From what little Eddy had gotten out of Edd about his relationship with Kevin over the past few years, what started out as an innocent infatuation, coupled with some sheer curiosity about what a relationship with another guy could be like on Kevin's part and a legit crush on Edd's, the two young men fell hard and fast. But because of Kevin's fear over what being out would do to his reputation, even though he tried to get Edd back, because all the apologies, sweet words and gifts were given in the dark, Edd wasn't having it.
And even though this last break up was tearing them both up inside, and they really needed each other more than anything, Kevin gave Edd space.
A known joke in their group about Edd was that despite so many theories that technology was putting a Grand Canyon sized distance between people, Edd could just as easily ignore you with a book as he could by scrolling through his Twitter feed. And if he was feeling really sassy, he'd sit on you and pretend you were a chair. In short, if he wanted to be left alone, you left him well enough alone.
Too bad Kevin Anderson won't take the hint.
Lucky for Edd, today is Tuesday. Eddy doesn't have any morning classes on Tuesdays. Eddy would take Edd to lunch at the taco stand right off campus on nice days and they'd eat and catch up on one of the park benches outside the library. On cold days, they'd walk to the taco place around the corner from the taco stand. They were both owned by the same family, but on cold days, Edd would prefer their nacho soup to the tamales he usually got. Eddy would just be glad that his best friend was taking a moment to chill out. All the secrecy in his past two significant relationships had worn him out and just made him distrustful of people and that wasn't like him. Waving a tamale and nacho soup white flag was Eddy's way of trying to help Double D get back to himself.
Today is one of those 50/50 days, though. Eddy knows that Edd won't decide if he wants to eat out or in until they step outside and he's ok with that. What he is not okay with, is that Kevin Anderson is now coming down the hallway and has the gall to look upset that Eddy is legit standing between himself and the object of his obsessive affections.
The building that housed Peach State University's massive English and History departments was the oldest building on campus. Built in 1906, the three story building was originally Peachburg's Peachburg Central High School, the town's first high school. In the evenings, during the early years of its inception, night classes were given in the basement to new immigrants to America's shores to learn basic English, American History and math. The top floor was dedicated to teaching those who wanted to become teachers themselves. "From the basement to the attic," was the building's unofficial motto. Some of the best students and teachers to walk the building's halls were young immigrants who went from studying in the basement to teaching those who would teach themselves on the top floor.
But because it was a former high school building, the two middle floors had lockers lining the walls. Kevin leaned on the one Eddy was sitting in front of right outside of Edd's classroom's door. The desk in the hall that Eddy was sitting in, just made the short Ed look like he got kicked out of class for causing trouble, a regular occurrence in school if the stories from his friends are to be believed, and they are.
"You might want to make yourself scarce, Anderson," Eddy said as he tapped away on his phone, when the short redhead stopped and leaned on the locker next to him.
"Or what?!"
Eddy looked up at him with a cocked brow.
"Well, aren't we getting froggy. Even Barr knows better than to do that, but since you don't seem to get it, I'll let you know what a bad idea getting an attitude with me is. I'm his best friend. All I have to do is say the word and he'll never speak to you again."
"Like that worked so well with his ex," Kevin said sarcastically.
"I never told him to not see again. I had no reason to. But you're giving me a lot of reasons to."
"What reasons?!"
Eddy sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Kevin never kept him in the dark about who else was on his dance card. All D would have to do is tell him he wanted him back and Kevin would make sure that he never fucked up again. You on the other hand strung him along because you always wanted to be able to snap your fingers and get that jackass ex of yours back. But he's still playing you. You're just too stuck on D's ass to figure it out. So how about you get lost before I make you a missing person's case."
Kevin was raging inside at Eddy's words and a strong tap on his shoulder made him furious.
Turning to see who had just jabbed his shoulder, he quickly cowered in front of the tall, tanned, toned, redheaded hotshot. His equally imposing black friend looked even more pissed than the hotshot did.
"Beat it, Twerp," Kevin said.
But Kevin Anderson is too angry to think straight.
"And if I don't?! It's a free country!"
"Harassment is gonna cost ya, though," Lance said as he drew to his full height, crossed his arms across his chest and looked down his nose at the smaller Kevin.
"I'm not...!"
"Parker, in that video we saw at the Convention right before school started," the hotshot asked as he turned to his friend," didn't they say that if one person keeps blowing off and doing everything in their power to avoid someone, but that someone won't leave them alone, that that's harassment?"
"Yep," came Lance's firm reply.
"And if Eddy has to tell you to leave him alone, you. leave. him. alone," Kevin said firmly.
"No way. I know what this is. You're all just jealous that I have a chance with him now."
When the three other young men laughed in his face, Kevin was stunned. He did too have a chance with Edd now that he sent the hotshot quarterback away again!
Didn't he?!
"Dude," Kevin said as he stood up straighter to catch his breath, "don't think so highly of yourself. You only have a chance if he says so. And he ain't saying shit to you or anybody else for that matter so let it go. Desperation isn't a good look on you," Kevin finished as he booped his smaller doppelganger's nose. Turning to Eddy, he asked, "Got those study guides for me?"
If there was anything Eddy was good for in his post scamming days, it was getting his friends a leg up on their classmates by finding all the study guides and practice tests he could get his hands on. Everyone else as charged $1 a guide, $2 a test. Edd was just glad that the money was well spent by his classmates and money well earned by Eddy.
"Yeah," Eddy said as he pulled out a USB drive that was shaped like Captain America figurine. "I could only go back two semesters for the communications class, but you may get more from Ang because that's more her department than mine."
"Got it. Thanks," Kevin said with a nod as he pocketed the device.
Hearing the rustle of books being slammed shut, desks being pushed around and the professor's voice giving last minute instructions above the din, Kevin gave a head nod to Eddy who returned it before cocking his head to Lance who nodded and they both hurried down the hall. Eddy turned to the other Kevin who was still reeling from Eddy's threat and Kevin's read down and said two words.
"Get. Lost."
Kevin sighed and turned and went back the way he came down the hall just as the classroom doors opened. But it took Edd another couple of minutes to appear as he had questions for his professor about what would be on the midterm. Once he stepped outside, he took a sigh of relief at only seeing Eddy in the hall waiting on him.
"Ready?," Eddy asked.
Edd took a deep breath and his heart nearly stopped at what scents his nose was telling his brain was in the air around him.
Axe body spray, Gain detergent, motor oil.
His Kevin was here.
Frantically looking up and down the hallway for any sign of the tall redhead, his nerves calm themselves when he doesn't spot his taller ex, but his heart ached.
Slowly letting out the breath he was holding, Edd nodded his head and said, "I want soup."
