Officially at the halfway point! Things are only gonna escalate from here...

. . .

. .

.

"He asked what!?"

"Shush!" Wendy whispered. She and Bebe waited on the sidelines mid-volleyball game, waiting to be swapped in with their teammates as they sat on the bench with their water bottles in hand. Wearing black jerseys with the Bighorn mascot, silver blue biker shorts, knee pads, and sneakers as they watched their team rumble against Greeley on the gym floor. Wendy avoided Stan's gaze from the crowd where he sat with Tweek and Craig.

"He whipped it out, yesterday.." she muttered.

One of their teammates next to them gave her a weird look.

"She means a ring, not a penis." Bebe cleared.

"Bebe!" Wendy edged down the bench, taking her best friend with her. "What the fuck am I gonna do?"

"Well, what did you tell the poor bastard?"

"I-" she swallowed. "I.."

Bebe gasped silently. "Did you fucking say yes!?"

"I said I'd think about it! What else was I gonna say?"

Bebe flinched while watching a Greeley player try to take down one of their teammates. Her hit at the ball was nearly directed at the South Park girl's face, and the ref called a yellow card on the Greeley player.

Bebe stood up. "How can you call that a warning!? Braces was aiming for her head!"

Wendy yanked her friend into her seat. Speaking through her teeth. "What. Am I. Gonna do."

Her friend pulled her arm from Wendy's digging nails. "I mean, you have been with the same guy since, like, diapers. I wouldn't be surprised if you guys kept it going."

"I wanna be with Stan, Bebe." She frowned, finally looking in Stan's direction who focused on the game. "No one but Stan.."

"Then?"

"We're eighteen.." she said. "We have our reservations...I'm just so confused.."

"Stevens, Testaburger! Let's go!" Their coach called, the same as cheer and just as ruthless. Bebe and Wendy dropped all conversation, trying to keep their heads in the game for their final run of the semester. This was the finals against Greeley they were messing with.

In the bleachers, Stan watched the game with both Tweek and Craig to his right. As the girls proceeded to try and take Greeley down, Stan tried to keep his mind narrowed in on the fact that Wendy needed the time to think. And there was nothing wrong with that. No one could convince him otherwise.

"So, um," Tweek poked Stan, noticing his distant stare in his girlfriend's direction. "I don't see a ring on Wendy's finger. Is that a good or bad sign?"

Stan rolled his eyes. "Dude, I expected her to need to think. I'm not saying we should get married tomorrow."

Craig sipped on his cafeteria soda, not so subtly as he slurped at the straw. "When are you expecting to... be betrothed then?"

"It's a promise ring," Stan insinuated, having explained this same thing to Kyle and Kenny. "Just to say we promise one day when we're ready we'll do it."

"I'm just spitballing," Craig idealized. "But, you could also ask when you are actually ready."

"Shut up, Craig.."

"For a guy who just got engaged you seem down."

"We're not engaged," Stan reminded. "I just don't wanna scare her."

Tweek knew if he were in Wendy's shoes, being scared would be unavoidable. "I don't think you gave her that option."

Stan groaned as the crowd cheered for a point scored by the South Park Bighorns. "What d'you guys want from me? I'm allowed to be nervous as she decides."

"Nothing dude, it's your life," Craig said. "I just wouldn't worry too much if she says no."

"What-?"

"Like, it literally wouldn't mean anything less than what you have now."

Tweek took over before his overbearing boyfriend freaked Stan out. "He means, her probably saying no doesn't mean she wouldn't want to be with you.

Stan switched attention to his girlfriend playing server in the game as she launched the ball in an underhand.

"Then what does it mean.."

Kyle and Kenny gathered at Tweek Bros Coffee as a hangover cure. One to kick in winter break and the end of exams, but also to meet Heidi after last night's whole...whatever. Things escalated a lot at Stan's and neither were sure if that meant Heidi would take things differently going forward. Kyle would personally consider that the last straw with Cartman.

Kenny sat across from him at their window table. "I'm, uh...doing it."

"Doing what?"

"Sending my applications off in a month."

Kyle didn't catch his drift. "We all are..?"

"Yeah, it's just starting to hit me though.."

His friend tapped his wrist in assurance. "You'll be fine. The worst they say is no."

Kenny couldn't help but indulge on it. He'd always kept a high GPA, and great class attitude, but amongst all the applicants who also did, it was gonna come down to who the school would want in the end.

"Have you told your parents, yet?"

Kenny avoided eye contact. "I thought I'd just...tell them when I make it to California."

"...solid plan." Kyle looked out the window in expectation of their third party. "I hope Heidi's okay."

"She texted she was."

"Yeah, but, that was all so stupid.." Kyle spoke of last night. "Cartman's a dumbass.."

Kenny pinched his brow, sussing out his friend. "Can I address the big elephant on your ass?"

"That's not how the expression goes."

