Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy, nor do I own the bands Cradle of Filth or Gorgoroth. The rest is mine though.

Chapter 3

'Hey Double-D, it's Eddy. Cool party last night huh?'

Eddy was supposed to be packing his things ready to go back to AFC. He had little time left to do it. But, being Eddy, he had decided work was for suckers and was on the phone to Double-D, sprawled across his bed. He was paying Randy to do his packing for him; a mere $3 per hour. Randy was slightly gullible, and besides which he looked up to Eddy as an older brother (much like Eddy with his older brother).

'Certainly was Eddy. Say shouldn't you be packing for college?'

'I'm on it Double-D.' Eddy sniggered. 'Hey, how'd things go with Amber?'

'Uh, well, yeah, it went ok…' Double-D not only couldn't talk to girls, he was pretty uncomfortable talking about them. Especially to his loudmouth friend Eddy.

'Come on Double-D, spill the beans!' Eddy commanded, lighting up a cigarette.

'Eddy, you know I don't feel comfortable talking about this kind of thing with you.' Edd half whimpered.

'Ah, c'mon Double-D, grow a pair! I promise I wont go blabbin' around or tell Amber what you been sayin' 'bout her.'

'Well… ok. It went well, we talked for most of the night. It funny Eddy, how she seemed to know so much about me already…' There was a slight hint of annoyance in Double-D's voice.

'Yeah, funny how stuff gets around aint it?' Eddy laughed nervously, puffing out a cloud of tobacco fumes.

'Yes, very funny Eddy.' Double-D's voice was full of sarcasm. 'Anyway, me talked about our old schools, college life, hobbies and interests, old friends.' During the last part of that sentence, there was self-satisfaction in Double-D's voice which Eddy didn't like one bit. He sat up and put his cigarette in the ashtray next to his bed.

'Ok Double-D, what'd ya say?'

'Oh nothing much, just gave her a balanced and fair knowledge of our past adventures. Funny, isn't it, how she didn't know of the leopard skin thong incidence, or that time Kevin-'

'DOUBLE-D! Jesus, you didn't tell her about the thong, did ya?'

'No, of course not, Eddy, but I had you going, didn't I. Now, I only mentioned instances which portrayed you in a favourable light.'

'You can be a real jerk sometimes, ya know that Double-D? If you had, I would have… I don't know what I would have done, but as Ed used to say, "it wont be fresh linen."'

'Come now Eddy, you should now by now I'm not that malevolent.'

'Yeah, whatever. Anyway, did you get her number or arrange to meet somewhere?'

'Uh…'

'I knew it! Congratulations Romeo, you've got a girlfriend!' Eddy picked up his cigarette again, tapped the ashes into the ashtray, and took another long draw on the end. 'You owe me one for settin' you guys up.'

'I didn't say we were going out, we just exchanged phone numbers.'

'Ah, that's as good as going out.'

'If you say so Eddy. How did things go with Kristi?'

'How do ya think they went Sock-head? Surely the massive grin I had was a give away, Einstein.'

'In that case, congratulations to you to Eddy. For you have taken a step down the long, hard road of manhood, a rite of passage if you will, a road which is chock-a-block with adventures, peril, new experiences-'

'Gee Double-D, that's real interesting but I gotta go, time is money. See ya Double-D.'

Eddy hung up the phone. How could Double-D make something like sex sound so dull? Eddy stubbed out his cigarette in the ash tray and went to relieve Randy of his duties.

Ed and Edd stood by the bus stop. Edd himself wasn't catching the bus, but he wanted to see his pals off. And as usual, Eddy was late. Double-D looked at his watch. It was a matter of minutes before the bus arrived. Knowing Eddy, he was probably still packing. Ed was uncharacteristically quiet. The Summer was over, and this was the last one he'd spend in Peach Creek. Sadness had filled him, and he didn't feel much like talking. Double-D respected this and waited patiently in silence. A few moments later, the bus turned up. Still no sign of Eddy.

'Well, Ed,' Double-D began, 'I'm sure I'll see you sometime soon.'

'Where do you think Eddy is Double-D?' asked Ed.

'God only knows Ed, he's probably packing or, even worse, asleep still. He'll get to school eventually Ed, don't you worry.'

'Ok, see ya around Double-D?' With a small, heartfelt smile, Ed turned and boarded the bus. As it pulled away, he waved at his friend, before disappearing round the corner, destination: Apricot Falls. Edd waited a little longer for Eddy, who turned up minutes later in his Ford Escort.

'Hey Double-D, have you seen Ed around?' he asked.

'Eddy! I forgot you have a car now! Ed just caught the bus, why didn't you offer him a lift?' Double-D was outraged.

'I did Double-D, I told him to meet me here…' Eddy checked his (fake) gold watch. '…five minutes ago. Ole Lumpy must have forgot, what a dolt. It's alright Double-D, I'll see him at AFC anyway.'

