Marina zipped her jacket up and threw her hair into a messy bun before she climbed out of Kenny's window and started her walk toward home. She jogged as if she were just out for a morning run. Her legs were so tired that it took way more effort than she was intending. Once she reached her house, she boldly opened the garage. The garage door led straight into the kitchen right next to the living room, she knew at least her dad would be up this early. Marina walked straight into the kitchen and to the fridge, her dad was sitting at the island on his laptop, he looked at her through his glasses.
"You're up early this morning."
"I woke up early and I needed to just go for a run."
"We are going to be going out to eat with Liane and Eric today. Get a shower and get ready. It is a nice restaurant."
"No thank you." She told him casually.
"I wasn't asking." He sighed.
"I'm not going." Marina finished her water and looked pointedly at her father.
Henry was staring at her across the island, "You are coming."
"I'll think about it." She shrugged as she started to head into the living room and head up to her room.
"No thinking. You're going to be in the car and going with us! Take a shower! Dress nice!" He called after her.
She flipped him off where he couldn't see her and went up to her room, shutting her door.
Marina turned the shower on and started stripping her clothes off. She looked into the mirror, checking for any lasting effects from Kenny. Though they probably wouldn't show up until later on anyway. The memory of her night with him made her smile, he was definitely right, he blew her mind. She had never had sex for that long with anyone. Once she finished her shower, she took a nap, trying to get at least some sleep before she had to go out to eat.
Later, she got ready and when her dad yelled up that it was time to go she obediently came downstairs. Cartman got into the back seat and she got into the other side. They left South Park for whatever restaurant her dad was going to. It ended up being very fancy. "You look really pretty." Cartman whispered to her as they walked behind their parents.
She nodded slowly, "Thanks."
"I'm not trying to be weird, just being nice."
She nodded again.
They were led to their table and it was just silent besides Liane and Henry talking about what they were going to eat.
"What are you getting sweetie?" Liane asked, Marina was looking at her menu, assuming that she was talking to Cartman.
"Marina!" Her father snapped in a whisper.
She looked up, finding everyone at the table looking over at her. "What?" She asked innocently.
"Don't ignore Liane!" Her dad's eyes were wide in warning as if she were an inconsiderate child.
"Oh! I don't know. Probably just a steak or something." She made eye contact with Liane, "I'm so sorry, I thought you were talking to Car- Eric." Marina told her sincerely, she knew it was her parents that were the actual problem, Liane was just caught up into the mess of their life. She always felt bad for Cartman's mom being a single mom dealing with his annoying ass.
"It's okay sweetie. I understand." She gave Marina a motherly smile. It made her miss her mom.
Marina quickly looked back at her menu.
"I'm getting the rib eye mommy." Cartman spoke up.
Marina let out a single laugh, she looked up to see him smiling widely at this mom like he was a little kid and not 17 years old. She started laughing harder.
He always had to be the center of attention with her, she didn't know he still did. And she didn't know he still called her 'Mommy'.
"Marina." Her dad scolded quietly through his gritted teeth.
She looked back over at Cartman, he was now glaring at her. She laughed even harder, wheezing.
The waiter approached the table and she quickly tried to pull herself together.
Afterward, dinner had been pretty quiet and pretty awkward. When they got home, Cartman knocked on her door frame before just walking in.
"I didn't say you could come in here." She told him without taking her eyes off her TV screen.
"Door was open." He shrugged.
"What do you want?"
"I want you not to tell the guys about me calling my mom 'mommy' earlier."
Marina slowly looked over at him, a smile spreading on her face, "Eric honey, you'll never live it down."
He sighed, "I guess I could always tell your dad about you actually sneaking out all night last night."
"How do you even know that?"
"I heard the door open and I was up gaming almost all night, sun was up and you still hadn't returned."
"My dad wouldn't even care dude."
"Really?"
"If he did, he would just have to get over it."
"Look.. can you please just not tell them.."
"Funny that you expect me to keep my mouth shut about something you don't want everyone knowing, but you couldn't do that for me about Kenny at the glow party." She raised her eyebrows and gave him her best displeased face.
"I'm sorry about that. You know I can't control myself sometimes."
"Maybe I can't either."
"Please Marina.." He begged weakly.
"I won't." She nodded.
"Thanks." He gave her a small smile before walking away and going into his room.
Monday morning Marina woke up incredibly sore, all over. While she got ready for school, she definitely could see a couple faint bruises on her body. She covered what was visible with concealer and she made sure to wear long sleeves. After she finished everything she headed downstairs.
