Things continued onward, without them interacting more than an awkward wave or nod. Weeks passed like that, and before anyone knew it, Christmas break was upon them. Most students were under pressure for a variety of things, lots of teachers piling things on to be done before their few weeks free from school.

Edd seemed to be good, though. Kevin hung behind at the end of school sometimes- just when he was going home alone- and he'd see him at his locker, getting his stuff. Sometimes alone, sometimes with his friends- occasionally Kevin would see someone else trot up and talk about club stuff, or a teacher stop and talk about an idea for a project.

He seemed fine- and Kevin shouldn't care, anyways. They weren't friends, after all. Just neighbors- Double D was just a neighbor he was curious about.

Besides, Kevin's life still went on- he still had pressing matters to take care of that didn't deal with the dork. He had his friendships- basketball games now that football was over. Truth be told, he found sports helped with that pressure inside. To throw that ball with some force, bump into someone else with a little more power than needed- the anger he was allowed to let go of.

The sports helped some- but he knew talking to Edd truly without any eyes might help even more so.

He wondered if he was getting tired, but he still answered things and paid attention in class as bright as always. Even when Kevin woke up in the middle of the night just to see the bedroom across the street have a living silhouette in it.

It was fine.

He was fine.

"Earth to Kev~" Nazz waved a hand in front of him. "Where you at, man?" Though she giggled, there was a bit of concern in her eyes as well. The way she studied him knowingly.

"Oh- uh- sorry Nazz. Just a little lost in thought. Just thinking about how busy we all get before Christmas." He shrugged a bit, slouching a bit more on the couch.

They were hanging out- just the two of them- at her house with some random movies playing in the background as they did their homework. Well- Nazz was still working on one of her things, while Kevin had finished his. Admittedly, he just copied off of one of his friends who copied off of someone else.

Listen, it got him passing grades enough he could get a scholarship for his sports, he didn't care all too much.

He couldn't help the snort at the scandal Double D would see it as. Only to feel his soul weigh down a little more thinking about him.

"Alright, that's it dude." Nazz rolled over and sat up, bumping her shoulder against his own. "You've been acting kind of weird for awhile- ever since that one party you zone out way more."

"What? No- I'm perfectly fine- ouch!" She lightly whacked him on the head, scowling at him lightly.

Pointing a finger in his face, she reached over him to grab some chips. "Don't lie to me- I know you better than that. We've been friends since, like, forever. I know how you are." She leaned back and leveled him with an expectant look, eyebrows raised.

After a few moments of silence, he sighed. "Alright, alright- it's the double dweeb, okay?"

With that, Nazz brows furrowed and he just felt his frustration grow inside of him. It's not like he could answer the questions she'd probably have.

...But at least she would understand that. She always understood him, unlike anyone else ever did.

There were still times he thought she might be his real soulmate, but then they tried that dating thing and it just didn't work out. Everyone was waiting for the day they "saw the light" and got together, but it just wasn't going to happen. They both knew that, and we're more than content to just be friends.

"I don't know, Nazz. I overheard him and shortstack, and then… that one party- you know where I said I just went home?" He saw the cogs turning in her head, until her eyes widened and he nodded. "Yeah- I went to his house at like two in the morning, drunk off my ass, and passed out on his couch. And he just took me in and even cooked me breakfast!"

"Dude; that's more than half our friends would do. I don't even cook you breakfast; I just throw toaster waffles at you." That at least got a snort out of the redhead, and he seemed a little lighter.

"Yeah, well, we talked for a bit. And I felt… I felt good, Nazz. He wasn't expecting anything of me, and we just talked about video games. No gossip, no parties, no sex- just games. And we both said we'd like to play together sometimes and I think we really meant it." He gave her a glance. "Like, really meant it. But then- I started asking him about… I don't know. Why he's so highstrung and serious. He got defensive and closed off on me. He asked me why I cared and I couldn't tell him why."

"...Well, Why do you care, Kev?" Nazz asked, gently coaxing him forward.

The internal struggle was clear on his expression, furrowing his brows and biting his lips before he let out a sigh. Head falling forth, he remained silent for a little bit longer.

"When I talk to him, I dunno, I just feel like… maybe we're both struggling with pressure. He talks about how his parents and school and everyone expects so much from him- and is it really that different from me? From us? I need to be this cool jock that doesn't let his friends down. I'm always there- for the next fight or to laugh at the "losers"-" He cut himself off at 'loser', guilt flashing on his face.

