Tangled in South Park

Ringing in the New Year

*The Next Day*

"Stark's Pond is beautiful in every season, but I especially like it during winter with the snow on the trees, and the pond is so pretty frozen over," I smile as I look up at Kenny.

The two of us are bundled up to keep the cold out as we walk around the pond. I'm hugging one of his arms since we can't hold hands with gloves on. It was suggested by Karen and Ashlyn that we get out of the house for an hour or two to spend some quality time together that we haven't been able to have in months. After all the time we spent as a group yesterday, we thought that it would be a wonderful idea.

"Not as beautiful as you," Kenny makes kissy noises as he steps closer to me.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," I chuckle, shaking my head. "This feels surreal, you know? I know that your special ability is that you come back when you die no matter what, but I really started to worry as the countdown got smaller."

"I would never lie to you, princess."

"I know," I sigh. "It was still scary to think that maybe this time would be different. That it wouldn't work out like last time. I just got scared, because I love you so much, and I spent so much time thinking and waiting for you. Fuck, I some you so damn much."

"I will never get tired of hearing you say that. I love you too, princess. I love you so fucking much, and I am so glad that I am back among the living. That I get to spend time with you and everyone else."

"I actually have a few things that I want to talk about with you, bring you up to speed on a few things in my life. Nothing like the conversation that we had on Christmas. More lighthearted things, I guess you could say."

Kenny chuckles, "What's the first thing on your mind then?"

"Well, we kept up the tradition of going to the coffee shop after church, and I would just go when I needed to get away and draw, so I spent a lot of time there watching Tweek go crazy trying to work that entire store by himself. Of course, Craig started to come and help out, but I thought that I would start working there once school started back up to help make pastries. Tweek and I actually talked about it one day, and I could even take orders if it got busy. Though, most of the time I would be able to draw at the counter. With you back, I thought that you would probably want to get back to work there too. I think it would be lovely to have us working there together. Well, not really together, but you know what I mean."

"It will be just like how it was when I was working there before. You'll be drawing at the counter as Tweek and I take and make drinks. That sounds like a wonderful idea. I'm sure Tweek will love having the extra help, too."

"I know he will," I nod. "He would get so worked up when he was all by himself, and I can't believe his parents don't help at all."

"They are the ones that got him addicted to caffeine to the extent that he was, so I really doubt they would care if he got overwhelmed."

"Tweek and I also talked about having better hours, so that people can't just come in late at night to get a treat or whatever."

"That's good. As long as we have time to be together, hang with friends, and do your art, I am okay with whatever you say regarding working there. Just tell me my hours and I will be there."

"Next topic of discussion is less fun than that. It started during spring break, but I didn't think it would get as out of hand as it did. Bebe has a serious issue with me, one that I don't quite understand. She attacks anything about me that she can think of, and she finds ways to make sure that she can fight with me. It got to the point now, where I don't put up with her bullshit. I dish back what she is throwing at me. I don't eat lunch with the girls at school any more either. I didn't want to get into fights with her, so I distanced myself. Wendy finally was able to talk to her about the whole deal, she told me at the Christmas Eve party she held. She thinks Bebe won't go after me anymore, so I'm going to try hanging out with them again. We'll see how that goes."