The next day began as a crawl for poor Edward as he grumbled at the sound of his alarm. He had found rest easily the night before in a state of bliss, but the reality had finally kicked in; he had a spontaneous relationship. Within the course of two hours, with a girl whose middle name he does not even know, became his first courting partner in his few years on this planet. Instead of getting up and performing his usual duties, he lay in bed thinking about all the possible repercussions of the night before, and it wasn't until twenty minutes of this worrisome thinking that he finally reassured himself that he was being paranoid over the whole thing. He was sure that if things took a turn for the worse, they could be civil enough to just split it off like nothing happened.
With that reassuring thought, he scrummaged some clean cloths out of his closet and took a quick morning shower, and followed with the normal morning rituals he had become accustom too. After he performed all his allotted tasks from his parents, he took extra time to check his mirror for blemishes, wanting to make a good almost-first impression with his "girlfriend". After making positive that he was presentable and that his hair was extra parted, he took the last thirty minutes before his departure to relax.
Things were a little different in the Kanker household, as Marie could not contain her excitement. From the time she got home, she was itching with glee. And she managed to hold their "secret" for a whole two hours before her big sister found her looking through old year books at two in the morning. Marie practically burst with joy and happily talked her sister's ear off until she finally fell asleep from exhaustion an hour later, only to be granted with dreams of her beloved. When she awoke to the rough voice of Lee, she was still radiant with excitement, although she was obviously drowsy from lack of sleep the night before.
Things went as usual in the Kanker household, with the only change being Marie putting extra effort into her make up, and straightening her hair a little better than usual. She wanted to make her first public appearance with Double Dee a memorable one and to impress him as she did the night before. After she finished up with her freshening up, she fell into a trance over Edd again, only to be rudely awoken by Lee again.
"C'mon oven-mitt we gotta haul it to get to school." she yelled into her little sisters' room.
"Alright! You don't have to yell wide load," Marie shot back; "I'm coming."
Marie made her way out to the pre-started truck and listened to music on the short ride to school.
Back in the cul-de-sac, Double Dee was waiting in the car for his best friends as usual. He was once again listening to music when he heard the familiar creak of the doors opening. The ride to school was unusually quiet for the trio, all the while Edd was glowing with unease.
The tensions finally ceased when they arrived at the school, with Eddy breaking the silence;
"Don't bother waiting on me after school today Sockhead, my mom's coming to talk to the principal to get me out of that hell of a geometry class."
"Well, I am sorry that you are having such troubles with geometry Eddy," Double Dee said, "but I am proud that you are taking initiative on setting yourself on a healthier path."
"Yeah, I'm gonna try to switch into a CP class or whatever, get all the lazy work." Eddy said with confidence.
Double Dee let out a sigh as they all exited and made way to the school. Double was half way to the front doors when he remembered that he had decided to wait on Marie, so the thought of an excuse.
"Uhh, gentlemen," he stuttered, "I think I'm going to perform my morning study session in the confines of my car."
Ed and Eddy just stared at him blankly.
"Whatever you say Sockhead, no skin off my turkey." Eddy said as he continued to the front door. "C'mon monobrow."
"Goodbye Double Dee!" yelled Ed as he waved farewell.
Double Dee waved back before making his way back to his car. There was truth to his words, he did study some notes while he waited, but the sound of a nearly rusted through muffler took his attention away from his studying.
It was, of course, the Kanker sisters. The nervousness he had managed to conceal all morning practically irrupted as he fought to not break out in a sweat of fear. Then it hit him; what's the use in waiting on her if she hadn't told her sisters yet? Before they got out, he decided he wasn't ready for that yet, and made himself as small as possible in his driver's seat as to avoid detection. All hope of this was avoided when he saw the eyes of Lee practically staring daggers at him with a smile.
The trio of Kankers made their way to the drivers' side of Edd's car, when Lee cracked the silence.
"I think he's getting' steamy without ya in there Marie!" she laughed.
"Can it Lee!" Marie's voice said with a twinge of laughter.
She then made her way over to the door handle and opened it with a pull.
"Room for two?" she giggled.
Edd's tension eased a little after taking in Marie's calmness, and he sat back up in his chair, stretching for his books.
"Well," he stammered as he looked behind her at her sisters, "I was brushing up on the aspects of ancient Mandarin life style, so if you reall-"
"We have five minutes before first bell sweetie," she shushed him, "maybe you could settle with walking me to first block?"
Double Dee smiled in relief once again.
"I suppose that will have to do then." he smiled.
