"What's up dweebs?"

Kevin looked over Eddy's fence as he laughed mocking the boys on the other side. Ed, Edd (nicknamed Double D), and Eddy were clustered together outside Eddy's house. They had been discussing Eddy's newest "plan" to get money for jawbreakers.

"Whatda want Kevin?" Eddy asked without looking at Kevin. He was already irritated just by the boy's presence.

"I'm here to talk to Double Dork over there" Keven answered still laughing slightly.

Ed and Eddy gulped. They looked at each other then looked at Double D. Double D instantly reassured them.

"I'll be fine," Double D stood up from his place between Ed and Eddy in their circle. "Keven wouldn't dare hurt me while we're right here in front of your house". He smiled further reassuring his friends though Eddy was still skeptical.

Double D briskly walked towards Keven when Eddy called out. "Go talk to the blockhead but you better get you butt back here!" Eddy warned though there was caution and worry evident in his voice. Double D didn't respond but gave a smile grin as he continued walking, happy that the annoying penny-pincher was worried about him.

However, once Double D reached Kevin, his grin broadened. Kevin lost his tough, mocking demeanor and his voice lowered to a small whisper. He grew a genuine smile and blushed a bit as he looked at the younger boy.

"Hey Double D" Kevin greeted kindly.

Double D greeted Kevin back then asked him why he had called him over.

"I got something to show you. Think you can get away from your friends for a while?" Kevin nodded his in the direction of Ed and Eddy. Double D looked solemnly back at his friends a little upset to have to leave them so soon but quickly turned back to Kevin.

"I'll be ever so happy Kevin"

"Good. I'll meet you at the edge of the Kanker Sister's place". Kevin quickly leaned in giving Double D a quick, secretive peck on the cheek before taking off on his bike. His old demeanor returned and so did his mocking attitude towards the other boys. "See ya dorks!" Kevin disappeared around the corner, laughing.

Double D returned to Ed and Eddy, carefully lowering himself to sit between them. He let out a relived breath and shook his head.

"What happened Double D?" Ed asked clearly worried.

"Yeah what did the blockhead want?" Eddy asked irritated. He was just as worried as Ed but didn't show it.

"Oh nothing, Kevin wanted me to do his homework again. I denied him of course" Double D easily lied out loud but on the inside he was very nervous. His secret meetings before with Kevin had led to become a better liar but it still didn't make him feel good about it, especially when had to lie to his friends.

Ed smiled satisfied with the simple answer. "You are very brave for saying no to Kevin, Double D"

"Yeah, real brave Double D but what was that whispering about?" Eddy questioned with a raised eyebrow. His eyes were trained to Double D like hunter stalking its prey.

"What are you talking about Eddy?" Double answered calmly. He began to nervously fiddle with his hands as they laid in his lap as his mind moved a thousand miles a minute. "What if he saw the kiss!? I need to leave now before he picks up anymore suspicion but how would I without him getting even more of an idea than he already does. What to do, what to do, what to do, what to do…!"

Double D was bought back to reality with Eddy's voice. "Don't play dumb with me, I saw Kevin lean in and do something" Eddy answered accusingly.

Double D began to fiddle with his hands more, twisting and intertwining his fingers. "W-well you see he, I mean Kevin, he um…he-he….." Double D resisted the urge to bite his fingernails as he did when he was nervous. Looking away he began to become hysterical on the inside again. "What do I say!? Eddy saw Kevin! Oh dear me what am I going to do!?" He knew he would begin sweating, another nervous habit, if he didn't calm down soon. So by taking a mental breath, Double D calmed down enough to actually think. "Kevin often used to threaten us with a terrible beating. So by using the past against him I can easily use it as an excuse to what Kevin was doing and to get away. But by knowing Eddy, he'll want to follow so, I'll have to make up a fake time and-"

"Hello anybody home!" Eddy annoyingly hit Double D's back and shook his shoulders. This caught Double D's attention and he looked back at Eddy. Unknowingly, he had subconsciously turned his back to his friends and had cupped his chin rubbing it in deep thought. He grinned a small apologetic smile as he turned around to face Ed and Eddy.

