To answer TriceTokushu and GBond007's questions! : This only takes place in the same universe as *most* of my other South Park fics. The Breakage of South Parh High is a maybe, cuz it can exist in the same universe but I'm not referencing it in this (just cuz it would add to the new drama I'm trying to make). In terms of Broken Halo per se, I'm not mentioning Kenny's immortality in his storyline, either. My Post-Covid stories are mostly what have to do with this story (ie their career paths and the show's canon of their careers as adults).

JG32: Butters gets a bit more of a plot than the other secondary characters, luckily. It goes very hand in hand with the main ones in the first chapter too though. I love Butters, I just need to make some choices!

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Heidi shrugged her leather book bag over her shoulder and closed the passenger seat of the Subaru Forester. Looking around at South Park High's occupied parking lot as students flooded from carpools and cars of their own on the arrival of the first day. Heidi clutched the apology coffee her boyfriend had bought her as grey sneakers plopped out of the driver's seat. A head of spiky top brown hair rose up as he leaned his free arm against the car's roof and clutched his own coffee. Looking at the assortment of students through some summer shades as he shrugged his unbranded red and black letterman jacket overtopping his worn blue jeans. The clothes, the built muscle that replaced the childhood rotundness, and the overall pressured 'cool' style, were a dead giveaway for Eric Cartman. He closed the door, disregarding his poor parking job as he looked at his girlfriend. Heidi adjusted her blue scrunchy, nervously playing with her half ponytail.

Cartman sauntered over, taking hold of her shoulders as Heidi smiled. "You're cute today."

She chuckled, letting him lead them on a stroll out of student parking leading to the main campus. Cartman whistled in getting Kevin Stoley's attention, exchanging a low five though Cartman didn't stop for conversation to show he had important business.

"Yo, Cartman. Heidi." Clyde Donovan called from the hood of his car as Kevin joined him. Clyde was draped in his usual style of a red cargo jacket over a blue tee and same coloured jeans along with black chucks. Cartman lifted some fingers in a 'hey', not letting go of Heidi's shoulder. His girlfriend just wanted some one-on-one company to assure Eric didn't forget that he was still sorry. Still, he diverted their path towards the boys.

"You look like ass," Cartman said as he stopped, Clyde and Kevin were clearly hungover and still half-drunk.

Clyde threw an empty Redbull to the cargo back of his pick-up. Trying to overbalance the migraine with caffeine. "Am not.."

Cartman blew through his lips in a scoff. Though Clyde still closely associated with Craig and the others, Cartman, he, and Kevin had been a trio for their entire high school career. Stan, Kyle, and some of the other guys had drifted to different sports and interests while the three were very keen on football throughout all seasons; Albeit, they joined because they figured a popular sport would keep the approval of other kids. Rekindling their love for football was an added bonus over time.

"I'll meet you in homeroom..?" Heidi said, clutching Cartman's hand.

He looked a little nervous. "But, I-"

"I wanna get to the library before class."

"Uh, yeah okay-Clyde, you dumbass!" Cartman had already been distracted by some of the boys' poor attempts to miss throwing their cans at a trash rim. "Lemme at it!" Heidi stumbled back by Cartman's rough rip away from her hand. She cleared her throat awkwardly and wandered off. Taking out her new schedule she figured maybe she had time to do a walk-through of this term's classes.

"Heidi!"

She cocked her head up upon the familiar girls approaching. Nichole Daniels and Red McArthur were all smiles over their first-of-last day of school. Red, with the symbolic hair of the same colour, cut just below her shoulders with wispy bangs. Dressed in her signature style of her oversized longsleeved white and green striped polo, ripped mom jeans, brown docs, and shell choker and bracelet. Nichole's textured hair was sported in two long French braids and extensions that went to her hip, with a yellow Adidas jacket over her black tank and skinny jeans with white vans and gold ear hoops.

"Hey-!" Heidi barely comprehended as Nichole tackled her into a hug. "What? We saw each other two days ago."

