Disclaimer - I STILL own diddly squat
A/N - Here we go, a second chapter - thank you kindly for all your reviews They gave me the drive to write the second of the three chapters I have decided to type up. So ENJOY!
Dead Popular
Her legs grew tired as she headed toward the lane in search of someone's company. After her visits to Sarah and Johnny had proved unfruitful, she thought about returning to the clearing where the Eds had set up their latest (and in Eddy's opinion greatest) scam that morning in the hope that they were still there, waiting to pounce upon the next unsuspecting passer by to try out their 'Triple E Go-Karting'. Nazz knew that re-visiting the eds could prove a set back if she were to re-cement her friendship with Kevin anytime soon, but the street was so deserted at the moment – what choice did she have?
Her only comforting thoughts at the moment were that, possibly, just possibly Kevin was feeling as bad, if not worse, than she was about their latest difference of opinion. However, as she passed by Rolf's house this thought was soon proved to be wrong.
The thought had crossed her mind to visit Rolf, but out of all the kids in the cul-de-sac, Rolf had always been the one who Nazz had never really seen eye to eye with. Not because they did not act friendly toward each other – Nazz found Rolf and his random sayings to be a real charm, but Rolf was possibly the only boy in the cul-de-sac (aside from Jimmy) who had never really felt any of the effects of her feminine ways, Possibly due to his advance in years over her own, or maybe because the lines of flirting did not cross cultural boundaries, Rolf usually had to strain himself to understand 'go-go Nazz girl's trendy expressionisms' – but whatever it was, Nazz could not receive the same reaction from Rolf than she could from the other kids. Besides, Nazz did not think that she could stomach any stories of Rolf's Great Nano's battle against her ingrown toenail today, or any of the other disturbing health problems that surrounded Rolf's extended family.
But now, as she passed by his drive she saw Kevin and Rolf – instead of having a heart to heart about how to win back Nazz's affections – enjoying a chaste game of basketball before Rolf was needed to return to his chores. Nazz stopped briefly to watch the foreign boy frown as his shorter companion fell about in laughter after rebounding the ball so that it hit the unsuspecting Rolf on the back of the head. Her eyes narrowed as she realised that he wasn't hopelessly upset about their argument as she had expected, in fact he didn't seem phased at all. Kevin stopped laughing when he saw her slim form across the street looking straight toward him and briefly held her gaze before turning back to Rolf with a cry of
"Hey Rolf, up for another round?" Nazz span on her heels and ran into the entrance of the lane as fresh, angry tears began to escape her eyes. What was it with Kevin? She was the most popular girl in the neighbourhood! He should be lucky that she should even consider talking to him! And yet, when he was with Rolf or any of his other – more important friends – he looked right through her, as though she were simply an accessory that he could adorn upon his arm to make himself took even better than before, and then sitting back to absorb all of the jealous glances shot in his direction with a smug grin.
She didn't even realise how far she had run until she heard a familiar shrill voice barking out commands to his two friends who were milling around his feet trying manically to remove all evidence of their morning's venture. Nazz guessed from the panicked expressions they each wore while rushing round could have only been emitted from one source – Sarah. She smiled inwardly
"Guess now I know how Jimmy hurt his arm," she said softly. She watched in fascination of how effective Eddy's leadership skills really could be, and marvelled as to how obedient both Double D and Ed were in following his commands. The Eds were the misfits of the cul-de-sac. She knew that quite well, but still there was a certain presence about them which meant that she could not condemn them as easily as the other kids of the cul-de-sac seemed to.
Eddy did not notice her presence until she tapped him gently on the shoulder
"What!?! Can't you see I'm busy here???" yelled Eddy
"Sorry dude" Nazz said softly. Eddy turned round and suddenly the steely look that had once graced his face was replaced with an extremely nervous expression.
"H-H-Hey N-N-Nazz... What's up" as once again his expression changed, this time forming a smug smile "Still mad at ol' bazooka chin huh?" Nazz giggled at the familiar nickname that Eddy had often given to Kevin in the past. She gazed at Eddy innocently, out of the three Eds, Eddy was always the first to succumb to her feminine charms, but as she stood in front of him, a voice in the back of her mind told her that Eddy was no better than Kevin. Suddenly, she realised that this voice was right! Why else would Eddy ask about Kevin immediately if not to prove to his own ego that the hottest girl in the cul-de-sac was right here, talking to him, and not talking to his rival. Eddy's ego had always proved a problem to Nazz. Sure, at first his comments of self-reverence seemed cute, but after time anyone would think that he actually thought all the words he spoke to be true – and Nazz whole-heartedly believed that he did. However, Eddy had always proved to be a very useful element when it came to getting her own way when it came to Kevin. Their bitter rivalry was exactly what she needed in order to bring Kevin round to her way of thinking.
Now, however, Nazz was beginning to realize that it was not her that used Kevin and Eddy to her own advantage, but rather it was they who exploited her in order to fit in with their own childish games of rivalry.
