All We Are

by Ariela246

Eddward frankly was a very mysterious guy. There were people in school who respected him, most, however, feared his intimidating presence. Little Kevin had no idea how Eddward had gotten so much power in his possession, but he hoped someone would step up and give him a piece of his own medicine. [REV!KEVEDD] SLOW BURN(Warning: Graphic Violence & Self Harm! Please read with caution)

59. Chapter 59

Welcome back lovely peeps!

This chapter is shorter than the rest but i hope it's made up by what happens 👀

ENJOY!

*Stay safe and wear a mask please!

---

There were white walls, bright white lights, and harsh raining smacking onto glass. There was beeping piercing his ears and muted footsteps all quick in pace somewhere distant. It had been a noisy silence, before a rough cough broke the tension.

Victor Vincent was sitting beside him. His legs crossed and attention occupied with a clipboard full of papers. His eyes glance upward toward Eddward for a moment before falling once again. "Are we bound to end up with you in the hospital bed every few years?" Victor said, eyes glued to his papers.

Eddward consciousness roused, his throat horribly rough and sore. Every painfully slow inhale took the little moisture he had left. "What happened?" He croaked out.

"One of your friends attacked you and that Barr boy last night," explained Victor. "Had you been sober, I'm sure the both of you would have been able to avoid being stuck in here."

"What are you saying?" Eddward closed his eyes, the hospital lights blindingly bright. He vaguely remembered blurred motions of what had happened last night. His mind had blocked most of the memory.

"I'm saying, that the Barr boy is hospitalised as well, due to your insolence."

At this Eddward opened his eyes and tried to sit up. He winced as a headache began to strike, and paused before speaking. "Is Kevin alright?"

"Fine enough. Apparently, the boy has had a prior injury on the arm he sprained last night." Victor stated, lips pressed in a frown. "I'm sure, the boy is going to have trouble with that arm in the long term. It is a fragile thing from constant injury."

"...no," Eddward pleaded with a frown. The rush of guilt washing over him in floods. "You're lying."

"Afraid not," Victor words cut into Eddward like a knife. The man put down his clipboard and leaned back in the chair. "You are ruining that boy, you should leave him be."

Eddward wanted to cry, but he held his tears and looked away lying back down. "Why were you there?" He asked.

"It's my home, I do not need to give you explanations."

"You had a gun on you," Eddward turned towards his father. "No doctor carries a gun around unless you somehow knew there was an intruder."

"I always carry a gun with me," Victor gritted out, his eyes dark and narrow, "This town is full of criminals like you. Instead of questioning me, you should feel grateful I showed up when I did or else that boy would have been dead and we would have to deal with the consequences of your idiocy."

Eddward stayed silent, he knew his father was right. This situation could have been avoided if Eddward hadn't taken the drug. But why didn't anyone understand that he was finally sleeping, that he was finally rid of those pesky nightmares and costing him some hours of vulnerable unconsciousness was a little price to pay.

Staring at his yellowish hands, Eddward wondered how to face Kevin. It had been Eddward's fault, hadn't it? He just didn't think they would have attacked so soon. It was almost as if it had all been planned…

"Did you catch the intruder?"

"Obviously," Victor said with a frown. "I wasn't going to let some brat think they can attack the Vincent name and get away with it. I shot the bastard in the leg."

"Who was it?" Eddward asked.

"The weird brat that carries that fucking piece of wood everywhere,"

Eddward's mind halted, "Johnny?"

"I do not recall his name," Said Victor with a disinterested tone. "What matters now, is the fact that you are sabotaging my name with your criminalistic inclination."

"The gang?" Eddward said with a roll of his eyes. "You should hope I'm killed from my involvement with Sam."

"If you are going to drug yourself," Victor said, ignoring his son and reaching into his pocket pulling out a note attached to an envelope. "Hide it, I don't need the entire world knowing my only son is a junkie."

"Well he isn't," Eddward said, taking the bag and looking inside. There were long white pills in a bottle along with a doctor's note. "Sleeping pills?"

"Sam informed me of the poison you have been taking," Victor stared carefully at Eddward with his rough expression. "I've found you unconscious twice already."

Eddward raised an eyebrow, folding the bag close, "Twice?"

"Twice," Victor repeated glaring down at him, "last night being one of them."

"And the first?" Eddward asked, curious.

"Being another night," Victor paused, intertwining his rough fingers together. "Why are you taking them?"

"Sam didn't tell you himself?" asked Eddward, almost amused at the fact that his father didn't truly know everything. Sam was still playing games.

"No" Responded Victor with a rough annoyance.

"It shouldn't matter to you," Eddward said, staring down at the bag in his hands, "Or are you hoping I'll overdose? Because if that's the case let me inform you tha—"

"You are every bit your mothers child," Victor mumbled out, "including her unruly habits."

Eddward stared at his father with wide eyes, it was almost as if Victor was insinuating his mother to be an addict. "She isn't," he said.

"She wasn't," Victor said, with pressed lips and a distant look, "until she tried to drown out the pain of a broken heart."

This was overwhelming, Eddward was terrified to ask for more knowing if he pressed further his father might stop speaking. But he had to try, "She took fentanyl didn't she?"

"The ones you found in the bathroom," said Victor, his face was tired and reminiscent. "They were mine, and your mother… There was a lot wrong with her then."

"What broke her?" Eddward tried to ask.

Victor shook his head and stood up, "All that matters is that she is better now, away from you and everything."

The raven haired boy frowned looking down at the bag once more. Had he been the reason his mother had suffered? Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to look for her, maybe she really didn't want to be found, maybe she was happier. "Yes, that's all that matters."

"You are allowed to leave in two days," Victor said. "They pumped out some of the drug. I'll be back to check you out of the hospital."

"And Kevin?"

"I spoke with his father, Tom Barr," Said Victor standing by the door, "He said the boy will have to stay for a few nights, monitor him. They put his arm in a cast to protect it from further injury, but he has some previous physical injuries that need attention. Perhaps a concussion."

"Is Mr. Barr angry?"

Victor stayed silent for a long moment, "No, he thinks this is a terribly and vengeful bully who attacked the both of you. Which reminds me that thanks to you, I've had the embarrassment of apologizing to the man. It's unfortunate the man is one of my patients, I might just have him reassigned to someone else." he finished the last bit in a mumble, as if speaking with himself.

Eddward was angry with his father, but had he not shown up when he did. Kevin would have been taken. "Thank you for saving him," he said quietly.

Victor said nothing, but turned around and slammed the door close leaving a slumped shoulder Eddward behind.

Maybe he would go see Kevin. He'd be fine to walk so long as he dragged the I.V. metal pole around. He needed to know how badly Kevin had been hurt. The sensation of guilt was as close to the morning Ed had called him to tell him Kevin was hospitalized the first time. His desperation nearly matched the one he had back then. He was repeating his past mistakes all over again and the guilt consumed his energy, making his legs paralyzed.

Shoving the blanket out of the way, Eddward hopped off the bed and nearly fell over. His legs were like noodles, head still fuzzy, and throat prickly with the need of hydration. But Eddward stood, he felt tightly to the pole and took small steps forward.

He found the small bathroom sink in the room and washed his face. He took a good look at himself in the mirror seeing just how messed up he looked. Dark eyes, sweaty hair, and pale bruised skin.

It was a fawl sight…

Finishing up he made his way out of the room, taking a peek outside to see if there was anyone in the hall. It was empty, squeaking from footsteps could be heard in the distance.

He dragged his I.V. behind him slowly making his way through the hallway. When he reached the end of the hallway he saw a young woman sitting behind a desk typing away on a computer. Awkwardly, he waddled closer asking her for Kevin's room when she had looked up with a raised eyebrow.

325, she had said. Eddward looked behind him at a door with the number 206. Kevin was just a floor above him. With a quiet thanks, Eddward started for the elevator.

It was a quiet, anxious ride up to the floor. There was a large fish tank right at the entrance and the raven haired teen stopped to stare at the color filled fishes swimming aimlessly in the tank. He hadn't felt like them in a long ass time, he thought. Just relaxed and free in the confines of water.

He swam, for competitions, but when was the last time he snuck into the school's natatorium and just...swam. For his own sanity? He had found an easier alternative than swimming, because swimming didn't take the nightmares away.

He ripped his eyes away and rounded the corner following the numbers up the hall.

The closer he got the more noise he heard, then when he reached Kevin's room, he stopped and listened. Lips pressed together and hand tightly gripping the steal pole of the I.V.

Tom's roaring laughter could be heard above all the other voices he heard inside. Lizzy's voice was teasing, Nazz's was soft, then a new voice chimed in laughter. It took him a long minute to place it but it had to belong to the green haired brat from Lemon Brooke. There was yet another male voice he did not recognize. He assumed it had to belong to Lizzy's husband.

Eddward couldn't walk inside, he didn't have the courage to face any one of them. How could he? He had let Kevin get hurt once again, right after he had been warned by Hunter of all people. He had been stupid.

Eddward turned back and started for the elevator only stopping to glance at the fish once again. They were beautifully unaware of how vast their world truly was. Of the tank that trapped them.

When he walked past the lady behind the counter he knew her eyes were pinned on him. "Back already?" She had asked. When no response was given, she shook her head and said "you have a visitor," her tone patient as she slouched in her chair.

Eddward eyebrows lowered as his eyes caught sight of the dirty blonde hair waiting for him by the room door. "You're a fucking mess Vincent."

"What are you doing here?" Eddward muttered out, his eyes avoiding the other. "Shouldn't you be home?"

Sam opened the door and helped him through,"I should be,". When Eddward sat down on the hospital bed, Sam stood beside him with watchful eyes. "You're not this stupid."