"I know the last time you and Heidi got involved, things were messy," Kenny laid out. "But, that's only because Cartman was just as fucking crazy and obsessed with keeping her around as he is now."

"Right." Kyle agreed dully. "So, why would it be different today?"

"We're not kids anymore. Heidi knows better even if she won't admit it. You like her."

"No, I don't."

Kenny snorted, making other customers turn their heads. "And I'm not horny as fuck!"

"Would you cut it out?" Kyle clocked his arm. "Even if I did, which I don't, Heidi doesn't need something like that messing with her. Let her break up with the fatass on her own terms."

"God, if he'll leave her alone," Kenny muttered as he lifted his coffee for a sip. "Y'know how many times I've seen her make tears in her socks in homeroom? She scratches a finger into the fabric when she sits next to him."

"What?"

"Like she tears the fabric, right up next to her ankle," Kenny waved his nail in example. "I think it's an anxiety thing."

Kyle considered it in worry. How much was too much before Heidi reached another breaking point? He hoped his thoughts may be answered when Heidi approached the coffee shop's big window. The door's overhead bell sprung as she entered, coming to join the boys as Kenny waved her over.

"Um, hey guys," Heidi sat with them as they offered her a chair. "I wanna thank you for last night."

"'Course, Hides."

"He was really gone, and didn't really know what he was doing.."

While they knew that was a big lie, Heidi wanted to accept it as the truth for now. They couldn't make it more hard on her.

"But, it was still messy," Heidi said. "And your help and concern with everything meant a lot. Really."

"Anytime," Kyle assured. "Just call."

Heidi nodded, visibly embarrassed still about everything.

"Has he done that before..?"

"No, not like that," Heidi said. Kyle wasn't sure if that answered his question. "He barely remembers."

Kenny cringed behind his cup. He hadn't seen Cartman that sloshed, it was no wonder.

"Well," Kyle shrugged. "I'm sure Formal will be a vibe."

Heidi nodded vigorously. Winter Formal was coming up in two days to officially conclude the semester.

"I assume we'll see the two of you at the dance."

"Doesn't mean couples have to be glue the whole night." Heidi smiled. "I'm gonna get a coffee."

She got up for the cash line, leaving the boys as Kenny just grinned Kyle's way. "You're gonna need all the help you can get when you see that."

"Shut up."

Two days following, Bebe touched up her nude pink lipgloss with Bottoms Up by Trey Songz and Nikki Minaj blasting from her phone on the vanity mirror of her room. Nichole helped Red fluff up her hair from the back as the three made last-minute enhancements before the dance. Bebe smacked her lips with the fresh lipstick layer applied, admiring her short a-line tulle dress with spaghetti sleeves and sweetheart neckline, adorned by midnight blue sequined fabric with matching black strappy heels in theme with winter colors. She adjusted the curly sock bun that held up her blonde ringlets. Squealing excitedly at Nichole through the mirror.

"Okay, that should stay for the night." Nichole added another bobby pin and a spritz of hair spray to Red's half-up shag bob with braided bands in the back. It accompanied her colbat blue blazer and shorts combo over a black cropped tube top underneath, with sheer black polka dot tights and shiny black combat boots.

"It's perfect thanks," Red got up, adjusting the tube top underneath her blazer. "Reeeeal sexy."

"Slay," Nichole grinned, fluffing her own hair. She had her braid extensions removed to put her afro-textured hair up into a puffed drawstring pony off the back of her hair. Her mesh layered baby blue a-line skirt fell just above her knees similar to Bebe's, accompanied by a white beaded strapless corset top and matching chunky white platform sneakers.

"Where are we going after, by the way? Before Tolkien's party?" Red planned, taking out her phone to coordinate.

"Wendy said her house is free," Nichole added. "We need to do a Denny's run on our way."

"Not until I'm drunk enough."

"Right, like they'll let us into the dance with booze."

"I gotcha covered," Bebe grinned, pulling a blue Gatorade out of her clutch.

Nichole leered. "Gatorade? B, this is your dumb blonde arc."

"It's obviously not Gatorade dumbass," Bebe tossed the closed bottle to Nichole. Red took it, unscrewing the cap for a smell, and immediately retracted with a pinched nose.

"Right, there's more vodka in there than juice."

"And rum."

Nichole took a swig, nearly gagging. "God, it's like the cocktail from hell."

Bebe took it back, taking a sip. She made a face, but much less of one than Nichole. The blonde's phone buzzed, and she turned the music down as she looked at the text Clyde sent indicating he was here to pick the girls up. It was accompanied by a photo of himself smoldering in his garnet suit with a white button shirt and black and white checkered tie.

"My god, what a scrub." Nichole ridiculed over Bebe's shoulder.

"We couldn't score a better chauffeur than Donovan?" Red complained.

Bebe texted that they'd be right out. "You wanna walk to the dance? Be my guest."

