Cancer. The bodies biotic Mr. Hyde; a malfunction in the bodies cellular makeup. The disease had been known to beat down those financially as well as emotionally, and this had been Edds life since the middle of 8th grade. Five years of doctors visits, chemotherapy, surgeries and medications.
However, he had been better off than most financially, each hospital bill taken care off as to completely destroy his future. With his parents being talented and well known doctors in each of their fields he was still covered under their insurance, and whatever wasn't covered they paid for themselves. But where others lacked in funds they made up for it with emotional support, the one thing he lacked, the one thing he craved and desired more than anything. So many radiation appointments alone, too many times he had woken from surgery to find no one was waiting for him. No one to comfort him during the never ending painful nights, no one to ease his panic as clumps of hair were discovered on his pillow case. He tried his hardest to remain upbeat and act as if he wasn't fighting for his life.
No one from the cul de sac knew of Edds cancer other than his two best friends, they were there for him in the beginning during the summer before high school, however the cancer spread throughout his body more and more to the point where he didn't start school with the other Eds. But word of his exemplary intelligence the school provided him with private lessons to be held at the hospital and in between doctors appointments. But the absence of his parents grated on his soul; long nights and painful days made his heart darken causing his to become bitter and spiteful toward those who did help him. Ed and Eddy tried their best to be supportive to their sock headed friend still Edd knew they couldn't truly empathize with him, with his cancer, the absence of his mother and father nor his sexuality. Of course, with all that surrounded his life at the moment he was also gay.
He had never meant to tell his friends about his sexuality at least not as early as he did. By the time spring rolled around the second half of his freshman year Edd grew sicker and sicker with his chemotherapy at its highest dosage his kindness was all but worn thin; the fabric of his friendship with the other Eds was unraveling before his very eyes. Eddy had done everything he could to be the supportive friend and be understanding in his time of need but as bitterness overtook his friends warmth and it became more difficult to keep his thoughts locked away. That is until one snowy March Saturday as he visited his friend during chemo, Edd tried to forget about that day and the harsh words exchanged between the two of them. Eddy could no longer handle the pity party as he put it to which the ravenette retorted he no longer needed him to take part in his pity party; this shocked his friend although he kept his resolve. He barely remember most of the words that flew from his mouth that day other than spouting about being the 'gay kid with cancer'. At this point Ed had joined his friends argument, he chuckled at Eddy's response stating 'how he never noticed' heck most of the nurses had. The final straw that broke up the trio was Edd stating he didn't need anyone especially the other Eds; he visibly saw his shorter friends heartbreak at his words he never faltered however as he left the hospital with Ed in tow as Eddy spat 'good riddance!'
And with that the sockhead was completely alone; no parents, no friends, no one. Two weeks of being alone he go the news that his cancer had gone into remission, and just as the sun began to shine again, it still remained overcast in his life. He was able to return to school for the remainder of however he no longer wanted to be associated as the 'smart' Ed because no it was just Edd. He wanted to blend into the shadows and remove himself as just another one of the Eds.
When the fateful Monday for his return to school came around no one recognized him immediately for which he was thankful for, however he could hear the whispers echo off the walls around him. Who is that? Is he new, I've never seen 'im here? He's cute! He had matured physically in his absence from school, before the cancer and chemo he had been baby faced and lanky. However he had thinned out at the start of chemo and became incredibly sick losing his baby face. The doctors insisted a strict diet and exercise routine to unsure he retain some good health; he selected swimming. Over the months he had realized his natural talent for the sport helping add muscle to his once lanky body which helped bring out his strong jawline. Over the summer he had a significant growth spurt catching up to Ed's monstrous height of 6'5, cashing out at a solid six foot. He traded in his button ups, sweater vests, and khakis for black jeans, dark v-necks, and leather right before his return. He still sported his famous black striped beanie however now it was hiding his bald head as his body prepared to grow back hair. Eventually that had been his dead giveaway as the kids from the cul de sac recognized him one by one. Nazz was first followed by the Ed's, eventually Rolf and Sarah and then the rest of his former neighborhood friends. The last to recognize him was his former bully, the star athlete of Peach Creek High, Kevin Barr.