Eddward stared down at his lap, listening to the soft beeping of the monitor. Sam's pale hand reached for his jaw, forcing the raven haired boy to look up. "I warned you about the tombstone."

"I needed to take them," Eddward said. "We were heading off to bed, he wouldn't have known. I didn't think-"

"Exactly, you didn't think that they might try anything and everything to get back at you," Sam's fingers tightened around his jaw, "Jimmy told me I should have sent him to Lemon Brooke to keep watch. Johnny is one of them and he was waiting. Eddward Vincent should have been able to put up a fucking fight even if his leg was broken. I've trained you better than that."

"I was immobilized," Eddward said with disdain in his voice "with the drug you gave me."

"Which is why I told you to take them responsibly," Sam growled out, "Who came crying to me about his night terrors?" The blond teen stood closer to Eddward and harshly grabbed a chunk of his hair, forcing Eddward to look right up at him. "I've told you to fuck it all. The reason you have those pesky night terrors is because you can't let go of everyone and everything. Fuck them all, you've done nothing wrong and if you feel like you did, blame me. I made you do it all."

"Hate, fear and love only me" Sam continued. "They'll go away, I promise. Just keep your eyes focused on me."

Eddward kept silent and stared up at those dark eyes. What made Sam think he was capable of loving Sam? He never did, he was always scared of Sam for everything. But to love or come to love in him in any way or form was impossible. He couldn't worship the devil.

There was a truth to Sam's statement however, Eddward did need him. He needed him more than ever. Despite being such an untrustworthy person, Sam was the only one who knew him inside and out. At the end of the day, Sam has never hated him back...in his own way Sam has loved him this entire time.

Kevin didn't accept his darker side. It's not like he was proud of it, but he wouldn't apologise for his addictions and his crimes in the gang. He needed it all to survive and now more than ever to feel in control of himself. He chose to follow Sam hadn't he?

Eddward had chosen that so long ago, and just what would he do without Sam? What would Sam do without him? They were one in the same, he knew this as he stared right into the blackholes that Sam carried. An endless passion sucking him in.

"He's better off without you," Sam said quietly. "You need to let him go." Sam grabbed Eddward's shoulder so tightly, Eddward knew he would leave a bruise. "You're better off with me, Vincent. I need you. He doesn't."

Eddward stayed silent looking away at the grey tiled floor. Sam wrapped an arm around Eddward's shoulder bringing him close until he was pressed up to Sam's torso. "You know you won't ever win against your father without me."

…

About two hours after Sam left. There was a knock on Eddward's room. When he turned to look, a friendly strawberry blonde was standing at the door with a sweet smile on her thin lips.

"May I come in?" Asked Lizzy.

"Of course," Eddward said as he shyly scrambled to sit up.

"I'm so glad to see you're doing well," Lizzy said, taking a seat beside the bed. She had a small basket of food and she placed it on the bedside table. "Meant to come in sooner but I went to go buy you boys some real food."

"You needn't worry about me," Eddward mumbled, staring at the basket.

"Oh, it's no hassle," Lizzy gestured with a hand as if to say, don't you mind. "How are you doing kid?"

The genuine small touch of her small freckled hand on his leg made his cheeks flush and he looked away muttering "B-better now, thank you."

"That's a relief," Lizzy scooted closer. She stayed silent a moment staring at Eddward in observation. "Look, Eddward...I am not your mother and you have every right to ignore my advice and such but I will speak my mind as I do with Kevin since your own mother isn't with you and well men don't seem to give the same, uh, advice that women do. Not to mention that your father seems a bit...stern, but that's not the point."

Eddward stayed silent, his hand starting to tremble with the fear of what she was about to say. Would she yell as time for being incompetent and allowing her son to be in danger? Would she tell him to leave Kevin alone and everyone had so far?

He looked down at her delicate hand, it was calm and gentle on his leg. "I didn't mean for Kevin to get hurt last night."

Lizzy looked at him with wide eyes, "Of course you didn't. What happened wasn't your fault, Eddward. It was unfortunate and a terrible thing that happened last night, but it was not your fault nor Kevin's."

"What I mean to say," Lizzy stood only to take a seat on the bed. "Is that I am concerned about you and have been for a while. I've heard you have a lot of pressure on you with school and your swim competitions, and apparently with jealous, vengeful classmates. And I just don't find it healthy to be cooped up in that big empty house of yours. Your mother hated that house for a reason. And from the time I visited, it doesn't seem like your father is home much, am I right?"

He didn't know how to answer her question. Would admitting that much be giving away too much? "Something like that," he said. "He's a busy man."

"Which is why Tom allows Kevin to sleep over so often," Lizzy smiled, "But after last night, it's dangerous for you boys to be all by your lonesome. Please feel free to stay over with Tom, he insists actually. Or if you're comfortable you can even stay with me- I don't live too far- with or without Kevin. You are welcome whenever, sweetheart."

"Thank you…" Eddward couldn't meet her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to hug her right at that moment. It was like talking with Ms. Adams, the same heartwarming smile and encouragement. He missed the woman, he missed the warmth of her hugs. But he was grateful Lizzy was here, though the black hole in his chest only seemed to grow with every affectionate word she gave. If only Lizzy knew everything, she won't be welcoming him.

"If you need help," Lizzy started to say, trying to meet his gaze, "Please do not, do not, hesitate in asking for help."

Lizzy leaned over wrapping short, thin arms around Eddward and enveloped him in an embrace so warm it made his eyes go wide. He froze in her hold, unable to lift his own arms to hug her back. Lizzy's hold was like he faintly remembered from his own mother, when he could hear her heart beating with his ear pressed up against her chest. The warmth of her hold, soothing and protective fingers stroking his back, and then a kiss to his head. It made his eyes water, but he held them in.

There was another knock on the door once again, Eddward looked to see yet another woman standing there with a look of distress in her old light brown eyes. A rush of emotions ran through him as he looked at Anna Adams standing there in her pink dress with her plate of cookies.

"Ay mijo," She said before looking at Lizzy. Her eyes went even wider and mouth agape "Lizzy?"

Lizzy shared the same look of surprise except for the wide smile, "Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed, rushing to stand up and running to hug Ms. Adams. "Auntie!"

"Oh! It's been so long, mi nina!" Ms. Adams sobbed with happiness as she placed the plate on Eddward's bed.

"It really has been, Auntie," Lizzy said, turning to glance back at Eddward. "I didn't know you knew each other?"

"Yes, he's a dear friend of mine," Said Ms. Adams with a smile as she moved to give Eddward a tight hug. "Your friend Ed, let me know you were here…"

Eddward wrapped his arms around the older woman now, her golden brown hair. He didn't say anything but Anna Adams always seemed to be able to read him. She kissed his temple and did not say more, instead she turned to look at Lizzy.

Lizzy made an expression, before giving Eddward another pat to his leg. "I'll leave the two of you alone, but I do hope you consider my words carefully and seriously," She turned to Ms. Adams once more and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I hope we can meet up for some tea, Lizzy," Ms. Adams called out.

"But of course!" Lizzy waved, "I'd love to, Auntie. Take care!"

Lizzy closed the door gently behind her. It was a long time before Ms. Adams decided to speak up to break their silence, comfortable in each other's peace. The raven haired teen was flooded in an overwhelming need of Ms. Adams' comforting embrace once more, he was in need of her smile and her gentle understanding wisdom. She was saying something but he couldn't focus on what she was saying.

"Ann…" Eddward sobbed out, as a flood of guilt drowned him. There were arms around him instantly, muffling his cries in her dress.

"There, there," hummed Ms. Adams in a soft voice, "Déjalo salir, mijo."

"Perdon," Eddward cried out, clutching onto her dress tightly. "Perdon, I'm sorry…"

"Eddward...mijo, mijo mirame," Ms. Adams called out, "Look at me, please."

The raven haired boy ripped away to look up at her, he felt so terrible about everything. Of having to lie to Kevin's parents still and having to deal with the abrasiveness of his father and Sam combined. Of not knowing what was right or wrong anymore. Of hurting those around him and hiding behind his stupid cowardness. A violent crash in his mind of not knowing how to move forward and a darkening vacuum in his chest, knowing fully well he was ruining everything he cared for.

Sam was right.

"You do not have to apologize, my boy," Ms. Adams said in a whisper, "Cry if you need to, I'm right here."

So Eddward did.

He was sorry, he really was. He was at fault for everything, he was ruining Kevin...hurting Ed and Nazz. He wasn't worth the amount of effort they were putting in. He knew he wasn't worth it.

He had ruined Blaine, he was dead.

He had ruined Marie, she had broken down.

He had ruined his mother, she had abandoned him for it.

Sam and his father were right, he had to let them all go. He should have done it so very long ago, never let any of them get close. He was leading them down a dangerous path, one which all of them would ever be able to heal from. He couldn't let them sink any further, he had to let them go.

He had to let Kevin go.

…

Ed and Nazz had come in to visit Eddward while Ms. Adams was still around. The older woman stayed with Eddward for most of the day, until it started getting late. Nazz was fascinated with Ms. Adams young crazy life stories she always liked to tell. Ed sat with Eddward in a comfortable silence, only looking over at his best friend to check in on him.

Eddward had stayed mostly silent throughout the rest of the day. A forced smile popping up on his lips when Ed's brown eyes were glued to him with a concern. And when Nazz turned to ask Eddward's opinion on something, he tried to keep the response short. His lungs were out of breath and his voice quiet. It was hard to speak, knowing he would leave this behind.

But for the time being, he would enjoy it. He would ravish in the people he cared for, because their laughs and brightened eyes would be painted in his memory for years to come. Sam would never be able to rip away his memories from him. These moments were his.