South Park High's Winter Formal was typically one of the most successful events of the year. For something school-wide and concluding the end of the Fall semester, all kids were on their highest wave of celebration. The low-lit gym was decorated with baby blue and white streamers stretching to each end and meeting in the middle where a disco ball was highlighted by the LED and strobe lights matching with the DJ's playlist at the front. White cream tablecloths and gold snowflake streamers occupied each table with fake candles aglow, matching with the few photo walls on the sides eagerly populated with students who weren't dancing.

Craig and his friends occupied a small space by the food and drinks table. Watching the big blur of hormones gather on the dance floor. The few boys wore suits in a similar fashion to one another with the exception of details. Craig and Jimmy wore black while Tweek wore a cobalt blue suit, Tolkien a purple blazer, and Butters a white. Tweek's blue set had a matching flower-patterned button-up underneath and dark blue loafers. Butter's white had a baby blue button-up underneath with black pants and loafers. Tolkien, a black button-up and pants with a purple bowtie. Craig's black set had a dark grey button-up underneath and Jimmy's a white and yellow tie. All most likely wearing loafers borrowed from their fathers.

Tolkien babysat a small cup of punch. "Not as nice as last year's."

"What!?" Craig demanded over the loud music.

"Not as nice as last year's!"

"Oh, I guess not." Craig agreed. "The more of these dances I go to, I get used to the sweat smell."

"It's not that bad!" Tweek enthused with a little dance in his step. "The cologne and perfume cloud covers it a bit."

"Yeah, not my favorite smell either."

"You know what my favorite smell is?" Jimmy got the others to look down the line at him, gawking as he pulled out a silver flask from his suit. He flicked the cap open as he smelled the hard rum within.

"Dude, put that away. Coach is right there!" Craig threw a nod to one of the few teachers chaperoning.

"Relax, he won't notice once it's in the punch."

"You're gonna spike the punch?" Tolkien disbelieved.

"Might live up this dance a little bit."

"Or your disciplined ass on permanent record."

"It'll be fine," Jimmy dismissed. "It'll be worth it."

"It sure will!" Butters spoke loudly. But, not over the music. Over whatever it was that was making him piss himself like a chihuahua. None of it went over the boys' heads. "Say, anyone know where Heidi is at? Pretty sure Cartman wasn't with her."

"Who knows," Tweek said. "After that little stunt of his the other night, might be worth Heidi's while if they're separated."

Butters gasped. "Worth her while!? You mean it's true about what she did to Eric!?"

"What she did to Eric..?"

"Okay, Stotch," Craig inquired, tossing his empty punch cup away. "Why're you suddenly so invested in Heidi and her trash boyfriend's relationship?"

"Yeah, you've talked about it more than anything for like a month." Jimmy agreed.

"Just concern for my friend Eric is all!" Butters huffed, not impressed with the way they were so sure Heidi was the innocent one. "She's no piece of apple pie."

"What're you talking about? Heidi is one of your best friends." Craig said, knowing they've become especially close due to Theatre Club. Butters hadn't made much of a friendship with Cartman with the way he constantly ripped on him.

"Where's Clyde at?" Tolkien asked. Neither Craig nor Tweek answered and Tolkien nudged Craig. "Where?"

"How should I know," Craig spat. He didn't bother to explain to anyone about he and Tweek's final straw with Clyde a few weeks back. Clyde never bothered to try and own up to anything so neither of them bothered to care.

It was then he connected eyes with his exact ex-best friend crossing the gym floor with Bebe. Clyde stared in Tweek and Craig's direction before looking away. Their sour looks hurt more than he liked to admit.

"What's wrong?" Bebe asked as they squeezed through the dance floor.

"Nothing!" Clyde assured, leading her through the others to meet in the middle with another date pair. Cartman spun his girlfriend out of sync with DJ Khaled's All I Do Is Win, making her laugh. She spun in her short white puffy tulle dress with a sweetheart neckline and mesh shoulderless puffy sleeves that went to her wrists. As well as white block heel boots and a thick white bowtie choker to match, with her ash brown locks curled gently to rest on her shoulders. Her date matched with a white blazer and black pants set, with a cream beige shirt underneath and a beige pocket square. With black shades sitting atop his head as if he were some fancy yacht owner.

"Hey!" Bebe tapped Heidi amongst the crowded bodies. Heidi turned, happily squealing at seeing Bebe all dolled up as they hugged.

"Oh my god, you look so pretty!"

"You do!" Bebe exclaimed, holding Heidi's hand out to observe her dress. They always had very different styles but never batted an eye in appreciating the other's. "Ugh, I love you in white!"

The girls and Clyde bopped in dancing as Cartman looked at his Rolex, considering the time.

Bebe's nose pinched. "A Rolex? What year is this?"

"Clyde and I are going to get drinks."

"But, I-" Clyde bopped as he enjoyed himself before Cartman made a face. "I mean, yeah!"

