TW: This story does involve some mentions of self-harm. I will mark the chapters and the sections in the chapters that mention or have it in there. Please try not to worry, there isn't much. Once Edd moves, it stops. I can't hurt my favorite little nerd too much!)
Eddward "Double D" Vincent woke up that morning bright eyed, bushy tailed and ecstatic to begin his first day of high school. Needless to say, he was out of bed, dressed, had breakfast and was out the door in record time, running over to his best friend's house. If he was honest with himself, he would admit that things have been strained between the three lately. They were growing up and growing apart and while he did not like to see that happen, he knew that childhood friendships sometimes didn't last forever, no matter what ridiculous promises you made.
Pushing all thoughts aside, he made a promise to himself to try to get their friendship back on the right path this year. "Eddy! Wake up, it's the first day of high school!" he calls out, knocking loudly.
The door opens to reveal a as usual crabby Eddy. Eddy just grunted in greeting "Why are you always so excited, Sock head? It's just school."
"Oh, come now, Eddy! Try to be excited!" Edd smiles brightly as they walk to get their lovable oaf, Ed. "Just think of all the new possibilities that await us!"
"Yay, four more years of living in the shadow of Kevin the douche bag. How fun..." Eddy complained rubbing the bruise on his arm.
"Well if you would stop antagonizing him, he wouldn't hit you" Edd explains right before Ed busts out of his house and tackles them both in a bone crushing hug. "Double D! Eddy! My two bestest pals!"
"Get off me, Ed! You're too strong for this shit!" Eddy snaps, pushing out of the hug. Ed whimpers like a puppy, making Edd glare at Eddy and tap his foot. "What?! Nothin' good ever comes out of a Monday morning with school!"
"That is no reason to take it out on poor Ed, Eddy" Edd says crossing his arms still holding his glare. "Now apologize."
"I'm sorry Ed hugs like a vice!"
Double D sighs "It's alright Ed, Eddy just hates the world. Come on, lets go before we are late!" he calls back, dragging Ed after him leaving Eddy behind.
"Double D! Do you think they will have gravy for lunch today?!" Ed asks happily.
"No, Ed but I took the liberty of making you lunch as a 'happy first day of school' present" Double D smiles, holding up a lunch sack with Ed's name on it.
"Oh boy! I hope..." Ed looks inside and squeals happily "BUTTERED TOAST!" Kevin was just coming out of his house and walking to his bicycle when he heard Ed cry out. He just scoffs and shakes his head "Dorks..."
"Oh, come on Kev, get over it" Nazz giggles.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and Eddy will just leave us alone this year, huh?" he asks hypothetically. He doubts that Eddy finally learned his lesson.
"I dunno, maybe? Let's just get to school" Nazz tries to persuade him, hopping onto the back of her best friend's bike. Kevin sighs and groans before kicking off and riding down the sidewalk. Cutting down one of the back alleys, he scoffs as he sees the dorks walking. 'Damn...' he thought before speeding up and zoomed past them.
Nazz yelps and grips the seat having almost fallen off "Damn it, Kevin! Warn a girl!" she hisses.
"Salutations Kevin and Nazz!" Edd calls out pleasantly, ignoring the bad look that Eddy gave him. Kevin just rode right past them, tossing a wave over his shoulder. Nazz called a greeting over her shoulder but held onto Kevin's waist.
"Double D, do you think Kevin like wheelbarrows?" Ed asks staring after him Edd laughs softly. "Oh Ed, I'm sure I don't know."
"Who cares about Shovelchin?!" Eddy squeaked.
"Oh, are you there, Eddy?" Edd sasses "I didn't know you cared enough to comment..."
"I don't know why all of the conversations we are having this morning is about that asshole!"
"Because you keep bringing him up Eddy!" Ed points out making Edd snickers. He knew that Ed was smarter than he let on.
Kevin pulled up at the bike rack, letting Nazz off before locking his bike securely. The Ed Trio walked up minutes later, saying their hasty goodbyes before they rush off to class. Strangely enough, Double D had his first class with Kevin and the only seat available was right behind the red head so he sits down and gets ready for a wonderful day of learning.