"Miss Dotty posted the news," Red said, referencing their theatre teacher as they led Heidi into a walk. "The Fall play is starting auditions this week."

"Already?" Heidi said. She loved doing theatre and knew this year would be her last time doing it with Red and Nichole since none of them planned to pursue it. "That's early."

"Wanted to reserve some spots probably for her favorite seniors." Nichole boldly claimed, flicking a braid back.

"Yeah, okay, Casanova," Red mocked. "I'm stoked."

"Damn," Heidi shoved her schedule away. "On top of cheer and yearbook, it's gonna be a lot."

Coach had already given her an earful last semester about prioritization. Sports and Arts were always butting heads at this school. But, Heidi liked having the time spent with Nichole and Red in Theatre, and in Cheer with Wendy and Bebe. When they weren't all together, it seemed impossible to hang out these days. Especially when a large chunk of Heidi's energy was being put toward her relationship with Eric.

Red and Nichole were taking a gap year after graduation. Nichole didn't have plans yet, though Heidi knew there was a lot she liked to do. Playing Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer 40k, watching Anime, or painting mini-figures for any board games she played. The most Nichole thought of was visual arts or maybe marketing for one of her favorite games. She wasn't as keen on deciding yet as much as her parents were. As for Red, she'd been set on law school since she was able to talk. Yet, the path to becoming a lawyer always looked easier on paper as she keenly reminded her friends.

"I feel like I just finished last year's yearbook yesterday," Heidi stressed. "With clubs starting early this year, it's gonna put us behind to keep track."

"C'mon, it'll be fun," Red tried. "And your last chance."

Heidi shrugged "Everyone is really milking this 'last year' thing."

Nichole blinked. "I guess so."

"I'm just trynna take more humanities classes if I wanna get into an English Lit program."

Red poked her with a grin. "You could probably get in on your writing alone."

Heidi smiled a little embarrassingly. "I don't know if my writing is that good.."

"Says who?" Nichole doubted. When she caught Heidi's eyes, she frowned. "Girl. If that no good boyfriend of yours-"

"It wasn't him.."

"Then who?"

Heidi wished she had the guts to give in to the truth. She really did.

Not far from them amongst the crowded front of the school, Wendy made her way onto campus grounds. Accompanied by her long-term best friend Bebe Stevens. The curly blonde girl of walking boldness herself, adorned in her cropped red sweater above the black pleated skirt with white accent stripes that accentuated her hips. Accessorized with white high-top Converse and silver ear hoops, with her blonde curls held in a high ponytail.

"What's with the principal being up our ass?" Bebe asked, looking around at classmates as she shook the ice in her cold coffee. "Seniors starting a week prior in all expected clubs?"

Wendy tucked her hair behind her ear, the wind of the late summer making it an excessively cool day in Colorado. "To increase college acceptation rates probably."

"Ha," Bebe mocked. "They act like kids not going to college right away or at all is bullcrap."

"My parents would kill me if I didn't.."

Bebe looked at her friend. "You like being in school, though."

"Yeah." Wendy agreed, switching her attitude. She just didn't think university would creep up on her this quickly. The thought was more than nail-biting. It was no surprise she was aiming for an Ivy League school. That her parents wanted her to only aim for an Ivy League school. Harvard was her dream, but she wondered if she maybe had other reservations first.

"I still think you should take a gap year with me," Bebe said, revisiting the same subject for the millionth time. "..Cabo! Paris! Hellooo!?"

Wendy shrugged with a nervous smile. "It sounds cool, B. I wouldn't be able to convince mom and dad of anything, though."

Bebe rolled her eyes. "Mr. and Mrs. Testicles sound like they need a blowjob."

Her friend snorted loudly, close to belly laughing while a kid with a brown shag left his convo nearby with Cartman and Kevin. Quickly coming to snake an arm around Bebe's exposed waist. The blonde gave him an almost revolted look. Though it was all play to their little game.

"Word has it you got your belly button pierced," Clyde asked, practically panting like a dog.

