Chapter 7- 10th grade The Call

A/N- I hope everyone is enjoying the story as much as I am writing it. Warning Dug use and mature language.

The next week Edd had noticed that Kevin had eased up on bullying him, only participating if someone had called him into the fray, Kevin had to keep up appearances after all. Edd had also caught Kevin staring at him a few times as he walked by him in the hallways at school. To Edd all of this did support Kevin's claims of being interested in him, but there was still no way of being absolutely certain until the deed was done there was just too many variables to account for. Edd had a plan though, and he was going to see it through to the end regardless of the outcome. A few other changes in life had occurred during this time, Eddy being the oldest of the group had past his driver's test. His parents being proud of their son gave him their old car having just bought a new one of their own. The boys would use this new found freedom to take a few country cruises, smoking a few joints on their way to the creek where they would lay around in the sun or go swimming while the weather was still decent enough to. Edd also discovered with his pot consumption his grades were slipping, he didn't spend as much time on his studies as he use to, but he also didn't care enough to actually stop the use of the drug and correct the situation. He was enjoying the freedom it was giving him too much to want to relinquish that, he thought it made him a more fun person to be around and he didn't want to go back to being the boring Double D of his past.

During the following weekend after his run in with Kevin at Katie's, Edd had decided action needed to be taken to figure out the conundrum that was Kevin Barr. The only choice he could see was to confront the situation and see where it would lead. With that thought in mind he called his friend Katie up. "Hey Kat."

"Hey Double D what's up? Edd could hear here adjusting the phone and picking something up. "You know I still have your movies you left last weekend." Edd was so flustered and in such a rush to take care of his situation that he had totally forgotten about them.

"O right can you just bring those to school Monday, I have something I want to ask you." Edd was trying to hide his nervousness he didn't want her asking to many questions about what he was going to ask and hoped if she did that his lies would be accepted.

"Ok?" Was her only response.

"I was wondering if you had Kevin's number." Edd's hands were sweating now.

"What do you need it for? I didn't think you two got along all that well." Damn it girl stop prying and give me the number Edd want to say, but his polite nature wouldn't allow him.

"Yes you see, he asked me to help him with a few classes, but forgot to give me his number and we are supposed to meet up tomorrow. So I thought you might have it so I can give him a call and make sure we are still meeting up." Edd held his breath hoping she bought it.

"Well that does sound like Kevin, always forgetting the small things. Sure I'll give it to you just give me a sec." Edd could hear rustling in the background, apparently she was looking for her little black book. A few page turns later "Here it is."

Edd wrote down the number, faze one complete now onto faze two. After saying goodbye to Katie and ending the call Edd picked up the phone again, shaking hands pushed in the first three numbers before. Images of the ensuing conversation started playing through his mind. "You actually thought I was interested in you, FAG! Call ends" or "Ya I just hope you don't mind that I am going to pass you around the football team. Call Ends" or "You got to date me and my girlfriend. Call ends" truthfully Edd didn't even know if Kevin had a girlfriend at this time. But if last weekend was any indication Edd was pretty sure he was currently single, or at least he hoped so. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly Edd finally built up the courage to take the leap off the edge and dial the number he had clutched in his hand as though it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

The line rang a few times "Hello." Kevin's voice came from the other side.

"Hello, Kevin its Edd." He said a little shyly awaiting the fall out.

"Edd?" Kevin seemed confused at first. "O Edd, how did you get this number?"

"I have my ways." Edd took another breath continuing to try and calm himself."I just wanted to talk to you and see what was up."

"You were wondering about last weekend weren't you?" Kevin was always so blunt and straight to the point.

"Y-yes, I was just wondering what you were trying to get at by doing what you did." It's now or never might as well get it over with.

"I'm bi ok and I think you're cute. Always have, just never could figure out how to tell you." Edd could feel himself blush a little at Kevin saying he was cute.

"What about your friend? What if he had caught you? Do you always take such risks to get what you want?" This was the part that was bugging Edd, with the way the world viewed homosexual behavior he personally knew what it meant in high school if you were discovered even for someone like Kevin Barr.

"If he didn't like it he could have walked his ass home." So confident he was Edd thought. "Plus most of my friends know already, they're cool with it as long as I don't hit on them, and ya I'll do what I need to, to get what I want."

"If it really was only that simple Kevin." Edd breathed out.

"Yes it can be dork, you just have to try. I know I haven't been very nice to you, and I know you don't have any reason to trust me, all I am asking for is a chance." Kevin sounded a little exposed in Edd's opinion, this wasn't the usual cocky Kevin he was use to.

"I would really like to believe what you're saying, but with our past how am I to trust you're not just doing this to hurt me somehow." Edd was at an impasse with this conversation. "Do you mind if I take a few days to think this through?"

"Ya sure take your time," Kevin sounded a little hurt, "And don't be afraid to call me I would like to talk to you some more." He was at least willing to give Edd some space.

"Ok I'll be sure to do that, I should let you go, I have to go see my friends." Edd said about to hang up the phone.

"Wait, don't I get your number? How can I get a hold of you? Kevin sounded excited and pleading at the same time.

