"Eddy," Double Dee whispered tiredly for the third time. When again there was no answer, he sighed in frustration and shook his head. He strained his eyes in the pitch darkness of Ed's room to see the shorter boy.
This seemed to happen every time he stayed over at Ed's. They would watch one of those corny science fiction films or a raunchy gore flick and eventually drift to sleep wherever they landed. And while the other two were virtually undaunted, Double Dee was always left with an unsettling feeling after these movies. Tonight was the worst.
"Eddy!" he tried again, his whisper now harsh with desperation. Much to his relief, his importunes were finally answered with a familiar growl from across the room. He couldn't help but smile to himself.
"What is it, Sockhead?!" Eddy said, his voice just below his usual shout.
"I apologize, Eddy, b-but..." Double Dee managed, his throat becoming suddenly dry. "Could you come over here for a moment?"
Grumbling, Eddy stood and stomped his way over to where he believed Edd to be. He kicked his foot out carelessly to see if he'd reached his destination. Double Dee yelped, letting him know that indeed he had.
"Must you be violent now of all times?" Double Dee stressed, rubbing his chin where Eddy's foot had met it.
"Can it," Eddy said as he took a seat near the neatly placed sleeping bag. His eyes were almost closed and his body slouched groggily. "What is it ya want, I was tryin' to sleep you know."
Edd sighed and began to explain himself.
"Oh, Eddy, I truly am sorry, it's just that..." he paused again, his breath catching in his throat.
Eddy waited an annoyed moment before cutting in. "Just what?!"
"I'm afraid!" Double Dee admitted. His teeth dug into his lip as he waited for the inevitable dig that was to come from Eddy.
"Afraid 'a what, Ed's breath? Me too." he joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. Edd giggled softly and found that Eddy's voice alone made his heart feel lighter and his mind seem less shrouded.
"N-No, I mean of that preposterous movie you two insisted we watch this evening. Why, I've seen some things in my day, but that?" he said dramatically. His emotions were beginning to creep into his throat again.
"It was just a cheesy gore flick, what else is new Double Dee?"
There was a twinge of real concern in Eddy's voice that made Edd's heart flutter.
"Oh, Eddy, I can't very well explain. I'm far too disturbed to sleep and I d-didn't want to be alone." He cleared his throat. Only a moment later he inched over to his crush and laid his hat-clad head upon Eddy's stiff shoulder. Eddy's eyebrow rose but no protests were made against Edd's sudden and strange gesture.
Double Dee's heart was pounding so loud he feared Eddy would hear it.
"I-Is this okay..?" he said sheepishly, afraid of what the answer might be.
Just then, Eddy laid down on the puffy blue sleeping bag and gently pulled Double Dee down to lay on his chest. He rested his hand on Edd's slim arm and closed his eyes again.
"That's better." Eddy said. "Now shut yer trap and let me sleep, would ya?"
"C-Certainly." Double Dee whispered contentedly. All the anxiety in his mind subsided and was replaced with the soft sound of Eddy's breathing. Eventually his eyes became too heavy to keep open, and soon he was asleep peacefully on the arm of the boy he loved.
