Eddy was still ranting as they exited the school and made their way home. Ed walked with Eddlyn a few steps behind the loudmouth. Once every few minuets, he would look at her with a worried look. Edd didn't seem to notice. She was walking in a daze, her mind far, far away. Eddy whirled around to face them, his face beet red and breath laboured from his endless rant. "Who does he think he is?! He can't just Kiss her in front of everybody! She was supposed to be my girlfriend! And did you see how forced it was for Nazz? She was probably totally grossed out! Ugh, if I could only get my hands on that slimy, good for nothing-" Eddy continued to rant and Ed just looked between his friends, wondering if they had witnessed the same kiss. 'Forced? She didn't look the least bit forced to him.' When they reached the Cul-de-sac, Eddlyn turned to walk up her driveway, completely forgetting to bid her friends farewell. Eddy didn't seem to notice as he was still huffing and puffing, but Ed stared after his smaller friend, worry carved in his eyes. Sighing he turned and walked home.

Eddlyn sat at her desk with her books open. She still had two hours to spare before she had go spent some time with Nazz. Looking down at her Algebra she sighed. She couldn't concentrate at the moment. Putting her books aside for a moment she went downstairs to make herself a cup of tea. The whole day had been a roller-coaster of emotions. She didn't know how to feel about this whole situation. She had always known Kevin and Nazz would end up together. Kevin had been infatuated with his blonde neighbour for years, and she had secretly hoped they would one day have the courage to show how they felt about each other. However now that it had happened, she didn't know why she felt like she had been punched in the stomach. This was supposed to be a joyous occasion and she really wanted to feel happy for her friends. 'I will feel happy for them. My conflicting emotions have nothing to do with their situation.' She thought as she poured the boiling water into her favourite mug. It was a purple cup with butterflies on it. Her mother had brought it back for her from one of her business trips when Eddlyn was only 6. Eddy had once picked it up and had teased her with it, on one of his visits back in the day, when she was still hiding behind her chest binder. She remember being worried that he would drop and break it and had ended up throwing him out of her house for the day. Ever since then, she had made sure to hide the mug, just in case Eddy got a hold of it again.

The next morning, Edd had to drag herself out of the bed. She had gone to celebrate Nazz's acceptance to the cheerleading team, and also her development with Kevin. The blonde had been positively ecstatic with her new relationship. Edd had at on her bed with a bowl of frozen yogurt and listened to Nazz go on and on about the kiss. Edd had gotten intimate details about the kiss, like how he tasted and if he had used tongue, which he had not. Nazz was practically bouncing with rapture. Edd had thought it would be hard to be excited for her friend, but with the exciting energy Nazz were letting out, Eddlyn couldn't help but feel thrilled for the blonde. This was an exciting turn of event; her very first boyfriend. Edd had listened to her twitter for three hours, before calling it a night. She still had her homework to finish, and she ended up staying up late to complete it. As she got ready for the day, she couldn't help but wonder; why had she reacted that way yesterday? Thinking back to one of her biology books she had read years prior, it stated that puberty could bring on a flood of emotions that the mind couldn't control. Smiling to herself as she brushed her hair, she felt relieved to finally have a cause for the roller coaster of emotions she had been on the day before. 'Let it rest Eddlyn. Today is a new day, and I'll just have to make the best of it!" She gave herself a bright smile in the mirror and grabbed her bag for school.

Eddy and Ed were waiting for her outside her house and Eddy looked to have calmed down a bit. "Good morning gentlemen. Are you ready for school?" she smiled at her best friends, receiving a grunt from Eddy and a miserable sigh from Ed. Tactfully ignoring her friends attitude towards school, she turned to walk down the sidewalk. Ed and Eddy followed her and Eddlyn looked at the boys. "I do wish to apologize for my behaviour yesterday. I had some personal issues to deal with, and it was no fair to take it out on the two of you. I do hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." Ed looked up from the ground and studied the girl walking next to him. "All is forgiven Double D. I could never be mad at you." A wide smile spread across his face and her drew her into a hug. Eddlyn sighed with relief. She turned to Eddy, but he just continued to ignore her. Biting her lower lip she reached out to place a hand on his arm. "Eddy?"

