May 26th

Kenny looked at the calendar. He stared intently at the date before casting a glance into the living room where Kyle and Clyde were talking, most likely about the room mate idea proposed last night. It was one of those rare days that Clyde didn't work, though he usually spent those out of the house too. Clyde was more sociable with his work friends than anyone else Kenny had ever known before and it was, in his opinion, weird.

Anyways, back to the calendar. Today was obviously Kyle's birthday, Kenny knew that. His phone had alerted him to the date after he'd scheduled in all his friends birthdays when he'd first gotten his Samsung, back when it had been new and something to brag about. And yet, despite officially being 22 years old for at least four waking hours now, Kyle had done nothing to acknowledge his special day.

Kenny never really went out to celebrate his own birthday, so few the occasions where he'd actually been able to afford a birthday, but he always celebrated his friends. They were the ones to think up some grand scheme and have a good time. He'd sort of seen Kyle's birthday as his own as well, considering they were only a few months apart and Kyle always let him blow out his candles since Kyle couldn't often eat the cakes due to his diabetes.

But was he not doing anything this year? Kenny decided to ask.

"Hey, you know it's your birthday, right?"

Both Kyle and Clyde looked up from the couch to see Kenny hovering over the calendar in the kitchen and Kyle nodded.

"Yeah."

That answer displeased Kenny. He gave Kyle a withering look and made a show of walking lazily over to them to lean in close to Kyle.

"You know, most people celebrate birthdays." Kenny said with a hushed voice, though Clyde could hear him and was grinning at his antics.

"I'm low on money right now, what with the potential moving thing, so I can't afford to celebrate like usual, Ken." Kyle pushed Kenny back and added, "We're talking about you, though, if you want to sit in."

"Naw, that's okay." Kenny shook his head. "I'm not a planner, I'll leave it up to you guys."

Clyde spoke up, standing up from the couch and fixing his button up shirt as he addressed Kenny.

"Actually, I'd like to talk a few things over with you before me and Kyle finalize everything, if you're alright with that?"

Kenny shrugged. Clyde looked so professional in his nice jeans and dark red button up that Kenny suddenly felt really out of place in his sweatpants and his old Terrence and Phillip T-shirt. He'd seen one of their live shows a few years back and even though it wasn't funny anymore, he'd still made a point to buy a T-shirt.

Clyde led Kenny into his room, and Kenny stepped in gingerly. The clothes had been mostly cleared up; Kenny guessed during the period of time in which Kyle had made rather good eggs and Kenny hadn't yet been aware of the birthday this morning.

Clyde closed the door and Kenny raised an eyebrow. The brunette simply put a finger to his lips and gestured for Kenny to follow him and sit on the haphazardly made up bed.

"I do actually want to talk to you about a few things, Kenny." Clyde began as Kenny took a seat. "First off about the move, but that's relatively easy. Kyle told you I'm planning on moving out?"

Kenny just nodded.

"There's an apartment building near my work and with how many hours I'm getting, I can afford it there. Means walking instead of having to drive up and waste all that gas just for work. But that doesn't concern you," Clyde gave a sort of laugh and cleared his throat. "Kyle's told me he invited you to move in and if you're interested, there's a few things we'll need to go over. First, you get this room."

Kenny cast his eyes around Clyde's room and made a mental note to brighten it up when he lived here.

"Second, I'll introduce you to the landlord and his wife, they kind of own the place together. They like to actually see everyone who lives here, just to make sure they don't take you for a stranger breaking in or something." Clyde waved his hand dismissively and rolled his eyes before continuing. "They'll want you to sign paperwork, et cetera, but it's all easy stuff."

Kenny listened as Clyde rambled off a few more points about how much the place would cost him per month, what was included and not and added at the end, "If you need help moving, let me know. I've got an extra vehicle you can pack stuff into if it doesn't fit into your car."

"Thanks." Kenny replied genuinely, smiling at Clyde.

They'd never really been all that close in school, but since maturing and coming into his own in his workplace, Clyde had really become quite a cool guy.

"Now," Clyde reached out to put a hand on Kenny's arm. "about the matter of Kyle's birthday."

The smile on Kenny's face widened.

"There is something, isn't there?"

Clyde grinned in reply.

