"The Garden Grows"
Chapter 4
Author: Kelly Min
[ kmoule@poetic.com ]
Disclaimer: You all know that Ed, Edd, n Eddy is property of Danny Antonnuci, right? Well good, then you know that they don't belong to me in any way. Ivy's my only pride and joy (hehehe).
Author's Note: Well, how's it going now? Pretty well I'd surmise. And I must admit I've been watching the show a bit too much, but hey! It really helps inspire me… like yesterday? It was the one where all the boys are attracted to Nazz at once. ~smirk~ "I feel like the nazzes on the back of my nazz are standing on nazz." Hehe. One of my favorites. "Hello? Echo! My name is Ed!" I hope you'll enjoy this Chapter, I've enjoyed writing it. :D Pretty please with bacon bits on top, read and review! :3
It was 6 o'clock p.m. on that very special Saturday evening. Over at Ed's house, Double-D had made sure Ed was locked away with plenty of movies, toast, and gravy (and with a little help from Sarah's occasional check-ins), so that this night could go as smoothly as possible for Eddy. Because if there's one thing here that Double-D believed in, it was truest love. The purest and most admirable form of it. Oh sure, he and Eddy had their times of disagreement and quarrels, but they were the best of friends. All three of them. And Double-D wanted Eddy to always know, no matter what happens in their lives that he'll be there for him, and always would be. And Ed would too, in his own special way.
Now Double-D was back home and in the kitchen, with a terribly nervous Eddy sitting impatiently in the living room (sans shoes, of course). Double-D was going over the simple menu for the evening. Nothing too bold. Homemade sparkling juice (with added sparkling cider for the "bubbling" effect), followed by a gorgonzola/pecan salad, and for dinner, chicken (marinated in a mixture of balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard), roasted baby potatoes (coated in herbs de provence and extra virgin olive oil), and a medley of homegrown vegetables (carrots, corn, peas). Dessert was to follow, homemade apple crisp, with vanilla ice cream. Ah, yes, everything was going according to plan. As Double-D was putting the finishing touches on the salad, he caught glimpse of Eddy nervously plowing digits through his jet black hair and messing it in one fowl swoop.
"Eddy, would you relax? Everything will go according to plan. If you just are yourself, the… good one I know is buried in there somewhere… she'll not only adore you, she'll enjoy the evening." Double-D said with a smile, covering both salads, and putting them in the fridge. He also put the champagne flutes in the freezer, to chill them. Eddy just scowled as per usual. "I'm not you, Double-D. I can't relax and know everything's going to be all right. For all I know I could… spill juice on her dress or… say something really ignorant!" Eddy threw his hands up in the air in frustration. The pressure and stress was building on him. He looked so different now. Black shirt, black jeans. Just a simple change of clothes, that's all it took.
"As flattered as I am by that comment, Eddy… I have to insist upon my words again, tonight will be fine and you'll wake up feeling one hundred percent, chum." Double-D adjusted his bow-tie, hidden under his chef outfit, was his waiter/host outfit. He checked the clock, my how thirty-five minutes fly when you're running around your own house, and it's not even for you. But then again, Eddy's just as important, if not equal to that. Eddy rolled up his sleeves. "I need a serious smoke." He fumbled for his lighter and case. Double-D snatched them away promptly. "Not a chance, mister. The last thing you need is smoke on your breath." Double-D wagged a finger at him, while Eddy growled. "Relax; I wasn't going to smoke it in here. I was going to take it outside. Yesh, what a hack." Eddy kicked the ground and wandered back into the living room.
"Just watch for her, Eddy. She should be here soon." Double-D's voice faded into the background as Eddy peered out the front window fearfully.
