This chapter's is mainly about Kevin. There's a little bit of trouble and a little fluff. I wrote this chapter while listening to Gin Blossoms' Hey Jealousy. If you've heard that song, I give you a high five. If you haven't, you should. It kinda goes with the end of the chapter.
I also would like to say that I appreciate every review and every favorite. You guys are the reason I kept going on this story, so thank you so much!
I don't own Ed Edd n Eddy or Nat, just this story!
The afternoon passed quickly and soon the clock struck three, and it was time to practice. Edd declined sitting in on practice for fear that the others would make him feel unwanted. Kevin wanted to say goodbye, but by the time he shut his locker and turned to say it, Edd was already walking down the hall with Anna and Ed. He shook his head and walked down the hall to the gym, thoughts of the sockhead filled his mind. After he had changed, Nat showed up and they were warming up together when the rest of the team joined them. They all warmed up together and when Kevin stretched out and commanded them to start running, all but Todd and Jackson started.
Kevin glared at them for a minute, anger beginning to course through his mind. He shouted out at them, "What are you pussies waiting for? Let's go!" Todd crossed his arms and said "Not doing anything, cap." The blood pounded in Kevin's ears and he gritted his teeth for a moment before he started walking towards them. Though they were stubborn and pigheaded, the two boys could tell when their captain was not happy. They looked to each other for a moment, but stood their ground as Kevin came up to them. Neither Todd or Jackson were much taller than Kevin nor were they as strong so when Kevin brought his arms up and shoved Jackson backwards onto the bleachers, neither of them fought back. Kevin rounded on Jackson, "Why in the hell are you disobeying my orders, you dumbass?"
Todd then stepped forward and said "Well cap, we're starting to wonder if you're man enough to be our captain anymore." Kevin turned on him dangerously. He straightened up, cracked his knuckles and said "I got half a mind to just whip your ass now, but why don't you humor me Todd. Say that again and this time, think about who you're saying it to." Todd brought his face mere inches from Kevin's and said "You talk pretty damn tough for someone who hangs around spineless, pathetic losers. We all think so." He motioned behind Kevin, who turned to see almost half the team standing around them, all nodding in agreement.
Nat managed to break through the crowd and came to Kevin's side and said, "What the hell does it matter to you guys who the boss hangs out with on his own time? How has that got anything to do with our team?" Jackson stood up from the bleachers and said "If the captain wants people to respect our team, he's gonna have to do a better job holdin' up our rep! That nerd ain't gonna help us in any way!" Kevin turned to Jackson and said "So what you're saying is you just want a good reputation?" The team all nodded in and mumbled their agreements. Kevin forced a smirk at all of them before he said, "I'll give y'all a rep you won't forget." In one swift movement he whipped around and punched Todd in the eye. The rest just watched in shock as the boy crashed down onto the wooden floor holding his face.
Kevin wheeled on the rest of them and said "Anyone else wanna say anything, meet me outside after practice." The rest of the team backed up and Nat said "Guys, you know better than to piss the captain off. Don't be stupid, just do what he says." Kevin then ordered them to get back to running just as the coach was coming in with a clipboard of the regional bracket. As the rest of the team was going over to see the bracket, Kevin turned and kneeled down by Todd and hissed, "If you, or your bitch over, there ever screw with me or the dork again, you're dead."
The threat seemed to finally pierce the two brutes' thick skulls because they did their best to avoid Kevin the rest of practice and afterwards, made themselves scarce. During the practice, Kevin worked harder than he ever had before, mostly out of rage. He made every basket he shot, he blocked the offense better than any wall could, and intercepted the ball perfectly over and over again. By the end of practice, nobody could say that the captain was distracted or that he was off his game. There was so much praise for him from their coach it was almost as if Kevin were a basketball god.
As the sweaty team hit the showers, Nat came up to Kevin and said "Man, you're such a beast! The team's scared shitless." Kevin snorted and said "I just need them to keep their shit together long enough to get through regionals and state. Then I couldn't give less of a fuck what happens to them."
