*laughs manically* Chapter 14 BOOM!

Ok chickadees, my move in date doth approach. Which means I wont be able to upload for a number of days while I'm traveling and unpacking. This chapter I stayed up late tonight to finish just for you guys. Chapter 15 has been started so no I'm not going to stop and then leave it unfinished. So until later-

Enjoy!

Early morning the next day Eddward and Kevin finally came a conclusion; Edd would stay. That wasn't to say the sockhead hadn't put up a good fight. His argument was pretty solid but in the end the red-head was just too stubborn to convince otherwise. As soon as Edd relented they went right into setting some ground rules. Edd opted to make a list and then have Kevin sign it towards the end of their discussion, much to the red-head's dismay. He thought it was silly but Edd proved to be just as persistent and eventually convinced him that this was just a way of keeping good juju between them. Kevin couldn't argue that logic. The rules were simple.

1. Stay out of Kevin's room when he is not home.

"The door is locked and has an alarm system that sends a text directly to my phone, so don't even think about it."

"I would never invade the sanctity that is your room. I am insulted that you would even suggest it!"

2. "What's mine is yours" & vice versa.

"Share your shit. Same thing applies to borrowing cash, clothes, and things like that. You bring home something sweet then I want a bite of it."

"Sharing is caring after all." Edd smiled. "But I hardly think I would ask to borrow money from you."

Kevin resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

3. Courtesy calls are mandatory.

Edd underline mandatory. "What exactly is your definition of a courtesy call?"

Kevin's grin couldn't get any cockier. "Bring a chick or a dude home, let me know and I'll do the same for you."

Eddward's face lit up like Christmas tree. "H-how necessary a rule is that?"

"Well if you don't want me walking in on you while you are doing the dirty deed then you better let me know so I can steer clear. Or else I just might want to join in." Kevin dodged the pencil that was thrown at him. "What? I think it's a reasonable request."

Eddward huffed and fought back the flustered feeling bubbling in the pit of his stomach. "And does this happen often?" He crossed his arms, visibly annoyed. As if he of all people would partake in such undignified practices.

Kevin shrugged. "Eh, maybe one or twice a month. I'm a horn dog what can I say? Don't worry I don't bring home stupid trollops. I'm a classy guy who likes a classy lady once in a while. Occasionally the dirty boy but I guess that's what I've got you for." He readied himself to dodge yet another pencil. "Oh come on that was funny."

Eddward smirked, his presumptuous expression just the sexiest thing Kevin had ever laid eyes. "Better mind yourself Mr. Barr. I never miss on a second throw."

4. –

"Before we continue I must ask you something."

Kevin nodded for him to continue, sipping some of the tea Edd had made. His mother had always told him you could a person's personality by the way they drink their tea and he most definitely had to agree with her. Warm green leaf with a spoonful of honey; healthy and sweet while still maintaining simplicity in its flavor.

"Alright but we need to wrap this up." He said checking his watch. "I've gotta head out for work in about fifteen minutes."

"Oh yes of course. I promise not to keep you too long."

Edd cleared his throat, not realizing that he had been rubbing at his neck for the last five minutes or so. The cover up had washed away during his morning shower and every mark was now visible for the other to see. It was rather remarkable that neither of Kevin's parents had noticed them the night before but he supposed he should be thankful for that.

"In regards to, well us … Well uh… Oh dear how do I put this?"

Kevin held up his hand. "Nah I get where you're going with this." He sighed thoughtfully. "I'll be honest with you, I think you're a cool guy and I'd dig if we had a friends-with-benefits thing going on… Nothing serious of course." He quickly added and Edd nodded slowly in response." He eyed Eddward carefully, refusing to acknowledge the anxious flutter in his stomach. "I know that this stuff is new to you and I really think you could benefit from an arrangement like that. Without having to deal with the bullshit baggage that comes along with a relationship, you can explore all you want with little to no restraint."

The sockhead glanced down into the surface of his tea and actually contemplated this. Two days ago he would have been spitting his drink out from between his gap and flying into a fit about this. He would be lying if he thought for a second that he could just as easily put this behind him like a scratch on the arm or some other minor equivalent.