"Whatever, bitches." Bebe dismissed, continuing to dance with Heidi.

Cartman quickly took Clyde by the shoulder, snaking back into the crowd to leave the girls.

"Hey, if Heidi asks, I'm with Kevin."

"Why? Dude, what's the rush?"

"I'm meeting Kevin for a smoke."

"Cool, I'll join-!"

"No," Cartman protested. He looked at the time, knowing he was already supposed to be meeting Jessica in the chem lab by now. Bebe and Clyde were already late enough to give him an excuse to leave Heidi. "Heidi's...still pissed at me for getting sloshed the other night. I just wanna smoke without her suspecting too much."

Clyde just stared blankly. He supposed that made sense.

"Cover?" Cartman held out a fist.

Clyde bumped his with his own. "Yeah, I'm gonna go see if Jimmy spiked the punch."

"Sweet." Cartman chuckled, running a hand through his own hair as he went to meet his slice.

Bebe watched where the boys ran off to, still dancing back and forth with Heidi.

"Where's your beau off to?" She asked her friend.

Heidi had lost track of where Cartman went, forgetting about it for now. "Probably to find Kevin."

"After the stunt he pulled the other day, I'd leave the whole night to himself."

Heidi ignored it. "What's with Clyde being your date? Catching feelings other than sex?"

Bebe scoffed as she and Heidi bounced amongst all the other dancing students. "If we're gonna be fuck buddies, I could at least get a ride out of it. And some arm candy for the night."

"I think you're catching feelings real baaaad." Heidi teased.

"Shut up," Bebe stuck her tongue out. "I don't need that right now."

"Well, we don't need it," her friend agreed, looking to wherever her boyfriend ran to. She muttered under the bass of the music; "Trust me.."

At the gym's main entrance amongst the silver streamer curtain, four more came in as they looked around at what the dance had to offer. Kyle and Kenny stood by as Stan accompanied his girlfriend by his arm, all arriving from the same ride in Kyle's car. Kenny wore a white blazer to accompany his white button-up and blue crested feathered bolo tie. Along with black slacks and Converse. Kyle wore a forest green blazer with his black slacks and a white button-up with a loose navy tie and matching navy Converse to go with Kenny's. Stan's navy blue blazer and white button-up was accompanied by a white matching pocket square gifted by his mother. Along with blue slacks and black loafers. He held his girlfriend's arm, Wendy's gently iron-curled hair was clipped back on the right in a side swept with a snowflake hair piece in theme. As well as a black velvet choker and silver heels to go with her short a-line tulle dark purple dress. Falling just above her knees with the strapless top cut in a sweetheart neckline, and a thin ribboned belt tied at the side of her waist.

"Wow, you guys outdid yourself this year!" Stan complimented his girlfriend on her and the student council's handy work.

Wendy observed the gym, paying attention to detail. "The streamers were a choice, but we wanted to make it a little vintage."

Stan shook her arm in assurance. "It's great."

"I better go cover for Jimmy." Kenny's eyes surfed the crowd for lookout.

"Cover for Jimmy?" Kyle asked.

"He's spiking the juice, wanna keep coach off his tail."

"Again!?"

Nichole and Red popped out of the crowd, coming to meet their friends with an un-spiked punch in hand. Wendy let go of Stan to happily greet Nichole in her tight hug.

"You guys look great!" Nichole gushed. "Nice digs."

"Thank you," Kenny spun in his get-up. "I convinced Kyleen to match with the Converse."

Kyle looked at their matching shoes. "Yeah, I'm starting to feel like twin toddlers in synagogue."

"Well, I'm getting juice before Jimmy and Kenny get their hands on it," Stan said as Wendy took her boyfriend's hand and he led her into the crowd of students.

"Yeah, you're gonna wanna come back for it!" Kenny called after them. "He could use it."

"Yeesh, why?" Red asked, sipping on her own cup.

"Another Randy-central fight." Kyle explained. "We're lucky we picked them up in time, it was freaking Wendy out."

"How?"

"We could hear the yells from the house, dude," Kenny said, scratching his hair in reliving the awkwardness when Stan and Wendy entered the car. "Wendy looked like she'd seen a ghost."

"And Stan like he ate shit.." Kyle muttered. His friend hadn't been so easily triggered by something like this. Things were escalating, and not for the better.

"Well," Nichole looked at the bottom of her empty plastic. "I guess the punch really could use some rum, then."

"Fuck yes." Kenny cackled, leading the way as the others came to join. Passing by another couple who took time to themselves on the dance floor as Craig danced with his boyfriend who pulled an awkward shimmy move. Craig hid his face in his hands. It was embarrassing, but not enough for him to stop smiling in the slightest.

"You look amazing," Tweek raved over the bass booming. "I'm so fucking lucky."

Craig took him by the hand happily, making things closer in their joyful dancing. "Pretty sure I'm the lucky one."