She could hear Cartman's voice carrying through the house, "So you really just always walk right in here in the morning?" She saw he was talking to Kenny as soon as she turned the corner.
"Yep." Kenny told him.
"He walks right in here all the time." Marina laughed, "Just like everyone does."
"Everyone just walks into here?" Cartman asked, looking from Marina to Kenny and back.
"Yes. You were the only one of our friends that rang the doorbell."
"What the hell."
"My mom always told people to just walk in."
"She never told me that!"
"Maybe she just didn't like you." Kenny chuckled.
"Screw you Kenny." He grumbled.
"Well now you don't have to knock because you live here sweetie." His mom smiled at him.
Marina and Kenny laughed when he rolled his eyes.
"So you guys just hang out here until school?" Cartman asked.
"Sure do." Marina nodded, grabbing the orange juice out of the fridge and pouring some into a cup.
Stan texted them and they headed outside. Marina groaned as she slid into the seat, realizing even more just how sore she was. Kenny also grunted as soon as he dropped into the seat.
"Okay grandma and grandpa. You guys remember to bring your walkers?" Stan chuckled.
"No. I can run back inside real fast and get it." Kenny laughed.
"I wouldn't run back in there even if I was paid to." Marina cut in.
"Right, we just left them alone." Cartman agreed.
"So weird picking all of you up at the same time. I almost sat in the front seat." Kyle told them.
"Front seat is mine." Cartman told him.
"Yeah but only because you didn't fit back here at first."
"Also because I don't want to sit next to him." Marina added.
"Can't be too bad now, you live in the same house. You're family now." Kyle continued.
"That wouldn't stop Cartman from trying to cop a feel."
"I'm sure it would." Stan laughed.
"She's actually right. Step-Sister stuff is a massive fantasy of mine. I've been dreaming of that shit since I was old enough to be into sex and watch porn."
"You're still not old enough to watch porn." Kyle rolled his eyes, Kenny and Stan laughed.
"That's fucking gross Cartman. I will kick your ass if you try to touch me." Marina groaned.
"You being mean makes it hotter, just so you know." Cartman was beaming from the front seat. She wanted to punch him, but she didn't want to affect Stan's driving.
Marina sighed and Cartman laughed, the rest of the guys quieted down. The last bit of the drive was done in silence, a very awkward silence.
She wasn't expecting first period to be so weird. Kenny tried to put his hand on her leg and she gently pushed it away, "What are you doing?" She asked in a whisper.
"I don't know." Kenny replied with a weird face.
"Can we keep this weekend on the down low for now? I don't really want to hear everyone freaking out about us all week."
"I agree." He nodded.
"Okay, cool." She smiled over at him.
She caught a weird sadness in his eyes but he smiled back and they started reading their books.
The day flew by normally, except for when they all headed home after practices, and for the first time, Cartman got out of the car with Kenny and Marina.
"You wanna hang out?" Marina asked Kenny.
He nodded following the two of them in. He did his usual, heading to the fridge, "You guys hungry?" He asked as he looked inside.
"Um what the hell are you doing? This isn't a soup kitchen." Cartman gave him a face.
"Kenny always makes us food after school."
"Yeah, I'm sure he does. So that he doesn't starve later."
"Fuck you Cartman." Kenny groaned as he pulled out sandwich stuff, "We have food at my house."
"Just don't make him anything." Marina told him.
"Believe me, I'm not. Extra mayo Marina?"
"Yes please."
"I'm hungry too." Cartman spoke up again, a whine in his voice.
"Cheese?" Kenny asked, looking only at Marina.
"Yes." Cartman and Marina replied simultaneously.
Marina got out 4 pieces of bread and two plates, sitting them down in front of Kenny. She then twisted the bag shut and put it away.
"Ey. I said I was hungry." Cartman walked into the kitchen more.
"Do you want any chips Kenny?" Marina ignored him.
"Yes please. Would you like your sandwich cut any certain way?"
"Surprise me!" She smiled at Kenny as she put the bag of chips on the counter.
"Hello?" Cartman continued, "You guys are being really immature right now." He sighed as he got the bread back out of the pantry.
Kenny casually put the mayo, lunch meat, and cheese back into their places into the fridge.
"Dude! I'm about to make a sandwich!" Cartman whined again. Kenny walked around him, his eyes on the counter as if Cartman wasn't standing there. He grabbed the two plates and took them over to the table.
"Fuck you Kenny!"
Marina grinned at him as he sat the plates down, she had put two cups of water on the table already. Kenny lightly chuckled before sitting in the chair next to her.
