Build me up, Buttercup.

Chapter Six: it's still no piece of cake

POV: Kenneth McCormick

I've been trying to find a reason to see Leopold again. If I'm going to get to the bottom of this, the first thing I need to do is see him, and this was when God decided to bless me with a group project. Never thought I'd be looking forward to school work, but here I am, waiting for Ms. Garrison to pick the groups whilst crossing my fingers like a little kid. I paid no attention to the words spilling out of her mouth until I heard my name. Followed by Kyle's. Then Clyde's. And finally Butters'. I exhale in relief. For once I'm glad she's choosing groups by seating charts. I turn around to face Butters. His head lay down on his desk, his arms crossed over each other, and his face appeared relaxed. He let out gentle breaths. I watched as his back rose and fell in a slow peaceful pattern. I turn around to see Ms. Garrison is still droning on so I reach in my bag, pull out a notebook, rip a page out, and slip the notebook back in my bag. I lift my head to see if I've caused a distraction and continue on when my question is answered. I scribble on the paper then fold it up. I then turn back to face the tranquil sleeping Leopold and reach over to carefully nudge the paper under his arms. I turn back around to face the front of the class room and just sit. Waiting for this to end. I feel a buzz in my pocket and sneak a look at my phone. Kyle had already made a group chat.

bb kyle 😍, misquitoman, and leo (4)
bb kyle 😍- Hello, we've only got 2 weeks on this project before we present. What book are we thinking of choosing?
misquitoman- hey. uh idk i liked the outsiders. i dont really care, as long as it's one of the not boring ones.

sexyman- hey guys 💪 how bout omam since we just finished that one

bb kyle 😍- Of Mice and Men sounds good with me.
misquitoman- sure
misquitoman- what's butters opinion on this

I could see Kyle lift his head to look around the room then back down at his phone.

bb kyle 😍- I think he's asleep.
bb kyle 😍- Kenny you're close to him, you wake him up.

sexyman- nah let the man sleep, it's almost lunch break any way
sexyman- he'd be fine with omam. it should be pretty easy to do. only got 6 chapters.

bb kyle 😍- Alright.
misquitoman- 👍

I turn my phone off and slip it back in my pocket just to stare up at the clock hanging on the wall just waiting for the bell to ring.
Tick, tick, tick.
Time went by and yet Ms. Garrison never failed to find something more to talk about. I turned around to look at Butters once again. His figure was still rising and falling in that same slow peaceful pattern. His pale hair fell over his face. His delicate face. Round pink dusted cheeks, plump rosy lips, beautiful long lashes, light freckles lining the bridge of his curved button nose, everything about him looked like something straight from a painting. My eyes met Cartman's. He sat behind Butters. He made a face at me and I promptly turned around. My eyes once again gravitate towards the clock. Only 2 more minutes.

It wasn't long before the bell rang and Kyle ran up to me, nudging me playfully in the shoulder. "Hey dude!" We begin to walk out of the room and into the hallway swarmed by students ready for their lunch. "This project actually sucks ass. It's boring but we should be able to get it done quickly. It's not too hard."

I shrug then nod my head in agreement.
Kyle and I continue to make our way through the maze of people.  Shortly after beginning the journey to the cafeteria, a short startled cry produced by Kyle was heard. Stan, as he frequently does, had walked up behind Kyle and poked his fingers into his sides. "Dude!" Kyle's face grew red and both Stan and I let out a chuckle.

"Hey Kyle. Hey Kenny. Man, wait for me next time! I ran down almost two hallways to catch up with you assholes!" Stan swings his arms around me and Kyle, wedging himself between us.

Kyle scoffed, "You were too busy making out with Wendy anyway."

"Haha. Very funny. She's in my group for the project, dude. We were just talking about which book we wanted to do."

Kyle only rolled his eyes and changed the conversation. Whatever it was about occupied them so much that they hadn't noticed when I made it to my locker.

I had stepped aside to put in my locker combo, twisting the knob right, then left, then right again. I hate having to carry around a sack lunch and I hate hearing about it from Cartman. I close my locker shut with a clank and start my trek through the treacherous halls to the cafeteria.