"Read it and weep," Bebe carefully showed off her stomach, where the diamond navel piercing shined temptingly in her belly button.

"Hot," Clyde winked.

Bebe clucked, unwrapping herself from his arm. "Relax, Major Wood. It's not for you."

"No, but," Clyde peaked at Bebe's behind really quickly. Wendy cocked her brow. "Everything you do put on is almost as hot as you taking it off.."

"Oh, god." Wendy groaned, practically stopping the walk. "Jesus, go sweat on each other somewhere else. I'm begging you."

"I'm down," Clyde tickled Bebe's shoulder. "Always enjoy being somewhere more private.."

"You suck." Bebe sneered.

"Actually, you-"

"Shut up!" Bebe barked, though she bit back a growing grin. She happily gave her nearly empty iced coffee to Wendy, letting Clyde take her hand. She turned a happy smile over to Wendy. "I'll see you in PE."

Clyde whisked her off and Wendy just frowned in disgust. "Yeah, you'll be too worked out by then!"

In homeroom, a light blond boy waited for the first bell in his already-expecting seat. Looking over the necessary study schedule that he promised to make use of. The utmost organization was important to him and increasing his grades to show to his parents. The light blond of his hair was gelled back to suit the put-together style he was taught to represent. Including a freshly pressed short-sleeved light blue button-up, laid over dark blue jeans, and hunter green chucks on his feet. He filled in things he could check off as accomplished that morning; a run-through of where all his classes were, mapping out his schedule, and putting the recycling out this morning so his father doesn't throw a fit.

The boy looked up as familiar faces entered the class early. "Oh, hey fellas!"

Tolkien Black and Jimmy Valmer were typical early birds as well. Jimmy's shaggy brown hair was tucked under a grey beanie with a navy blue tee and yellow zip-up layered over, as well sporting with jet black jeans and checkered vans. Tolkien accompanied him with a purple varsity tee with yellow trim and the number thirteen in bulk. As well as blue baggy jeans and orange Nike high tops. His textured hair was trimmed into a small afro with stubble growing on the lower half of his face.

"Hey, Butters." Tolkien regarded, as he and Jimmy took seats next to him in the row of single desks. "You're early."

"Yup," Butters prided in. "Wanna make sure I'm extra on top of everything this year."

"I get that," Jimmy mentioned. "A l-lot of our grade already has plans."

"Geez, not me." Tolkien said. "I'll let that be a January issue."

"Heh, same." Jimmy agreed.

"Oh, this isn't for no fancy colleges or nothin'," Butters said. "I have yet to make a schedule for that! Just trynna make sure I can guarantee I can do the Spring play."

Knowing how into theatre Butters was, Tolkien found that odd. "Why wouldn't you?"

"Oh," Butters waved off. "My parents say if the Fall play interferes with my grades this semester, no Spring play next semester."

Jimmy looked to Tolkien and back in confusion. "That's a w-weird ultimatum.."

Tolkien nodded. "I thought you did fine in class."

"I do," Butters agreed happily. "Just, y'know, don't want the show distracting me."

They always knew Butters' parents had weird standards, so they tried not to question it. They also knew Red, Nichole, and maybe even Heidi would shit a brick if Butters couldn't do their graduating show with them.

"Don't tell Red then," Tolkien said, opening his first-period books. "She'll break your knees."

Another early face entered as their heads turned. The kid in the orange hoodie drew his hood back as he entered, coming to quietly take a seat next to them. Tolkien's eyes flicked to the clock and back.

"You're definitely never the first here." He mentioned.

Kenny nodded with a tired side eye, clearly woken up earlier than usual. While he was one of the best academically in class, he still chose to sleep as long as possible. "I had to talk to the principal."

"For?"

Kenny yawned, speaking through it. "Scholarships and stuff."

Butters 'oohed'. "Applying to some fancy Ivy leagues, Ken?"

Kenny muttered. "I dunno. Just for some schools a few states over...maybe.."

