"You're not seriously gonna hide out here, all day."

"If I see Stan, he's gonna confront me."

Bebe closed her gym locker as she changed out of her practice uniform, taking a sip from her Bighorn mascot water bottle and rolling her eyes at Wendy practically sitting in a fetal position on the dirty floor against the row. Even after blowing off her mom's idea about the youth program at Harvard, Wendy managed to keep her 'answer' for Stan MIA for another two weeks. Whether it meant cutting dates short, cutting calls short, or avoiding school hallway discussions entirely. Clyde's party, said to be the biggest of the year, was coming up this Friday. There was no avoiding Stan any further even if Wendy tried her hardest.

"You're the least passive person I've ever met," Bebe said, waving to Wendy's pathetic position on the floor. "This is so unlike you. Go and tell Stan how you really feel about this stupid engagement idea."

"I don't know how I feel about it, though."

Bebe gave both her hands, hoisting Wendy up so she could get her to sit on the bench rather than the floor. "Except you do."

"No, I don't-"

"Don't fuck with me," Bebe took a seat next to her. "I know that you know this is way too huge for both of you right now. I know Stan is a little desperate-"

"He's not desperate, he just.." Wendy lowered her aching head to her palms, raking her dark locks through her hands distressfully. "Has this idea of us starting anew away from all of this and it's not gonna work the way he thinks it will..."

"So, tell him that."

"I don't know how!" She screeched, making Bebe recoil in surprise. "I don't wanna lose Stan! But, I don't wanna ruin things by marrying my boyfriend at eighteen!"

"Babe.." Bebe whispered. "That's a risk you're gonna have to take and tell him."

"Oh, B.." her breath became thinner, quicker as she thought about how Stan would react. "I can't do that to him.."

"Do it for him, then."

Wendy hugged her knees atop the bench, nodding her chin against her kneecap. "Yeah.."

"Yeah?"

"Everything's just been going to shit lately.."

"Not that this topic is entirely related.." Bebe got up, retrieving her hoop earrings from her open locker. "But, is Heidi okay with his whole...new era of hers?"

"I mean, it's been weeks...I think she's pretty serious about it."

"Because the last time she snapped like this it was...disturbing." Bebe said, unfond over memories of the fourth grade.

"Give her her space to do what she needs," Wendy said, undoing her sneaker's laces. They've had a bad rep for rubbing Heidi the wrong way with their judgments, and Wendy didn't want to lose her as a friend. "At least she's having some fun, probably."

"Listen, she's rocking the leathered look," Bebe agreed. "All I'm saying is it's very far left from her, y'know, 'I wear flowers and overalls and write for the yearbook' thing."

Wendy chuckled half-heartedly, still unsure of what might transpire today whenever Stan was able to catch up to her.

"Hey," Bebe encouraged, getting Wendy to stand up so her friend could hug her. "It's gonna be fine."

"Thanks, B.."

One of the last remaining cheerleaders entered from the gymnasium doors. Passing by the locker row as she clucked loudly at the sight of the two.

"Don't you have another place to do that?" Jessica sneered.

Bebe let go of Wendy. "Don't you have a Fartman to take the in and out from?"

The junior scoffed, leaving them with the flick of her ponytail as Wendy rolled her eyes. "I hate to say it, but that sorry bitch probably did Heidi a favor."

"Right?"

It had been the talk of the halls for weeks, the new and improved Heidi Turner. She was not oblivious to the whispers, the way people approached her differently. Her parents certainly took notice of her new style and it was actually shutting up their fighting for once. Her friends questioned it, but when she said she was fine, they had to let her be.

Students paid attention to the combats passing by in the hall. Some junior boys were especially ogling at the girl in the mini skirt and the attention to her change was a thrill for Heidi. It wasn't just her clothes. She was different in class, much more blasé to answering questions at least. If a boy hollered, she shouted back with an attitude you would easily mistake for Bebe Stevens. Some other kid started a rumor about her taking e on school grounds. Barely, it was just some edibles to help her anxiety, but she could give a shit less about gossip. She snapped at some of the teachers who had the gall to say her outfits were 'distracting.' As if goth kids and vampire kids haven't graced these hallways far before she did for years. Quite frankly, her cheer skirt showed off just as much if she did anything athletic while wearing it.

