The crisp morning air was startling to Eddward Vincent-abruptly waking him from his slumber. He hadn't slept much that night anyways due to the fact that he had not only his own homework to complete, but that of the high school hotshot Kevin and his sinister sidekick Nathan. Day-in and day-out they shoved Edd against lockers, cut his bike chains, and beaten him senseless in the boy's locker room after gym class. He couldn't even ride his bike to the high school anymore. Edd's love of school and learning was the only thing keeping his motivation alive.
"One of these days, I'll stand up to them," Eddward thought to himself as he crawled out of his baby blue comforter and started towards the bathroom. "Kevin has tortured me since childhood. He should know better by now. Nathan, on the other hand, is a new student and is just taking after Kevin. But still. I can't go on like this much longer. This is my senior year for heaven's sake."/p
"Eddward twisted the shower knobs to obtain his desired temperature and tiredly slipped off his clothes. Upon entering the shower, he slipped and his elbow clashed with the shower door. "OUCH! Oh dear!" Eddward clutched his arm until the resonating pain died down and assumed a bruise was the worst case scenario.
"Once fully submerged in the steaming water Eddward allowed his thoughts to shift to the negative side of his mind-as part of his morning ritual. He found that if he could start out the day getting through the negative, he would be able to reflect on the positive easily throughout the rest of the day. He thought of the every day torture he endured by Kevin, the abandonment he felt from his parents unintentionally never being around because of their prestigious jobs, and the pain of always faking a smile. The anguish he had to hide every day for the sake of others. "Why doesn't anyone care about me for once or ask how I'm doing..." Tears started pooling at his eyes but they were masked by the water already falling on his face. And that's how he liked it.
"BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BE- A fist came down on the digital clock. Kevin Barr rubbed his eyes and shifted over in his bed. "Ha! Last night was one for the books," he thought to himself as he stretched his arms and yawned. He reached over to look at his phone and read the unfinished conversation he drunkenly started with Claire, the most promiscuous cheerleader at Peach Creek Highschool. He didn't even bother to apologize for falling asleep. The only thing on his mind was the irritating hangover and the location of his father's aspirin. Once he gained the strength to get out of bed, he walked into the kitchen to find anything to dull the headache. He decided a shot of whiskey was his best option.
"Kevin stepped into the shower, washed his hair and scrubbed away at last night's misadventures. "I can't believe how wasted I was. Nat too. That pervert couldn't keep his hands to himself the whole night!" Kevin chuckled to himself. Once he finished shampooing his hair, he stepped out of the shower and faced the mirror to admire his athletic body. He was proud of way the water glistened on his muscles and dripped from his red hair. He had the power to make any girl fall to her knees, but yet he was never satisfied. Every time he gave some chick a shot, something was always missing or it just didn't feel right. But the emptiness was usually patched by picking on Double-D at school and Kevin was feeling especially empty today.
"Double-Dork always wears that stupid sock on his head. Hmmm...I wonder what he has to hide." Kevin hurriedly put on a green long-sleeved t-shirt and some worn out skinny jeans followed by the signature red hat his mother bought him from the hospital gift shop. The cancer in her brain had spread and there was nothing left to do but wait then eventually say goodbye forever. Kevin was three then and the hat was too big for him to wear, but now it fit him perfectly and served as a reminder of the beautiful fire-haired woman he never had the chance of truly knowing.
"Eddward looked up at the bathroom mirror to see his eyes were still puffy from sobbing. He noticed the scar on the top of his head and gingerly put his beanie on to cover it. "I'm ready for today," he said aloud. It didn't matter if he talked to himself or not, there was no one else in the house besides the plethora of sticky notes his parents left from their short visit two weeks ago. They always made sure to stock the cabinets and refrigerator before they left. They trusted Eddward to take care of the house and himself in their absence.
"Eddward made his way back to his room and put on a red t-shirt, black jacket, and ripped skinny jeans. He made his way into the kitchen but didn't feel hungry. Rather than go the morning without eating, he packed an apple into his bag and started for the door. He slipped on his black shoes and walked outside. Peach Creek High School was approximately 5 blocks away, but Eddward enjoyed the walk. He would usually meet his best friends Eddy and Ed along the way, but they had decided to skip the school day, something Eddward would never allow himself to partake in, to play video games and watch movies.
"Good morning Edd! How's your project on Ant Colonization going?"
Eddward replied, "Salutations Mr. Lynch! Its spectacular! Colony A has accepted the new Queen, but Colony B seems to be showing signs of aggression at the change of a new monarch which proves my hypothesis to be correct!" Eddward and the teacher walked past the two mischievous athletes and continued their conversation about ant establishment between varied species' until they reached his locker.
