Kevin Barr stared at the back of his sleeping boyfriends head. While the ebony haired teen slept soundly on, the redheaded jock stroked his pale shoulder and couldn't help but remember how they ended up here, barely a year before.

It was the last Saturday before the start of Junior year and every kid from the cul-de-sack had turned out to Nazz's end of the summer, bonfire blow out. Kevin Barr strolled in and surveyed the scene. Music was blaring from a stereo at the edge of the clearing. Sarah, Jimmy, Nat and Rolf were dancing next to the food table. Johnny was sitting on a log by the fire laughing at something plank had said. Lee and May Kanker were trying to get Ed and Eddy to dance while their sister Marie stared moodily at Edd as he talked to Nazz, who was shifting through CDs.

The bonfire raged on in the middle and Kevin couldn't stop himself as he gazed longingly at the double dweeb, thinking about how the sockhead's blue eyes shone in the full moon's light. Any passing viewers would probably assume he was still lusting after Nazz, their breakup at the fourth of July picnic had been publicly 'brutal'. Kevin had asked her to make it that way after he had came out to her. His feelings had been purely platonic but he'd kept up the charade to save himself, but he couldn't handle it any longer. He was gay, and he was completely smitten by the nerdiest of the dorks.

Nazz had been hurt of course, but she understood. She had promised to keep his secrets for him and remain his friend. That was nearly two months ago.

Kevin sighed. It was then that Nat noticed him standing hunched in the shadows. He danced his way over to the redhead.

"Where ya been man, you're late!" He laughed.

Kevin rubbed the back of his neck and replied, "I was, uh, tuning, my, uh motorcycle."

Nat looked at him skeptically but shrugged him off and said, "well you're here now let's party!" He grabbed Kevin's had and dragged him over to where the others were dancing.

Kevin decided it was futile to evade him and that he might as well enjoy the fun. He forgot about his internal anguish for the moment as he laughed at Rolf who was doing a weird spastic jig.

"I can do this", he thought "I can have fun, right?"

A few hours later, everyone was winding down sitting around the smoldering fire, talking and telling ghost stories. Kevin sat between Nat and Nazz. Nat was bobbing in and out of conscience. Kevin snuck a peak at Edd, he was giggling at something Ed just said while Eddy groaned and told the 'lump' to stop acting stupid. Nazz caught his glance and elbowed him in the ribs. Kevin flinched and glared at her.

"What!" He demanded.

"Are you ok" she asked him quietly.

"I'm fine, Nazz. Really don't worry." He was lying and she knew it, she didn't press the issue however but instead stood up and exclaimed,

"Alright, who wants s'more's?"

Everyone yelled in unison as Ed jumped up saying,

"Me, oh I want mine with gravy Nazz! Please?"

There was a mix of laughs and groans from the crowd at this, as the teens got up to assemble the s'more's equipment.

It was in the sudden commotion that Kevin slunk off to spend some time with his thoughts. He didn't get away unnoticed though.

Edd saw Kevin leave and got up to make sure he was ok. He found the football player smoking a cigarette underneath a tall oak tree.

"Smoking is extremely unhealthy for you".

Kevin jumped at the sound of his crushes voice and turned around stammering,

"D-double dork! I d-didn't hear you come up."

Edd was slightly taken aback at his reaction, but brushed it off as nerves about the impending school year. Most of his classmates didn't share his enthusiasm for learning. "Oh well" he thought.

"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you, Kevin, I just wanted to see if you were ok."

Kevin stared at him perplexed. Edd wanted to make sure He was ok? Kevin cheeks flushed pink. Luckily the dim light shaded it. Or so he thought. Edd saw it all too easily, but said nothing on the embarrassment.

"I'm fine double dweeb, just a lot on my mind is all." Kevin crushed his cigarette under his sneaker.

"I understand, a new school year can be extremely stressful and-"

"Dammit, dork not everything is about school!" the redhead shouted as he threw up his arms and slumped on the ground defeated. Edd looked at his former childhood bully balled up on the ground. He sat next to him, suppressing the urge to mutter filthy, filthy ground, and asked,

"Then why, pray tell, are your stress levels so high Kevin? You can talk to me."

Kevin couldn't look him in the eye and didn't say anything for a minute.

"I don't know, I just, ugh I, I." He trailed off and looked up at the night sky.

"I don't think you'd understand dork."

Edd laughed suddenly.

"What?" Kevin demanded.

"I'm sorry Kevin," he said between suppressed giggles, "I don't mean to laugh, I just think you forgot how much I understand and can handle." laughter subsiding he took a deep breath and said

"Sorry, please do continue Kevin. I promise not to laugh again."

Kevin raised an eyebrow and said,

Since when did you become so cocky double dork?" Kevin secretly liked the skinny teen's newfound confidence though.

"People change Kevin. Now please tell me what's bothering you."

Looking at him one last time, Kevin stood up and balled his hands in the pocket of his jeans. He sighed, looking anywhere but at the adorable sockhead and said,

"Fine, I'll tell you ok? Only if you promise not to judge me or to laugh at me."

"I swear Kevin, I'm not one to pass judgment, and I am truly sorry for laughing before."

Kevin snuck a quick peak at Edd before looking quickly away and saying,

"Look, there's someone I've liked for like, a long time. And I've never been able to tell them. I'm losing my mind over it and I can't do anything about it! There I told you, happy?"

"Oh Kevin, romantic feelings are nothing to be ashamed or afraid of. It's a natural human process. Everyone has them. Just tell whoever it is, how you feel. It's the first step to becoming happy."

Kevin looked at Edd, noticing how the gap in his white teeth glinted in the moonlight. How his sock hat covered his black hair almost all the way. God, he was cute.

Sighing, Kevin quietly said, "but what if they don't like me back double dweeb?"

"Well," Edd said slowly, "if the feeling is not reciprocated, there's not much you can do. It wasn't meant to be. And you can't blame yourself, Kevin. It'll just end up hurting you, and not them. You can only try."

Kevin didn't know what to say. He looked at the adorable nerd sitting on the ground. Goddamit, he thought were his blue eyes twinkling?

He sat back down, putting space between them and lit up another cigarette. He sighed again and meekly said,

"Thanks dork, I guess I did need someone to talk to."

"Anytime, Kevin" . "but may I ask you a question?"

"I guess" Kevin said as he puffed his cigarette. "What is it?"

"Who is the young lady you are pining for?"

Kevin stared him right in those piercing blue eyes and said,

"It's not a girl Edd."

"Oh m-my, I see." The scrawny boy stammered. "I certainly understand why that would be difficult for you."

"You do?"

"Well, yes. I do actually. I still think you should go for it though."

Kevin pondered what the dork just said as hi put his cigarette out.

"Sooo," Edd prodded.

"What?"

"Who is the 'boy' you are pining for?"

Kevin weighed his options for a moment. It was useless though, the nerd was right. He had to take his chance. Kevin took a deep breath and said,

"You, ya dork." And kissed him on the lips.

END CHAPTER ONE

I hoped you liked it. It's my first stab at any fanfic. Feel free to constructively criticize...