The weekend came and went before he knew it the final bell on Monday chimed. The sockhead tried to drag out his walk to the maintenance office, his efforts fruitless, he could only make so many detours and eventually his feet guided him to the office in the back of the school.

Kevin was already waiting as he leaned against the wall opposite the doors as he preoccupied his time on his iPhone. He glanced up hearing Edd's boots thudded against the linoleum, his emerald eyes painted with anger.

"Let's get this over with." He mumbled pocketing his phone.

The office door was propped open; the room was more like a tiny warehouse than office space; cleaning chemicals, trashcans and other various supplies filled the space. There seemed to be on one around, both boys browsed throughout the supplies before a crash came from the back hidden by a few shelves. A large man rounded the corner to come face to face with the duo, "Ah you must be my summer helpers Jason told me 'bout." He wiped his hands with a rag before he extended a firm handshake to the jock.

"Names Marty, you must be Edd," he confirmed after shaking the raventte's hand, "Yes sir." He responded "And the fellow carrot top must be Kevin."

Marty was a large sturdy man with a solid frame that he acquired from a lifetime of difficult labor. He sported a balding crop of burnt ginger hair on his head with warm, welcoming cerulean eyes. He had a hearty laugh as well, the kind of laugh you always heard no matter how tough of a day the man was having.

Marty had old school values; if you wanted something you worked hard for it, because you wouldn't value it as much as if you were just handed everything. Unfortunately college was one of those things that were just always out of his grasp even through years of hard work and dedication. He never stepped foot out of Peach Creek even after graduating from 'ole PCHS, I guess you could say he was a creature of habit

Marty sat himself at his desk and ushered for the two to sit across from him. "So Jason didn't give me any directions on what to exactly do, just that this was a summer punishment for 'ya." He scratched at his stubble before continuing. " So I was thinking of doing something like they do with community service with hours per work and the like. I know you both only have about twelve weeks or so before both of ya gotta pack up and go to college."

The older ginger leaned back in his chair while he sighed mulling over what to do, "How bout this four hours a day for four days a week at twelve weeks and if my math is correct that totals out 'ta 192 hours. Now I don't mind givin' ya the last eight on the house just to give ya both an even 200 hours, so ya can put it on your resumes and the like." Marty sat forward again resting against his desk, "I do expect you to be on time and to work hard. No piddlefarting around."

Kevin chuckled at the mans choice of word "Something funny boy." Marty barked, Kevin nearly jumped out of his skin, "Uh no sir." He replied meekly.

"Alright, you can leave your stuff here," pointing to the side of his desk "And follow me" the three got up exiting the room; they walked past the cafeteria until Marty stopped in front of a locked closet. He pulled a large set of keys from his jumpsuit pocket; he searched through an array of different colored and sized keys before settling on one to unlock the door. Only a select few cleaning supplies decorated the lone shelf occupied the room along with a mop bucket and boxes upon boxes of fluorescent bulbs.

Both boys remained quiet as they awaited their first task, "Today you'll both be checking the lights and changing any that have burned 'ta a crisp."

He handed the enormous set of keys to Edd, "The key with the green cover turns off the lights so you don't die. The switch is at the end of the hall, there's a cart to help ya carry the bulbs and the ladder is on the back wall. If ya need anything I'll be in my office and you're free to go at six thirty." He walked off the way they had come.

"Let's go." Edd sneered as he pulled out the cart and placed several boxes on it, Kevin searched for the Ladder as the sockhead started down the first hall.

The next few hours dragged on as the ginger and raventte attempted to complete the project assigned to them, but nearly five boxes of broken bulbs later and many trips back to the closet to retrieve more they were finally relieved to see it was six thirty.

After returning the cart and ladder to the closet Kevin and Edd trudged back to the maintenance office.

"So how'd ya do?" Marty inquired, Edd leaned over to gather his belonging Kevin barged into him aggravation rolling off him in waves. "Boring. Broke a bunch of shit." He shrugged while he slung his pack over his shoulder. "Eh, it happens." He turned his chair to face them, "Normally I'd like ya to be here on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays but seeing as prom is Friday I'd like ya both to come by Thursday instead. Alright?" he said "Whatever," the jock muttered walking from the room, "Have a good night Marty." Edd said before he left as well.

The drive back home was long awaited as he pulled into the driveway, once inside Edd slipped off his shoes ascended the stairs and entered his dark, cool room. He removed all his clothing down to his boxer briefs before allowing his bed to claim him. He reached down and pulled his phone form his jeans settling back into bed. Three new messages awaited him, two from Marie and one from an unknown.

Marie: Good luck with your community shit.

Marie: OH and she said yes!

Unknown: thanks cleaning up all the bulbs I broke…

The unknown number had to be Kevin he couldn't think of any one else he had recently given out his number to. Plus Kevin did break five boxes of bulbs earlier today. And he did clean them up.

To Marie: Thanks and congrats I told you she would.

To Unknown: Who is this?

7 o'clock was rapidly approaching without a response from neither the bluenette nor his "mystery" contact. He set his phone on his nightstand reaching for his TV remote and xbox controller, he turned both on and immediately went to Netflix selecting a show at random. He watched with absentmindedness, eyes half lidded he sunk deeper into the comfort of his large bed his parents insisted he have along with the master bedroom in lieu of their constant absence in his life. The raven haired boy forced the thought of them from his mind just as a loud buzzing pulled him wide awake with an over exaggerated sigh he reached for his iPhone. Marie I swear, he thought as he unlocked his phone.

Unknown: Kevin. Still think you an ass but not totally.

The sockhead smiled slightly before replacing his phone on the nightstand and finally drifting off to sleep.