"Kyle didn't want to do anything, really, what with your family trouble and all. He kind of felt like we should be low key and not raise a big fuss over an age when there were more important things going on, but we both know that birthdays need to be celebrated, right?" Clyde asked and Kenny immediately nodded in return.

"Stan and I have been collaborating over an idea and he'll be inviting others over for a birthday lunch sort of thing. I've invited Craig." Clyde gave Kenny a smile that suggested he knew far more about how this sentence would affect Kenny than the blonde felt comfortable with. "We've got a little thing planned so don't tell him. It's not really a surprise, but if he knows ahead of time, he'll try and hide or stop it."

Kenny chuckled. The idea of Kyle hiding away somewhere to avoid his birthday was funny.

"Got it all? Housing, birthday?" Clyde wanted to clarify and Kenny nodded. "Excellent. Let's go back out."

Kyle had turned on the television by the time they returned and was lounging lazily watching a Canadian show called Cash Cab. He mumbled the answers quietly to himself, only to hear the ding of success when the contestants on the show got the right answers...which happened to also be what he was muttering. Smart ass.

Kenny dropped himself onto the cushions next to Kyle and smiled brightly at his friend as Kyle glanced over at him before settling in to watch the show while Clyde disappeared into the bathroom.

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The knocking on the door didn't come until around...Kenny glanced at his phone for the time...four o'clock. It was still light outside and quite nice actually for spring time, so Kenny guessed four still counted as 'lunch'.

Clyde opened the door and Stan was the first one through it, carrying something behind his back he immediately rested in the kitchen out of sight. Luckily for the black haired boy, Kyle didn't notice the guest until he'd finished hiding it.

"Hey!" Kyle said, awkwardly removing himself from his slouched position on the couch to move over to Stan and give him a hug. "What's up?"

Stan grinned and glanced at Clyde, who merely whistled and walked out the front door to see if anyone else was coming.

"We know you didn't want a big birthday thing, but come on, dude. Like we're not going to come over and have a birthday for you." Stan said in a very matter-of-fact way and Kyle frowned.

"You guys have nothing better to do than waste your time here telling me how old I am?" Kyle whined dramatically, but Stan looped his arms around Kyle's middle and said, "I have absolutely nothing better to do, babe."

Kenny looked away at that, but he was sure Stan had leaned forward to press a kiss to Kyle's lips because neither of them spoke for a second. He wasn't sure why, but he felt embarrassed being exposed to his friends kissing. Kyle and Stan were like the perfect couple and Kenny had never felt right just lurking around in their relationship.

The kiss ended, however, when Kyle caught sight of who else was entering the house and he outright laughed.

"Clyde, you asshole." He scolded the brunette, but didn't appear to truly be angry at all.

Kenny looked over to see Leopold Stotch, a friend from school who he'd guessed Clyde had kept in contact with, Eric Cartman but no Wendy Testaburger, and one Craig Tucker enter the apartment.

Kyle briefly narrowed his eyes at Cartman, but the rounded fellow simply gave a tired smile and said, "Happy Birthday, Jew."

Kyle shook his head but managed to reply amiably enough with a, "Thanks, fatass."

Apparently the two had been in contact recently.

Kenny watched them all socialize for a bit, all giving their Happy Birthday's and catching up on what had been happening in the last couple of days. Even Craig summoned up the social skills to actually give Kyle a one armed hug. Kenny listened to them talk for a bit, getting an enthusiastic wave from Leopold and a lazy nod of acknowledgement from Cartman before the bulky boy sat down next to him and blocked out whatever else Kenny could have heard from the others.

"How you been, Ken?" Cartman asked, looking more worn out than Kenny had ever seen him before.

"Not bad. Rooming here for a bit, working, the usual." Kenny shrugged. He debated not bringing up Wendy, since it was supposed to be conversation focused on the birthday, but his mouth betrayed him. "I hear you're expecting."

Cartman gave a heavy sigh and nodded.

"Yeah, Wendy's a few months in. We had to hurry up and find a place together with a spare room, but I got a raise at work and she's got paid maternity leave coming up soon, so that should help." To Kenny's surprise, Cartman actually smiled and he thought back to his conversation with Craig about whether or not Cartman's intentions were evil or not.

"You know, it's so fucking tiring taking care of a woman with weird ass cravings, but it's kind of fun too."