Tweek let his boyfriend reel him in for closer contact, still dancing though Craig decided to steal a kiss in the process.

"Hey!" A voice loud enough to get their attention called. They looked over at a high Kevin Stoley fumbling over, bumping into other students who stared back in annoyance. "You might wanna put all that somewhere else.."

"Meaning what..?" Tweek asked.

"Go somewhere else, fairies.."

"The fuck did you just say!?" Craig let go of is boyfriend, not afraid of facing off with some bonehead like Stoley. The high kid didn't realize exactly how deep he had gotten himself when Craig's hellfire eyes were nearly inches away from his own.

"Whoa...hey.." Kevin held up two hands. "Don't try and pull that gay shit on me-"

Craig grabbed his collar, grappling some attention from students. Including Kevin's friend who squeezed through to separate the boys. "Whoa, what the fuck is happening?"

Clyde forced them apart, standing as a body between them as Kevin stumbled back into some students who pushed him off roughly. He was already making a scene that neither Clyde, or Tweek, or Craig wanted to be a part of.

"These two just showing off shit we don't need.." Kevin pointed lazily at the couple.

Clyde looked between both parties, and decided on his better half. "Kevin, don't be dick. Go fuck your mom or something."

Some kids 'oohed' as bystanders. Kevin just scoffed, walking off from the scene he started and disappearing into the surrounding bodies. Kids nearby gradually went back to what they were doing. Clyde looked at his ex-besties, Craig awkwardly waiting as Tweek had changed from scared to disgusted in looking at Clyde.

"So, um-" Clyde tried.

Tweek grabbed Craig's hand, not baring to listen as he led them away.

"He was just trynna help.." Craig said, in disbelief he was actually defending Clyde after everything. He figured that familiarity with Clyde still being a friend was still in his subconscious.

Tweek found them a new spot away from the nonsense, trying to ignore it. "I just wanna have a good night."

"Okay.." Craig agreed. He'd rather not ruin things now. Clyde had been a sore spot for Tweek for weeks and he clearly wasn't any more ready to say if they would ever come around to talking to Clyde again. Craig thought if there was a tiny chance that it was possible, but it seemed far from his boyfriend's mind right now.

The tone changed in the gym as the DJ switched the soundtrack to something more lovely. You're Beautiful by James Blunt played overhead, and those deciding to slow dance with either friends or dates joined in their groups and pairs. Craig looked to Tweek, offering a hand as Tweek's worries melted by the simple gesture. He took the offer as Craig pulled him closer, and brought him into a gentle and romantic sway.

Amongst those losing themselves in the slow dance, Stan swayed along with both arms firmly wrapped around Wendy's waist as she gently held onto him by the back of the neck. Happily connected in each other's eyes and wishing this single moment could last a lifetime. That way no worries of the future could harm them.

"You look really beautiful," Stan admired.

Wendy blushed which the dim gym lights and strobes masked. "Thank you...you look really handsome."

"Yeah?" Stan leered. "A dreamboat?"

Wendy giggled. "A reeeeeal stud."

She let him reel her closer against him. Despite the many surrounding them in the gym, they felt this indescribable feeling of being so close without their parents or teachers or any other impending forces in earshot. They've been so fragile with each other since Stan's question, not sure how to behave around one another alone in worry of hurting the other. Yet, this moment together made them relaxed about all decisions, even the romantic ones.

"I'm sorry that you had to see all that with my dad." Stan said, finally at ease with the fight.

Wendy cuddled into Stan's shoulder in their sway, closing her eyes as his hand gently raked through her hair. Even with how worried she was for Stan and his relationship with his dad, it hadn't been the first thing on her mind lately. "I'm sorry I haven't been able to give you an answer, yet.."

Stan almost wish she wouldn't. That they could make a promise without ever having to worry about answers and moves and leaving.

"You know, you can take as long as you need." Stan reminded. "It's your choice."

"Thank you, baby.." she sighed in relief. She smiled in remembering though as she shifted her choker on her neck by the velvet ribbon. Stan eyed her questionably as she turned her necklace around to show where she kept the ring on it for safekeeping.

"Just as a reminder.." she whispered, leaning into his ear. "That...no matter what, you're mine."

Stan grinned close to her, capturing her lips with his own softly. It wasn't an answer, but it was a promise that her love for Stan radiated from heights bigger than life.

"Guys?"

They pulled apart when approached by Heidi, who seemed unsure. "Sorry, I can come back."

"Not, it's all good," Wendy assured. "You okay?"

"Eric's been gone for like," Heidi didn't even know the time. "I don't know how long. I didn't think a smoke with Kevin would escalate."

"Is he still in the gym?"

"If he is, he's done a good job making rounds." Heidi sighed, still unable to spot her boyfriend anywhere over the crowd. "I'll..be back."