When they had all left, the room was as chilly as the Vincent residence. Hauntly quiet, with the consistent beeping of the monitor and ghostly voices from down the hallway. The rain had quieted down, the clashing on the window no more but a light tapping. The lights in his room turned off bringing him back into his loneliness.

But he couldn't think, he couldn't feel. It wasn't like the drug, but the sinking feeling of loneliness. Of coming to terms with what his future would be without Kevin, Ed, Nazz and Ms. Adams. He was doing it for real this time. It was for the best, and it was killing him.

His eyes closed, basking in the moonlight. Trying to remember what it was like to float in the water in the middle of the night by himself, he had always been at peace then. An opening door woke him from his fantasy. He stayed quiet and still assuming it was most likely a nurse checking in.

But a shift in his bed told him otherwise.

Eddward turned to look at the person sitting beside him. His eyes met tender ginger hair framing beautiful green. His breath caught in his chest, he was left breathless for how close those green eyes were.

"Did I wake you?" Kevin said in a whisper.

His freckled hand was pressed against Eddward's chest, like it had been the night before. The raven haired teen had felt it there while he was falling into the nothingness of the drug. Eddward remembered wishing he had been able to truly sense the warmth from Kevin's hand that night. He could feel it now.

"How are you?" Eddward asked. His long fingers roaming the cast of Kevin's injured hand.

"I'm fine," Kevin said quietly, his small smile carving adorable dimples in his skin. "How are you?"

Eddward pressed his lips together tightly, he was fine… of course he was fine. Kevin was the one who was hurt again. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I'm so sorry."

Those soft green eyes widened, a realization flourishing in them. "Don't be sorry. It's not your fault, hey." Kevin pressed his forehead to Eddward's, and his freckled hand gripped the sheet above Eddward's chest tightly. "What happened last night wasn't your fault."

The raven haired teen stayed silent, content with staring into those green diamonds. He would engrave them in his memory too. He would engrave Kevin's touch, gentle and fierce. He would engrave Kevin's voice, silvery and fruitful when laughing. "I'm sorry," he continued to say, needing Kevin to understand how terribly...desperately sorry he was. For everything really.

Kevin pulled back just an inch observing him with those searching eyes. "You need help," Kevin finally said, his voice quiet and careful. "You need help and I'm...I'm not enough anymore."

Frozen in place, Eddward stared up at Kevin. He stayed quiet not fully understanding what the ginger was going on about. Well, rather refusing to understand.

"I haven't been enough for a while," Kevin said grimly. "I've known for a while. When you left during winter break- I think- that's when I knew. So you turned to yet another addiction to cope. So, it's not your fault...you're just, trying and I get that. But," there was a sigh there, his eyes closing now. "It's not ok, it's not going to help you long term. It's going to be an ongoing addiction, like the wine, and the cigarettes. You give up on them for a bit or reduce it, and you're present and focused then. And then you get hurt by those nightmares and your father. So, you rotate again trying to figure which one will do it for you because the wine isn't enough and cigarettes aren't enough. So you tried something new."

Kevin's eyes were red then, his lips thinned by a tremble. "I want to be enough, Eddward," he said in a willowy voice. "I want you to depend on me like the drugs and the wine and the cigarettes. I want you to forget about them and focus on me." Kevin's eyes were fierce, burning something in Eddward's stomach. "But you need help, that I can't provide. You need someone who can talk you through those nightmares. Maybe help you understand them. You've never dared to tell me what it is that haunts your dreams but you don't really need to. Because I can see you're still hurting. You don't really need to tell me anything if you don't want to, just let me hold your hand through that terrible storm in your head."

A small hand slid into Eddward's and it was then Eddward realized the breathless intensity of his speechlessness. He was drowning.

"If you ever wake up to a nightmare, or start feeling down, just turn to me ok?" Said Kevin in a quiet voice, "If I'm not with you, call me any hour. If i'm with you, just hold on to me, as tightly as you need to. If you need to talk it out, I'll listen and if you don't I'll stay up with you until you fall back asleep. I want to be enough, enough for you to let go of your addictions. But I can't be your cure, you need a professional to help you."

If he did that Eddward knew he could easily become addicted to Kevin. Oh it would be so easy to fall into that habit. But it would be cruel of him to do, to rely so much on just one person. He had tried that with Marie, and it did not end well.

Eddward was afraid of hurting Kevin in the process. And no damn professional could solve his problems, how could they understand what was going on in his head? They'd just diagnose him with something stupid, or rather they would tell him everything he already knew. What was the point in that? Send him spiraling or become nonexistent on another set of drugs?

But Eddward let Kevin's words linger in the boy's hopeful optimism. "Stay with me tonight," he heard his own selfishness croak out.

Kevin took this with a smile, knowing the boy believed this to be Eddward's response. So the ginger teen shifted into the space between Eddward and the end of the hospital bed. Kevin's chest pressed up to the raven hair's side, comfortably warm and just...right, Eddward thought.

"It's going to be ok," Kevin's smile faint against Eddward's shoulder. "You're going to be ok."

Eddward was sinking, like he had the night he had picked up Kevin from the beach party. Like the night he had let his hands wander over bruised and scraped pale skin the night Kevin had his initiation. And if he was ever allowed to let his selfishness overtake him, it would be now. Because he was drowning and he needed to engrave this want before letting the boy go.

He watched the moonlight travel over the white ceiling, the sky darkening and Kevin's hand on his chest growing ever so light. It must have been in the middle of the night when Eddward finally dared himself to move. Eddward held his breath as he slowly turned to face Kevin, his hand holding tightly onto Kevin's. He would listen to Kevin just this once, so he held more tightly. Kevin did not wake up, but Eddward didn't mind. Or else he wouldn't be able to do what he was about to do. His eyes searched the pale freckled face just a breath away from him.

Just how many times had he observed the tranquility of Kevin's sleeping expression? Too many to count, but this time it was different. This time he let himself sink further into Kevin's gravitational pull. He let his body sink, like he had several years back when he had attempted to in the lake years back when Kevin had saved him for the first time.

The tip of his nose brushed against Kevin's cheek, his heart pounding in his chest. He stayed motionless with lidded eyes, focused on the feather like touch between their lips. He would be selfish, just this once. He would have Kevin for himself, just this once. Just this once… he pleaded.

There was no space between them now. He let his lips envelop Kevin, and let out a breath of relief. His hand squeezed Kevin's hand to his chest with raw emotion, and let himself sink further into the boy beneath him. His focus sucked into how addictive Kevin truly was. Worse than the drug or the nicotine or the alcohol, Kevin was worse than all of them combined.

He wanted this to last forever and it had for a moment, though the fluttering in his chest did not slow down. Eddward knew he was going to die and it would be all of Kevin's fault, for being so damn addictive and tender and sweet and… A smooth press back to his lips halted his thoughts.

He pulled away, his eyes shooting open to see the boy beneath him. Kevin was silent and restful, his lips parted just a bit. But Eddward had felt the press of Kevin's lips to meet his. Kevin had shifted forward searching for Eddward's kiss as he had pulled away.

Eddward was left breathless once more. The boy was asleep… he wouldn't know. Couldn't know. The raven haired teen ripped his eyes away and turned his back to Kevin, bottling up the selfish craving of wanting more. Just once, was all he had allowed himself.

It wasn't until he felt his consciousness drifting when there was movement behind him. Eddward stilled, pretending to be asleep. Kevin's good hand wandered over Eddward's shoulder blades before wrapping around his waist and that round freckled nose was pressed up to the back of his neck. Kevin's breathing and his touch were warm. Every hair on Eddward's body stood up, his cheeks flushing.

He forced his breathing to be steady. He forced his desire to disappear. He forced himself to ignore the touch from the ginger teen.

…

Ms. Adams had visited once again the following day along with Tom Barr who had popped in briefly and informed him that police were waiting to speak with him and Kevin about the incident.

Eddward was honest for once… well, as honest as he could be. He had told the police he was drugged and for the most part out of it. Didn't remember much but blurry figures, and he told them about being involved with Johnny. Told them that they weren't friends per say but they had been acquaintances.

It was a brief discussion, they had been understanding. It made Eddward wonder if Sam or his father had anything to do with the lack of questions the pair of police were asking. They didn't ask about the drug he had taken nor about Eddward's relation to anything else. They seemed rather uninterested and there just to file away the fact they had talked with him.

Kevin had told him- after his meeting with the police-that the reason the fight had turned rather violent and resulted in him spraining his hand was because Kevin had managed to steal Plank and break the piece of wood in the midst of defending himself. It had caught Johnny off guard and enraged him like never before.

Apparently, Eddward's father had given his statement the day before while the raven haired teen was still unconscious. The man did not come again. Kevin was dragged back to his room by the nurses. Lizzy had come in again, and chatted with Ms. Adams quietly as Eddward pretended to sleep. He couldn't look at the short freckled woman.

Then when Lizzy left the room, he heard Ms. Adam's quiet voice, "I know you're awake, mijo."

Embarrassed at being caught, Eddward stayed still. He didn't want to say anything, didn't know what to say.

"Why didn't you want to talk with Lizzy?" Ms. Adams asked, "Is it about Kevin?"

With a sigh, Eddward turned to face the woman who was skillfully crocheting by the window. Her eyes glanced up and she gave him a smile before continuing her project. "I'm right, aren't I?" she said.

"No," Eddward mumbled out, a blush creeping onto his face.

"Sure," She said with a laugh. "Oh remember the cat I picked up a while back? Your friend Nazz took him in this morning, he liked her right off the bat." Her tone was light and conversational. But her silence after was for Eddward to respond to her question.

"Ann," Eddward spoke, staring at her wrinkled hands moving at incredible speed. He waited for Ms. Adams to give a simple hum in response to confirm that she was listening. "Did you ever love someone after arriving in Peach Creek?"

