Sweet Dreams

Part 7

Kenny woke up with a start and looked around, he was in his room, yellow sunlight seeping in through his tattered curtains. He sighed and got up, he walked over and put on his parka. He walked out of his room, already used to hearing the same argument, he knew where to find Karen and how to cheer her up.

After dropping Karen off at school he headed to his own school. He had barely walked three feet inside the building when he felt someone grab his arm and pull him aside. He was about to punch someone until he saw it was Butters.

"Oh hey Butters" Kenny said, giving him a gentle smile.

"Kenny I am going to tell you something and you need to believe me." Butters said.

"Yeah okay, Leo are you okay?" Kenny asked and went to feel the blonde's forehead.

Butters pushed his hand away, "I'm not sick Kenny, I'm just confused and hoping what I'm about to say was just a really bad dream"

Kenny raised his brow but said nothing, he was honestly scared to hear what Butters would say.

"Kenny, I had a nightmare where I fell off of something.... And well I fell to my death. You were there Kenny, the pained look you had made it feel too real" Butters whispered, tears forming in his eyes as he spoke.

Kenny felt his heart sink as he heard what was said.

"L-Leo..... That wasn't a dream" Kenny said, his voice so quiet.

Butters looked at him at a loss for words, he couldn't believe it was anything but a dream. He was standing right here holding Kenny, he could feel everything. The heat from Kenny, the cold of his tears that were rolling down his cheeks.

"But how? I'm standing right here" Butters said.

Kenny grabbed his hands and held them gently, "Leo I feel like now is the time to tell you this. I can't really die. When I do I just wake up in bed the next day, and no one remembers I died."

Butters stood there, completely silent. He looked confused or in utter disbelief. Kenny waited for his answer, holding his breath, what Butters would say is all he worried about.

"I don't really know how to respond to that Ken. I feel like it couldn't be true but at the same time could be" Butters said looking at the floor.

Kenny just nodded, "I get that, and you don't have to believe me"

"Well if it's true Ken, I'm sorry, that just sounds awful" Butters said softly.

Kenny smiled, the gentle voice of the small blonde made him feel calm and happy. Butters laid his head on Kenny's chest, he felt safe in his arms, if only he could stay there forever.

The two stayed like that until they were called to the office over the intercom. Butters immediately got scared, Kenny grabbed his hand and walked with him to the office.

When they got there both Kenny and Butters's parents were there. Butters gripped tighter on Kenny's hand. As soon as they walked into the principal's office Butters's dad saw the two holding hands.

"Please sit down," PC Principal said.

The two did so, Butters now visibly shaking, Kenny looked at him and gave him a small reassuring smile.

"So I called you two into today because you skipped your morning class and well we can't have that," PC Principal said.

"Especially you Butters. You're already failing most classes" Butters's dad said.

Kenny glared at him, he hated Butters's dad, he was a prick and treated Butters like a prisoner.

"Also I don't want you spending time with this McCormrick, he is a bad influence and you're a bad enough kid already" Butters's dad continued.

"Hold on, our son is a fine influence, if anything your son could be a bad influence." Kenny's mom said.

Of course that started an argument between the parents. Kenny glared at them both then looked at Butters, he was crying and shaking. That was it, Kenny stood up and turned to the parents.

"Shut up!" Kenny yelled then looked at Butters's parents, "Have you ever wondered if your son is failing because you make him feel like he can't do anything without either pissing you off or getting grounded!?"

Everyone fell silent and just looked at Kenny, Butters got up and held onto Kenny's arm. It stayed quiet before Butters's dad stepped forward.

"This just proves my point, this child needs to learn to respect adults. Now Butters come here, you're going back to class and when you get home you're grounded" Butters's dad said.

Butters's dad made the mistake for reaching towards Butters who kinda flinched. Something clicked, butters flinched when his dad reached for him, Kenny noticed and snapped. Without thinking Kenny smacked the hand away.

"Don't touch him" Kenny snapped at him, "And if you ever try again I'll make sure you absolutely regret it"

Butters's dad stepped back, everyone was shocked. Kenny was usually the chill quiet kid, but now he was pissed off.

"Kenny calm down" Butters whispered, still holding onto his arm.

Kenny looked at him and nodded, he grabbed Butters's hand and dragged him out of the office ignoring the adults yelling after him.

When they were about a block away from the school Butters stopped Kenny.

"Kenny where are we even going?" Butters asked.

"I don't know, but away from them. I saw you flinch, I figured it out..." Kenny said.

Butters looked at him and began to cry, he didn't know what to say. He just held onto Kenny and buried his face in his parka. Kenny felt his heart break and just held Butters, gently patting his back.

They were quiet for some time, just standing there. Only when they heard someone call out to them did they pull away and looked in that direction.

It was Stan and Kyle, they ran over to them.

"Why are you guys not in school?" Kenny asked as Butters went back to holding onto him.

"We heard what happened and left to come find you guys. Butters's dad is beyond pissed." Stan said, "He said that Butters isn't welcome back at the house unless it's to take his things.''

Butters began to cry again and held onto Kenny tighter.

"Then I guess we're heading over there to do just that. Wanna help?" Kenny asked them.

Stan and Kyle nodded. Kenny then led the way over to Butters's house.

By the time they arrived, Butters's parens were waiting for him.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Butters's dad asked.

"Picking up his stuff, now move so we can do that." Kenny said

"Then that means he found somewhere to stay correct?" his dad said.

Butters was quiet and looked at Kenny, who knew he couldn't stay with him, his house sucked and honestly he wanted to leave.

"Yeah, he's gonna stay with my family for a bit," Stan said.

"Fine, come get his crap then" his dad said and stepped aside.

The boys walked inside and up to Butters's room, then began their work.