Kevin leans back with a smirk after he stacks his two to go boxes. Eddward rolls his eyes as he takes out his credit card and tosses it on the table.

"Remind me to never challenge you in a battle of wills ever again, Mr Barr," he growls.

Kevin snickered.

"What can I say? I love a challenge."

The only reason they were in the fancy restaurant was because in an effort to get a stressed out Kevin to put a bit more effort in passing his math midterm, Eddward told him he'd buy him dinner wherever he wanted if he got anything above a B+. Kevin aced the test and he wanted some southern soul food. And some non study time with his quiet neighbor turned moody tutor turned friend. They were getting friendly for sure. Eddward didn't shirk away from Kevin's touch. Sometimes he'd become a little more flirtatious because of it.

But lips had yet to meet and hands hand yet to explore covered territory. And Kevin's got an itch he needs to scratch out on the swimmer's body.

"Fine. Pass your with an A and..."

"Me and you at the New Year's party at The Loft."

Eddward leveled a look at the redhead.

"How in the hell are we going to get into The Loft?"

The fancy club had a strict 21 and up policy. Eddward and Kevin were still both 18.

"My dad knows the guy that owns it. I can get us into VIP. As long as we don't drink and you don't freak out, you'll be kissing me at midnight."

Eddward went red as he sucked in a breath. Oh, he wanted a kiss alright. He wanted it now, but he could wait a few more weeks.

"You're on, Barr."

Double D caught the sly, sexy grin Kevin gave his date. He knew that grin and knew it will. A bet had just been laid out on the table. He shook his head and kind of felt sorry for the guy. Kevin had yet to lose a bet. He hoped the guy could pay up.

Anderson saw the grin, too. Why would he be smiling at Eddward of all people like that. And why does the shark look like he's enjoying it?!

Then recognition and realization hit the adorkable genius like a ton of bricks.

"That's Eddward Rockwell!," he said as he facepalmed.

Sy and Ang raised a brow at him and Kevin just looked stunned.

"We met at the State Swim Finals junior year. If he won he could get a scholarship at Peach State."

"And?," Sy asked.

"Kicked my ass," Edd groaned with a grin and Ang snickered at his profanity. "They call him The Shark."

"Holy shit," Ang grinned as she took a glance at Kevin and Eddward's table. "He's gonna eat poor Kevin alive."

Double D scoffed.

"He'll live. The guy's moody for sure, but I'm sure he won't hurt Kevin."

"That's my ex, D," Kevin said quietly.

Sy and Ang snapped their heads back to Kevin and Eddward and then back to Kevin Anderson.

"Oh, boy," Sy sighed.

Edd had a worrisome look on his face. He cocked his head and took in the two young men at the far corner table. Kevin was flirting that was for sure. Eddward seemed to not be moved by his advances, but his ice blue eyes were twinkling.

"You know what?," he sighed as he tossed the napkin that was in his lap on the table, "Kevin's a big boy and can take care of himself."

Kevin gave a happy squeak at this and drew his boyfriend into a hug.

Edd returned the hug, but all he could think was, "If he hurts him, I'll kill him."

Finals came and went. No one was put on academic probation or even risked having to consider the thought of dropping out. Which made the month long break a welcome respite from school.

The Jackson's went to Aruba for the holiday. Rolf and Jimmy went back to Rolf's Old Country. Jessie and Amber went to see family on Mississippi's and Alabama's Gulf Coasts. The Eds, Kankers, and the rest of the cul-de-sac went back to Peach Creek. Jessie Anne and Emily took a trip to New York with Lance in tow. He spent a good amount of time trying to get his fiancee's minxy roommate to hook up with somebody, but she was keen on kissing her wine glass at midnight on New Year's Eve.

Christmas Eve brought Nazz's Christmas party, and while she wanted to make it a cul-de-sac-trailer park only event, she extended an invite to Kevin Anderson. Who declined because after he got off of work, he was going home to crash. Edd showed up for a bit, but was as surprised as anyone that his ex wasn't there.

"Where's Kev?," he asked Nazz as she refilled the punch bowl in the kitchen.

"Said something about having to head to Lemon Brook for a thing. He did help me set up, though," she shrugged dejectedly.

Edd gave her a hug.

"We'll try again next year," he said.

She only nodded sadly.

Kevin was in Lemon Brook at a quiet cafe. He had news to share.

"So what do you want that requires me to be out on Christmas Eve?," the swimming scholar scowled at him when he sat down at the table in the far corner with windows that overlooked a park.

Kevin only pulled out a simple envelope and slid it towards him.

"Want anything?," he asked as he stood.

"Peppermint mocha. Extra hot. I swear Mother Nature is trying to kill me with this cold," he said as he pulled off his gloves and went to open the envelop.

The cafe only had a handful of people in it and they were all being quiet so hearing Eddward mutter, "Son of a bitch!," through clenched teeth all the way at the counter on the far side of the small space wasn't hard. And hearing Kevin snicker wasn't all that hard, either.