"Are those boys still picking on you, Edd?" Mr. Lynch asked with a worried expression on his face. He once found Edd hiding in the back of his classroom to avoid the miscreants. "If something is happening, do not ever hesitate to stop by my classroom after school to talk about it." Mr. Lynch was well aware of Edd's situation at home and took extra care to watch over him. But before Eddward could answer his question, the bell rang calling for the first class. "I'll escort you to your Calculus class, Edd. It's my fault that you are late."
Rather than argue with Mr. Lynch Eddward nodded his head and walked to Room 201: Calculus. Eddward walked in with a smile on his face as Mr. Lynch apologized to the Calculus teacher for keeping him after the bell. Mr. Lynch said his goodbyes and made his way to his own classroom. The rest of the class flew by as Eddward raised his hand to solve every problem and finished his homework before the bell sounded for second period.
Eddward quickly packed up his things and headed towards his locker down the hall. Once he arrived he found two tall boys waiting for him. In heighth, Eddward and Kevin were easily matched. In their childhood Eddward was always taller than Kevin, but Kevin managed hit a growth spurt in seventh grade that made him just as tall. Nathan arrived at Peach Creek their sophomore year and towered above both of them.
"Hey there cutie! I think you have something for us!" Nathan sneered at Eddward and held out his hand to retrieve his homework. Eddward looked down sheepishly and opened his bag to pull out the article summaries he worked all night on. He handed them their papers and began to open his locker when Kevin punched it closed and walked off with Nathan.
"Why do you have to be so rude to the little guy? He's so innocent, its adorable!" said Nat. Nat moved to Peach Creek two years ago and due to their love of athletics, he and Kevin became well-acquainted. Kevin didn't like Nat at first, but the teal haired boy won him over with his annoying nicknames and animated personality.
"He's just...a dork. All he's good for is doing our homework and being my punching bag. Him and the rest of those dweebs." Kevin laughed while looking over the homework Double D completed for them as they walked to their next class together. As Kevin began looking more at the report, he noticed Double D didn't take care to write it in Kevin's handwriting. "Nat! There's no way the teacher is going to believe I wrote this! The dork didn't write it in my handwriting!"
"Kevin. Calm down. It's fine I'm sure he won't notice." Nat said reassuringly.
"No! He's going to pay for this one!" Kevin referred back to his thoughts from earlier today about Double D's hat. "How about we see what that dork's hiding under that sock after gym class today?"
"Now Kevin, you know how I love helping you annoy him, but that is going a little too far this time. He NEVER takes that thing off." Nat replied. "You can count me out on that one. Plus, I can't be late to Mr. Lynch's class again."
"Alright fine man. See ya later Nat!" Kevin rushed to his next class and sat down in his seat the exact time the bell rang. Throughout the whole class period he couldn't stop thinking about how he was going to get that hat away from Double Dork. If Nat was helping it would be so much easier. Nat could just hold him back as he went to grab it but this is going to be a solo project.
"That dork is always last to leave the locker room anyways. All I have to do is just wait until everyone is gone and corner the little dude." Kevin thought to himself. Soon the bell sounded and Kevin was the first one out of the classroom. He rushed past the other students as fast as he could towards the gym.
"I'm sorry Eddy, but I don't have time to talk about scams at this moment for I am late to Physical Education. Please excuse me," Eddward said to his sententious comrade as he started towards the gymnasium. Eddward loathed the class, but he understood why being physically healthy was necessary to a stable lifestyle and therefore added to productivity in one's life. He entered the gentleman's locker room to change into his "active gear" for today's activities, but noticed Kevin looking at him in a rather odd fashion instead of engaging in the conversation Nathan was attempting to creat. Eddward completed the assignment they had given him, so he could not think of a single reason why Kevin would be glowering at him.
After gym was over, all of the boys headed to the locker room. Everyone changed out and headed out the door to their next class, but Kevin and Eddward were the last two remaining in the room. Kevin was staring at Eddward and it made him feel very uncomfortable. Every movement was monitored by the jock's emerald green eyes and Eddward started to feel very anxious. As Eddward started towards the door Kevin blocked it and smugly rested one of his hands on Eddward's shoulder.
"W-well s-s-salutat-t-tions K-Kevin," Eddward nervously forced out of his mouth. "W-we had better-r hurry to Biology before Mr. Lynch counts us tardy!" But Kevin did not move. A devilish grin crept upon his face and his eyes were gazing into Eddward's. As Kevin moved closer and closer Eddward could sense Kevin's attention shifting from his eyes to his hat. Eddward quickly reached up to pull the hat over his face and at the same time Kevin's hands shot up to retrieve it.
As Kevin was trying to pull the hat off of Eddward's head, Eddward was screaming at him and for help from any one within earshot. Their class was the last class in the gymnasium for the day, but he kept yelling for help. As the two boys tackled each other for the black beanie a hand came in between them, separating them.
Eddward looked up to see Mr. Lynch grabbing Kevin by the shirt and then dragging them both to his office.