It was now 6:45 p.m. and Ivy was in her room, putting the finishing touches to her outfit. She had selected a birthday present from not long ago. A shimmering dark green gown, which was off the shoulder. Long gloves that matched it, and shoes as well. Her small purse, not a necessity, but there none the less. She wore a choker, and her hair was freshly combed. Light eye-shadow and lip-gloss, and she now walked towards the stairs and descended them. Her Mother and Father beamed and glowed, she looked so grown up and so in love. She glowed practically. "Darling, you look stunning. Have fun on your date and don't make him swoon too much." Her Father chuckled, Mother and then Ivy joining in, blush settling in as well. "Are you sure you don't need Ivan to drive you, my dear?" Her Mother asked one more time, Ivy nodded. "I am sure Mother… I want to be careful this time. I know it seems sneaky what I'm doing… but I want to make sure I am liked for who I am… not the money." Ivy would smile, as her parents would nod, watching her walk out the door. "I hope she's not disappointed too much, darling." Mother said to Father as they went back to the parlor.
6:55 p.m., Eddy's eyes darted like crazy back and forth across the glass. He did a last minute check of himself. He fixed his hair and shirt, and then walked down by the door and took one more look. Double-D came to the door as well. Double-D shooed Eddy back over to the table. "Light the candles and put on the music, Eddy. I will wait here." Eddy nodded and did as told, and then sat himself down at the table, looking at the bottle of sparkling juice in the holder, chilling as it sat. The table set, the vinaigrette and a bouquet of lilies in the middle, two candles danced on the sides. Double-D smiled as he took notice and spotted her finally. Taking a moment to clean up, he stood at the door, and waited for just the right moment, and then opened it. Ivy was a little surprised, but she smiled none the less. "Good evening Miss Matherfield, welcome to Chéz Double-D, I am your waiter and host. Please come in, your party is anxiously… not to mention nervously… awaiting you." Double-D would step back and let her step inside.
Ivy chuckled softly at Double-D's whispered words. She could agree with Eddy's nervousness, but then again, she didn't seem so nervous right now. Ivy would step inside, handing her purse to Double-D who quickly hung it on a hook and offered her his arm to lead her to the table. At the table, Eddy was beside himself. There she stood, in glittering dark green, a picture of beauty, the sweat only poured faster. He took a quick swig of his sparkling juice and stood, as Ivy took Double-D's arm, to watch and wait. He sighed; he couldn't have picked a better time to fall in love. As they appeared at the edge of the hallway and the living room came into view, Ivy gasped. "It's beautiful." Eddy heard her whisper. Her voice, like an angel sighing. Half-hooded eyes stared on in awe. "Your table is right this way, and we're glad you like the atmosphere." Double-D ushered her over to Eddy, who cleared his throat and offered her a seat, holding it out for her of course. Double-D just smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.
"Thank you Eddy." Ivy said as he pushed her seat in. Eddy coughed. "No problem." He then took his own seat. "A little "bubbly"?" He took the bottle out of the ice. She nodded. "Please." She was sliding off her gloves and getting a bit more comfortable. She also unfolded her napkin and slid it into her lap. Eddy poured her a flute of it, and then added some more to his own. "So… did you… have any problems… finding the place?" Eddy's nervousness was showing again. Ivy chuckled. "No… it was relatively easy. So… I know we don't know much about each other… so why don't we trade information, hmm?" Ivy asked, taking a delicate sip of the juice. "Huh? Oh… yeah… information. Well, I'm eighteen… I smoke… it helps to calm my nerves. I… love jawbreakers, and I… work part-time at the Jawbreaker Express… no brothers or sisters… my mother and father like to go out a lot…" Eddy's voice trailed off. "…what about you, Ivy?" The dreaded question came.
"Well, interesting… I'm eighteen as well… my favorite color is green, as you can see… I love ice skating, swimming, dancing, singing… I have a baby sister who's just turned two months… her name is Gardenia… I baby sit part-time… I'm actually quite a big fan of ballet and opera… but I don't attend as much as I should… my mother is a housewife… my father is just a businessman… nothing too much out of sorts." She half-lied, most of that was truth, but not all of it. Eddy nodded, taking another sip of his juice as Double-D appeared with the salads, and set them down before them both. "Tonight, we have Gorgonzola Salad, then for our main course we have Roasted Chicken in Balsamic Vinaigrette, Roasted Baby Potatoes, and a Vegetable Medley. For Dessert, we have Apple Crisp a la mode. Enjoy." Double-D smiled as he walked away. It was the beginning of a long, twisting evening… as the both of them started on their salads.