Oh how cruel his biological make up was; enhancing his brain with the natural feel good chemical of dopamine and conjuring up wild fantasies while he slept. He hadn't meant to, honestly, and he even tried to forget about it the moment he woke; but with the red-head sitting just within arm's reach, casting him the very same looks he had in his dreams, it was damn near impossible. The dream hadn't been as erotic as the real thing but boy howdy was it close.

He sighed. Was this what happened when you part took of forbidden fruit?

Eddward Vincent look at what you have become. You're no better than Eddy at this point, he offhandedly thought.

Kevin grinned, earning a blush from Edd.

And look at him. So handsome and confident. What I would part with just to have some semblance of that of that fearlessness.

"How about you think on it?" Kevin suggested. "I've got work and a class afterwards so you'll have plenty of time to yourself to think things over." He eyed the sockhead wearily before standing, shrugging into his favorite jacket. "Are you going to be ok here alone?"

Edd's wandering thoughts were brought back to reality and he offered the red-head his most convincing smile. "I will be fine. You be safe out there."

Kevin felt the corners of his lips tipping up as he laid a hand atop of the others head. It was kind of nice to have someone wishing him a farewell before work. Though living in this house provided him with all the privacy in the world, it came at the price of his loneliness. With the sockhead around, the feel of the place just seemed a little homier. Maybe it was just the change of morning tea that filled the air instead of the usual smell of burnt waffles, or maybe it was the cherry cheeked smiles that forwent any thoughts of loneliness that started to creep up on him. Whatever the reason he was glad Eddward had agreed to stay. Waking to the merry tune of Edd's whistling instead of the uninspiring beep of an alarm clock was a change he'd happily welcome.

"And you be safe in there." He tapped Edd's head with his finger. "I'll see you later tonight."

Kevin arrived at work a good forty five minutes before his shift. Waiting in the manager's office was his father standing head to toe in old and new grease marks that stained his navy blue jumpsuit. Kevin knocked on the glass window before entering.

"Ah Kevin there you are." Mr. Barr set down the clip board in his hand and waved at the seat beside him. "Sit."

Kevin did as he was told and stretched out his legs in front of him. "You wanted to talk?"

Mr. Barr nodded.

"Ok well about last night-"

He quickly held up his hand before Kevin could start jabbering on. "Whoa there cowboy. I didn't get to say what I wanted to last night so just hold your horses." The older man ran his fingers through his slicked back hair and leaned back into his swivel chair. The two Barr men regarded each other through expression filled eyes, one set anxious and the other unsure; but from the looks of it you couldn't tell who was feeling what at the moment.

Kevin pursed his lips impatiently. "You going to say anything?"

Mr. Barr sighed once more. "Give me a second. Let me process this."

Kevin scoffed crossing one leg over the other. "You had all night to process this."

Mr. Barr groaned and leaned his elbow onto his desk. "If you're going to cross your legs, at least do it like a man." He said, lifting his own leg and sitting his ankle properly on his other knee. Kevin merely rolled his eyes.

"Look ol' man I've got work to do. Quit stalling."

Mr. Barr snorted. "Patience is a virtue boy. Learn it." He picked up his clipboard once more and let himself gaze over the invoices he had received last night. He was man of many talents and multitasking was one of those. It was a sort of therapeutic practice that allowed him to function without blowing his top but it seemed that this just wasn't going to be one of those times. He scribbled his name on the invoice and set it back down on the desk. He'd get one of the greenhorns to deal with it later.

"Alright, you wanna talk? Let's talk." He folded his hands in his lap. "You know I ought to unscrew your head from your shoulders for what I had to go through for you last night."

Kevin winced. "Mom talk your ear off?"

"All damn night." He grumbled. "You're lucky I'm in that woman's good graces right now or else you'd be explaining all this crap to her on your own."

The young red-head slouched into his seat and dropped his foot to the ground, his boot falling with a heavy thud. "Look you might not understand this but I'm trying to do right."

"For what and by whom? Kevin you don't have to prove anything to anyone."

He grimaced. "It's not about proving anything."

"Then what?"

Kevin scratched his chin as his eyes danced around the office, as if the dirty tools of his trade could offer some sort of easy explanation. "Its…Well the truth is that Edd has got nowhere to go."

