"Baby, Do I?"

Summary: Everyone had always known Kevin as the star athlete. The role-model of the Cul-De-Sac. They had expected great things out of him, yet when he comes back after a year of absence, he has a newly found attitude...and it isn't good. Now, on a strange and curious dare, it's up to Edd to get to the bottom of just what happened.

(Sorry I am absolutely horrible at summaries. Anyways, enjoy the story; reviews are greatly appreciates and don't be shy to be harsh. I accept criticism. Also, I do not own the show nor the characters. I simply own the story.)

Chapter 1: The Dare

It was strange how quickly a person could change. How in just the span of one year, a person's entirely personality could flipped. Usually, Edd expected these things. People did mature every day. Yet he hadn't expected the person to change to be Kevin Barr. The once teen foot ball star who'd been known all around Peach Creek high to be the top role-model for the students had disappeared for a year. No one knew exactly why. Rumors had spread he was eloping, others said he had knocked up a girl. Edd didn't partake in any of the nonsense, but he was intrigued by Kevin's newly found attitude. When the popular jock had returned, his appearance had changed severely. Instead of his usual sneakers, basketball shorts, and jerseys he'd always wear, he came back dressed in every shade of black possible. His personality had completely flipped and when approached he would simply brush off the person and continue on. It was as if, as Ed had put it, an alien had switched places with the teen.

Edd had a theory, however, behind it all. He knew the only thing that could change someone that much was a traumatic event. As he sat sipping away on a small carton of orange juice, he turned confidently to the rest of the people at his table. There weren't many, just the usual Cul-De-Sac gang. There was Ed and Eddy, his best friends since forever; then there was Nazz, the high school's head cheerleader, Sarah who was Ed's younger sister, and Jimmy, Sarah's best friend. There was also Johnny and Plank, inseparable brothers, then the neighborhood foreigner, Rolf. With a final sip of his drink, he spoke up.

"So I think," he started, watching as all eyes turned towards him curiously, "I think we should try and help Kevin." Everyone looked at each other, their eyes holding doubt. Nazz was the first to answer.

"As much as I would love to get the old Kevin back, I'm honestly too scared of this new Kevin to even try," she said. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Besides, I never liked the shovel-chin pea-brain anyways!" Eddy chided in which earned him a slap on the arm by Nazz. Rubbing the tender area, he added, "I mean, he seems to not like us anymore either. He practically ignores us all!" Edd nodded, knowing this was true.

"I know, guys, but obviously something really horrid happened to him. I want to find out what," he stated, turning to glance around the cafeteria. Just at the very edge near the back corner, he saw Kevin sitting with a half-eaten plate, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He sighed, saddened at how far his fellow peer had fallen.

"You know what, you're right Double D!" Sarah piped, looking at everyone at the table. "We should try and get Kevin back to normal, or at least find out what happened!" Everyone looked at each other, cautious but agreeing with her. She then grinned and turned back to Edd. "And I dare you to do it!" The table fell into silence, all eyes looking at Edd. He stiffened up, his eyes wide, as he let what Sarah said roll through his mind. Kevin wasn't exactly his best friend. Growing up together, Edd, along with Ed and Eddy, were often the victims of the older teen's bullying. Yet Edd knew it was only out of attention, that Kevin was just a troubled teen with the same problems as everyone else. This situation was different.

"You don't have to do it, Edd-boy. This Kevin-boy seems to be lost to anyone. He has no hope," Rolf said, hanging his head. Everyone frowned as they started to truly believe their old friend was gone. Edd pressed his lips together and stood.

"I'll do it," he stated. "I'll find out what happened to our dear old companion or at least fight to try." Everyone cheered and smiled, continuing now with their meal. They seemed happy at the thought of getting the old Kevin back, yet as Edd looked back at the now empty table in the corner, he couldn't help but sense that small doubt that there was no hope.

(XXXX)

It was the end of seventh period and the class was filing out of the room in tired but happy shuffles. The school day was over and as much as Edd loved education, he was thrilled to be able to go home and relax. Even a book-nerd like himself needed a break.