The team all jumped into the showers, except for Nat and Kevin who sat and waited. After maybe 10 or 15 minutes the rest of the team all filed out and went to the locker rooms to change. The two boys stepped into the showers and stripped down. As Kevin turned on his shower, he heard Nat speak again, "So let me ask you something. Are you and Double D screwing yet?" Kevin was startled, and jumped at the question. He recomposed himself and said, "Do you even hear yourself, dude?"
Nat chuckled in his own shower and said "Yeah, I hear myself asking you if you and the dork did it yet." Kevin tried his best to avoid Nat's questions and said "Whatever dude." Nat kept prying at him though, "Oh c'mon, I know you guys are more than friends. Don't forget I almost walked in on you the other night." Kevin growled to himself, remembering having to endure the painfulness of his hard-on after Nat had so graciously invited himself into the room just as he and Edd were about to go at it. "That's enough, Goldberg. You're starting to piss me off." Nat laughed and said "Just answer the question and I'll leave you alone. Yes or no?"
Kevin stepped out of the showers with Nat right on his heels. "C'mon boss. Just tell me. You can trust me. I won't tell the team." Finally Kevin snapped. "ALRIGHT. YES WE ARE, HAPPY?!" Nat grinned cheekily and said "More than happy. That's great to hear boss, I always liked that nerd." Kevin rolled his eyes and gathered his stuff. By the time practice and showers were over it was almost 6:30. Though his legs were sore, he knew if he pedaled on his bike fast enough he could be back to the cul-de-sac before dark and maybe go see Edd.
As he made his way home, his legs protested every pedal. He cursed to himself and thought about how he couldn't wait until this summer when he turned 16 and his parents would let him get a motorcycle. He jumped over a curb and turned down the street where the cul-de-sac laid itself out ahead of him. He could remember just last week biking down this very road in the rain when he had found Edd walking, completely soaked. A smile came to his face when he thought about how shy Edd had been about holding onto him and how afterwards he told Kevin that he smelled nice. Kevin let a small chuckle slip from his throat. Picking Edd up that day was probably the best choice he'd ever made.
As soon as he pulled into his driveway and put his bike and his things away, he stepped back out into the evening air and made his way across the cul-de-sac over to Edd's house. As he walked down the sidewalk, he noticed that all the lights were completely out and the house was dark inside, which concerned him mildly. Stepping up onto the porch, he noticed a square piece of paper stuck to the door and a small smile curved his lips as he plucked the piece of paper off the glass and read it.
Kevin,
I had a feeling you would attempt to come over after practice, but I am at Ed's house with him and Eddy. Eddy wanted to talk to me and I couldn't refuse, you know.
See you tomorrow –Edd
Kevin frowned a bit and crumpled up the note in his hand. Although he was disappointed he knew how much Edd cared about that idiot. Turning and making his way back across the cul-de-sac he happened to glance down the road at Ed and Sarah's house. To his surprise most of the lights were off there too. He stopped in the middle of the road and started to think. Surely Ed-head wasn't doing anything to the sockhead. So why would all the lights be off? And wasn't Sarah home?
Kevin shoved his hands in his pocket and started walking towards the house. He figured it wouldn't hurt to just look and see if they were actually in the house. The streetlight above him suddenly flashed to life with a click as he passed beneath it, making him jump in surprise. 'C'mon man.' He told himself, 'You're acting like a baby. Suck it up, go check the house and then go home. Easy as that.'
As he made his way around the fence that divided properties, he felt a wave of relief to see that the basement light of the house was still on, which meant the Eds were in the house. Quickly he walked over to the window and knelt down to look in and saw Ed on the floor, comic books scattered all around him and Eddy and Edd were standing together in another corner of the room. As he looked at Edd, he could see that he wasn't crying, nor had any wounds inflicted upon him, save for the light purple shade around his eye from Friday. Relief filled Kevin's mind to see that he and Eddy were actually talking and there wasn't any shouting involved. Straightening himself up, he turned and made his way back towards his house. As long as Edd was happy and not being tormented, he could rest easy.