Ms. Adams paused her crocheting, her eyes in a recollection of memories. "No," she said quietly. "I was scared to love again." she turned to Eddward wanting to say something but her lips closed. "But, it's been enough. To meet children like you and Lizzy… it's been enough to watch you grow up."

"How did you meet Kevin's mother?" he asked, curious now.

"She was a wild kid," Ms. Adams laughed. "I first found her screaming profanities at the back of a church, she had so much anger in her back then. I stood in silence watching her scream and throw rocks at the brick wall." Her brown eyes were soft and her body relaxed in the chair.

"And when she had tired out and fallen to her knees, I finally spoke up and invited her for some tea." Said Ms. Adams, the blanket she had been working on, was forgotten. "Said she was just angry at her family throwing so much responsibility at her. She was the second eldest, with two younger siblings and a useless older brother. Said she wanted freedom, she wanted to fly as far away from this town as she could.

"Then I found her again," Ms. Adams smiled, "Kissing a girl in her grade in an alleyway. The girl ran away but Lizzy stayed frozen like a deer in headlights. Her eyes were so wide and red, and I knew I had stumbled upon the reason she wanted to be free."

"And I told her then," Ms. Adams stood, placing her supplies on the small table next to her. She moved to sit on Eddward's bed and placed a hand on his cheek. "I told her, you will never be free until you live authentically." her thin fingers stroked his raven locks back findly. "She came to my shop ever since, until she left. I suppose I met Kevin before you… I had no idea."

Eddward sat up, his hands searching for Ms. Adams's. "Did you ever meet Isabella Garcia? Lizzy and her were best friends."

"I met your mother only a handful of times, but yes." Ms. Adams smiled, her hand back to his cheek.

"You knew?"

"Not at first," Her brown hair bounced in the shake of her head. "But you truly resemble her so fiercely, I believe it was that adorable gap between your teeth that reassured my assumptions."

"What was she like back then?"

Ms. Adams' smile was grim, "All I knew was that Isabella was Lizzy's strength. They were joined at the hip like conjoined twins, like you and Kevin." she chuckled out before continuing. "Your mother was the only one who knew about Lizzy's interests, and for a moment I thought that maybe...there might be more to their closeness but no. They were sisters, Isabella was the older sibling Lizzy desperately wished for. Your mother was strong, independent and rebellious. Everything Lizzy wanted to be."

Eddward stayed quiet but his eyes were wide. It was like what had been written in his mother's diary. Isabella did in fact know about Lizzy's sexuality but why then why! Had it really so terribly to birth a child like him? Eddward's head was spinning, everything about his mother not making sense. Had her views changed so drastically in such a short time that she abandoned everyone, her gang, her friends, and the one person who she viewed as a sister? Had it been because she had met his father? Was Victor to blame for everything?

Why did Isabella abandon him? What happened that night? What happened that ignited a fury in his father, a fury of wanting to kill Eddward? If Isabella was such a rebellious person, why had she broken down and shut Eddward out? Why had she looked at him with such anger? What had he done to his parents?

Lizzy might know, Eddward realized. If she had been as close to his mother as she said, then she had to be holding onto some puzzle pieces. But he couldn't talk to her… it would reveal too much about him and everything. It would mean that he would have to confess not knowing where his mother was, to the fact that she had abandoned him years ago. This was a dangerous topic to confess, it could lead into her investigating so much further that he was comfortable with.

She would find out about everything, that he was lying. The gangs, about Sam and the mortal danger that he exposed Kevin to. About the bullying...and just how much he had hurt her son. Eddward wasn't ready for any of that. He was scared.

Lizzy would reject him, loath him. Tom would find out and hate him for hurting his son. Ms. Adams might even turn away from him after finding out what a monster he was. Eddward didn't know if he could bear that rejection. Nazz and Ed would be forced to leave him by their parents. Kevin would be ripped away from him far too soon.

If he could just bear another year. Just one more before it was all unraveled. When he would be of age to confess it all. Before he would leave with Sam and leave them to their respective futures, away from all the danger. He would apologize then, knowing they would all hate him nonetheless. He would let the chaos rip everyone and everything away within a year. But before then, he needed to enjoy it all, their kindness and warmth. Their love and acceptance and everything about them. He needed to keep Kevin for himself just a year longer, let the ginger boy's image truly carve into his memory.

Ms. Adams left late that night once again. Kevin did not return to Eddward's hospital room that night. Eddward stayed up most of the night, terrified to sleep without the pills but refusing to take the one's his father had given him.

In the morning, Victor had arrived promptly as Eddward had finished dressing in the clothes Ed had brought for him. The man did not greet him nor look at him, he was waiting for the doctor to come in and let Eddward go. Eddward kept silent as well, taking a seat in the chair Ms. Adams had been in the previous day.

The door opened, and Victor pointedly looked up expecting to see the doctor. Lizzy was standing there in a casual pale beige suit illuminating her freckled skin. Her jacket was open revealing a light white shirt and a necklace with a cross on it. Her emerald eyes solid and her face rigid.

"Good morning Eddward," Lizzy greeted first, before turning to Victor who had not bothered to stand up. "Morning Dr. Vincent." She swiftly said. Victor replied quietly and chastly watching Lizzy with careful eyes as she walked to Eddward and wrapped him in a tight hug. "Thank god, you're being released." she said in a smile.

She pulled away and turned to Victor once again, "I have just come to see Eddward out if that is alright with you doctor?"

"Do as you wish," Victor replied, turning to look at his phone once again.

She turned to Eddward again, "I have just been told that the kid who attacked you both will be expelled from school and held in detention as soon as he recovers from his injury."

"He's here?" Eddward asked, he hadn't thought about Johnny's condition. He needed to go speak with the teen, hopefully get him to spill who had been the one who sent him. "What room is he in?"

"Unwise," Victor interrupted them.

"Your father is right," Lizzy said, holding onto Eddward's arm. "You won't be able to see him. There is a police officer guarding him, though he is handcuffed to his hospital bed. But, it's better not to see him now, sweetheart."

Eddward heard a small growl sound come from his father, he ignored the man. He couldn't go to Johnny, not now. If he found out if Sam or his father had been the ones who somehow manipulated the police then maybe he would be let to speak with Johnny.

So Eddward replied with an "Ok," before falling silent.

Lizzy gave him a smile and a pat to his cheek before speaking up, however she wasn't speaking to Eddward, "How is Isabella?" she asked, her eyes firmly on Eddward. "We were friends you know, back in highschool."

Victor raised an eyebrow at her, his phone on his lap. "Well," he replied, face unchanging.

"When will she return from India?" Lizzy turned to look at Victor curiously. Victor's dark eyes slowly moved to gaze at his son before turning back to Lizzy. "It's unpredictable, she seems to love it there."

"Enough to not call to ask about her son, who has just been attacked?"

"It's hard to reach my wife, who is thousands of miles away in another country," Victor said, standing up. His hands placed behind his back. Eddward recognized that his father was trying to dominate the conversation now.

"When you do reach her," Lizzy pulled a small card from her jacket and handed it to Victor, "Let her know I have been wanting to reach her."

Victor stiffly took the business card from Lizzy, without glancing at it he shoved it into his pocket. "Noted," he said.

"Wonderful," Lizzy said with a smile. "Ah, also I hope you don't mind if I stop by your home once in a while. I understand you're a busy man but Eddward is still under age and needs the care of an attentive parent."

"Rumors say that is not you," Victor stared down Lizzy, "Though you are welcome in my home whenever, Mrs. Lane. But I assure you my son is in no need of being babied."

"I may have been an inattentive mother, yes. But I am grateful for Tom who has raised our son with much love and care while I was away." Lizzy's chin was pointed up, unafraid of the man towering over her. "I simply wish to provide the motherly love, Isabella is unable to. She was my soul sister and I want to look after her son. I hope it is no hindrance."

"No at all," Victor said, face stern and dark.

It was then the doctor finally came in, an eldery man with frantic hair. He spoke with Victor outside the room while Lizzy stayed with Eddward, her hands in his. Eddward wondered if this was how it felt to be held by a loving mother. He couldn't properly remember Isabella's touch anymore, too many years had gone by. He wanted to squeeze Lizzy's hand tightly, like he had Kevin's the previous night.

He didn't.

The doctor had come back in and quickly spoke with Eddward, asking if he wished he could see their psychologist. Eddward declined it.

Lizzy had walked with the Vincents until they exited the hospital. She gave Eddward one last tight hug, letting him know she would be over soon and expected him to rest. Told him the school would give him and Kevin a week off as requested by her. Told him to take care.

Then she let go of his hand.

…

Victor had dumped him at the Vincent home before disappearing again. Eddward entered the house with a sinking feeling in his stomach, paranoia hitting him. Wondering if he was being watched right at this moment. Wondering if Jimmy had anything to do with Johnny attacking them.

The staircase was dark and eerie. He remembered Kevin close to falling straight down, of being pushed over the railing by Johnny. The image terrified him. Had Johnny been willing to kill Kevin because he was told to? Or had the bully just snapped at the sight of his precious Plank being torn.

He couldn't go upstairs, not yet.

So Eddward wandered through his house, thoughtlessly. He didn't have the drug to pass out and forget about everything. Unknowing his hand opened a cabinet in the kitchen to find his cigarettes.

He took one and headed to his garage, where he found some of Kevin's tools scattered around. Lighting the cigarette Eddward laid down on the hard cold floor, eyes closed. Cigarette in hand he could smell the nicotine. It reminded him of Kevin now, of the addicting kiss and the smell of his freckled skin.

"It reminds me of the filth I really am,"

Marie's haunting voice forced his eyes open. Eddward sat up sticking the cigarette between his lips. The bitterness reminding him of Marie's acidic voice. Her mouth always had tasted sour, her hair smelled smoky and tangy.

