Title: Lovable Oaf

Category: Cartoons » Ed, Edd n Eddy
Author: emako
Language: English, Rating: Rated: T
Genre: Romance/Drama

Chapter 7: Home


A/N: Yes. Shamefully, it's been literally two years since my last update..er make that three….happy new year? =3=". But can you really blame me? I've had high school graduation, the Navy, and enrollment into college to deal with…..but mostly just laziness. Lol. Anyways, I got quite a big plate to fill. So hopefully you enjoy what I have to offer. And special thanks to GodShot for waking me from my eternal slumber. ;) Much appreciated!

Summary: The Eds have gotten older, and scamming kids isn't as easy or entertaining as it used to be. Double D has become calmer and much braver, Ed a bit more mature, and Eddy…uh…maybe a quarter of an inch taller? The real changes begin to take place when Ed mentions to Kevin his plans for the future. Without even knowing it, their small conversation opens a whole new world to Kevin about his own future, social status, learning to listen, and relationships.


Moan…Sigh…Groan…Jolt…Grind… "Shhhhit…"

Sigh…Bites Lip…Kiss…Press…"Look at me."

Turns head. "E-Ed…" Twitch.

"Hey…I said look at me…" Griiiiiind.

"Ngggghhh…Ed…please…" Sigh.

"Here it comes…"

"Wait…"

"Ready?"

"No, wait—"

Shifts.

"I said wai-"

Thrust.

"AAh!"

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSP.

The adolescent boy shot up in his bed, abruptly awakened from his deep slumber. He coughed roughly, his throat raspy from the cold night's air clashing with his perspiring skin. He choked a bit on his saliva, his belly becoming numb and sore from the coughing. After his coughing fit settled, he slowly slid from his bed and shuffled to the restroom to take care of the other pending issue under his pajama pants. As he "took care," he sat emotionless, expressionless, letting occasional drips of sweat fall from ginger locks that hung over his eyes down to his toes. He sniffed softly as the images of his dream replayed in his mind.

"Ready?"

"No, wait-"

Floooooooooooooooosh. Choonk. Flick. Creak. Click. Patta…pat…pat…pat.

After shutting the toilet lid, turning off the light and closing the bathroom door, his clammy toes made soft sounds on the hard, cold floor as he made his way back to his bed. He climbed in and made himself cozy. The blinking of his lowered eyelids slowed their pace as the images in his head repeated themselves.

Thrust.

"AAh!"

A slight grin crept its way onto the boy's lips. "That idiot..."


Briiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnn nggggggggggggg. The school bell didn't hesitate to let students know that class was about to begin. The hustle and bustle of young people chatting and slamming lockers carried a very laid-back, backwards-capped boy through the usual motions of the school day. The field trip had gone by so quickly. Kevin already missed all the moments he'd experienced, minus the emotional breakdowns. He blew a bubble with his chewing gum as he turned the knob to his locker.

"Ah ha-ha ha ha! Good one, Ed-day!" a familiar goofy voice yelled down the hall.

"Ed, keep your voice down a bit, classes are about to start," Double D said as the popular trio made their way around the corner, revealing themselves to Kevin as he finishing putting his books into his backpack.

"Aye, Shovel Chin! Whatcha still doin' out here? Aint the bell rang yet?" Eddy announced to the entire hallway, causing Double D to sigh at the volume of his voice.

"I could ask you guys the same," Kevin responded with a grin. He snuck a glance at Ed who was in a cockeyed daze at a fly that was making repeated failures at being intimate with the ceiling lights. He returned his gaze to the more competent two of the gang, with a bit of disappointment that he hadn't already caught the tall boy's attention.

"I'm actually not expected in class just yet. I'm running some errands for Mr. Fitzgerald," Double D began. "These two simply got caught up this morning, as per usual. I'd advise you hurry on to class, however, Kevin. You've got Mrs. Henrietta today don't you?" The capped boy made his way down the hall, keeping half his body turned to finish his recommendation.

"There's a pop quiz today, and I heard she's extra cranky since her husband left her while we were gone on the trip. I'll catch you fellows later."