"Yeh, I guess so" Nazz half heartedly stated in reply to Eddy's question. She again focused her eyes on Eddy, who she could see was becoming more nervous by the minute. A crimson blush had spread across his already naturally flushed features and she noticed his hands were trembling slightly. A small smile played across her lips as she watched his reaction, and this was enough to scare the poor guy off completely
"Excuse me, I think I hear my... uh... phone... yeah... bye Nazz..." eddy stammered before making a hasty retreat in the direction that Nazz had just emerged from. Nazz frowned. 'Is this going to happen with everyone today?' she wondered.
She was suddenly jarred from her thoughts as she heard a commotion a little to her left. Ed had apparently found an easier way of removing the 'Go Karting' sign than the method that Double D had suggested by simply breaking off one of the thin supports holding the sign in place
"The sign is down Eddy!" bellowed Ed as the pieces of coloured card and wood that had been used to create the sign fell to the ground around him, and he stood in place with a vacant grin, apparently awaiting the next set of orders from Eddy without noticing that his leader had disappeared. Nazz smiled at Ed, he really was a sweet guy, and always able to make her laugh. She had always felt it a little unfair, the way that the other kids underestimated Ed. Sure, he wasn't exactly bright, but still, Nazz could tell that deep down he had good intentions. And, if her thoughts of him were true, that meant that he at least could provide some comfort to her. She walked up to the large boy and waved slightly
"Hi Ed"
"Hello Nazz!" Ed grinned. Nazz smiled to herself – well, at least he hasn't run off yet she thought to herself. She was about to launch into a full scale explanation of her problems (she knew that Ed probably would not understand most of what she had to say, but somehow that was better than if he were able to comprehend every word she said. At least this way she could be listened to without having to worry about being judged) when she was interrupted by the shouts of the third of the group.
"Ed! That is not how you were supposed to take down the sign! Look at the mess you've made now! You had better clean all of this up mister!"
Nazz sighed. It looked as though she was not about to get her time alone with Ed after all.
"I am sorry Double D, but it is ok! For I have a shovel." shouted Ed as he produced a shovel from beneath the pile of rubble he had created and began digging the Earth around it muttering "dig and hole, dig a hole" with each movement. Double D watched Ed tiredly before turning his attentions toward Nazz
"Sorry if he was causing you any bother Nazz, but you know Ed, he just can't help himself sometimes..." Nazz's concentration wavered as Double D continued apologising for Ed and for the state of the lane around him. She couldn't help it. There was something about Double D's voice that just begged to be ignored, besides, Nazz could never understand half of the things he said anyway. Whenever she was in front of Double D she knew exactly how Ed felt when he couldn't quite understand what was going on around him.
"Nazz? Are you ok?" she was suddenly awoken from her thoughts at the sound of her name
"Sorry Double D? What did you say"
"I said are you ok? It looks as though you've been crying..." Nazz gently reached up and touched her own cheek before holding her hand in front of her eyes and seeing the back smudges which now adorned her fingertips. Apparently her mascara had run down her face when she had been crying earlier. Why hadn't any of the others noticed it? The answer was clear to her – the kids of the cul-de-sac hadn't noticed because they hadn't bothered to notice. To them, Nazz was simply the neighbourhood 'it girl' – the cul-de-sac eye candy, they did not feel that she had any real emotions of her own at all. She felt her eyes sting with tears and before she could control herself she had grabbed Double D and began sobbing onto his slender shoulder. Double D was visibly shocked by this action and as Nazz clung tighter to his red shirt he nervously tried to calm her broken spirit. Nazz was, at first, endlessly grateful of the slight boy's compassion. Double D was always the reconciler of the cul-de-sac, and to many the backbone of the whole structure of the neighbourhood hierarchy. Always caring, always dishing out brilliant advice, always polite. Her eyes rapidly flew open at her last thought. Always polite. She suddenly pushed herself away from Edd and looked at him suspiciously. He fixed his concerned gaze upon her; emerald eyes glazed with sympathy, and tried to hide the expression of utter discomfort that he could feel creeping upon his face. Double D had never been much good at disguising his emotions. Nazz had always wondered about Double D's compassion toward many of the kids in the cul-de-sac. It had always seemed too good to be true. That one boy could be so understanding toward the very people who usually judged him, simply because he was different to them. But her earlier thoughts had been right. Double D was always polite. Polite enough to listen, polite enough to give advice, but not always polite enough to be completely sincere. She glared at him.
"You're just like all the others! Don't pretend you're not because you are!" Double D simply stared with a stunned expression as she performed this outburst of rage before racing back down the lane toward her home. Double D sighed. He didn't think he'd ever understand women...
So there you have it! What is Nazzy gonna do now? I'm glad that you feel I've breathed some life into Nazz's charecter coz that is what i was hoping to achieve with this fic. Please R&R to inspire me to write more runs off to retrieve video that has hopefully taped all of today's 12 hour EE'n'E marathon...