Edd would've been lying if he said he didn't harbor feelings for the ginger, but he'd take those feelings to the grave. Such a cliche, how the nerd had fallen in love with the star jock. Just shy of a year before his diagnosis he became aware of his sexuality and feelings toward his former bully, he was smarter than to expect him to ever requite his feelings. So he fell in love from afar and in silence. He recalled during lunch the same day as Nazz shouted his name across the cafeteria dragging said redhead through the crowd of students over to his table. Apparently he didn't believe the blonde when he told him Edd was back; he remembered the bewildered expression plastered on his face before he tried to resume his bullying antics before Edd put a quick stop to it telling him if he didn't renounce his tormenting ways toward the sockhead he better prepare to watch his back. Of course the redhead took his threat as an invitation to start an all out war between the two young men. Before the cancer and the hardening his heart Edd would have never even thought twice of engaging in physical violence, especially toward the man who he held so close to his heart.
But this was no longer the quiet germ obsessed dweeb that would allow to be pushed around any longer. Whether it was the fact his parents refused to care about him, his abandonment of his friend or the fact he would never know the feeling of Kevin accepting his love, something finally snapped within him when Kevin tested his luck by shoving him. It had been a fight to be gossiped about for months to follow, the star athlete taken down by a former nerd; fear overtook the student body after that memorable lunch hour. People avoided Edd trembling as he walked by, and storied of the fight were stretched to the underclassman as the cul de sac kids advanced throughout high school. In spite of that fight the ravenette was no bully by any means; no name calling or fighting that wasn't Edd's style all he wished was to be left be. A certain redhead refused to leave him be though; he wasn't sure if it was that he partially frightened the athlete closing in on his 6'3 height or he stole his spotlight with the ladies who quivered at the thought at being with a so called bad boy; if they only knew. Or was it simply the fact someone else stood up to him that angered the ginger to seek out the sockhead.
One day during the late fall of his sophomore year he had grown tired of Kevin's outbursts toward him. He stormed off before another fight leaving the jock confused; he didn't pay attention to where he was headed until he was exiting the school making his to the football field. Once he was on the turf he burst with anger and annoyance throwing his hat to the ground, his hair had grown back reaching slightly past his ears, he kicked at the grass before screaming until his rage subsided. During his fit he has neglected to make sure no one had been present; Marie had startled him, she had mellowed out since high school started forgetting her long time crush for him in discovering she prefered females to males. She opened her heart to him nonetheless; a hug, since his diagnosis no one had simply offered a hug to the ravenette. He was supplied with an endless amount of 'I'm sorry's' however those lost their effect long ago. That hug though expressed the first true sign of sympathy and his darkened resolves cracked under this small women's hug. For the first time since his life did a 180 he allowed himself to weep into her arms' no words, no explanation she let him relish in the comfort. At some point Edd confessed all his sorrows and secrets to her as she did the same, they became inseparable. He found it ironic how she used to torment him with nightmares and she became his savior from his nightmares. Overtime Kevin lessened up on his conquest for a fight with him.
Delicate fingers fiddled with his bangs that peeked past his beanie as he reflected on the past few years, his head lay in Marie's lap as they savored the calm silence brought on by the early summer day graced the pair with. Edd sighed, "He still pestering you?" The bluenette questioned without glancing from her book, he bit his bottom lip exposing his gapped smile before he decided to respond "I grow weary of his immaturity, however he irritates me to no end." He knew he couldn't hide anything from the petite woman, "Or you secretly enjoy the attention from him even thought it's not really positive." She shrugged. "Hardly," He smiled, the duo had only three weeks left of their senior year. Edd would be going to Peach Creek University in the fall only being an hour away in the city, however Marie got into Haven Hill, a private art institute, on a scholarship that was five hours away, He's miss her, she was his rock but he knew it was time to move on and not only from Marie, but it was time to move on from Kevin, he just had too.