Title: The Good and The Bad

Rating: T (for now but may very likely be M later)

Pairing: Normal!Kevin/Rev!Edd/Normal!Edd

Note: ok so this is the first time I write any sort of story since jr high and... I don't know... anyway, I've never used this site for publishing stuff obviously and I'm not sure how it all works so I hope I set this up right lol. Please help me out if you see I need it! Also, I don't know if those are the right genres but meh.
-~Oh! and Rev!Edd belongs to Asphyxion

Chapter One:

Everyone knew the kids of the cul de sac and, more in particular, everyone knew the troublesome Eds. Eddy came up with the scams, Edd made them possible, and Ed helped things fall apart. When things did fall apart, all three boys received their just desserts but Edd usually took the worst of it.

Though he got along well enough with everyone and never caused a problem on his own, Edd was just an easy target for bullies or anyone just having a bad day. At school, his punishments would range anywhere between spit balls in class, to a shove to the shoulder in the hallway, to being dragged somewhere away from faculty eyes for something a little more thorough like a swirly. A couple of hits was the most he would receive when the punishment was not manifesting from one of Eddy's failed schemes. The damage was never more then a couple of bruises and perhaps a few scrapes usually caused from him trying to get away from his assailants. Though he would rather have none of it, there were times he would find himself relieved to only receive a hit rather than have his head shoved in a filthy toilet. After such attacks, it was the only times he entered the locker-rooms to wash his hat and hair out. He'd learned to carry a spare hat with him just in case, but fortunately these types of attacks were not frequent. This was his life, like it or not- and he really didn't.

He remained quiet about it at school since he found telling teachers only proved to make the bullies go after him more after a mere "stern talking to and call to their parents" from the principal. His friends from the cul de sac did what they could to make others back down when they were around but unfortunately they could only be with him for short periods of time between classes. Even Kevin, his bully for as long as he could remember, started taking it easier on him at school when he saw that he was getting enough without him adding to it. Still, occasionally Kevin still gave him a hard time, though it was mostly verbal.

However, when he got home, Eddward would do one or all of a few things depending on how much he had had to put up with that particular day or week. He would cry, scream into a pillow, or do a one-man role play against the wall, shouting all the things he wished he had the nerve to really say. Then he would imagine what it might be like to actually stand up for himself and dish out some of what he had been made to take. Finally, he would jot down the events of the day and how he felt in a journal he kept by his bed. True, none of this actually made the situation better but it certainly helped him alleviate some stress.

Edd did not know when this would all cease, but he did his best to remain optimistic and believe that this type of life, one with at least one sore spot or bruise constantly on his body somewhere, would not be forever. He really was tired of it. He was finding that he was even having dreams in which he actually stood up to his tormentors. And then there were those couple of times recently in which he found words of retaliation on the tip of his tongue as hands grabbed and shoved him. He was so close to saying something but the fear of getting a beating stopped him.

He sighed now as he lay in his bed ready for sleep, looking up blankly at the ceiling. What made people so angry that they would actually lay hands on another person without a thought? Someone who did not even have anything to do with said anger issues? "Well," he thought, "I suppose I may consider lashing at my attackers, if I had the strength and backbone, for all they put me through." He sighed and with that final thought, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

{~}

"Hey Double D!" Nazz greeted Edd with a bright smile and a wave. She was walking down the hallway towards him and Edd had to admit, she looked beautiful in the morning light streaming in through the windows of the building. It gave her a kind of angelic glow that just fit her so perfectly. Edd had gotten over his childhood crush on the popular blonde years ago but he still felt a familiar flutter because of her on occasion. She was simply a radiant person and he could not help it.

"Good morning Nazz! Bright and early for the meeting regarding the class trip, I presume?" He said, shutting the door of his locker.

"You betcha," she giggled. "I'm so stoked. No doubt, this trip is gonna be awesome."

"Yes, I do hope to have a pleasant experience. The preparations are coming together nicely, so things should go without a hitch." They walked together to the classroom in which the meeting was to be held.

The class trip was one for biology students. They would be going to a camp near a river where they would be studying and observing the plant and wildlife. The trip would last the entire three day weekend so, as there was only a couple of days left, there was one more official meeting before school today to make sure everything would be in order.

Eddward was not actually a student in the class, he had already completed his science/biology requirements, but he was a floating TA and had volunteered to assist on the trip. Even he could barely hold his excitement for the weekend.
Others who would be joining the trip were Eddy, Ed, Kevin, and Rolf but none of them were on the organizational team. Nazz was not part of the team either but she liked to sit in on the meetings to stay in the loop and give her opinion on the schedules and arrangements without actually holding any responsibilities for any of it.