He had exited his vehicle, and taken his place amongst the Kankers. The group of four paced themselves to the lobby, right in time for the first bell to ring moments later. Double Dee had noticed the random laughter of Marie's sisters every few seconds on the way in, and wondered about what they were thinking. When they had reached Maries locker, she decided to tell him.
"I told my sisters." she let out, "They promised not to tell your friends until we're ready, or they find out on their own."
"Oh," Double Dee replied, "well that's one less confrontation at least. I'm glad they don't seem to mind."
Marie smiled, "Yeah, me too."
Silence once again filled the hallway before they made their way to their first block class together. Nothing was out of the norm until Double Dee felt the touch of cold fingers wrap their way around his left hand. This sent a flutter into his stomach, as he had never willingly received any physical contact from a female. He smiled from the corner of his mouth.
Although when they arrived in their first block in unison, she made sure to break off so the eyes of Kevin wouldn't see, knowing he would tell Eddy, and possibly half of the student body. No one seemed to bother that they had arrived together, though.
The class went mostly as normal, but at the half-way mark, Double Dee had felt a presence twirling a strand of his hair around the intruders finger. He was about to turn around and ask them to stop when he remembered that it was most certainly Maries finger, and as long as she didn't try and take off his hat in public he wouldn't really have a problem with her messing with a few strands.
When the teacher was done doing his thing, he left off with the usual fifteen minutes of free time. This, of course, gave the two time to talk.
"I still can't believe that's all it took." Marie joked.
"Why, whatever do you mean?" Double Dee asked.
"If I knew all it would take was a form fitting shirt, this would've happened years ago!" Marie sarcastically cried out.
"Well, I, you see-" Double Dee muttered in response.
"Oh c'mon Double Dee, you're gonna have to get used to my sense of humor." Marie said with a pat on his forehead. "So when do you think you'll tell your friends?"
"I'm hoping by the end of the week, but no later than the weekend. I just don't want them, well Eddy, to stress over nothing on top of all that which comes with a new year of school." Double answered.
"That's really sweet that you care for your friends like that Double Dee." Marie smiled, "So just a couple of days before we can hold hands and be like the couples from all the romance books, huh Prince Charming?"
"Why, yes, I suppose you could say that." Double Dee replies with a scratch to his neck.
"Well, at least we have reason to sit together at lunch after all this." she stated before playing with his bangs.
"That is a plus as well, up until today all I've occupied myself with was studying." he responded.
"Oh, there will be plenty of studying. Have you taken anatomy yet?" Marie let out one last joke before the bell rang. "I have to put up my book before lunch so I'll just meet you there, okay?"
"That will do." Double Dee said with a smile.
With that, the two separated until lunch. This gave Double Dee a few precious moments to reflect on what was happening. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, sure he would have to adjust to her sense of humor, but that is so far the only qualm. This is, of course, unless his friends see issue in the matter, which would not be out of the question considering their hectic past.
Double Dee made it to the lunch room at his usual time and set up at the table he had been occupying for the last three days to await for Maries arrival. He sat a mere three minutes before Marie had arrived.
After getting comfortable and saying their hellos, Marie decided on a subject to talk about for the next hour of lunch.
"So what do you like Double Dee?" she asked.
Double Dee had to think about this momentarily, as it was a very vague question.
"As in what?" he asked, hoping to limit the spectrum of answers.
"Music, shows, hobbies," she answered before taking a bite of her sandwich, "just anything really, I wanna learn about you for future reference." she made sure to sound extra smart with the last few words.
"Well, believe it or not, I listen to wide spectrum of music," he answered, "but if I had to choose a favorite band, it would have to be….probably Say Anything, or Lazerhawk."
"I wouldn't have expected that from you, so I guess you're right." Marie replied, "Don't they sing about a lot of drug and sex issues?"
"In a sense, yes. Most songs are about the lead singers' past troubles with drug abuse, and failure at finding love. But I find that they really lyricize the human experience as a whole. As in, the search for consistent happiness and the like." Double Dee reasoned. "What is your favorite band?"
"I'd have to go with Billy Talent." she answered.
"Ahhh. I can't say I've ever heard of him." Double Dee replied.
"Well, actually, it's a group," she corrected, "and I'm not surprised you haven't heard of them, they're mostly popular in Germany and Canada."
The last bit came off extra hipster-esque. The two sat in silence momentarily to eat, until Double Dee posed a question;
"So why don't you have your license yet?" he asked.
"I just haven't really got around to getting it. I've got my permit still, though." she answered as she pulled out a picture of herself at the age of 15.
Double Dee smiled while looking at her in the picture. It seemed as though she was forcing a smile for the camera.
