Bunny - Battle of the bands

Chapter 42

"You're on thin ice, Cartman."

"You're so different now, Kenny. You used to think my jokes were funny but look at you... you're a snowflake."

"I've never thought you were funny. I just felt bad for you."

"Do you feel bad for Butters too? Is that why you're watching over him so closely? That... murderer?"

Kenny clenches his fists. He's ready to knock the fat boy out.

Stan and Kyle step between the two. "Woah! Both of you, stop! You're getting too heated. Calm down before you kill each other."

Kenny takes a deep breath. "Sorry..."

Kyle looks at Cartman. "You too, fatass. Apologize."

Cartman rolls his eyes. "Sorry."

"Good. Now both of you sit down. We are going to hear Butters out."

The group all sits on a few chairs in the garage. They face Leo, ready to hear his story.

Leo looks nervously at Kenny. Kenny nods. "You can do it."

Cartman shrugs, "The guilty nev- ow!" Kenny kicks Cartman's shin.

"It's not your turn to talk, Cartman."

"Jesus, Kenny! Chill!"

"Leo, it's all you."

Leo nods. "Right. So... it started a few years ago, my parents sent me to Bible camp. I met Bradley there. He was really nice, and we started dating. As we got further into the relationship he started acting more and more controlling..."

Cartman scoffs. "Don't speak ill of the dead."

Kenny kicks him again, harder this time.

"Ow!"

Leo continues. "I told him I thought we should maybe break up, and he said he was gonna kill himself if I broke up with him. He texted me and I ran as fast as I could to the old bridge. I tried to talk him off the edge but he jumped anyway. I watched him fall and..." Leo trails off.

Kenny faces the others. "See? Not his fault. Whoever wrote this article is framing him. Does it say who it's by?"

Stan looks at his phone again. He sighs and looks up at Kenny. "Warner records..."

"I should've fucking known it was Tammy."

"What does she have against Butters?"

"She tried to blackmail him, he didn't do what she said, and I guess this is her revenge."

"Jesus. She's dramatic."

"Yep."

Cartman glances at Leo. "Guys. I think we need to talk."

Stan turns around to face Cartman. "About what?"

"Alone. Without Butters. Just for a sec."

Kenny turns to Leo and nods. "It's okay. We can call you back in when we're done."

Leo sits in the hall, playing with his white shoelaces.

After 5 minutes, Stan calls him back in.

When he walks into the room, the vibe is completely different.

Kenny is staring at the floor, he looks angry. Kyle and Stan look guilty, and Eric Cartman looks proud of himself.

"What..?" Leo waits nervously for their answer.

Stan looks to Kenny, who is still staring at the floor, pouting like a child who was denied something they wanted really badly.

Stan starts. "Look... Butters, we talked and... we agreed that... well, most of us agreed that maybe... you should withdraw from your position as band manager..."