Edd

Closing the door, Edd managed to silence some of Eddy's babbling. Although, in a sense, he was grateful for the constant stream of verbal conversation now that the three of them lived together. It won't be like home, all of those stupid sticky notes. Edd shook his head and turned on both faucets, checking to see if they worked. They did. The plumbing and electricity worked but the Phone Company still hadn't sent anyone to install the phone line.

"Double D, what are you doing?" Eddy called through the door. Edd opened the door and smiled at the now eye level friend. Eddy had grown, but still wasn't as tall as his brother.

"Testing." He said and pushed past Eddy.

"Yeah whatever." Eddy muttered. Still he followed Edd into the living room.

"Where'd Ed go?" He asked. Edd went into the kitchen and open the refrigerator. He took out a soda, closed the door, and turned around.

"He said he was going out for a walk." He replied and opened his soda. Eddy sat back down in the armchair.

"What do you think of Suburbia?" He asked, his voice now edged by maturity. It had been a long time since their childhood days.

"I like it well enough." Edd answered before taking a gulp of soda. He sighed and then walked into the living room where he sat on the couch.

"I heard that Sarah, Jimmy, Kevin, and Nazz all live in the same complex a block or two away." He stated. Eddy shrugged and gazed toward the door.

"It doesn't matter, I'm sick of them." He replied.

"Sick of that life." Edd mumbled. Eddy either didn't hear him or chose not to respond.

"So have you spoken to your parents about your things?" Eddy asked suddenly. Edd flinched and said nothing. Eddy turned to him, and Edd saw his eyes filled with brotherly compassion.

"I'm sorry, I forgot." He apologized. Hearing those words still startled Edd, but he had gotten used to it slowly over the years. The compassion, sincerity, and maturity came after Eddy's brother's disappearance and the loss of his first girlfriend.

"I'm going to lay down." Eddy said as he stood. He turned and walked down the hall to his bedroom. When Edd heard the door click shut, he leaned back into the chair and sighed.

When they were kids, they seemed oblivious to their families. Edd was so consumed with cleanliness and science that he never noticed his absent parents, not until high school. Edd also never noticed how up tight his life was, not until Christina. And he never noticed that he was so controlled by his friends, not until the Incident. And then came all the introspection and therapy. Everyone was going through therapy at that time. But Edd felt his self worth lower at this injustice; he was supposed to know everything but he just found out he knew nothing about himself. Middle school worsened that with its normal experience, the teachers, the puberty, the girls, everything seemed to be out to get him. But his freshman year in high school, he met Christina. He stayed with her for two years till they both just drifted apart. But Edd came out being stronger and knowing who he was. But the Incident also happened in high school. Eddy had another plan, one for Homecoming, but Edd wanted no part in it. When they left him alone, he realized he was nothing without his friends. The power shifted though, after Eddy's transformation, and was an equilibrium of sorts. Now it was the summer before their freshman year at college. Ed was going to Minnow Liberal Arts College, while he and Eddy were going to attend Lake Braddock University. So, they really had grown up.

"Double D?" A voice asked. Edd sat up and found Ed standing in front of the door.

"Oh, you're back." Edd said and stood.

"I ran into Sarah." Ed replied.

"So they do live around here." Edd murmured.

"I also ran into some girls moving in." Ed said.