Mr. Barr rubbed his brow. "I figured as much." Kevin frowned but the other didn't bother clarifying. "He isn't your responsibility Kev."

"That's not-"

"He isn't some lost puppy you can take in." His father interjected. "This is a person with all sorts of personal problems that you honestly don't need in your life right now."

Kevin sat up, his voice raising an octave. "No, no that's not it at all." His face twisted into a look of frustration. "Edd is..." Kevin raked his fingers through his bangs while he struggled to find the right words. "I just want to give him a fighting chance."

Mr. Barr shook his head. "You don't even know him." They were together, what, one night? What on earth could have possessed him into thinking this was a good idea?

His father averted his gaze to stare intently at his desk. This Edd kid has obviously got a reason for being in the situation that he is in now. Why on earth would Kevin want to risk something like that? Mr. Barr's lips pressed into a thin line as he contemplated what to say next.

"He could be some good for nothing druggie looking to score for all you know."

Kevin's jaw set. The fingers of his hidden hand curled into a fist, clutching the hem of his jacket. "He isn't like that!" He spoke a tad harsher than he intended but didn't apologize for it.

"Ugh, Kevin." Mr. Barr strained. "I'm worried you're going to get yourself in over your head. How do you know this kid isn't going to screw you over?"

"I don't." Kevin stated bluntly. "But I'm choosing to trust him just as you need to decide whether or not you trust me in this."

He shook his head and tapped his finger firmly on his desk as if it would help to get his point across. "It's not you I don't trust. You shouldn't be putting your faith so blindly in someone you know so little about. Think logically about it boy."

Kevin felt the corners of his lips turning up into a smirk. "You sound just like him."

Mr. Barr slapped his hand to his forehead. "For heaven's sake stop being so damn stubborn. I swear you're worse than your mother."

It was petty, he knew it, but Kevin couldn't resist sticking out his tongue like a five year old. "Learned it from the best pops. Now what's it going to be?"

Mr. Barr swiveled his chair around across the room to peek out through the drawn blinds. He spied a few workers slowly making their way to punch in their time cards. The man sighed and rolled back to his spot behind the desk. When he looked back at his son, he noted the young man's tense posture, arms crossed over his chest and brows drawn defiantly.

"Well?"

"I'm not going to be able to convince you otherwise, am I?" When Kevin shook his head, Mr. Barr shrugged, albeit reluctant in his backing down. "Then I guess there is nothing left to say."

Kevin glanced away. Something heavy weighed on his conscience and he couldn't tell if it was disappointment or regret; however he would stand firmly by his decision. Would it come back to bite him? Maybe, but what great things ever happened in life when chances weren't taken? Edd was by far the most interesting thing in Kevin's life right now. Shamelessly he wanted more of him, to face more of the unique curve balls the sockhead so masterfully threw at him. He was unlike any individual he had ever come across, and to pass up the golden opportunity of not only helping but actually getting to know this lovely creature was ludicrous. At least in his eyes it was. His father on the other hand… well, he knew that was coming.

"Just trust me on this alright?" Kevin pleaded. "I'm no idiot. I can take care of myself."

Mr. Barr didn't respond. He picked up his pen and started to write.

The minutes ticked by slowly, drowned out by the sound of the large industrial fan that was perched up in the corner of the room. He wasn't sure how long they sat there like this, but the silence was becoming unbearable.

No longer able to stand it Kevin took to fiddling with his chair. "This is a pretty comfy seat." Kevin said bouncing up and down on it.

Mr. Barr struggled to hold his face straight. "Your mother thinks so too."

Kevin's eyes bulged from their sockets and he leaped up from the chair swiping at his behind. "UGH fuck! That's nasty!"

"Watch your mouth; you're in a work place." His mustache lifted in a hidden smirk. "I'll see you at lunch."

Kevin stomped out of the room mumbling something or other about washing his jeans before flipping his pops the bird.

"Love you too son."

The door fell shut with a click and he nearly double over in laughter hearing Kevin cry out in disgust. Was it really that hard to say you love your own father? Oh well, he smiled to himself. The hellion will learn one day soon.

So what do you guys think? I'd love to know! All of your reviews are what keep me out of creative block limbo - nasty place to be btw. Love yall to bits! ~Lovespell