"He's only JUST leaving that old hag?" Eddy spat. "What a desperate son of a-"

"Hey, where'd Ed go?" Kevin interrupted after returning his gaze to where the two boys were just standing.

"Huh? Uh, beats me," Eddy replied looking around. "But hey, Sockhead was right about us getting to class man." The short boy began to walk ahead until Kevin grabbed his shoulder.

"Hey wait man. Um…do you…I mean…does Ed seem a bit different since we got back from the trip?"

"Ed? He seems okay to me. Still won't shut up about gravy and chickens and such. What? Has he been weird around you or something?"

"No—Well, I mean I don't know. I don't even know what our like…y'know, status, is right now. He's not paying me much attention. And he hasn't called or come by—"

"Stop right there, Shovel Chin. I see your problem already."

"You-You do?" Kevin asked looking a bit reluctant to hear Eddy's possible theory.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's talk Shovel Chin. Man to Sissy." The near-dwarf began to make his way down the hall. "I'll meet you after school by the student parking lot."


"Curs-ed American female instructors and their misunderstanding of Rolf's compliments," the foreign boy mumbled. "Rolf was only complimenting the buoyancy of her youthful bosoms for the time of her twilight. What is this treason Rolf has been falsely charged with; this-this siex-yu-al hore-oz-mint? Poppycock!" He angrily clenched the yellow sheet of paper in his fist. He continued down the long barren hallway and made a left turn.

As he made his way pass several different doors, he cut a right and irritably pushed through two large double doors straight ahead.

"Principal! Rolf demands justice as the-"

"Oooooooooooooohhh-wooooooooaahhhhh-ooooooohhh..." The beautiful high-note was followed by an even lovelier piano rift.

Rolf froze in place. He looked around at a room full of pianos, guitars, and other instruments. He nearly tripped over a drumset that was resting near the double doors. This isn't the principal's office. He thought as he glanced back at his referral. My mistake

As he tried to sneak his way out of the music room, chills were sent down his spine by the continued singing and piano playing stuck him in his place.

"What the world…needs now…is it love? Could it be…love?" The voice filled the silent and empty room.

Rolf tried to resist the urge to turn his head and see whose lovely voice had captivated him. He had felt something so very overwhelming. It was a very comforting and inspiring feeling that resembled what he desperately sought after in a friend when he first moved to this country. The only person that even closely gave him that feeling was Kevin, and even now there friendship was only just being rebuilt. There was a sort of nostalgia listening to these beautifully played notes that almost brought the usually all brawn and no-emotion foreigner to tears. His hand slipped from the door handle.

"It seems to be the only real thing…there's no surplus of…" The singing and playing stopped suddenly.

The sound of the mysterious performer getting up from the piano snapped Rolf from his trance. Quickly he turned and faced the piano.

"Please, continue!" He pleaded. The performer turned around in surprise, never having realized anyone was in the room. The two boys' eyes met for the first time.

Silence…

"Rolf?"

"Johnny the Wood Boy?" Rolf said walking closer.

"You still call me that?" Johnny replied, annoyed.

"I…Rolf had no idea-" Rolf continued towards the boy.

"I don't even carry that thing around with me anymore."

"Such talent—" He moved closer.

"Well, I mean I still got him back at home…but…"

"Please, sing more!"

"I'm my own person now of course…"

"Rolf wishes to hear more!" Rolf was right in front of him now.

"Excuse me?"

"Please, sing again." He grabbed Johnny's shoulders.

"Uh…nah…I gotta get to class." Johnny replied, slightly annoyed.

"Rolf begs of you!" The taller boy dropped to his knees.

"Whoa—the fuck are you doing? Get off the flo—"

"Please! This is Rolf's dying request!"

"You're not even dying dude…well, wait—are you?"

"Just one song, Johnny the Wood Boy?"

"I told you to stop calling me that!"

"Rolf begs you!" The boy desperately hugged Johnny's legs.

"Aye man! Chill out before someone sees!" Johnny cried trying to keep his balance. "Alright already! Just let go!" His grayish-brown cheeks were bright red from embarrassment.

"Oh, thank you!" Rolf exclaimed still hugging his legs.

