Three Months Ago

Kevin sat at a table in one of the local diners, two seats empty as he waited for his best friends to arrive. All the while he was stressing out about his current thoughts. Things had become complicated rather quickly when he entered his junior year.

His foot tapped on the ground repeatedly to a non-existent beat he heard in his head. Where the hell were his friends? He told them to meet him at two p.m. sharp. And that this was urgent. Damn, what could they be doing right now?

He checked his phone, his eyebrows raising at a new message from his blonde friend. Quickly, he unlocked his phone and opened the message.

kev, we're so sorry we're late! we got into a conversation with one of the football members, u know, brad? he had a question for us so yeah. we're almost there tho!

After reading the message, he leaned back against the chair and sighed. Fantastic. He could see that Nazz was most likely lying about them almost being here. How long was he going to sit here and just wait?

He glanced at his phone again; it was 2:03 now. If they arrived any later than 2:10 he would probably flip. It felt as if they were just trying to blow him off so he could get ticked about it. What a great pair of friends they are.

A waitress came over with a small smile at him.

"Hey there, sweetie! How may I help you today?" She asked, placing a menu down in front of him.

Kevin pursed his lips. Since his two best friends had yet to arrive, he couldn't start ordering anything yet. Maybe he could at least get some water to calm his nerves from getting aggravated about their tardiness. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea right now.

"I'll just have a water, please."

The waitress nodded in response with a "sure thing!" and he mumbled a quiet thank you in response.

He laid his head back, trying to focus on why he had even called his friends to meet him here in the first place. Of course, it was all for that dumb dork he knew from his childhood days. And he still knows him now, of course, since the kid lives right across the street from him. Shit, they were so close yet he felt as if they were completely far apart. Their interests were so different and they were in two different cliques, yet he felt so dumbly and strangely attracted to that dweeb.

Edd was into science and math and he actually enjoyed school. Kevin, on the other hand, well, he liked to play baseball and football. He liked partying and having a good time with his friends. And his "good time" was probably different than what Edd did with his two dorko friends. At least, he assumed it would be; the smart boy was completely conservative and didn't seem like he'd be outgoing enough to do anything considered "bad." Then again, how would he know? He hardly talked to him anymore. But damn, he had a lot of determination to change that.

After thinking about it, he decided to take a look at the menu and get a head start on his order. His choice would probably end up being a cheeseburger; he wasn't that hungry for anything else they had, plus, he liked this diner's burgers.

When the waitress arrived with Kevin's water, so did his friends. They sat down and the waitress took their drink orders.

"Sorry we're late, Kev! I mean I texted you what happened but yeah I just wanted to say that again. I know this was an important meeting and we're here late which is really crappy of us but let's get to this little talk you needed to have with us!" As the girl spoke, Kevin took another look at his phone (2:08) before his eyes wandered back up to the blonde beauty in front of him. He wondered why he wasn't attracted to her like everyone expected him to be.

Nat chuckled with a smile. "Off in La-la land again, muchacho? C'mon, dude, stop starin' at Nazz and speak. I know she's a beauty but didn't you have some crucial shit to tell us?"

The ginger nodded. "Yeah, uh, sorry. But uh, that's kind of exactly what I wanted to talk about," he said slowly, glancing at both of his friends.

"What, that you're in love with Nazz? Man I'm sure she's flattered but why am I here to witness this? Unless," he began, grin on his face widening. "You're gonna propose and you want me to be the best man?! Oh, Kev, I thought you'd never ask!" Nat threw his hands up, his face full of glee.

People had turned to stare and both the blonde and the football captain were blushing. Nat, of course, felt no shame in what he just did, as he was still grinning triumphantly and his hands were in the air.

"Nat, shut the hell up, would you? That's not what this is! Hell, hardly close to what this is! It has to do with someone else, okay?" He said in a hushed whisper, biting his bottom lip. Nat put his hands down and instead put them under his chin as he listened in.

Nazz clapped her hands together as the waitress came back to take their orders. Quickly, she spoke to her. "Sorry, we aren't ready yet. Could you give us a few minutes please?" After the lady had left, she began to talk again. "Soooo, do tell Kev! Who's the lucky girl, huh? Is she on the cheerleading team? Or, like, do I know her at all?"

"Shit, there it is."

"Uh, Nazz, ya see. It's not a girl I'm interested in." He looked at both of them and watched their faces pale in realization. He sighed and nodded. "Yeah, guys. I'm gay, alright? Whoop dee doo, captain of the football team likes dick. Can you please not gawk at me anymore?"

The blonde bit her lip, which at first Kevin wasn't sure why until the mouth turned up in a wide grin. She stood up and went around to hug her friend, moving him back and forth as she kissed his cheek before sitting down again.

"Oh, Kev! I'm so happy! I mean honestly I had been expecting this for a couple of months now but I figured that you were so far in the closet you would need a flashlight to get out or something! But I guess you don't since you seem to have found the light! Who showed you, huh?"

