Another chapter of supreme awesomeness etc. (AND A PLOT! GASP!!!)

That's right… the plot thickens… and… we introduce a slightly new problem. You may understand when you read it.

Well… I don't want to give anything away… so read it!

Peace
Peeve

Chapter Seventeen
I Try

"You know something, Bebe… I had an epiphany during Chemistry."

"Oh yeah, what was it?"

We were sitting in the bleachers watching the boys at football practice. Bebe had volunteered to take a couple of the boys home so I was keeping my blonde friend company while she was waiting. I had taken the opportunity to discuss my problem with her.

"This is all happening because I said it was cool to date… I am of a different belief now. Maybe, it's just not the thing for me just now, with mid-terms coming up and everything it's a lot of pressure."

"You have no guts, you know that right."

I shot Bebe a look and sighed. "Yeah, you're right of course."

Bebe sighed and rubbed her temples. "Look, Trace, the best way to sort this out is to work out who you like the most."

"What about boy four?"

"If he is just going to complicate things maybe you should forget him." Bebe said.

"Anyway, you know how I am… I like them all the same… I don't even know if I like any of them romantically." I said, watching Craig run across the field, following Kyle and keeping him protected as he ran to score. Ever since the game last weekend, Clyde had them working hard together as a pair. I think he wanted them to keep up those dynamics. I wondered what would happen if they knew they both liked me.

"Well… why don't you find out for sure?"

I frowned at her, not fully understanding what she was getting at.

"Huh?"

"You know… work out what you do think would make you romantically attached to a guy and go with it."

I leant back in my seat and thought for a second.

"Not Tweek." I said, "And in all truth I think he is mistaking gratitude for love." I said, "So that leaves Craig and Kyle."

I looked back over at the two players who were currently taken a break. By the looks of it Kyle was saying something to Craig and Craig flipped him off. I frowned as I watched Kyle shove one of Craig's shoulders only to receive the same treatment in return. From their it only escalated. Within moments the two of them were throwing punches. Without thinking I ran down the stairs of the bleachers and out onto the field, screaming for them to stop but they didn't seem to notice.

Clyde and Stan were trying to restrain their respective best friends but both boys seemed pretty serious about whatever had started the fight.

"Stop it!" I yelled, grabbing both their arms and using every ounce of my strength to tear them away from one another. I think that my physical actions did very little, but my words had managed to get through to them. They both back down, throwing dirty looks at one another. Craig flipped Kyle off. Not his usual half-hearted one, this finger was full of meaning.

I shot a glare at Craig but he didn't see.

"What the hell was that about?" Clyde yelled at Craig as he let go of him.

"Dude, not cool." Stan said, letting go of Kyle and brushing some lose dirt off his shirt as though it mattered.

"It's nothing." Craig muttered, turning and heading over to the bench. Kyle hadn't said a word now he muttered something to Clyde, who nodded, and headed over to his things. He picked up his bag and headed towards his car. Clyde sighed and headed over to talk to Craig.

I made up my mind and followed Kyle towards his car, jogging to catch up.

"Kyle!"

He half-turned to me then turned forward again.

"Sorry Trace."

I looked to the side. "No use in crying over spilt milk. You hurt?"

He shook his head and kept walking towards the car. I followed and drew level with him. He popped the boot and shoved his bag in the back. He was still filthy from all the racing around, and his cheek was slightly swollen, probably from one of Craig's punches.

I sighed. "Kyle."

He looked at me in a calculating manner, as though trying to decide something. "Mm."

"Take care of yourself, alright. Call me if you want to talk. I'm still Tracey you know." I said with a smile. He nodded and climbed into his car. I watched as he started the car and backed out of his parking space. I raised a hand as he drove of, but I wasn't sure if he returned the gesture. I sighed and turned back to the field. Craig was heading over with his bag, obviously intending to walk home as well.

"Would you like a lift?" I offered when he was close enough to hear. His head snapped up, as though he didn't notice I was here.

"Ah… thanks."

I motioned with my head for him to follow and led him over to where 'Veurr' was parked. I unlocked the doors and we both climbed in. I spent a few minutes adjusting my seat after Kenny had driven until it was comfortable again, then started the engine.

We drove in silence. I wasn't sure what to say to him, and he appeared to be sulking. We finally pulled up outside his house and for a second neither of us moved. I turned to him slowly.

"Craig, if there is a problem, you know where I am, and I will always help you out."

Craig nodded. "Even if it's a problem with Kyle."

I nodded. "You guys have been good friends for ages, I don't get why you guys would just start fighting like this."