Tolkien opened his mouth to ask why until the idea of money came to his mind and he quickly shut his mouth. Kenny had rarely been out of this state, let alone this town. Except for some minor 'misadventures' he'd been in while he was younger. It was no wonder he probably wanted to go far. If he could get the benefits to help him.

"The college fair is after school Friday," Tolkien mentioned. "If you wanna go."

Kenny figured he should. There wasn't much chance for him to even consider this without his parents knowing. Yet.

Kyle sat behind the wheel as Stan sat in passenger, turning the tires off the road in the South Park farming outskirts and onto Tegridy grounds. Pulling up to the Marsh farm for an afternoon of studying after today's first grueling day back. While it was Stan's car, Kyle owed him a drive after Stan was the designated driver the whole summer. Though Kyle still wasn't sure how legal it was for him to drive a Tegridy company car.

Stan had asked for a hand-me-down this summer and was gonna take Uncle Jimbo's old truck. He'd spent most of the summer with it, before Randy decided giving him a company car would be a better advertisement for the family business. Another reason out of the billions why Stan hated weed and driving around some Tegridy-on-wheels bullshit.

They pulled up to park far from the barn, having promised Randy that they wouldn't muddy a company vehicle. Kyle put it into park and turned off the ignition, looking around at the interior and then Stan.

"So, this car-"

"Don't ask." Stan said as he unbuckled his seat belt. Kyle did the same as they grabbed their bags and exited. Slamming the doors behind them as Kyle followed Stan up the porch steps inside. The breeze door was usually unlocked with the number of friends Stan brought home. In Randy's case, for any expecting customers.

"Stan," Randy was sitting mid-living room along with Towelie, the genetically engineered rag and Stan's father's business partner. "Sales are poor this season."

His son hardly cared as he shrugged. "'Kay, so?"

Randy scoffed. "We're not meeting protocol by barely selling our End-of-Summer Tegridy special."

"No one wants an End-of-Summer special."

"And why not?"

"Because no one wants to get high right before school," Kyle reminded.

Randy shook it off. "Help me count these sales."

"We don't have time," Stan explained dully as he and Kyle passed Randy to go to the kitchen. "We're studying before practice." He had hockey for three hours starting at six, so Stan was in no mood to waste now with whatever Randy had planned.

"It's the first day of school," Randy ridiculed before following them into the kitchen. The boys sat at the table and unpacked their books. "You're already studying?"

"We have practice tests coming up so they can start prepping for entrance exams and SATs," Kyle said, opening his first-day notes. "It's actually pretty smart."

"Smart," Randy scoffed. "Shouldn't they be teaching you stuff other than just college applications? Like starting...or inhereting a business?"

Stan knew what that meant, and gave his dad a glare. "No."

"Let me teach you boys something," Randy said as he came and took a seat at the kitchen bench. Kyle just blinked in surprise as Stan slumped his head into his hand in annoyance. "There's more to life than constantly studying."

"We know that," Stan reminded. "But we both wanna be in school, so..."

"So?" Randy picked up Stan's algebra book, flipping through it with distaste on his face.

"So-" Stan took his book back. "I'm studying."

Randy stood up. "Help me with season sales tomorrow, then."

"I'm hanging out with Wendy," Stan said, no longer paying attention as he picked up his pencil.

"Bring her."

Randy left as Kyle watched his best friend angrily drop his pencil. No longer in any head space to focus. Kyle's phone buzzed as he looked down at a reminder from his mom to pick up Ike from soccer, take the chicken out of the freezer for dinner, throw the laundry into the wash, SAT prep, and clean the kitchen before dad got home.

Yeesh.

"Maybe we do need an End-of-Summer special.." Kyle half-joked.

Stan gave him a crucial look. "I'd rather get shot.."

Kyle snorted, opening his algebra book as well. He himself had some pretty high hopes for this year. So long as his friends and family were happy, so was he. There was no reason studying, or bullshit teen drama could bring him down this year.

Kyle would make sure of it.

To be continued...