Nat put a hand over Kevin's mouth before he could answer.

"Wait, wait! So since you're into dudes, does that mean we could totally be friends with benefits and fuck each other in the butt and stuff? 'Cause you know I'm like so down for that, man. In fact, I'd like be down on you, if you get what I'm sayin' here," the teal-haired boy winked as his friend, who grimaced in response.

"First off, ew, Nat! Hell no! Second off, haha, very funny, Nazz. Listen, what I'm about to say is going to sound so ridiculous though, okay? And I mean that mainly to Nazz, since I don't think Nat knows him too well, or, at all, even."

As the two friends intensely stared at him and waited for his answer, they saw the waitress coming over again.

Kevin cursed under his breath at this and looked up at his friends.

"You guys ready to just order whatever? I think I know what I want. I was looking at the menu before you guys came, so," he shrugged, and the two friends shrugged back.

The three placed down orders, Nazz wasn't completely satisfied with her choice (Caesar Salad), but it would have to do. And Nat could just about eat anything the diner had so he wasn't too picky about the random order he said.

Once the waitress was off with their orders and menus, Kevin continued with where he left off.

"Okay, so, uh," he paused for a moment, unsure how to say it. It was simple, honestly, but he thought Nazz would think he was totally lame for having a crush on the dweeb. Shit, though, he couldn't help it. He opened his mouth to continue, "I think I got a crush on Double Dork, Nazz."

A tiny gasp was heard as the girl placed her hands over her mouth. She smiled behind them and continued to after she uncovered her mouth.

"Oh my gosh, Kev! That's so great! Well, kind of. You two would look sooo incredibly cute together! I can picture it right now!" She made a camera shape with her fingers and grinned with her image of Eddward sitting right beside Kevin, the two of them holding hands.

Nat shook his head and moved back, lost. "Wait, wait, who is this Double whatever guy you're talkin' about?" He asked, shaking his hands. "Did you say it was Double D? Because, shit, if he has two dicks I'd be all for that, man. I didn't think you'd be the type, though. But, hey! I don't judge anyone. To each their own," he said, leaning back and grinning. "But for real, who is this guy?"

Kevin opened his mouth to explain, but Nazz beat him to it.

"Double D, or Eddward Vincent, is one of our childhood cul-de-sac buddies! At least, one of mine. I know he and Kev talked quite a bit though, or more so than he ever said to Eddy or Ed. Eddy and Ed are Double D's best friends, and they're pretty much inseparable, just like us! And, like, Eddward is this super smart guy who's in all honors and AP classes! It's totally rad how much stuff he has in that brain. So, yeah, he's pretty cool! I think he'd pair well with Kev, too, to be honest. They're so different, and Edd is always willing to accept people and learn new things, so I think he'd be so fantasticly great with you," she said, smiling at her friend.

The ginger shook his head. "Nazz, I think you're forgetting something essential. Double Dweeb might not be gay. And if he isn't then this whole thing goes to fucking ruins and I look like an idiot," he said, sighing and looking at the girl with his eyebrows up.

She shook her head. "Oh, relax, Kev! Edd doesn't seem like he's completely into girls, okay? I have first period with him, and, yeah, it's creepy, but just by the way he is, I think he may have found out who he really is. Now, before one of you hounds on me, I know gay people don't look a certain way, but it's just one of those senses, you know? I mean, Kevin doesn't look gay, but I could tell he was by how he acted. And I mean mainly with females and how he handled them. Like, Edd isn't that shy around me anymore! He always used to stutter but now he just talks to me normally, which could be just self-improvement, but I just get a different vibe, you guys get me?"

"Yes, yes, Nazz, we get you. Please, we aren't going to hound on you for anything. I get what you're saying, and I think Nat does. But he might be so far off in fucking space that maybe he isn't even translating a single word I'm saying."

Nat laughed. "I hear you guys loud and clear. This is just a lot of stuff to take in, man. But, hey, I know what you're sayin' Nazz, and if I was to ever meet this guy, I'm sure he'd be perfectly fine with our amigo Kev over here. So, what interested you about him, hmm?"

The ginger shrugged. "I dunno. He's just nice and shit and cute and whatever-the-fuck okay? I'm not good at this shit. I'm still trying to find out why I like him, and I've been thinking about this for a good week. Hell, I don't know if I'll ever be able to pinpoint what it is that attracts me to him. I just feel like he's such a great guy and all that mushy crap that people say, but," a short pause, "I just wonder if maybe I'm not right for him. Like I'm a jock and he's a dork; why the hell would we ever socialize, let alone be dating? Especially two boys. I don't even know if our school looks down on that considering that you fuck anyone in the ass, Nat, but even still, it just seems awkward."

Nazz pursed her lips. "If it's awkward then how could you have feelings for him? Or, better yet, it shouldn't feel awkward if you have feelings for him. Do you see him throughout the day at all?"

