The summer before Junior High.

Eddwards pov

I had spent my whole morning cleaning. I washed dried and folded all of the linens in the house. I dusted and vacuumed mothers room, and the guest bedroom. I polished and waxed every surface in the house. I even took apart the washing machine in order to properly disinfect the drum. Needless to say I had run out of things to clean or organize and was rather bored. After sitting at my desk once again cataloging the various moths in my collection I gave up and decided to take my quiet day outdoors to get some fresh air. I had recently purchased a new book on human psychology that I have yet to read and after becoming stir-crazy it sound like an amazing idea.

I went to my dresser and pulled out some socks to wear. After putting the socks on I walk downstairs and make a peanut butter and honey sandwich for a quick snack. When I'm done eating I clean up my little mess of bread crumbs ,wash the butter knife and put the peanut butter and honey back in the pantry. I go to gather my book and put on my shoes before walking outside and locking the door. I had already received a call from Eddy telling me that he and Ed were unavailable for the day. Looking around the cul-de-sac ,I see Johnny and Plank playing in Johnny's front yard but none of the other children are visible at the moment. I didn't go looking for anyone since I really wanted to have a nice quiet day to myself.

It was one of the few times I had to myself , as my best friends were both busy one was grounded for the trouble he has caused, something about breaking his father's power drill. The other was babysitting his younger sister for the rest of the day. I decided to take my book to the park and read under the shade of a tree. When I arrived I realized the park was too busy with other children playing and being rambunctious for me to read peacefully, so I continued my walk all the way to the creek determined to get some peace and quiet.

As I silently made my way to the creek I heard some noises, after a few minutes I realized it sounded like muffled crying. The closer I got the more I was convinced that someone was alone and upset. I slowed down to decide if I wanted to let them be alone or if I wanted to comfort them. I was not sure who was crying but all I could think was how much it hurts to be alone when your upset. My mind made up, I walked the last few meters till I was able to see who was there. Peeking around the last bush in my way I saw him.

"Kevin?!"

The ginger boy turns around with puffy reddened eyes and one of the scariest glares I have ever seen. He looks like he might kill me but I'm to concerned about why he is in the woods crying to care.

"Are you ok? Have you been hurt?"

I'm just standing there looking at him as if I've never seen him before. I almost feel like this can't be Kevin , as though the Kevin I know would never cry and most certainly never hide. I've always seen him as invincible, a bit odd but true nonetheless.

He finally decides to speak to me even though we have both just been staring at each other for the last few minutes.

"GO AWAY DWEEB! I just wanna be alone..."

"Kevin, I do not wish to pry but it bothers me to see you so upset like this. You do not have to tell me what is wrong , however at the very least I can be a shoulder for you to lean on... if you would like."

I cannot lie I am immensely curious as to why Kevin of all people would be sitting out here alone, crying.

"Look, dweeb... I just... I..."

He takes a deep breath and tries again.

"I just need... to... be alone, I need to thi-"

Before he even finishes the sentence he bursts into tears, crying as if his very life is ending.

I immediately run over to him, I have no clue what's wrong but my instincts take over and I wrap my thin arms around him. Although I am almost a full head taller than him, when I hug him I'm reminded how much broader he is, how much more athletic in comparison.

"Please, Kevin let me help you. Tell me what's wrong I promise not to tell a soul. I know we are not exactly friends but it might help you feel better to talk about it with someone."

I'm running my hands up and down his back like I've seen others do to console someone. I do not have any experience of my own to draw from but it seems to help the older boy anyway.

"Why should I trust you?..*hic*.. You'll just tell that spaz Eddy, and ...*hic*...he'll try to blackmail me or something.

"No Kevin, I will not tell anyone, this is private and therefore no one's business. I just want to help. .. ok? "

I let go of him and just sit next to him, keeping eye contact with his dark green eyes in an effort to show I'm sincere. He shivers and I can help but wonder how long he had been here sitting in the shade of the trees sobbing into his hands.

" God,I really don't want to talk about it ... but I honestly feel like it would probably help. If you promise not to tell anybody then ...Double Dweeb... then I'll tell it to you."

He looks lost, as though he has no clue what he wants. He is still shaking, almost like he will start crying again any second now. It amazes me that someone so strong is this distraught.

"As I stated earlier, I promise not to tell anyone what you tell me Kevin."

We are both looking at each other, me trying to let him know I really just want to help, and him like he is trying to decide if I'm lying or not.

"So where should I start? "

"Well you can start in order of what happened, or what's the least bothersome to the worst, or -"

He cuts me off.

"OK!... Um sorry but just let me start at the beginning."

He takes a deep calming breath. I decide to turn so I'm facing him better instead of having to turn my head to look at him.

"Uh... well my mom and dad are always fighting lately... it's weird cause usually there super lovey dovey. It's over the dumbest shit to... like leaving underwear on the floor and stuff...I mean that's not the only thing I'm upset about, but it's what kinda started everything. My dad jumped my shit over my grades right before summer started and basically told me I was gonna throw my life away because I only care about sports. "

He pauses for a few seconds like he is deciding where to go from there. His voice is several octaves lower when he begins again.

"...My grandpa died a few years ago, and ever since my grandma started getting real lonely so I would go visit all the time. We would play cheesy board games and I even helped her garden, *heh* sorta, I mostly just moved the heavy stuff. I loved my grandma ,she was an amazing old lady... she passed away a week ago..."

I was shocked. I felt so bad, I wanted to tell him how sorry I was for his loss, but I knew that he was not done talking yet so I let him continue.

"Then today I got the worst news yet...*inhale* my mom asked me and my dad to come in the kitchen and sit down. She had all these papers in front of her and looked like she was gonna she apologized for all the arguments and everything, my dad tried to say sorry too but she cut him off. Then she told us what was going on with her. She said she had gotten pregnant around January, but lost the baby, that's why she was so upset all the time... cause all the when she still felt sick after over a month later she went to the doctor. She told us that they ran a whole bunch of tests on her for the next couple months and found the problem... She told us she had been trying to figure out the best way to tell us and finally decided there was no good way to do it. "

I sat there staring ,about to cry for the pain he was so much in so little time, no wonder he was crying. Instead I asked.

"What did they find out?

He takes a few seconds to breathe ,then seems to steel himself to finish.

"...My mom has cancer...it's pretty far along. My mom is gonna die ."

I leaned forward and put my arms around him again. He finally breaks down and cries once more. We stayed like that for what seemed like hours, until his tears stop flowing. I reach in my pocket ,pull out a handkerchief and wipe his eyes. He pulls me closer and just looks at me, gazing into my eyes. He looks lost, sad, and so very vulnerable, I do not think he had ever looked like this before. As I'm looking at his face watching the emotions flutter across his eyes dies something wholly unexpected.

He kisses me.

It's just a short kiss. Just lips on lips. Sweet. Simple. Spectacular!

We both look away. He gets up and holds out his hand to help me up. We begin walking back to our houses. We make it all the way back to his house before he speaks.

"Hey, Edd... thanks"