It had been a week since that incident. Kevin woke up the evening after Edd had punched him, still on Edd's porch. The lights were off and the book was missing, but Kevin assumed that Edd took it back. He'd fucked up... he really fucked up this time. Edd wouldn't trust him again. On the odd side, Edd had left Kevin alone completely, not even sparing a glance. Kevin showed up at his house to work with the project, but Edd wouldn't open the door. Not even when Kevin called his house or yelled into the door. Soon, Edd wasn't even showing up to school. After three days of him being absent, he wasn't going to take 'no' any longer. He had to apologise, he had invaded Edd's privacy for the sake of a cause that was selfish. It was never about fixing Edd, it was about saving his own ass from getting hit.

He trudged his way over, school had ended, the day was muggy, things were not so good and his mood reflected. Kevin tried knocking first, then jiggling the handle only to find the door open. With a frown and a certain screaming in his head not to go in, he did, walking around the quiet, dark house calling 'hello' and 'Edd?' out to echo in the abyss, there was no answer. It's funny how you notice more when you're scared or worried. Before the notes that littered the house were just that, notes, nothing to blink at, but... with how everything in him was heightened he realised just how horrible each note was. "I love you" "Do the dishes" "Mow the lawn" "Be good in school today" "We can't come home this weekend" "Eddward please keep the house clean, you're slacking" with each step he took the notes took a downward turn. "Young man you are starting to test our last nerve" "We won't be home for a month" "We love you but please don't get a grade like that again", it was almost enough to make Kevin cry, he who had no tie to Edd's parents. At the other end of the living room where the stairs were sat one final note.

"We are going on a six month vacation, keep the house clean, we love you"

Kevin couldn't believe this... it was neglect, illegal, immoral... he dashed up the stairs hoping to find Edd, and while he did find him, the sight was the final straw. Edd had been curled up under his sheets for days. The tall boy didn't even stir when Kevin entered, he sat on the edge of Edd's bed and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Eddward? Double D? Are you going to be okay?"

No reply, the steady breathing assuring Kevin that Edd was still alive.

"I'm sorry I went through your stuff... I shouldn't have done it..."

"..."

"I-I don't know what to do. I did it and it was stupid and wrong and invasive and I'm so sorry all that stuff happened and I just wish I could go back and slap myself for not paying attention to you because god... it's not fair... I was an ass... I deserve every bit of torment get from you and your friends but it's not even enough because I can never go back and fix that! I should have noticed something was wrong, I should have asked you what your meltdown was about but I didn't and I'm sorry! I'm so sorry Edd... I wouldn't blame you if you never forgave me but please don't stop talking to me..."

"... Why do you care if I talk to you or not?" Edd's voice was soft, unused, but still audible.

"Because I... you're my friend right? At least I'd like to think so."

"You hate me. You've always hated me. I don't exactly like you..."

"I suppose you're right, but I do care, you know."

"No, Kevin. You only think you do. It's pity, I know it is, you only feel bad because you know."

"Well how else am I supposed to feel like shit?! I thought you just became a dick! I thought you were okay before! I thought you were happy! There's no way I would have known, so what you call pity, I call caring!"

Edd was quiet, hiding against his pillow. "... It was my fault... that's what they think..."

"What-"

"They said if I had really disliked it, I would have ran... they said it was my fault for being so small and weak... that if I'd acted like a real man I'd have been stronger..." Eddward's voice wavered only slightly, "I just assumed they were right..."

"That's bullshit and you know it. What happened to you is not your fault. Hell I don't think any seventh grader could fight off a fully grown man. If that's what people assumed... then they're the idiots... Edd I just want to be here for you... with everything that's going on... and your parent's being gone..."

"You saw the note huh? Six months... leaving me behind."

"They aren't parents, they are sperm donors and incubators. They just gave you life, they didn't raise you. I think that regardless of who you were raised by, you ended up a pretty fantastic guy."

"You're full of sap huh?"

"You know it, Dork." Kevin grinned.

"Alright then, Pumkin, you're forgiven."

"I'm glad. I want to be your friend."

"I think I want to sleep."

"I'll leave then, I just got worried and decided to see if you were still okay. I'll come over with dinner or something later."

"That... sounds good."

A spark of kindness and compassion and it seemed maybe Edd could change into the person he truly was, the sweet little doofus from their middle school days. A nice little kid Kevin dearly missed. While they'd both been through their share of bullshit... Only Kevin's remained shrouded behind closed doors.