Kevin rolled his eyes as Edd sat behind him. He promised Nazz that he would be nice to the Ed's this year unless they started with him first. The week before Eddy got on his bad side with his usual scams and Kevin's anger snapped, punching the shortest Ed in the arm. From what he was hearing, Eddy was still bitching about it, which made Kevin smile.
The incident in question was a debacle in Double D's mind and that was saying something. In his opinion, Eddy deserved more than a punch. The kissing booth was a bad idea to begin with but then Eddy started harassing Nazz and Edd felt like Kevin deserved an apology for it so he gathers his courage and taps his shoulder. "E-excuse me, Kevin?" he murmurs timidly.
"Yeah?" Kevin looked over his shoulder, trying to not look as surprised as he was that Edd was talking to him.
"I- I wanted to apologize for Eddy's behavior the other day" Edd says, biting his lip nervously. He knew Kevin wasn't his biggest fan but he really did deserve the apology. "I've decided to put those childish schemes behind me as I'll not be helping him with them anymore. I don't know if it makes a difference, surely it doesn't after everything in the past..." he begins rambling picking at his fingers nervously though he had no idea why he was so nervous. It was just Kevin…
"Don't worry about it, seriously. I may not be the brightest crayon in the box but I'm certainly not the darkest either. I know Eddy was the main one, you and Ed were just going along with it just to shut him up."
"I-indeed. Just let me know if I can do anything for you, while Eddy is set in his ways, I would like to put the past behind us and maybe even become friends" he says brightly before stopping in his tracks panicking. "A-although I would completely understand if you don't wish to do that!" he says back tracking feeling like an idiot.
"Well, you would have to stop being scared of me for anything remotely close to friendship happening" he teased lightly.
"O-oh no, Kevin. I am not scared of you, I just get nervous when I am out of my comfort zone" he explains, blushing softly. "That and coupled with the fact I've been rambling like an imbecile" he laughs awkwardly.
Kevin chuckles "Regardless, I appreciate the gesture but you didn't have to." The teacher came in and called the class to order, causing their conversation to be put on an indefinite hold.
Edd happily sits there absorbing all the wonderful plans that the woman had for their class. When the bell rang, he was able to make it out into the hall before he was knocked down by one of the other students. "Watch where you're going!" the guy hisses making Edd flinch back as he begins gathering his belongings. "O-of course, m-my apologizes" he muttered.
Kevin shoulder checked the guy "Leave the dork alone. You don't have to be an asshole your whole life, Matt."
"Why? Is this little fag your boyfriend or something?" he hisses, making Edd blush brightly and gather his things quicker before standing up.
"I-it's quite alright, Kevin. It was my fault" he lies wanting to avoid conflict.
"Shut up, no one asked you!"
Kevin turned and pushed Matt hard into the lockers. "That's strike two... you don't have to be someone's boyfriend to be a decent person! YOU shut up!"
Matt glares at him but stays silent as Edd walks up and puts a hand on Kevin's shoulder. "Kevin, please… it's alright, I'm fine. There is no need for violence at a little name calling because I was clumsy" he says softly.
"I'm not having members of my team be a part of any stereotypical bullying bullshit. He's gonna be doing laps with me tonight at practice..." Kevin glared at Matt, promising an unpleasant practice tonight.
"Kevin, there's really no need" Edd insists picking at his nails and biting his lip.
"Whatever..." Kevin scoffed and turned to walk away, making sure that Matt and his friends walked away too. Edd scurries off to class, not wanting to be late and trying to forget that even happened.
As the weeks pass, the bullying persisted. Kevin did try to not let it happen but he couldn't always be there and he didn't need it on his rep that he was hanging around with the nerd of the school. Nazz was getting more and more frustrated with him as where his parents since his grades where slipping into the 'danger zone'. Eventually, his Chemistry teacher called him into a private after class meeting. "What's up?" Kevin greeted nervously.