Craig turned and looked at me, his blue eyes burning into me. I had never been at the mercy of such a serious look before. He blinked and looked away again, opening the door.

"It's nothing." He said, closing the door behind him and walking towards his house. I watched him go, feeling I had left something unfinished.

My mobile began ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket and flipped it open.

"Hello."

"Hey Trace, where'd you go?"

It was Bebe. I suddenly realised I left without saying anything.

"Oh, sorry Bebe. I just was giving Craig a lift home."

"It's alright, I'm about to drive Jason and his friends home. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm going to head home now then. I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah, alright. Talk to you later."

I flipped my phone shut and started the car again, driving home slowly as I contemplated what had just happened. I laughed to myself.

"That dynamic duo didn't last very long."

As Kenny had said, he wasn't at home when I got there. I threw my car keys on top of the counter and dropped my bag. The house always felt really empty when no-one was at home, and I didn't really like it. I switched on the TV so there was some noise then looked in the fridge. When I couldn't find anything to eat I flipped open my phone.

'Do you want 2 get take-out for dinner 2nite?' I sent the message to Kenny and waited for a reply.

With all the junk food I was eating lately, soon I was going to be a blimp. I flaked out on the couch and flicked through the channels, looking for something fun to watch. I eventually stopped on some cartoons, I am still a child at heart, after all.

Kenny came home around 9:00. I had become too hungry to wait for him and had already ordered Chinese. He was stuck eating my leftovers, cruel but true. I was about to head to bed when my phone rang.

"Hello" I said, waving for Kenny to be quiet (he had chosen that moment to start watching some sport that meant he had to yell at the TV).

"Hey Trace."

"Oh, Kyle. What's up?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. I hadn't completely gotten over the awkwardness after all.

"It's about Stan."

I frowned. This couldn't be good, if Stan and Kyle were fighting this could mean serious overhaul for me. I was already making my way upstairs to the cookies.

"Yeah, we're at his house. You might want to come over. Just use the front door, his parents are over at my house."

"Alright, I'll be there in a bit." I said. I hung up and shoved the phone in my pocket.

I grabbed the box labelled 'Stan' (The box labelled Kyle hadn't been refilled yet and I made a mental note to do something about it) and shoved it in a back-pack before heading downstairs.

"Going out for a little while Kenny. Don't wait up."

"Alright, good luck."

I opened the door and made my way out into the street. It was just beginning to get dark outside, and already there was a chill in the South Park air. I decided to walk to Stan's, being that it wasn't very far away. I got there and saw the door had been left open. In a place like South Park there were any number of reasons why you wouldn't do that. I stepped inside, closing the door behind me, and looked around.

It seemed pretty normal in the Marsh Household. The TV was on, showing re-runs of some old cartoon. I took my back pack off and put it down by the coat stand. I slipped my shoes off and headed upstairs, assuming they were in Stan's room. As it turned out, only Stan was in Stan's room and Kyle was sitting outside with his back against the wall.

"Oh… again?" I asked, suddenly realising how many conclusions I had jumped to.

"Yeah, again. He won't come out."

I sighed and walked up to the door and knocked a couple of times.

"Stan."

There was no reply.

"Stan, if you can hear I want you to know that Kyle and I will be sitting out here until you're ready."

I slid down and sat next to Kyle with my back against the wall.

"Why did they break up this time?"

"Something about him being to boring or something like that."

I sighed and dragged a hand down my face.

"How annoying."

I pulled out my phone and flipped it open I intended on playing a game of Tetris while I waited but my phone came up with the symbol of a battery, indicating only limited power left. I sighed and pocketed the phone once again. I leant my head back so it touched the wall.

"Are you alright, Kyle?" I asked, turning to face him. He turned and looked at me and had to restrain myself not to admire his sparkling emerald eyes. My god! I was making Kyle out to be some God in my head. I made a mental note to ask Bebe what that meant later. I felt clueless.

Now would be good time to point out the number of lies I tell. I can't help it. I don't want people to worry about me or get caught up thinking about me so I make up lies. I've never had a boyfriend. In fact, until I got to South Park no guy every even showed any real interest in me. Now here I was, stuck in this weird situation with guys liking me left, right and centre. What was with that?

"Yeah, I'm fine." He said with a half smile.

"It really hasn't been your day. Well your afternoon. This morning really wasn't my morning to tell you the truth." I said, scratching the back of my head. Despite what I was saying my mind was back at home, trying to remember where I put my phone charger.

"Yeah, I guess so." He said. We sat in silence for moment then Kyle looked at me again.

"Did you really kiss Craig?"