The nicotine reminded him of Blaine most of all.

He stayed quiet in the garage until the cigarette ran out. Then he went back to the staircase, chandelier prominent in the spaciousness of the house. He forced himself to walk upstairs, but he only made it halfway before deciding to just sit there.

He couldn't stay in the house any longer.

Eddward ran downstairs, grabbing his keys and the rest of the cigarette pack before getting into the car and driving away. He drove out of town feeling restless and craving sleep but afraid of it. He drove until he reached the beach where Ed had taken him, it was lonesome and expansive.

Walking down the beach, he felt like he could breathe again. The wind light but it blew soft waves onto shore. The air was salty and fresh. It was cold, but Eddward didn't care. He took off his shoes and rolled up his pants craving the feel of the water.

It was freezing.

But he stayed in it, the water reaching his calves.

It must have been two hours later when Eddward finally stepped out of the water and sat against a boulder. His eyes felt heavy and his body breaking down, exhausted. He supposed Kevin was right, and the water was yet another one of his addictions.

…

The sun was warm on his tan skin, his throat sore from lack of water.

The streets were empty, everyone hiding from the summer heat. He was sitting at the edge of the sidewalk, his long thin legs stretched out on the road unafraid of a passing car.

Then a giggle caught his attention and he turned around to meet beautiful brown curls bouncing as Blaine skipped his way.

"I did it!" Blaine exclaimed with a mischievous smile and bright eyes.

"Did what?" he asked, looking down to watch the boy hold something tightly to his chest.

"Look!" Blaine said excitedly, He revealed a cigarette in his little chubby hands. "Today we become men."

"Did you steal those from your dad?" he said, worried but trying not to show it.

"Duh," Blaine said as he looked around the street. Then shoving his hand into his pocket and pulling out a lighter. "Come on, we gotta know how it tastes. Every cool guy has one shoved in their mouth."

"My dad says those things give you cancer."

"Oh shut it Vincent," Blaine said, focused on trying to get the lighter to work. "Everything gives you cancer. This is harder than I thought." he mumbled out the last part. Then a spark appeared, and Baline whooped loudly and put the cigarette to the lighter.

It wasn't the first time he had smelled nicotine, but it was the first time he had been so close to it. A burnt rubber kind of smell, warm, sour and earthy. And now it was on Baline's full lips.

"How is it?" He found himself asking. His eyes focused on the boy's mouth as Blaine held the cigarette in place.

"It's gross. Try it," Baline said.

"Don't want to,"

"Do I look cool?"

"Not really,"

Blaine breathed in and spat out a load of smoke towards his face making his eyes water. Blaine was heavily coughing now, but his hand would not let go of the cigarette.

He leaned over and took the cigarette and smashed it between his foot and the concrete. "I told you it's bad for you," he said, ignoring Blaine's glare.

"You should have tried it at least," Blaine whined.

"Don't need to, it smelled foul,"

"Look this way,"

He turned his head to find Blaine only a breath away. Their lips just barely touched, his breath still reeked of the scent.

"Try it," Blaine said again.

He knew he had turned away then. He had pushed Blaine away and rejected the offer telling the boy he was weird.

But he stayed in place now. This time he stayed still because he had tasted the nicotine several times enough to know the bitterness. But he wanted to know the taste of the boy's kiss this time.

He pressed forward, a hand coming to intertwine itself with his hair. His kiss was hungry and craving and needy.

"I want to be enough," the boy said.

He opened his eyes to meet olive green, freckled cheeks, and ginger hair. Of course Kevin was enough. So he kissed the teen again, more passionately to let the other know. His long arms curling around Kevin's body, bringing him closer. Pushing the ginger teen down onto the hospital bed with Kevin's hands roaming his back, and the teens knee pressing to his side.

They bit him hard. Hard enough to draw blood and he opened his eyes once more.

She was a thin frail thing in his arms. Her eyes were hateful and hurt. Blue hair stark against the dying grass beneath her. She pushed him off. "Enough," Marie said, turning her back to him. "That's enough."

There were distorted faint laughs among the grey clouds above. The grass grew more dead by the second, consuming what was left of Marie. Her body growing thinner and thinner and he begged and cried for her to stand up. For her to wake up!

There was no wind, but the air was much colder now.

Eddward had fallen asleep. It was evening now, the stars brightly shining above like jewels. He wasn't ready to head back to the Vincent residence, but he didn't know where else to go. He stood and headed back to his car. His skin was like ice, thousands of little bumps appearing, his nose runny.

He lit a cigarette.

…

Staying in the hospital for two more days longer than Eddward was enormously weary and absolutely dreadful. Kevin whined about it every chance he got, exclaiming to his parents that he was perfectly fine and would swing his arm around only to have a sharp pain strike his upper back and he would fall back onto the bed trying his best to hide his poker face.

Lizzy scolded him several times over the four days he was hospitalized with no help from his dad. Tom would shrug and say, "I told you so, kiddo."

Ms. Adams had come to visit him on the third day, finding out about Lizzy's past history with the woman. It astounded him how small this town was sometimes.

Nathan had come in twice. The first, the morning after Kevin woke up in the hospital, where the green haired teen finally met his best friends, Nazz and Ed. It had been an interesting meeting to say the least. Nazz had thought the boy was rather boisterous, in a good way she said with a small smile that told Kevin that Nat might have been a bit too much.

Nat, seemed to instantly have taken a liking to Ed. Taking a seat next to the tall brunette and subtly giving Kevin certain looks and gestures to let Kevin know of his interest. It made Kevin snort loudly, and then everyone had their eyes on him making him blush.

The second time Nat visited, he brought bad news. Told him the Serpents were relentless against the wolves for defending the Great White Sharks and, in their beliefs, for hiding Eddy. Raine was trying their best to fend off the Serpents, keep them distracted enough to keep away from Peach Creek while they were vulnerable.

Kevin was grateful for the days being filled with people coming in and out of the hospital. It allowed for the time to pass by quickly, because at night he was left to his lonesome thoughts. The nights were long and cold. He wished Eddward would visit and stay with him at night.

Or maybe that may just be his feelings getting the better of him. Of suddenly missing the raven haired boy so much. He couldn't call Eddward, his phone was taken by Lizzy thinking it better for him to find some peace of mind away from technology.

But all that piece of mind ever did was remind him of his dream.

The one where Eddward had held him so tightly, and kissed him. It had been so vivid and warm, it took Kevin a long moment to calm his heart down. When he had opened his eyes, consciousness fully awake, Eddward's back was to him. But it had felt...so real.

He wished it had been real. But it was impossible wasn't it? His fantasies were becoming all too consuming, they were tearing him apart.

When Kevin was finally released, Lizzy gave him his phone back. Kevin was disappointed to see there were no calls from the raven haired teen. Eddward didn't show up that entire day nor the next day or the day after that.

Kevin had called him twice, no answer. It made him wonder if Eddward was ignoring him purposefully or was possibly passed out on those drugs once again. He didn't doubt Sam giving Eddward another bottle.

The idea terrified him.

He hoped Eddward would trust him enough to let go of those deadly pills. He wanted Eddward's attention on him, wanted the teen to depend and crave him instead of those pills. Whatever that meant.

Kevin tried sneaking out once, desperate to see Eddward. But his dad knew him too well, Tom would always catch him on the stairs and send him back to bed warning him that if he tried to sneak out through the window that he wouldn't let him stay with Eddward for a while.

So Kevin would march back into bed, annoyed. Was Eddward even sleeping? Was he ok?

Kevin played with his cast most of the day. Trying to make use of his injured hand, but every time he squeezed too hard, it hurt badly. He couldn't even support much weight on it. It was frustrating.

Hunter stopped by to visit within the following week. Tom was always happy to meet new friends of Kevin. Hunter wasn't happy with Eddward, Kevin found out. A lot of things were happening in town and suddenly Eddward's disappearance made sense.

Every so often he could see an Eastern make their rounds around his neighborhood. Just checking it out and watching for any masked or serpent member. Yet he did see a police car stationed at the end of his street supposedly keeping watch. But Kevin suspected they were doing the same half ass job as they did with his interrogation. He didn't worry about them, but it seemed to satisfy Tom and Lizzy.

Kevin looked out his window. He felt horribly useless, he couldn't help but feel like he was leaving Eddward all alone to handle things. But what was he to do? Even Papa Aloe had ordered Kevin, through Hunter, to stay put and quarantined at home.

So he stayed put, knowing there wasn't much he could do.

If only he could talk with Johnny again.

…

Within the following week, several things happened. Lizzy kept her promise and visited twice that week, said she would be back to help him clean the house. Eddward still hadn't been able to go upstairs, he had tried but seeing the mess of shattered glass and wood would send him into the loneliness of guilt. He slept on the couch downstairs. Ed and Nazz visited three times, once while Lizzy was over and they told him Kevin had finally been released.

They told him that Kevin's arm wasn't as swollen and that he had wanted to come over but Tom had prohibited it for the time being. Said Kevin would be over as soon as he was better. They encouraged Eddward to go to the Barr home, but something in Eddward told him not to. He couldn't.

Hunter was right. He needed to be separated from Kevin.

Eddwrad had been summoned to the factory where Jimmy was waiting with a smug smile, feet on the desk. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

"Did you send Johnny over?" Eddward barked out, smacking the blond's feet off the desk.

"Why would I?" Jimmy's snakey voice sang as he spun the chair.

"Because your one of them,"

"Yes but also no," Jimmy stopped his spin and glared up at Eddward.

Eddward's eye narrowed further, the bridge between his eyebrows wrinkled in an intense anger.

"Woah there Captain," Jimmy laughed out, with his hands up. "Your Vincent is showing."