"I'm afraid to say that if you don't pass the next big chapter test, that you're going to be kicked off the JV team. You need at least a B on it" Mr. Wilson sighs deeply, knowing that Kevin was actually trying but failing.
"What?! That's shit! I'm really trying! I can't help that I don't understand!"
"I'm sorry, I don't want you to get kicked from the team as I can see you are trying hard. The only thing I can think of is for you to get tutored by my top student and that's if he will help you. As of late, he has been refusing to tutor anyone."
"Can you ask him for me? I'll pay him..."
"It's not my grade, you ask him. His name is Eddward Vincent and you better not waste his time or bully him in any way" the teacher warns.
"Well if he has been refusing to tutor, what makes you think he will tutor me?!"
"Go ask him, he is your last chance. He has free period right now he should be in the library, you can't miss him. He sticks out like a sore thumb" Mr. Wilson says writing a note to excuse him from the first half of his next class and passing it to him. "Now go on and be nice!"
Kevin groaned, taking the note and left the teacher's office. He grumpily made it to the library and tried to search out Double D. 'He's not going to help me! My friends have been bullying him since school started! Ugh!' he thought bitterly.
The nerd in question was reading up on the latest issue of science weekly for fun having already completed any homework he had. Finally finding him, Kevin reached out and gently grabbed his shoulder. "Hey..."
Edd yelps and flinches "Please not today, gentlemen!" he squeaks quietly falling out of his seat.
"Whoa! Dude! I'm sorry, it's just me!" Kevin jumped back.
The small Raven sighs in relief and sits back in his chair. "Salutations, Kevin. I do apologize if I startled you" he says visibly relaxing a bit as he brushes wrinkles out of his pants. "How may I help you?" he asks automatically assuming he needed something.
"I-I need your help... I know I'm the last person you should feel obligated to ever help but I really need some guidance in chemistry. If I don't pass this test at the end of the month, the school will kick me off the football team."
"Of course, I'd be glad to help" Edd smiles brightly "anything for a friend."
"Really?! Mr. Wilson said that you were refusing to tutor people this year?"
Edd blushes and nods, biting his lip "Yes, well I have a lot on my plate but I can help you. It's no problem."
"A-are you sure? If you have a lot of your plate, then I can see if I can find someone else. The test isn't until the end of the quarter."
"No! No absolutely I'm sure, I don't mind at all!" he says quickly "as I said anything for a friend and you've been helping me behind the scenes as it were."
Kevin sighed gratefully "Great, when are you free so we can study?"
"Well, I am free every night really. It's a matter of getting you free from practice" he muses biting on his lip.
"I'm normally home around 5-ish... did you want to do this at your place or mine?"
"I would feel more comfortable in my own home, thank you" he responds immediately.
"Alright, well I'll be there between 5 or 5:30. Thanks a lot, Edd. Can you do me one last favor and keep this between us?" Kevin askes shyly, he didn't want Edd to be targeted more because of helping him.
Edd blinks in confusion but nods "Yes, of course I can."
"Alright, thanks. I'll see you at 5!" Kevin turned and walked out of the library to his class which he would probably just skip anyway.
The rest of the school day passes much the same way it always does for Double D, mercilessly
his own, however, it was Matt and his friends. He was currently in the middle of doing said homework when his doorbell rang. "Oh dear! I lost track of time!" he gasps, standing up forgetting about the piles of paper on his coffee table before he opens the door. "Good evening, Kevin, come in take your shoes off, please" he says motioning him to enter.
Kevin kicks his shoes off and places them neatly by the door. Looking around he sees the spacious home was immaculately clean and tidy, nothing seemed out of place. "Whoa... your place is super clean, dude."
"Yes, well I have a slight case of OCD and it's just mother and I so I make sure the house stays clean" he giggles pulling down his sleeves to hide his arms. "Please this way" he says motioning to the living room. "Are you hungry or thirsty?" he asks.
"Some water would be nice. I'm dying from practice."