I instantly felt my face flush slightly at the memory. That would explain why they had fought. In fact, it made almost perfect sense.

"Well, if we are going to get technical, Craig kissed me." I said. Kyle looked away again, his head sinking lower.

"So, that's why you left last night, because you and Craig already have a thing?"

I sighed. "Yes and No."

"Huh?"

"I left because of Craig but not because we 'have a thing'. We…" I tried to find suitable words to describe or current relationship. "…aren't anything really serious."

Kyle looked away again. I watched him for a moment, something about his face made me half-smile. I couldn't help it anymore. I put my arms around him and pulled him into a hug.

"Don't make that face." I said quietly, "That's cheating."

He carefully put his arms around me and pulled me into his embrace in return. We stayed like that, and I would have been quite happy to stay like that forever. However, suddenly the door happened and Wendy stuck her head out.

"Stan! We have mission success!"

Kyle and I both jumped back, looking suitably bewildered and confused by Wendy's appearance.

"Mission… success?" I said slowly, frowning slightly

"Wendy! You could at least pretend it wasn't a set-up!" Stan growled from somewhere in the room.

"Set-up…" Kyle said, a frown creasing his brow.

Stan appeared in the doorway, rubbing the back of his head.

Suddenly something clicked in my mind and I leapt up off the floor.

"You guys didn't really break up!" I yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Wendy. She grinned sheepishly.

"Well, we didn't like you and Kyle being all weird with one another so we devised a plan to get you guys friends again."

I sighed and face palmed. "God, we weren't awkward."

I looked at Kyle and saw his frown had deepened and he was glaring daggers at Stan.

"Whatever." I said, "I'm going home."

I turned and headed down the stairs for the front door, picking up my back pack and opening the door.

"Ah, don't you want to hang around for awhile?" Wendy said from the top of the staircase. I assumed Stan and Kyle were still outside Stan's room, Kyle probably suitably pissed with Stan.

"You do realise there is school tomorrow. I would like to get some sleep." I said, tugging my scarf tighter around my neck. The wind had picked up since I'd arrived and snow swirled through the air. I dug in my pockets and pulled out my gloves, pulling them on.

"You're too good."

"No, I'm just sensible." I said, stepped outside. "See you tomorrow, Wendy."

"Alright, take care."

I made my way down the path and out onto the side walk. The wind blew icicles through the air and swirls of snow danced across the sidewalk in front of me. Despite my clothing I still felt the icy chill.

I was about half-way home when I heard a noise which made the chill spread to my bones. It sounded like someone screaming. I ran in the direction of the sound, a small side alley, mostly sheltered from the element. I could make out figures moving in the shadows, just out of sight. I stood to one side of the entrance, out of sight and peered cautiously into the dark.

"Stop, please stop!"

It was a girl and several boys. By the looks of things if I didn't do something quick the girl would be in serious trouble. However, I knew I wouldn't be able to do much so I quickly moved back and pulled out my phone, intending to call Stan and tell him to come meet me. However, my phone decided to die at that moment. I felt the chill once again rake my body.

"Stop it! Why are you doing this!"

I heard one of the guys laugh, rather manically. The voice was unfamiliar to me. I pocket my phone again. I tried to think what to do, the now muffled screams making it difficult to think coherently.

"I'll tell you why. Your one of that bitches little friends, and a friend of ours doesn't like her. So we figure the best way to fix this problem is to take her down of her high and mighty pedestal you've all got her on."

More muffled screams. I couldn't run back to Stan's, it was too far, and no-one else lived close enough for me to go to. It was just me here. I didn't like my chances against at least four larger guys. Yet, I couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Yet more muffled screams and heavy guffaws. I glanced again. They were still only roughing her up, but I knew it could get more serious at any moment.

"Tell me, is your little guardian angel going to protect you now?" One guy said, pushing the girl up against a wall, illuminating her face in a ray of light. Tracey gasped.

The girls blonde hair was dragged across her face, sticking to the blood which ran down one side. Her pale blue eyes were wide with fear. She had been gagged and her hands were tied behind her back but I instantly recognised her.

"Bebe." I hissed under my breath, hiding her head again.

"Yeah slut, where's your little loser friend now? At home, comfortable no doubt. Enjoying being South Park's Little Helper."

My blood ran cold. There was only one person who ever got called that, in all the little hick town. And that was me.

I was the source of Bebe's misfortune.

End Chapter Seventeen.

Well, a lot happened, which must be good for all those readers out there wondering if I am dead or alive. I have the next chapter all planned out already so it won't take long.

Isn't inspiration a wonderful thing?

Peace
Peeve