Eric Cartman woke up to the sound of his alarm clock, awakening from his deep sleep. He groaned and smashed the sleep button, trying to pretend like it didn't exist. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to go back to sleep, though the clock had other plans for him. He groaned and punched the clock and sat up.

"Alright I'm fucking up." He growled and rubbed his eyes. Eric hadn't gotten much sleep in the past few days, for they were his last days of summer break. He was not at all excited for his first day of high school. He only expected a lot of work and hate from his teachers, which was what he usually got. Eric was also very lazy and had no patience to be in school, at all.

"Honey, are you dressed?" Liane smiled walking into the room. She was very excited for Eric's first day of school, for it proved that he get through school just fine. She used to be nervous that Eric would screw up and would be kicked out of school, but she was gladly wrong.

Eric looked at her, still in his white t-shirt and boxers, definitely not ready for school. "I'm getting dressed now, just give me a moment." His mother chuckled and nodded, leaving some fresh clothes on the bed, before walking out of the room. Eric glanced at the clothes and smiled, red flannel and jeans, just how he liked it.

Eric eventually found the energy to get up and pulled on his fresh pair of clothes, running his hand through his hair. After he felt fully comfortable with how he looked, he went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth, even though he hated doing so. "You don't look so fat this morning." He chuckled at the mirror. "Ugh but you might be getting some facial hair...whatever, I'd be pretty sexy with a beard." He gave his reflection a few more compliments, before walking downstairs for breakfast.

Eric's phone buzzed as he ate his sprinkled donut and listened to the radio. He wiped his hand of powdered sugar, taking the phone out of his pocket. "Ooh." He smirked at the picture his boyfriend had sent him. Butters had started taking pictures of himself shirtless and sending them to Eric. He wanted to be a little more mature with him, since the two had been together since sixth grade and it was time to make a change. Eric texted several hearts and winky faces in response to the photos, he wasn't against this change at all. Although he didn't really contribute to it, for he looked basically the same. Eric had gotten a little taller but otherwise didn't change in appearance. Butters however, had gotten glasses over the summer and he was a little embarrassed by them but Cartman always reminded him, that he was his little adorable nerd.

Eric finished breakfast and ran out of the house, phone in hand. He texted Kenny that he would be picking him up so they could walk to school together. He would normally go with Butters as well, but ever since Butters's parents divorced, he lived in a house closer to the high school and was no longer Eric's next door neighbor. It was slightly annoying but a huge relief, Butters was no long abused.

"Kenny! Get your horny ass down here!" Eric called. "It's the first day and I'm not getting a detention because of you!" Kenny screamed an incoherent response and appeared at the doorstep a few minutes later. He chuckled at Eric's annoyed expression and closed the door. "Sorry buddy, I was fixing my hair."

"Fixing your hair?" Eric repeated. "How can you fix what isn't there?" He asked commenting on the fact that Kenny had nearly shaven both sides of his hair, leaving only the top completely unshaven. Eric called it the flop and didn't know why girls found it to be so attractive. Kenny nodded and smiled, puffing up his collar. "I need to look to good all the time Eric, something you would never understand."

"Because I'm taken?" He grinned as Kenny started walking away from the house. "No." Kenny smirked back at his friend. "Because you're ugly." Eric growled and ran after him. "I'm going to kill you McCormick!" He threatened as Kenny ran for it, laughing hysterically. Eric was able to tackle his friend onto the ground and pretend to pound him. "Don't insult me again understand?" He threatened playfully.

"Okay, okay." Kenny laughed and tried to get up, but he was laughing too hard. "What are you idiots doing?" A familiar annoyed voice said, walking over to them. "We are supposed to be at school in twenty minutes."

"Oh well isn't it Mr. Buzzkill Broflovski." Kenny smirked as he got off the ground. "Ruining a bonding moment every day." Kyle rolled his eyes and moved some hair out of his face. "If rolling in the ground is a bonding moment for you two, you might as well be called pigs, rather than humans." Eric pushed Kyle gently. "It was a bonding moment because we were acting cute." "Cute?" Kyle repeated. "Jesus, you guys are like a couple, careful Cartman, you'll get Butters jealous."