"Hey, Heidi!" Junior student Terrance Mephesto called to her. She gave him a dicey look. "I'll smash so long as you're wearing that!"

Heidi turned back to her path forward. "I don't settle for scum.."

"Daaaaaaaamn."

She was faced with another quarrel that hardly bothered her when Coach Reginald exited the staff lounge she passed.

"Turner." The senior stopped to face the approaching man, he held out a pink slip. "That's today's afterschool detention. We gave you a warning about wearing a skirt too..."

He just motioned at the length of her legs, to which she arched a brow and refused to take the slip. "Coach, didn't you have a word or two to say about the cheer squad's skirts, recently?"

"Your point, young lady?"

"You deemed those skirts completely school appropriate and tasteful. When those girls go flying, there sure is a lot of ass shown off.." Heidi implied dangerously. "As much as my own skirt, right now."

Reginald gripped the slip in tension.

"And you sure do show up to a lot of those flying practices to observe, huh coach?"

The coach was wary of passing students looming in on the conversation, and he quickly ripped the slip in two. "Just..don't tell your parents about this."

"Gladly, coach." Heidi smugly agreed, continuing on with her business much more important than reasoning with a perverted sad clown. She came to her locker where some more junior boys were hung up waiting for her, drenched in a cloud of cologne she could smell from a mile away.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Heidi pinched her nose at the smell. "Get out of here."

The boys scurried off with degraded confidence as Heidi turned the combination to her lock. Minding her own self as someone else came with an ego too big for Heidi to brush off easily. He leaned against the locker neighboring her's, one foot crossing smoothly over the other.

"Ahem."

Heidi shifted her eyes up, and couldn't help but cluck loudly at Cartman's stupid, smug face.

"So," Cartman leaned an arm against the locker. "You haven't been answering my calls. I can see why."

"Relax, this isn't for you.." Heidi closed her locker. "Can I help you, or can you go away?"

"I think we need to address the obvious."

"You being an idiot?"

"We both know how this always ends.." Cartman leaned in, making Heidi's nerves pinch at him getting into her bubble. "We both know what we're good for. I know you, and how there are some things we both just can't resist.."

Heidi leered at him angrily, her nose closely approached by his. "Fuck off.."

"Let's start over," Cartman said, giving her a boyish grin for added charm. "Let me take you out."

Heidi was in shock and couldn't believe he hadn't understood. "No."

His smile was gone, and now annoyed. "Why?"

She shook her head. "Because I was miserable with you."

"You weren't miserable, come on-"

"I was miserable," Heidi made a point of getting too close to him for his comfort now. "And you're pathetic.."

Heidi turned on her heel, leaving her ex in the dust. As she turned the hall without another look spared to him, she found herself brushing off the conversation in a way she hadn't before. Feeling like she was getting to the step of not letting him bother her.

Holy crap, was it a blood-rushing thrill.

Besides, there were much better things to focus on, as she spotted a ginger boy by his locker. She nervously tucked a loose hair behind her ear in a fashion much more similar to her true self, but didn't let her new attitude waver for even a second as she approached.

"Kyle."

He looked up from his open cal book, smiling at her approach. "Hey, Hides. Enjoying being a biker?"

"Ha. Ha."

"I'm kidding. It's a cool look."

"Thanks," she grinned. "So, you going to Clyde's party Friday?"

Kyle closed his textbook, bringing his bag around by the shoulder to slip it away. "I'd be crazy not to."

"Don't suppose I could hitch a ride?"

"Sure," he nodded. "I'm already driving Ken, why not."

"Oh, nice," she agreed. As she passed by Kyle on her leave, she gave a gentle squeeze to his arm. Getting him to align a surprised look with her doe eyes. "Really, really excited to be there with you.."