"How so?" Kenny asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, she'll crave McDonalds at three in the morning or ask if we're allowed to put bacon on a sundae because she wants breakfast and ice cream at the same time. It's weird as shit, but it's funny too, right?" Cartman seemed to be wanting Kenny to answer this, so the blonde just smiled and nodded.

He supposed it could be; a bacon sundae ordered by a moody pregnant woman would be an entertaining sight to see at least.

"How did Clyde get you here for Kyle's birthday if Wendy needs you, then?" Kenny asked, curious why the old school bully would be at the house of the one he bullied.

"Kahl and I have been talking over Facebook." Cartman shrugged and Kenny nearly cracked a smile at the fact that Cartman still never pronounced Kyle's name right. "And Wendy's at her mom's house. I figured since Clyde invited me over and I hadn't seen Kahl in a while, I'd actually speak to him face to face this time."

"You never talk to me over Facebook." Kenny pretended to pout but Cartman smacked his arm.

"You don't have a Facebook anymore, Ken."

That was sort of a lie. Kenny had a Facebook account, but he never used it. He probably had a million messages from the old Facebook games he'd used to play.

"Okay, guys, everyone gather round." Clyde gestured for everyone to assemble around the kitchen counters and Kenny reluctantly got up from the comfy couch to stand next to Cartman with the others.

"Now I know Kyle didn't want a big thing going on today which is why I only invited a few people. However, it doesn't mean we spared any expense on the party itself." Clyde seemed to have everything under control and Kenny admired his command. Seems Kyle wasn't the only Planner around the group.

Leopold disappeared into the hallway and came back with a huge basket that was almost too big for him to carry. The smaller boy shook slightly as he carted it inside, but Clyde helped him rest it on the floor and unpack it onto the counter in the middle. There were at least five different Tupperware containers, big ones, filled with food. Two had some kind of wraps in them, one had cupcakes that had been designed as a cake, and the other two housed various veggies and salad with little containers of dressing.

"I work at this little health food cafe so I brought over what I could." Leopold spoke up quietly, his expression almost frightened despite the smile he had on.

"Ugh, rabbit food." Cartman complained and Kenny elbowed him in the ribs sharply.

Kyle just grinned and wrapped Leopold in a hug and said, "Thanks. It's a nice change from ravioli and pop tarts."

Leopold seemed to gain a little nerve from that and his smile beamed a bit brighter and he helped open the containers.

"Don't touch the cupcakes yet or I'll get Cartman to beat you." Clyde warned, half joking, but Cartman just grinned happily and puffed out his chest.

"Respect ma authoritah." He said.

Kenny shook his head. So long ago, that had been Cartman's catchphrase and Kenny was cursing himself for still finding it funny. Kyle and Clyde brought out plates and though Kyle argued that it wasn't necessary, Clyde made him pick the first dish.

"It's your birthday, birthday boys go first."

Kyle tried to hurry, Kenny could tell, and after he'd finished with the first container, the red head ushered people in to grab their own meals.

Kenny hung back until the others had gotten their food before grabbing a plate for himself. He spotted Craig hovering back around the living room with his plate of food and wondered if it would be weird going to talk to him with most of the people in this room knowing what they had gotten up to in the past few weeks.

He didn't have to worry long, however, because Clyde got there first and the two old friends started talking. Kenny turned away and found himself face to face with Kyle, who laughed quietly at the startled expression on his friend's face.

"You knew about this, huh? Clyde told you." Kyle accused, but he didn't seem too mad so Kenny nodded. "That bitch."

Kenny laughed.

"Come on, we can't not celebrate your birthday!" Kenny exclaimed. "Especially after all you've been doing for me."

Kyle shuffled around as if he were embarrassed by Kenny's statement, but Kenny knew better. Kyle shuffled when he didn't know how to respond to something or was reluctant to say something.

"I still don't think I needed it, but whatever." Kyle smiled, his eyes flickering off somewhere behind Kenny and the red head leaned in. "By the way, go talk to him. He's been quiet, I think he's waiting for you."

"Clyde's talking to him." Kenny didn't even need to question who Kyle was talking about at that point and there was no point in denying he knew.

"Clyde, come over here a sec!" Kyle called over Kenny's shoulder and Kenny scowled as Kyle simply smiled sweetly at him and led Clyde back to the main group.

Kenny debated ignoring Kyle's advice, but hell, he could just get it over with, right?

"Hey."