"No I won't." Cartman said as the three of them started walking to the school. "Butters knows that me and Kenny are just really close friends." Kenny nodded and put an arm around Cartman. "My best friend, and I'm not gay so it would never work." Kyle simply nodded and kept walking, he looked a little down.

Kenny glanced at Cartman, seeing that he also recognized the sadness in Kyles' face. Kenny slowly moved his arm off of Cartman's shoulder and walked a little closer to Kyle. "Dude, are you okay?" He asked softly.

"I'm fine." He said looking at his phone. "I've just been having a few problems lately." Kenny wasn't satisfied with that answer and placed an arm around his shoulders. "What are those problems buddy?" Kyle sighed and looked at Kenny.

"It's my mom." He began. "She has been sick lately and I'm worried about her...I mean the doctors said it wouldn't lead to anything too bad but you never know...things get worse." Kenny frowned and rubbed his back. "Don't worry Ky, things are going to be okay." Eric nodded and patted Kyle's head, for he was a little taller than him. "You're mom is too much of a bitch to die."

"Shut up Cartman." Kyle said though he was smiling slightly. "Thanks guys...I just needed to get that off my chest I guess." Kenny chuckled and gave him a small hug. "No problem Kyle." He said as they walked to the front of the high school.

The three boys walked into the halls of South Park High School, feeling small in such a large building. The school was much bigger than their middle school and it had a more serious feeling to it. Eric felt like they had just left the world of fun and had entered the world of teenage Hell. The students that passed by them were much taller and older looking than the three fourteen year old boys. Eric could feel Kenny move closer to him, feeling overwhelmed by their new surroundings. "It's okay Kenny.." Eric whispered to him. "They are human...even if they don't look like it." Kenny chuckled slightly and smiled, seeing their friends walking into the school.

"Hey Wendy! Bebe!" Kenny called. "We're over here!" The two girls smiled and ran over to the boys. Wendy walked over to them, bringing her best friend not far behind. She gave all three of the boys a hug. Kenny and Cartman gave the girls mural greetings but Kyle seemed a little less touchy. He greeted the girls but seemed a little distant. Kenny frowned and was greatly confused to why Kyle wasn't being so cuddly around his girlfriend, but he didn't say anything. Bebe smiled at the three boys, before walking away from them.

"Dude what the hell?" Kenny demanded finally after it was just the three of them. "Why were you acting so cold to Bebe?" Kyle looked a little confused at that question, not understanding how he was being cold. Cartman gave Kenny a confused look, not understanding either. He thought about what had just happened and realized it, Kyle and Bebe were acting friendly but not too friendly, not like how they used to. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, you didn't even give her a hello kiss." Kenny didn't like Bebe that way, he just respected his friends and didn't like when any of them were hurt.

"Oh..that.." Kyle said as they walked to get their assigned lockers. "Look Kenny, I didn't tell you this, but Bebe and I.." Kyle was interrupted by a tall raven haired boy, hugging him from behind. "Hey Kyle!"

"Hi Stan." Kyle chuckled though sounded slightly annoyed. "You are really happy for someone who just started school." Stan smiled and pulled away. "Of course I am, I mean I get to hang out with all of you guys!" Kyle smiled but Kenny frowned, he wanted to know what Kyle was about to say. Kyle could feel him glaring and sighed.

"Kenny, Bebe and I broke up." He said. "We thought about it for a little bit, but we just realized we'd be better as friends, I'm sorry."

"Oh so Bebe's a bitch now?" Cartman asked thinking how their friend group would last. Kyle shook his head and looked a little angered by that. "No fatass, Bebe and I decided together that we just wanted to be friends, she's no more of a bitch than I am." Cartman fought back the urge to call Kyle a bitch and nodded.

"Oh...sorry." Kenny said feeling slightly guilty for getting so mad. "I guess I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.." Kyle simply nodded and opened his locker, he didn't want to talk about it anymore. The rest of the boys understood and walked to their respected lockers.

Eric felt a little sadden by the news of Kyle and Bebe breaking up. Not that he really cared, it was their decision to break up, he only felt saddened because it was a major change. He knew that Bebe and Kyle were still his friends but it would be a little awkward between them. It was a change, something that he had always feared and hated. He was in a whole new school and everyone was trying to fit into the change, when all Eric wanted was to go back in time, to stay in the past and not have to accept the change. "I don't want to change." He mumbled. "I want to be young forever."