While entranced by the look alone, Kyle almost didn't think he heard her right as she smiled and walked off. Leaving Kyle in a helpless puddle from one shoulder touch that sent him over the edge.

Kenny was spooked, observing Stan at their shared library table as his friend kept wolfish eyes on the library's main entrance. Expecting Wendy to enter any moment as she promised, and as Kenny expected, Stan wasn't gonna spare a minute getting an answer out of her. Kenny didn't blame Wendy for hiding with this kind of freak waiting for her.

"Dude, would you stop that?" Kenny begged. "You look like a fucking perv."

Stan looked his way with the same aggressive eyes.

"Don't point them at me!" Kenny squirmed.

"She's doing it again. On purpose." Stan groaned, diverting back to his study guide for a poor distraction. "This is so unlike her."

"Then can I say it?"

"No-"

"I told you so, I told you so, I told you so," Kenny made a point of clapping in Stan's face with every word. "I. Told. You. So."

"Stop it!" Stan shoved his palms away from his nose. "I get it, I make things a living hell."

"Dude, c'mon, that's not what I'm saying."

"It's what Wendy may as well be saying," Stan complained. "Instead, she's waiting for me to take the hint."

"Because, she's freaking out. And for good fucking reason!"

Stan glared at his friend, not feeling backed up in the slightest. "Look, I get it. This was never your favorite idea, but that can't change anything now."

"Except it can," Kenny reasoned, tugging Stan's arm to face his seat to his. "Go tell her that you just wanna call this proposal thing off and keep dating like you always were. I know the real reason why you're doing this!"

"What is that, since you're so smart?"

"You're taking the only thing you want from this stupid town; Wendy. And taking off with her so you never have to fall under Tegridy's shadow, or your dad's anymore!"

"That's bull."

"That's the exact opposite of bull."

"What's wrong with wanting to leave? You want to! You've been complaining for weeks about your parents calling you dogshit for never wanting to see them again! At least your parents aren't resting their business' entire fate on you!"

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" Kenny was officially pissed. "My mom is a wreck cuz she thinks I'm walking out on the family. My dad hates me! They literally think I'm ashamed of our house and that I'm a liar! Like I'm just as bad as the rest of town!"

Stan just rolled his eyes down at his study guide.

"I just found out my grandparents abandoned my mom cuz they were ashamed, dude! Do you know what that means? What that does to her!? Thinking I'm also that ashamed when I actually just might be!? So don't belittle my fucking problems just because you refuse to talk to your dad, and rather throw jars at him and steal Wendy away!"

"YO, shut up!" A bystander finally demanded. "Go talk about this in therapy or some shit!"

Stan still didn't bother to give him the decency of a look. Kenny just scoffed.

"Whatever, dude. You want an answer from Wendy so badly? To take her with you from this life you despise?" Kenny gathered his stuff and got up to leave. "Then go hunt her down with those crazy eyes. See what happens."

Craig and Tweek followed the wave of students with only a handhold being the thing that didn't separate them. As they squeezed through students battling for their own way out, Craig felt Tweek's fingers slip slightly and he grasped them harder by instinct.

"Make a HAUL, people!" Craig complained. "Jesus."

"Hey, chill." Tweek said dragged by an arm alone behind his boyfriend. Craig's attitude was rubbing off enough already lately, he didn't need to get in more trouble. They stopped mid-crowd as Tweek bumped against Craig's back in impact. "Ugh-what?"

Clyde collected his homework from his locker just past the hustle of kids. Craig knew all week that if he didn't get some words in with him, despite their texts, Friday's party would be a bust. He didn't need that on top of everything right now.

"I forgot my agenda."

"Again?" Tweek sighed.

"I'll meet you out front."

He watched his boyfriend slip away without another excuse, and Tweek was carried away by the crowd leading to the school's front. As Craig went against the current of students, he pushed his way to the sidelines. Nearly stumbling to Clyde's front who looked up from his phone.

"Oh, hey."

