During the drive home, Kevin can't help but think about the first time he offered to help Edd grade something.

. . . . . . . . . .

The first semester Edd ever taught graduate courses, he learned the hard way that having end of the semester projects and extensive writing on final exams is not only hard on the student, but hard on the professor who has to grade all that in little to no time.

Kevin had been friends with Edd for about eight months now and had already developed the habit of popping into Dr. Vincent's office whenever he was on that side of campus. Kevin knocked on the doorframe as he stepped inside. "You still good to get lunch… oh… oh no… you're not good, are you?"

Edd looked up at him, and he looked like he was on the verge of tears. His lack of sleep was apparent because of his complexion and manner of dress. But the biggest warning sign that something was amiss, was the cup of coffee. Edd never drinks coffee. Tea's as much caffeine as he can handle. But he hates coffee. And it looks black. He's gone full dark cup o' joe deep end.

"I messed up, Kevin."

"What happened?" he asked, quickly sitting down in the chair in front of the desk.

"I made too much work for myself. I made all the exams involve essays and short answers and other sorts of written responses. I'll never get this grading done."

"It's okay. I can help. We'll get this done, no worries."

"How can you help? You're just a coach. What do you know about biology?"

Edd didn't have to look at Kevin's face to know that those were fighting words. He knew his error as he said it, but his stress and lack of sleep and the three cups of coffee caused the vile words to spill out against his better judgment.

"I am NOT a coach. I. Am. A. PROFESSOR. Just. Like. YOU." Kevin gritted out through his teeth. This was terrifying enough, but then Kevin transitioned to his voice he reserves for disorderly students. "I teach kinesiology and health. I may only have a Master's and not a Ph.D. like you. I may not understand microbiology or anything with flora or frigging insects like you. But I do understand the biology of the human body. I understand immunology. I understand enough to know what you're talking about for about half of your classes. And I don't just understand enough to get the theories' concept, but to apply them and to put science into practice. I have full confidence in my area of study and my knowledge and my skillset. I know it's more than suffice to at least help somehow. This is why I offered. So, don't you dare look down on me for my area of science, Doctor Vincent. I know my worth."

The sound of Kevin's low and stern voice demanded authority and provoked an unknown fear in Edd. But it was the words that really caused the damage.

"The offer still stands," Kevin said leaving the room. I don't think he'll take me up on that. He seems to full of pride and I… I kinda went off on him… I wouldn't blame him for never talking to me again.

Edd watched him leave, in shock. He was certain that his blasted mouth and his "I have to do everything myself" attitude just caused him to lose one of the best comraderies he had on this campus. He thinks that I believe him to be unintelligent all because I called him a coach and questioned his biology knowledge. Why did I do that!? I know he's brilliant. He constantly wins at scrabble and bananagram. He carried the team on trivia night. He was able to fix the electric microscope when no one else in the department could. He's a genius that hides his knowledge under a care-free attitude. I know that, and I still said something so awful! Edd then spent the next several moments obsessing over how to fix the situation until he remembered that he needed to get back to grading. I'll apologize first, grade, then do everything I can to make amends if he accepts the apology. He was shaking, he knew it wasn't the coffee this time, as he grabbed his cell phone and texted Kevin.

Edd: I'm truly sorry for what I said, and I do not think of you in such a manner. I do respect you and your field of study.

Edd: Please let me know when you are available, so I can apologize properly.

Kevin was only a few steps outside his office when he received the texts. He stood there, reading them over and over, the last of his fuming being replaced by a strange mix of guilt and sympathy. Kevin grabbed a few books and pens from his office and headed for the parking lot.

About 40 minutes later, Edd heard a knock on his door. He peered up, saying, "Do come in!" but the person was already stepping into the room. Edd stood up immediately, "Kevin! I am so sorry, I just-"

"Hush!"

Edd did.

"I don't know what you meant by apologize properly but that 'I do respect you and your field of study' blah blah blah seemed proper enough as is."

Edd was a little taken aback, but relaxed when he noticed that Kevin was smiling.

"So… are we good?"

"We're good," Kevin beamed.

