It was a Thursday after school that everyone in the cul-de-sac gathered around to see the practice performance. It was one of the days where there wasn't any real practice, and Kevin was revealed he didn't have to deal with trying to impress Mrs. Aguilar since she was his toughest critic at the moment. Considering they weren't able to borrow the real costumes, Nazz had Sarah and Jimmy improvise for them. The two put together a few costumes they had lying around and allowed Edd and Kevin to borrow them. Along with a wig for Edd.
"But don't ruin them," Sarah told them sternly, giving them her best threatening glare.
They all sat around Ed and Sarah's backyard on plastic chairs as Kevin and Edd began to perform in front of them. The redhead bit his lower lip uncomfortably. It was just his friends, the kids he had grown up with. There was nothing to be embarrassed about, though he still couldn't shake it. They started again with the ball scene, because the first time they tried it during real practice, Kevin had messed it up from smiling too much.
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing, girls?" Lee Kanker asked her sisters as they watched the cul-de-sac gang through binoculars.
"Yeah," Marie replied, a snarl appearing on her face. "I see an idiot all over MY boyfriend."
"Why is your boyfriend dressed like a girl?" May asked.
Marie put her pair of binoculars down as she rolled her eyes. "I'll talk to him to later about it. The problem I see here right now is that good for nothing Kevin trying to make his move on him."
"Oooh," May said with a giggle. "I bet they like each other."
"May!" Marie growled. "No one touches MY boyfriend except for me." She tossed her binoculars aside as she began to make her way towards the gang.
Lee and May quickly followed behind. The sisters made their way into the backyard by jumping over the fence and didn't care to interrupt as Marie stepped up and shouted, "Hey! What's going on?!"
"Seems we were uninvited to the party," Lee added.
"We deserve to be invited, too," May stated.
They stood with their heads held high next to each other, glaring at the kids who were sitting around. Sarah growled and stood up, but Jimmy held her back as best as he could. Kevin rolled his eyes and shook his head as he stepped off their fake stage. Nazz sighed as she walked over to them.
"Hey guys, relax," she told them. "We were just helping our friends out with-"
"You!" Marie stomped forward, her hands in fists as Kevin walked up.
"Yeah, what about me?" Kevin asked her.
Marie snarled at him. "Like you don't know. You boyfriend stealer!"
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Ed and Eddy joined Double D's side on the stage as they watched Marie complain to Kevin.
"Get your disgusting paws off my boyfriend!" Marie shouted at the redhead.
Kevin squinted his eyes at her, unsure of what she was even talking about, but when it dawned on him, his eyes widened and he shook his head.
"Double D?" He asked.
"Who else would I be talking about?!"
"Careful, Marie," Lee told her, "They're not as smart as us."
Nazz placed her hands on her hips. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Wait, hold up," Kevin said, throwing his hands up. "Hey, Marie, you can't really think there's something going on between the dweeb and me?"
"Why else would you two be up there, dressed like that, and looking at each other with googly eyes, then?" May asked him.
"Yeah!" Marie added in. "There's no other explanation."
"Besides the fact that they're in a play together," Nazz told her. "Double D is Juliet now, because I broke my arm, so he has to take my place."
The Kankers opened their mouth to shout some more, but when they realized what the blonde had just stated, they froze – eyes wide.
May was the first to break the trance and giggle. Lee and Marie looked at her. Lee shoved her and May immediately calmed herself down.
Marie huffed and said, "That still doesn't give monkey face the right to be all around him."
Kevin sneered at her but Nazz stepped in front of him.
"It does," Nazz told Marie.
"No!"
"Man, get out of here," Kevin told them, taking a step back. "I'm not into Double D like that anyway."
"And you better make sure you never don't," Marie threatened, "because I would hate to make that face of yours unrecognizable."
"We hate having to teach lessons," Lee said.
"But we will if we have to," May told him.
The sisters smiled at the redhead, but Kevin only rolled his eyes and walked off.
Nazz crossed her arms. "Just leave." And she went after Kevin.
Marie looked over to where the Eds were standing and her smile widened. "I can't leave yet." She sauntered her way over to Double D, and batted her eyelashes at him.
"Hi, Double D," she said, in her sweetest voice.
Eddy gagged while Ed quickly turned away from her in fear.
"Eddy, why is she here?" Ed whispered to his shorter friend.
The sockhead took a step back. "Oh... hello, Marie."
"How's my cutie doing today?" She asked, slowly running her hands on his shoulder.
Ed and Eddy cringed, but Double D furrowed his eyebrows. He gently took her hand off his shoulder, but when she wrinkled up her nose, he instantly regretted it. Every inch of courage he had disappeared with the look Marie was giving him and Double D held up his hands to shield himself.
"Ah, Marie," he said, "I very much would rather you wash your hands first.." his voice was soft, afraid she would get offended.
"I have to wash my hands?" Marie asked. "What about Kevin?"
Double D gulped, looking around for an excuse, but he just shrugged.
