As Cartman and Kyle sat next to each other at lunch on Monday, a new overwhelming sensation of joy came over them. Cartman had been greatly relieved that Kyle had asked him the question that nagged at him for so long. Oddly enough, there were some weaknesses that he did not want to expose around Kyle and asking him out seemed to be one of them. Nevertheless, everyday after that they felt more comfortable around each other, they looked into each other's eyes and instantly knew they were both happy.

Despite this, holding back their affection in public became torturous. Now sitting at lunch, Kyle and Cartman sat side by side, only their legs casually leaning against each other as they tuned in on the middle of the conversation.

"I don't believe you," Stan exclaimed.

"I shit you not," Kenny said, holding his hands up in defense. "The kid actually believed I was the Russian secret police. You can do anything with a phone nowadays."

"What happened? What'd the kid say?" Kyle asked.

"I texted him saying he needed to 'take a personal survey for data purposes only,'" Kenny said, making air quotes with his fingers. "I asked him to elaborate on any psychological problems he had and how he would feel participating in a 'human experiment.' He started getting paranoid; it was hilarious."

"That's fucked up," Stan said, grinning.

"But funny," he corrected. He looked up at Cartman who was looking down playing with his food. "You've been quiet," he pointed out.

Cartman brought his head up. "Just... tired, that's all."

Kyle stared at him but Cartman avoided eye contact.

After a few seconds of silence, Craig approached the table with Tweek at his side. They all looked up.

"Hey," Craig said. "You all are free this weekend, right?"

The boys all averted their eyes and mentally shuffled through their weekend plans.

"I'm open," said Kenny.

"Yeah, me too," agreed Stan.

Kyle and Cartman subtly made quick eye contact. "Uh, I'm free this weekend."

"I think I'm good. What's going on?" Cartman asked.

Tweek excitedly interjected and responded in a strained tone, "We were all planning on driving up to Craig's log cabin in the mountains that his parents never use. You guys should come."

"Your parents are just letting you take people up there?" Kyle asked.

"No," Craig responded. "They're gonna to be in Vegas for like a week."

"They leave on Friday," Tweek added. "We have the whole weekend."

"Who's taking care of your house then?" Stan inquired, slightly concerned.

"What's there to take care of?" Craig shrugged. "Meet me at my house on Friday at 7 pm, okay?"

"Okay," they all agreed. Craig and Tweek turned and walked back to their table.

"I didn't even know Craig's parents had log cabin in the mountains..." Stan said, and as the boys began conversing again, Cartman rubbed Kyle's thigh, looked him in the face, and smiled a genuine smile for the first time that day. Kyle smiled back as the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.

---------------------------------------------

The days throughout that week seemed a blur. Both Cartman and Kyle conceived a grumpy attitude, but not towards each other. They had not been able to spend as much time as they wanted to together and it was driving them crazy. Like Kenny mentioned, Cartman had been quiet lately. He resented the fact that he had to hide his affection towards Kyle in public. Cartman was always the one to act on impulses and now that he was deprived of it, he couldn't help but become greatly irritated by it.

When Friday finally came around, Cartman called Kyle right after he got home from school.

"Hey, you gonna come over before we leave?" Cartman asked over the phone as he lay on his bed, fatigued.

"Yeah. But one problem. What are you gonna tell your mom?"

"What do you mean? Just say you're going over Craig's house with a group of friends. They won't think anything of it. Now stop worrying like a little pussy and come over."

"I'm coming, chill," he responded playfully. "Hey," he said suddenly in a softer tone before they hung up. "You okay?"

Cartman stared, then smiled. "I'm fine."

"Okay, I'll come pack with you in a few minutes. See ya."

They both hung up as Kyle briefly consulted his parents on his "whereabouts." He took his bag and made his way through the snow towards Cartman's house. Cartman. My boyfriend. The word felt foreign even in thought. But he liked the feeling of Cartman being his. They could now look out for each other and after all these years, what they fantasized about was finally happening. It sent a pang of excitement into Kyle's stomach every time he thought about it.

Kyle's heart thumped anxiously, but joyfully, as he approached Cartman's front door making sure Cartman's mother wasn't home first. A few seconds after Kyle rapped on the door, Cartman opened it for him. They gave each other a quick peck on the lips as Kyle walked in and set his bag down.