Kenny squeaked and nearly dropped his plate as someone spoke to him. He turned to see Craig and glared at the black haired boy. He had just been about to go over there and this prick had to ruin it by making the first move...

"Hey." Kenny knew that had come out rather lame so he added, "Didn't think Clyde would get you up here."

Craig shrugged and picked at the food on his plate.

"I didn't have anything else to do."

"Not working today?" Kenny pried.

"Nope." Craig responded.

Well this was going nowhere.

"Anyone want to try and beat me at Call of Duty?" Clyde asked, interrupting the awkward moment and raising up his hand.

Craig wordlessly raised his own and Clyde danced over to high five him before setting about turning the Xbox on and handing Craig a controller.

Kenny couldn't even describe how awkward he felt. Should he...walk away? Stay and cheer for Craig? He was about to settle on the former when an hand gripped his arm and he was suddenly being pulled onto the couch next to Craig. Clyde had settled himself on the arm of the couch, perched precariously with one foot on the floor and one on the couch cushion. Kenny found himself trapped against Craig's side, both of the taller boy's arms around him to hold onto the controller.

He silently looked around at the others, as if afraid they'd make fun of them or something, but only Kyle seemed to care and the damn redhead was grinning. That jerk.

The two old friends played video games for what felt like forever, Kenny excusing himself only once to use the bathroom and, surprisingly, Craig let him cuddle right back up next to him when he returned. Eventually they were stopped by Leopold who wanted to do the cupcakes because he had to get back home soon. Leopold still lived with his parents, granted he now rented out the basement suite instead of just having his little room upstairs.

Kenny and the others gathered around the table as Kyle poked a candle into one of the cupcakes.

"Only one?" Kenny inquired.

"Only need one." Kyle shrugged, handing the cupcake to Kenny.

The others were divided amongst the remaining guests, except for Kyle, who had insisted he take over lighting Kenny's candle and letting him blow it out on behalf of the birthday boy.

"Hold on a sec, Kyle." Stan said, rummaging around in one of the cupboards and pulling out a small box with the logo of a local bakery on the cover. "I know you can't eat all this sugary stuff, so I asked Becca down at the bakery to find something you could eat."

It looked like a little mini cheesecake and according to the label as Kenny leaned in to see it, that's exactly what it was. Made with specialty ingredients, no doubt, to cater to Kyle's diabetic nature.

"I still get to light Kenny's candle!" Kyle exclaimed to the group, keeping his grip on the lighter as if someone would steal that privilege from him if he put it down, but he beamed happily and leaned in to press a kiss to Stan's cheek. "You're so sweet."

"But I'm a diabetic friendly sweet." Stan said with a grin and Kyle laughed.

Eventually, they got the candle lit and all of them raised their cupcakes, or in Kyle's case, the little box his cake rested inside of.

"Should we sing Happy Birthday?" Leopold suggested, though judging by the wicked grin he gave Kyle, he already knew the answer.

"Do that and I'll punch you right in the mouth, Butters." Kyle said, using the nickname they'd given Leopold years back when they'd been in school.

Cartman barked out a laugh at this and Kenny jumped, almost forgetting the fatass had been here at all. He'd been so unnaturally quiet, but upon further inspection it seemed he'd just stockpiled the rest of the food no one had eaten and had been working away at that while the others made small talk.

"Alright, just Happy Birthday Kyle, it seems." Leopold laughed and the group repeated "Happy Birthday, Kyle!" before digging into the sweets.

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It was around six pm that everyone started heading home. Everyone except Craig and Stan, that is.

Kenny wasn't sure what the allure was to Call of Duty, but every time Craig and Clyde started a new round, Kenny would get pulled close to the dark haired Tucker so he didn't really bother trying to figure it out. It was oddly comfortable to just relax against Craig's side and the boy had even let him work one arm around his waist to allow for a better position.

Every so often, Craig would ask him something, usually things like "When do you work next?" or "Having fun?" and Kenny would respond quietly so as not to interrupt what looked like rather intense concentration on Clyde's part of the couch.

Kyle and Stan had arranged themselves comfortably in an extra chair, Kyle sitting across Stan's legs, both with their arms around each other. It was almost sickeningly sweet, but for once Kenny smiled genuinely when Kyle would occasionally catch his eye because this time, he was cuddling someone too.

