Title: Basket Boy

Rating: T (Teens +)

Pairing: Kevin / Edd (Double D)

Summary: Peach Creek High School's annual 'Basket Boy Auction' was here, and Edd somehow lands on the roster. Kevin Barr, past basket boy and current highest bid of the school, decides to step in and help the dork at least get one bid, no matter how low. Edd is so very confused, but slowly starts to change. He's turning some heads, and he's liking it. Kevin couldn't be more pleased with his creation, just not the outcome of attention for a mouse that he wants all to himself.

Chapter 1

Mouse

It was February 2nd, and the roster for this years "Basket Boys" was up.

((Kevin's POV))

I always hated this damn school's ideas for fundraising. I mean Family Game Night? Fine. Candy Grams? Whatever. Bake Sales? why not. Never will I ever understand the idiocy of the idea behind the 'Basket Boys Auction' though. Basically, you get either put on the list by vote or sometimes just pick you at random, or volunteer to if you have the stupidity in you. You're signed up and prepped up to be a poor sack of pity up on a stage as people bid for you in hopes to win one date with you. Sounds pretty brutal right? It is. I mean, if you're a good looking, popular, preppy boy, sure, you don't have a damn thing to worry about, you were practically born for the role. I mean, I was a basket boy Sophomore year. Chosen by vote, not out of choice. Like hell I would ever sign up for something so stupid, something so under thought that would just rile up that storm of horn-dogs screeching in the audience. And yeah, I was the pick of the litter, raised nearly 50 bucks on that auction. Wasn't even worth it, the girl was as mindless as any other hormone infested slut in this school. Yeah, if you're a looker, you don't have to worry about not being bid on. But... it's when you have a sock-headed geek who's probably captain of the dork-squad by now on that forsaken list. That's when your stomach begins to knot. That's when you start to remember those gapped teeth. That's when you start to remember he had a damn pet cactus or speaks like the dictionary is a religion. It's when you remember who exactly you're dealing with. Don't get me wrong, the Einstein-Ed can be alright. He's not a bad dude in my eyes, but let's face it. He's not exactly the most desired guy in this school. And this auction? It's going to haunt him forever if he gets caught up in this mess.

I stood there in front of that list for what felt like hours. Just.. Staring. Any other name on that list didn't even matter to me. Eddward. The one and only Eddward that was spelt with two D's. This would end him, this would be his absolute ruin, destroy whatever little reputation he had left. My eyes widened at the sight. Of all the dorks in this school you picked... Him. Slowly, I heard the girls crawl up to examine their fresh prey, the lionesses all purring the names of their desired mouse. They all started shoving me back as they scrolled down the list, and I could hear their words of "good luck" which really just meant "stick with him, because this one is mine" or "you'll lose, because I'm taking this one."

And I knew not one of them even thought twice about dorko.

I fell back behind the crowd, grimacing a bit at the sight. They nearly took up half the hallway of the main entrance, all loud and giddy as ever. Slowly I woke up, turned away, and started my way towards the cafeteria. I shrugged my bag strap higher up my tense shoulders, and continued walking. The name... His name, rolling in my mind over and over. This couldn't be happening, it couldn't. It could have been someone, anyone.

Anyone but him.

((Edd's POV))

School was always something to look forward to in my books. Literally.

I never got too terribly bullied, well... Bullied, just not too bad. I remained within the serenity and sort of sanctuary of my own small crowd and always kept to myself, avoiding unnecessary trouble from the occasional athlete or those "snotty preps" as Eddy put it. Those teens that held their pride on a gold platter as they strut around with high chins. I always had a general idea behind social classes within school walls, but I could honestly say that I never understood it completely. Of course, I knew what cliques were and I occasionally looked into a few I was far too intellectually literate and uninterested to take any part in, just to further test my thoughts.

I, with my two belovedly close friends, am of course in the "nerd" group according to fellow peers, though I would label us as the.. Knowledgable ones. Basically the young men and very few ladies that all specialize and take special interest in subjects under science, math, technology, engineering, the like. Eddy, however, was always the stubborn type, trying to force his way into crowds that, put bluntly, didn't accept us. Oh how my dear friend always has that remarkable will to never give up though... It was very seldom that he ever lost hope or ran out of ideas. Ideas that seemingly always dug us into a deeper hole. And it was those scams and games that always got us into trouble with someone one way or another.

And it was just one of those ideas of his that would take root and grow into a catastrophe soon enough.

