Sorry that updates have been a little bumpy. Been trying to adjust to a crazy summer job schedule. But, can see that the last chapter got a reaction from some definite shocking turn of events. Not to mention, next chapter we'll be halfway through...

. . .

. .

.

"Stronger than steel! Hotter than the sun! South Park Bighorns get the job done!"

"Bighorns stand up! Stand up and scream! We're all yelling for the number one team!"

"Go blue, go black! Let's go white! Come on Bighorns, fight, fight, fight!"

Wendy landed in her flyer's high v, shaking her pompoms as Heidi, Bebe, and Jessica held her up. The school's rally cheered as Wendy tossed the pompoms aside with the other flyers doing the same. With a rowdy smile, she lifted her leg in the air in a bow pose.

High Hopes by Panic at the Disco kicked in from the gym speakers, as the flyers were thrust into the air. They landed in their pods as the squad continued on with their first song routine and got the crowd ecstatic. Heidi and Bebe did their high splits in a jump up front of the varsity squad as Heidi caught attention of her boyfriend whistling from the crowd. The basketball team sat in the front row at the end of the bleachers as the squad did their routine. Stan took a swig of his water bottle as he kept a close watch on Wendy with a grin.

Butters pushed his way through the standing crowd, coming to pop his head in between Kenny and Kyle on the bench. "Heya, fellas. You got a sec?"

"Hey, Butters," Kyle said as their friend took a seat between them. "Enjoying the rally?"

"Uh, yeah, I just," Butters twiddled his thumb and Kenny shot a look at Kyle. Whatever was wrong was obvious. "Heidi's...coming over to Stan's later too, ey?"

Kenny watched Heidi and the other cheerleaders. "Yeah, why?"

"I, uh..I don't know if Eric is going with her..."

"I hope not." Kyle scorned.

"So-! She didn't mention then.." Butters stuttered. "She didn't mention if she was bringing someone else with her?"

"Like a yearbook friend?"

"Sure..! A yearbook friend!" Butters agreed nervously. "...Any handsome guys in yearbook?"

Kenny creased his brow in confusion, not sure he heard Butters over the crowd and music. "What?"

"N-Nevermind! I'll see you fellas at Stan's!"

Butters disappeared behind them and back into the bleachers. Stan edged back closer to the two as the squad's routine song changed to Mickey by Toni Basil. "What was that about?"

"Hell if I knew," Kenny said.

Kyle turned around from one of the whistling maniacs in the crowd. Seeing Cartman sitting with Kevin and Clyde as he kept eyes on Heidi in the routine paired up with junior girl Jessica Parker.

Late Night Talking by Harry Styles kicked in after a minute as the final song to the routine. The squad finished with flyers held up in another pose and the rest of the teams up front as silver blue and black confetti popped from the canon the Bighorn mascot held. As the cheerleaders cleared off, Tolkien gathered the team.

"Alright, circle up," Tolkien said. "Fort Collins is good but we're just barely above them. If we can push that for a whole half, we can keep them in the dark for the second."

"All of Fort Collins has crazy adrenaline," Stan said. "Wendy and Bebe are up against them for volleyball finals."

"Their players are why Bebe spent half of last year with a taped knee." Kenny agreed.

"Okay, chill," Tolkien said. "All their teams are a little intimidating. So what?"

"Cuz they have something to follow it up with. Beating our asses." Kyle said.

"Well," their captain decided. "We're going with our fifth play to start. Kyle, can you make it to the net past number thirteen?"

"Yeah."

"Come on guys," Kenny said. "We don't need this 'what if' shit. Fort Collins doesn't have our stamina."

"Let's Go, Bighorns on three!" Stan enthused, as the players through their hands in the middle. "One, two-"

"LET'S GO, BIGHORNS!

After the Bighorns came out with a score of two shots and a slamdunk higher, the rally came out more spirited and successful. As students spread out being dismissed for the half day, Wendy tossed her pompoms to an empty bleacher as she left the squad to go meet with her boyfriend. Stan wiped the sweat off the back of his neck before throwing his towel down in time to catch his girlfriend in a congratulatory hug and kiss.

"Congratulations.." Stan cooed, holding her by the hips.

