Edd loved Kevin. He loved him more than anything in the world. He loved the way Kevin's lip would turn up just a little bit more on the left side than the right. He loved the way Kevin's cheeks were lightly showered with freckles, and that those freckles were more noticeable on Kevin's shoulders than anywhere else. Edd loved that Kevin's eyes would slightly change colors depending on what color shirt Kevin wore, or the lighting in the room. He loved how his hair would turn a slight strawberry blonde color in the summer because Kevin liked to be outside. Edd loved how it was only his bangs that did so, and how Kevin wouldn't take his hat off in front of anyone except for Edd because of it.

Yes, Eddward loved Kevin, and that's what made it so hard to do what he knew needed to be done. It would break his heart to break up with his boyfriend of over a year. So as Kevin lay on the bed in Edd's room, Edd sat in the floor with his head on his arms that he had wrapped tightly around his legs.

Kevin could tell something was wrong. Edd hadn't been his self for weeks. He had been uncharacteristically quiet and all around withdrawn. Kevin had asked him a few times what it was that was on his mind, but Edd had told him it was nothing. Kevin left it alone thinking that Edd would come to him about whatever it was when the beanie clad boy was ready. Kevin had assumed correctly, for that morning Edd called him and asked him to come over so they could talk. But as the minutes ticked by Edd still hadn't said a word.

Kevin sat up from his position on the bed and placed both of his feet on the ground, he put his elbows on his knees to still the nervous bouncing, "Edd, babe, will you please talk to me? You called me saying there was something important we had to talk about. So speak. Please?"

"I think we should break up." Edd mumbled into his arms hoping that Kevin wouldn't hear but also hoping he would.

And Kevin did hear, but he wished he hadn't. He stared across the room at his boyfriend who had gone silent, yet again. Kevin's jaw dropped ever so slightly as the words sunk in.

Kevin ran his hands through his hair, not bothering to pick up his hat when it fell off, "what are you talking about?"

Edd lifted his head up for the first time since he'd put it down, his eyes were dry but the signs that he had been crying were obvious, "I-I'm breaking up with you."

"Why?" Kevin stood as he asked the question, "what do you mean? I don't understand."

The red head crossed the room to kneel in front of the boy he loved, "please explain this to me, because I'm so utterly confused right now."

Tears were beginning to flow from his eyes. Only five words had been spoken, but they had as much power as a wrecking ball on a poorly built dam.

"Please don't cry." Edd reached up to Kevin's face to wipe away the tears, "If you cry then I'm going to cry, and when I cry it's hideous."

"What else am I suppose to do?" Kevin moved Edd's hand away from his face and stood back up, "the only thing that is hideous is what you just said to me."

Edd stood wanting to comfort the crying teen but thought better of it since Kevin had pushed his hand away. "I know you're upset," Edd started but was stopped short when Kevin turned to face him.

"Upset? You think I'm upset? I'm not upset. I'm fucking hurt. I'm confused. And I feel like I was just punched in the gut a few hundred times!" Kevin's voice grew louder with every sentence and by the end he was shouting, his arms gesticulating wildly. The tears had stopped momentarily, shock and greif replaced with anger.

"You wanted to know why. I'm trying to tell you." Edd backed away ever so slightly, the red head's shouting making him cringe. "You are great. I absolutely love and adore you.-"

"Then why are you breaking up with me" Kevin interrupted again.

"Because as great and perfect as you are, we aren't perfect together. You and I are combustible, not compatible. When we first started dating I was happy, I could see a future with you. Which was something that I hadn't been able to do with anyone until you." Edd started pacing across his bedroom, one hand holding his beanie for comfort, "But the longer we stay together the more I lose myself in you. I'm not myself anymore. I'm 'Kevin's boyfriend'. That's who I've become." He stopped to look Kevin in the eyes, "I don't know if you've noticed, but we fight. A lot." He began to pace again, "We argue and fight daily. About stupid things. Things that don't even really matter. And if we happen to not argue then I start feeling anxious. If we don't fight I'm constantly waiting for something to happen that will cause us to fight. I don't like that. I don't want it to be like that."

Kevin stepped in front of Edd's path of pacing and placed his hands on Edd's shoulders, "Then we'll fix it. We'll make it better. We won't fight. Just please, please don't do this."

Edd looked down at his feet, "I'm afraid it's too late to fix it. And I'm afraid I already did do it."

Kevin dropped his hands from his now ex-boyfriend's shoulders. He looked like a kid who'd just been told their puppy had been run over. Edd wanted to say something to comfort the boy he had loved for so long, but anything he said now would only make it worse for Kevin so he stood silently.

A range of emotions played out on Kevin's face. He went from shocked to sad, from sad to confused, and from confused to betrayed. And oh did Kevin feel betrayed. He had done so much for Edd. He had risked his spot on the baseball team, he had faced ridicule from so many of his so called friends, and he had come out to his father. For what?

Edd had a good idea of what was running through Kevin's mind because he was thinking the same thing. But the feelings attached to Edd's thoughts weren't feelings of betrayal, they were feelings of guilt. He felt guilty for putting Kevin through everything that they'd been through. He felt guilty for giving up when Kevin hadn't. But he mostly felt guilty for loving someone who made him feel like he wasn't his self.

The two boys stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Each wanted to say something to the other but words failed them both. Finally the silence became almost as unbearable as the greif-stricken look on Edd's face. Kevin walked briskly to Edd's bed, picked up his hat and left the room.

Edd stood in the center of his room, unable to move until he heard the front door slam. The sound of it brought him from his daze and he ran to the window. He watched as Kevin crossed the street to his house and mounted his motorcycle. The red head wiped his face on his arm, started up the bike, and quickly sped down the street.

Edd turned away from the window once Kevin was out of sight. The boy slid down the wall and pulled his beanie over his face. He knew there was no one there to see him cry but he still felt the need to hide.

"I hate you Kevin Barr." He whispered between sobs, "I hate you so much. Why did you make me fall in love with you?"