"Well look at this handsome devil." Eric felt arms around his waist and couldn't help but smile. He held the small hands on his stomach. "Oh dear, it seems I have been attacked." Eric said playfully. "Whatever should I do." Eric could hear muffled giggling as he felt Butters nuzzle his head into his back. "I suppose I need to give this monster the cuddles." Butters giggled even more and nuzzled even closer into his boyfriend's back. Eric turned around and grinned at the much shorter boy, who blushed and hugged him tightly. Eric hugged him tightly. "How are you doing B-Butts?"

"I'm really good.." Butters smiled as Eric brushed some of his blonde hair out of his face. Since Butters have been allowed to do more of what he wanted, he refused to cut his hair and now it was up to his chin and layered greatly. He also had thick lensed glasses and loved to wear turquoise sweaters over a white colored shirt. He looked like a complete nerd but Eric thought he was beautiful.

"That's good babe." He said collecting his stuff for their first class. They were told the previous day that they would go be going straight to class. There had been several days of introduction so there was no need for more. "I'll see you after school." He smiled and kissed his cheek. Butters was very smart and in all the high classes, unlike Eric, who was in the regular classes. Butters frowned but nodded and headed off to class, coughing slightly as he walked.

Eric didn't really mind his classes that much, they did expect a lot out of him, but he was told that was normal. Eric was also glad that he shared all of his classes with Kenny, so throwing spitballs at their bitchy math teacher, while she wasn't looking, was mandatory. Eric really loved his language arts class, he was never there for one writing but he found it relaxing. However he felt like it was a stereotype for homosexuals to love writing and he hated fitting into any stereotype. After language arts was their lunch break and Eric was happy to finally eat, at least his appetite didn't change.

"An ear piercing?" Eric repeated as he sat with his usual group of friends. "I never thought about getting one." He said honestly as Wendy asked him about it. "Why do all gay guys get their ear pierced?" Wendy chuckled and shook her head. "No, I just thought you'd look good like that and I think Butters would agree."

Butters was leaning on Eric's arm and not paying attention to the conversation. All he heard were the words, "Eric with an ear piercing" and that sent him into a daydream. "Baby?"

Butters jumped and looked at his boyfriend. "Oh yeah...I think you'd look so sexy with an ear piercing." He didn't realize what he had said and Eric smirked. "Well then, I'm going to get one after school." Butters blushed and smiled, having no objection to the idea. He coughed slightly and rested his head back on Eric's shoulder, trying to get some sleep before class started. Eric looked way from his sleepy boyfriend and observed his friends.

They were acting like how they did in middle school but they didn't look exactly the same. Besides for his ridiculous hairstyle, Kenny had gotten a noticeable tan and had grown taller, he was defiantly growing more into his player reputation. Stan had defiantly shot up during the summer and looked like he still had some more growing to do. He usually had a very fluffy mullet but for the first day of school, he had gotten a buzz cut. Eric had to admit, he found Stan more attractive with the thick, long hair and he was sure his girlfriend agreed with him. The only noticeable change in Wendy was her chest size, which Kenny had complimented about a hundred times that day alone. She didn't really appreciate his comments and gave Kenny respected slappings. Kyle had finally managed to tame his red curls and they were only slightly in his face, he was the only one in the group that still wore his hat. Most of the group put a lot of effort in their clothing choices but Kyle just slapped on a tshirt and jeans, before calling it a day. Eric looked at Kyle with concern, as if he wanted to see any signs of sadness. Kyle looked completely fine as he ate his turkey sandwich. He noticed Eric looking at him and confronted his stares.

"Um Eric?" Kyle asked. "Why are you looking at me?" Eric didn't say anything and just moved his head to Bebe, who was sitting next to Wendy at the end of the table. "Oh her, look Eric I'm okay and so is Bebe, why does everyone have to act like a break up is such a big deal or should I be upset? I'm still friends with Bebe and she's friend with me, we just weren't comfortable dating anymore, don't be concerned because there's nothing to be concerned about. Okay?"