"Okay just get off!"

The two boys sat next to each other at the piano in silence for a moment. After several uncomfortable minutes, Rolf decided to speak up.

"Um…Johnny?"

"Yeah?"

"When might you begin singing?"

"Uh…right…what…uh, song…do you want me to sing?"

"Song? Rolf isn't well-versed in American music. You can pick whichever you like."

"Why exactly do you want to hear me sing so bad?"

"Why not? Is it a problem?"

"Uh…no, I mean-it's just—"

"Just what?"

Johnny took a second to contemplate his answer after sneaking a glance at the taller boy who was staring daggers at him. Rolf was quite the looker up close. He had very smooth dark tan skin and dark, sexy eyes. The sternness in them made Johnny a bit nervous and intimidated, an unusual feeling for the usually carefree and fearless hippie.

"It's just a little embarrassin' Rolf. Singing to some guy. It's like I'm serenading you. It's creepy."

"…" Rolf's stare remained strong but softened into curious contemplation. He seemed like he was trying to find an understanding in Johnny's eyes. Johnny had the urge to look away from those strong eyes but couldn't due to an overwhelming personal assumption that it'd seem rude or at least more awkward than it already was to twitchingly swap glances back and forth from Rolf's eyes to the piano keys.

"Is…I…do you understand?" Johnny managed to say. Why the hell am I so tense around this guy? Is it cause he's damn creepy? He thought.

Rolf's expression softened finally. His eyes lowered and a very kind, but somewhat hurt smile crept onto his handsome face.

"Ah-ha, Rolf understands." The tall boy stood up and made his way to the door. "Sorry to have bothered you."

"Wait—" Johnny called, too late, as the door slammed behind Rolf.

Johnny remained with a confused frown and soft blush on his cheeks.

"The hell was that about?"


ZzzzZZzzzz. Drool slowly dripped from the side of the sleeping Kevin's mouth. Sleeping during math class was never an activity he intended to reform. As he enjoyed his nap, a content Ed made his way down the hall. He was taking some paperwork to the counselor's office. As he passed by the math class he happened to see Kevin asleep.

"Oh, Kevin's sleeping? Hm hm-hm!" Ed giggled. He stared for a few more seconds at the sleeping boy's face. Red locks fell from under the cap that covered his eyes and down and across his jawline and lightly touched his neck. His neck was a bit shiny from a bit of perspiration. It must have been a bit warm in the room. No wonder he had fallen asleep so quickly. But then again, the poor athlete was prone to sweating easily, a quality Ed found cute.

Ed's gaze shifted over to the boy's pink lips. They were so bright, like a girl's after she applied lipgloss, only his was natural. Flashes of moments when they were together with his own lips during the trip caused his breathing to shift. His eyes made their way to his arm sprawled across the desk. His wrist was exposed from his arm's position on the desk pulling his sleeve back. He imagined holding those thin wrists down and the fingers curling up as he kissed the neck that tensed up with each touch.

With all these thoughts, Ed also began to get a bit irritated. With everything that had happened and even the built up tension among the two, they still hadn't gone all the way. Ed knew it was a selfish request so early in the game, but still regretted not at least trying to be a bit forceful after Kevin's first rejection during their first act of intimacy on the trip. In the end however, he didn't regret risking seeing his smiling face, over jeopardizing Kevin's comfort. With a smile, Ed continued on and made his way to the counselor's office.


"Argh!" Eddy groaned in irritation. He paced outside the double-door exit as various students left the building. "What the hell's takin' him!?"

As he snarled and cursed at the cold outside air, Nazz happened to exit the building.

"What's with you, Eddy?" she asked calmly.

Eddy looked at her and hesitated with a serious expression. She's talkin' to me?

"Aye, you seen Shovel Chin?"

"Why would I? He'd most likely put all his effort into avoiding me."

"Well, can't say I blame the guy," Eddy mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing—uh—say…what are you planning to do after school?"

"After all this you're still trying to hit on me, Eddy?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Nazz. I'm talkin' career-wise, babe."

"Oh, that. Well, I haven't really thought about—"

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Hey, harsh, dude. What about you?"