"Of course, make yourself at home. I'll be back in a moment, would you like some pizza?" he asks walking into the other room.
"Yeah, if you got it" Kevin sat on the white couch and set his bag on the floor. He was exhausted, not only were his teachers breathing down his neck but so were his coaches. He sighed and leaned back against the soft cushions, feeling his tired body start to relax.
Edd comes back a few minutes later with a bottle of water. "I hope cheese is alright, that's what I ordered" he says handing him the water before he begins cleaning up all the papers.
"That all your homework? How do you have time to tutor me?"
"O-oh... no don't worry about all this" Edd says dismissively hiding the names on the papers, pushing them into a notebook.
"Are they still bugging you?" Kevin asked, seeing Matt's name.
Edd stiffens for a moment and tugs at his sleeves "I don't know to what you are referring to" he says finally pushing the papers off to the side.
"Tell someone. Tell the teachers or something. It pisses me off that I'm struggling but trying my hardest to keep my grades up to stay on the team but they can cheat and not have to worry about it!" Kevin crossed his arms and sat back with a huff.
"I don't want to cause problems and besides it's-it's no problem it's not like I have a life. Not now that Eddy won't talk to me anymore" he sighs.
Kevin cocked a brow "Why won't he talk to you?" He didn't know why he asked, he really didn't care but it just popped out.
"Uhm, well..." Edd sighs. "I finally told him that I wasn't going along with any more of his schemes and he got angry and took Ed with him" he says with a sad shrug. "But that doesn't matter, let's get started on this chemistry! What can I help you with?"
"Everything but I just need to get a B on this next test to buy me some time."
"I'll help you as long as you'd like, it's no problem." Edd says opening the text book to the first chapter they went over. "We will start from the first chapter we studied and move on from there. If there is information that you understand, let me know and we will skip it. No need to tutor you on things you already understand and waste that time."
As the evening drew on, Kevin was finally starting to get some of the easier stuff when he noticed Edd yawning. "I should get going. Thanks for the help, Double D" he says swinging his bag on his shoulder with a grunt.
"Oh, no problem! If you'd like help with your other homework, I'd be happy to help. I'll be up for a while yet with all this" he sighs deeply picking up the stack of homework.
"You're tired, I can see it. It's cool, don't worry about it. You should get some rest. Don't let those guys use you like that."
"Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be fine" he murmurs, pushing up his sleeves, his tired mind making him forget that he was covered in bruises and cuts.
"Wha-? What happened to your arms?"
Edd blinks in confusion, following Kevin's gaze before he quickly pushes his shirt sleeves down again. "Nothing to worry about. Have a good night and pleasant dreams" he says dismissively.
"Look, I'm not good at this sort of thing but-" Kevin was cut off.
"But what Kevin?" Edd asks quietly staring at the papers in front of him.
"You don't have to do that. You're way smarter than that."
"Yes, that is all I have going for me" Edd scoffs. "I can't very well defend myself. I already went to a teacher about it but because they are on the football team, they just got a slap on the wrist and I got a slap in the face" he says, sounding a little bitter but then sighs and smiles gently. "Have a good evening Kevin, I will expect you same time tomorrow."
For whatever reason, Kevin felt bad. No one should have to go through that. He approached Edd "Give me some of them, Double D. Let me help you."
"I can't, these all have to get an A and if they don't I suffer for it" he says softly.
"I'm tryin' to help you here, dude..."
He sighs and bites his lip "A-alright..." he nods taking a few of them and handing them over. "Thank you, Kevin" he says softly, looking relieved and exhausted. In truth, he hadn't been to sleep at a decent time for over a month and it was dragging him down. He figured he could just correct all the mistakes, which would be easier than doing the homework fully.
Kevin grabs a huge chunk of papers and quickly leaves before Edd could mutter a complaint. He would take these directly to the Head Coach and make sure that this stops. Edd stares after him in horror and while it did take him a bit to settle down and relax, he was able to get some good rest for once. It was very refreshing to feel well rested in the mornings again.