"My apologies Ed and Eddy"

"It's ok" Eddy responded with a wide grin.

Eddy on the other hand, just waved his hand back and forth like shooing away a fly. "Yeah yeah whatever, just hurry up and answer my question; why did Kevin lean into you? And no stuttering like some idiot this time"

Double D stared at Eddy as he hid the sneaky smile he wore behind a face of fear. "I'm sorry Eddy but I was afraid".

Double D snickered as he Eddy's hard expression slowly start to melt into a face of worry. "Afraid about…?"

Double D sighed, pretending to be relieved. "After I denied Kevin my assistance on his homework I was about to leave when he leaned in very closely to me. He threatened to beat me and take my beloved hat if I didn't" Double shuddered. He closely watched the faces of his friends. There was no doubt he got Ed with his sob story. The taller, muscular boy was already was already pulling Double D into a tight, bone crushing hug.

"Poor Double D!" he cried.

Double D winced as Ed hugged him tighter. "Uh Ed, I can't breathe". Ed looked down at the smushed Double and let him go. "Sorry Double D"

Double D smoothed his wrinkled shirt as he giggled slightly. "It's fine Ed". Double D began to stand, wiping the dirt off his pants. "But I must go and prepare to meet Kevin".

Eddy stood waving his hands as he shook his head. "Whatda mean meet Kevin? Where, when!"

"Didn't I mention it" Double D asked pretending to be confused as he picked up his books, "Kevin wishes for me to be at my home where we are to meet after he finishes maintenance on his bike. Tuning of some sort by the looks of it". Double looked at his watch and then quickly straightened his things against his chest as he began to quickly walk away. "I really must go before I am late".

Double D was almost to the gate's front when Eddy jumped in front of Double D stopping him.

"Wait Double D, I have a plan to get you out of this"

"R-really?" Double tried to sound excited but on the inside he began to become irritated. "I don't have time for this, I really must go"

"Yeah. If we set a trap for Kevin he'll get stuck and we'll get you away before he knocks your block off" Eddy rubbed his hands together as he thought of the trap he'd pull on the bully. Double D on the other way was not as excited. He didn't want to hurt Kevin but he couldn't let Eddy down so he came up with other lie.

"It sounds like a good plan Eddy but" Double D side-stepped Eddy getting behind him and onto the sidewalk, "I don't want you or Ed to get involved lest Kevin hurts you too." Double D slowly inched backwards down the sidewalk. "Kevin promised to leave me and my hat alone if I just did the work. So please just stay here"

Before Eddy could respond, Double D was already far down the sidewalk. He waved good-bye before turning the corner which led him to the route that took him to his home.

Ed waved good-bye with his usual big toothy grin.

"BYE BYE DOUBLE D!"

He kept waving long after Double D was gone and didn't stop until Eddy pulled his arm down.

"Stop waving, he's gone already!" Eddy scolded annoyed. He rubbed his chin in a deep uncharacteristic thought. "He's up to something, I can feel it! What kind of homework would Double D have to do for Kevin on the weekend…but now that I think about it that makes sense. But still!"

Eddy stamped his foot in frustration. Ed just stared confused slightly tilting his head.

"What's the matter Eddy?" Ed asked.

"Double D is up to something with Kevin" Eddy answered, his back to Ed as he continued to think.

"Maybe Kevin is forcing Double D to be his new money partner"

Eddy waved his hand blowing Ed's response away. "That's dumb Ed, but maybe…Kevin is forcing Double D to be his new business partner!" Eddy exclaimed.

Ed gasped truly surprised. "Do you think that really happened Eddy?"

Eddy nodded as thoughts of a new plan formulated in his mind.