A/N: I support EddxMarie. Let me get that out right now. I mean, every pairing from the show I support. There is not one that I dislike. I just prefer EddxMarie over them all. I think the Eds and the Kankers would get along very well if the Eds weren't so scared of girls, especially EdxMay, and if the Kankers weren't so stalker-ish.

And before you ask, yes, I also support EddyxEdd. Well, it's kinda hard to miss, seeing as how every time they fight, they tend to sound like an old married couple.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All the credit goes to Mr. Danny Antonucci and AKA Cartoons.

~EEnE~EEnE~EEnE~EEnE~

Masks

Chapter 2: Digging Deeper

Edward Harper stands by one of his best friends, Eddy, by their lockers the following morning. Double D didn't call them, nor did he come home last night. At least, not to their knowledge.

Ed opens his thermos and pours some gravy into the cup.

"Geez, Ed," Eddy stares at him like he's out of his mind. Then again, he never had a mind to begin with. "You ever have any real breakfast? Like bacon, eggs, orange juice?"

"This is my breakfast, Eddy," Ed mutters back, taking a sip from the cup. "Your point is?"

Eddy growls in anger. "You're addicted to gravy, Ed! Dump it, or I will!" The short Ed makes to grab the thermos from Ed's hand, but he misses. Ed only lifts it up and holds the thermos higher. Eddy growls even more when he realizes that Ed is using his one weakness against him.

His height...

Ed lets an oblivious smile show, his signature facial expression.

"Yeouch!" Eddy has kicked him in the shin.

"Get rid of the stupid gravy, Ed!"

"Never! Give me gravy, or give me death!"

"Oh, I'll give you death, you pathetic excuse for a lump! GIVE ME THE DAMN GRAVY!"

"DOUBLE D!"

Ed lets Eddy fall to the ground (he had Eddy off the ground by holding his wrist) as the lump glomps their third companion and gives the young genius and big bear hug.

"Why you...!" He too notices the third Ed. "Let go of him, Lumpy. You're giving him a hernia."

Which is code for 'Double D can't breathe'.

Ed loosens up his grip, but still has a tight hold on Edd. "Double D, where have you been, Mister? We were worried sick about you." Double D says nothing in return, and Ed doesn't know why. "You never came home, Double D."

"And your parents kicked us out," Eddy adds, still extremely ticked off, due his and Ed's fight just moments ago.

Still no reply from Double D.

Ed releases Edd from his bear hug and gently sets him down, thoroughly sensing that something is wrong with their friend. He won't speak to them, nor will he look them in the eyes.

Double D opens his locker and proceeds to fetch his biology book and notebook.

"What is wrong, Double D?"

"Sockhead?" Now Eddy is getting mildly worried, which is a sure sign that something really is wrong.

Edd closes his locker. "I did come home last night. I just ran into someone and they passed out, so I brought them home with me."

"That's not what's botherin' you, Sockhead," Eddy ignores his friend's explanation. "I know that. Heck, even Ed knows that! Tell us what's on your mind!"

He still won't make eye contact. "I apologize for causing you to worry, dear Ed. I am fine now. I just...I just need to be left alone for a while."

It's like Ed can sense his guilt as he walks away.

But he can't let anyone influence his decision in an unfair way.

Eddy grabs Ed by the ear. "Come on, Lumpy. If Double D won't tell us, then we'll find out ourselves. We'll get the truth out of him even if it kills us."

~E~D~E~D~D~N~E~D~D~Y~~A~N~D~~M~A~Y~M~A~R~I~E~N~L~E~E~

May Kanker stands patiently by her oldest sister. Yesterday was so fun, with just her and Lee, but Marie never came home last night. Lee just blew the matter off, but May could tell that Lee was just as worried as she herself was.

She was just too stubborn to let it show.

"So, Lee...where did Mom say Marie was at last night?"

"Double D's house," Lee lets a smirk show. "I wonder how she did it."

