Chapter 2
"No Eddy, I will not help you with one of you crazy ideas today. No, I am getting ready for the prom. Yes I actually have a date tonight. NO! I am not going to tell you. If you want to meed my date get your suit ready and be at the prom. Go Stag, or with Ed I don't care, I have enough to worry about today. Goodbye Eddy." Cell Phones, the bane of existence to man kind. Whoever came up with this idea should be strangled. I just wish I could turn it off and not hear from Eddy, but then my date would call or something, and and, OH MY OH MY OH MY here I go again worry worry worry. OK lets go over the list again. Tux, Powered Blue with a Dark Blue shirt and White Bow Tie, complete opposite color scheme of my date's outfit. Dress Shoes shined to a mirrored finished. Limo waiting a secret location to fool Eddy and Ed, I hope. Reservations made for a late dinner. Flowers? Yes, No? AAARRGGG No Flowers, too cheesy. If I keep pacing my room I will be too tired to dance. Me dance, another blow to the students at Peach Creek High tonight. It will be a night full of surprises for sure. We have been dating so long now, we have become pros at not getting caught. But tonight we agreed to make the debut as a couple, rather we stir things up or not. We both are tired of hiding.
Our first date so many years ago, over a Holiday weekend. It wasn't planned, rather planned for us. "This was just a pretest to let you know what you need to study up on for Tuesday's Test. That one will be a 100 question. Remember that your test and classroom involvement will count as 75% of your final grade. I will be returning your pretest to you for you to review, you have a 3 day weekend to study up on the material you got wrong." As she is handing each test out she points out what each student did wrong. Reaching my desk she hands me my paper and says "Excellent job as always Edward." I know other students are staring, but I really like learning and it comes natural to me. I can't help that I am so smart. Looking at the clock I notice that we have less than a minute remaining of class so I go ahead and pack my supplies knowing that Ms Jackson will not be able to instruct us any more today.
The bell rings and the entire class heads out the door like a pack of stampeding wild animals. It is a wonder to me that no ever gets hurt in this stampede. As the classroom thins out I stand and walk up to Ms Jackson's desk to thank here for today. "On behalf of the students, Thank you for the wonderful educational experience, Ms Jackson." "You are quite welcome Mr Vance, uhm Edward, could you please wait just outside the door for a couple of minutes?" "Why I would be happy too, Ms Jackson". As I head toward the door I wonder why she needed me to wait outside, at the same time I noticed that Kevin has not left the classroom either. This was highly unlike him. I close the door like Ms Jackson likes and walk over to my locker and shuffle what books and notes I will need for studying this weekend.
After a few minutes Ms Jackson opens her door and looks at me and says, "You may come in now Edward." She just turns and walks back to her desk. When I reached the threshold I noticed that Kevin is still standing in front of her desk like a statue except that he is able to move his head. He turns and looks my way and my knees start to shake involuntarily. For a brief second his expression showed of a chuckled grin, that most people would have over looked. Why did I catch it though?
I walked up to Ms Jackson's desk and try to speak, "Y-Y-Yes Ms Jackson, W-W-What can I do for you?" Out of the corner of my eyes I see Kevin roll his eyes quickly. Again why did I catch the change in his expression? "Mr Vance, I was wondering if you would agree to tutor Mr Murphy over the weekend and through the remainder of the school year. Kevin needs help bringing his grades up so he can pass this year. Being as how the two of you live in the same neighborhood, and grew up together, you might be able to help him out some." "B-B-But...", I can find no good reason not to help him, that Ms Jackson would agree upon. I slowly nod my head. "Good, now the two of you go enjoy your weekend, and Kevin, I expect you to at least pass your History Test on Tuesday." "Yes Ms Jackson" we say in unison. I turn and high tail it out of the class room without running, of course it is forbidden in school, I didn't want to give Kevin a chance to pound me without a good reason.
Walking out the main door of the School I see Nazz waiting on a bench looking as pretty as she always does. "Hi Edwarrrd"! I cringe at that sound, Kankers. I barely get turned around before Marie has me in her grasp trying to get a kiss from anywhere her lips could touch. How Revolting. I work to pry myself away from her evil clutches, when Kevin walks out with his swaggered step and a short laugh in my direction. "Later Dork, Don't get too busy with Marie this weekend." As Kevin and Nazz walk off together with their arms around each other, Marie is talking about marriage again. Next instant I am free and I look to see Ed holding Marie up by her shirt collar and not letting her feet touch the ground. Sometimes having a big goof as a friend comes in handy. "Marie, leave Edd alone. We have things to work on, and don't need you." Shouts Eddy. Ed sits her in a trash can so she has trouble getting out and we three taking off running. Can't run in school, but outside there is no rule, and by the time we were 12 we had gotten pretty fast to out run the Kankers. And so starts the Holiday Weekend that will go down in history.