"You too," she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks baby, you were so great," Stan couldn't help but steal another kiss, in disbelief as to how radiant she was. After a great win with a successful rally and the closing of exams, Stan was feeling more than jubilant to have his friends and beautiful girlfriend over for a much-needed night before Winter Formal in a few days.

"You still coming to the game tomorrow?" Wendy asked about her and Bebe's volleyball finals.

"Wouldn't miss it," Stan murmured against her lips.

"Yeah?"

"Mhm," he sealed their lips again as Wendy happily squealed. Kyle came by as he wiped the sweat from his brow with his water bottle in hand.

"Okay, ew," he said, getting them to part. "So, I should go work on my speech final before I pick up Ike later."

"You're still coming tonight, right?" Wendy hoped.

"Yeah.."

Stan held Wendy by her hip. "Dude, why are you doing all this still? Your parents clearly don't-"

"Who else is gonna help."

"But you're.." Stan noticed the irritated red mark splotched on Kyle's upper arm. "Dude, is that a fucking rash? Look at what's going on! You're not 'enjoying the moment' or whatever you said you wanted to do this year!"

"Stan, relax! You're right, I have enough on my plate already, but I can't change it now!"

"'Kay!" Wendy said to both boys. "I get it, Kyle. Can't Ike take the bus?"

"Maybe from the dentist, he just has anxiety riding public buses.."

"Why-? No, never mind.." Stan dismissed. "Just..do what you have to do. We'll see you later."

Kyle nodded. He was grateful his friends were somewhat patient when he barely was able to catch his parents in conversation nowadays. Everything was in constant rotation in their house it seemed. If Kyle didn't stop being a safety blanket for everyone, maybe that's all he'd end up as.

"See you guys.."

"Bye, Kyleen." Wendy mocked.

"I hate that." Kyle said as he walked off. A spiky blond came down from the bleachers to join as Kyle headed for the gym doors. "Hey, Tweek."

"Hey, you're getting to Stan's late right? You think Craig and I could swing a ride?"

"Sure," Kyle continued to wipe the sweat from his brow. He noticed Tweek's stiff walk and dull face in an instant. "You okay?"

"Peachy."

Kyle cringed. "Geez, everyone needs to drink tonight.."

On their way out they passed by another cheerleader conversing with her boyfriend as she did up her laces.

"Wanna join us tonight? We're going to Kevin's." Cartman asked.

"I told you, I'm going to Stan's. Why don't you come with me?"

He pondered, intrigued. "Stan does throw some kewl Tegridy parties. I'm in."

"Not this time. Just the few of us, really. Some quality friend time."

Her boyfriend scoffed. "I haven't been alone with them since the ninth grade, I'll pass."

"Well then, I don't know what to tell you." Heidi groaned. "I've been looking forward to this all week. Stan said you can come so you can either join us or keep complaining."

Heidi followed the rest of the squad behind to the locker room as Cartman followed her out the gym doors. "Heidi, come on, fuck-"

"I've had enough for the past few days already. Can we drop it?"

"You're being insane." Cartman accused. "You seriously wanna end the rally like this?"

"For god's sake, Eric," Heidi turned around. "Either come join me and my friends or don't. I just wanna forget about this whole ugly thing at home. So, come and be my boyfriend who will put aside his bull for one freaking night, or go join Stoley and the other boneheads!"

She left to join the others, and Cartman rolled his eyes. The more this thing went on with Heidi's parents, the more of a pill she became. As the cheerleaders left though, he matched eyes with Jessica who blew a small kiss his way.

At least Heidi being distracted meant a little more flexibility for him.

Craig and Tolkien walked off of school grounds as everyone left for the half-day. They walked through the parking lot in heading for Tolkien's car as Craig looked around them for any watching eyes. Specifically faculty.

"What're you looking for? The FBI?" Tolkien questioned.

"Nah," Craig said, unzipping the front pouch of his bag and pulling out a ziplock. "For tonight."

Tolkien's eyes bulged at the stash of blunts. "Dude, that is some fat kush. Did you roll those?"

Craig snickered in practical geeky excitement. "When my dad's complaining outside my door that I gotta stop bringing my gaywad boyfriend around, I have to do something to pass the time."

Tolkien took the zip lock, opening the top for a small whiff.