"Okay, Hides.." Wendy said, watching her friend off. It seemed like this night wasn't going her way, yet. She looked at Stan and he was already annoyed thinking Cartman could somehow mess up this night for Heidi the same way he did days ago.

"Where the fuck is he now?"

Scott Malkinson pouted, knocking on the bathroom stall for the millionth time. "Would you hurry up in there? There's a line!"

Cartman parted from heavy lip contact with Jessica to yell at the door. "Occupied!"

Waiting boys groaned, lining up at the other used stall and leaving Cartman to whatever as he and Jessica fondled underneath the chatter and the booming bass coming from the gym. What had started off as some insane boning in the chem lab, escalated again afterward as Jessica wouldn't stop chewing on Cartman's ear on their way down. Leading ultimately to the bathroom stall, where the idea of being 'close to getting caught but not quite' just sounded incredibly hot.

Jessica pulled away to let Cartman have what he will at her neck, her red sequin cocktail dress hanging off the top of her body to bundle at her waist. She clutched Cartman's shoulders as he kept her pressed against the bathroom wall.

"Get a fucking room!" Someone yelled from outside the stall.

Cartman groaned. "We got one!"

"An actual room!"

Cartman went back to his pleasurable pecks at her neck, and Jessica sighed. "Y'know what would be really hot.."

"Mm.."

"Your coach..is pretty buddy-buddy with mine, yeah?" Jessica panted.

Cartman didn't know nor really care where this was going as he fondled her. "Uh..yeah."

"And you're a favorite of his.." Jessica bit her lip. "Give me a good word about taking head cheerleader next year?"

He scoffed, just continuing to make out with her. "Psh..dude."

Jessica palmed is chest, stopping him immediately. "I guess I'm suddenly busy Sunday, then.."

Cartman rolled his eyes. How many more favors compensated for the hot sessions she gave him that Heidi wouldn't? Jessica wants this, that, and a freaking golden goose. At least his actual girlfriend was straight up about wanting something instead of dangling sex in front of him like a carrot on a stick.

"I'll see what I can do, geez.." Cartman said, leaning in to continue.

Jessica stopped him. "That's cute. But, I need more proof."

"Oh, come on," Cartman buttoned up his pants as the remaining boys left the bathroom. Jessica did up her dress again. "Leaving me mid-wood?"

Jessica clucked. "I've given you enough all this week. Do this for me!"

"Fine."

She grinned with batting eyes. "Don't follow me. I don't need anyone finding out about this right now."

Jessica left the stall as Cartman slipped his blazer back on. So much for checking public bathroom sex off his to-do list.

Kyle gagged from his drink, chilling with many of the other single friends by the drinks and snacks table as another slow dance of the night ensued. He sniffed the cup he just sipped, smelling the alcohol even more than he just tasted it.

"How much did you put in the bowl?" He asked Kenny and Jimmy.

"Oh sorry, that's mine," Kenny switched cups. "I added extra."

Nichole finished hers. "I can't taste it, enough to get me fucked up I hope."

"Woo!" Tolkien enthused, who'd had a few already. "The couply-couples should get in on this!"

"Shush!" Red said. "You wanna let a teacher find out?"

"Hey! Clingy folk!" Tolkien called out to both Stan and Wendy. Neither heard, still indulged in each other's eyes on the dance floor like nothing else existed. "Hey!"

"Don't bother, they'll be like that the rest of the night." Kyle said.

"Yo! Googly-eye lovers on the front aisle!" Tolkien hollered one more time, getting both Stan and Wendy to break their gaze and for Tolkien to receive a large finger from Wendy. "Ouch, Wends! Right in my appendix!"

"Okay, relax," Jimmy snickered over Tolkien's antics.

Kyle sipped on his rum-infested punch, content with being chill as he watched the crowd motion back and forth in the slow dance. Feeling discrete happiness as he watched the different couples sway in endless love as his eyes directed to the girl in white resurfacing from the crowd. With Tweek and Craig as well as Bebe by her side who'd agreed to help her in her search.

"Find him?" Red asked as Heidi and the few came to join the others.

"We checked the bleachers and everything." Bebe sighed, huffing from the rounds they made outside.

Heidi held a hand to her forehead in frustration. "Not a trace."

"Spicy juice?" Kenny offered her a cup.

Heidi took it, sniffing it quizzically. "What'd you pour in it this year?"

"Raspberry rum," Jimmy winked. "To mask the rum part."

She sighed reluctantly, downing the small plastic cup. Kyle tried to scan the dark gym for any sign of Cartman standing in plain sight. But no sign of the asshole could be traced as Heidi said, and Kyle figured maybe he and Kevin and Clyde got into some scheme to distract themselves.

It certainly seemed uncharacteristic to Heidi though, so maybe she could use the distraction too.

"Are you coming to Wendy's? To reconvene before Tolkien's party?" Kyle offered. "Don't know if she told you."

