Brace yourselves...
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"Yo Double D! What took you so long?"
Eddward, or Double D as those who've known him for long would often say, hopped into the back seat of his best friend's red Honda.
"Apologies Eddy, I was simply conversing with Mr. Dunbar about the-"
"Yeah yeah yeah nerd crap", Double D rolled his eyes at being interrupted but allowed Eddy to continue. "Lumpy's been chewing my ear off about some new slasher series that's gonna release this weekend."
Said 'Lumpy' spun around in the passenger's seat to speak to Edd directly, "it's gonna be amazing Double D!"
The gap-toothed nerd giggled at his friend's enthusiasm but warned him to remain facing the front while the car was in motion.
"So that's the plan for Friday night I guess," Eddy concluded as they finally drove into the cul-de-sac. "Man, I gotta get me a girl. Can't keep wasting away with you lameos every weekend."
"Though I can appreciate the honesty Eddy and somewhat sympathize with your need for companionship, I'll have you know that Ed and I are by no means 'lameos', as you so eloquently put it". As the car slowed at his driveway he collected his things, "now if you'd excuse me I have quite a bit of assignments to get through poste-haste", and out he went; sending them off with a quick wave goodbye as they drove the few extra feet to their own homes.
As soon as he crossed the threshold of his, he replaced his shoes with slippers and made his way to his room, ready to dive into his school work.
As he made himself comfortable at his desk; supplies laid out neatly, relevant texts within reach and a hot cup of jasmine tea on standby, he heard the soft ping of his phone alerting him of a new message. Battling with himself on whether to ignore or read it, he sighed before caving and grabbed the handheld device.
"Oh, a message from Nazz."
Need help ASAP!
"Oh dear", taking one last glance at his desk before he made up his mind. "You know what they say, a friend in need."
Collecting a few supplies, he turned off his desk lamp and grabbed his messenger bag. Down the stairs, into his shoes and out the door he went. Just a few paces to Nazz's pale yellow house. In no time he was ringing her doorbell and in no time had it been thrown open.
"Thank God. You finished your project days ago right?" she hadn't waited for a response before pulling him into the living space. "I'm almost done but I'm stuck on a few details. I promise not to keep you long."
"That's fine Nazz; I don't mind offering my assistance."
"You're a life saver dude. Let's get to it."
#
"Aaaaaaand done. Finally", the blond closed the lid of her laptop and slouched into the chair. "Man that was brutal for minute there. Thanks Double D, you really know how to save a girl. I owe you big time."
Edd, who was already repacking his bag, smiled in her direction, "think nothing of it Nazz. You don't owe me anything, I'm happy to help really but I must be going now."
"You don't wanna hang out for a bit? I can order pizza as a thank you," she offered but he was already steps away from the front door.
"That's quite fine. I have a bit more work to do myself."
"Alright dude, if you say so but I'm definitely treating you to pizza next time."
He didn't have the heart to tell her he avoided fast food, choosing instead to smile at the kind gesture.
Reaching for the door he spoke again, "Well Nazz as always it's been a pleasure. I'll see you in class tomor-" the sudden opening of the door surprised him, what also surprised him was the immediate collision with the wooden frame and his face.
"Holy shit!" he heard the person curse from the opposite side of the door.
He had already crouched into a defensive position, hands cradling his nose. Within seconds Nazz was kneeling beside him rubbing soothing circles into his back.
"Kevin you fucker! Who opens a door that hard?!"
Ah, so it was Kevin who brought forth this assault.
"Shit, is he ok?" Edd was vaguely aware that there was now another pair of hands on his person.
"No freaking way you dumb jock! Not after the way you torpedoed into my house", Nazz replied hysterically.
Being the anti-social science geek that is Edd, he was already beginning to feel uncomfortable with the sudden turn of events. Slowly, he pulled his hands from his face, wincing when his finger, brushed the tip of his nose.
"Le' me see", without waiting for a response the red head gingerly cupped the smaller teen's chin, pulling his face a bit closer for inspection. "Hmm, well it's not broken-"
"Thank god", at Nazz's interjection Kevin shot her an unamused glare.
"-But your lip…sorry dude."
At the comment, Edd's tongue darted out timidly to the corner of his mouth. Yep, there was that all too familiar copper taste.
He had a split lip.
"I'll grab the first aid kit", Edd witnessed Nazz slapping Kevin on the shoulder before darting up the stairs.
"It's quite fine, nothing serious", he quickly rose to his feet pulling his bag along with him. "I can take care of it myself", he made an attempt at the door but was easily maneuvered away from it.
"Are you kidding me? You think I'm gonna bust your lip open and let you run off just like that?" he immediately found himself being dragged back towards the couch.
Edd resisted the urge to mention that he use to do just that when they were in middle school, choosing instead to nibble at his now swollen lip.
"Stop it", without warning, Kevin's thumb had freed his bottom lip from under his teeth, "you'll irritate it if you keep doing that."
Edd couldn't help the heat that rose to his face, feeling even more uncomfortable that before.
"I got it!" announced Nazz as she bounced down the stairs again, first aid kit swinging in her hand. "Alright let's see the damage."
"It's just a busted lip and give me that", grabbing the kit from her hands he kneeled before Edd, "you suck as this shit."
Making a face she snorted but stepped aside.
Searching through the kit Kevin pulled out the necessary items before looking up at the fidgeting teen, "just gonna clean the cut and try to stop the bleeding, ok?" Edd's body went stiff. "Relax dork, I'm not gonna bite you."