Kevin was grinning like the Cheshire Cat as he made his way back to the table. Edd was red, but those ice cold blue eyes of his were soft, like a clear winter sky.

"You're welcome," Kevin said as he handed him his coffee.

"Thank you," the tall ravenette groaned.

"So what are you wearing for our date?"

Eddward just kicked him. But you couldn't wipe the smirk off his face if you tried.

Double D split Christmas Day between home and his boyfriend's. It was nice and quiet. Kinda like the last Christmas he had spent with another Kevin. They had used the excuse that Edd had finally gotten a book that Kevin would need for a class when school started up again, but because he was spending New Years with family in France, he had to give it to Kevin right now. They did exchange presents, an autographed copy of a Babe Ruth baseball copy for Kevin and copies of Bicentennial Man and I, Robot for Edd. They both loved the movies, but Edd was always one for a good book.

Kevin had hung mistletoe all over his room. His dad thought it was hilarious, but stood by his mom's open doors, hands were I can see them at all times policy. But because Edd was a guy, they let the rule go. And Kevin took Edd on his desk because of it. It was the one surface far enough away from the door that no sounds coming from the room could be heard as one walked past the door. And the one surface they hadn't had sex on yet.

But at Kevin Anderson's, Edd and Kevin got to cuddle on the couch and sleep in each other's arms in Kevin's bed after Edd's parents headed back to Peach Creek.

They spent the rest of the holiday break hanging out at each other's houses after Kevin got off of work. Everyone that wasn't working and in town, either hung out at each other's houses, went to the mall or the movies and generally putzed around. New Year's meant parties and kisses. Kevin and Edd watched the ball drop at Kevin's house in the city. The other Eds, the Kankers and Nazz had a party in Ed's basement with Nazz and Marie doing running commentary on the Ed boys sucking face with the girls they used to run away from.

The blond and the indigo'd rebel rouser exchanged a hug and a toast to the new year. Even they had to acknowledge how far they had come.

At a private VIP table at The Loft, Kevin's nursing a Coke and Eddward is scowling into his orange juice.

"Don't look like that!," Kevin said as he poked his date in the side. "This is a date and we're supposed to be having fun."

Edd's side eye would have killed anyone else, but it turned Kevin on. Just like someone else's side eye.

"I'm thrilled to be here, Mr Barr. Thank you for inviting me," he deadpanned.

"Mr Barr is my father. But you can call me 'Kevin,'" Kevin grinned.

"Look, you asshole, I'm just making good on my end of your bet. And after this, I expect you to not bother me anymore."

"Famous last words, Double D," Kevin smirked.

And instead of getting angry at Kevin's use of an old nickname he tried to kill in middle school, Eddward's been set aflame.

As the DJ segued into a slow song, Kevin couldn't resist the urge to move with the blue eyed young man next to him. It had been forever since he danced with anyone and Edd's been getting under his skin for the entire semester. Time to let him touch it.

"C'mon," he said as he stood. "You're dancing with me."

"What?!"

"It's a date, Rockwell. And we're at a club, so bring that sweet ass over here and dance with me."

One look in those yearning green eyes and Eddward's will is faltering.

"One dance."

"If you say so."

One dance turned into them not leaving the private dance floor their VIP booth got them. Slow, fast, it didn't matter. Eddward could move as well on the dance floor as he could in the water. But unlike another Eddward, his moves were fighting for dominance with Kevin's. Kevin wasn't quite used to this, but let it go. For the moment anyways.

At midnight, Eddward's walls fell. He had never been kissed like that before. Kevin cupped his smooth jaw in his calloused hand and the sharp contrast of smooth against rough had the swimming genius' head spinning. He had felt Kevin's lips before. On his nose, his cheeks, his hands. But against his own? Shit. It was gentle, but controlling. He knew about the tradition of the valedictorian getting a kiss from the redhead as the world's sweetest goodbye. He knew about one poor girl fainting from it. And he now knew that he would let Kevin control any kiss he ever wanted from him for as long as he'd have him. And the swimmer's guard collapsed as he moaned and kissed Kevin back.

A large hand gripped a slim hip. A nimble hand snatched a red ballcap away from hair as red as fire and then held on to it as it laid across strong shoulders. The other hand ran their slim, strong fingers through those fiery locks and Kevin's smoldering.

As the second chorus to Aud Lang Syne played, icy blue eyes shimmered as they gazed into twinkling green.

"So, do you have any math classes you're needing help with next semester?," Eddward asked softly as he played with Kevin's popped collar.

"No," the redhead pouted.

"Shame."

"But I do have a biology class with a lab that I just know is gonna kick my ass if I don't get some help with it," Kevin said in a low tone as he pressed his forehead against that of a swimmer who was steadily swimming up his streams.

Eddward's only response was a seductive grin.