Chapter 6

A month passed, and Double-D had only been to Apricot Falls twice; the first time to see Ed's apartment (which was now done being decorated), and the other to see Amber.

Ed's new apartment was… interesting. Ed insisted the kitchen had been cleaned, but it was still filthy. The only clean surfaces were the tiles on the floors and walls. Ed and Martin had gone for a stone effect, which made the room very gloomy. Double-D had joked that it could double up as a dungeon, which bizarrely had made Ed's roommate seem rather pleased with himself. The bathroom was cleaner, but only because they had installed a new bath and a new toilet. For some reason unfathomable to Double-D, they had gone for an unusual combination of white walls with Japanese writing on the walls, and a red shag carpet on the floor. Double-D couldn't stand the idea of carpet in the bathroom. Much harder to clean after any possible toilet 'mishaps' (such a missing the bowl, something Ed did every time he visited Double-D's house) and water from the bath or shower would soak in. Anyway, it was definitely the brightest, most colourful room in the house. But it was nothing compared to the masterpiece that was the bedroom. As agreed before hand, the pair had each decorated their own half of the room. Martin's was so typical of him; black and gothic. The walls were painted black. On the wall, above his bed, the gothic student had painted a red, inverted pentagram. His bed was metal and the bedcovers were black. The bedposts spiralled around each other, and topping them off were the ugliest gargoyles Double-D had ever seen. There was a cabinet at the top end of the bed, on which there rested a skull (which Edd could only assume was fake) with a blood red candle melted on top. Ed's side of the room was no more colourful. He had chosen to decorate the walls of his side with black bin liners. There were a few poster on the walls for bands such as The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. Ed had opted for a metal bed also (with matching black bedcovers. However, the bedposts weren't decorated like Martin's and on his blanket he had painted the same anarchist symbol as on his jacket.

'Oh well,' Double-D had thought, 'at least the colours of their two halves match.'

The pair had agreed during the decorating on appropriate colours for the floor and ceiling. The former was covered in a midnight blue carpet. The latter was, in Edd's mind, the best feature of the apartment. It was a similar midnight blue, but on top of this, Ed had painted a map of the stars, depicting constellations of the Northern hemisphere. Double-D had to admit it was stunning, thereby filling Ed and his roommate with joy.

The other time Double-D had visited Apricot Falls was- as mentioned above- to visit Amber. They didn't go to a party this time, instead deciding to visit a restaurant to eat and discuss any recent events.

This meant that Double-D hadn't seen Eddy for a month. He'd even had to miss Eddy's birthday week before due to a special guest giving a lecture to his class. He'd been beset with guilt having missed one of his best friends birthday, and had returned the original gift he'd brought to buy an even bigger, more expensive one.

When Eddy had first heard of Chemistry, a local club, at the start of his freshman year in college, he'd imagined a loud, vibrant dance floor filled with young dancers and a slightly posh bar. When he had first visited it, he'd been slightly disappointed. The place wasn't dull, but it wasn't flash either. The club comprised of two separate rooms. There was the dance floor which had a stage for bands and DJs. Then there was the bar area, which had a smaller stage for bands and often comedians. The place was dimly lit and not exactly bursting with hot chicks, but it had grown on Eddy, and he and his friends could often be found there on weekdays, or during special occasions. Occasions such as Eddy's birthday…

It was Friday night. Eddy's car turned into the car park of Chemistry. It wasn't the most popular club in town, but he liked it. He didn't know why, he just did. He liked it even more tonight, because it was the night before his birthday, which meant everyone else would be buying him drinks. He decided not to get to drunk, because he was visiting his parents the next day.

The birthday boy (well, not quite but who cares?) stepped out of his car into the rain. He locked the doors of his Escort and walked quickly over to the doorway of the club. When he reached it, he flicked his cigarette into a nearby puddle before entering. Inside, he took a comb out of his pocket and ran it through his hair. Putting the comb away, he looked around the dance floor. As he'd expected, his friends weren't there; they'd be in the bar area waiting for him. He tried to walk towards said bar, when the bouncer stopped him.

'Hey bub, no one gets in here without payin' on Fridays.'

'Jeez, give us a break. It's my birthday, let me in.' Eddy retorted.

