There had been eyes on the back of his head all day- a familiar glare that hardly weighed on him for the most part, but today there seemed to be something even… heavier about it.

Kevin was used to this particular glare when he won, or when he said something pretty rude about a particular trio of friends. It tended to follow him around all day at school, its ferocity never ebbing away- you'd think that over time it'd fade as the owner of the glare got over it, but that would assume he was capable of getting over it to begin with.

And if anyone could hold a grudge, it was definitely Eddy that was for sure. Kevin was sure his grave would say something spiteful like "I may be dead but I did better than Shovel-chin." If he died after Kevin, he'd probably just want to put his grave on top of Kevin's to continue spiting him.

It didn't get better throughout the day- by the end of it, the shorter boy was approaching the jock, seemingly to confront him about whatever issue he had. It wouldn't be the first time, and Kevin was sure it wouldn't be the last time, either.

"Hey Shovelchin-!" He was cut off, Kevin's rising anger turning to confusement as Ed and Double D approached Eddy and interrupted the obvious confrontation- confusement turned to vague disappointment as Double D seemed to pay no real heed to Kevin.

That kinda hurt, but Kevin wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because he liked talking to him on Saturday, and he wanted to keep that up, rather than distance.

But why? Why was he doing all this stuff? Why did he go to his house? Kevin didn't know and it was stressing him out- he wanted to scream at the sky and get this pressure out of him. Why was it so wrong to desire more than being distant neighbors that had awkward conversations here and there?

"Get- off- of- me!" Eddy squirmed and thrashed against Ed, who simply laughed with glee. "Lumpy!"

"Awe! Eddy!" Ed smiled a big, dopey grin that made Kevin snort. "Were you going to invite Kevin to be our friend?" He finally let go of the other boy, whose scowl only deepened.

Why on earth would Ed say something like that?

Kevin sent a look to Double D, but he was expertly keeping his gaze from him… albeit he was worrying his lip, as though in thought and considering things.

"Ed, I believe Eddy was approaching Kevin to discuss something else- it was rather rude to interrupt him…" Double D scolded gently, finally throwing a glance and-thank god- a smile towards Kevin. Maybe it was one of those forced smiles, but it was definitely better than him outright avoiding him.

Why did it matter that he smiled at him.

Why did Kevin care if he smiled.

Why did he go to his house.

The pressure was too much and it just kept mounting higher and higher, endlessly so.

"I was going to tell him to lay off of sockhead if he's going to be a prick." Eddy finally snapped- getting a glare from Kevin. He didn't notice the way Double D sent a similar look to his friend.

"You don't get to tell me who I can and can't be friends with, shortstack." Kevin hissed, stepping closer to loom over the shorter boy- to his credit he didn't flinch or cower in fear or try to weasel out.

"That's not what I fucking said!" Eddy snapped.

"Eddy! Language- we're on school grounds." Double D quietly admonished, but was ignored by all but Ed, who made a comment about how he was behaving.

"Really, because sounds to me like you're telling me to lay off-"

"If you're gonna be a jerk to him!" Eddy repeated, clearly aggravated he had been misunderstood once already. "During school you're an ass- especially with your friends!" Eddy poked him in the chest rather hard, and Kevin reacted by shoving him back.

A fight was going to break out- Kevin wanted the fight- needed the fight.

The pressure wasn't going to stop- but he could let it go if he just threw one punch- one mean word- he could do it- set himself free from this aching feeling in his chest that just begged to be let out.

"Well who says I wanna be friends with the nerdy dweeb anyways?!" Kevin threw his hands in the air, taking another step forward to back Eddy against a wall- cornering him- forcing him to fight back and Kevin knew he would. "You're all just a bunch of losers- a bunch of nobodies that no one wants to hang out with. You never grew up, and you never will!"

He said that in anger, and he knew it immediately- there was a small look of satisfaction on Eddy's face as though he had been proven right.

He wanted him to say something taunting or snarky- something for Kevin to have the justifications to punch him. Just once- but ideally more than that.

The pressure it was so bad and god he was such a bad person that the only way it could be released was by beating someone up but he needed it so badly the pressure was so bad-

"Awe, you don't mean that Kevin!" Ed laughed, waving it off, successfully intervening as the biggest of the group. When Kevin looked at the other two, Double D had that tired expression back, and was actually zoned out. When he noticed the redhead staring, he schooled his features to something polite, sending Kevin a smile.

For some reason, that smile after he said that only made him feel worse. Double D was smiling at him after he threatened one of his best friends and tried to instigate it. Double D was smiling at him after he said they were all a bunch of losers and he didn't want to be friends with him.

Double D was smiling at him with a fake smile because that was easier on his pride to express- it was easier to express a smile rather than a sad look. A disappointed look that Kevin could just laugh and mock.

You actually thought we could be friends? You and me? What a fucking joke.

He needed to apologize to take it all back.

The pressure kept building and it wouldn't stop-

"What makes you so sure, huh?" Kevin taunted- he didn't know why. Ed gave him the chance to back down, apologize- to say he was right and he didn't mean that.

There was no denying that Kevin wanted to be friends with Double D.

Ed was right, he didn't mean what he said.

The pressure was so bad and just kept mounting and building and it hurt- it hurt so much- he just wanted to scream at everyone-

"Gentleman, we should be on our way." Double D swiftly and easily cut in. "You still have work after school, Eddy. It wouldn't do to be late, not with Thanksgiving so close."

The shorter boy took a deep breath and while his brows remained furrowed angrily, he backed off.

"Apologies for disturbing you, Kevin. Eddy can be rather protective and angry. We'll leave you be now- I have much to do when I get home, anyways, and this is taking up precious time." Double D stated, tone soft yet firm.

The three boys quickly left, and Kevin was left with a bitter taste in his mouth.

The pressure didn't go away, but he willed it to at least fall silence so he could finally go to his locker, get his books, and just go home.

Something about Eddy just infuriated him, brought out a fight he didn't actually want to do. It didn't help that every time the shorter boy came into topic amongst his friends, they just egged his hatred and anger on further- encouraged him to insult him, to throw a punch- anything but rational conversation. Anything but listening.

All in all, he had to admit they weren't that different, after all. Eddy just did the same thing for Double D as Kevin has done for Nazz- but he didn't want to admit that. To anyone much less Eddy.

The argument was hardly exciting- it was just Eddy losing his temper after holding onto that anger all day, and Kevin lashing out at them.

Lashing out at Double D, despite wanting nothing more than to invite the guy over to play some video games and just hang out in a way he hadn't been able to in so long.

With his football friends, a lot of it felt shallow- their friendship would crumble when high school ended, only those going to the same college maybe staying in touch.

He opened his locker, and he found a plastic bag with some cookies in them.

Letting his head fall back, he sighed.

The pressure wouldn't stop.


This chapter was kinda difficult for me to write, ngl. It's hard for me to write fights- and in all reality, this fight and scene probably wasn't that long or exciting to the other boys. It seemed as normal as ever, just a few minutes where Kevin and Eddy argued and Kevin seemed irritated.

Kevin on the other hand has a much bigger whirlwind going on internally, and I want to take a peek at it.

Initially when I began writing this, it was suppose to be more Edd centric, but now they both have problems they gotta work through.

ANyways! Thank you for reading and especially thank you to those who comment~ they make me feel really nice uwu