With a weak nod of consent the red head got to work. It didn't take long, a little peroxide to clean the area and a little pressure to slow the bleeding. Much to Edd's disappointment, the two had insisted he stay still for 15 minutes with his hand pressed to his lip to make sure all was good. He desperately wanted to get home, away from awkward encounters with mean looking jocks. Twice in one day, how lucky was he.
When his 15 minutes were up and when Kevin finally gave the ok on his 'injury', Edd bolted from the seat with renewed purpose.
"Thank you so much for your help, Kevin, Nazz. I must be going now. Assignments to finish, chores to do. Well ok bye bye", and out the door he went.
The duo stood frozen in awe, staring at where Edd had just been, slowly processing what he had word vomited. Nazz's laughter broke the silence first.
"Geez, that Double D sure is an oddball."
Bending down to return the contents of the first aid kit she chastised Kevin once again about his brute entrance, "Seriously though, who does that you weirdo. You on 'roids or what?"
Rolling his eyes, he made his way to the kitchen. He had been thirsty after practice but was too lazy to stop and get a drink on the way, "I'm taking a pop from the fridge, you want one?"
"Do my words even reach you when I speak?" she sighed when he simply shrugged.
"I said I was sorry didn't I?" He took a swing from the bottle….then it occurred to him, "What was he even doing here anyway?"
Nazz looked flabbergasted, "first of all, you're making it sound as if it was his fault that you slammed the door into his face."
"That's not what I-"
"Second, it's my house and I can have over anyone I damn well please."
"Nazz stop being a bi-"
"Third, we're in AP Bio together you dolt. I thought you knew that. He's been helping me with assignments and shit since forever now."
Ah, so that's what she meant when she said she got help.
"It was just a fucking question, Jesus. Shoot me next time", the ginger tossed the empty bottle with the recyclables, rolling his eyes at his supposed best friend.
"I actually might if you keep up with your nonsense".
"Yeah yeah, whatever".
They went into a mini glaring contest, blue eyes clashing with green. It was Nazz who spoke up first, "So, where're my M&M's?" and just like that, all was right again.
#
"The hell happened to you?" was the greeting awaiting him when he stepped into Eddy's car the next morning.
"Did the aliens abduct you last night Double D", Ed asked, in his usual unique Ed way of conversing.
"Just a minor injury fellows, nothing to concern yourselves with", he smiled weakly, wincing a bit when the stretching motion irritated his sore area.
"You sure? No one's fucking with you are they?" Edd was quite touched with the sincere way in which Eddy seemed to be tackling this. He often forgot that there were two sides to the money-grabbing attention-seeking prankster.
"I'm sure Eddy, now let's get to school before we're tardy".
He waited for the car to ease out of his driveway and onto the main road before chastising Eddy about his potty mouth.
Once at the school, he bid his friends farewell and headed in the direction of his locker. He had no classes with them, as he did all AP courses and there was not a chance in the world that they'd even make the bare minimum to even qualify for the classes.
It was an easy sift through his locker before he located the necessary texts for Statistics. Unlike some people, Ed, he kept his locker in a well-organized fashion at all times. Not to mention his weekly disinfecting rituals. Not a hair out of place one would say and just enough time to make it to his classroom on the other side of the building. Oh yes, so far Tuesday was turning out to be just swell.
"Hey dork".
"...never count your chickens before they hatch Edward", he mumbled to himself while slowly closing his locker to face….
"K-Kevin?" surprise very evident in his voice.
"Dude, I'm not going to attack you. Why do you always have that look on your face?"
"W-w-what look?" Edd refused to acknowledge the slight trembling in his knees as he clutched his textbooks closer to his chest.
The redhead snorted but continued, "Whatever man I just wanted to check up on your lip", Edd saw green eyes dart down to what he presumed was his mouth and unconsciously sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, growing steadily uncomfortable under the jock's gaze.
Kevin made a sound, much like the clicking of his tongue, before reaching towards the honour student, "I told you to quit that". His thumb was once again freeing Edd's lip from assault. "Geez dork, figured you'd be smart enough to realize that your cut won't heal if you keep fucking with it".
"Language".
Kevin's hand froze mid-air as he tried to process what the dork had said, "huh?"
Double D, on the other hand, had gone red in the face. Just then realizing that he had blurted out his automatic response for Eddy upon hearing curse words.
"N-nothing. It was nothing! I just….it was nothing", withdrawing a bit into himself, he fumbled with the latch of his messenger bag. "I'll try not to….do that anymore. Trouble the cut I mean", cheeks still red, he kept his gaze to the floor. Mind still coming to terms with this supposed 'casual' conversation he was having with his former assailant.
The jock noticed how he seemed to retreat into himself, back hunched and head down; Kevin tried to remember if he was always this sheepish.
"Yo Kev!" two sets of eyes turned in the direction of the new voice. A tall bulky figure could be seen at the end of the hallway, basketball tucked under his arm. "Been looking all over for you man. Bout to hit up a quick game before first period. You in?"
Kevin's gaze returned to the genius before him whose eyes were once again glued to his feet. For a fleeting moment Kevin felt the urge to actual attack the dork. Why not? He was obviously expecting something to happen.
"Yeah, I'm in," and with that he walked off towards the court.
As Edd watched the retreating back of the jock he found himself releasing the breath he didn't even know he'd been holding.
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Le fin. Chapter 2 is free. Can't wait for chapter threeeeee.