"Well, for your information I'm planning on taking up my dad's barbershop."

"Oh, wow, really? That's…actually really cool."

"Yeah, shows what you know," Eddy smirked.

"Well, for YOUR information, I was actually considering going to an art school."

"What? No foolin'? You have talent?"

"Don't seem so surprised," Nazz replied irritably.

"No, I mean, art school for what? Photography? Fashion?"

"Painting."

"…BWAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!"

"Why are you laughing!?"

"It's just…you cant be serious…"

The blonde bob-cut girl reached into her large duffle bag and pulled out an approximately 11x17 canvas board. She revealed a lovely painting of a sunset over a horizon.

"I know the contents are pretty cliché', but its just practice."

"That's…frickin' amazing! Does Ed know you can paint like this? You guys could give each other pointers!"

"Ed and I aren't exactly buddies, remember?" Nazz mumbled stuffing the painting back into her bag. "And I don't know if college is really for me after graduation."

"Why not?"

"Kevin was right last week. I haven't taken school seriously and my grades aren't improving anytime soon."

"Get a scholarship."

"Art school's not that easy Eddy. If you're good, you're good, and if you're bad…they wont hesitate to crush your dreams."

Eddy's hopeful expression decreased into dread.

"Yo, shorty," Kevin called in between a lengthy yawn.

"Where the hell ya been Shovel Chin!?"

Nazz watched on in thought as the two young boys made their way to Kevin's car.


Slam! Eddy made his way around Kevin's Camero and up the walkway to his house.

"I'm telling ya, Kev, you're completely over thinking Lumpy's motives. Ed's as simple as he is huge." He explained.

"Then…why's he keeping a distance?" Kevin asked as they made their way up the stairs.

"Maybe he just needs his space. I mean we are still guys you know." They entered Kevin's room.

"Yeah, I guess. But still…" Kevin placed his bag on his computer chair and plopped on his bed.

"I highly doubt you got anything to worry about Shovel Chin. He's probably holding back raping the crap outta ya, if he hasn't already. Ugh…I made myself nauseous." Eddy sat on a chair backwards.

Kevin blushed shamefully. "We…haven't gone that far…yet."

"What? Still?"

"You really think it's normal for dudes to be rushing to embrace each other, man?"

"Well…maybe not each other," Eddy turned his gaze to a random wall."…but to embrace nonetheless," Eddy said bluntly, causing Kevin to pull his hat over his blushing face.

"Geez, man, how can you say that so easily? Are you that experienced with Double Dweeb already?"

Eddy shot a death glare to the capped boy. "Who the FUCK told you there was anything between us?"

"CHILL man, I was just kidding," Kevin said calmly.

"…oh…" Eddy looked away.

Kevin smirked. "Am I missing something?"

"So about you and Ed—"

"Hell no! Is there really?" Kevin shot up.

"N…Nah, man, heh heh," Eddy chuckled nervously.

"I can picture it now…Oh Eddy," Kevin began while putting a random beanie on his head and silly swirly glasses. "You make my nerdy dork heart pound at 6,000 Beats per minute, significantly faster than the average heartbeat under emotional or physical stress—"

"Shut the hell up Shovel Chin!"

"Eddy, you know that language disturbs my pure heart," Kevin got closer, straightening his silly glasses.

"You dick, it's not like that!" Eddy pushed him away.

"Eddy, are you blushing?" Kevin reached for his face.

"I said shut it!" Eddy quickly grabbed Kevin's arm from touching him.

"Oooh, fast," Kevin said, finally ceasing his imitation of Double D. He cleverly swapped the positions of their hands using his Tae Kwon Do training. "But I'm faster."

Eddy glared and pushed the chair forward, forcing Kevin to pull back and catch it, letting go of Eddy's arm. The short boy then chucked a random shoe at Kevin, who blocked it easily, along with other various items off Kevin's desk that were thrown: pencils, pens, a hat, a scarf, and other knick-knacks. Kevin reached for Eddy's arm again through an opening and pulled him towards him, turning him around into a headlock.

"Not bad, dork," Kevin said with a smirk. "But you're gonna have to do more than trash my room to get back at me."