"Um, yeah she did," Heidi said. She had her doubts after what had happened a few nights prior. "Some of the footballers have a thing we might go to though...before Tolkien's."

Kyle nodded, quickly dismissing the idea with his eyes on his drink. "Yeah! Right, 'course.."

She waited on Kyle's gaze though his eyes looked down, embarrassed. Heidi knew the feeling.

"But, I get enough of those guys," she decided. "Like I said, Eric and I aren't glue."

Kyle looked up, and the hope reentering his grin couldn't help but make Heidi chuckle.

"Where'd Butters run off to?" Tolkien blatantly pointed out.

Craig huffed. "With how shady he's been, who knows."

"Shady?" Heidi questioned. "If you're talking about the play, he's been a nervous wreck. I think 'cuz he has a big role."

Kenny cringed. "Nah, Hides. He's been asking all these questions about you."

Heidi stopped from taking another drink. "What?"

It added up to why she couldn't have a normal conversation with him lately without being asked about her and Eric. Heidi raised a sharp brow, tossing her cup away and beelining for Butters. The others hesitated, but Tolkien blabbed what everyone was thinking.

"Look, I could keep my nose out of it," he too rid of his drink. "But, I wanna see what this is about."

Butters would've left the dance entirely, but he knew Cartman was keeping an extra eye on him since the other night. He was getting worst at keeping this deal on the down low with how little information on Heidi he was collecting. Cartman could spill the beans to Butters parents any day now, and leaving this dance might just give him allowance if Butters ditched his duties. Still, he didn't wanna face Heidi either. Butters knew this spy job affected their friendship, but he had himself to look out for.

As Heidi cut through other students, obviously making way for him, Butters' feet became glue.

"Butters, we have to talk." Heidi requested.

"H-Hides, actually I-"

"You've been acting weirder than Eric," Heidi said. "You're shaking like a leaf in rehearsals, the only time you wanna talk to me is when it has anything to do with Eric and I. You haven't been on his hand and foot like this since the seventh grade. What's up."

"Wha..?" Butters questioned as the others pushed through the crowd to hone in on the conversation. "What's up with me!?"

Heidi frowned. "What?"

Butters was starting to crack with all this pressure left and right, he didn't need it from Heidi and frankly didn't care if she had to know. "You're the one Eric can't trust! Why d'you think he asked me to keep such a close eye on you in theatre? You've never been so distant from him before!"

"What're you talking about?"

"He knows you're up to your old ways, again!"

Heidi blinked, starting to get pissed off. "My old ways?"

To join the rising tension, Stan and Wendy had pushed through to come beside the group. "What is happening?" Wendy asked.

"Your-your old ways! That Eric said-!" Butters was still accusing but clearly didn't know for what he was pointing fingers for. The only voice in his head was Cartman's threat. "It's not like you didn't wanna leave him before for someone different!"

Heidi wasn't intimidated by what this nosy little prick was implying. "Butters, what're you on!? I wouldn't cheat on Eric!"

"So it's fucking true!"

Noses turned to the man of the hour they'd been trying to track down. Cartman angrily budded through other students who took notice of the fight. The storm brew with Cartman now a part of the mix.

"Eric, where have you been?" Heidi demanded.

"Clearly where you haven't!" Cartman spat. "Butters finally sniffed it out of you, huh? Who's the ugly ass you're shacking up with!?"

"Excuse me!?"

"Tell her, Butters!"

Butters, feeling like he was playing for the right team, puffed his chest out. "Cheaters never prosper!"

"What!?" A girl's voice exploded, but not Heidi's. Those already watching saw as Jessica Parker angrily came and joined the messy drama unfolding. "You fucking snitch! You told her about me and Eric?"

Jessica's presence alone was enough to give Heidi the ick. But definitely not enough for what Heidi just heard to get her rage to reach a whole new height. "Fucking YOU and Eric!?"

Butters recognized the girl Eric frequently was around. He looked between both parties as Craig and the others reeled him away from the drama as the gravity of the situation really hit him. "Hides..I swear I-I didn't know.."

The others hung back but didn't leave as the shitstorm hit the fan.

"Do either of you want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Heidi demanded.

"Babe," Cartman started. "Remember when you said that sometimes we have to work on each other separately before coming together, again?"

"THAT'S your excuse!?" Heidi said, before eyeing Jessica. "Am I even the girlfriend in this situation!? Or am I the sidepiece and not her!?"

"Sidepiece!?" Jessica gawked, stepping to Heidi's level. "Girl, more like a release from your intolerable ass!"

"Back the fuck off me, bitch." Heidi warned, not about to take anything from some entitled junior. Jessica Parker was known to be rock solid, but the poisonous gaze Heidi offered was not one associated with her often bubbly self. Even Cartman hadn't seen wrath from her like this.

Jessica shrunk behind Cartman, and he continued to fumble in explanation. "I needed to figure some things out, Hides. You get that. Please, I'm begging you!"