"Shut it," Eddward growled out "Johnny has always followed you around. He only listens to Sam, I, and you."

"It wasn't me," Jimmy looked up with a snarl, "Believe it or not.."

"There was no forced entry. Someone had to have told him where I hide my spare key," Eddward said, "The only people who know are Kevin and Sam."

"Are you insinuating your beloved ginger boyfriend gave the key to Johnny?"

Eddward kicked the chair Jimmy was sitting on, "I'm insinuating you found out and told Johnny."

"All of that could be true," Jimmy said, a smirk on his mouth. "Or the masked gang could have been the one who did all of that. Or it could all be false."

"Which one is it?"

"All," Jimmy said.

"Explain,"

The blond laughed, twirling the chair once more. "Who do you think it was that told your father there was going to be an intruder?"

Eddward was silent, he knew it had been too coincidental that his father had shown up.

"I told Sam, Sam told your father." Jimmy said flatly, "I just didn't know who it was going to be."

"So you are not informed of everything going on?" Asked Eddward.

"I get told bits and pieces from here and there." Jimmy said, "only when I'm needed or assigned to something."

"What the hell are you playing at Jimmy?"

"I already told you," Jimmy said uninterested,

"You want to take down Sam," Eddward lowered his brows confused, "Then why risk playing double spy?"

"Because I want my damn freedom, Captain," Jimmy snarled the last word viciously. "I'm not going to let the Dubois hold my family hostage. If I were you I would have never let Sam even look at the dorks you call friends. Might as well consider them dead."

"Sam wants me to follow him willingly," Eddward stated, "He wouldn't hurt the people I care about."

"Not until they start ripping you away from him,"

Eddward stayed quiet for a moment observing the look Jimmy was giving him. The blond was curious and amused. "Spit it out," Eddward said.

"I need the masked gang on my side," Jimmy said. "I need them to trust me. So I do their bidding. Yet I need Sam to still trust me too, so he doesn't slaughter my entire family. I told Sam about what would happen at his party, he knew exactly what would happen. He told me to look after Nazz, and so I tried to hide her until your idiot oaf ruined it and got himself nearly killed and outed me in the process."

"But Sam was still shot?"

"Well of course," Jimmy gestured with a hand dramatically as if it was all so obvious. "If he didn't let himself get shot it would have ruined my cover. That's why that little bitch had to be the one who shot him, so Sam wouldn't actually die. Not now at least."

"Do you actually know who the masked leader is?" Eddward asked, his hand shaky from the anticipation of Jimmy's answers.

"I don't know, do I?"

Eddward glared at Jimmy's sly cold eyes. "You do. So, how did you manage to recover their trust in you after attempting to hide Nazz? You were caught by the serpent."

"I told them I was making it easier by luring her out into the open," Jimmy frowned, his eyes glaring back at the raven haired teen. "Of course, they don't fully trust me now. It's going to be difficult, but the next time they attempt to take Sam's life, well, I just need to make sure the bastard actually dies."

"You think pretending to help Sam will be enough to convince Liam to let your family go?"

"It's my only chance, Captain." Jimmy said bitterly. "If it doesn't, we'll be looking at a lifetime of running and hiding from the King of Beasts and his pup. But it will still mean we will be alive, for a little while at least."

"What does the masked gang want with Kevin and Nazz?"

Jimmy chuckled again, "It's complicated Captain," he said. "Nazz is obvious...she's paying the price of being involved with Sam."

"And Kevin?"

"He's paying the price of being involved with you"

"But the masked leader isn't after me," Eddward said.

"Whoever said it was the masked leader that's after you?" Jimmy laughed. "They're after Sam."

The raven haired teen was running through every thought that bounced into existence, who could be the person who is after Kevin just for being involved with him? "Sam isn't the masked leader…" Eddward croaked out, his throat drying from every word he spoke.

"Indeed he is not," Jimmy lips wided devilishly.

"What the fuck are you saying then?" Eddward slammed a hand on the desk, his mind clouding with wildfire. "I don't know anyone who would be as jealous as Sam."

"He's finally getting it," Jimmy cheered with a loud laugh, "See what being sober does, Captain?"

"I don't understand, Sam isn't the masked leader,"

Jimmy laughed, his hands covering his face. "No, he isn't. I'll tell you that much. The masked leader and Sam are two very different people. The masked leader has an undying fury against Sam for what he did a couple years back. Business that has nothing to do with you."

"They have even more fury against Nazz," Jimmy laughed. "I'm not going to out them. They deserve their revenge on the happy couple. But if you want your princess to survive this, better keep her as far away from Sam as possible."

"Kevin doesn't have anything to do with Sam?" Eddwrad asked, "Kevin wants Sam gone as much as the masked leader, so why go after Kevin?"

"Kevin is a necessary catalyst in the matter, everything for revenge against Sam to happen."

"Did Sam set you up to it?" Eddward barked out now. "Did he tell you to get Kevin involved among the masked gang's targets?"

"I need my family alive, Captain." Jimmy put his feet back onto the desk. "If that means one less red head on this planet, then so be it. Sam wants Kevin gone, that's the fact. Even easier when he can blame it on the enemy."

"What did you tell them?" Eddward's skin was chilling by the second.

"I told the masked leader that if they wanted to get to Sam, they needed to distract you," Jimmy smirked, "If they wanted to get rid and or distract you, they needed to target Kevin."

"Then why tell my father?"

"Because Captain," Jimmy sounded bored once again, "Sam thought it would have been an easy enough job- kidnapping Kevin. Sam wanted you to believe that he had your back, that he was protecting them all. Sam thought your father would come in too late. He didn't expect that Kevin would put up a difficult fight, and the little bastard went and broke Plank."

His stomach was swirling with terror, "What would have happened to Kevin?" he asked.

"I don't know," Jimmy said simply, "Sam might have just made him disappear like he did Trevor and many others."

"What about Nazz?" Eddward asked without hesitation. Did Sam really not feel anything for the girl? Had he been using her this entire time?

"I think you can ask the princess herself," Jimmy said standing up, "She seems to have more brain than you."

Eddward glared at Jimmy. His hands turned to fists, his body tense with anger towards the teen in front of him. "Jimmy, are you telling me the truth?"

"I am," Jimmy said, turning towards the office door, hands in pockets. "Or I could be stirring a chaotic masterpiece. Take your pick, Captain. I don't care, I will win either way."

Jimmy left without another word, leaving behind a conflicted Eddward. What was he to do with all this telling Sam he would follow Sam until the ends of the earth be good enough to leave his friends alone?

But it was out of Sam's hands at this point. Jimmy had all the power.

He would let his friends go. If it meant protecting them.

…

The day they returned to school was a wild one. Kevin was surprised to find the swim team greeted him as if he was one of them. They wished him well, and were over exaggerating his fight with Johnny. It didn't shock him to find out that almost everyone in town somehow found out about the incident, it was Peach Creek after all.

The first half of the day was fast. Nazz walked with him everywhere and when he asked where Ed was, she said with Eddward of course. Kevin froze then, surprised to find out that Eddward had been at school after all.

When Ed joined them during lunch, Kevin asked him where Eddward was hiding and why hadn't he been in any of their shared classes. Ed said he was at the library the entire day doing some independent studying.

Kevin ran up stairs, bursting into the library and being shushed by the cranky librarian. He ignored her and sped walked to the back, towards their table, the furthest away hidden by everything.

As soon as he turned the corner and past the last of the bookshelves, Kevin spotted the raven haired teen. He was hunched over, head between his arms...asleep. There were fireflies in his stomach, swirling and bumping into one another. Kevin held his breath and quietly walked over and just stood there watching the teen sleep.

"I told you the bell would wake me up Ed," Eddward muttered out in a husky voice.

Kevin stayed quiet, cheeks flushed. Hands shaky, he was nervous and relieved to see the swimmer. Eddward peeked through his arms, his head shooting up upon seeing Kevin in front of him. "Pumpkin," Eddward said, a slight rose blush on him too.

"I…" Kevin tried to say, unable to find his words, "I...been waiting…" he kept his mouth shut. He didn't know what to say. But Eddward seemed to read him, because he stood and wrapped him in a tight hug.

His arm enveloped over Eddward's shoulders, hiding his face in the teen's jacket. A fire igniting in his chest once again, he felt complete. Kevin squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep inhale, taking in the strong scent of chlorine from the raven locks. Eddward had gone swimming before school.

"What are you doing hiding up here?" Kevin asked.

"I should have told you… but I don't think I can focus in a room full of people right now," Eddward said with a mona lisa smile. "Counselor allowed me to gather homework and work up here on my own."

"Are you ok?" Kevin said, pulling back to look at Eddward's face.

"I'm fine," Eddward answered, though his eyes trailed down to Kevin's injured hand. "How is your hand?"

Kevin chuckled lifting his hand between them, "Still hurts, but the swelling went down considerably. Can't really hold heavy things yet."

Eddward curled a hand around it pressing it to his chest, and Kevin's mind jumped back into the dream he had. He stared at the other with wide eyes, but Eddward's smile grew only softer.

"I'm so proud of you," Eddward said quietly, "Thank you for what you did that night. I'm sorry I was a liability."

"You weren't!" Kevin said with a frown. "It's thanks to you I was able to fend off Johnny long enough before your dad saved us."

"Still," Eddward said, his voice growing even quieter. "You were so brave and strong. So, thank you."

Kevin knew his face was as red as a cherry. Knew there was no way Eddward didn't see how red he was, he just hoped the teen couldn't hear how fast his heart was pounding in his chest.

"Uh, um c-can I, um, join you?" Kevin stepped away a bit, turning to look at the desk. "For lunch at least?"

"Of course," Eddward let go, moving to sit down again.

