Practice ran later than expected for the football player.
When it was finally time for a water break, Kevin managed to sneak off to the locker room and fish his cell phone out of his locker. Crap! I don't have Edd's cell number. Wait, does he even own a cell phone? I'll have to ask him... Shit. I can't remember his home phone either. Out of options, he figured his next best bet would be to call Nazz. She'd made it a point to get everyone's digits Freshman year.
As the dial rang, he nearly dropped the helmet he was cradling in his free arm. What am I gonna tell her? She'll totally grill me if I ask for Edd's number... and I'm not ready to answer any questions. Not right now. Is it lying if I tell her it's for the project? I don't wanna lie. Maybe I should just hang up...
"Hey Kev, what's up?"
He drew a shaky breath. "Hey Nazz. I was, uh, wonderin' if you had Double D's number? We're partnered for a class and I gotta let him know I'm runnin' late or he'll have a cow." She's my best friend. I mean we talk- not a lot- but it's still gotta count for somethin'. I can trust her, can't I?
"Double D? Seriously? Were you two assigned partners or something?"
Kevin slumped against the wall of lockers. "Yeah. Yeah, that's it."
I can't tell her.
"Gotcha. Lemme call you back in a sec, 'kay?"
"Sure."
He slid to the floor, slamming his fist into the nearest locker. The crash echoed throughout the locker room.
'Do you really wanna spend your whole life not knowing?'
An ache grew inside him, lonesome and hollow as the room itself. I decided I was gonna go for it. But I can't even tell my best friend. I'm such a coward. Kevin buried his head in his hands.
He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there- seconds, probably, that seemed to drag into minutes. Eventually, though, his phone rang. "Wrecking Ball" began playing, Nazz's personal ringtone she had so kindly programmed for him. He still couldn't figure out how to change it.
"Fer cryin' out loud, Nazz! Can you change my ringtone already? The guys give me hell every time you call."
She giggled and Kevin immediately felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. "Chill, dude! They're just playing with you. Besides, who cares what anyone else thinks? As your best friend, I need a special ringtone so that you'll always know it's me. You don't owe anyone an explanation. All that matters is that we're having fun, right?"
Kevin smiled into the receiver. "Right."
"Good. Okay, you got a pen?" He scrambled for something to write with and hastily jotted down the numbers as she prattled them off. Kevin set the scrap of paper on a bench, smoothing it out carefully. The back of his neck tingled, each individual hair rising with the sensation.
"Kevin, before you hang up..." The cheerleader's voice was unusually soft. His thumb paused on the dial. "I just wanted to say that, like, I think it's totally cool you and Double D are partners. I know the Ed's aren't exactly your favorite people- especially Eddy- but it's nice that you two are working together. Who knows? Maybe you'll even become friends." Her laugh was quiet.
A few years ago, Kevin might've brushed the idea off or responded with some snide comment; now he just sat there grinning like a fool. He replayed her words again and again in his mind. One more time. I just need to hear those words one more time.
"Thanks Nazz."
Pam stood in the kitchen moving cookies from the tray to a cooling rack. Every so often she could hear footsteps thundering down the staircase, and just catch a glimpse of red hair dashing across the living room. Her eyes softened as Kevin slumped into the kitchen and on to a bar stool. The toddler cupped his chin, his face a puddle of disappointment.
"Something wrong, Kev?"
"It's nothin'."
"Oh really?" she scooped up another cookie and set it on the rack.
"It's just..."
Pamela's eyes flickered to his face, encouraging him to continue. "Yes...?"
A stubby finger hedged toward the rack. "I thought Edd was comin' over."
She laughed, a hushed breathy sound. "Is that why you've been running up and down the stairs all morning? Eddward and his mother will be here soon enough. Now..." Pam swatted Kevin's hand away with her spatula, "...let's be sure to leave some cookies for when they arrive."
With a little goading, Pam was able to convince Kevin to help her clean-up. It was while they were washing the dishes- which had degenerated into a splash war- that the doorbell rang. Wiping the suds down the front of his shirt, Kevin jumped off his step stool and raced to the living room. The door swung open before the second ring.
"Greetings Kevin!" Edd beamed at the boy.
"Hello Kevin, dear, how are...?" Eleanor Vincent let the question hang as she took-in the long, wet streaks running down the front of his shirt.
"Oh my," Edd brought a hand to his mouth, his mother completely stricken at his side.
"What're you..." Kevin looked down. "Oh."
Pam appeared behind Kevin, resting her hands on his shoulders. "Hello Eleanor, hello Eddward. Won't you come in? I've got cookies and hot coffee in the kitchen." Mrs. Vincent followed her host into the kitchen, glancing back nervously at Kevin- specifically, his shirt- and wringing her hands.
"I can wait here, if you'd like to change your shirt," Eddward offered. The toddler shrugged.
"It's cool. So Edd," Kevin reached for the boy's hand, "Ya wanna go outside and lookit bugs?" Bobbing his head, Edd slid his hand into Kevin's and allowed himself to be carried away.