"I've got a real question for you," Marie said before putting her ID back in her wallet, "why doesn't your civic sound like someone ripping ass going down the road?" she laughed.
Double Dee had to think about it for a second, never putting much thought into what his car sounds like.
"I suppose proper maintenance is the answer to that one." he answered sharing her laughter before taking a drink from his water bottle.
The couple shared in this playful banter until Marie put her lunch tray in the dish washing line. When she came back she asked Double Dee a question on a more serious note.
"Double Dee, did you always think we were monsters?" she asked in a somber tone.
Edd decided to answer her truthfully, "When you girls first arrived and served us at your house, I thought it was very out of the norm in our little cul-de-sac. But not weird, no. It wasn't until the "wedding" that we really started to fear you girls." he answered, "But after a few summers of it, and getting a bit more maturity on our ends, we realized that in out childhood, we probably over-exaggerated the extent of our abuse. We've long since labeled it as simple childhood tomfoolery. No harm done, although I still find you intimidating, truth be told."
His words lessened the burden on Marie's heart a little; at least they didn't hate them anymore. Although she was saddened that he still found her intimidating, she decided that she will show him her sweeter side, and drop the rough attitude her mother instilled in she and her sisters since they were young. Hopefully she could act as she did when she wrote in her journal about him, and he would come to cherish, and not fear her.
Before Marie could reply, the bell rang to signal the end of lunch.
"We can finish this at your house tonight, okay?" Marie stated, not giving him a choice in the manner, "Tell that I have to help out in auto-body again today and to send the notes I miss to my sisters in his fourth block."
And with that, she gave him a peck on the cheek, giving him the same euphoria as the night before. With that, he made his way to his second block, and helped in the office.
Marie was on the same course, albeit to the other end of the school, to her shop class, when she felt something squashy nail her in the back of her head. She immediately turned around to investigate, and found the assailant to be a very pissed Jessica, and the projectile to be a half-rotten potato. Confrontation ensued not long after.
"That's what you get for what you did you my car, maybe you won't be so brainless the next time this hap-"
She couldn't even finish her belittling statement before Marie had retaliated, and she did so with a very heavy English book smacked across her face, followed by a punch to the chin. The confrontation only got worse when one of Jessica's friends tried to help, and ended up getting an elbow in the nose. Whether an accident or not, it led to the friend running to get assistance from an administrator.
"You think you can just attack me without consequence?!" Marie yelled at a battered Jessica, before hitting her once more with the brunt of her fist, "Well today you decided to bite off more than you can chew huh?" Marie said as she reared back her arm for another hit, only for it to be grasped by the head coach of the football team. The pair were then escorted to the office.
Double Dee was filing various papers for the office, when he heard the door open, and saw a very messy Marie.
"Get now!" coach Suttles demanded, before telling Marie to wait at his door.
Double Dee shared a short "What happened?" glance with Marie before going into the principals courters and alerting him that someone needed his assistance. He watched Marie's back as she walked into the private courters before he went back to filing, his head filled with worry.
Marie on the other hand, was in the middle of getting the typical "You're a kid, you don't know the impact this will have blablabla" speech she always gets from older adults, so she zoned out until he asked for an explanation. After explaining all the things that led up to the assault, he was at a little more ease. He told her how that wasn't the first time she had been accused of bullying younger teens since she's been there, and had she came to him instead of fighting back she could have been in a lot more trouble than she was now. This eventually led to him understanding it wasn't a random fight, and just warranting Marie a detention and a day of in school suspension.
When Marie didn't come out before the third block bell, Double Dee was officially worried. With that, he took it upon himself to tell her auto-body teacher that she was needed in the office. On his way down the north wing, he saw small drops of blood being mopped up by the local school janitor. This only made him more uneasy.
After informing Marie's teacher of her absence, he rushed to his third block class as to not be late himself. When he arrived, he saw Ed had reserved his spot beside him, and smiled when he entered the room.
"Double Dee!" Ed yelled, "Do you know how late it is mister?"
"Hello to you too, Ed. I trust you're having a good day of school?"
Ed had a look of confusion for a second before smiling again, "Eddy poured honey mustard on Johnny's head today at lunch today Double Dee."
"Well, that does sound quite humorous, if not a little mean." Double Dee replied with a grin.
"Johnny looked like one of the Martians from The Indomitable Plan to Steal the Bermuda Triangle!" Ed continued.
The duos friendly banter was ceased when the bell rang again, and they teacher came in and began lecturing them on the importance of ancient languages. When the notes had ended, and they were assigned bookwork, Double Dee told the teacher that Marie was still in the office and more than likely got sent home. He was thanked for letting him know.
