Kevin as groggy from waking up so early but he wanted to work out before the day started. He was not out of shape, summer football camp made sure of that fact. But he always felt awake after lifting weights or running. On the way to school, Kevin rode past Double D, the sound of his motorcycle startling to boy. Kevin chuckled at how jumpy the dork was. Edd had always been like that, even when they were kids.

He got to school and there were not a lot of people on the campus yet. After parking in his assigned spot then headed to the locker room. Being the captain of the football team had its advantages such as a permanent locker to keep his work out gear and football uniforms. Kevin changed and went to the weight room, unlocking the door with the key that coach gave him during the summer training season. Yep, the perks were pretty awesome.

After a good, sweaty work out and a quick shower, Kevin checked his watch. It was almost time for home room to start. He shoved his workout clothes in his gym locker and headed towards his school locker. Students milled around the hall, talking about summer vacation and the coming year. It took Kevin a while to get to his locker because every few steps someone would come up and talk to him. He was well liked and had a lot of friends. After exchanging high fives and information about his summer over and over again, he finally made it to his locker. The first day was always hectic but Kevin loved it. People dressed their best and were lively, even if it was early in the morning.

Nazz, his best friend and neighbor, leaned against his locker waiting for him. She was wearing a light blue dress and black flats, her hair in loose curls. A nice tan showed that she had spent most of her time outside, on various vacations with her family and friends. Kevin always enjoyed hearing about her trips to other countries or to the mountains. His family never had enough money to go on such trips so he lived them out through his friend's stories.

"Hey Kevin, how was your work out?"

Kevin shrugged. "Good as always I guess. It seemed to be more of a work out trying to get to my locker. I was stopped like ten times by the guys."

Nazz moved out of Kevin's way and he got his books. They talked about their mornings until the bell interrupted them. After a quick hug, they went their separate ways. Homeroom came and went without any problems. Kevin's first class was literature, which he did not mind too much, anything other than math or science this early. The teacher was nice and didn't assign any homework for the next day other than to be prepared to discuss themes of literature. The bell rang again and Kevin headed out of the room with the rest of the class. He didn't need to walk fast. His next class was study hall in the library and one of the coaches was the monitor for it.

Turning a corner, Kevin ran straight into someone, knocking them flat on their back. The impact dazed the jock for a second before he looked down at the fallen person. Edd, the contents of his bag spilled out onto the floor, scrambled to put everything back where it belonged. He checked to make sure that his laptop was okay before looking up at Kevin.

"Salutations, Kevin. I am sorry for running into you. I was not watching where I was going. You see I am running behind schedule and need to proceed to my locker to drop off some of my things."

Kevin bent down to help Edd pick up a few papers. "No problem Double D, I wasn't paying attention either."

On paper caught Kevin's attention. It was a syllabus but not for a class that the school offered. Notes were jotted down already, reminders and such. Kevin looked it over before handing back to Edd.

"I didn't know they offered psychology as a class. Man, I would have signed up for that in a heartbeat."

Edd laughed and said, "No, Peach Creek High does not offer the course. I am enrolled in a college course at Peach Creek State. I thought it would be beneficial to explore the world of college academia before graduating."

"That's pretty cool," Kevin smiled. "Also a good idea, getting some of your classes out of the way so college doesn't take as long. Wish I would have thought about that."

"You could always speak to the school councilor about trying to fix a class or two into the spring semester. I am very excited about the new challenges."

It was Kevin's turn to laugh. "Of course you are, dork."

Edd scowled. "There is no need to be rude Kevin."

Kevin smiled. "I say dork as a complement. I don't mean it like I use to when we were kids. I think we have both grown out of those times."

The contents of Edd's bag were finally put up and they went their separate ways, Edd almost running so that he would not be late. Kevin watched him go, shaking his head. He had noticed that Edd was dressed different, not his normal sweater vests and bow ties that he wore most days to class. The new look suited him and his small frame.

'It made his butt look good,' Kevin thought.

"Wait, what?" Kevin whispered and shook his head. That came out of left field. Pushing that to the back of his mind, he headed towards the library. The bell rang and roll was called. The coach called out Double D's name and Kevin said he had to go to his locker. The older man nodded and put a check next to his name. A few minutes later a flustered Edd finally came into the library. He was pale and looked winded as he talked to the coach. Kevin watched him find an empty table. Edd winced as he sat down and put a hand on his ribs. He wanted to go see if he was okay but coach came over to talk about the upcoming football season.

After departing from his interaction with Kevin, Edd ran to his locker. He needed to put his laptop away since the school did not allow the use of person devices. The locker was easy to find and the combination simple. Edd memorized it after only seeing it once. Such was his memory skills. It was not until after Edd closed his locker that he noticed someone leaning on the next locker over, a smirk adorning his face. Daniel, another senior and captain of the swim team, had been one of the major tormentors in Edd's high school career. He was tall and tone from years of swimming competitively. He had dirty blonde hair and cold brown eyes that reminded Edd of wet clay.

"Hey Double Dork, it's been a while," Daniel smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.

Edd shivered and clutched the strap of his bag. "G-greetings Daniel, I h-hope your summer was pleasant."

Daniel de-attached himself from the locker and walked over, shoulders back and slowly. Edd knew that walk and froze. It was a dangerous walk, taunting him to run when he knew that his thin legs would not out run Daniel. It was not long before the swimmer towered over him, locking eyes with Edd.

"It was not as fun without you there to have… fun with."

Before Edd could react, Daniel punched him in the ribs. All of the air in Edd's lungs evacuated and he was left wheezing. The noise Edd made only seemed to excite the bully more. Another punch landed on Edd's stomach, making him double over in pain. Tears sprung up in his eyes in reaction to the pain.

Daniel leaned down and whispered, "This was fun, let's do this again soon."

And then he was gone. Edd looked up to an empty hallway. The bell rang and he remembered that he needed to be in the library for study hall. Shouldering his bag, he headed towards the library, hand on his bruised ribs. The library was packed with students. Edd saw Kevin sitting with a group of his friends, talking and laughing. After a quick word with the coach assigned to watch them about his tardiness- which he found that Kevin covered for him-, he was able to find an empty table near the science section of the library.

Pain in his ribs flared up as he sat down, making Edd winch and hold his ribs. The facial expression was involuntary and he quickly made his face blank. Over the summer break, he had become use to not getting terrorized so he was showing his pain more than normal.

'I must work on that,' he thought. 'I do not need unnecessary attention from others. That would only worsen his plight with Daniel and his friends.'

Edd looked around to see if anyone noticed and locked eyes with Kevin across the room, how was talking to the coach. Concern showed on his classmates face, questioning with his eyes. Edd quickly looked away and tried to look busy by pulling out a book that he was currently reading.

Kevin watched Edd carefully after their eye contact, still worried. Something defiantly happened between get from his locker to the library. He would try to chance Edd after class to see if he was okay.

Since it was the first day of school, no one was really studying. Most students talked or read quietly, like Edd. The period went by quickly and soon it was time to head to the third class of the day. As the bell rang, Edd walked quickly to the exit and disappearing into the crowded hallway before Kevin could excuse himself from his friends.

Edd was glad to get out of the library before Kevin for he did not wish to answer question which he did not- could not answer. It was for his own safety that Edd kept these incidents to himself. Only more pain came with answers. Daniel would find out if he talked and the beatings would only worsen from that point on, as if claiming dominance over the student body. No, Edd would not let it go that far. He could handle the situation.