"Oh," the girl crossed her arms, "I get it. You prefer him over me."
"... What?"
"Yeah, even I do," Eddy mumbled, and Marie heard, and she turned to glare at him. Eddy gasped as he ran to hide behind Ed.
"No, Eddy!" Ed whined. "I'll hide behind you instead! She's staring at us!"
Double D took a deep breath and said, "It isn't that I prefer Kevin over you, Marie." Marie faced him again. "It's just that... well... I would be interested in you if-"
"If what?!"
Double D bit his lower lip, hesitant to say more, but he did, "If you were pleasant and kind all of the time."
Ed and Eddy's jaws dropped open.
"I'm scared for Double D, Eddy," Ed said.
"Me too, Ed," Eddy agreed.
Marie growled and tried launching forward towards Double D, but Ed and Eddy jumped in front of the sockhead.
"Hey, calm down," Eddy told her, staring with disgust at how close she was to them.
"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN-"
"Okay, Marie," Lee said, grabbing her sister and pulling her away from the Eds.
"Get out of here, Kankers!" Sarah shouted at them, and she was accompanied by agreements from the others.
"Oh, so first we aren't invited," May said, "and now we're being kicked out?"
"They better have a good reason for doing so," Lee warned them as she sneered at the redheaded girl.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Yeah, we do have a good reason, and it begins with the fact that you three are idiots."
Jimmy gasped and bit his lower lip as he looked at his best friend. "Are you sure you want to go there, Sarah?"
"Shh, Jimmy," Sarah whispered to him.
"Let's go, girls," Lee told her sisters. "It's getting too immature here for us anyway." She headed towards the fence and May happily followed behind.
"But we aren't done here," Marie told the others before going after her sisters.
The Eds all sighed in relief once the Kankers were out of sight and far away from them.
"Well, that was a waste of time," Kevin grumbled, mostly to himself but with Nazz standing next to him, she heard and frowned.
"Aw, come on, Kev," she said, "just go ahead and continue with Double D from where you left off at. We'll still be here to watch."
"Just hurry up, then," Sarah told Kevin and Double D as she sat back down in her place.
Kevin and Double D got back into their spots on the stage while Ed and Eddy went back to the audience. Though Kevin was tired and his stomach was growling, he took a deep breath and he and the sockhead resumed their practice from before they were interrupted. They went on like that for another hour until Kevin finally just wanted a break. He started to walk off the stage when Nazz called out, "Try the kiss scene!"
For a moment, everyone was silent as they exchanged looks, but also smiles.
"Yeah, lover boy," Sarah teased, "pucker up."
Jimmy laughed, "Lay one on him, Double D!"
"Out of all guys," Eddy whispered to Ed, "I feel bad that Double D is stuck having to kiss Shovelchin." He gagged.
"It can't be that bad, Eddy," Jonny said, nudging the shortest Ed.
Eddy glared at him. "I wasn't asking you."
"Rolf thinks the Jonny boy is right," Rolf added in, nodding as he smiled at Jonny, "For the Casanova Kevin and Double the Ed boy, there will be not a problem at all."
"What is that supposed to even mean?" Sarah said, looking over her shoulder when the topic of conversation caught her interest.
"It means Kevin and Double D have googly eyes for each other, Sarah," Ed answered.
Eddy snorted a laugh. "Double D's smart, Ed. Don't forget that."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Nazz asked.
"It means that Sockhead wouldn't waste his time with Kevin. He's only doing this 'cause he's a good guy."
"OR!" Jonny raised his hand, "Plank says that it could have to do with Double D not being able to keep himself away from Kevin," he laughed.
Eddy raised an eyebrow and looked over at Kevin and Double D casually talking to each other on the stage. Kevin seemed to be shrugging nervously every now and so after answering Double D, and Eddy cringed.
"Gross," he mumbled.
"Why is it gross?" Nazz asked.
"Rolf sees or smells nothing disgusting here," Rolf commented.
"Sockhead could do better," Eddy replied.
"So, we're done, right?" Kevin asked, finally turning his attention back to his friends.
"Not until you two kiss," Nazz winked at him.
The redhead swallowed hard as he stepped back. "Uh-"
"No!" Double D quickly said, catching everyone by surprise. "N-no," he said slower this time, "we rather do so after we learn exactly how to stage kiss." He faced Kevin and smiled, "Isn't that right, Kevin?"
Kevin furrowed his eyebrows, unsure of why Double D asking him. "Well, uh, yeah..." He shrugged.
"Aw, come on," Nazz said.
"It's getting late," Kevin went on, stepping off the stage, "I'm gonna go work on my bike for a while."
Double D didn't say a word about it, but a part of him had wished Kevin wasn't leaving yet. He couldn't help but want to spend more time with the redhead.
"Fine," Sarah said, jumping up to her feet and holding her hand out for Jimmy, "let's go, Jimmy. We'll finally have the backyard to ourselves."