"Dude, careful," Craig lowered the bag. "I don't need faculty finding this in their parking lot."

"You brought it, dumbass." Tolkien handed it back over.

His friend put the stash away. "Just in case anyone needs reconvincing on skipping tonight. I'm getting so shitfaced."

"You're ballsey for bringing your own weed to Mr. Marsh's farm."

"HA-"

"Craig."

Both boys turned and almost shuttered at the sight of Thomas Tucker waiting by the side of his car. He didn't bother to explain as he threw a nod to his son.

"Let's go."

"Where? What're you doing here?" Craig inquired.

"I need power tools. You're coming with me."

Tolkien looked to Craig for answers, but Craig was all used to it. His father normally wouldn't want to be hanging out with his abnormally gay son but would find very specific tasks every so often as another attempt to butch up Craig when he was getting on Thomas' nerves.

"Dad, I was gonna go to Tolkien's."

"Car." Thomas demanded. "Or forget going to the Marsh's, later."

Craig rolled his eyes, sulking in a walk towards his dad's car.

"Watch your face." Thomas warned as he threw Tolkien a nod. "How's the family, Tolkien?"

"Good, Mr. Tucker. How're you..?"

Craig slammed the door behind him and his dad grunted. "It could be much better."

Tolkien just awkwardly stood by his car, watching the Tuckers pull out and off from school grounds as Craig resorted to the most miserable two hours of his life. Looking at power tools in his dad's absurd attempt of regaining a son.

They could all go for getting shitfaced tonight.

"By the way, party at my place after Formal next week," Tolkien enthused late that night in the middle of Stan's living room. The lounging teenagers happily sucked down on their cheap beer and vodka mixes as music swayed in the background from the Bluetooth. "My parents are out of town, everyone's down to come. Just no sex in the bedroom, that means you and Donovan."

Bebe gawked as the others boasted in drunk laughter. "Fuck off. We're classier than that."

"Yeah," Wendy giggled from the floor where she was circled in Stan's arms against a pillow. "They're nice enough to take it to the bathroom before your bedroom."

"God, gross." Red muttered sharing a couch with Nichole, Butters, and Jimmy. Bebe threw a crumpled can at Wendy, which Stan returned with his own at her across the carpet where she sat before the coffee table.

Kenny clicked his tongue as he took a sip of beer. "Nice."

Bebe clucked. "Whatever. Sounds cool."

Nichole sipped on her homemade screwdriver. "Yeah, I'm down. I feel way more chill about classes next semester, anyway."

"Same." Heidi agreed as she shared the loveseat with Kenny. "With applications out of the way in January, I'm not even worried about graduation."

Kenny polished off his beer, letting a burp escape as he spoke through it. "I wanna burn my applications to the ground.."

"Can we move on..?" Wendy asked, sipping on her seltzer still within Stan's arms. Her boyfriend looked down at her.

"I'm so hyped about Winter Formal!" Nichole enthused.

"S-Same!" Butters nervously gushed. "Heidi, you and Eric going together?"

Heidi swallowed her sip, saluting with her beer. "I mean, that's the plan."

The boy drummed his nails on his hard lemonade, which Red and Nichole both eyed with him in between them. He was shaking like a deer after a gunshot.

"Anyone else going with you? Cousins...or, others?"

Heidi refrained from a sip in confusion. "Sorry?"

Stan felt Kenny give him a knowing look. Butters had been acting weird since the game and he wasn't covering it as well as he thought he may be.

"Just-!" Butters attempted to poorly smooth over. "Wondering if you're a third-party kind of couple!"

Heidi put her beer aside. "What? Butters-"

Before the conversation could be elevated into...who knows what, the door opened with Kyle entering and Craig and Tweek following behind with their own drinks. Kyle looked as if he'd seen enough after driving Ike all over the place.

"'Sup, dude." Stan greeted his best friend. "How was chauffeuring?"

"Shut up.."

"Scooch," Craig said, taking a seat near Tolkien as Tweek and him joined their friend on the floor.

Kyle held up his six-pack to Stan. "I brought hard seltzers, and I plan to drink them all myself."

"Okay. I won't stop you."

Kyle walked across the living room, willingly handing a can to Wendy because they had the same taste in drinks. He smiled Heidi's way as she waved from her seat.