When Double Dee was making his way back to his desk, Ed's waving caught his attention.
"Double Dee! Will you be part-e-ner?" Ed said with an eyelash flutter.
"Why of course I will Ed, what number have you gotten to?" Double Dee answered before picking up Ed's paper only to find sketches of Godzilla eating their principal's car.
Double Dee just gave him a friendly smile and got to work on their assignment.
After that class had ended, Double Dee found himself sitting in the relaxed presence of his computer room. After finishing the short typing assignment, Rolf asked for his help.
"Much assistance would be appreciated, yes." he said in his high pitched Norwegian accent.
Double Dee made his way to his computer to help him format his assignment, when Rolf made an unusual comment.
"Your scent is that of raspberries and young love, Sock-on-head-Ed boy. What troubles have you gotten into?" Rolf remarked, smelling Marie's perfume, or so Double Dee thought.
"Why, whatever could you mean Rolf?" Double Dee asked, genuinely confused.
"Ho-ho, Rolf knows what you have been studying in your free time. You cannot trick this son of a shepard!" Rolf yelled with his trademark "ho-ho" laugh.
Double Dee decided to share in his laugh to avoid further confrontation, and finished off with the formatting. He then made his way back to his computer and continued browsing the web until the bell rang to signal the end of another school day.
On his way toward the front doors, he passed Ed, who stopped him in the hallway.
"Hey Double Dee, Eddy told me to tell you that, uh…" Ed thought, "that he said to 'tell that Sockhead that you're staying till I get out' or somethin'."
"So, you're waiting on Eddy?"
"If you say so Double Dee." Ed replied in his deep, dopey voice.
"Okay then Ed, I'll see you later." Double Dee smiled.
Ed just waved as he walked away.
Since he was going to be without company on the ride home, he decided to see if Marie would like a ride home, and to discuss why she was in the office. Not long after he made it to his car, all three Kankers walked out in unison. They approached their car, and Marie walked towards Edd.
"Hey Double Dee." Marie smiled, "Where are your friends?"
"They aren't riding with me today." he replied. "But I was wondering if you'd like for me to give you a lift home."
This was punctuated with the other two Kankers letting out a simultaneous "OooooOOoooh", leading to Marie gathering a small blush.
"Yes Double Dee, I think I'd like a break from these two idiots." she joked with a smile shot at her sisters. "We can go ahead and go if ya want."
And with that, they packed into Edd's car.
"So I guess you wanna know why I was in the office, huh?" Marie asked.
"I'm more worried as to why you look like you gut gored by a bull." Double Dee replied while taking her bruised hand in his.
"Oh yeah, well that too." she smiled. "I might have got into a fight with that girl who was teasing May the other day. Or, I guess I just beat her pretty bad." she said while observing her bloodied knuckles.
"Marie, while I am a pacifist, and believe violence to never be a permanent answer," he stated while brushing her hair out of her face, "I think she had it coming."
Marie smiled as he started the car and took it out of neutral.
"Hey Double Dee, do you think we could go eat somewhere? That lunch we had didn't do it for me." she asked.
"Of course Marie, my treat." he smiled.
"You don't have to do that oven mitt, I've got money." Marie reassured.
"What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't buy you your food?" he remarked.
"Whatever you say, Edward." she replied before smiling at the road ahead.
The two eventually arrived at the local "Cluckin' Bell" and basked in each other company before heading to her trailer.
"So I guess I'm not coming over tonight then." she said on her doorstep, referring to the pre-mature darkness of late summer.
"You can always come over tomorrow," Double Dee reassured before locking his hands with hers, "although my parents would be home, so we could go to the park or something if you'd like."
"That sounds like a plan." she smiled before she leaned in and kissed him. "Goodnight Double Dee."
"Goodnight Marie." he said with a grin.
And with that, he drove the short distance to his home, right as the sun had descended the sky. When he went in, he realized he had absolutely nothing to occupy himself with for the rest of the night. So instead of studying, or watching TV, he decided to brush up on his knowledge about American-made cars to have something to talk about with Marie. After a few hours of that, he decided it was time to call it a night, and entered the realm of sleep, eager to see what adventure the next day will bring.
Authors notes:
Sorry that this chapter was all over the place x.x
I wrote it over the course of a really out of whack sleep schedule, I started it when I woke up yesterday at one am, and decided to finish it this morning, after I woke up xD
So, I guess it's all just sleepiness-induced writing, the exact opposite of my drawings and stuff x3
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'm eager to what you think about it, and about what should happen next.
Have a good day guys and gals ^_^