Chapter 2

Eddlyn made sure her chest binder was in place before she went out to meet up with the other Eds. She wanted to get an early start with her friends, so she could spend the afternoon and evening with her parents. She said goodbye to her mother as she passed her in the kitchen. Her father was probably still working in the home office on the second floor. As she walked down her driveway, she spotted the redhead bully from across the street as he sat at the mouth of their garage, trying to fix bits and pieces together to make a new bike. He glanced up as I scurried past his house, trying without luck to pass by unnoticed. "Hey Double Dork! Come here for a sec!" Kevin hollered at her, causing her to jump slightly. She glanced toward Eddy's house, then sighed as she nervously made her way across the street to him. "Su-sure Kevin. How may I be of assistance to you?" She said in a low, timid voice. "Dweeb, since you and your dorky friends totally crashed my bike, it's only fair that you fix it again! But I don't trust the other two dorks, so it's all on you double Dweeb! And if you don't, I'll pound ya!" Kevin sneered at Edd with a raised fist. Eddlyn quickly agreed and cast a longing glance towards Ed and Eddy's houses. "Alright Kevin. I shall start at once. Do you perhaps have the necessary tools acquired to assemble the bike?" Double D asked as she took in all the parts that would later become a fully functional mode for transportation.

"Yea, got it all right here in my dads toolbox" he pointed to a big blue metal toolbox behind him. It was old and had certainly seen better days. " Why thank you Kevin. I'm sure it contains all the tools I need to correctly assemble your bike." She grabbed the toolbox's handle and tried to lift it, keyword being tried. "Oh my! This certainly is quite heavy!" Edd heaved and pulled, but the blue box didn't move an inch. Kevin snorted through his nose at the weak dork. "Hey man, don't hurt yourself! Move back, I'll get it." He laughed. Kevin grabbed the toolbox with both hands and lifted it of the ground and closer to the bike parts. "Dude, You're so weak!" He smirked at her. She looked sheepish at the ground and rubbed her arm. "Well, um, yes. It seems I indeed lack physical empowerment."

Kevin pulled out a small grey foam mat for them to sit on as she started assembling the parts. It wasn't long until Kevin was helping her.
He glanced at the boy next to him and coughed lightly. "So, uh, you excited for school to start in a week, dork?" She looked at him and then back at the parts she was busy putting together. She hesitated for a moment, a moment that didn't go unnoticed by the redhead next to her. "Why, yes, um, I am indeed quite thrilled to start school." She chuckled nervously. The neighbourhood bully crocked an eyebrow at her. "What's up with you? You're usually on cloud nine every time someone mentions school. What gives?"

Double D swallowed a lump in her throat. 'Should I tell Kevin of my plans to join the program for the next year? Would that be wise? I'm not quite ready for Eddy and Ed to know. Nothing is set in stone yet, so there's no reason to rush. On the other hand, Kevin did ask, and I could really use a second opinion right now.' She stole a quick glance at him, seeing his attention on the bike parts in his hands once again.
"Um, I'm entertaining the idea of attending a programme for academically gifted youngsters for the next year. I haven't quite made up my mind, I mean, it's such a scary thing to leave my home and my friends for an entire year to study, but I'm intrigued by the thought of spending time with other young people with the same desire to learn as-"

"Woa, dude, you rambling. If you're that excited about that school, you should totally go!" Kevin laughed at me, as my cheeks heated up with embarrassment. "Y-yes, you are quit right, it is a great opportunity." She went back to putting the pieces back together.

They worked in silence for a few moments, before a thought occurred to Kevin. "Did you just say that you had to leave your home and friends, like leave the cul-de sac?" when the beanie-clad kid next to him nodded he went on: "Like how far off is this school of yours?" The dork didn't look up from the bike, but answered in a quiet voice; "4 hours by car approximately. I would have to live at the dorms the school provide for the duration of my stay."

Kevin looked at the nerd, "Oh." He said. There was a pause between them where they both tried to work on the bike. "Well, it's only for a year, right? And it's a great opportunity, so you should totally go. You can always just like, send letters and call your dorky friends. It's no big deal!" Kevin grinned at the kid next to him.

Edd looked at him, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "Yes, you are quite right. Thank you Kevin." Spirits lighter, she turned her focus back on finishing the bike.

Eddlyn returned from her friends later than planned that afternoon. It was already past five, and as she entered her home, a wonderful smell of pasta Alfredo met her at the door. She smiled as she called out for her parents. "I'm home, mother, father." Placing her shoes neatly on the mat next to the door she climbed the stairs as her mothers voice answered her. "Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes, sweetie. Go wash up beforehand."

Edd scurried to her room to grab some clean clothes and made her way into the bathroom to shower. Taking off her t-shirt and pants, she began removing her chest binder. Her chest was quite tender from being kept inside the binder all day. Looking at herself in the mirror as she undressed herself, she couldn't help but notice that her hips was starting to get wider. More prominent. It wouldn't be long before the peers would put two and two together. 'How will Ed and Eddy react? Ed will probably be confused, but the loveable o will most certainly still treat me well, if his caring nature is anything to go by.' She sighed, as she reached into the shower to turn it on, and wait for it to heat up. ' Eddy, on the other hand, will be more difficult to handle. He has such a fiery temperament and even the smallest things can set him off.' She stepped under the spray and began her daily routine of scrubbing and rinsing, washing her hair twice before using conditioner. She finished and meticulously dried off before getting into her clean clothes for the evening. She looked at her refection in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, not that it was surprising. It was always on the wild side. Long dark curls framed her cheeks still full of babyfat. Her azure blue eyes, was outlined by long dark eyelashes. And when she smiled, that cursed gap between her teeth showed. She didn't think she looked very feminine. But with puberty on its way, it was only a matter of time before her secret would be out.

She quickly put a new clean beanie on her head and vent downstairs to help set up the table for dinner.

As the small family of three sat down to eat, small talk passed between them. Eddlyn looked at her parents, fiddled with her fork and knife for a bit, before placing them down. " Mother, father. I've decided to attend the program." She smiled at the, and both her mother and father give her a relieved look. "Your mother and I are both very happy for your decision. We hate leaving you all by yourself in this big house. At the dorm, you will live alongside other students and also teachers, so you won't have to be alone" David said and smiled at his little girl. Her mother placed a hand on top of Eddlyn's, and gave her daughter a warm smile. "I believe you will have a wonderful time at the new school, my dear. Tomorrow we will contact the school and get you enrolled."
Edd smiled and nodded. 'Mum is right. I will have a splendid time on the program.'