"Hey, I'll take the floor," Kenny got up from where he sat beside Heidi. He muttered in passing by Kyle. "I'll leave the loveseat to the lover boy.."

"Shut up." Kyle hissed through closed teeth. He quickly changed his attitude in sitting next to Heidi.

"Glad you made it." She grinned. "The more I drink, the more I'm gonna have to ask about your speech final. Spill!"

"Heh," Kyle happily cracked open a can. "So, I thought I'd combine my final speech with my project in the Community Charity Club. You know, the one with Habitat for Humanity?"

"Oh, nice!" Heidi enthused. "This is why you guys always make it as finalists."

Kyle smiled in slight disappointment, sipping on his seltzer. "Except we were runner-ups this term."

"With you gone next year," Heidi reminded. "Those suckers won't even make runner-ups."

Kyle laughed. Red, nearest to the two as she re-entered from the kitchen, came and sat by Nichole again. "Those two should just screw and get it over with.."

There were a few sloppy knocks on the door. Everyone paused mid-conversation to look around and see who was missing from the small gathering.

"Oh, um," Stan realized, getting up as Wendy shifted off of him. "Heidi, did Cartman say if he was coming?"

"I.." she shrugged. "I mean, I didn't think he would."

Stan stepped over the others to get to the door. Opening it to greet Cartman before Stan breathed in the drenched, whisky breath he was greeted with. Not to mention the mix of seltzers and a shitload of beer and maybe a cigarette. He connected gazes with Cartman, and by one dazed look in his eyes, had never seen his old friend so drunk and incredibly gone.

"Whoa. Uh, hey Cartman."

"Duuuude." Cartman tried greeting smoothly. Quite the failure.

Heidi got up to meet him at the sight of the state he was in. "Eric, whoa. Hey."

"Heeeey, babe." He meant to hug her but it was more like Heidi catching him.

"Okay...we're gonna sit you down and get you some water." His girlfriend encouraged him through the living room. Kyle moved in order to let a very drunk Cartman sit down. Craig pulled out his joints, not wanting to wait around and witness Cartman's bullshit without being high.

"I'm gonna smoke if anyone wants to join. Stan?"

"No thanks. I live with weed." He denied. "Wendy, wanna take a walk?"

"Oh, sure." She got up to join, but before she could reach him Stan was yanked aside from Kenny who had sprung from his seat on the floor.

"If you're about to go whip that damn ring out to her-"

"Kenny." Stan whispered. "Please, I got it."

His friend had warned him enough. If Stan needed to do this the crazy way, Kenny could only warn him so many times. He let go of his sleeve and let Stan rejoin his girlfriend as they left for a walk around Tegridy grounds.

It started as another makeout in the barn. Things escalated a bit with the excitement and booze in their systems as they moved on to some more...tempting moves. But, not everything. As promised a while back, they still had some firsts to reach and they wanted it to be special for both of them. They felt their souls were on fire with every romantic passing moment this year, and wished quiet and engulfed moments together could last for infinity.

Wendy panted from another kiss, as she readjusted her shirt back over her bra. "Okay.."

"Yeah?" Stan said as he also caught his breath. Wendy giggled, wiping her lipgloss off of where it was smudged all over Stan's cheek, lips, and neck.

"So," her boyfriend inquired. "You.."

Wendy tilted her head in waiting.

"You look really pretty, tonight.."

She squeezed her shoulders up tight as she gushed. "Thank you..you're pretty cute, yourself."

The glow of the moon engulfed the barn walls as Stan looked around at the dried weed and samples in preparation for his father's next special. The smell of dry weed wasn't his favorite and was not a place to do this.

"Um," he started. "You think we can go somewhere with less weed?"

"Alright," Wendy took his hand as she led him to the barn doors. "But if you didn't know, you live on a hemp farm."

Stan smiled nervously as they walked along the grassy paths of the Marsh's property. It was cold as hell, and windy, but Stan didn't care. He and Wendy were used to these obscure temperatures Colorado had in the winter. It meant so many great things for them; the holidays were close, a break from school...and a crazy question from Stan.

"Hey," Wendy pulled Stan by his hands to sit on the field's bench swing as they passed by it. "You seem nervous."