Eddy put his leg back behind Kevin's ankle and twisted it, putting him off balance. He elbowed the taller boy in the ribs and pushed him towards the bed. The redhead wobbled with his arms flailing to keep his balance as the back of his legs leaned against the front of the bed. Eddy raised his leg to kick Kevin down onto the bed, but failed when his leg was grabbed and twisted, turning him in the opposite direction. Eddy jumped and turned, using his other leg to kick him back and land safely with both legs now released.

"Ah, shit!" Kevin cried. "You didn't have to take it so seriously!"

Eddy's expression abruptly softened into worry after hearing Kevin's cry of pain.

"Ah…sorry man. You okay?"

"I think I landed on a textbook," Kevin groaned while rubbing his neck.

"My bad…got a little carried away…I know you were just kid—"

"Hey, where'd you learn to fight like that?" Kevin asked excitedly, as if he had completely forgotten that he just got hurt.

"Oh, uh…my bro taught me some things…but about your neck, are you ok—"

"Dude, why aren't you on any of the sports teams?"

"Sports? Oh…it's just never been my thing—but seriously you okay? You fell kinda hard."

"Dude, I'm fine," Kevin answered cheerfully.

"Kevin!" a woman's voice called from downstairs. "Your friend Ed is here!"

Kevin's expression almost immediately switched from excited to unbearably nervous.

"Well, I better be on my way," Eddy said gathering his backpack. "Hey, you alright?"

"What…what do I say to him?" Kevin asked in a panic.

"Chill, just talk to him directly." Eddy responded, slightly annoyed.

"I got so caught up in sparring that I forgot what we were even talking about."

"Well, you're on your own with this one. I've told you all I can. And by the way, ice your neck man. It looks like a freakin' bruise. You don't want Ed loosin' his shit about you being beat up."

Eddy made his way downstairs and casually passed by Ed.

"S'up Lumpy?"

"Eddy?" Ed exclaimed happily. "What are you doing here? And why are your clothes all messed up?"

"Ah, me and Shovel Chin were just foolin' around a bit," Eddy said innocently, not realizing how exactly that had sounded to Ed. "Later!"

"Foolin'?" Ed repeated to himself as the door shut behind Eddy.

The door creaked as Ed slowly pushed it open.

"Ed?" Kevin's voice said. "Come on in, man. Don't be shy."

Ed obeyed and closed the door behind him.

"What's up man?" Kevin said, with his hands in his pockets, happy to see him.

Ed examined the room suspiciously.

"Sorry it's kind of a mess. I wasn't expecting you to come by. Thought you might be busy. Not that I'm not glad you came. Me and Eddy sort of made a mess before you got here." Kevin rambled as he began to straighten up. Ed took a seat at the end of Kevin's bed.

"What you been up to lately?"

Ed continued to look around, clearly lost in thought.

"Ed?"

He seemed to snap out of it.

"Haircut."

"What?" Kevin asked.

"Your hair's getting long, like a girl," Ed chuckled goofily.

Kevin examined a strand that fell to his neck. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Ed's smile faded as his eye caught the bruise on Kevin's neck. "It's red…"

"Huh? Uh, well, more like a brownish-red…I get it from my mom's side. She's Irish—"

"Who did it?" Ed asked, suddenly extremely close to Kevin's face, causing him to blush.

"Who…did it? My hair color?"

"Your neck!"

Kevin rubbed his neck confusedly and flinched at the slight irritation from adding pressure to the bruise.

"Oh yeah, this is from earlier with Eddy."

"Eddy?"

"Yeah, we kind of got into it, but it was nothing serious. Just having some fun, rough hou—"

"Fun?"

"Yeah, we—"

"I have to go," Ed said getting up.

"Go? What? Why? You just got here."

"Ed…remembers something he forgot…" He made his way out the door.

"Uh…okay, well, let me walk you to the door," Kevin followed.

"No need," Ed zipped his jacket.

"Ed, wait," Kevin said grabbing his arm. "Did I do something? I wanted to talk to you."

"No, you didn't do anything…" Ed said almost coldly.

"Well, can we talk then?"

