Property Line
Chapter 9
Edd clenched his fist and looked at the floor. Tears were coming, but he held them in. He stood up and wiped his hands and mouth with his arm. "Filthy." He thought.
Kevin looked at Edd. "D-Du—" Edd punched Kevin in the face, causing him to fall back.
"W-What was that for?" Kevin stared wide-eyed.
Edd covered his face with his hands, and then took a deep breath. "My apologies, Kevin." He smirked. "That was a compulsive reaction."
Kevin sighed and carefully got to his feet. "I'm sorry."
Edd gave a false smile. "As you requested, Kevin, it never happened." Kevin heart felt pain once Edd spoke. He scratched the back of his head in guilt, and then slowly nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, but Edd cut him off. "I must run along to my next academic class, Kevin. Pardon me." Edd quickly left the room, leaving Kevin in regret.
Edd ignored Kevin the rest of the day. Every time Kevin approached him, he would find some sort of excuse to go away. Kevin felt more and more regret but couldn't think of a solution. By the end of the day, nothing was resolved.
Monday was the start of basketball and band practice. Still, Edd acted as if nothing happened. Kevin ate with Nazz at lunch while Edd ate with Eddy and Ed.
Kevin slumped over the table, feeling depressed. "Dude, I totally screwed up."
Nazz looked up from her sandwich and tilted her head. "What did you do, Kev?"
"I kissed him."
Nazz stared, holding back a small smile. "What's the problem?"
"I told him to forget about it."
Nazz's smile fell, making her drop her lunch. "That's so not cool, Kev."
Kevin groaned. "I just…Agh." He removed his cap and messed up his hair, then put his cap back on. "I don't know why I did that."
Nazz gave a sassy look. "Isn't it because you like him?"
Kevin's cheeks turned pink, eyes widened. "What are you talking about?! Double Dork is a guy!"
Nazz picked up her lunch and continued eating. "That means nothing. If it does, why did you kiss him?"
"I-I don't know!" Kevin shifted his eyes. "He was acting like a girl and I just thought that at that moment—"
"That he's your little brother?" Nazz teased.
Kevin looked at Nazz with a dispassionate emotion. "Shut up, okay?"
Nazz lifted her eyebrows and rolled her eyes, minding her own lunch. She swallowed. "Well, you told him to forget about it, right? Stop coming to him with a face that you feel bad or something. Be neutral."
Kevin groaned, then mumbled. "I guess, I don't know what to say when I see him."
Nazz sighed and thought of a plan. Finally, an idea came to her. "He has band practice today, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
Nazz snapped and pointed at Kevin. "You have basketball practice. Just go visit him and be normal about it."
Kevin rested his head on the table. "Ehh…I'd rather not go…"
Nazz shrugged. "Suit yourself then."
Once school ended, Kevin went to his basketball practice. He couldn't stop thinking about Edd and the incident that happened last week. "Please, forget that ever happened." Everyone was going great until he said that. Kevin tried to get over it, but there was no way to take it back. Sooner than he imagined, practice ended. He looked up at the clock and noticed it was four o'clock.
After practice, Edd walked out of the band room. He saw Kevin leaning against the lockers, staring at him. Edd forced a small smile and waved at Kevin.
"S…Salutations." Edd murmured.
Kevin slowly walked over to the teen. "How was band practice?"
Edd nodded. "It was quite successful. I give appreciation for assisting me with my weakness."
Kevin smirked. "It was no problem, Double Dee." He rubbed the back of his neck. "So, uh, basketball practice started."
"Indeed it has."
Kevin nodded. "Well, I know it's kind of late, but the baseball team is having this party from the win a few weeks ago."
Edd looked down at his feet, avoiding Kevin's eyes. "Interesting."
Kevin gulped. "So, I was wondering," Kevin paused. "If you want to…Y'know…" Edd looked up with a nonchalant expression. "Do you want to go with me to the party?"
Edd was staring in surprise, hesitating on what he should say. "Eddward, if you don't attend this party, then you are not pretending it never happened." He thought. He sighed and nodded. "I humbly accept your invitation."
Kevin smiled. "Choice! It's at my house this Friday! Eight o'clock." He gripped Edd's shoulder. "See ya, dork." Kevin walked away in glee, excited for the weekend to come.
Edd's shoulders tensed up. He tried to calm himself down before Kevin left. Once Kevin was out of sight, Edd released a deep breath. "Calm yourself, Eddward. Forget about it." He mumbled to himself.
Over the week, Kevin would approach Edd little by little. Edd wouldn't avoid him, while trying to maintain his sanity and composure. Honestly, Edd didn't want to talk to Kevin, and even though he agreed that nothing happened, he still kept some distance. Kevin was aware of this major distance that was between them, but Kevin was sure to inch closer to Edd day after day.
The weekend was right around the corner, and as Kevin was feeling excited, Edd was feeling indifferent. The more time passed, Edd would feel annoyed that he has to attend a party at Kevin's house. School was already over, and all the jocks and cheerleaders were pumped for the party. Edd was the only one who truly didn't want to go, but knew he must if he didn't want an uproar from Kevin.
At home, Kevin was got his place set up. Nazz helped out by putting up decorations and set up the video games. Kevin prepared himself by wearing the baseball team's jersey with some skinny jeans. Sneakers were the best for all occasions in Kevin's opinion, so that what Kevin slipped on. He wouldn't forget his baseball cap, the red one turned backwards and rested on Kevin's head. He was not only ready for the fun of his party, but the fact that he was going to be there made Kevin look forward to something.
