Disclaimer – Still own nothing... 'Cept this cold... -sigh-
A/N – Ok, so the next chapter! Hopefully of more reasonable length this time! Um, there's not all that much more to say really – 'cept thank you for the reviews (I know I've not really given people much chance to review the last chapter) and I hope you enjoy!
Dedication – Dedicated to 'Dr G' who bullied (yes... bullied...) me into getting a lie in this morning and watching EEnE tapes repeatedly... So thank you for your remedy, I'm actually feeling quite a bit better today so it must work!
Closeted Secrets
Eddy's arm broke through the screen door, ready to run to his friend, thoughts and images flashing through his mind, fear sending slight chills up and down his spine. Those questions still haunted him, pulling at his conscience. Questions to his friend's reactions when Eddy suddenly burst though to his kitchen, as to what state he and Ed would find him in. What if he were upset. What if he were angry. What if he were hurt. What if he were...
Eddy froze. Unable to move forward, stood solid to the ground. Fear's icy touch chilled every muscle in his body. He could not face his friend. There was no way that he would be forgiven for what he had done, that flame of hope was the only thing keeping him alive. He could not bear for it to be taken away.
He barley even noticed Ed push past him and through the screen door, determined to find out exactly why he was feeling so afraid. Maybe he could ask Double D. Double D knew everything, far more than either he or Eddy did. And Double D would be so proud that Ed had thought to come ask him. 'Always ask me if there is something you don't understand' his friend had always said. Ed's thoughts brightened at this, he was so glad that his friends loved each other so much and always wanted to help each other.
A quick survey of the kitchen found Double D sitting on the floor, leaning against the kitchen cabinets. The room was a complete mess, something that mentally jarred Ed. He was so used to seeing everything in Double D's house immaculate. To seeing those yellow sticky notes littered around every available surface, instead of the smears of cream and red that now adorned them. His view drifted to the refrigerator, and a spark of memory ignited in his mind. Those eggs... yesterday, he'd dropped them on the floor... and they were still there. There was something undeniably wrong about that.
His gaze turned to Double D, and immediately that feeling of unbeknownst dread impossibly intensified. Ed slowly, carefully made his way over to his lean friend, making sure not to tread on the remaining eggshells that lay in his path, and dropped to his knees so he could better see the boy slumped to the floor.
"Double D?" Ed's fingers carefully reached out and delicately lifted Double D's chin, so that Ed could stare into his eyes, desperate for the answers he so desperately...
Ed's breath caught in his throat. Double D's eyes. They were so inert, emotionless, like doll's eyes. Normally shimmering emeralds were now clouded by torment, by fear. Dead. Seemingly just like the spirit of his friend. Ed's own eyes filled with tears as he realised exactly what was going on. Why Double D was so lifeless. Why the windows to his soul were misted by terror. And exactly who was to blame.
"I'm so sorry Double D! I really am! I didn't mean to make such a mess. I'll clean it all up see?" To prove his point, Ed scooped a pile of broken eggshell from the tiles and threw them in the direction of the nearest dustbin, not noticing that he had completely missed his target and had instead sent the mess of cream and yellow splattering all over the wall. When he received no response from his friend he rested his great hands on Double D's shoulders, gripping the frail, almost skeletal form that Double D had become, and desperately shook him, backwards and forwards, violently attempting to shake him out of whatever trance had taken over his mind.
"Double D! Please talk to me! I'm so sorry for messing up your kitchen! I didn't mean to – honest! I'm really, really sorry Double D!" Still no movement. Ed choked words of sorrow through his sobs. He was so disappointed in himself. He had let his friend down so terribly. He knew how terrified Double D was of mess and chaos – almost as much as he was afraid of soap! How could he not have stopped to think what his carelessness would do to the boy? Tears streamed down his cheeks in an attempt to rid his body of the guilt, of the sorrow.
But why wasn't his friend answering him? Why was he not yelling, screeching like he always did whenever Eddy or Ed did anything messy or wrong or mean? Usually those high-pitched wails scared Ed, usually he so desperately wanted them to stop.
But now, they were all he needed to hear.
Woo! Cliffie! Again! Ok, so that was even shorter than the last, but still... It builds suspense much more this way mwhahahaha! There is one more mini chapter to come to complete this 'scene' before we get back to the real length chappies! Yay! I would really love to post chapter 19 tonight, but a history essay that is due tomorrow might just prevent that... but I'll see what I can do... For now please continue to review! Salutations kids! -Flies off to history essay land-