"Hey, dude," Craig said, looking back again to make sure the familiar spiky blond was far from sight. "Um. I..just wanted to say thanks for everything."

"Oh," Clyde shrugged, thinking of their text conversations concerning Mr. Tucker. "It's nothing, you would've done the same."

"I mean with everything going on.." Craig said, reliving how icy he'd been to Clyde with a cringe. "And with Tweek still being mad-"

"-Are you still mad?"

His somewhat, still-best friend, but not really, couldn't decide. "I guess so."

"At me?"

Craig scratched his beanie, slumping against the lockers. "Who am I not pissed at, right now.."

Clyde too leaned against the row, watching as the students began to clear out little by little. "I never though Tweek could hold a grudge this long."

"He's scared.." Craig admitted. "He's always scared.."

"Of what?"

"Everyone's leaving...he just doesn't wanna get hurt again."

Clyde kicked his shoe against the floor, puffing in awkwardness. "Look, it was a dumbass move. Just because I chill with Cartman, doesn't mean I should've blown you both off. But, Tweek seems like he's almost glad we're not friends anymore."

"Everyone is so fucking divided now," Craig said. "And I honestly blame Cartman.."

"I mean, me too.."

"I was..am..still mad at you. But, not enough to pick a stupid side like Tweek is."

Clyde looked at his long-term friend. "He's kinda valid.."

"But, I don't wanna keep carrying this on," Craig groaned, meeting Clyde's gaze. "And I don't wanna make it hard for Tweek, either. So, Friday, can we just pretend we haven't been talking as much as we have? Tweek would hate to know he's been thrown out of the loop even if he wouldn't agree to it."

Clyde hated to do it, but he ignored the plead in Craig's voice. "No, I'm not doing that."

"What-?"

"I wanna make things right with Tweek," Clyde said. "But not if you're gonna keep lying. You know he's always felt like a third wheel with us, lying is the most bullshit thing we could do to him. I never said a word about being left out when you guys started dating."

"Tweek's more thick-skinned than you know," Craig warned. "I'll talk to him when he wants to talk about it. He's thinks with college coming, maybe there's no point to fixing anything.."

Clyde closed his locker, throwing his bag over his shoulder with a sorry look. "Bro, you're the one who's not as thick-skinned as people can see. Both Tweek and I would know that."

Like Tweek, Wendy rode the crowd of students out of the school as fast as she could. Hoping she could surf herself all the way to student parking and make it to her car in another successful day of denial. Denial that she was soaking herself in. Something she'd much rather do than hurt-

"WENDY!"

It made her soul jump out of her body. Stan's angered tone was very rarely directed at her, let alone how much more angrier than usual he sounded. He'd caught her right as she left the campus' front grounds and students were dispersing their separate ways. His girlfriend remained in the middle view of the parting kids as she turned around. Ghostly pale facing her boyfriend but Stan could hardly see from the height of his frustration.

"We need to talk." He demanded.

Wendy held her racing chest by a claw. "Yeah, obviously.."

"What was your plan? To ignore me until the end of the summer?"

"You wanna talk, Stan.." Wendy sighed, knowing now if she ignored him it would just be pathetic. "Let's talk."

"Wends," Stan came forward to her front, tugging on her turtleneck gently for preference. Wendy sighed as she dug up the ring on the chain, visibly flinching at the shining reminder she walked around with. "You need to tell me, now."

"Why? Plans of burning down Tegridy soon?"

Stan jerked in annoyance. "Wendy, what the fuck is your problem?"

She gawked. "My problem!? Suddenly 'take your time' has gone to 'now or never'!"

Her boyfriend threw his arms out. "You clearly were never gonna give me an answer!"

"Of course I wasn't, Stan!" Wendy cried in admitted guilt, running shaking fingers through her hair. "My life is a whirlwind and you were the only calm thing until you pulled out that fucking ring!"

"Why didn't you tell me that?"

"I DID!" Wendy shrieked, the build-up from all this guilt and ignorance popping in her core. "Over, and over! Your method of helping is running away from South Park!"