"I heard there was a waterfall near the camp area. Will we get to go there?" Nazz asked almost as soon as the meeting started. She asked only out of curiosity because she had her mind made up that she would get to that waterfall with or without the teacher's approval. She had heard that there may be issues about visiting the waterfall this year because of something that had happened on last year's trip. The thing was, the waterfall was one of the main reasons all the students would get so excited to go. Aside from being a beautiful scene, they had been told by former biology students that there was a rope swing hanging from a branch on one of the lower ledges of the waterfall's cliff side that they would use to swing and jump from into the water below. Nazz could hardly wait to try it out.

"We realize that in the past, students have had a wonderful time during this trip and always looked forward to visiting the waterfall. Unfortunately, due to some risky horseplay last year which came very close to a serious injury, the option of returning to that spot is still under heavy discussion." One of the staff replied.

Edd knew that his friends all really wanted to get a chance to go to the waterfall and would find a way to do so even without the supervision of the adults. He would much rather they all went together with staff there to make sure nothing would go awry. He dreaded the idea of being dragged along with them only to very likely get caught and risk marring his flawless school record. He raised his hand and got the room's attention.

"If I may, I believe the location of and around the waterfall would make a wonderful area to find some rather interesting fungi and other flora," he said matter-of-fact. "To deny eager learning students from such an experience would be a travesty for the trip as a whole. Surely we could speak to the students and lay some ground rules regarding behavior and responsibilities while visiting the location. I say, we can even give fair warning that if their behavior does not stand to par, they risk the chance of being left behind or made to return to the campsite while the rest of their peers enjoy themselves with a memorable learning experience."

"Yeah! Right on dude!" Nazz blurted out as the staff murmured for a moment among themselves. After a minute, one faculty member Edd knew from the front office stood up.

"We will continue to give it a little more thought, but it does seem probable to have a visit to the waterfall. Though, that is in no way a promise," the older male gave Nazz a firm look and she pulled in her lips and covered her mouth with one hand and then smiled. She was pretty sure it was a done deal, Edd had a way of making the faculty feel confident in depending on him and his ideas.

The rest of the meeting went by smoothly and everyone had their duties set for the trip. With only a few several minutes before the first bell would ring, the group within the class could hear the students filling the hallways. Everyone was dismissed and Nazz and Edd walked out together, talking about what they hoped to get out of the trip. Nazz just wanted to have fun and go swimming while Double D just wanted to make sure to help provide a good educational experience for at least one student.

The day was going well for Edd, no disturbances yet and there was only one period left. He stopped at his locker to get a book for his final class.

"Hey Double Dweeb," Edd heard someone say from the other side of his locker door. He felt his muscles tense for half a second and his heart skipped a beat. Peering around the locker door, he saw Kevin standing there, a faint smile on his lips that any other person probably would not even notice. He did not think Kevin himself noticed he was smiling. But Edd noticed; he took note of the smallest details when it came to the redhead. He was unsure of when the habit started but it was not until recently that he realized he did it at all.

Eddward was still coming to terms with the fact that he may be developing some sort of feelings for his childhood friend/bully. Their friendship was never a normal one and if he had feelings for him, he just could not even fathom how things would work. Not to say that he even held the slightest bit of hope that his potential feelings would be reciprocated.

Swallowing hard, he said, "Well, hello there Kevin. Lovely day isn't it?"

"Heh yeah I guess. Listen, I was just wondering if you could help me out with some assignments. I don't think I'll get much done this weekend you know? With the whole trip and everything."

"Certainly Kevin. It would be my pleasure." Edd smiled his friendly gap-toothed smile and closed his locker. "Shall we meet later today? The library perhaps?"

"Could we maybe go to your house or something? I like listening to music when I work on school stuff. Helps my mind flow. Can't really do that in the library," Kevin shrugged.

Edd thought about it and decided the previous day's cleaning was sufficient to have guests over. "That sounds fine. I'll meet you after school."
"Uh, well I've got baseball practice after school. Would it be too late to come over afterward?"

The bell rang, signifying students should be in their classrooms or well on their way to them. "That'll be fine. I'll see you then," Edd was already turning to head over to his next class but felt a light punch to his shoulder before he could take his first step. He turned his head back to face Kevin.

"Thanks Dork. Catch you later," Kevin smirked and jogged off in the other direction.

Edd felt a small twinge pull at the edge of his lips as he turned back once more and rushed off to his own class. Since when did being called "dork" feel like something endearing? He brushed the thought away and entered his classroom, not noticing his cheeks were the slightest shade of pink. He sat down and took out his notebook, textbook, and pencil, ready to start his lesson.

Today really was turning out to be a good day.

so like I said before, this is my first attempt at writing a story and putting it out there for others to read. Super nervous and not sure it will even get a read BUT trying to be optimistic and I'm asking for reviews and constructive criticism please!