"I am..not gonna lie."

Wendy laughed. "About what? It's me."

"Wendy," Stan clutched her palms in his tightly. "Y'know I love you, right?"

She paused, judging by his tone it may have been serious. "I love you too...so much."

"And, I've never been happier than I could be," Stan stumbled over each word carefully. "And things have been scary lately with all these changes, and my family, and you. I thought a lot about what happened at dinner with your parents."

Wendy's eyes fell. "I'm sorry about that.."

Her chin was lifted by his gentle touch. "No, it..it's a good thing."

Wendy's brow creased. "How?"

"You work so hard and I only wish I could work half as hard as you."

There was that praise Wendy so instantly resented. Something she thought was so falsely described of her and was starting to feel as weighing as her parents' pressure. She gently pushed Stan's hand off her face.

"I'm not a hard worker, Stan.." she whispered, fighting back tears that threatened her again.

"But, you are," Stan disagreed. "And you deserve the world in return."

Wendy stared into her boyfriend's loving gaze. She couldn't help but fall more and more in love with him. "Stan..you deserve just as much happiness."

He smiled a shaky smile.

"Stan? What's going on?"

"I'm not great at coming up with the right things to say, so...I'll just get to the word vomit." Stan squeezed her hands, and Wendy swallowed her fear. "Wendy, you were right a few weeks ago about how scary things are. But, I believe that even if we're at other ends of the world, or in different worlds, we're always gonna round back to each other. That's how we work, right?"

"Babe-"

"There's a bunch of things I'm willing to let go here," Stan showed no care in eyeing the farm around him. "As long as I have you."

Wendy's core had a deep feeling and she nervously stiffened her hand within her boyfriend's grip. The only warm refuge amongst this cold night and now somehow a sensation she now may have feared. "What're you saying..?"

Cue time. Stan fished his fingers into his jeans pocket. Much to Wendy's sinking feeling, her face froze as Stan gifted her the gold band with the small diamond held firmly in his thumb and index.

"I can't imagine my life without you, Wendy.."

Cartman had gotten some water in his system, but it did not outdo how gone he truly was. As he sat next to his girlfriend, he tried to listen to the buzz of conversation in a room full of his ex-best friends and somewhat other friends. He couldn't believe the girl he'd been dating on and off since the fourth grade had actually become closer with everyone in here over him.

Speaking of, she and Brofvloski would not stop talking. Heidi sat at the other end of the loveseat, conversing with Kyle who sat on the floor near her. While everyone was lost in their own conversations, the two looked like they couldn't get enough of it. Kyle was practically breathing in Heidi's talk like fucking oxygen from where Cartman was sitting. Something he thought the asshole had outgrown.

It was no secret sparks happened briefly between Heidi and Kyle for a brief moment when they were all young. But it was so small and barely lasting, Cartman hardly thought it was significant enough to have possibly stuck around. He flinched from more of his girlfriend's laughter next to him. Kyle said 'something' funny. Heidi laughed, pushing Kyle by the shoulder playfully and Cartman growled.

"Seriously, would you help me edit my sectionals' speech next term?" Kyle asked. "I trust you as a writer more than myself. I'm doing it on media censorship."

"I'd love to!"

Oh, something stuck around, huh?

Cartman slurred something drunkenly to himself, scooting closer to his girlfriend so they were sitting hip to hip. Heidi gave her hand to Cartman's to hold in acknowledgment though kept conversing with Kyle. He muttered to himself again.

Heidi's eyes rounded to coins as she stopped talking. Looking down at the hand she felt dive between her thighs.

"Eric.." Heidi whispered in warning, moving his hand immediately.

His grunt of protest against her ear made her flinch. His drunk breath ran down her neck as he leaned into her and dove his hand down, attempting to tug at the hem of her overall dress.

"Eric!" Heidi tried to shove him off her, though his grip on her thighs and hip was threateningly tight. "STOP!"

"Hey!" Eric was pushed to the other end of the couch by a mighty shove from Kyle. He looked up through spinning eyes at Kyle standing above him. Everyone stopped in shock at the eruption from the middle of the loveseat. "What the fuck is your problem!?"