Kevin nodded. "Yeah, we share the same lunch period, I think. I sit in the other cafeteria, though. But, listen, I just, I don't know if what I'm feeling is true."

The blonde rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Kev, just let it flow naturally right now, yeah? Don't stress about it and things will turn out okay. But, I mean, if you get the chance to make a move on him, please go right ahead and make that move, okay? There's no reason to miss out on dating someone you like; you're in high school and life is short. Let's have a good time! But, not too much of a good time," she said with a giggle.

Nat waved his hand. "Psssh, Nazz, when have we ever gotten into trouble with the fun we have? Besides, it isn't that bad. A little drink here and maybe one there and that's all there is to it. I don't smoke, and neither do you guys. I'm startin' to think that Ryan might be, though. Not an avid one, but hey, ya never know, am I right? I'm right," he said with a grin, looking from one friend to the other.

Kevin snorted. "Yeah, okay, whatever you like to think, Nat. Edd isn't that kind of person, either. Like, he wouldn't ever do risky shit like that. His parents don't even live in the house with him, but he sweeps and mops and cleans every day, or I assume he does, cause if he looks as clean on the inside as it does on the outside then that's proof of it. He doesn't party or even stay up late or whatever. I think his lights go off at like, maybe, ten each night? On the dot, too. He's this super tidy neat freak and owns a bunch of insects and plants. I don't know what he wants to be when he grows up, but I think he'll be pretty damn good at it."

When he finished, both the blonde and teal-haired boy had their eyes locked on him with smirks spread across their face.

The ginger scoffed. "Listen, I live across the street from him, okay? I'm not some creepy ass stalker; I just happen to notice things! People can do that, can't they?"

Nazz nodded. "Why, of course, Kevin. Just like how you have a character quirk where you fidget nonstop when you get all worked up or nervous. You're doing it right now, in fact."

Kevin didn't even notice that he was tapping his foot and that his hands had been doing all sorts of things (he cracked his knuckles, pressed down on individual fingernails, tapped his fingers against his leg, etc.) while in the middle of this conversation. Damn, Nazz always had to be right about something. That was one of the things he loved most about her though.

"Yeah, alright, Nazz, I get what you're trying to say. I'm just really stressed about this whole thing. About him maybe not liking me back or what if my feelings are fake and what if I get into a relationship with him and I just hurt his feelings and fuck things up and like everyone hates me or something?"

Nazz and Nat each laughed at the same time, much to Kevin's surprise and anger.

"What?! What are you guys laughing at? This is serious to me, you guys."

Nat shook his head. "Man, everyone hating you? Dude, this is high school, where people do shit and when they fuck up most people don't even bat an eyelash. Plus, we're still here for you no matter what. You know that, don't you?"

The cheerleader captain nodded. "In addition to that, the only reason why I would stop talking to you is if you hurt Double D's feelings, like, completely and ruin him or something. He's such a sweet guy and you and I both know he deserves the best."

"Which is exactly why I'm stressed! I don't want to mess shit up with him and then he gets upset because the last thing I want is for him to be crying or whatever over something that my dumb self did. That just isn't right or fair for him."

Nazz nodded. "Yeah, I know, Kev. But if you're going to get into a relationship with him, if it's at all possible, you need to understand that sometimes you fight in relationships. Things can't be perfect without flaws, and those flaws would be the little arguments you would have, with, well, anybody. It could be either me or Nat, your dad, or Edd, if you two begin dating. If you guys want the relationship to be as good as it can possibly be, you have to end up fighting with each other at least once or something. When you fight with someone, it shows how much you care about them. And trust me, it means more in the end than you think it would, so long as you can work it out with whoever you're fighting with. So just chill out, yeah? No need to stress too much over these things; it's the beginning of the year. The only time you stress out is during finals, and those aren't for a while."

Kevin took in all of Nazz's wise words because, damn, that girl had knowledge in her that he didn't even know she possessed. It was amazing what could be hidden under people when a certain event happens that causes them to reveal something secret about themselves. Nazz was just such a fantastic friend to him, and he probably couldn't be more thankful than he was right now to have her.

Nat smiled. "Well, this was a nice education session we had. And look, here comes our delicious food!" He sat up and rubbed his hands together. "I hope you guys are ready to munch on some grub, 'cause damn I am so hungry right now."

Nazz giggled. "That salad looks sooo good," she said as the food was placed down in front of all of them. "I can't wait to dig into this stuff!"

"Yeah, same here," Kevin said, smiling at his two friends.

Shit, he was so happy to have them here. They were probably the best people he could ever ask for.

Hey guys! I know it's been a couple weeks since an update, which I apologise for, but I've been freakisly busy with a lot of things lately! I'm hoping to continue this story, but I have finals next month and have to study my butt off for that stuff.

Please read & review and correct me of any mistakes! Thank you!

-WADD