'Ok Eddy. Well, I'll see you soon I guess.'

'Sure thing, me an' Ed will come down in a few weekends or so. Have fun at PCU Double-D.'

'You have fun to Eddy. In between the learning that is.' The two friends smiled.

'Will do Double-D, see ya.' And so Eddy left Edd's life temporarily as well. For another year, he'd be alone in the cul-de-sac.

'GO TO HELL YA BASTARD!'

Eddy honked his car horn violently. He had only been driving in Apricot Falls for three minutes, but already he was sick of it and hated all the other drivers. When he had passed his test, he had thought he'd never get over the novelty of being allowed to drive. How wrong he'd been. Eddy's temper was ruining an otherwise wonderful day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and a pleasant breeze kept it from getting too hot. People cheerily walked down the pavement, many were students headed towards their dorms or lectures. Quite a few of them Eddy knew, on friendly terms or otherwise. Most people in his class knew him, thanks to his outgoing personality (on top of his loud mouth and ego), but opinion on him was split. Many thought he was funny, charming and entertaining. Others thought he was a selfish, irritating, egomaniac. Head of the we-hate-Eddy club was Kevin (still).

Kevin had been in the class above the Ed's in high school. He had also been a popular jock and dated Nazz during the latter half of their stay there. However, unlike in many other schools, football and sports in general weren't enough to get him passing grades so, much to his embarrassment (and Eddy's glee) he had been held back. Because of this he and Nazz had split, and he had to pretty much give up sports in order to graduate. Nazz herself had gone to New York to start a modelling career. So far it was going well for her, and Eddy would often rub it in Kevin's face, by posting magazine pages of her to him or asking how she was.

Eddy thought of Kevin and laughed. 'Jerk,' he thought, 'what football get him? Squat! What a loser…' Eddy's thoughts were interrupted by a car pulling out in front of him. He leant out of the side window.

'GOD DAMNIT! MAYBE YOU'D DRIVE BETTER WITH YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS!'

Eddy pulled up outside his dorm a lot later than he would have liked. He just as well have taken the bus. He fumbled for his keys, dropping them under the car as he fished them from his pocket. He got on his knees and looked for them. They were just under the front bumper. Eddy picked himself up after grabbing them. When he got up, he was face to face with Melvin.

'There you are you son of a bitch! How are ya?' Melvin asked, a teasing tone to his voice.

'Oh, hey Melv, how are ya? Haven't seen you since that party a few weeks back.' Eddy answered.

'I'm good Eddy, real good. Say, that party was something' huh? I was so wasted that night.'

'Yeah, I remember.' Eddy said drolly, pausing briefly. 'You threw up on my shoes.'

'Oh yeah, that's right! Funny stuff! Sorry 'bout that though. I was so out of it, I was acting a right clown-'

'No change there,' came a voice from the doorway of the dorm. Hank, Eddy's other roommate, stepped out to greet him. 'Hi Eddy, how's it hanging?'

'I'm ok, got worked up about the traffic though. It's so busy 'round here.' Eddy replied.

'Sure is,' Melvin said, 'now lets get in an' have a few beers huh? You can tell us 'bout that party the other day.'

Eddy picked up his suitcases and headed in with his roommates. While he'd miss the Summer shenanigans with Ed and Edd, he couldn't help fell excited about being back in Apricot Falls.

Ed was also excited. Not only was he back at college with his other friends, he now had his own apartment. He and Martin had both chipped in to pay for a rather small one, but it was a place he could call his own. While he was sad he'd left his hometown, he was eager to get to his new bedroom and decorate. He could hardly contain himself as he reached the doorway and took out his key. With a quick turn, the door was open. The apartment had three rooms; a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom. There was a lot of work to be done. The wallpaper was crusty and yellow, there were nicotine stain on the ceiling; the previous inhabitants had been chain smokers. The carpet was old and sticky and the bathroom was filthy.

Ed and Martin had agreed on designs to decorate the kitchen and bathroom, and they were going to split the bedroom down the middle. They would each decorate their own half. Potentially, this could make one freaky room.

Martin was already in the bedroom, sat on his bed. He was a very big person, in both his height and breadth. He was also quite gothic. He had dyed black hair, pale skin, and black eyeliner. He always wore a leather trench coat, usually with black jeans, a black t-shirt and huge combat boots. He listened to music such as Cradle of Filth, Gorgoroth and the ridiculously heavy and dark Hermaphrodite Sex Doll, a Scandinavian band only he seemed to have heard of.

'Greetings Ed. How was your Summer?' Martin asked in a deep, slow voice.

'It was awesome, Martin, there were so many parties.'

'Cool. Now lets get down to decorating our room.'

There were the post-Summer greetings. Ed admired how to-the-point Martin was. A smile spread across hi face. He loved college.

A/N: A bit of a filler, but I needed to introduce the new characters. Please review while I write the fourth chapter.