; she should let you in."

I didn't know how he knew all of this. I looked down at my watch; it was approaching midnight, so it wouldn't be too long of a wait. I sighed and nodded my head. I pulled down my hood.

"Um, thanks, Mystery Boy."

"It's Mysterion. And, you're welcome."

Before I moved my position, he vanished.

As I approached the McCormick household, I looked for Karen's window. Finally spotting what I assumed to be her room, I peered in the window. It was dark. She was on her bed hugging her dolly. I tapped twice and that immediately got her attention. She came over to open the window.

"Can I come in?"

She nodded, to my surprise, and I hopped into the house.

"Why are you still awake, girly?" I asked, sitting on her bed with her; it wasn't really a bed so much of a mattress on the ground. She turned her lamp on so it wasn't too dark.

"Kenny's been gone for hours," She said, hugging her knees.

I sighed, "Well, I'm here until Kenny gets back, at the very least."

It was quiet for a few minutes, until she spoke up.

"Kenny talks about you sometimes. So, I trust you."

"He talks about me?" I asked, surprised.

She nodded, "He says you're nice and pretty and stuff."

"He thinks I'm pretty?" I chuckled. "I look like a boy half the time."

"You have pretty hair," She complimented.

"Aww, thanks Karen," I smiled. "You have pretty hair, too."

We talked until I calmed her down enough that she was sleeping. I was starting to doze too, when I heard the door to her bedroom opening and cracked open my eye to peek. It was Kenny in his pajamas; I yawned, sitting up, and looking at my watch. It was a quarter past one in the morning; I wondered where he even was. I looked at Karen and tucked the blanket around her before walking into the hall to greet Kenny. My eyes were still not used to the light so I kept them cracked.

"Hey," I whispered.

"Hey," He said, his voice cracking as if he wasn't well. He looked a bit bruised, but I didn't think much of it; he always seemed a bit beaten looking.

I yawned again as my eyes threatened to shut; it felt like I hadn't slept in ages. Giving in to my body, I sat myself on the floor and leaned against the wall.

"Emma, are you okay?" I heard Kenny ask.

"Mmmhmm," I mumbled. "I'm just really tired. I don't know. I haven't slept well in a while."

"Why can't you go home?" He sat on the floor next to me.

"I lied to my dad," I admitted. "I went over Michael's house because the Goth kids are treating him bad; his home life seems kind of shitty, too."

"Do you like him or something?" He asked.

I tried to hide my blush, "Um, not really, I guess." I didn't know if I was telling the truth or not. I mean, I valued his friendship so greatly that I didn't want to give it up by complicating things; and anyways, dating was a conformist thing to do according to him.

"Well, if you don't like him, who do you like?"

The question caught me off guard and I stammered, "Um…."

"Come on," He chuckled. "Out of all the guys in South Park who constantly harass you, you've got to like one of them…. Just don't tell me it's Cartman."

"I don't know," I shrugged. "I guess I don't think about it much. Wendy asked me the same question a while ago. I mean, a few of the guys are cute, but I wouldn't go as far to say I particularly like anyone; I enjoy some of their company more than others, but that's to be expected."

It was silent for a moment; I thought I saw him scoot closer to me, but I was fighting to keep myself awake to some extent, so I didn't pay much mind.

"What about me?" He asked, interrupting the silence that drowsed me to sleep.

"Huh?" I asked, waking up a bit.

"Do you like me?"

I didn't think much of it, "Well, yeah, you're a –"

Before I could finish my sentence, I was cut off by a pair of lips pressed against mine. My eyes widened; if I wasn't awake before, I was now. I panicked and pushed him away before standing up.

"Kenny, I –"

"No, it's my fault," He admitted. "I'm sorry."

I sighed, "Um, I'm going to go."

"Where are you going to stay?" He asked.

I shrugged, "I don't know; Kyle's house?"

"Figures," He muttered.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked. He was acting weird and I didn't like it. Was it all because I refused to kiss him back? I panicked; I wasn't ready for something like that.

"You're always hanging out with Kyle while I'm the one looking out for you!" He didn't yell it, because his family was asleep, but it was a sort of raspy whisper; the rasp in his voice sounded familiar but I couldn't put my finger on exactly why.

"I don't even understand you," I said. "I'm sorry. I'll see you at school."

With that, I headed to Kyle's house. I went into his backyard once I got there and threw a rock at his window, hoping it wouldn't cause a crack. No reply; I threw another. After a moment, his light turned on and he opened his window.

"Emma?" He called.

"Can I stay here?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'll be down in a minute."

I sat on his back porch and waited. Tears streamed down my face as I put my head into my hands, trying to pace my breaths. I heard his door open and then close again, but I didn't move. I could hear him sit down next to me and I sat up.

"What happened?" He asked, a worried look on his face.

I didn't say anything; I just wrapped my arms around him and cried into his shoulder. We sat like that for a few minutes, until the weeping stopped and I wiped my eyes on my sleeve. I looked down at my watch; it was three in the morning. I could go home soon. I knew the next school day would be rough.

"What can I do?" Kyle asked.

My mind flew away from my thoughts and into the present.

"Nothing, it's fine, I'll just go home," I said, a bit anxiously. I felt bad that I'd interrupted his sleep and distressed him.

"Will you tell me what happened first?" He asked. It wasn't a pressured question, I knew that; he was just worried. I think he was my best friend – well, Henrietta was, too, but not as consistently. I didn't feel the need to put walls up when he was around.

"Kenny kissed me," I admitted. That wasn't the whole of it, but I didn't need him worrying about how I ended up taking Butters' bike five miles away to the Goth kid's house. "And, I pissed him off, I guess. But I just didn't expect it and it freaked me out."

"Damn," was all Kyle responded with. He stood up and took my hand to make me stand too, "Come on, let's get you home. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

I didn't notice it until we were approaching my house, but we never let go of each other's hands. I didn't know how I felt about that, though. It made me nervous.

"Kyle, I –" I stopped myself. "Never mind, thanks for walking me home. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Actually, more like four hours," He said.

"Same thing," I laughed and he chuckled with me.