"You didn't pack yet?" Kyle asked.

Cartman scoffed. "We have time. It's only 4."

He yanked Kyle by the edge of his pants and pulled him closer to his body. Before he could react, Cartman's tongue was in his mouth, moving sensually around his inner lips. Kyle sighed gently. Kyle kissed Cartman's lips as he pushed onto Cartman and attempted to get him up against the wall. While Cartman was vulnerable, Kyle charged Cartman against the wall which brought a slight rattle throughout the whole house.

"Damn," Cartman gasped, surprised by Kyle's sudden change in demeanor. Cartman had difficulty keeping up with Kyle's pace.

For the next 20 minutes, the icy wind rustled through the trees even though Kyle and Cartman's world seemed to stop as they were closer now than they had ever been.

Minutes later, catching their breath, in a happy, dazed state, they put on their pants and plopped down on the couch. Still recovering, Cartman pulled Kyle in and squeezed his arms around him tenderly while both of them closed their eyes and leaned into one another enjoying the glorious moment.

"I love you," Cartman whispered suddenly.

Oh no. Was that the sex talking? Or did Cartman really mean it? Kyle thought. This is what he was afraid of.

Despite his fear, he did love Cartman-ever since they were 10. "I love you, too," he whispered back.

Cartman smiled, then sighed. After what seemed like a glorious eternity, he gently got up from the couch, looked down at Kyle, and said, "I guess I better get packing now."

Kyle smiled and breathlessly said, "I guess you should."

Kyle lazily stood up and followed Cartman to his room to pack.

On the way, Kyle teased, "Dude, where's your mom?"

Cartman paused, realizing what he was implying, then chuckled, "Shut the fuck up."

Kyle giggled, took off his hat, and ran his hands through his sweaty hair. In Cartman's room, Kyle asked casually, "Hey, can I take a shower? I'm sweaty as fuck."

"Sure," he responded. The bathroom was connected to Cartman's room so Kyle quickly slipped in and ran the shower.

As Cartman packed and the pleasant hiss of falling water from the shower filled the air, he began regretting telling Kyle he loved him. Yes, it was true that he loved him, but he became increasingly concerned about his timing. He didn't intend to say it right after sex, but in the heat of the moment that was all he could utter. He hoped Kyle didn't take it the wrong way. Knowing Kyle, Cartman assumed he did just that.

As Cartman walked downstairs with his bag to wait for Kyle, his heart stopped. His mother was sitting on the living room couch, browsing on her phone. She must have just gotten home. She looked up.

"Leaving to go to Craig's house, hun?"

Shit. Kyle was still in the shower. "Yeah, I'm about to leave. But there's something I forgot upstairs."

Before he could make his escape upstairs he noticed something that caused his stomach to drop instantaneously. He spotted the condom wrapper on the floor near the front door where he and Kyle had been. Cartman turned pale. Praying that Kyle wouldn't walk downstairs half-naked, he nonchalantly strolled over to the wrapper on the floor, picked it up, and stuffed it into his pocket. He glanced over at his mom who was still planting her eyes on her phone. Then, he nearly sprinted upstairs, ran into his room, and gently closed the door. He swung around and thankfully Kyle was almost fully dressed and ready to leave.

"What's wrong?" Kyle asked as he hastily put on a t-shirt and buttoning his coat.

"My mom's home. Listen, you came over. We played some xbox, maybe ate a little. That's it. Okay?" Cartman hungrily stared into Kyle's eyes for a hint of understanding.

Kyle nodded his head and picked up his bag. "Okay."

"Let's go."

As they got to the bottom of the stairs, Liane greeted them in her usual sweet manner: "Hey Kyle. I didn't see you there. Are you boys leaving now?"

"Yes, mom," Cartman quickly said as he rushed through the living room, picked up his bag, and opened the front door.

"Have fun, Eric! Love you," she yelled.

"Kay, thanks mom, bye," he rushed.

They both made it outside and breathed the cool, icy air. As they walked to Cartman's car, he pulled out the condom wrapper from his pocket and held it out for Kyle to see.

"Almost got us caught."

Kyle eyes widened, "Oh shit, dude."

As they got in the car, it was 6 pm and the sky dimmed as the crows eerily cawed overhead.