Word traveled fast in Peach Creek about Eddward Rockwell. The trio of Eds was now a duo. Ed was so pissed at Eddy for taking the side of his wrestling teammates in the fight Eddward had with Dominic, that he stopped speaking to him, too. And then there was the fact that Eddward's secret was now public knowledge. The cul-de-sac as a whole was surprised. The trio was tighter than the sockhat Eddward had always worn, but now they were as frayed as the seams of Big Ed's army jacket.

For the most part, everyone did their best to stay out of the drama, but it quickly became apparent that everyone was taking Eddward's and Big Ed's side in the matter. To sell out his old friend the way he did was tantamount to treason amongst his cul-de-sac neighbors.

Eddward was thankful that his neighbors hadn't harassed him about seeing his old scar as so many of their classmates and general busybodies like Lee and May had. Ed had a few words with May about it to the point that she cried. While Marie's torch of Eddward had become a candle, fire is still hot and the middle and oldest Kanker sister's rows over what was under his hat became legendary in the trailer park.

The day the sister's quarrel over him left the trailer park was the start of many first for the indigo'd haired girl and the smartest Ed.


It was the day before the first day of school and Ed, Eddward, and Sarah were at the mall to help Sarah pick up a few last minute things for school and enjoy what was left of the summer. The two Eds were standing outside of Wet Seal when the Kankers walked up. Lee, catching Eddward off guard as he was too busy trying to solve a Rubix Cube on his phone to notice her walking into his space, attempted to swipe his hat off his head. Marie jumped into action and all Eddward felt was a breeze as the smallest Kanker tackled her sister to the ground.

"Damnit, Lee! I told you to leave him alone!," Marie screamed.

Eddward and Ed jumped back as May tried but failed to break her sisters apart as Marie was sitting on Lee's now ample chest, the offending hand pinned above her head and using her free hand to punch her sister in the face.

Recovering from the initial fright the sisters gave him, Eddward stepped in. Tugging Marie off Lee, he pulled her close and leaned back against the wall in front of the midpriced trendy store as Ed hauled Lee to her feet and sat her down on a bench right across from Eddward and Marie. May pulled some tissues and napkins from her purse to wipe up the blood pouring out of Lee's nose and went off on both of her sisters.

"Both of you need to quit it! NOW! If Double D wants to show off what's underneath his hat, he will, Lee. But you need to leave. him. alone. And Marie, for the love of God, stop punching her in the face. It ain't gonna do nothing but piss her off," May fussed angrily as she wiped up Lee's face.

"If she'd leave him alone, I wouldn't have to punch her in the fucking face!," Marie screamed.

"Language, Marie," Eddward hissed at her. "And all three of you would do good to control your tempers."

"Like you did, D?," Lee snorted at him.

"I was defending myself, Lee," Edd said harshly, cold blue eyes locking in on hot green. "And I will not hesitate to do it again."

His tone was as cold as his eyes. Lee just gathered her bags and walked away.

"Sorry, Double D," May said softly as she ran to catch up with the oldest Kanker.

As the two sisters moved out of sight, Ed heaved a sigh as he leaned against the small wall behind the bench he was sitting on. Eddward relaxed his hold on Marie and that's when he noticed she was shaking.

"Marie, are you okay?," he asked gently.

The Kanker just shook her head as she took a few shallow breaths.

"I'll be fine."

Eddward turned her to face him, placed his hands on her shoulders and put her at arm's length. As he gave her a once over, Ed said, "Dude, Marie. Your hand is bleeding."

Eddward sucked his teeth and pulled a package of tissues out of his back pocket as Marie looked her hand over. Lee's teeth had cut up Marie's knuckles and it looked as if a few old wounds had reopened. Gently dabbing the blood away, Eddward shook his head. Digging into the inside pocket of his zip up hoodie, he pulled out a small First Aid kit.

Cocking his head at the bench Ed was sitting on, he looked at the girl and said, "Sit."

Sighing Marie went to sit down. Ed tugged her into his lap to hold her still as Eddward went to work. A few tears later from the stinging alcohol, Marie was cleaned and bandaged up.

"Th-Thanks, D," she said softly as she looked at her well taken care of hand.

"You're welcome. Stop punching your sister."

Marie snorted.

"Sure thing, Doc."


To make sure the Kankers took some time to calm down, Ed invited Marie along their shopping excursion. Eddward figured it was better than Marie and Lee seriously hurting themselves and each other and agreed. Sarah was apprehensive, but didn't say anything considering that the reason the punk rock Kanker was there was because she stood up for Double D. The youngest Hill's crush on the smart Ed had waned over the years, but a defender of Eddward was a friend of hers.

Kevin and Nazz were also at the mall and as they grabbed Nibblers and sweet tea from Mrs Fields, they spotted the two Eds and their female companions. Eddward was snickering at Ed as Sarah rolled her eyes and Marie laughed.

"Huh?," Kevin mused to himself.

"What?," Nazz asked as she munched on her snack.

"Check it. Edd's hanging with Marie," Kevin said as he gestured to the group of teens across the way from where he and Nazz were sitting in the food court.

"Whoa," Nazz breathed, teal eyes wide in shock.

"I know!," Kevin snickered.

"Do you think...?," the blond asked.

"Dude, if that happens it'll be a miracle!," Kevin laughed.

"Heh," Nazz grinned. "Good thing I believe in miracles."

"Say what?!"

"C'mon, they look cute together!"

"Yeah, I can see their wedding announcement now. 'Harvard genius marries his former stalker,'" Kevin scoffed.

"People change, Kev," Nazz said knowingly.

Kevin shook his head as he watched the small group of teens stop to chat with May before walking into another store as the wrestling team, their newest whipping boy in the middle of their sizable group came into the food court, Lee in tow.

"Don't I know it."