Edd returned the smile before he looked Kevin over. That's when he noticed that Kevin was carry quite the variety of things. Edd quickly walked around his desk to help Kevin with his load. "What is all this?"

"I decided to get some sustenance for you while you worked."

Edd hesitated to put the full drink tray down on his desk. He turned back to Kevin, still holding it. "I'm a bit confused."

"Ah… If you're wondering why there's four drinks… I got two ice coffees for me, two iced black teas for you."

Edd shakes his head. "Though that does explain the number of drinks, I'm confused about something else… why did you come back?"

Kevin shrugged. "You're my friend. I'd do anything I'm able to for you."

"So… about helping me grade?"

"Yup, that included," Kevin said, removing the bag of food to show that he had brought a few books related to biology and his marking pens. "Just tell me what you think I can do, and I'll try my best to help."

Edd quickly cleared a spot on his desk and said, "Let's eat first."

Kevin started setting up their meal.

"And as for what you just said… I think you can do anything… though we should probably leave the microbiology essay to me." They both laughed and started enjoying a late lunch.

Later, Kevin did prove to be more than suffice in helping Edd grade.

. . . . . . . . . .

Ever since then, Kevin would always help Edd out when possible, and not just with grading. Moving apartments, setting up an online class, filing taxes, and so much more. And every once in a while Edd's confusion over the situation would get the best of him and he'd ask Kevin, "Why are you doing this for me?"

And every time Kevin would reply, "You're my friend. I'd do anything I'm able to for you."

One day Edd asked him what he meant by that, to which Kevin explained that as long as he is capable of helping, he will. Kevin purposely left out his reason for doing so. During the first time Kevin helped Edd grade papers, they started joking around about some of the more absurd answers. Watching the way Edd threw his head back and laugh before he quickly tried to cover up his gapped-tooth smile did something to Kevin. He felt a weird pull in the pit of his stomach. He felt weighted down with unknown emotions, but also light as a feather. He didn't know what was going on, and it took him all summer to figure it out. He had suddenly fallen for his friend, and there was no getting up.

Edd still occasionally asked why, and he knows Kevin's reply before he even says it. Edd just sometimes likes to hear it, like a confirmation of their friendship. And each time Edd asks, Kevin always pulls through, saying the same reply every time, but never admitting his true feelings.

. . . . . . . . . .

Kevin is now sitting on Edd's floor, grading the multiple-choice quizzes as Edd sits curled up on the couch, grading the lab reports on his tablet. Edd didn't even tell Kevin what to do next, instead, Kevin just found work to do himself.

After he finished grading the first half of the immunology exam, he asked Edd to turn on his laptop. This was the only communication the whole time. Otherwise, they had been working individually in silence. They had a lot more work to do than all those times Kevin had helped Edd grade, and there was no time for goofing off or joking around. Edd did as Kevin asked, logging into his laptop, and went back to grading. But he watched Kevin, wondering what he needed Edd's laptop for when he already had his own opened up next to him.

He watched as Kevin opened a few folders until he found what he was looking for. Edd's grading excel file. He knew Edd uses excel to input the grades for each part of the exam and calculate the overall exam grade. It also allows his to get data on the performance of the overall class. Edd doesn't remember ever telling Kevin explicitly about this, but here he was, inputting the parts that were already graded, each student slowly accumulating more points.

He must have seen me do this enough time to know my routine. Am I this obvious with my methods or is he more hyper-observant that I once thought? Edd brushed the thought aside while he went back to grading.

After a while, Kevin found himself lying down on the floor, done with all the work he could possibly do at this point. He glanced at his phone, noticing it was well past midnight. He figured his time of helpfulness was over and was going to ask Edd if he'd be okay with finishing up by himself. However, when he looked up over the coffee table, he realized that Edd was fast asleep on the couch, an exam essay question half graded on his chest, pen held loosely in his hand. Kevin took the pen and exam from Edd and covered him up with a blanket Edd kept on the far end of the couch.

He then turned back to the coffee table and looked at all the different stacks of papers in their different stages of being graded.

Guess my job here isn't done after all.