He tried to reach for her, and she avoided his touch like the plague.

"You know what's funny, Eric?" Heidi said, on the verge of bursting into tears but her adrenaline wouldn't let her yet. "It's that, I've let you treat me much worst than this. Way fucking worst. But, this is still the thing to be the last straw. The other night alone should've been it.."

Cartman gawked in both anger and 'hurt' her way. "What does that mean?"

"It means you're fucking dead to me," Heidi hissed. "We're done."

She bolted, knowing she couldn't let him see her succumb to some of the worst tears of her life. She snaked through the others as they parted and Wendy let go of Stan in order to go after her.

"Heidi!" Wendy called as the other girls followed.

The boys remained. Unable to hold it back any longer, Kyle left the shadows to face his longtime feuder. "Here I was thinking you couldn't be even more of a piece of shit."

"Oh, fuck off, Kyle!" Cartman hurled. "Heidi didn't have a fuckable bone in her body with all she complained about!"

"That! Right there!" Kyle pointed in accusation. "Is why a girl like Heidi deserves better than a worthless piece of trash like you!"

"What, better as in you?" Cartman huffed. "Don't forget who she left you for the first time!"

Kyle threw a fist, clocking Cartman's in the nose before the other teenager bounced back. The middle of the dance floor quickly became a brawl as Kyle lunged after Cartman with a howl.

"Fuck you, Cartman!"

Stan and Kenny dove after Kyle, as the other boys went for Cartman, trying to separate the two enraged rivals.

She wanted to puke. She wanted to kick and scream until she saw blood and heard buzzing. Her friends' yells fell on numb ears as she brought herself to nowhere, just hiking in speeding steps towards the nearest sanctuary. The football field bleachers off the path from the gym doors. The freezing air of the Winter was intolerable and added to her heart officially splitting in half after so many punches to it.

She'd always been Eric's only one. Yes, there was so much pain and insufferable two-faced bullshit she'd put up with that she began questioning this year. But Cartman wanting her, that obsession he had for her...for her to be his...she thought on some level it meant he wouldn't seek the same thing at least with another girl. She was still Eric's to mess up, to fuck up, to obsess over in this twisted way she thought she could mold to change. That she had the power to change.

How much of herself had she lost to him?

The air was freezing her bare legs, she couldn't keep going as her boots crunched against the field's frozen grass. She gravitated towards a low bleacher, feeling the remainder of her broken heart fall to her stomach. Crawled right up next to where she wanted to throw up.

Instead, her face collapsed into her hands in a ruthless sob. Right as the girls caught up to her, clutching their own bare skin against the bitter cold.

"Hides," Red tried. "C'mon, let's get you somewhere warm.."

She shook her head, unable to speak through the crying that gripped her throat.

"Screw Tolkien's party, let's crash at Wendy's. Just us. The guys will get it-"

"-You were always right..."

Whether from the cold or her heart breaking, they watched their friend wither against the skirt of her dress. Wishing she could disappear into the puffy white tulle and sink away from this stupid life.

"I-I ignored it like a fucking idiot," Heidi sobbed. "..O-Of course you were right..I keep f-fucking lying to myself.."

She shuttered, unable to control her breath as her friends joined her on the icy bench.

"I can't change my parents...I-I can't change him.."

The girl collapsed into Wendy's open arms as her friend encouraged her to release her weakened sobs to her lap. Crying into the purple tule she clutched as her cries wracked Wendy's knees.

"I can't even help myself change..."

"Oh..it's okay, Hides.." Nichole soothed, rubbing a hand to her back in Wendy's hold.

"No, it's n-not," Heidi choked. "My ears were so dead...I-I didn't wanna listen..."

Bebe frowned, cuddling up to Red for warmth though it didn't help to watch their friend's entire soul fall apart right in front of them.

"I'm so, so sorry.." Heidi wept.

Wendy held her close, not daring to let go of one of her closest friends in her desperate time of need. "You were only following what you thought was right in your heart. That's braver than anyone can say for most people.."

"My heart was wrong.."

Wendy rested her head atop Heidi's hair as Nichole kept her strokes on her back. "We're all wrong. It doesn't mean we'd leave your side.."

"..I don't deserve you guys after I ignored your help."

"No.." Bebe muttered as she and Red scooted closer. "You deserve much better than us.."

Heidi choked in Wendy's hold still, and her friend felt her own tears flow as their hearts broke for her. It's not like their repeated advice ever got Heidi to break up with Cartman, so what use were they? "Oh, Hides...we're so sorry you had to go through this..."

She muffled her sobs from within her friend's arms "Why did I go through this.."

The other girls huddled in, protecting themselves from the cold and comforting Heidi as Wendy's arms were joined by the others in a group hug. Giving her sanctuary that they wished they could make last forever so long as Heidi's heart was never shattered so terribly again.

"He wished he was half as much a person like you.." Wendy reminded.

To be continued...