Jimmy grabbed her hand and got up to his feet. "Finally," he said with a sigh.
"Yeah, alright," Eddy got up, followed by Ed. He looked up at Double D and followed his gaze, noticing the sockhead was watching Kevin walk off.
"See, Eddy," Ed whispered, "googly eyes."
Eddy wanted to roll his eyes, but he laughed a little instead. "Come on, Double D," he said, "Ed has something to show us at his place."
Double D nodded and started taking off a few parts of the costume, "I worry what exactly that may be," he admitted, but he glanced over in the direction had Kevin left in and sighed.
"I was thinking about our tickets," Eddy said the next day as he walked Double D to the theater room after school.
"Ah, yes," Double D said, nodding, "er, how much?" He bit his lower lip, suddenly regretting agreeing to doing that scam. No backing out now, though. It was all done and planned out.
"I'll take it easy on them," Eddy said, grinning, "let's put it to, three dollars less than the original prices."
"Four dollars, then?"
"If that's three dollars less, then yeah, Sockhead." Eddy came to halt as they stood in front of the door. He patted Double D's back and said, "I'll go get Ed. We'll see you when you get home."
Double D nodded with a smile and waved at Eddy as his friend walked back down the hall. He turned around to face the door and he suddenly felt a lump forming in his throat. He didn't want to say that Kevin was intimidating – he had his moments where he was, no doubt, but it wasn't that that had been making Double D feel strangely nervous around the redhead. It was something else, but he shrugged it off as it being him becoming rather fond of Kevin, especially with how close they were getting. Making another close friend wasn't terrible, and it felt nice that it was Kevin; the last person he ever expected to call a good friend.
With thoughts put aside, Edd entered the theater to find the actors doing warm ups on stage, Kevin included.
Mrs. Aguilar looked over and smiled at him. "There you are," she said.
Edd quickly joined her side to set his things down in an empty chair.
"I heard you and Kevin did some practicing," Mrs. Aguilar told him.
Edd smiled, "Yes, we did, and we are quite excited to show you our improvement."
"Yes, that's awesome! Now, go. Amaze me," she said, sitting down in her seat.
Edd hurried up onto the stage and Mrs. Aguilar dinged a bell to get everyone to stop and be silenced.
"Alright, everyone," she said, "Kevin and Edd are going to perform one of their scenes together, so everyone who won't be in the ball scene, please step aside."
The ball scene – Kevin was quickly growing so bored of that scene, but he knew he had to go over it continuously, along with the rest of the entire play, if he didn't want to look like a complete idiot on opening night. So he took a deep breath, feeling grateful that at least he didn't have to get in costume, and got into his spot as everyone else in the scene did.
"In here," Marie whispered to her sisters as they stepped into the theater room.
Lee and May shoved each other on their way in, and Marie almost yelled at them to stop, but she didn't want anyone to spot them. The girls sat down at the last row on the top and slumped back in their seats with their arms crossed as they watched the performance unveil in front of them.
When Kevin started his part, Marie rolled her eyes.
"I could do a better Romeo than that one," Marie mumbled.
"Why didn't you sign up for the play, then?" May asked.
Marie scoffed, "This school isn't ready for that kind of talent."
As Edd was about to say his line, his eyes darted up to notice the Kankers and he gasped. Kevin raised his eyebrow in confusion, but looked up and realized who the sockhead was staring at.
"Relax, Double D," Kevin whispered to him in a harsh tone through his clenched teeth, hoping Mrs. Aguilar wouldn't notice, "they're just lonely girls, nothing to be afraid of."
Double D tried swallowing that lump in his throat was coming back, but it hardly did any use. He said his line, though, finally, but immediately followed it by whispering back, "Have you seen the trouble they have put my friends and I into?"
Kevin sighed and said his next line before leaning in closer to Edd and replying with, "They'll just have to grow up." He faced Mrs. Aguilar and realized she was busy answering another student's question.
Edd smiled at Kevin and said, "Much like you have."
Kevin looked at him again. "What do you mean?"
"You were once quite the bully to us."
The redhead thought about it, before smirking and shrugging one shoulder, "Yeah, I grew up, then."
Double D's smile widened enough to reveal the gap between his teeth and Kevin couldn't resist smiling back.
"Ooh!" Mrs. Aguilar jumped up from her seat, "That, right there!" She pointed at them. "Yes, I love that!"
Kevin and Double D furrowed their eyebrows as they looked at her, an then back at each other.
"I can see the connection between you two," Mrs. Aguilar said, "Yes! Aw, wow. You two really did practice."
Kevin's eyes widened slightly as Double D felt heat rising up to his cheeks.
Marie curled her fingers into tight fists and growled, "He'll pay for this," she threatened.
"Calm down, Marie," Lee told her, "you know what Mom said about us losing our temper."
Marie nodded and let out the breath she was holding, "He'll still pay."
A/N: I love the Kankers and hardly ever see them in fics, so I had to add them in.