A/N:

Pen: I thought this was a one-time thing.

Sword: Naw, we're going full crazy on this thing!

Pen: Crazy is right.

Don't worry. It'll be out of our system…In forty or fifty years. For now, let's enjoy, shall we? Hello, all you lovely people. Thank you for joining us. Ed, Edd, n Eddy and all related material belongs to Danny Antonucci and Cartoon Network. The story, Sword, and Pen belong to me. Please do not use without permission. Thank you.

Sword: On to more romance! And kissing!

Pen: And nausea.

Chemical Ed-traction

Edd stepped off the bus and shouldered his backpack. His chest swelled with pride at the sight before him: Peach Creek High. Others around him shuffled about with gloomy expressions and muttered unpleasant remarks under their breath. For the life of him, he couldn't see why. This was the next step in their academic lives, the moment they felt closer to institutions of higher learning, and the first day of many enjoyable days of learning and scholastic knowledge in this new school year.

He straightened his tie and smoothed out his pressed vest, ready to meet his fellow students and academic professors with a big smile and a positive attitude. Edd was so excited and enamored with the thought of entering high school, he didn't realize he was blocking the door to the school bus and preventing everyone else from disembarking.

"Come on, Sockhead," Eddy said, pushing him along. "We got to make a good first impression and standing there like a lump won't help." Due to his short stature, his arms only came up to the small of Edd's back. "Speaking of lumps, where's Ed at?"

Their taller, happy-go-lucky friend came rushing off the bus, barreling over several teenagers and laughing like a goofball. His arms flung out behind himself as he ran along to the school, his backpack trailing a pile of crumpled papers and comic books behind him.

"Ed!" Eddy called, but their friend didn't hear them. "Hurry up, Double Dee. We better get him before he hurts himself. Or my reputation," and he chased after Ed.

Edd was happy to see one of his friends shared his excitement for this new school and ran after his two companions. He found them by their lockers, which were conveniently next to his own. As he opened his locker, he listened to Eddy chastise Ed.

"You have to keep calm," he said, dragging Ed's head down under his armpit. "Cool. Suave."

"I'm suave, Eddy," Ed said, assuring him and scratching his red hair. "Sarah makes sure I use it on my hair everyday!"

"He means you should be charming and genial," Edd said, hanging his backpack in his locker and taking out his books for his first class. Advanced Chemistry. One of his favorites.

"Exactly," Eddy said. "We get in here, then we're living rich." He snatched Edd by his beanie and pulled him down to his height, so he was cheek-to-cheek with Ed. "Look at them," he said, directing their gaze to the crowds of students roaming the halls. "It's a buffet of suckers." Already, the dollar signs and dreams of scamming others out of their money were clear and present in his eyes.

"Intriguing as that sounds, I must be getting to my first class," Edd said, pulling out of the grip. "Gentlemen." He left Ed behind with their scheming leader. He was sure he would hear a list of potential get-rich quick ideas once lunch rolled around.

He entered his Chemistry class and noted each lab table was a long black table, already equipped with sinks and other laboratory equipment, and two stools for each table. Blissfully happy, he took a seat at one of the stools for a long black table near a window. Edd placed his books on the table, arranging them in a perfect pattern based on likelihood that the teacher would have them open and use first.

Once finished, he looked up at the clock. He had a few minutes to spare and surveyed the classroom. A few stragglers were still arriving, but most were turned in their chairs in quiet conversation.

Edd realized someone was already sitting in the other stool for his table. Not wishing to be rude, he spun around to introduce himself. "I apologize. I didn't see you there. My name's E-E-E…" he trailed off, swallowing his own name.

The girl sitting beside him appeared as surprised to see him there as he was. More so that he actually chose this particular seat. Her initial surprise gave way to a flirtatious smirk and she brushed her blue hair out of her sole exposed eye. She had shed her hoodie and tied it around her cargo pants. Her black tanktop depicted a band name on the front, but the fabric was rumpled and messy, so he couldn't make the name out. "Miss me that much?"

"Marie," he finally blurted out. "What, uh, what are you doing here? In this class, I mean? Isn't this Advanced Chemistry?"

"Yes," she said, raising an eyebrow. "And?"

"I guess I didn't expect you to be in here."

"You saying I'm not smart?" Her fist tightened, cracking her knuckles. "I won't take that, not even from you."