"This isn't about me.."

"This is about both of us.." Wendy sniffed. "I can't make this promise with you when it's guaranteed you wanna live a life of ignorance and running away. And to bring me along. I don't want that, Stan."

"You can't make this proposal all about running away!" Stan argued. "I'm trynna gather the best pieces of my life and make something with it! Something my dad won't ever understand!"

"You do that, you'll end up just like him."

Stan looked more offended rather than Wendy having said no. "That's NEVER gonna happen!"

"You're scaring me! You're scaring your mother! Did you know Shelly doesn't know if she wants to come home for the summer because of it, now!?"

Stan blinked angrily. "How d'you know that?"

"I just do."

Considering how involved Wendy was already, Stan couldn't believe he didn't see it coming. "Did you call her..!?"

Wendy ran her hands across her face, stretching her brows out as she realized she overstepped on information. "You weren't going to.."

"Why would you call Shelly? I didn't ask you to try and fix my life just because you have your shit together!"

"Have MY shit together!?" Wendy pointed to herself. "Is this what I get with you constantly saying I wouldn't understand? That my life is incomparable?!"

"It's not the same shit, Wendy! You wanna go to Harvard!"

"It's the same shit if you ever listened! You're just like my parents!"

Stan huffed into bridged hands, trying desperately to reason with her at such an angry pace. "Wendy, you're a student council prodigy. You've come out on top every semester of your life. You're a shoo-in for every Ivy League. I didn't enter this relationship thinking you'd understand most things about me. And I'm fine with that!"

Wendy fumed as she felt her cheeks and eyes burn. "Stan, we've been hinging on each other since the third grade. I would think you'd know me by now and wouldn't use something like that against me! That's the whole problem!"

"Meaning what?"

"My parents have me plan everything in my future to a tea! Why do I need to with you, too!?"

Stan pinched the bridge of his nose, unable to take it from Wendy when he already felt like he was messing up enough. His dad was practically walking on eggshells around him now unless he wanted to pick a fight, and his poor mother was afraid for both of their safety. Now, having Wendy as a comfort no longer seemed applicable.

"I can't keep planning so far ahead! It's gonna drive me crazy!"

"I thought that was the point of us!" Stan said, motioning his hands at the air between them. "That we always come back to one another!"

"Always! I always wanna come back to you! I physically wouldn't be able not to!" Wendy cried, feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of Stan never being in her life, period. "But, I need elbow room to figure other things out knowing you're by my side! That you're not gonna see me as if I can handle all this all fine! I don't handle things perfectly all the time!"

"So a ring is different than me being by your side enough, already?"

"Yes! You need to do your thing too, Stan! You have an agenda, not just me! A ring locks in something we're clearly not ready for!"

There it was. She knew from day one they weren't ready and Stan was just riding on her never giving him an answer. Cowering her way out, which Stan least expected of Wendy ever.

"So, that's your answer?" Stan asked. "Just stay together without knowing?"

"I'm saying there maybe...might be a day I want to...maybe. But, I don't wanna lose you...not by thinking about the future so early."

"So then give me the ring back."

Wendy tearfully closed her eyes. "Stan, don't be a dick.."

"No. Give it back." Her boyfriend huffed. "It was mine first, anyway."

Wendy opened livid eyes, not breaking her stare as she untucked the gold chain from underneath her turtleneck again, and looped it around. Unlocking the small hook and clasp before sliding the ring off the end. A trinket that had been weighing such aggravating stress on her heart.

She threw it at his snowy shoes, and Stan swallowed hard watching it sink into the ground. "I'll see you at Clyde's party.."

As she walked, Stan kneeled down to pick up the ring. While nothing has changed, having a promise thrown back at him made him feel like his soul had split. "I thought I was picking you up.."

"I'll drive myself, babe." Wendy growled, not able to get herself away quickly enough. Stan stood up, watching her off with a sore chest as he tucked the ring into his jeans pocket.

To be continued...