It was close to six-thirty when Double D arrived at Kevin's front door. The teen swayed under the weight of the book bag he carried. "Perhaps I may have over-packed," he murmured to himself. Shifting the strap to the opposite shoulder, Edd pressed down on the doorbell.
The sound of scuffling and a loud crash came from the other side, followed by a string of curses. Edd bit down on his bottom lip, suddenly anxious. He could hear footsteps approaching to the cadence of his heart. It's not nerves... It is something more. But what?
"Hey Edd!" Kevin stood in the doorway, illuminated by the light inside. Rivulets of water clung to his hair and beaded his skin. Edd could feel the heat radiating off of him, the evening breeze carrying the smell of soap and shampoo.
"I see you've showered," the words came out before he could stop them.
Kevin looked down at himself and chuckled. "You're not the only one who likes keepin' clean 'round here. Huh, Double Dweeb?" The nickname was tossed playfully, his eyes an invitation.
"Personal hygiene is no laughing matter, Kevin. Did you know that the human body carries-" His words were cut short by Kevin's fingers on his lips.
"Let's just head inside, 'kay?" The shorter teen withdrew his fingers and stepped into the house. Edd's eyes followed him as he touched his hand to his mouth. He could feel a smile on his fingertips. Undoubtedly something more.
Once in the living room, Double D settled down on the couch and began emptying the contents of his book bag. Kevin returned from the kitchen with two mugs.
"Figured you'd be thirsty," he leaned over the back of the couch and placed one mug in Edd's hand. Kevin's breath ghosted across the shell of his ear, sending a violent shiver down his spine.
"W-why, thank you, Kevin!" he chugged the beverage, adding fuel to the heat that was already boiling inside him. Only when the mug was completely drained did the taste register on his tongue. He stared at the empty cup. "What a delightful flavor! What is it?"
His host was now seated beside him, leaving almost no room between them. Though Kevin appeared totally at ease- taking a lazy swig from his own mug- Edd couldn't help but sit a little straighter. He was acutely aware of Kevin's leg pressed flush against his own; yet he made no effort to move it.
"It's just cocoa. I added some cinnamon- pretty good, huh?"
"Indeed!" Double D set the empty cup on the coffee table. "Now, shall we begin work on our project?"
Kevin eyed the stack of books with a look of chagrin. "Yeah... I, uh, y'see..." Edd tilted his head, his eyes narrowed. "What exactly are we supposed to do?"
Double D pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing a heavy sigh. "I anticipated this may be the case." He rose from his seat and began collecting his things. Oh how foolish I was! I should have known better than to allow myself to believe Kevin would actually have an interest in our working together!
Kevin was on his feet. "Where're you goin' ?"
The bookish teen whirled on him, wagging his finger in Kevin's face. "I will not allow myself to be used, Kevin Barr! If you think for one minute that I'm going to do all of the work on this project while you idle around, then you are gravely mistaken!"
He stormed off toward the door.
This is unforgivable! I'd dared to hope Kevin and I might be friends, but clearly I am nothing more than an easy grade! True, I have - on occasion- done more than my fair share of homework for Ed and Eddy... But we have consecrated our friendship on countless occasions!
Then again...
His hand remained on the door handle.
Did I not come here with ulterior motives of my own? True, I hoped to reconnect with Kevin, but was friendship all I wanted? I had come to grips with my sexuality years ago and I cannot deny that I feel a certain... attraction to him. Looking at it that way, am I no less at fault?
"Double D!" Kevin was at his side in a flash, his fingers encircling Edd's wrist. "Edd, let me explain. It's not like what you think! I-I-I..." The usually confident teen bowed his head, biting down hard on his lip as his shoulders shook. He refused to meet Edd's eyes. "I invited you over because I wanted to spend time with you."
Edd could feel his heart fluttering furiously against his ribcage, as if it wanted to break free and fly away. Even without a mirror, he knew his face was flaming red. Against his better judgment- even as every fiber of his being screamed at him to run away, that it was all a trick- Eddward turned around to face Kevin. "What reason could you possibly have for wanting to spend time with me? You've made your feelings perfectly clear regarding my friends and I in the past."
"Exactly. In the past. Edd, I wanna start over. I wanna try being friends. Can we do that?"
Double D pressed his lips in a thin line. His eyes fixed on Kevin's face, scouring every inch for even the faintest hint of a lie. He appears sincere enough. I suppose I was the only one who wanted something... more. Still, a friendship with Kevin is better than nothing at all.
Edd smiled. "I would like that very much."
Kevin returned the smile, sliding his hand into Edd's. "So, about this project... what're we s'posed to do?"
Double D chuckled and gave a small shake of his head. "It would seem you did not pay very good attention to Mr. Troy's lesson this afternoon. Let's return to the living room to discuss this further." With a tug, Double D pulled Kevin along back into the living room.
Author's Note: Hello again! So sorry for the unexpected hiatus. A number of things went down all at once, making it hard to update. I'll admit, this isn't my favorite chapter thus far, but I think it will help move the plot forward. Thank you to everyone who has viewed, favorited, and commented. I hope you all enjoy!