He waved his hands, not wanting to rile her wrath. "No, no, no. It seems unlike you is all."

She hummed and leaned in closer. "I've always been a fan of chemistry. Chemical attraction, bonding, osmosis." She was right under his chin and the smell of perfume and axle grease stung his nostrils.

Much to his relief, the teacher walked in before Marie could press any further and she reluctantly returned to her side of the table. "Good morning, class. And welcome to your first day of Advanced Chemistry."

After a brief roll call and orientation, the teacher had them sign some various forms and passed out the syllabus for the semester. "Also, please be sure to introduce yourself to the other person at your table," he said, wrapping up his orientation. "For they will be your lab partner for the year." Then he allowed the students a free period to experiment with the chemicals on hand and create whatever they wished.

Edd's hand shot up. "Yes?" the teacher asked.

"May I discuss something with you?" he asked. "In private?"

"Well, I have to file these papers," he said, waving the forms. "But see me after class, okay?"

"Yes, sir," he said and settled down in his chair. Everyone around him started to play with their chemicals and he grabbed his beanie, pulling it low over his head in frustration.

Edd looked over at Marie, who appeared to be asleep with her head on her backpack and her arms covering her face to shield out the light. Peering closer, he saw a pair of headphones over her head and a cord snaking back to the zipper of her backpack. He glanced around, wondering if there was another seat available, preferably with a less amorous and dangerous partner. To his dismay, there were none. Maybe if he was lucky, there would be another kind student who would switch partners with him.

"That's not like you," Marie said, eyeing him above her arms. "Not taking advantage of experimenting?"

She had a point. Might as well make the best of things and talk to the teacher later. Edd gathered a few beakers together and the Bunsen burner, and cycled through the list of chemicals on display. There were so many options, he was unsure where to start first. Each was topped with a lid and several hazardous warnings. A box of gloves lay next to the chemicals. However, Edd was always prepared and pulled his own latex gloves and goggles out of his pocket. He also unfolded his neat lab coat from pocket as well, to protect his tie and vest from any spills.

Glancing to his side, he expected Marie to be asleep. Instead, she was running her fingers over the chemicals as well and had a few beakers and test tubes before her. She turned and sized up his coat and safety equipment. "Looks like you came prepared," she said, smirking.

"Yes, well, safety first," he said. He absently grabbed the wrong chemical, set it back, and watched Marie take it.

She yanked a couple of gloves from the provided box and a pair of safety glasses from under the table, put them on, and started pouring a mixture into one of the beakers. The concoction changed several hues, from clear, to blue, to purple, to yellow, to orange. She poured the mixture into a test tube and pushed a stopper into it.

Edd was fascinated by this undiscovered hidden affinity of hers. Was she even aware of what she was doing? Marie inspected the liquid with a cool, passive face and seemed confident in her work. Still, he never would have taken her for a chemist, much less interested in any scholastic endeavors. This was Marie Kanker, the same aggressive, pugnacious, crude, tough-as-nails girl he feared in his youth who sooner showed her fists than any application to school work.

Then again, as she shook the test tube violently into a red color, he couldn't explain how else she would be in an advanced class if she wasn't knowledgeable in this field. Perhaps there was more than just a passion in science that he didn't know about her? And he actually was a little curious in learning what else there could be.

Once Marie was satisfied with the mixture's red hue and thin viscosity, she laid it on the table. Then she dug in her backpack and produced a bundle of paper towels. She unwrapped it, exposing plaster stains and a cast mold of a hand. "May's hand," she said, looking up at Edd.

She had known he was watching! He returned to his own set of beakers and chemicals, resolved to not take any interest in her experiments. As he untwisted the top of a chemical and poured it delicately into a beaker, measuring out the exact amount, he heard a thump! Don't look, he told himself, still pouring. His eyes wandered to the end of the chemical rack and he jerked them away. Don't look!

Even as he replaced his chemical, he saw Marie's elbow out of the corner of his eye. Don't look. He stared at his beaker, concentrating intensely on it as if trying to set it on fire.

Edd blinked and he now saw Marie. She had cleaned out a space in the wrist of the hand, scooping out the extra plaster and laying it on the table. She plucked the stopper out of the test tube with the red mixture and dropped a couple of drops of liquid from another test tube into it. The scarlet mixture started to bubble and become watery.