Eric wanted to retort but there was nothing to say. He glanced at Bebe, who looked perfectly fine and almost relieved. He knew that Kyle was right and that there was nothing to be concerned about and Eric was relieved. He had always thought that in relationships there was just good and bad, lover and bitch but that wasn't true. Sometimes it is mutual it when something ends, just as when something begins. In their school couples seemed important, with himself and Butters, Stan and Wendy, the new and popular couple Nicole and Token and all the others. It seemed like that was the only way to be happy, was to have someone by their side. Kyle did have people by his side, his friends and family, he didn't need a girl in his life and visa versa for Bebe. Kyle was perfectly happy, there was nothing to be concerned about.
"Okay." He grinned. "Well, if you aren't upset about that, then you'll join the rest of us at the mall after school." Kyle nodded and smiled. "Indeed I will."

"Are you sure it doesn't hurt?" Eric asked Wendy as the group of friends walked closer to the jewelry store. Wendy nodded and smiled. "It will feel like a little pinch and then your ear gets a little warm but overall it's perfectly painless."

"Where are you going to get pierced Eric?" Kenny asked. "Are you going to get your right ear pierced?" He grinned in which Stan chuckled and Cartman rolled his eyes. "I'm only getting my right ear pierced because I'm right handed, nothing to do with your stupid ideas."

"Sure, Sure." Kenny chuckled. "But it will make your sexuality more obvious." Eric shook his head and felt his hand being squeezed and glanced at Butters, who was walking besides him, hand in hand. "Are you okay baby?" He asked. "Your hand feels warm...I mean are you feeling alright?"

Butters had been in a slight trance until Eric said his name. He looked up at him and smiled, his face was slightly flushed but Eric assumed it was because he was blushing. "I'am fine Eric." He smiled "I'm just thinking about how good looking you are." Eric wasn't fooled by Butters's smile and he knew that Butters would compliment him when trying to distract him. Butters frowned and kissed his cheek. 'I'am really fine honey, really, stop worrying about me." He said almost desperately. "Just go on with Wendy and get your ears done, I'll see you at the food court." Eric sighed and nodded. "Okay just stay with Kenny okay? He's the only person I trust you with." Butters nodded as Eric let go of his hand and walked away.

"Just stay still." The woman said, lifting the small gun to Eric's right ear. "This won't hurt a bit." Eric nodded and made sure to stay still as he felt the needle go through his ear. He winced slightly and opened his eyes once the earring was safely in his ear. "It looks pretty good." Wendy complimented. "But you need to make sure you care for it, make sure it doesn't get infected." Eric nodded and thanked the employee and gave her the proper payment. He stood up and walked out of the jewelry shop with Wendy. He was quieter than usual for his mind was still on his boyfriend, h tried not be overprotective but, Butters meant more than the world to him. He couldn't help but think that there was something wrong with him and he was honestly worried.

"Eric?'' Wendy asked as the two of them walked to meet up with their friends. "You seem distant...are you worrying about Butters?" Eric looked at her, realizing she knew exactly what he was thinking about. "I noticed he's been coughing and looking feverish.." She said. "You don't think he's sick do you?" Eric frowned and shrugged, he wanted to say of course not, but he wasn't sure. "I'll get him checked out just in case, don't worry Wendy." He said, playing with his earring. "But I doubt there's anything wrong, don't worry."

"Butters are you sure you're okay?" Kenny asked for the fiftieth time. 'You really don't look so good." Butters was leaning on the wall and his face was very red and he kept wobbling on his feet. He couldn't stop coughing and felt like he was going to die. "I'm...I-i'm...fucking fine..stop asking me!" He spat. "Please stop..I'm fine.." Kenny looked surprised by his sudden outburst and felt even more worried. He placed a hand on Butters's shoulder. "Dude...you really don't look good.."

"I'm fine Kenny." He repeated and continued to walk forward, but was starting to feel dizzy. He looked up and saw Eric and Wendy walking over to them. "Eric...baby....Eric..." He mumbled, a small smile forming across his lips. "I'm coming to ya.....I'm coming...........I'm gonna get there..'

Eric saw his boyfriend walking over to him and smiled. "Hey Butters...Butters?" He frowned seeing how sick he looked and ran over to him. "Butters!"

Butters felt more tired with every step and felt gravity pushing him down on the ground. He finally couldn't take it and passed out on the mall floor.

"BUTTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!"