Sorry about the delay in the next chapter guys. This is really just kind of a filler for the next big twist that's in the works. Still I hope you guys enjoy it. It was a little bit of a struggle to get this one out thanks to a mild case of writer's block. But I think I'm back on track now so keep your eyes out for the next chapter which should be online by the end of the weekend. As always please don't forget to f/f and leave love! Thanks for everything guys. Now go on and read!
Both teens lay on the raven's bed, curled into each other. Edd's arms were sore from the fresh wounds that were now perfectly bandaged. The jock had yet to say a word about the state that he had found the raven in. Eddward wasn't proud of falling right back into that nasty habit he thought he had beaten. The ginger's chest slowly rose and fell in time with his own. His own mind kept drifting back to being in the bathroom with the blade in his hand. He'd thought for sure that Kevin wouldn't come back and that he'd be completely alone. The ginger was all he had left in this world, so it made the thought all the more painful for him. Edd snuck a peek up at him and found that he was passed out. The raven couldn't help the smile that twisted his lips at the sight. As if on cue, sleepy jade eyes opened to stare into his cyan. "What are you staring at?" the voice was gruff but playful at the same time. "Just admiring my Pumpkin," Edd teased. Kevin rolled his eyes as he yawned and stretched. "How long was I out?" "Maybe a few minutes," The jock nodded and shifted them so that the raven lay atop him.
"I don't agree with what you did but I understand," Kevin murmured into his ebony hair. "I'm sorry," "Stop apologizing. You're human and you've been through more than most," Edd gave a slight nod as warm hands slid up and down his back. He hated himself for what he had done, but it was all he could think to do at the time. Eddward felt like a disappointment to his boyfriend and he was terrified that their relationship wouldn't make it through his mood swings and the distance caused by his music career. "Dee tell me how I can help you," Edd's eyes welled at the words but he said nothing. "I'm serious corbeau. I want to help, just tell me what I have to do," "Stay," was all the raven could muster. "Of course I'll stay. I have missed you after all," Such a quick response told Edd that his boyfriend had missed what he had meant. "I mean forever," He buried his face in Kevin's chest not wanting to see the fear of permanence in the other's eyes. There was no response which told Eddward all he needed to know. It hurt like hell. He had hoped that Kevin would give him some kind of duh response, so when he didn't his heart cracked. "I love you Kevin," It hadn't been what Edd wanted to say, his brain just didn't cooperate. "I love you too Edd," Kevin's voice cracked with the words making the raven lift his head. "Pumpkin do you understand the depth of feeling I have for you?" The jock quirked a brow. "Jesus, okay," Eddward ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Kevin I didn't fall in love with you because I was lonely or lost. I fell in love with you because when I saw you for the first time I wanted to have someone be a permanent part of my world," Green eyes searched his own but he held fast.
Kevin said nothing, he simply stared at the teen before him. "Eddward," The nerd whimpered at hearing his full name fall from his lips. "I feel the same way about you. I just...we're barely adults. I don't want this to be something that we wind up regretting," "I could never regret you Pumpkin. You were the first person who truly cared to find the real me that I buried beneath the surface. You challenge me and care for me. You're everything I ever wanted," Edd pushed himself off the jock and stood from the bed. He couldn't have the conversation anymore. Kevin still talked as if they were doomed to fall apart. Sure the raven had thought that himself at one point but now everything was different. His eyes fell to the ring that was still perched on his right hand. Light glinted off the gemstones, reminding him of the light Kevin had brought into his world. "Tomorrow we go back to school so we should get some sleep," the raven mumbled. Kevin nodded and patted the bed where Edd had gotten up from. "You go ahead and go to sleep. I'm gonna go grab a cup of tea," It was a lie but it sated the jock regardless. When the ginger lay back down, Edd slipped from the room and pulled on his shoes. He needed to clear his head, something he did best when he went for a run.
Earbuds were shoved into his ears and he took off from his porch. Only the stars and moon lit the cul de sac now given the late hour of the night. The genius turned on a random song and broke into a full sprint. His mind was stuck on the ginger back at his house that more than likely was passed out by now. He continued to think about he wanted to stay by Kevin's side and them have a future. It didn't seem like the other thought it was possible though. The heartache Edd felt pushed his legs to hit the pavement harder and faster. Before he knew it, he was coming up to the cemetery. His parents headstones came into view and the raven dropped to his knees before them. He missed them dearly, his father would know exactly what to say in this moment. Nathaniel always had the best advice for his son when Edd didn't know what to do. Irene had done what she thought to be right and the genius couldn't bring himself to fault her for it. The teen let his tears fall, he had been withholding so much emotion that it finally poured out. His hands wound in his hair and he tugged as he let out a scream into the winter night air. He gave himself a few more minutes of crying then stood and started his walk back home.
Bold maroon numbers glared at Edd upon his return. He had been gone at least an hour and now it was past midnight. The nerd silently cursed the tour for throwing his sleep schedule out of whack. He of course had worked to keep it as maintained as possible but now he was second guessing his success with the attempt. With a sigh he fell on to his bed. Kevin only grunted at the shift in the weight on the mattress, which of course made Edd giggle. He found his pumpkin to be absolutely adorable in his sleep. Eddward slipped down to his boxers and pulled the duvet up around them both, snuggling up to Kevin as he did.