"Oh Kevin- what happened?" Nazz already knew he must've said something rude to Edd- either indirectly, or directly. Enough so the other boy heard it and was hurt.

"Eddy got on my case. Told me to back off if I was gonna be a prick and just-" He rubbed his face, running his hands through his hair. "He just pisses me off so much, y'know? I see him and I wanna knock myself out just so I don't have to deal with him. And he kept sayin' shit and it just escalated and I blew my top on him. And the other dorks. Ed said I didn't mean it but I called them losers and basically said I didn't want to be friends with them- but-"

He cut himself off with a sigh. Truth was, he knew instantly that he regret saying that to Double D.

"...Why don't you apologize to him?" Nazz suggested, only to roll her eyes and snort at the flabbergasted look he sent her. "Oh, come on dude, it's not the end of the world."

"I don't know Nazz." Kevin took a deep breath as he straightened himself out. "I want to, but every time I see him all I can do is nod or give an awkward wave. All our friends- they're all such dicks to him and I guess a part of me is worried about going against the flow, you know?"

Contemplating it for a moment, Nazz hummed. "Well, I don't think they'll care that much at the end of the day. Might tease you and stuff, but nothing too bad, I don't think. And if anyone does well… they're pretty stupid and not worth it."

"...Yeah, I know. I mean- the odds of them making any real difference to my life is small but its just- right now, you know? I don't want to spend high school feeling miserable."

"Well, neither does Double D." Nazz ventured. "Maybe he could use a different friend outside of Eddy and Ed."

Studying her face for a moment, Kevin sighed and let his head fall back. "How is it you're always right about this kinda stuff?'

"Because you're a dense boy." The cheerleader giggled, reaching across again for snacks.

"...Yeah that's fair." He grinned, snatching the chips from her hands while they were still en route, resulting in a squawk from the blonde before she began playfully swatting at him.

"God, what a thief! Here I am offering my kind wisdom, and you just steal from me? You know, you owe me."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah- I figure out your problems. You owe me payment for them."

"Well, not unless you help me with this one, last problem."

Cocking her head to the side, she shot him a questioning smile.

"How in God's name do I apologize to him?"

Kevin wanted to apologize to him, but his pride made that such a complex, difficult thing. He'd rather tackle astro-physics before apologizing sometimes. It's not that he meant to be like that- he could admit to himself more often than not when he was in the wrong.

But admitting it to another person?

That felt impossible- like if he were to do so, that pressure would pop out of his chest like one of those aliens and destroy him completely.

Nazz rolled her eyes, but fondly so. She understood his difficulties with it- they had been best friends forever, after all. She knew so much about him- she loved him dearly, faults and all. He was her best friend, and she was his best friend.

"Well, I guess the first thing would be don't show up at his house at two in the morning again."


Okay, it was midnight when he knocked on Double D's door. Not two am, so not too bad. Plus, this time he was wearing a sweater, so he was less cold.

Besides, he knew the dweeb was still awake.

The door clicked open, and he was met with the nerd's confused gaze. "Kevin? It's midnight- what are you doing outside?"

"I'm sorry." He blurted out, suddenly and quickly, clearly catching the other boy off guard. "I didn't mean what I said. I don't think you're a loser. I want to be friends with you." Oh god, that sounded so awkward and cringy to his ears.

Double D's slow blinking and furrowed brows did not aid, especially as the silence stretched on.

"Well?!" He snapped, both out of growing embarrassment and the cold settling in his bones.

"Oh- um- well." Double D shifted, seemingly gathering his bearings. "I- I wasn't really mad at you. I know Eddy and you tend to rile each other up, so I just wanted to give you space. It's alright, really."

"...So… we're good?" Kevin asked, hesitant?

The smile he was given sent relief through his system, even if he knew it wasn't the most genuine he could give. "Yes, Kevin, we are fine."

Kevin didn't stay the night, but there was a new warmth in his chest that carried him all the way to bed.

Their friendship was no doubt going to be weird and clunky, and probably awkward. But with Nazz's encouragement, Kevin was confident it would be something worth the effort.

A bit of the pressure ebbed away, and he slept peacefully.


Friendship time? Friendship time.

Kevin has a lot of pride in his soul- that and the expectations from others cause him to be rather awkward and unsure of certain things that others don't already hype him up for. Also, if you come from a family/environment where you rarely actually say "I'm sorry", it is one of the most painful experiences out there. Trust me, I speak from experience lmao

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