Eric unsteadily got his feet, jabbing a finger to Kyle's shoulder which made his ex-friend step back in a gawk.

"My problem...is YOU.." Eric garbled. "Slobbering all over my bitch-!"

"What!?" Heidi flared.

"Like some horny..hungry-!"

"You call me a dirty jew, and I'm gonna kick your teeth in!" Kyle threatened. He didn't care how much of a force to be reckoned with Cartman made himself out to be, or tried to. Kyle was not and never would be afraid of him.

"Pssh, you just did yourself." Cartman attempted to run an uncoordinated hand down Heidi's neck and he nearly brought the hem of her shirt with him.

"Dude!" Cartman was yanked back by Kenny's grab as he re-entered from the kitchen. Heidi got up to get away from him as the others began standing in caution. "You're being a fucking ass!"

"Fuck you, Keenie!"

"Fuck you! Get outta here!" Kenny shoved Cartman hard by the shoulder.

"Sssscrew you guys!" Cartman hollered at the room. "I'm-! Going..!"

He was barely able to finish his thought, collapsing onto the empty loveseat in a second.

"..home."

With only the music playing from the Bluetooth, the others watched Cartman blackout after probably the lowest moment he'd ever reached.

"Jesus.." Jimmy muttered, taking another sip of his rum and coke.

Heidi stepped forward, observing her passed-out boyfriend completely sink into the couch.

"Are you okay?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah.." Heidi agreed. "He can't stay here."

Kenny tapped a hand to Cartman's shoulder, he mumbled in return. "Then what?"

"I'll take hime home.." Heidi decided.

Kyle scowled. "What? No, we can get his mom to pick him up."

"No, he'll hate if I let that happen.." Heidi said as Kenny helped the drunk piece of shit stand.

Nichole tried to intervene. "But, Heidi-"

"It's cool, guys. Trust me.."

Heidi followed Kenny and her intoxicated boyfriend to the door as Jimmy opened it for them. Tolkien, Craig, and Tweek still smoked on the porch as Kenny left with practically deadweight against his shoulder.

"What is going on?" Tolkien asked.

Kyle followed them behind as Kenny assisted Cartman down the steps to Heidi's car. "Cartman's a piece of shit, what's new?"

"Kyle," Heidi reprimanded. She didn't need a lecture on top of it all. "Enough."

Tweek give a large side to Tolkien, who just coughed out some smoke awkwardly. "I think that's our cue.."

They put out their joints in the ashtray and piled inside to avoid the uncomfortable storm brewing. Heidi unlocked the car doors from the porch steps wiht her keys as Kenny opened it up for Cartman to flop down. Making sure he could at least lean against the opposing door to avoid lying down facing up.

Heidi and Kyle just stood silently as Kenny trailed back, huffing tiredly. "D'you want someone to go with you?"

Heidi shook her head. "He's too gone, it'll be fine."

Kenny hated to leave her to it, but she knew Cartman better at this point. "Okay.."

He left Heidi, but Kyle didn't, still standing on the porch. "Are you gonna come back?"

"I think I'm gonna call it," Heidi muttered, feeling like returning after all that would just be weird for her. "Trust me, he's gonna sleep the rest of the night. I'll text you when I get home after."

Kyle came to join her on the lower step. "I'm sorry, Heidi.."

She hugged her arms, the winter night air feeling unpleasant.

"You deserve.." Kyle hesitated with a heavy sigh. "A lot fucking better, Hides.."

She blinked her eyes closed in exhaustion. "I don't deserve anything, Kyle."

He looked up in worry.

"I'll see you, tomorrow." Heidi attempted to leave.

"Heidi," Kyle's hand took hers. "Please."

"I'm sorry," she pulled her palm away gently. "Congrats on the game.."

He watched her walk to her car and close the open door with Cartman passed out in the back. Before she walked over to the driver's seat and paused as she felt Kyle's eyes on her, then getting in and turning on the ignition.

Kyle knew Stan was right. His parents had been so busy they haven't realized just how much of a safety net their son had become to them. He always felt responsible to keep the peace whether it meant also having serenity for himself or not. Kyle only ever felt at peace with Heidi, and wish he had the position to return his devotion.

To return his devotion to the girl he thought about since the fourth grade.

To be continued...