Kevin forced himself to look at Eddward without that rose colored filter and he noticed the ghastly dark rings under his ocean eyes. His face a tad bit sunken in, from exhaustion. At least Eddward wasn't taking the pills. "Are you sleeping alright?" Kevin asked, hesitantly.

Eddward glanced at him before looking down at his abandoned textbook on Oceanology. "Honestly, no." he said.

Kevin frowned. "Can I come over tonight then?"

Eddward smirked, looking out the large glass window. "I doubt you dad will let you stay over so soon. Besides, it's really not the best idea right now."

"Then come to mine instead," Kevin said, his good hand reaching to touch Eddward's slender piano fingers. "Sleep in my room, with me. My dad will allow that." Something ran through Eddward's head. And to Kevin's surprise, the teen agreed without his usual fight.

They spend the rest of lunch break in silence, doing homework. It wasn't long before Ed showed up with Nazz at the end of lunch. Ed stayed with Eddward while Nazz dragged Kevin back to class.

Kevin's head was then occupied with the future for the rest of the day.

…

Before heading to Kevin's house for the evening, Eddward needed to make sure Eddy was still at the cabin and that at the very least he had control on this part. He drove as fast as he could through the highway, cigarette stuck between his lips, and his arms horribly aching in an itch he could not scratch. It had been a week since the last time he had taken a pill, he had thrown away the ones his father had given him and it was making him irritable and even more tired.

Most nights, he might get about three to two hours of sleep when the night would finally knock him out. He was too scared to sleep, those nightmares popping up again, those voices laughing and enjoying his misery. He didn't cry anymore, though he did wake up with glassy eyes.

Eddward would stay still watching the white ceiling the rest of the night. Sometimes he'd stare at Jim the cactus as it happily grew in his window sill. He thought of Kevin and his words, and would get the urge to call the freckled boy in the middle of the night, but he never did.

So, Eddward would light a cigarette in the mornings before school. Breathe in the nicotine and bath in Marie's words. The feeling of filthy guilt eating at him throughout the day.

At night, he'd light another.

He needed something to hold him down. Ground him. Help him. Take his suffocating emotions away.

Eddward rushed out of his car as soon as he arrived at the cabin. He had a bag of food and necessities in hand as he got the key out to open the front door. He had told Eddy never to open the door to anyone. "Eddy," Eddward called out looking around the cabin.

The living room had been used, there was a blanket and a mug full of apple juice. The kitchen was somewhat messy, with crumbs of food all over but as if Eddy had made an attempt to clean. "Eddy!" he yelled again.

Then he spotted a piece of paper on the island. It read.

There was someone outside today. They were pacing the forest, waiting for me I guess. I'm leaving as soon as possible. Won't text you, Sam might see your messages. You tried Double D, so thanks man.

Eddward crumbled the piece of paper in his hand and threw it in the trash bin. He stared out at the forest outside. Did Sam know Eddy was hidden here? How? Was he being followed? But Eddward hadn't noticed anyone suspicious around him.

Sam was smarter than Eddward had thought. Scheming amongst the chaos. Sam was using every opportunity to get the upper hand, using everyone around him like pawns on a chess board. Jimmy had known this and was trying to leverage an escape and maybe he should be too.

But Eddward knew Sam better than Jimmy. Eddward knew that eventually the Dubois family will find him and kill him, that is if Sam doesn't find out about the teen's plans first.

Eddy was gone. Taken or not, the teen was out of his hands and Eddward didn't know to feel relief or anxious. What was Sam thinking?

Eddward kept the bag of food on the table, in case the short teen came back. He would return in another week. Just in case.

…

Tom was more than thrilled to have Eddward over.

Kevin couldn't stop giving glances over at Eddward when his dad wasn't looking. Wondering if the raven haired teen was alright, but Eddward seemed calm. He didn't know if to take this as a good sign or not.

After dinner, Kevin excused them telling Tom they would be up in his room watching movies. Tom just lifted his beer in agreement and settled into his favorite seat turning on the television. Kevin closed his door and they settled into a comfortable silence on his small bed.

Eddward's eyes were tired but his expression seemed like he wanted to talk. So sitting on the bed facing the other, Kevin asked, "What's wrong?"

"Eddy's missing," Eddward said looking outside, "For real this time."

"You went to the cabin?" he asked.

"Yeah,"

"Why?" Kevin said with furrowed eyebrows.

"I think Sam found out," Eddward said in a quiet voice, almost afraid of anyone else hearing them, "He left a note saying there was someone outside patrolling the area. So he left when he got the chance."

"Fuck," Kevin said, "what now?"

"I think Hunter is right about this," Eddward said, his eyes finally meeting Kevin's. "I think we need to keep a distance for now."

"What?" exclaimed Kevin, "Now? No way, not after Johnny!"

"That's exactly the point," Eddward said with a frown, "I need to trust that Hunter and the Easterns will keep you safe. I need to keep away from you."

"What happens if…" Kevin tried but his voice was lost amongst the memories of the night when Johnny attacked. "Who will be there to protect you?"

"Sam isn't giving me pills again," Eddward said softly, "I'll be fine."

"Eddward," Kevin scooted closer, his hands finding Eddward's waist and he tugged the boy's shirt. "You need someone to look out for you regardless."

Eddward's head fell to the side, his eyes soft and droopy, "Pumpkin, it's for the better. Right now at least. Can we please sleep? I'm already so tired."

They got ready for bed and fell into a coziness as Eddward had an arm around Kevin. The raven haired teen didn't take long to fall fast asleep, it made Kevin smile. His head tucked underneath Eddward's chin, Kevin allowed himself to let his hands wander.

Like the night he had that dream at the hospital.

Over strong shoulder blades and a broad back. Over built biceps and a carved waist. Kevin let his eyes shut and he pressed as close as he could to Eddward. Feeling the boy's breathing on his hair, and Eddward's arm caging Kevin against his body.

…

There were fights around Peach Creek.

Once the Eastern sharks started showing themselves around patrolling the street, the Great Whites found it as an invasion on their territory. The Easterns did not fight, but they threatened. The Northern Fangs were the one who fought. They had come in after hearing about the break in and rushed over to protect their allies.

Hunter being one of the wolves who lived in Peach Creek tried to mediate the situation. He yelled at Eddward to help him fix the problem, but Eddward knew Jimmy was the one causing all the chaos.

At this point, he didn't know who from the masked gang were actually members and who was working for Sam. He wished he had interrogated Trevor more… Sam had made the teen disappear long ago. Was the teen dead or dumped in the middle of nowhere? He didn't know.

Eddward tried to threaten his sharks with sending them into the cage fights if they didn't stop their rebellion. But there were some who challenged his authority, Jimmy did nothing but stand back and watch. He was losing control of everything.

Then all hell broke loose.

A small group made up of Easterns and Northern Fangs were ambushed in the alleyway by the Wolf bar in town. Their attackers, Great Whites. Eddward had rushed to the scene as fast as he could and Hunter had already been there, knife in hand yelling profanities at him as he tried to talk to them.

"Control your fucking savages, Vincent!" Hunter yelled, shoving him back harshly. "Raine has had enough of this bullshit!"

Eddward grabbed his injured sharks and hauled them to the factory. He presented them as an example in front of the rest of his gang. Mercilessly beating into them the consequences of ignoring his orders. But he knew it hadn't worked. The sharks watching only glared up at him with rage.

They didn't look at him the way they did Sam.

He needed Sam to come back. He needed Sam to control the situation. He needed Sam to fix everything.

So, Eddward grabbed his keys and made his way to Sam's home. It only took half the time it normally took to get there by the speed he was driving in. The days were getting longer every day that passed the new month. Mid February was as crisps as January but the mornings brighter and the nights more inviting.

He was still afraid of sleeping.

With an exhausted, bruised face he harshly knocked on Sam's door. It didn't take long for the blonde to open it with an unsurprised expression. "Come in," Sam said, turning to lead the raven haired boy inside.

"Sam, come back already," Eddward said, only a step inside. "We need you."

"Can't handle it, love?" Sam continued further inside his house not turning to see if Eddward was following or not.

Eddward closed the door and trailed behind Sam like a lost dog. "I can't, no," he said.

"You will," Sam said as he turned on the coffee machine.

"Sam," Eddward pleaded and stayed quiet until Sam finally turned to face him. He wanted to straight up accuse Sam of everything Jimmy had told him. But he couldn't confront Sam, he would be giving away Jimmy and somehow Jimmy trusted Eddward enough to reveal his plan. Eddward didn't want to be the one who got Jimmy's family killed. "Are you punishing me?" he asked.

"Of course not," Sam gave him the same seducing smile he always gave him. "I'm recovering from getting shot at."

"They're not listening to me," Eddward said, voice desperate. "I can't control them like you do. They're messing up everything, how are we to catch the masked gang when our own is unstable?"

"You need me?" Sam's voice was amused.

Eddward breathed out exhausted. This was it. "I need you," he said, throat caught in his words.

Sam chuckled, turning back to get mugs and pure coffee into them. Then handed one to Eddward, "You're always going to need me, Eddward. You understand that right?"

"I do,"

"I knew you'd beg for me sooner or later," Sam took a sip of his drink. "Those so called friends of yours don't help you like I do."

"Help me protect them, please," Eddward ignored the mug in his hand, grateful for the warmth and for the smell. It reminded him of the ginger teen, who enjoyed coffee in the mornings. It was why Eddward had decided to keep coffee in the Vincent home, ready for the teen to use. In case the teen ever wanted the warm bitter drink.

"Will you take my advice then?" Sam did not look at Eddward. His eyes trained to the mug between his hands.

