South Park: Dragging Me Down

Elation

"So, what did he say?"

"He said he could deal with it and stayed sitting there."

"Fucking bitch."

Michael flicked open his lighter and ignited his cigarette tip. A little ash fell onto the rug he shared with the other goth kids. "It's not his fault. Kid's ridden with anxiety. Seems to be getting worse."

"Inner demons or some shit?" Henrietta put in.

"Yeah. Nobody likes him. Could be grating. Don't know about his home life, though."

"Didn't underoos say he had nowhere to go?" Pete added, taking a drag of his own cigarette.

"Yeah, that's right. Maybe he's homeless."

"Cool. Wish I was." Firkle replied dreamily. He hated living with conformist parents who didn't understand him.

"Totally." Henrietta agreed.

Michael shook his head, thinking back to his interaction with the British teenager. He honestly didn't know why he was bothering with him. The goths usually looked out for themselves and themselves alone. It's just that the kid was so... different. He was a nonconformist like them. Obviously not by choice, but he was completely ostracized by the student body. Michael felt the need to protect him. He had no idea why.

It was strange.

"E-Excuse me?" came a soft voice from behind him.

The goths looked up to see a trembling Pip standing at attention by the garbage bin. He was hugging himself and his eyes were locked on the ground, not wanting to bring attention to himself. "Hi, um... y-you said you wanted me to c-come here?" he said meekly, eyes locked on the floor. "B-But if you've changed your mind I can go, it's fine."

Michael tried to hide his surprise. "I haven't changed my mind. Come hither."

"Uh..."

"He said come here, dumbass." Firkle filled in.

"Oh! O-Okay!" Pip hopped over to their blanket and swiftly sat down, hugging his knees.

The other three eyed him suspiciously.

Pip was still trembling. He didn't know what he was doing. He was taking a big risk even being here. Michael's words had been whirling around his head. It had dawned on him that for some reason the tall goth was actually trying to help, so he had finally decided to grow some balls and follow up on his offer.

Pip finally found his voice. "So, um, d-did Mysterion ask you to-"

"No."

"Oh! Y-You can just pretend I'm not here... if you want... anyway." he mumbled with a blush, holding his head on his knees.

Pete raised and eyebrow, "Why?"

"If you find me u-uncomfortable to be around..."

"Why?"

"Uh... because I'm strange?" he squeaked.

"Dude, just stop." Firkle groaned.

"We'll be the judge of your character, not you." Henrietta added with a haughty sniff.

"So stop with the self-deprecation. It gets old."

"S-Sorry!"

"And stop saying sorry!"

Once again they'd caught him off guard. He hadn't expected them to be this... nice, even if they were snapping at him. He bit his tongue and hugged his knees tightly.