Walking out of the classroom, he quickly found his locker, stuffing in books to trade space for ones he needed. Checking once more over his list to make sure everything was situated, he closed his locker and headed for the large double doors which lead out to Peach Creek High's parking lot. The buses had already left, taking home kids who either didn't have the license or lived too far away to walk. Others were taking off on bikes, all grouping to make sure the others got home safe. Only a few were walking home, Edd included. His house wasn't too far, only a block and a half down the street. He was thankful he lived close enough to walk but just far enough to have some peace as he did. He loved to take this time between school and home to go over the day's events, making sure that the day went smoothly, and that his schedules were all assured for. He was almost pleased with it all until the cafeteria popped into his mind. He remember the dare Sarah had placed upon him and suddenly his walk lost its bounce. Slowly stopping, he looked down at his feet, biting his bottom lip with a groan.

He wasn't sure what got him to agree to the dare. He did want to get to the bottom of the Kevin mystery, but he didn't want to receive a beating for prying into something he obviously had no business partaking in. This just wasn't like him, either. Edd was a shy one, sticking only to his books and his small circle of friends. Ed and Eddy were the only two in that circle, the rest only acquaintances he just happened to know. Kevin wasn't even an acquaintance. Sure, he had watched him from afar, and near when he was being punched in the face. He had witness the boy grow, but he had no real attachments to the red-haired teen. So what possessed him to agree?

Sighing, Edd started to walk again, trying hard to figure out a plan. He wasn't about to back out now, not after giving his word. Yet how would he do this? It was obvious Kevin wasn't letting anyone near him, not even adults. He would have to devise a plan, probably ask Eddy for help and -

SMACK!

Edd groaned as his bottom met concrete, sending a terribly uncomfortable jolt of pain up his spine. His head also began to thump with the oncoming of a headache. He looked up at the object he walked into, his eyes being momentarily blinded by the evening sun. When his vision finally cleared, his eyes widened in shock as he saw none other than Kevin Barr himself. Scared beyond death, he quickly stood, brushing the dirt off his pants as he began mumbling apologies.

"I-I am t-terribly sorry, K-Kevin. I didn't mean t-to bump into you like that. It was a horrible mistake. I should have been watching where I was walking. My a-apologies - ah!" He was interrupted as a rough hand grabbed his chin, lifting his head up at an uncomfortable angle. Ocean blue eyes met sparkling emerald as Kevin brought him in close. There was anger in those eyes, danger, but also something else Edd couldn't place. He suddenly found himself drowning in those eyes until the heat of Kevin's breath brought him back up.

"You should watch where you're going, dork," Kevin all but growled at Edd. It sent chills throughout his body and he swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

"A-Again, I apologize," he said, yet it came out as a whisper. Kevin grinned, his eyes slanting like a predator who just found prey. Edd fought back tears. He knew he was about to be pummeled and there was nothing he could do about it.

"You're pretty scared of me right now, aren't you dork?" Kevin asked, his voice becoming low. He leaned forward, turning Edd's face to the right. "You practically reek of it." His voice resonated on Edd's skin, his breath tickling the sensitive ear. Edd closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing. He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for what he knew was going to be a fist connected with his jaw. Instead, he felt teeth roughly nibbling on his lower ear, tugging just slightly. He let out a startled squeak, face flushing red with embarrassment. He heard Kevin chuckle deep which cause his skin to tingle with goosebumps. When Kevin pulled back, their eyes met again, and Edd swore he saw pure hunger within those green eyes. Now he was scared, but adrenaline was rushing right behind it. A million thoughts were running through his head yet he could not make sense of any.

"Well," Kevin started as he quickly moved back, hands going inside the pockets of his black jeans. He turned around and started to walk off, calling over his shoulder, "I'll catch you later, dork!" before disappearing around the end of the block. Edd could only stand there, his body shaking as he let out a deep sigh, not even realizing he had been holding his breath. His lungs burn, his knees were weak, and he swore his heart was about to beat right out of his chest. Yet despite what had just happened and the fear that formed in beads of sweat down his forehead, he felt a small flame ignite in his stomach. This was about to become the most interesting experiment he has ever performed and surprisingly, Edd was looking forward to it.

Ok, so that probably sucked. If it did, let me know. If you have any ideas of how to improve it, post a review and I will see you all in the next chapter!

-later!