The next day Kevin was up at 6am. After his shower and a quick breakfast, he quickly gathered up all his stuff and made his way to the garage to get his bike. He hadn't slept all too well and was in a rather foul mood that morning. His old man happened to be out on the porch smoking while he was getting ready to leave, and after a brief, harsh exchange of words Kevin departed in a very sour state. His old man knew nothing of early morning practices and accused Kevin of sneaking off with "that blonde girl down the street".
Kevin started speeding off down the street, little did he know that a certain hat-loving boy had just come out of his house as well, spotted him leaving and was hustling after him. As he jumped the bike up onto the curb he thought he heard his name but a quick look around him told him that he was only hearing things. Not that it mattered because he wasn't in the mood to talk today anyways. The team had it coming when he got there; he wasn't going to take any bullshit.
Kevin wouldn't have been in such a foul mood if his body wasn't so sore from practices. That fight last week gave him a bad knee, as that Todd kid had kicked his knee in, and well the running and jumping at practice was aggravating his wounds. He maybe got a solid 4 hours of sleep, but that was all. The rest of the night he was tossing and turning, trying to get the discomfort out of his body. He turned down the main road, his wheels flying over the sidewalk, not knowing that his boyfriend had just cut through the alley and was about to meet him head on. As he neared the alley, he swore he heard feet running across the gravel but didn't think to slow down until it was too late.
Time seemed to slow way down as out of the freaking blue, Edd came flying around the corner and Kevin shouted out his name, but could not stop in time. What only took about 0.2 seconds in reality felt like an hour to Kevin as he tried to jerk his bike handles and steer out of the way, but instead of that the bike just tipped over altogether. Kevin and his bike sailed right into Edd and they all toppled over in a mess and skidded across the sidewalk as both boys' bags flew open and papers scattered.
Kevin groaned in both pain and frustration and pushed off of Edd and sat up. Looking around at the damage, he saw all of his textbooks and homework scattered and worst of all, the front tire of his bicycle was bent. His eyes widened as he quickly stood his bike up and inspected the tire. Edd sat up behind him and quietly muttered, "Oh dear…"
Normally Kevin would have just been mad, but he wouldn't have done what he was about to do but since his body now screamed in pain and his mood stank more than Ed's inner coat pockets, he completely lost it. He whipped around and glared at Edd, in that moment he couldn't distinguish between friend and loser. He bellowed at Edd, "What the HELL were you doing, Double dweeb?!" Edd stuttered for a moment trying to answer, but Kevin didn't let him finish. "Look at what you did to my bike! God, don't you even think before you just come out of nowhere?" He turned and pulled the kick stand out and rested the bike against a mailbox nearby.
When he turned back he found Edd on his hands and knees, trying to gather up his bag and papers for him. He snatched his bag out of his grasp and said "Don't bother. I'll do it." Edd pulled back and just sat on his bottom, wringing his hands. Kevin angrily picked up his things and shoved them back in his bag. "You know for someone so intelligent, you really are a dumbass." Edd said nothing in return.
When he thought he finally had all of his things he stood up and right as soon as he did, his bag ripped open and all his things fell back out. "God dammit!" He threw his useless bag into the street and pointed at Edd. "This is all your fault!"
Edd looked to be near tears and he stammered, "I-I'm sorry Kevin." Kevin brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose and he made a frustrated noise. Edd crept forward as Kevin stood there shaking in rage and impatience. When Kevin finally reopened his eyes, Edd was standing before him, holding his things. "I j-just wanted to see you before p-practice. I n-never meant for this to h-happen." Kevin's rage melted away as he watched Edd stand so helpless before him. He had been a real jerk and he knew it.
Gently he took his things and set them on the concrete beside his broken bike. He turned back and walked over to Edd, who backed away from him in fear. It killed Kevin to watch Edd cower from him. He continued to advance on Edd until finally the boy just turned away and flinched, waiting for the punch. Instead, Kevin took hold of his arms and pulled him into a gentle hug. Edd opened his eyes up and pulled back in confusion to look at Kevin. The jock pushed his forehead against the other's as he liked to do. "Are you hurt at all?"
