A/N - The analysis of the poem was something that I had written some time ago when I was still in school. I'm pretty sure I bullshitted it. While it's embarrassing for me to somewhat use it in this chapter, I kind of wanted to experiment. I honestly don't know how I feel about it.

Poem is "The Road Not Taken", by Robert Frost.

The atmosphere was tense, and was suffocating Edd. Here was Kevin, his current crush and ex-bully, sitting next to him, waiting for him to begin the lesson. Of course, his frantic nerves were making it very difficult for him to come up with a coherent thought.

"Are we gonna start," Kevin inquired.

"Y-Yes! Allow me find a piece apt for discussion." He flipped through his anthology of poems until he found one that would be good for Kevin. Smoothing out the pages, he slid the book between them. However, Kevin decided that the book wasn't close enough, so he scooted closer to his tutor. He felt Edd stiffen as their legs brushed together, and chuckled. He was trying hard not to blush.

"Go ahead."

At that, Edd let out a deep breath. Shakily, he read:

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;"

By the third line, his voice slowly steadied as he gained a little more confidence.

"Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as far that the passing there

Had were there really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!"

The rise and fall of his voice seemed to hook Kevin as he listened. Of course, he didn't particularly understand the meaning within the poem, but he could certainly understand the delight his favorite dork was exuding.

"Yet knowing how way leads to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood; and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

After a minute of processing his words, Edd turned to the athlete, his face flushed with delight. "'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost. Quite profound, don't you think?"

Caught off guard by the question, Kevin scrambled to answer. "Uh, y-yeah. Real cool."

"You know, if you showed some interest in the poem, you wouldn't have a problem comprehending its meaning."

"I do too comprehend it."

"If so, then do enlighten me with your thoughts."

Kevin froze, realizing he dug himself a grave. If he had paid attention to the words spoken instead of the person speaking them, he wouldn't have this problem. "My thoughts?"

"Yes."

"W-Well...um..." He looked over the poem, trying to quickly process the phrases. "Well-ahem- I think he's trying to say that when you come to having to make a choice, you would make the choice that took you out of your comfort zone."

Edd blinked at him. Intriguing. "Elaborate."

"The two roads-he described them as different, but the same. The road he took was maybe nicer looking, less foot traffic, the likes. Doesn't mean that nobody hasn't been down it before. It's just not the most popular route. Like life. You'll always have to make a choice, and your options could be something that everyone sees you choosing, while the other is less likely. Something you can't do at the same time, ya know?"

"Right..."

"It's a choice that you can't change in the future. He says-what did he say?- 'And sorry I could not travel both, and be one traveler.' I see it as you can't make both choices and still be you. One choice is meant for one version of you, and the other is meant for another. Am I making sense?"

Edd's eyes widened at this. Kevin was making valid points in his own way, and it excited him. "Yes, yes! This is very good, Kevin! What else?"

He let out a breathy chuckle and continued. "Let me give an example. I want to ask you out."

Edd blinked at him, not expecting such a declaration. "P-Pardon? K-Kevin, how does-"

"Shut up a minute. Let me finish." He closed his mouth and nodded. "I wanna ask you out. Asking you out is one of those two roads I'm standing at. The other is me leaving my feelings alone, and simply going on with the rest of my life like they don't exist. Now, asking you out will lead to me having to come out to the guys, and obviously, that's not particularly pleasant. But, it's been done, hence that road being 'worn down really about the same'. I can't take it back, nor will I ever come back to this fork in the road. But, as the poem says, I'm taking the road less traveled by, despite how much it'll change my life."

Edd sat there, stunned. He honestly did not expect that, nor did he expect Kevin to use the poem as a way to ask him on a date.

Was he asking him on a date?

"Is this-is this a prank?"

"Not a prank. I'm dead serious."

"Why? Why me of all people? I thought you hated me."

Kevin's shoulders sagged. "I don't hate you, Dee. I never did. I guess Skippy was the problem. Since you hung out with them, I kinda lumped you in with the other Eds, and I just decided to mess with you because of it. But, I realized it was stupid of me, so I backed off. Now, I wanna get to know you. I wanna make it up to you. If you'll let me."

Edd felt his blush burn down to his toes, unsure how to respond. Here was Kevin Barr, star quarterback and football captain, ladies man, and absolutely every girls' dream...asking him out."

Edward Vincent.

The residential gay nerd.

Please don't be a prank. "And you used a poem to convey your intentions. I am utterly impressed."

"Is that a yes?"

He giggled. "Yes." The look on Kevin's face made the poor ravenette nearly melt. He looked unabashedly elated, and his emerald gaze showed it. The smile that split his handsome face was brilliant, and Edd couldn't help but return the sentiment.

"Saturday. I'll pick you up at 2."

"May I inquire where we're going?"

Kevin smirked. "That's a secret."

Orchid giggled as she read the text she got from Edd. He was going on his very first date on Saturday, and she was rather impressed that the football player had the balls to ask the scholar out. When she got home, she found her mother preparing for the dinner party, debating over a few dresses.

"Welcome home, Orca."

"Thanks, mama. I thought you decided on the red dress."

"I did, until I found out Diana was going to wear the same exact one."

"Really? Her? She has no figure."

"I know. But, I think I should go with the classic black."

"Go with the black and white one."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. It's elegant, classy, and sexy. It just screams 'I'm a confident, independent woman.'"

"Alright, honey. Are you gonna wear the dress that Kaori got you?"

"Which one?"

"My favorite one."

"Yeah, I'll wear it."

"Well, go and get showered and ready. I wanna take pictures."

"And who's gonna do that?"

"Dee."

"If he's not making out with Kevin."

"What? When did this happen?"

"Like an hour ago. Kevin asked him out."

"Well, it's about damn time."

"Mama!"

"I could see it happening from a mile away."

"Oh, jeez." Orchid headed up to get ready. After about three hours, the mother-daughter pair were ready. Orchid called Edd and explained their need for a photographer, earning a proper teasing from both him and Kevin. When they arrived, however, they saw it was no laughing matter.

"Orchid...Aunt Ella..." Edd gasped. "You both look magnificent!"

"I'll say..." Kevin mumbled. He was at a loss for words. No wonder both Nat and Mark were going crazy over Orchid. She was certainly the most beautiful girl he's ever seen, even more than Nazz. I wonder how Double D would look like that...

"Aww, you two are sweethearts. Now, pictures," Ella said. She handed Edd her phone while Kevin took Orchid's. They snapped pictures of the two together and separately.

Ella wore a simple black and white off-shoulder cocktail dress that stopped just below her knees. The diamond studded belt was tightly clinched around her waist, accentuating her hourglass figure. Her hair, which was usually tied up, was worn down in beautiful curls, all favoring one side.

While Ella looked like a runway model, Orchid was the true masterpiece. She sported a floor-length, off-shoulder gown that hugged her curves perfectly. The way it flared out at her knees added a touch of extravagance. The rose-gold deepened to a dark red in an ombre effect. Her hair had been tied up this time, her bangs pinned up to reveal her icy blue gaze.

"Thanks guys," Orchid said.

"Our pleasure. Now, hold on one second." Edd took her phone from Kevin.

"Dee, what are you doing?"

"You'll thank me."

"Eddward..." He fiddled with the device for a few seconds longer until he finished.

"Done!"

"What did you do?"

He smirked. " Oh, I simply forwarded your recent photo shoot to your two favorite gentlemen."

"Edward Marion Vincent, I swear-"

"Honey, you can kill him later, we gotta go," Ella interrupted.

"Ooh, I am so gonna get you for this."