"Let me get to know the real you first then I'll give it to you." Edd hoped that was a reasonable request for Kevin he wasn't just going to let the jock have the key to the kingdom so easily, at least that was the thought at the moment.

"Fair enough, I can't wait to hear from you again, bye" and Kevin hung up the phone. Edd let out a shaky breath and hung up the phone. He had just taken a very daring step, one he never thought he would attempt while in high school. He could only hope that his gamble would pay off and not lead him down the path of ruin. One final call to make to Eddy, they made their plans and within twenty minutes Edd was waiting outside his house for his friends to pick him up. Five minutes later, really can they never be on time, a silver two door Chevy Cavalier pulls up and stops in front of Edd's house. The passenger side door opens and Ed steps out pushing the seat forward to allow Double D entrance to the vehicle. Once Double D was inside and Ed put the seat back into position, climbing in and closing the door, Eddy speeds off toward their favorite creek. Being in the back seat where it was harder for the outside world to see him, Double D had the job of rolling the joint for their trip. The boys talked about many things, most notable were Eddy's concerns with Lee.

"Man your sister is getting on my last nerve." Eddy exclaimed as he took the turn to go up Peach Tree hill and into the country.

"Whatever seems to be the matter Eddy?" Double D licks the paper putting the final twist to the joint and passes it to Ed for inspection.

"She always wants to know where the hell I'm at, who the hell I'm with and what the fuck I'm doing." Double D cringes a little but has learned to give up on correcting Eddy's bad mouth.

"Well you're not dating her yet?" Ed asks as he fishes a lighter out of his pants pocket apparently pleased with the job Double D did.

"No, we're just still getting to know each other." Eddy checks the mirror to see if Double D was upset about the conversation.

"Well Eddy, I love my sister, but I would have to agree with you that at times she can be a little overbearing. " The joint is passed to Eddy. "I will not hold it against you if you decide she is not the girl you thought she was." Eddy using his left hand passes the joint between the two front seats.

"Cool man." Eddy says holding in the smoke. Double D reaches up and takes the joint from Eddy, holding it properly he takes a few quick drags off of it and passes it back to Ed through the gap between the seats as well.

"So should I prepare myself for a distraught Lee?" Double D asked exhaling the smoke.

"Probably." Eddy answered solemnly. "Sorry if it causes you any trouble." Double D just waves it off sits back and contemplates how to ask his friends his own question concerning a certain red head without giving too much away.

It took him another ten minutes to work up the courage and find the right words plus the rest of the joint before he finally spoke. "Do you all believe in second chances?"

"Definitely, why do you ask?" Ed turns to face Double D.

"Well let's say there was someone who was mean to you most of the time you have known them but now they seem to be interested in you in more than a friendly way. Would you trust them and take a chance that they are not just doing this to hurt you more?" Ahh the pronoun game so much fun to keep from slipping and keep it gender neutral.

"Has she said she likes you?" Eddy says looking through the mirror once again to see a blushing Double D.

"Not really, they said I was cute though." Double D's blush deepening.

"Well that's a start." Ed smiled reaching over the front seat with his left hand and clapping Double D on the shoulder. "Is she flirting with you?"

"I think so, if you can call trying to grab my junk flirting." Double D's cheeks burned even redder.

"AAAHHH our little Double D is growing up." Eddy says in a mocking voice looking at Ed. "He's got himself a girlfriend."

"They grow up so fast." Ed replies in a similar tone, turning fully around in the seat to face the rear. "Hopefully he'll lose his V card soon." And playfully punches Double D in the thigh.

"I do not have a girlfriend, I haven't asked them out yet." How straight people don't catch on to the pronoun game is beyond me. "And I am not a virgin." Double D said with a huff and a rub to the thigh.

"Blow Jobs don't count." Eddy said rather matter-of-factly.

"If I'm a virgin you're one as well Eddy." Double D said flicking Eddy in the ear.

"Naw Eddy boy got him some last night." Ed said laughing at the shock look on Eddy's face.

"Ed you weren't supposed to say anything." Eddy hit Ed in the chest. How they weren't in a wreck is a miracle.

"I don't want to hear this, I don't want to know about you and my sister." Double D put his hands to his ears.

"Who said it was your sister." Ed stated earning another punch from Eddy and all that got was a laugh from Ed in return.

"Serious Ed why don't you tell him everything then, how about positions you want to tell him that to." Eddy was not a very happy person at this moment.

"So like he had her leg up…." Ed stated laughing the entire time.

"EDDY is that why you are going to break Lee's heart. Seriously Eddy tell me this isn't happening. GOD DAMN IT EDDY!"

Both of his friends were shocked, it wasn't everyday you heard Double D curse. "No, that's not why but at the same time it is why." Eddy was stumbling over his words trying best to calm his friend and maintain their friendship. "See I met somebody else and me and your sister aint dating."

"I don't want to hear it, don't talk to me right now Eddy." Double D just crossed his arms and looked out the window. The trip to the creek was cut short that day, Ed suggested just turning around and going home. He wasn't looking forward to damage control this time around, though he had to admit it was his fault the situation happened. If only he could keep his mouth shut while he was high. A couple of weeks and a few peace pipe conferences later and everything would be back to the way it should be. Or so Ed hoped.