Eddy turned his head sharply, startling her and making her draw her and back. "What Sockhead?! Did you expect me to just be OK with this? You were supposed to help me get Nazz to be my girlfriend. Not help her run into Shovel-chins arms! What a friend you are!" Eddy bellowed, making Eddlyn take a step back. "Eddy, you can't possibly tell me that you think I am to blame for this! Nazz and Kevin have had feelings for one another for years. I know that you have been infatuated with her as well, but fact of the matter is, that Nazz simply does not see you in a romantic light. Nothing I could have done could change that. I am hurt that you feel like this is my fault." Tears welled up in her eyes and she quickly turned to walk to school ahead of the two boys.

Sniffling to herself as she walked with brisk steps, Eddlyn thought about the sudden turn her life had taken. High school was supposed to be a new start, and she had been looking forward to spending it with her best friends. But Eddy's attitude made it hard for her to enjoy herself. She sighed and picked up the pace towards school. She would try talking to Eddy again later.

As she neared Peach Creak high school, she noticed a large group gathered outside the entrance. In between students she spotted Kevin, with Nazz hanging off his arm. Upon closer inspection she recognized some of the others to be football players and some cheerleaders. Nazz spotted Eddlyn and waved to her, calling her over. The ravenette felt her cheeks heat up as she squeezed her way past the larger bodies of the athletes and muttered good morning to the group. Nazz drew her into a hug, and immediately let go to return her hold on her redheaded boyfriend. One of the guys gave Kevin a light push to the shoulder, grin in place. "Dude, she's such a babe! Lucky!" chuckles sounded from more of the guys and some made noises of agreement. Nazz looked mighty proud as she stood beside the tall boy. Kevin brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck, a small blush staining his freckled cheeks. Eddlyn couldn't help but notice how awkward he looked at that moment. Looking up at the clock at the wall above the front entrance, she turned towards her blonde friend. "Um, I'd hate to interrupt, but class will begin soon, and I would like to get to our homeroom class with time to spare. Would you like to accompany me Nazz?" Nazz looked slightly sad at the prospect of leaving her new boyfriend to start school, but nodded and leaned up to give the redhead a kiss. Whistles and laughter rang out from the group and the blush on Kevin's cheeks intensified. Nazz winked at him as she turned to walk into the building, and Eddlyn had to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. She made eye contact with the redheaded athlete and her heart speed up just a tad, and she had to turn away. 'Honestly, what is the matter with me? Puberty has really taken me for a spin. Maybe I should visit the library and find a book on this matter. It can never hurt to learn more about all these confusing emotions I am experiencing.' She thought as she lengthened her steps to catch up with her blonde friend.

Nazz spent homeroom drawing hearts and giggling dreamily to herself. Edd cast looks at her once in a while. She had to admit, she was a little jealous. She too wished to experience the feelings that were currently running amok inside her friend. She had read many romantic themed books, and the way they all described love, made it sound wonderful, but also a little scary. Love was all consuming and looking at Nazz only confirmed that. Nazz clearly couldn't care less what happened in class at this very moment, as all she could think about was her new boyfriend. 'Maybe falling in love can wait for a few more years. I still have to focus on school. That should be my first priority. Love will come at its own pace.' Nodding to herself, she turned back to concentrate on the teacher in front of the class.