Edd was obviously lost by now, expecting Kevin to beat him up then storm off. He shook his head and hesitantly he mumbled, "I-I am fine…" Kevin nudged Edd's nose with his own and said "That's all that matters to me. I'm sorry for being such a douche. It hasn't been the best morning."
Edd was silent, and only looked back at him. He still wouldn't reach out and touch him back, and that stung. Kevin closed the distance between their lips and stole a gentle kiss from him and said, "I just want you to know that no matter how pissed off I get, I would never purposely hurt you, alright?" Edd cast his eyes down and quietly nodded his head. Kevin slowly released him and back up to go get his things.
He froze to the spot, however as he laid eyes on that girl Edd was friends with, what was her name? Anna! Anna was standing there. He cursed to himself, as the obvious surprise on her face told him that she'd seen everything. Instead of running away or becoming disgusted, she said, "That was SO cute, you have no idea." Kevin raised an eyebrow at her as she reached behind her to open her book bag. She pulled out a smaller black bag with pull strings and tossed it to him. "Er…Thanks." She grinned at him and said "C'mon, get your stuff. You're gonna be late for practice." Kevin was almost as confused as Edd had been a moment ago. He gathered his things and he turned and looked at Edd, who was standing by the girl. He nodded to him and said "See you at lunch, Double D."
The sock-headed Ed nodded and waved to him as Kevin turned and hustled down the street with his bike in tow. That girl was really weird, she was a good match for Edd. 'Wait what?' He shook his head, she was a good friend for him. Nobody was Edd's match except him.
He made it to practice although he was a bit late and had to run an extra lap for it. That Anna girl stayed fresh in his mind the whole time. Had she been spying on them? He had seen Edd in the halls so many times chatting with her and every day they walked home together. Kevin couldn't shake that little bit of jealousy that latched onto the back of his mind. He knew he could trust Edd, but could he trust that girl? He was lost in so much thought that Nat managed to swipe the ball from him for the first time in a while. The coach roared at Kevin to focus on the game and Kevin had to forget about it for a while.
After practice Kevin and his usual cronies made their way down the hall to their lockers just as the crowds were dissipating to class. Nazz was glued to his side, talking and laughing and Kevin had to smile and laugh along with her. Sure enough, as they rounded the corner Kevin caught sight of Edd and Anna standing in the hall together talking. He scowled and it must have been longer than he thought because Nazz caught his look and said "Hey, what's wrong?" Kevin looked at her and shook his head.
Nazz looked at what he was looking at and saw Anna with Edd. She realized what was going through Kevin's mind and said "Oh, it's about Anna isn't it?" Kevin nodded knowing he could trust Nazz not to tell. Nazz knew right away how he felt, as she felt this exact kind of jealousy towards Edd ever since Kevin had told her no. She bit her lip and toyed with the lock on her locker. "Well…you should trust Double D enough to know that he wouldn't mess around." Kevin nodded and threw his things in his locker, however it obviously wasn't enough to ease his mind, as he slammed his locker shut and just leaned against it.
Nazz wasn't a home wrecker, that kinda thing just wasn't cool. However she couldn't help the feeling of triumph as she watched Kevin eye the other couple who were laughing over something. Nazz sighed and motioned Kevin to walk away with her. As they did she told him, "You know they're just friends, right?" Kevin shook his head and said, "It's just not that fair. I can't so much as say a damn word to the dork without the entire team shitting themselves, but Anna can laugh and walk with him and nobody blinks an eye." The blonde nodded her head and said "Well you know you and Double D are in two completely different social statuses. People expect you to go out with cheerleaders and hang with the football stars. Double D's a science-y guy who's in all the academic clubs. I know that you see those two groups together on TV, but that's not how it happens in reality."
Kevin looked over at Nazz, who offered him a smile. He knew she was right but it didn't matter because he and Edd were together anyways. Nazz could see him pondering and said "Why don't you just talk to Anna. Get to know her." Kevin slowly nodded, if Anna hadn't rejected them this morning when she caught them kissing, surely she wouldn't reject them if he told her about their relationship.