Disclaimer - Own nothing but my new sparkly 'Secret Window' DVD -huggles Johnny Depp-
A/N - Yup, I'm here again kiddies! Chapter 22, wow... that's a huge number... I have no idea as to just how long this is gonna take to complete... I guess I just gotta go with the flow... Thank you to all the wonderful reviews I have received yet again from you guys, you never cease to put a smile on my face after a long day of college.
And to be honest, to the people who have flamed me within the last week or so have also managed to make me laugh, because they are so simple minded that I can't help but pity and humor them. For instance, whoever reviewed one of my other fics stating "Slash is gay"... yeah... thanks for that... I'd have had a hard time figuring that out by myself... Funnily enough that review disappeared after a couple of days... hmmm... wonder why....
I suppose I could sympathize with people who maybe want a few hetro relationships thrown into the mix, I myself often think that I should write a straight couple fic as I have written so much slash recently - that's fine, and I guess if you put it like that it's kinda constructive, but to say "Why cant anybody write a normal fic where none of the Eds start fg each other as soon as the others back is turned? It's stupid and its sick. there is no room for this idiotic rubbish on thie site. Get rid of it" Is not constructive in any shape or form. Also, I hate swearing. It shows people up to be the Neanderthals that they really are when they can't even stick to constructing a sentence of actual English. I am never, ever going to listen to anything that isn't properly reasoned or just barrages me with a string of swear words. Telling me and the other slash authors to stop writing is just a waste of our time and of yours. Never mind telling ME to get a life 'slash hater'...
And as for going to Hell coz slash is not natural.... I'd insult you with wit and intelligence, but I know that it would be wasted on you. Instead, go poke yourself in the eye with a fork...
Sorry bout that... I will get onto the fic now... enjoy!
Closeted Secrets
The door slammed against the wall, sending a loud tremor throughout the room as the boy stormed though, footsteps sounding heavily across the cold stone tiles of the kitchen floor. He stopped moving forward and pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to steady the headache that had pounded through his mind ever since he had woken up after a night of such restless and troubled dreams.
Searching for a packet of painkillers in various cabinets, his eyes finally rested on the large bottle of whiskey that stood on the counter and swept it into his hands. Was it alcohol that got him into this mess in the first place? Maybe, but then it was not alcohol that had caused him to lash out this morning. He pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat down, reaching for the glass that still lay on it's side where he had left it last night and poured himself a large drink. A hand ran through the mass of blonde hair that still lay in a tangled mess, he could have afforded no distraction this morning to stop and perfect it, and Ed's hundred year old, paint splattered hairbrush hadn't helped matters much either. He sighed, cradling the glass between his hands before taking a swift drink of the whisky, the bitter sting of alcohol burning his throat and lingering on his breath, reminding him of how he had felt the night before as he sat in that very spot.
Yesterday he had everything, and now... Now he had thrown all of that away.
Lifting the glass before his eyes, Eddy stared into the liquid, looking for the answers he desperately needed. That's all alcohol was right? The answer to all life's problems. He had needed it last night when his nerves were getting the better of him, and now he needed it to help him correct everything that had gone wrong as a result of that. Right?
He set the glass back to the table, before swiftly drawing back his arm and knocking the glass across the wooden surface, sending it sliding off the edge of the table and flying into the kitchen wall. The glass shattered instantly into thousands of glittering pieces which fell to the floor along with the dark liquid that slowly dripped from the wallpaper. He didn't need anything to dull the pain. He was already numb.
A familiar voice echoed through from the back garden as Ed bounded into the room through the already open door.
"Eddy! I got all of the stuff I need to make my comics!" Eddy lifted his head slowly as Ed presented him with the large box that he had been given by Double D.
"Hey, that's just peachy Ed..." Eddy started softly, before giving in to the anger and aggravation that swirled around in this mind. "Now go draw them... at home!" Ed looked hurt for seconds, before his grin brightened once again, apparently forgetting the harsh tones Eddy had just used.
"Can't do that Eddy, Sarah's got the house and won't let me in. I asked Double D, but he said he's doing something secret and can't be disturbed... So I came here!" Ed's loud voice caused no relief for Eddy's headache, but he knew there was no way that he could send him away now, not if he had nowhere else to go.
"What kind of big brother are you? Letting Sarah boss you around like that? Well, anyway, ok you go into the living room and start up... I'll come and help you in just a second" Eddy's voice becoming softer with each word. He felt guilty for shouting at Ed. None of this was his fault after all. Ed pulled the box back into his arms and nodded approvingly before heading to the lounge. He had been taken by surprise by Eddy's offer to help him. Eddy usually left him and Double D to do most of the work, Ed guessed that was just part of being a good leader. But maybe this was just Eddy's way of saying thank you for all the helping Ed had done that morning. After all, now that Double D was happy there would be no more problems.
Eddy watched him leave, glad of the chance to take his mind off everything that had happened. Maybe spending the afternoon with a felt pen covered Ed and an array of brightly drawn comic book monsters was not the best of activities, but at least it was better than lying here alone with only a bottle of alcohol for company.
"Ed! Wait!" Ed halted in the doorway, turning back to face his leader "You say that you went to see Double D?"
"Yep. He gave me this box... cool huh?"
"Yeah Ed, spiffy... But how was he? Was he ok?" Eddy was almost afraid to ask in fear of the answer he might receive. Ed thought for a second, realising that when he appeared at Double D's house he had expected the boy to be completely fine after the return of his hat, but had he been looking close enough? Double D had sounded ok... but then why had he let his bangs fall so purposely around his face, shadowing his eyes. Why had he not looked at Ed once in all the time he was there?
"Um... I'm not sure Eddy... I think he's ok though, he's got friend's like us remember" Ed turned back to the living room, moving out of sight to settle down on the cream carpet with various piece of purple paper. Eddy's eyes stung with the threat of tears. How could Ed be so naive and innocent? How he wished he could go back to that. Back to how things had been before. Before last night, before Kevin's threats. Back when they were children, when their only concern was where the next lot of money was coming from to buy another round of jawbreakers. Eddy sighed, pushing himself up from the kitchen table and following Ed through into the living room. At least now that Ed had distracted him for the afternoon, Eddy knew that there was no way that he could upset Double D even further. Until tomorrow at least, when Eddy would again find the need and the confidence to turn up on his doorstep again.
Until tomorrow Double D would be completely safe from pain.
Hooray! Another Chapter added to the mix! and another suspense dealy! yay! And this chapter uses two of my favourite all time words! (namely 'spiffy' and 'peachy') so I'm happy... So, as always, review - or flame if you really want to give me a good laugh - and I shall update soon! (I've got this week off college -does happy dance-, so I might be able to post an extra chapter or so mid-week)
Sorry bout my earlier ramblings... but hey... flamers are worth nothing but our pity and our pathos...