When the bell rang to recess Nazz grabbed her arm to go to the next class. They both had English 1 this year and Nazz was determined to sit together. In the hall Nazz recognized two girls in their cheerleading uniforms. She pulled Edd over to greet them. "Hi Fran! Did you hear the news?" Nazz blinked up to the older girl. Fan turned to glance at the freshmen. Her long brown hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail. Her eyes were lined and she wore a deep red lipstick. "About you and the football player? Yea, it's all over school. And Facebook. Actually, it's hard to miss it." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked at Edd. "Who's this?" Her dark eyes travelled all the way down and back up, and gave her an unimpressed look." Nazz smiled and mentioned towards Edd, "This is Eddlyn. She grew up close to me, and we have lots of classes together this year. She's cool. Edd, this is Fran. She's the captain of the cheerleading team." Eddlyn stuck out her hand to greet the dark-skinned junior in front of her, but Fan only gave her a bored look. Feeling dejected, Edd lowered her hand again, and looked at Nazz for help. "Double D's really smart. She's taking a bunch of AP classes!" Nazz tried again to make a good impression for her childhood friend. This caught the cheer captain's attention and she gave Edd a small smile. "Really? Wow that's impressive. I bet homework is a breeze for you then. Do you think you could help me with mine? With cheer practise and the football season coming up, I just don't have time to do all of it by myself." Edd locked eyes with Nazz, silently asking her for her opinion, but Nazz only looked back at her captain and nodded. "Of cause she will. Double D's so smart, it won't be a problem for her." Fran smiled, clearly pleased. "Good, my math needs to be finished by tomorrow. And in return, you can sit with us at lunch." Fran looked down right smug as she pulled out her math books and handed them to Eddlyn. Nazz hurried to pull the ravenette with her away from her captain, before Edd could protest, sending a quick 'thank you' over her shoulder.

Edd stared at the books in her hands. "Nazz, I don't like this. I've got this feeling, your friend only liked be for my ability to solve equations." She looked at the blonde walking next to her, but Nazz refused to make eye contact. "D, High school is a jungle, and you have to suck up to the leaders for a while, or they can make your life a living hell. If you make friends, or at least stay on the good side of the topdogs, it will make it so much easier to make it through school." Nazz stopped walking, and turned to look her friend in the eye. "I know it sucks right now, but tomorrow you'll get to sit with the cheerleaders at their table, and the rest of the school will see you as one of the cool kids. And then, you won't get singled out and teased. So will you please, just try to remain on good foot with Fran and the girls? At least for now? It's just till I can talk them into making you a permanent member of the group." Nazz pleaded with the smartest of the Ed's. Eddlyn found herself nodding, before she even thought twice about it. 'Maybe Nazz is right. High school can be a brutal place, and I could do with some help making it into a group of friends. Even if said group only wants me for my brain. I'm sure it beats sitting alone, and maybe even getting bullied.' Nazz gave her a big hug, clearly relieved that her friend would go along with her plan. "Thank you D! I'm sure she won't make you do all her homework, and then you'll get to sit with us! It'll be so much fun!" Nazz returned to pull her along with her to their next classroom.

As Edd walked down the hallway to go home for the day, she passed by the nurse's office. The ravenette paused, thinking back on to junior high as she had been helping the nurse. She stepped up to the door and knocked. Getting permission to enter, she opened the door, and stepped in. The school nurse, Mrs Miller, a short round woman with kind eyes and a comforting smile, looked at Eddlyn over the rim of her glasses. "What can I do for you, dear?" "Hello Ma'am. My Name is Eddlyn Marion Vincent, and I'm a freshman. I would like to offer my assistance, here in the nurse's office. I helped the nurse at my former school." Mrs Miller's face lit up and she came over to shake the students hand. "My, that was very nice of you, young lady. Here, let me just get your phone number, and we can schedule a meeting in next week and fit you in." Eddlyn nodded and wrote down her number on a yellow post it note.

As she exited the nurse's office, she saw big Ed walking down the hall. She waved to him, making him look up. His eyes were clouded with sadness and he walked with a slouch. She placed a hand on his arm, looking up at him with worry. "What is the matter, Ed?" she asked, and he just looked down at the ground. "Ed?" "I don't understand what the teacher says Double D." His lip quivered. Eddlyn's eyes softened and she gave him a gentle smile. "Ed, would you like to come over to my house after school to take a look at your homework? I wouldn't mind helping you understand your schoolwork." Big Ed gave her his best puppy-eyes look, and nodded. "Yeah, Double D. That would help." Eddlyn smiled and turned to walk out of the school. "Well then, shall we be on our way?" she would never say no to helping a friend, but in the back of her mind, she reminded herself, that she already had homework to complete herself, and she had Fran's math homework too. 'But Ed is my friend, and I know he'll appreciate my help. I'll just stay up later to finish my own.' Together the two ed's walked out of school.