"Later." Kevin watched as Ed hastily escaped.

The hell was that about?


"It's like a gay zombie virus or something! I mean what's he got that I don't got?" Nazz whined. She gripped the chains to the swing she sat on.

"Um…Nazz, why are you telling me all this?" an angelic voice asked.

"Well, I just figured someone like you could relate, Jimmy." Nazz smiled cheerfully.

"The hell's that supposed to mean, 'someone like me'?!" Jimmy snapped, looking at her from the swing next to her.

"Jimmy's not gay!" Sarah exclaimed, leaning against the bars of the swing set.

"He's not?" Nazz asked.

"No, I'm not!" Jimmy said. "Is being pretty such a crime?"

Jimmy was indeed gorgeous, but a bit too gorgeous for a male. He often got picked on and teased for looking and sounding very feminine. No matter what he tried, including dressing more guyish, he was harassed by girls and guys alike for his appearance. Though his hair was cut short, even shaved a bit in the back, his bangs were fair like his skin and curly and fell over his light, crystal eyes. He was also quite fashionable, an easy targeted quality in young males for bullying.

"But Jimmy, you and Sarah aren't dating are you?" Nazz asked.

"Of course not! We've been friends since we were little," Jimmy blushed.

"He doesn't have to be with me to prove he's straight you Bimbo," Sarah replied calmly.

Jimmy sighed in relief at Sarah's saving comment. She had always been his rock since they were in preschool. She was his best friend. Though they were close, he couldn't quite imagine himself dating her. He couldn't figure out why; it simply seemed inappropriate, like dating a sibling. Plus the idiots at school would just call them lesbians. He sighed at the thought. Morons.

"Are you sure you're not into guys Jimmy? A lot of them at school are like totally into you."

"That's cause they think I'm a girl!" Jimmy replied angrily. "And even if I was into guys, I wouldn't go for anyone at school. I'm a bit too high class for that."

"I see. That's true I guess. Well then if you're not gay, who am I supposed to talk to?"

"How the heck should we know!?" Sarah snapped. "I'm still stuck on the fact that my idiot brother is supposedly dating the jock of Peach Creek."

"Has it already gotten out to the school?" Jimmy asked.

"I don't think so. No one seems to know." Nazz said.

"Plus, Ed's been keeping his distance from him lately too," Sarah added.

"Why?" Jimmy asked.

"Ed doesn't want to pressure him," Sarah answered.

"Ed told you that?" Nazz asked.

"Nah, but I know that lummox." Sarah said.

"But I heard Ed attacked Kevin at the trip," Jimmy said.

"Maybe that's why Ed's keeping his distance." Nazz suggested.

"You think Kevin pushed him away?" Jimmy proposed.

"They seemed fine during the trip," Nazz said.

"Who knows, but I really don't want to delve that far into my brother's love life," Sarah began. "As long as the idiot comes home happy, then I won't have to clobber Peach Creek's basketball star."

"Well, anyways, back to my issues! Don't you guys feel sorry for me?" Nazz whined.

"Hell no!" Sarah exclaimed.

"Stupid bitch…" Jimmy mumbled.

"You brought half of that-no the bulk—no—everything, on yourself!" Sarah continued.

"But cant you at least understand the stress of finding out your boyfriend's into dudes?"

"That's not even the point," Jimmy began. "You drove him away before he got into guys."

"Not just that," Sarah started. "You probably screwed up his perception of girls. I mean he's only dated popular cheerleader girls like you his whole life."

"Then you up and cheat on him with that dumbass, Eddy for goodness sake," Jimmy added.

"If you're gonna cheat, at least heighten your standards a bit," Sarah said.

"Even Johnny's a better catch nowadays than that shrimp."

"That no-neck money-scamming chump."

"That no-style, can't get a date, loser."

"That pink dwarf—"

"Okay I get it!" Nazz interrupted the stream of insults. "I…screwed up."

"Doesn't mean you cant make a fresh start," Jimmy offered. "I heard you and Johnny got pretty close." A grin snuck its way onto the boy's pretty face.

"It was just an intense make-out session. There's nothing between us." Nazz said.