"What is it like living with Cartman?" He asked her before taking a bite.
"It's like..." Marina looked up to the ceiling in thought, taking her time on purpose, "..Well it's only been a weekend and he's already threatened me once."
"Wow. That was fast."
"Yeah, much faster than I was prepared for."
"I'm literally in here." Cartman yelled from the kitchen.
They ignored him again, "Why did he threaten you?"
"He told me he was going to tell my dad that I was out all night on Saturday."
"For no reason?"
"Oh, no. He called his mom "mommy" at the restaurant and he told me that if I told the guys he was going to tell my dad."
"Marina!" Cartman whined, yet again, as he put his plate loudly onto the table.
"Do you think maybe he heard you tell me?" Kenny continued.
"I hope not. But if he did then he will tell my dad I guess." She laughed.
"Grow up guys. Stop acting like I am not here. I know you can hear me."
"Oh, hey. I was wondering if maybe you'd want to go to Homecoming together? Since we are both single this year. I don't really want to spend my senior homecoming with some random girl who I'm just going to Homecoming with to sleep with later." Kenny asked.
"Yeah that would be fun. I'd also rather not go with someone who I am just using to go to homecoming. Especially since it is the last one. Way more comfortable going with a friend."
"I completely agree." Kenny nodded.
"Maybe you two will finally screw again after." Cartman tried to talk to them again.
"And you know what?" Marina asked.
"What?" Kenny continued.
"Maybe we should just bang after, you know, for the fun of it." Marina laughed.
Kenny winked, "Sounds like a deal. We should make sure we let Cartman know about it, so he will finally shut his fat mouth."
"Right. Maybe we can do it loudly in my room so he has to hear it."
"I could most definitely do that." He laughed.
"Okay guys. This is enough. I'm not laughing. And I'm not fat anymore asshole!"
"How is your dad doing at the grocery store?" She asked.
"Good I think. Your dad is paying him good enough that my dad is actually not fucking it up for once. We have been getting pretty decent grocery food, not just basics."
"Oh that's awesome."
"Yeah, do you think I should give Cartman a call and tell him that he doesn't have to make poor jokes now? That I have food and I am not mooching off of my friend for a snack after school?"
"Oh yes. We can't forget that we do need to report all life events to Cartman because he must know everything going on. That way he doesn't come across as a complete asshole by making fun of people that he calls his best friends and making comments he knows absolutely nothing about. Do you need my phone? Oh wait, no, you have your own phone that you can do it on."
"Yes, I am going to call him on my smartphone that came out last year, with my unlimited data plan that I can afford when I am working my own job."
"Oh wait, you have a job?" Marina faked surprise.
"Since I was about 10." He smirked.
"How did I never know that?!"
"Must have been so involved in yourself."
"Apparently! Does it pay decent?"
"It actually picked up a lot of business within the past like 3 years and I make a really good amount."
"Obviously enough to afford a good smartphone and an unlimited plan."
"Okay... I get it.." Cartman deadpanned.
Kenny pulled his phone out and clicked around before putting it up to his ear, "It's ringing." He mouthed to Marina.
It was taking all of her not to just burst out laughing, she didn't think Kenny would actually call.
Cartman's phone started going off.
"I'm not answering that." He rolled his eyes.
"He must be busy." Kenny told her.
"Must be."
Cartman sighed, answering, "What?!"
"Cartman?"
"Are you serious right now?"
"What you up to dude?" Kenny asked.
"This is really so old right now. I understand that I was an asshole. I will stop calling you poor."
"Oh good. I'm actually at your new house if you wanna come say hi." He hung up.
"Fuck you." Cartman tossed his phone onto the table.
"Hey Cartman." Kenny grinned at him.
"I hate you."
"That's no way to talk to one of your best friends." Marina frowned.
"I love you too Cartman. How do you like your new house?"
"It's nice. Bigger than my old house." Cartman sighed.
"I didn't know your mom and Mr. Morrison were so close."
"I didn't either." Cartman looked over at Marina, who looked down at her plate sadly.
"I think they have either been dating longer than we know about or sleeping together longer than we know about." Marina added.
"Me too." Cartman told her.
"You guys wanna go into the family room and play some games on the xbox or playstation?" She asked.
"I actually need to head into work here in an hour to do closing clean up, the other guy called off." Kenny sighed.
"I'll play some with you." Cartman shrugged.
Marina was sad that Kenny had to leave, but she did have to admit to herself she was having fun playing with Cartman. Even though he was kicking her ass in most of them. It was nice to just forget about life for a little bit and have a good time with no alcohol.