"I wonder what happened there," May begins to smile as well.

"Nothin' happened," comes a sour, familiar voice. Marie's here, and May rushes up to hug here. Marie just stands there, not returning her little sister's hug. She looks angry, but Lee brushes that off too.

"What do you mean 'nothin' happened'?" Lee demands.

"Exactly that," is Marie's short answer. She opens her locker and grabs her biology stuff, her book and her notebook.

May releases Marie from the hug, hurt that it was not returned. "Are you okay, Marie?" She asks, as Marie closes her locker.

Nothing is said.

"Marie, May asked you a question, and we expect it to be answered." Lee swung a punch at her sister.

Marie could sense it coming already, and she dodges the punch easily, before turning around and returning the favor.

May kneels beside Lee and searches her pockets for a rag for Lee's bloody lip and nose. "Marie, what's gotten into you?"

Sure they beat each other up, but they're only playing. This time, however, is much different. This time, Marie's gone too far.

She's actually drawn blood this time.

"You'll beat it if you know what's good for you, May!" Marie orders. May squeaks as she watches her blue-haired sister walk away.

Lee growls. "I don't know what she's been doing, May, but we're going to find out."

~E~D~E~D~D~N~E~D~D~Y~~A~N~D~~M~A~Y~M~A~R~I~E~N~L~E~E~

The English classroom's a mess. Somehow a jar of peanut butter had exploded. Those with peanut allergies were sent with Nurse Assistant Double D to the nurse's office right away for treatment. Those left behind were forced to sit in their seats, still covered with peanut butter and were questioned about what had just happened.

It was all narrowed down to two likely suspects: Eddy and Lee.

Neither Ed nor May know how it got to that. They were both two busy worrying about Edd and Marie, respectively. Sure the teacher questioned them, but they told the truth, were believed, and were let go once the lunch bell rang.

Now, here they are in the lunch line, both of them observing Edd and Marie sitting together at the same table.

"How'd the treatment go, Nurse Double D?"

"Successful, fortunately. Two of those students had severe allergies to peanuts, so I had to treat them first, lest they actually die in school."

"What a horrible way to go. If I die anywhere, it'll be in an auto shop."

She's not advancing him. She's not flirting with him, at least, not knowingly, not intentionally.

May blinks in mild surprise.

Marie...what's gotten into you?

"I can help you, Marie. I can tutor you. I can help you get a better grade, though it appears you are a natural at science."

"No idea why. I guess science just comes naturally to me for some reason I don't get."

"Haha! Has anyone ever informed you that you are quite humorous?"

He's not running away. Why not? She's the enemy?

Ed can't stop his heart from shaking. His best friend could possibly be poisoned by Marie Kanker.

Double D, run. That is a Kanker you are sitting with.

Ed and May shake their heads and turn them to the side, Ed to the right and May to the left. When they both lay eyes on each other...

"AHHHH!"

"Girl germs!"

"Big Ed! Woah, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Here, you can cut me." And Ed reluctantly takes her place in the line.

"B-But...w-why?"

"You like gravy, right? It is bottomless gravy day today, so, go ahead. I mean, I like gravy too, and toast, but with jelly. I don't mind butter, but I like jelly better." She forces herself to stop mid-rant. "Anyways, have you seen how strange Double D and Marie have been acting today?"

His mind doesn't process her rant. As soon as May mentions 'Double D', his said friend is all he can think about.

"Yes. Double D has not been chatting with us at all today, or yesterday. He said he came home yesterday, and he brought someone home with them, because they passed out. I was so worried, but he apologized to me for making me worry so..." Ed's bottom lip quivered.

"Marie spent the night over at Double D's house last night. Marie must have passed out and Double D cared for her until she felt good enough to come to school this morning. Man, do I owe him a thank you, or what?"

"Like cookies and milk," was Ed's reply. Then, the light in Ed's brain went off. "You like gravy and buttered toast?!"