"Does he know that?" Sarah asked.

"Of course, it's kind of obvious."

"Do you still text him and stuff?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah, I'm not gonna ignore the guy."

"How the hell's that obvious?" Sarah asked. "It's leading him on—*sigh* Never mind, I'll let you find out for yourself."

Sarah walked away without a final word, her long auburn hair flowing back from behind her fuzzy sky blue snowcap. It's not that she had a particular soft side for Nazz or Johnny, but it disgusted her to see people treated wrongly in anyway, even though she was quick to snap at or curse at anyone that said the wrong thing to her. She was just a feisty, caring person.

"Later, Sarah," Jimmy said. "So do you understand what Sarah was trying to…" He looked over and saw that Nazz had left as well. He sighed.

"Gotta stop talking to myself."

He glanced around the empty park for a few seconds and jumped at the sound of someone plopping into the swing Nazz once possessed.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing out here all alone?" a condescending voice asked.

Jimmy lowered his eyelids in frustration. It's always when Sarah's not around to protect me. What cowards. He thought.

He sighed and turned his head towards one of the typical school bullies. His name was Walter…yeah, lame (for a jock). The author of this story decided to give him a reason to hate life, which Jimmy certainly didn't blame him for with that kind of name, and take out his anger on the more strength-challenged kids of Peach Creek (no offense to the walters out there; im sure you're way more awesome than this guy). He used to be best friends with Kevin before Eddy's scam incident.

(A/N: _ Damnit! I HAAATE OCs! =3= Am I that weak that I couldn't find another way to do this? He wont be showing up often…so no worries.)

"What do you want Walter?" Jimmy began, turning his attention forward as he pushed off on the swing. "It's been a while since you spoke to me. Didn't Kevin tell you it's not worth your time messing with me?"

"Oh, I'm not here to cause trouble," he said with a curious grin. "I'm here to make an offer."

"An offer?" Jimmy asked, stopping the swing and looking at the tall boy, confusedly. "What kind of—"

The platinum blonde boy was cut off by a sudden kiss from the strange jock. Almost immediately, Jimmy pushed him away and moved frantically towards the jungle gym, his sleeve to his lips, wiping away the filth.

"What was that!?" Jimmy exclaimed, more confused and scared than angry.

Was this some sort of sick test God was playing? Why would one of the guys that tormented him all his high school life for looking feminine suddenly come on to him? Was it because he looked like a girl? Or was he secretly into males? Whatever it was, Jimmy wanted no part of this.

"Yeah, you're probably wondering, 'Is he gay?' 'He knows I'm not a girl, right?'"

Jimmy's eyes searched his surroundings and he nodded with an "um, yeah, kinda" expression. Walter only continued to grin.

"The kiss has to do with the offer I mentioned earlier and nothing to do with anything personal I feel towards you."

"NOT INTERESTED!" Jimmy responded immediately beginning to walk off.

"Whoa, whoa! Wait a sec! At least hear me out," Walter insisted as he caught up with him, his palms revealed with an "I surrender, I'm innocent and truthful" gesture.

"I understand I made an agreement with you and Kev a while back that I'd never bother you again. But that's not what this is about." He explained with his grin becoming more and more suspicious.

"See," he continued, "I need YOU to go on a date with myself and-"

"WHOA WHOA WHOA PAUSE! HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"

"I figured that's where you'd pause it."

"I thought you just said this has nothing to do with any personal feelings."

"It doesn't. The reason I need you to date me is cause I need clarification on a few things."

"Like your sexuality? Cause if that's the case, find another guinea pig—"

"NO! It's not that! Would ya just listen? A lot of shit supposedly went down on that trip couple weeks back. You were there weren't ya?"

"What's that have to do with-"

"And Kevin along with the 'tridiots' were at the center of all that hoo-ha, am I right?"

"I guess? Can you hurry up and cut to the chase?"

"I want to know the details about the trip, because apparently there's some new gay fad going around that I was late to hear about."

"You think…it's a fad-?

"NO! It just SEEMS that way. And Kev's at the origin of it. I just want to get some clear answers."

"…?"

