Surrounded by people, all pushing and jostling to get somewhere. There is so much noise. The shouts and laughter were painful to his ears, he hated the halls, they made his head hurt and his heart ache. It hadn't always been this way, at one time he had been the one who shouted loudest and laughed the longest. He had felt so full then, now he feels hollow, slowly trying to turn numb. It would be a relief, because feeling was too difficult. Kevin stared at his sneakers as he shuffled down the hall, someone bumped into him, "oh, sorry" the other boy glanced away quickly. Last year that was one of his friends, what was his name...Kevin couldn't recall...It didn't really matter. Ever since the accident he had pushed all his friends away. The look in there eyes, he couldn't stand it. He did not deserve their sympathy or pity and finally they had stopped trying to talk and left him alone. At the time it had seemed good, now he wasn't sure.
Kevin was jerked out of his thoughts as another body collided with his own. Caught off guard the ginger boy grabbed at the other, but it was no use, gravity was working and they landed in a heap. "That's what you get dork, next time stay outta my way!" Is that what i used to sound like, Kevin wondered as he picked himself and the other boy up from the ground. "Thank you for your assistance Kevin but i can manage" Kevin looked up, surprised he hadn't realized it sooner, "oh, hey Edd" he muttered "hows it goin?"
Edd could not recall a time when Kevin had A. called him anything except Double dork/dweeb and B. sounded so morose . The boy before him was almost unrecognizable from the kid he had known in his youth, dressed all in black, no hat, his hair was a shaggy, dirty mess, and the look in his eyes, it was the worst. It was like the fire in them had gone out, he has the eyes of a dead man. All this rushed through Edds mind before he responded "Well, its about the same as always" sarcastically gesturing to his scattered possessions in the now empty hall, "How are you?" he added perfunctorily.
Kevin stared at Edd. He hated that question, it always brought his anger bubbling to the surface. "Such a stupid question that stupid people always ask." he though bitterly. "But Edd isn't like that, hell he's the smartest guy I know. He sighed and leaned back against the lockers, shoving his hands into his hoodie. "I'm fine" he lied.
Edd was analyzing Kevin. Everything about him screamed "not fine". His posture, tone and overall appearance suggested that he was unhappy. Throw in that in the two months since school began he had pushed away all his friends and almost never spoke anymore says that he was probably depressed, definitely going through something emotional. Edd decided that the guy needed help, and before he could stop himself blurted out, "Do you wanna skip school today?" he mentally slapped himself. Surprised Kevin looked up at him, "dorks gotten tall" he thought, before mumbling ""Yeah, i do." Edd released the breath he'd been holding, "alright lets go then" he hears himself respond, his voice uncharacteristically filled with false bravado, as he gathers his belongings. 'Goodbye sixteen years of perfect attendance, hello delinquency!' he mentally chides himself as they make their way outside and towards student parking.
What are you doing Edd, what are you doing skiping school! you are no therapist, what do you think you're going to accomplish?" Edds thoughts are are jumbled making him jittery, by the time they reach the car his hands are trembling.
Edd fumbles with his keys, and looks over his shoulder before sliding inside, and unlocking Kevin's door. Kevin is resting his forehead against the outside of the car watching Edd as he pulls the lock up,
"What are you doing kevin, what the hell are you doing?" he wasn't sure, but the sight of the dweeb had lifted the weight off his chest for a moment, made it easier to breathe...and honestly, he just wanted that for a little longer.
"I hate cars" he thinks to himself as he drops into the seat beside Edd.