"Come on! I would totally pick up a few babes with this stupid auction!" Eddy boasted, grinning like a millionaire at nobody in particular as he let his imagination run wild. On our way to school, the three of us all talked the usual nonsense before the subject of the schools "Basket Boy Auction" took place. I looked at him with a distastefully deadpanning expression, showing my disagreement that I made no effort to explain, after all, why waste words that would surely be brushed off. Well... I suppose I should try actually.

"Don't you think this is a bit drastic, Eddy? This isn't just between us this time, this is serious!" I attempted. Eddy merely waved a hand in the air, waving off my presence at this point I'm sure.

"Relax, what the worst that could happen? Besides, if I were you, I'd be more worried about charming the gals than what I wanna do, Double D." He peered over through smiling eyes.

"M-me?" I yelped suddenly, my heart dropping as it all began to slowly click.

"Yeah, you had to know I wasn't gonna go down with this ship alone, of course you're gonna be in it! You gotta make sure I get the highest bet, even higher than shovel chin's from 10th grade!" he beamed, imagining his award already. I shook my head, wishing I didn't just hear what I had thought. He couldn't have.

"You can't be serious!" I screeched. Me? A BASKET BOY?

"Why not! Rosters up, as soon as we get there, check for my name will ya? It will be under the section 'sure to win'." He winked as he opened the thick back door and walked into school, immediately turning into a separate hallway with a very tired Ed. He was without a doubt watching the "Franken-Frank" marathon yesterday... I turned away and ran down the main hall as fast as my skinny legs could carry me.

'It would be okay... The only way any young man is accepted on that list by volunteering is by vote from fellow peers, I have a chance...'

I looked directly at the crowd of approaching girls surrounding a green paper taped to the office window. Oh my... I looked ahead with anxiety before I impacted with another person standing by, rather hard too. The hit caused me to fall back and before I shut my eyes in a flinching reaction, I caught the glimpse of ginger hair and a red cap, and a body cringing in the surprise I had caused. Then I impacted the floor with a solid thump. I opened my clenched eyes and looked up with fright, then frowned when I did indeed recognize the familiar face. I smiled nervously yet apologetically, twiddling my thumbs as I sat on the floor.

"Pardon me, Kevin! I wasn't watching where I was running, excuse me-" I started to stand before I caught sight of a hand coming towards me. At first my reaction was to flinch, before I noticed the hand out stretched and palms facing up. It was for me. I looked up before I smiled happily and took it. Without warning I was hoisted up by strong arms, unfortunately, too strong for someone of my small frame...

I launched upwards as the forceful momentum kept me from stopping one I was on my feet. My body leapt forward without command and fell right into Kevin once more. I fell into his chest, shutting my eyes tight and tensing my shoulders before I had even realized where it was I had fallen. Quickly he grabbed my shoulders forcefully and pulled me away, making sure I was well balanced before releasing his strong grasp.

"It's no problem dude... Just watch where you're walking." He said without taking one real look at me. Kevin.

Kevin was always a puzzle. He was a bully, yes, a childhood tormentor, but I only remember moments of his negative actions when directed towards my group of best friends. I alone on the other hand was... Special I suppose. Kevin always had a bone to pick with anyone involved with Eddy in any way, and didn't take too kindly to anyone affiliated with him in a positive way as we grew older. Yes, even through puberty the two always held a Montague to the others Capulet like aura to them. But when it was just us.. He was calmer in a sense. Nicer. And it was always something that caught me off guard.

I looked at him apologetically once more before he took one glance behind him to the swarm of females, then finally to me, into my eyes with a hint of pity before walking away. Turning, I watched him leave, watched his shoulders straighten and his back arch slightly from his tense slouch to his relaxed, laid back, yet charming stance he always held in order to hold his pride high. I nodded to myself, reminding myself where it was I stood compared to Kevin Barr before I had any thoughts of crossing him again in the future. If it had been anywhere else, with anyone else, I wouldn't have been let off so easy. I sighed, telling myself again that I was never to get involved with that life as I walked over to the roster on the window. The crowd slowly parted ways, girls whispering their hopes and desired boys. I slowly made my way to the front, my heart slowing down from it's rapid palpitations with every name I passed that wasn't mine nor Eddy's. I sighed through my gapped teeth, happily finding my peace again until...

"Oh my..."

Oh my gosh if I could just apologize for doing this. Again. I'm sorry for starting fanfictions that aren't planned! This one will be good though, I'm gonna do my very best and make this one fluffy. It will make up for all the feels I'll bring forth in Swim Away. I hope to get that posted soon.. Anyways, leave a review, follow, whatever, it's gonna be one hell of a ride here. Thanks for the support! Until next time!

~Laughing Jay