Home Again

Edd stood at the edge of the cul-de-sac, he smiled, wondering if his friends would recognize him. It had been five years since he had been home, but his family's caseworker said it would be ok to come. He looked at his feet, his school uniform was still on, and it reminded him of that horrible boarding school. He started for his house, almost expecting Eddy to run up behind him and give him a scare.

Edd stood at his door, and gently pressed the doorbell. "Edward, You're home" His mother chirped, and hugged him. This was a welcome feeling, until his mother looked at him. He would have loved to say hello, to tell her how much he missed her, but he hadn't talked since the "accident". He figured it was his big mouth that put him in this predicament, so he couldn't stand hearing his own voice anymore. "Why don't you tell your mother hello Edward, or has that boarding school rotted the manners outta ya?" Edd swallowed as his father stood over him; he closed his eyes as the tall man grabbed the black sock-hat from his head, letting the long black hair fall from Edd's head. "And ya still ain't got a hair cut" The tall man inspected the boy. The seventeen-year-old wore a clean white shirt, a black tie, black dress pants, and black shoes. His hair fell to his waist, and his almond-shaped brown eyes were starting to tear from fear-the last time his father had been this close, he nearly killed the small boy. "Your friends have been wonderin' where you were, but we didn't think you'd want them to know" Was the last thing the bulky man said before leaving the room. His mother followed his father, "Your room is just how you left it" all Edd could do was smile to her.

He sat on his bed, looking at his room. It was just how he left it, as if it was untouched by time. The small room was clattered by test tubes, schematics, blue prints, books, all neatly organized, and a neatly made bed. Even Jim was in the same condition as when he left. His room reminded him of his friends, and of how they betrayed him. He could remember that day, the day of the "accident". He had walked out of his house, or more so stumbled, to meet his friends. They immediately noticed something wrong, and upon inspection, realized he was beaten and bruised. They managed to coax the truth of his abusive parents, and he made them promise not to tell anyone.

He smirked, realizing now that a promise meant nothing. The cops showed up at his house that night to take him away. That was the last straw. He only had two people he could truly trust, and they turned their backs on him. Ever since that very moment, he retreated into himself. He was his only friend, now he saw that. Tears stung his eyes, it was kind of refreshing to know that he could still cry, that he still had a heart.

He thought quietly to himself, the sounds of the kids playing in the cul-de- sac, the sounds he hadn't heard in so long.

"Hey Double D, are you in there", the sound of Eddy's voice seemed so real, quickly followed by the sound of a slamming door. "Double D" a voice gently quivered, it sounded so much like Eddy. Edd sat up in his bed, just as his bedroom door opened. Eddy and Ed timidly walked through the door. He could feel his heart split in two, one half glad to see his friends and the other sad at the knowledge that there was no such thing as friendship. "Double D's been eating his roughage" Ed pointed at the still hatless Edd, causing him to hide under his covers.

"You must feel weird finally being home, just come out when you're ready" Eddy said, in an amazingly sympathetic voice as he lead Ed out of the room.