Eddward pressed his lips, recalling the sweet kiss at the hospital. Eddward needed Sam if they were going to survive all this. "I'll stay with you. I'll join you and your father's mafia. Just… let me graduate from Peach Creek High and then I'll let it all go. But please protect them until then, I beg you."

"You're doing it for him?" Sam's narrow eyes were vicious.

"I'm doing it for us," Eddward said, knowing exactly what Sam wanted to hear. "You said so yourself, we won't win against our fathers without each other. At the end of the day, that is our ultimate goal. We need to survive this."

"That you are right," Sam said with a smirk on his lips. His eyes were focused elsewhere and Eddward knew the gears in his brain were turning. Then they pierced his own ocean blues and it sent a shiver down Eddward's spine. "You feel enough remorse to let them finally go?"

"None of them deserve this life," Eddward said carefully, "But I do. I was always meant to be at your side. So help me by setting them free of all this."

Sam gave a chuckle before replying, "Then enjoy them Eddward. I'll let you graduate from that pitiful high school. When that day comes, you better be ready to say goodbye to them all. You'll be gone without a trace in less than a day. And they'll be safe and sound in that wretched town."

Eddward wanted to cry. But he nodded, knowing that at the very least he would have a year to cope with the idea.

"Then, partners for life." Sam reached over, his hand in a fist.

Eddward forced a smirk and reached to bump his own fist with Sam's. Their eyes at a stand still as they formed this new promise, like soul bonding vows. "Partners for life," Eddward confirmed.

…

"We gotta stop moping around," Nazz whined, her hands gripping onto Kevin's sweater and shaking him as if trying to bring back life to him. "Sorry!" she yelped when Kevin winced.

"There isn't anything good to look forward to," Kevin said, with a sigh trying to put on the second movie they would watch that night, Ed's favorite Night of the Living Dead. "Holidays have come and passed."

Nazz gave a little look towards Ed, who at first looked back at her with confusion before his eyes opening in realization. "The spring dance is coming up!" Ed chimed in with a smile.

Eddward glanced over at Ed with a look that said, seriously? It made Kevin giggle and he turned back to the laptop.

"We should all go in a group!" Nazz said excitedly. "We didn't get to go last year…"

Kevin bit his lip knowing that, because Eddward and the J's had been on the hunt for easy meat bags, had been left unspoken. Eddward, however, picked up on the rest of her sentence.

"Not interested," Eddward said, and Kevin noticed the raven haired boy rubbing at his arms. The constant itching must have been a symptom of the drug, he wondered if Eddward was doing alright with the withdrawal of it.

"Of course you're not," Nazz sighed out, "You got to do some fun stuff every once in a while."

"Fun, consists of this," Eddward said, cherry ears and staring down at his phone.

Ed smiled leaning into his best friend and elbowing him, "What is this? Staring at your phone or movie night with us?"

The raven haired boy seemed to sink further into the couch, "Figure it out yourselves," he grumbled out clearly embarrassed.

They all giggled before Kevin decided to speak up. "Besides, being surrounded by sweaty awkwardly horny teens isn't all that fun. We can do something else, together."

"We never do anything school related all together," Nazz said, her blue eyes pleading Ed for aid.

"She's right," Ed said with a grin, "We've only got one more year of highschool. We should go and enjoy the night, dance for like five minutes then raid the movie theater or that burger place next to it."

"Right!" Nazz said, moving to sit next to Eddward and giving him a look. "Please?"

Eddward's eyes were set on Nazz's and it only seemed as if her relentless try to give him a puppy look was making him want to say no. "I don't do school dances," he said.

"You don't have to dance," Nazz said before grabbing Eddward by the arms and hauling him off the couch. She twirled them around once, "But we could practice. Set something up in your backyard, a celebration per say we never got to celebrate Ed recovering for the most part, now you and Kevin too! Let's do it, I have stuff back at home oh-"

"Fine," Eddward said, giving up. He looked back down, ears red.

Nazz cheered, with arms up in the air. Then immediately ran home with Kevin at her side, leaving behind Ed and Eddward in silence for a moment. None of them thought it would be that very same night, but Eddward said nothing.

"You're ok with it?" Ed asked.

Eddward shrugged, "She's happy," he said.

Ed smiled, lightly punching Eddward on the shoulder, "You're a good person Double D."

Ed's words drained something in Eddward and Ed frowned. But before he could ask, Eddward stood up and said he would start cleaning the backyard for Nazz.

The tall brunette gave his friend a few minutes by himself before making his way to the backyard to help out. The air was cold, the grass full from the constant rain, but the yard was overgrown and filled with weeds. Ed knew his friend hadn't been caring for the house the way he used to, hot or cold the guy wouldn't let the weeds grow.

He stared at Eddward moving things around, broom in hand.

…

Kevin smiled as he listened to Nazz talk on and on about what colors they would all wear to the school dance. His arms filled with decorations, while Nazz carried a box with lights in them. "You could have told me we would be bringing this much stuff, I'd ask Eddward to lend us his car." he said.

"Oh, it's not that much stuff," Nazz laughed, "Besides, maybe you can snag a dance with Eddward."

"He's not going to dance with anyone," Kevin said with a laugh, "Specially not in front of the entire school."

"No, but he just might in his backyard," the girl gave Kevin a look.

Kevin opened his mouth not believing his friend. "You're doing this on purpose aren't you?"

"Me?" Nazz said with a look of pure shock, "No, of course not."

"Liar," Kevin accused her, watching Nazz skip in front of him, "You're meddling."

"Maybe," she said with a smirk.

"Nazz!"

"What?"

"You're terrible," Kevin said, a blush creeping on his face.

"You won't be saying that when Vincent's got his arms all over you under the stars," Nazz said twirling around with a dreamy look on her face.

"Traitor!"

"Come on, Kevin," Nazz said, "Someone's gotta keep this thing going."

Kevin widely smiled, letting out a laugh because he couldn't believe it.

It didn't take long to get back to Eddward's house. The pair of Ed's were in the backyard sitting on the stairs on the back porch in silence. Then Nazz started decorating, it seemed to be a passion of hers, decorating the Vincent residence.

It came out perfect, like a movie. Lights had been hung around the porch, and little candles all over the wooden railing. Fake flowers in vintage vases, and a blanket for them to sit on later that night set over the grass.

Nazz had brought her speaker and connected it to a playlist. Ed and Kevin had been in charge of snacks and had gone out to buy while Eddward helped Nazz hang the lights. They bought fruit or Eddward, chips for Ed, donuts for Kevin and popcorn for Nazz. When they got back they made a large snack tray for them all to pick off from.

The night was finally settling in when it was all finished. Lights shining brightly, music playing loudly knowing no neighbors would bother them. Eddward watched them all on the blanket as Nazz twirled around with Kevin to I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston. Ed was already picking at the snack tray, tapping his foot to the song.

It was clumsy but fun, Kevin laughed as Ed jumped in when Micheal Jackson Smooth Criminal came on. He could even see Eddward laughing at their attempt to do the dance. The quiet laugh made his stomach flutter.

An hour later they joined Eddward on the blanket letting the songs run in the background. They laughed about their terrible dancing, then Ed got back up and started singing along to a rap song. The night turned to karaoke. Kevin couldn't keep his eyes away from an embarrassed Eddward who stared up at Ed with such a wide smile.

Then the songs changed, more calm and romantic. Nazz's doing Kevin was sure. She stood and grabbed him by the hand pulling him back to the porch where her hands settled over his shoulder and his on her waist. She hugged him tightly, and Kevin hugged her back.

They slowly danced like that for another song before she pulled away and Ed was offering his hand to him. Kevin took it with a bashful smile, but they swayed slowly before Ed made a little gesture with his eyebrow and it made Kevin look over.

Nazz was holding her hands out for Eddward to take. After a moment, he took it and they were making their way over. Kevin smiled and Ed twirled him around the porch. There was a light breeze now, a cat could be heard somewhere off, and when the song ended Ed spun Kevin once more.

When Kevin turned back around, Eddward was right in front of him. Their hands naturally found each other, eyes unwavering. The piano of the new song was playing to the same beat of his chest. Kevin felt breathless looking up at Eddward in the whimsical lighting around them. Nazz and Ed dissolved among the lights as Kevin focused on the raven haired teen.

Eddward swayed them forward taking the lead and Kevin followed. Kevin felt his face flush, his stomach felt like a fire being ignited by Eddward's touch on his waist. He was burning for the desire of fantasy to become reality.

He intertwined his pale short fingers with tan slender ones. Needing to touch the boy in front of him to confirm that Eddward really was right in front of him and safe. The look of those tranquil eyes fixed on him like never before. Eddward was drowning Kevin in his ocean.

Song forgotten, Kevin didn't know how long it was that they danced around the porch. It was hard to tell how long time had passed, he was content with staring at Eddward and consuming the feeling of their hands together, of his hand on Eddward's arm and Eddward's hand on Kevin's lower back bringing him even close.

But Eddward ripped his eyes away and turned to look out. Kevin followed his gaze and found Nazz and Ed dancing together looking away pretending not to have been staring. Kevin chuckled, hiding his blush in Eddward's chest as he turned away.

They stayed like that for another song, or two maybe three. But eventually, they wandered back to the blanket, tiredly star gazing. Kevin was between Eddward and Nazz, his hand barely grazing Eddward's hand. Their pinkies found each other and it reminded Kevin of when he had been beaten up by Jimmy before Eddward's swim meet. When Eddward had led him through the school and Kevin had linked their pinkies together.

Then Eddward drove them all back home.

Kevin tried to get Eddward to sleep over again. The teen said it would be a terrible idea, and that he didn't want to trouble anyone. So Kevin slept cold and alone that night, but with a fluttering chest as he thought back to the night. Of slow dancing around Eddward's backyard without a care in the world.

He hoped to do it again some day.

...

---

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