"Well, jelly-ed toast, but yes, I really do. It's like the best food in the world. I also like comics and monster movies."

"Have you partaketed in the watching of the Toilet Squid or the reading of Leapfrog Zombies?"

"Yes, I have, big Ed. Both of them. My favorite scene in that comic was when they tore each others' stomachs open."

"Oh boy, oh boy~! I forget what we're talking about!"

"So have I!"

The two are so wrapped up in their conversations, neither of them notice Edd and Marie both giving the two an affectionate smile.

"I see someone's gotten along," Marie mutters. "Took 'em long enough, though Lee and Eddy aren't gonna be happy when they see this."

"Indeed, but are you observing the expression on Ed's face?" Edd points out. "That is the expression he receives when around chickens, his favorite animals. When Eddy does burst in and threatens to hurt May in order to force Ed to do his bidding, Ed will step up and protect her."

"And will you protect me?"

She hardly needs protecting, but he replies with, "Naturally. I am always there for a friend."

The two doors into the cafeteria slam open and Edd and Ed feel a hand around each of their necks. With his glass still in hand, Edd is dragged with Ed to the source of his capture.

Eddy...

"You two will get a grip, or God so help me, I will turn into a serial killer and bash you anytime you talk to these nutjobs!"

"What is so wrong about a little friendship, Eddy?" Ed retorts. He's getting protective, just like Double D said he would. Eddy just called May a 'nutjob'. "You jealous?"

"No, I am NOT! Those are Kankers you're talking to! They are evil bi-!"

Edd's grip on his glass is so tight that he actually breaks it. "You finish that sentence, Mister, and I will never forgive you! No one talks badly about my friends. Ever. I knew my parents kicked you out for a reason, and I suppose they are right, like always. You two are nothing but troublemakers. If I say I need to be alone, I expect you to respect my personal space. But you never do, and you never behave like normal humans. Oh, I'm surprised at how much personal free time I am allowed with you two on my back every second!"

"What are you talking about, Double D?" Eddy demands.

"Ed did not do anything, Double D. Please, do not punish bad Ed!" Ed is close to crying. He doesn't like seeing Edd's dark side. Never has. Never will.

"My parents told me to let our friendship go, or I move from Peach Creek by the end of this week!"

The room is silent as Edd's words sink in. Double D tries to calm, especially once he sees that he's made this into a scene, something that was purely unintentional.

He speaks again, but this time, softly, as tears begin to pour down his cheeks and he lets his hat cover his eyes, "I do not desire to make this decision, but I cannot allow one side to lean forward in an unjust and biased way. That is the reason you did not see me at all yesterday, and that is the reason I refuse to speak to you any longer."

Marie sees the pain Edd's in, and her blood boils.

"Forget the bums, you two."

Lee just makes it worse.

And the oldest sister gets yet another bloody nose.

"Wow, aren't you two hypocrites? You completely ignore my existence one day and the next, you act all protective like nothing ever happened. I am a big girl, Lee Kanker! I don't need protecting!" She turns her back on her sisters, May severely hurt by her words, and marches onward to Double D. She glances at his cut up hand, and softly says, "Come on, Double D. Let's get you a band-aid."

And he lets her lead him out.

Now both groups are one too less.

Ed starts to cry.

"We are not long for this world, May!" He runs to her, picks her up, swings her over his shoulder and runs out of the cafeteria, seriously tearing up.

"Hold it, Lumpy! Where are you going?!"

No response, and it is now that Eddy realizes he made a huge mistake, and now he probably can't fix it.

Lee feels the same way.

~EEnE~EEnE~EEnE~EEnE~

A/N: There we go. Chapter Two is now up. At least one more chapter awaits, dedicated to EddyxLee. It's going to be so hard to write. Those two are so stubborn. And I'm sorry if the characters seem a little out of whack.

Review, please!