On the contrary, Edd indulged his sweet alone time at his house, doing the chores his mother and father wrote for him. It was just an hour before the party, and Edd wasn't ready. He thought that maybe it was time to get ready, so he went upstairs and wore a casual shirt layered with a sweater vest. His pants were khakis and his shoes were sneakers. Of course, he wouldn't forget his black beanie.
It was time for the party, and Edd could see people heading over to Kevin's house from his window around eight o'clock. Kevin was welcoming them in, and expressing a face of happiness as they were cheering for their team. Edd concluded that maybe Kevin won't realize that he's not there if he doesn't go, but changed his mind once he saw Kevin stare at Edd's windows. Edd headed downstairs and opened his front door. Kevin was staring at him, waving from afar.
"Dork! Get your butt over here!" Kevin yelled.
Edd crossed his arms. "Property line, Kevin!"
Kevin rolled his eyes. "You're allowed on my property, you dork!"
Edd smirked and then closed his door, made his way across the street and walked over to Kevin's house. "Good evening, Kevin."
Kevin smirked. "Good evening, dork."
"Excuse you, but that is not my name." Edd placed a hand on his hip.
"Fine." Kevin groaned. "Good evening, Double Dee." Edd nodded and took a few steps in. "You're still my dork, though." Edd turned around with a flushed face and Kevin's eyes widened. "Fuck! Why do I keep saying stuff like that?!" He realized. "Cause y-y'know, you're my tutor. That's all." Kevin covered up.
Edd relaxed a bit, believing that is what Kevin's words meant. But, Edd still couldn't take jokes like that. Whatever Kevin did or said, would contrast his emotions. He took a deep breath and looked around Kevin's house. It was nicely decorated and a lot of students were having fun. Some of the baseball athletes and cheerleaders waved to Edd when they passed by him. Edd felt welcome, but since he seldom knew anyone, he would feel alone. Edd stayed by himself, looking at old childhood photos of everyone. A smile crawled on his face when he saw a picture of all the cul-de-sac children.
"So, Kev! How'd you continue playing sports?" A jock called out. Edd's ears became very tentative.
Kevin wrapped his arm around Edd and brought him in the group conversation. "Oh, I got tutored by this dweeb, right here." He smirked.
Edd's face started to heat up. "K-Kevin! Personal space!"
"Yeah yeah. This dweeb is all about personal space, man."
The jock laughed. "Oh, so that's why you hung out with this guy!"
Kevin nodded. "Yeah, of course! But dude, it's not 'this guy' to me. He's my dork."
A cheerleader walked in. "Wait! Is this the guy who you said was your property?"
Edd's face flushed. "W-What?!"
The cheerleader looked over at Edd. "Rick was ranting about it. How 'Kevin's property thinks he's all that.'" She quoted. "You do look a bit sassy." She giggled.
Edd made a face and placed a hand on his hip. "I'll have you know that I am not 'sassy' and I am just making my points as I correct others!"
The jock and the cheerleader laughed. "Wow, Kev. Your little tutor here is adorkable." The cheerleader snickered before leaving.
Edd rolled his eyes and turned to Kevin. Kevin smirked and nodded. "Hello, Mr. Sass."
Edd crossed his arms. "I am not sassy!"
"Whatever you say, sassy dork." Kevin winked before walking away.
"Could you stop doing that?!" Edd yelled in his mind. He took a deep breath and composed himself. "Eddward, remember to have proper etiquette at someone else's house!" He reminded himself. He continued to wander around the house, making himself occupied by either cleaning up other people's mess or refilling food and drinks.
"But yeah, he was my tutor." Kevin pointed to Edd. Edd heard from afar and tried to listen in, acting casual as he worked around the house.
"What is he like?" a girl asked.
"Meh, he's your typical dork." Kevin snickered. "But he's my dork."
Edd fixed his hat and lowered it, covering his eyes a bit. His face remained flustered as he moved around the house, only because Kevin's conversations would always include some minor detail about claiming him.
Edd wanted to leave. He didn't want to hear this anymore. When no one was looking, he made his way to the door and tried to leave. Every jock and cheerleader minded their own business, which Edd used as an advantage. He opened the door, stepped outside casually, and then quietly closed the door. No one stopped him or said something about him leaving. He crept across the street and made his way to his house. Next thing he knew, he was already in his house. He felt more comfortable and relaxed. He was at a party where he knew nobody. Edd made himself comfortable on his couch and tried to rest a bit.
After an hour or so, Edd stood up from the couch. He stretched and yawned, then realized it was nearly ten-thirty. He thought that maybe he should head to bed early, but was stopped when someone rang the doorbell. He walked over to the door and opened it only to see Kevin glaring at him.
"Are you serious? Why are you here?"
Edd gulped. "I-I live here."
"No, dork. Why did you leave my party without telling me?" Kevin growled.
Edd averted his eyes. "I wasn't aware that I had to notice you of my leave."
"Well, you had to tell me. I was looking around for you and you weren't at my house!" Kevin clenched his fist. "Now the party's over and you missed majority of it!"
Edd smiled with fear in his eyes. "A-Apologies, Kevin. I thought that I should leave early—"
Kevin softened. "Did you not have fun?"
"Well, it's not quite that, it's more—"
"Is it because of me?"
Edd stayed silent. "K-Kevin, I should get going, mother and father might come home and—"
Kevin took Edd by the wrist and pulled him across the street, and dragged him in his house. He continued to pull Edd upstairs and into his room. He managed to throw Edd in his room and lock the two of them in his room. Kevin took a deep breath and looked up at Edd. Edd's face looked like it was still trying to comprehend what just happened. Kevin rubbed his face and calmed himself down.
"Okay, now no one can distract us." He paused. "Let's talk."