An annoying alarm roused both boys, the raven slapping fruitlessly at the blasted alarm clock. Finally Kevin's larger hand smacked the snooze button successfully and they both lay in bed a moment longer before getting up. It was Edd's first day back at school since the tour and the jock was dreading having to share the teen with hundreds of other people so soon. Both dressed in silence, too tired to talk just yet. Eddward led the way downstairs to the much desired coffee pot that had already brewed the liquid gold for the sleepy teens. Of course Edd's was watered down with his three scoops of sugar while Kevin took his mostly black. With caffeine finally hitting their system both boys woke up a little more. "You ready to go back to school Mr. Famous?" Kevin teased as they sipped. The nerd shrugged, six months ago he had constructed a new image for himself to and now it had paid off in the most unexpected ways. He was insanely in love with the top jock at his high school and the lead singer in a band that was taking off. With coffee finished and mugs in the sink both boys exited the house and hopped in Kevin's car that Edd had gifted him. "All the girls are gonna drool after seeing you get out of this car," Edd muttered, annoyance lacing his tone. "Trust me. They'll be more fixated on someone else," Kevin gave a sideways glance to him making him huff.
The drive to their school was pleasantly short but Edd felt like it was the first day all over again. All eyes were on the BMW i8 with anticipation of who would be getting out of the ridiculously expensive vehicle. Kevin stepped out first and some students nodded as if it had been expected. But when the nerd turned rockstar got out, everyone was silent. Edd had chosen violet skinny jeans, his boots, and an Eyes Set To Kill band tee. His beanie was in it's normal place of course. However attention all flicked to the bandages on his arms. Murmurs began just like he knew they would but he ignored them all and entwined hands with the jock. They strutted past every single person and joined Marie and Nazz who were giggling at all the stupefied stares the pair was getting from their classmates. The group walked on towards their lockers to collect the books they'd need for the second semester of school. Whispers and hushed voices filled the hall as rumors of what happened to the nerd spread. There were allegations from him going crazy on stage while on tour, all the way to Max having escaped jail and trying to finish the job. The second rumor was the one that made the nerd grit his teeth. He knew that at some point the guy would come up for parole and he dreaded the thought of the guy actually attempting it.
First period drug on and it was made even more difficult to endure with everyone pointing and whispering about him. He knew he should have worn his jacket to hide his scars and bandages but he hadn't cared this morning. When the bell finally rang he slowly got up from his seat only to be confronted by a group of giggling cheerleaders. "So Edd, how was your tour?" One asked. "Yeah did you like get a bunch of groupies?" Another snickered. Eddward merely rolled his eyes, "Even if I had I'd gladly deal with groupies over your squawking, now excuse me," He left the girls seething in the doorway and made his way to his next class.
At last it was time for lunch and the nerd was already done with the day. He'd been interrogated by nearly every student in each class leading up to it. Edd flopped down at his lunch table and was joined by two people he hadn't expected. Ed and Eddy sat at the table and took out their lunches as if it were old times. Naturally Edd figured that the big lovable oaf didn't know any better. Eddy on the other hand still had a strained friendship with him. "Gentlemen, can I help you?" The nerd ground out. "Hiya Dee! How was America?" Ed asked before biting into his sandwich. "It was just fine thank you. We're supposed to go back on stage here in a few weeks. It'll be a local show though," "Oh yeah? Well that's cool. Paid for or free?" the scam artist sneered. "What's the matter Eddy? Not willing to spend a few dollars to support your so called friends?" "Dammit Edd aren't we past this? I did apologize for being a dickhead after all," Eddy pouted and Edd laughed at the sight. "Yes I suppose that's right, I do apologize Eddy. My nerves are just frayed due to the constant badgering I've dealt with today," the genius said right as Kevin, Nazz and Marie sat down.
"So Edd has Marcus called lately?" the bluenette asked in between bites of cheeseburger. "Yes actually. We have a gig here in about three weeks. It's going to be a local gig since we just got back to school. And partly from my request," The nerd's sapphire eyes flicked to the jock across from him who was laughing at the antics from a few teammates down the table. Marie grinned watching him eye his boyfriend. She had been extremely happy they had worked most of their problems out. The girl had seen the wraps on his arms so she knew it wasn't all rainbows but for the most part both boys looked happy. "When are you guys just gonna get hitched and call it good?" Nazz asked with a flip of her blonde hair. Edd's face went crimson at what she suggested while Kevin stopped mid bite on his food. "Nazz we just turned eighteen this year. Don't you think that's a bit much?" Kevin said shoving away his food, his appetite escaping him. "No I really don't. You guys circled each other for years and now you've been going strong. Just call a duck a duck already," She shrugged. Everyone looked at Eddward waiting patiently for his input but the teen was speechless. He had thought about marrying the jock pretty often but he knew that Kevin wouldn't be ready for such a step any time soon. "I mean jesus Kevin, he gave you a fucking car. You could at least put a ring on that finger," Nazz continued. "I already did dammit," the jock jabbed a his index finger at the sapphire and emerald band on Edd's right hand.
The blonde's head snapped to it and she promptly jerked Eddward's hand to her so she could inspect the jewelry. He winced in slight pain at the twist her fingers caused on the still too fresh wounds on his arm. Marie and Kevin took notice but everyone else missed it. "Damn Kev, looks like you spent a decent amount of cash on this. Now you just need the wedding band and you guys are set," Kevin groaned at the blonde who chuckled. "I'm just saying dude, like you guys already fight like a married couple. You might as well make it official. But Edd might want to get a pre-nup," she teased. "Anything mine is already his," Edd murmured more to himself than anyone in particular. It had been louder than intended though, everyone had gone silent. Realizing the others had heard his private thought the genius cleared his throat and stood from the table right as the bell rang. He didn't wait for anyone though, he just hauled ass to his next period, ignoring the vibrations from text messages in his pocket.