"What One Must."
by: ChibiMizu
Disclaimer: I don't own Ed, Edd n Eddy, obviously.
Warnings: This work of fanfiction includes/will include slash (Edd/Eddy; Edd/??), het (Eddy/Nazz), language, smoking, and mild sexuality (until further notice). Ages of the Ed's are around 20-21. Please excuse OOCness that may occur.
Notes: None.
- Chapter 3 -
Hangovers suck. In Eddy's case, this one was no exception. The sunlight peered in through the window, bathing Eddy in warmth and a light-sensitive migraine. He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. Where the hell was he? He sat up, holding his nauseous stomach, and looked around. He could hear the shower running and saw a stack of chemistry books near by. He didn't really remember how, but he knew he was at Double D's. Eddy took a deep breath and stood, his hangover burning in his head and stomach. He wandered into the kitchen and looked through the cupboards for a glass. In finding one, he filled it with water and downed the cold liquid.
"Ahh." Eddy sighed. A little better. He glanced at the clock: 7:30. "Ugh..." Eddy rolled his eyes. So early!
"Bzz!" the doorbell buzzed loudly. Eddy frowned and set down his glass. He walked to the door and looked out the peephole. His brow furrowed and he opened the door.
"Hey baby, I brought you a caramel macchiat-- Eddy?" A blond, sprightly boy blinked at Eddy in surprise.
"Hey Jimmy. How's it hangin'?" Eddy struggled not to sneer at the boy, leaning on the door frame. "What are you doing here?"
"I was bringing Edd some coffee." Jimmy smiled, trying to hide his suspicion. "You smell like beer."
"Edd? You call him Edd?" Eddy's eyebrow perked.
"Ahh Jimmy!" Double D called out from behind Eddy. "You're here early!" Jimmy snuck under Eddy's arm to greet the towel-clad Edd. He kissed the taller boy on the cheek and handed him his coffee. Double D smiled.
"What's Eddy doing here?" Jimmy whispered, glancing toward the doorway where Eddy still stood, unmoving.
"Ahh, he showed up last night--" Jimmy's gaze darted back to Double D. "-- he was drunk so I let him stay on the couch." Double D took a sip of his coffee, completely guiltless.
"Ooh." Jimmy nodded, looking back to Eddy, a sneer appearing on his face. "Figures." Double D gave Eddy an apologetic look.
"I've got to get ready. Eddy, will you be able to drive yourself home?"
"Yeah yeah." Eddy eyes darted from Jimmy to Double D.
"Alright then. I'll let you see yourself out then. It was nice seeing you." Double D dropped his gaze and disappeared into his bedroom. Eddy looked back to Jimmy who stared back at him.
"Did I hear you call him baby?" Eddy questioned, finally shutting the door and leaning against the kitchen counter.
"And what if I did? Not that it's any of your business." Jimmy inspected his nails.
"It is my business. Double D is my best friend!" Eddy said defensively.
"Maybe when we were kids, but really, when's the last time you took the time out of your precious schedule to see him? It's been months, and not a word from you. Not that it was a bad thing. He's better off without you dragging him down."
"Dragging him down?! What the hell does that mean?!" Eddy clenched his fists, standing upright. "I've always been a friend to him!"
"Friend in the lowest possible meaning of the word. Ever since you started dating that blond slut, you couldn't care less about Edd. I doubt you even knew he was gay."
"Double D isn't gay." Eddy rolled his eyes. "He's just... well whatever. He's not gay."
"Hide it all you want, Eddy, but the truth of the matter is that he's with me now. I'm all he could ask for and you are no longer needed to make him happy." Jimmy smirked as Double D came out of his bedroom.
"Oh, Eddy! You're still here?" Double D straightened his tie and picked up his coffee. "We've got to get going, Jimmy."
"Of course, dear." Jimmy looked out of the corner of his eye towards Eddy before kissing Double D full on the lips. He wrapped his arms around Double D's neck and deepened the kiss. Eddy rolled his eyes as Double D kissed him back.
"Oookay then." Eddy swiveled on his heels and left the apartment.
Eddy shivered as the cool morning air chilled his skin. He dug into his pocket and pulled out his car keys. He unlocked his car and got in, slamming the door behind him.
"What the hell?" He ran a hand through his unwashed hair. He opened the glove box and pulled out a box of cigarettes. He lit one and took a long drag, the smoke dissipating throughout the car. He watched with his rear view mirror as Double D and Jimmy left the apartment building, holding hands and laughing about something. Eddy grimaced. He felt sick to his stomach, and it wasn't the hangover causing it. He rolled down his window and let the smoke drift out into the open air. Why hadn't Double D told him about Jimmy? Did Double D feel he couldn't tell him things anymore? Whatever. Eddy reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. 14 New Text Messages. 5 Missed Calls. 3 New Voicemails. Eddy read through the texts, all from Nazz. Missed calls, also from Nazz.
"You have three new messages. To hear your messages, press 1." Eddy pressed 1. "First message: Hey Eddy, it's me. I know we fought and I'm sorry. Could you gimme a call so we could talk? I love you... call me! Bye!" Eddy took another drag off his cigarette. "To delete this message, press 7--" Eddy pressed 7. "Message erased. Next message: Eeeddy? Where are you? I've texted you like... a billion times. Are you okay? Call me. Oh, this is Nazz." Eddy pressed 7 again. "Message erased. Next message: I swear you better be dead in a ditch somewhere because if you're like... ignoring me, that is so not cool." 7. "Message erased. All messages have been played." Eddy closed his phone and inhaled deeply from his cigarette. He opened his phone again and searched through his contact list. Finding the "N"s, he clicked his girlfriend's name and held the phone up to his ear, taking a final drag from his cigarette before flicking it out the window.
"Hello? Eddy?"
"Hey baby, sorry I didn't call."
Double D could feel the warmth of Jimmy's hand in his, but felt ice in his heart. His stomach was twisted into knots and he felt a lump in his throat. He looked calm on the outside, but inside he was a maelstrom of emotion.
"You okay, hon?" Jimmy tightened his grip on Double D's hand.
"Of course," he lied, swallowing hard. "Just thinking."
"About Eddy?" Double D looked over at Jimmy.
"Don't be ridiculous." He looked back to the road, adjusting himself on the road.
"Hm. You think you can hide it from me, but I can tell that his visit is really bothering you." Double D sighed. Jimmy really did know him too well.
"I just hate when he shows up unannounced, uses my things, and leaves without a thank you. And this isn't even the first time. It just wears on me."
"Aww, I know it's rough. But I'm here now, and it's okay." Jimmy smiled a bright grin at his boyfriend. Double D forced a smile back, but didn't bother to look over. He didn't want Jimmy to read the lies on his face. He didn't want Jimmy to know the real reasons why he hated these random intrusions from his childhood friend. "Come on." Jimmy opened the door of the car after Double D parked. "Let's go to class."
Double D breathed deep and opened his own door, his backpack slung over his shoulder. He locked his car and headed toward the school, trying to block the memory of the previous night out of his mind and his feelings for Eddy out of his heart.
-End of Chapter 3-