At some point, Marie had started chewing gum. She blew a bubble and stuck it into the test tube. That drew the line and Edd couldn't remain silent at defacing scientific, or school, property. "Uh, excuse me, but—"

"Hold that thought," she said. Jamming the test tube into the hand and setting the hand upright on the table by the flat end of its wrist. "You may want to stand back a bit."

Taking her advice, he took a few steps backwards. Just in time, as the palm of the hand swelled and deflated several times until a quarter-sized hole burst open, spraying some of the red liquid on the table. The rest dribbled profusely down the spattered fingers and wrist, like blood from artery.

The teacher looked up over his glasses at the messy table. Edd rushed forward, dabbing up the red spots with paper towels. "Only an accident," he said, putting on a smile. The teacher raised an eyebrow, but didn't push the subject and returned to his computer.

Marie picked up the hand, removing the test tube from inside it and peeling off any gum left on the tube. "Too bad there's not enough kick in it," she said to herself. "At least most of the gum came out this time." Edd examined the palm. The gum, now red and bloody like the palm, appeared to be like muscle and lower layers of the skin to surround the wound's hole and complete the effect.

"Should remember to use more potassium nitrate," she said to herself.

Edd babbled a series of incomprehensible stutters. "What-Bu-You-How?"

"It's similar to 'The Deadening Part IV: Brain Eaters from the Moon', where ones of the zombies gets shot in the hand in space," she said. "Pretty cool, I think." She folded her arms and looked to him for his input.

"Uh, yeah, it is," he said. "I mean, I didn't expect you to take much of an interest in chemistry."

"I've always liked chemistry." She tossed her head from side to side and re-phrased her statement. "Well, practical chemistry. And it helps with special effects."

"Yes, I suppose it would," he said.

"Not to mention, it's fun."

"Oh, yes, very." Then he picked up on the hint in her voice and the dangerous glint in her eye. He wasn't sure if he liked where this was leading.

"For example," she said, picking up two of the chemicals. "Add two special ingredients with the potential for attraction," she poured the mixture into an empty beaker and pulled a plastic bag of black dirt out of her pocket. "Add little heat." She placed the beaker on the Bunsen burner and cranked it up high. "And a catalyst." She grabbed a pinch of the dirt and threw it into the beaker, then leaned closer to him. "And watch the reaction."

Inside the beaker, the mixture started to boil almost immediately and erupt. Upon closer inspection of the bag, Edd realized the black dirt was black powder and, in some part of his mind, the end result it would have upon the heated chemicals when added together. Between them, the mixture bubbled over and a shot went off with a loud bang! Edd jumped, as did the class, but Marie stayed still, staring at him, with that ever-present grin on her face.

Again, the teacher looked up and all eyes focused on them for a long moment. Edd felt like he himself was part of an experiment for the class. Marie seemed unafraid, merely waiting for his next move or response. It would be nice to have some of that bravado.

He didn't back down or instantly apologize to the class. Nor did he move away from Marie. Rather, he found himself entranced by her eye, as if it held him in place and stabilized him, calming the nervous palpitations in his chest at the loud explosion just now. For a while, the class faded into the background and there was only the two of them. And the cracked, bubbling beaker, which slowly died down. The mixture inside wasn't quite the same, more of a sloppy goo that spilled onto the counter and seemed to be everywhere, but he didn't care and neither did Marie.

"Well, that was…educational," he said.

"Stimulating," she added, as the bell rung and she shouldered her backpack. "For one's mind."

"Yes, very."

As they headed to the door, the teacher called out to Edd. "Excuse, Mister Eddward. Did you still wish to discuss something?"

He had completely forgotten and turned around. "Oh, um," he looked over his shoulder at Marie's retreating back. She threw him a smirk and merged into the crowd outside.

As he watched her, he knew there was much more to this girl than he had initially thought. She had already surprised him in a good way and this class seemed like a interesting start to the year. The first of many classes that he looked forward to all the more. "No, sir," he said, smiling. "It's nothing." After all, he reasoned to himself as he rushed out of class, as a self-proclaimed scientist, he was curious to see where this path would lead. His brain flashed every warning signal it could, but what was science without a little risk?

A/N: Nice to have that one out of our system.

Sword: Only 39,457 to go.

Pen: I will kill both of you and savor every single moment of it.

Thank you all for reading. Please, let us know what you thought of it. We really would love to hear your thoughts.

Sword: Toodles!