"I hear you're thinking of moving here." Craig said, making idle conversation again and Kenny looked away from the birthday boy to focus on the black shirt he was currently pressed up against.

"Yeah." Kenny confirmed.

"What happened to looking out for your sister?" Craig pressed and Kenny was surprised he'd remembered their conversation from a few nights ago.

"I'm gonna see if she can bunk with someone else and if not, I'll just stop in every now and then and say hi."

"Cool." Craig's fingers skimmed along the controller and Kenny tried to keep track of what was going on in game world, but he really didn't care much.

"What made you change your mind?" Craig's questions weren't something Kenny really wanted to answer right now, considering he was in a pretty damn good mood since Craig had allowed cuddling for today.

But the whole room knew that Craig would just keep asking until he got an answer so Kenny awkwardly shrugged around Craig and said, "My parents are assholes? I didn't really realize how badly I wanted out of there until I started bunking here and saw the difference."

"He went back for spare clothes and his mom bitched at him." Kyle simplified and Craig nodded.

Kenny half expected something else to be said, but it seemed that Craig was done talking because the two friends resumed the game in silence. After another hour, it seemed they were finally done and Craig stretched on the couch, forcing Kenny to sit up properly.

"Well, I'm gonna turn in." Clyde announced and Craig gave a short laugh.

"Guess that's code for 'get out'?"

"Not so much code as a polite dismissal." Clyde corrected with a grin.

"I better be getting back too." Stan chimed in, though he sounded considerably more down about it than Craig did.

"No, no, by all means, stay." Clyde planted his hands firmly on Stan's shoulders, keeping him in the chair with Kyle. "Birthday boy needs some birthday loving."

Kyle's face flushed with color and Stan reached up to swat at Clyde, who just laughed and moved to see Craig out the door.

"Kenny, can I talk to you for a second?" Craig asked, slipping on his shoes and gesturing for Kenny to come closer. Kenny remembered when that motion had had no effect on him, but now that beckoning finger was giving him butterflies.

Was it because they'd cuddled? Ugh, he was turning into a woman.

Either way, Kenny followed Craig out into the hallway and, after waving to Craig, Clyde disappeared back inside the apartment.

"Yeah?" Kenny asked, curious as to what Craig would have to say that he couldn't have said during that hour of random killings.

"I wanted to know, if you were up for it, whether you'd want to go out tomorrow." Craig asked.

The words coming from his mouth sounded like they should be romantic, but the tone in which they were said very quickly reminded Kenny that he was talking to Craig Tucker.

"Go out?" Kenny pressed, trying to get Craig to speak plainly.

"There's a sale going on in the big mall outside of town and you sound like you might need a bit of a break." Craig shrugged. "If you don't want to, it's no big deal."

"I sound like I need a break?" Kenny inquired, wondering if his previous comment about his family had really sounded that bad.

"Will you stop asking questions and just answer me, dumbass?" Craig arched an eyebrow at him in return. "I'll help pay for gas, since you're driving."

"You just assume I'll drive you out of town?" Kenny crossed his arms and pretended to be offended, but he could tell Craig knew he'd won.

"You'll drive me wherever I tell you." Craig said, but he was moving now. Kenny hadn't thought Craig was this bold, but apparently his indifference did indeed extend to public displays of affection. Though that should have been a hint when he'd been treated to a blowjob in the park...

With Craig's lips at his neck and Craig's hands at his hips, Kenny could barely remember what exactly Craig was trying to coax him into. After cuddling on the couch, Kenny hadn't expected this and as he stifled a surprised and contented groan, he nodded.

"I'll drive."

"Good. I'll be up around eleven, you can pick me up whenever." Craig said, abruptly ending his seductions now that he'd gotten the answer he'd wanted, but the tiniest of smiles was visible on his face.

Kenny grinned widely and shoved his companion back a few steps.

"You jerk. Using me for shit like rides." Kenny pretended to complain, but he leaned forward to press a kiss to Craig's jaw before shoving him towards the exit staircase. "Go home."

"See you tomorrow." Craig waved and Kenny quickly slipped back into the apartment before Clyde could come out to see if they were done yet.

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Author's Note:

Work has been crazy so I apologize for the out of sync updates. I've got my chapters all worked out and ready to be typed now though so hopefully I'll be able to put out some more to make up for my missing chapter.

P.S: I've never played Call of Duty before so I know nothing about it XD