"Since me and Kev aint on the same terms as we used to I need a legitimate excuse to get close to him and start talking to him."

"This already sounds like the stupidest idea on the planet—WHY CANT YOU JUST TALK TO HIM STRAIGHT UP?"

"BECAUSE I know the type of guy he is, and based on him and my relationship, he won't even give me a second glance. The only way to get his attention is to show him that I made amends with the one I tormented the most, and that's you."

"But we HAVEN'T made amends; you just left me alone cause Kevin told you to-"

"Then we can take the opportunity now—"

"I don't understand why you cant pull off his whole thing with one of your many friends in your little circle—"

"You and I both know that circle broke years back, and that even though we're aren't exactly brothers, you are technically the closest person to me at this school at this point in time, simply because we came in contact more than anyone else from my bullying…."

"….."

"Which I ….totally apologize for…by the way…since I'm…kind of a couple years late."

"I still don't understand why the solution you came up with was pretend dating."

"Kevin's gonna think it's too easy to just say we became the best of pals out the blue—"

"And all of a sudden dating makes it even more legit? Clever…"

"Though its sudden, dating is a more solid and believable excuse if you're saying the same thing. Otherwise he'd think I was just making you say that we were pals again."

"You could just actually try and be friendly with me y'know…"

"Come on now Jimbo…if I had walked up and said 'let's be friends' would you really have jumped on the bandwagon?"

"…I mean….maybe not immediately—"

"Exactly…besides….this is mostly for my benefit. I'm not exactly trying to build something out of this personally. I am sorry for what I did to you…but I don't want to be friends or anything like that."

"Gee, what an encouraging way to get me to help with no compensation."

"There'll be compensation—"

"Like WHAT?"

"Well—"

And besides THAT, why do you want to know what happened so badly? And why are you so willing to risk being seen as gay by the school just to find out? You realize I'm NOT actually gay y'know!?"

"YES! I GET IT! The reason I'm willing to risk it is because there's far too much to gain at the end of it all. Plus, I'd rather have a bad or gay rep than none at all. My presence is kinda faded since Kev decided to switch sides on me…in more ways than one. I want to know all the dirt because if it's true that that tall Ed is nailing Kev on the rebound cause of Nazz's promiscuity, then I've got proof that Kev may as well start searchin' for a new beau. Cause the one he's got is all talk and no faithfulness."

"What are you talkin' about?"

"I'm sayin' that Ed's a no-good lyin' cheat, Jimbo~"

"That's not true—"

"I've got proof. And I'll show it to you…but only if you agree."

The jock extended his hand.

"This isn't a fair exchange," Jimmy said shaking his head.

"I've got video proof," Walter added with a grin.

With several minutes of hesitation, Jimmy lifted his hand, only to pull it back to his side again before the other young man could grab it.

"Why do you want to expose Ed?"

Walter hesitated slightly behind his salesman smile and a scoff.

"Well…because I still care about Kevin. I want to show him that I truly want to make up, by showing him something he needs to know."

"That's bullshit, you just want to get into his good graces so you can be popular again; and it'd be a plus to show that you're no longer homophobic."

"It's Darwinism Jimbo,"

"A concept I strongly don't believe in."

"It's harmless~3"

"But what if it ruins them? And what if you're wrong?"

"If it ruins them, then boo-hoo, he'll get over it. That's life. You really want to just let Kev, who's defended and protected you these past couple years be deceived by everyone's favorite lovable idiot? And if I'm wrong, then all the best for those two. But what are the odds of me being wrong against solid video proof?"

"I'll be the judge of how solid your proof is, thank you very much," Jimmy concluded prior to grabbing the jock's hand into a firm single shake of agreement.


I'm sorry.

I love you. I don't care what anyone says.

I think I might miss him.

Let's talk, Shovel Chin. Man to Sissy.

He doesn't have to know.

You're heartless…

You…you're in love with him aren't you?

A/N: The update statements were supposed to be in this chapter but….somehow that didn't happen….Sorry for the 3 year delay! :D no worries, I'm not expecting forgiveness! Just bring the pain! =3= *braces self* If it's any compensation, Happy New Year?