Author's Note: This story was inspired by Love On Top by Beyoncé. This is a KevEdd tale.

Edd woke up and sighed as conversations over the past four years fought a battle for dominance in his conscious.

"He's only using you."

"I like you, you dork."

"C'mon, D. You know we're meant to be!"

"Why the hell is Barr hanging out with the nerd?!"

"Oh, God. You're gay?!"

"Don't worry about them, Edd. I've got your back."

"You fuck with the dork, you fuck with me!"

"Be careful, Double D. Please."

"I love you. But I don't want you to get hurt."

It was the I love yous that hurt the most. They seemed so easily spoken, but it was as if there were no public actions to back them up. They were merely friends. Buddies at best. Neighborly acquaintances at worst. He knew it was for his own safety.

The looks and whispers since he came out sophomore year were one thing. The fact that the school's best quarterback in a decade and star pitcher in 15 years was his long time neighbor and a friend was another. Half the guys on all the boys teams hated him.

The dweeb had no business being on the jock's radar. What did the school's top egghead and top jock even have in common?! More than people thought, but would never know. The secrecy of it all was equal parts exhilarating and sexy because it was just for them.

The other half tolerated him because he was the only one standing between them and failing grades. His sexuality aside, he was the school's top tutor for a reason. And apparently, guys like smart guys, too, because it was very apparent to nearly everyone that Kevin liked Edd.

Thing is, he never did anything about it. At least, not overtly. If he did, who knows what would happen?! All anyone saw was that it wouldn't end well. So they kept their distance and their interactions on the simplest and friendliest of terms.

But rumor had it that Kevin had bought two tickets to prom. Which was this Saturday. Today was Friday. Edd had zero plans to go. Unlike Fall Homecoming, the Winter Formal and Spring Fling, Prom was very much a couples only dance. Sure groups of friends went together, but they were usually all girls or couples. He was the only one of his friends to not have a date.

He turned Marie down weeks ago because he didn't want to go and she was going with Jonny now. Kevin, of course, had his pick of the litter as it were. Edd would just be the odd one out. A seventh wheel at the rate he was going.

Rumor also had it that he was the only senior not going. It was just as well. What did the class valedictorian have to go to Prom for?

"Just live up to the stereotype, Eddward," he thought to himself as he got ready for the day. "It's not that any of this will matter in a couple of years anyways."

But he'd be lying if he didn't wish that Kevin would for once apply a little of his devil may care attitude about what everyone else thought to heal Edd's breaking heart. And Edd hated to lie.

When he got to the school doors, the whispers and stares were at an all time high. Nat and Rave met him in the lobby with huge grins on their faces. Nat was always ready with a smile. Rave's scared him as he never smiled. The actor was King of Resting Bitch Face. His scowl scared the principal. His frown was as ready as Nat's smile. But today, he was damn near beaming.

"Let's just say, for once in his life, Kevin isn't thinking about himself," Rave said when Edd stared at the two of them as their grins should of cracked the sky.

But Edd's day went on uneventfully. Sorta. He didn't see or hear from Kevin all day. But there was a blue rose boutineer in his locker. Nazz came by the Eds lunch table and told him that he needed to be at Diane's Bridal and Tuxedo Shop at 4 o'clock sharp today. He rolled his eyes, but when her's grew stern with concern and worry as she damn near pleaded with him to go, he acquiesced.

He was even more shocked when he found that his tux rental was paid for and he got further instructions to go to Jimmy's aunt's salon for a hair cut and manicure Saturday morning. The woman who taught Jimmy how to perfect his bouffant told Edd to not to wear his hat to the dance tonight.

It was then that Edd knew that whatever happened that evening would make what he and Kevin had official. He just prayed that it wouldn't destroy them.

Knowing the dance was to start at 8, he decided to get ready at 6, even though his heart wasn't in it. He couldn't help but to think that the blue tie and boutineer brought out his eyes, though.

"Blue is your color, D," the red head once told him. He'd just hoped that by the end of tonight his blue eyes wouldn't be crying the blues.

At 645, he heard a car honk outside his door. Stepping outside, he saw a lone limo, the chauffeur walking around to the back of the car to open the door for him.

But there was no one else inside.

Steeling his nerves as they left the cul-de-sac, he saw that they were going to his favorite resturant. The planetarium had a resturant on the roof. If you wanted, or at least could afford it, you could have a private dinner caterered on the observation deck.

Instructed by the chauffeur to ask for his name only when he walked inside, he was then led to a table for one on the observation deck, his favorite meal already on the table.

But there was a note.

Double D,

I always see the stars when I look in your eyes. When you look at the stars tonight, just know that I think you're the brightest one in my life.

The note was unsigned, but Edd knew the handwriting intimately. He had dozens of notes scrawled in it in a shoebox on the top shelf of his closet. He enjoyed his dinner, taking as many moments as possible to enjoy the sunset and first stars of the night from the observation deck's telescope.

"Mars is bright tonight," he thought as he looked through the telescope at the large red planet and felt a small tap on his shoulder.

The hostess was there to tell him that his limo was waiting. He checked his watch, a gift from Kevin for his birthday last year. It was a quarter to 8. While he was sad to miss dessert, he hurried downstairs to the open doors of the limo.

It was still empty.

When they pulled up to Peach Creek's Hilton hotel, Mrs Dexter was there to meet him at the limo's door.

"You need to get inside, Edd," she said smiling. "He's been waiting."

Edd checked his watch again. 805PM. But as if he was the guest of honor at this event, he was the last to arrive. When he walked in the door, a hush fell over the crowd and the bright lights dimmed, except for a spotlight on the dance floor. And in the center of it was the one person he knew was responsible for the last day and a half of surprises.

Kevin

And he looked like a dream. Simple black tux with a green Oxford, unbuttoned and untucked and somehow the sloppiness of it all just worked. While his shaggiest bedhead would never rival Edd's inky black, silky curly tresses, Edd wanted to run his hands through it all the same.

Catching Edd's eye, he smiled and Edd had to remind himself to breathe. His green eyes were bright with a shy playfulness that only Edd got to see. And his cheeks were pink and it only made his freckles stand out more and Edd couldn't wait to playfully trace them with his fingertips like he had nearly every other night for the past two years.

So he didn't.

Edd may not have been the most athletic person in the world, but he could run. He'd spent a lifetime doing it. Usually he was running away from things. He'd spent a childhood running away from Kevin. And now for the first time ever, he ran to Kevin.

He took off for the dance floor and leaped into a laughing Kevin's open arms. And their friends cheered. Angela and Rave's "It's about FUCKING time," wasn't even admonished by the chaperones on hand. They all knew it was and needed to be said as much as it needed to be done.

As Kevin held him close, Edd finally understood what Rave meant when he said that Kevin wasn't thinking about himself for once. This entire night was about Edd. Kevin wanted Edd to know that he did care, and wanted the world to not only know about them but that underneath the beanie and button ups was a someone who's smile lit up his days, who's eye's sparkled like the stars and that Kevin loved more than anything.

They danced, they laughed and Edd felt on top of the world. Because finally, Kevin put his love on top and nothing would ever bring it back down.