'I don't care if it's your birthday, if you ain't payin' you can take a hike!' the bouncer snarled.

'Fine, here's your lousy money, now get off my back.' Eddy stomped off indignantly. 'Jerk.' he added under his breath.

However, all feelings of anger quickly dissipated when he saw his friends. Hank was there, along with several of his other friends. For some reason Melvin was missing.

'Hey guys,' Eddy greeted, 'where the hell is Melv?'

'He's here,' Hank replied, 'he's just talkin' out in the alley to an ol' friend.'

'Anyone we know?' Eddy asked.

'Nope.' a kid called Adam replied. 'I don't think I ever seen this guy before.'

'I've seen him hangin' 'round.' Hank interjected. 'Real shady type if you ask me.'

'I ain't waiting for Melv,' Eddy exclaimed, 'it's my birthday tomorrow! Lets get drinkin'.'

There was a huge cheer.

Melvin joined them not long after the drinking went underway. The group were blissfully partying for several hours, before Kevin showed up. He came in wearing his leather bike jacket; he now rode an customised chopper. It was a beautiful bike, a gift from his father when he finally graduated high school, and was the centre of much envy among the student body (or at least those who cared about bikes). Eddy, who by this time was quite tipsy to say the least, was delighted to see Kevin was alone. Kevin himself was staring at the group icily as he brought a beer. He could tell that Eddy was a little drunk and knew what was coming. But he wasn't going to let that get to him. He had too much pride to just leave and find somewhere else to drink. He venomously glanced at Eddy, who was walking (for walking read staggering) in his direction. Eddy sat down next to the disgruntled biker.

'Hey Kev! Buddy!' Eddy slurred slightly. There was some childish giggling from the revelling onlookers. 'So Kev, tell me, how's Nazz nowadays?' Cue more obvious laughter.

'Piss off dork! I haven't got time for your bullshit!' Kevin responded frostily. Melvin came over and stood behind Eddy.

'Watch out Eddy, big man's threatening you I think. Am I right, big man?' Melvin said. The words 'big man' had a not-so-subtle tinge of sarcasm in them. Kevin just glowered at him.

'Yeah, you're right, gonna make something of it? Any way, why you stickin' up for this dork? You dweebs datin' or something?' Kevin sneered in retaliation.

'Ooooooooooooo…' went the crowd of Eddy's friends.

'Even if we were, I'm sure Eddy wouldn't leave me for being a dumbass. Oh, wait, ain't that why Nazz left you? 'Cause you failed to graduate High school? How pathetic is-'

Kevin snapped and took Melvin down before he could finish his sentence. He began punching the surprised student in the face, when a bouncer charged over and dragged him backwards.

'Alright you bastard,' the bouncer scorned 'ain't no room in this club for troublemakers.' As Kevin got up off the floor, the bouncer went to grab his arm and lead him outside. The biker knocked his hand aside.

'Fine, I'll leave! This place blows anyway.' He pointed at Melvin, who was on the floor with a bloody lip. 'One day me and you are going to go, I swear it.'

Kevin left to the boos and hisses of the assembled crowd.

Double-D rang the doorbell of Eddy's apartment. He was dreading meeting Eddy's roommate Melvin again. The kid could be a real jerk at times. Double-D scorned himself for thinking it, but he thought that Melvin had a really punchable face. Kevin obviously thought so as well. Eddy had told him on the phone what had happened, or at least his side of the events. Double-D found it hard to believe Kevin was the aggravator. Eddy and co were almost certainly drunk and mocking the poor boy. Oh well, he wouldn't bring it up today. He had a present to give his friend.

Edd was thankful when the door was opened by Hank. Hank wasn't nearly as bad as Melvin.

'Hello Hank, I've come to see Eddy.' Double-D greeted.

'Yeah, he's expecting you.' Hank let Double-D in.

Eddy was sprawled across his bed, reading one of his brother's magazines.

'Hey Double-D!' Eddy said warmly. 'Long time no see!'

'Hello Eddy.' Edd returned. Hank interrupted their reunion.

'Eddy, I'm goin' out to find Melv. He said, he'd be back an hour ago.'

'Sure, see-ya!' Hank left and Eddy turned his attention back to Double-D, noticing the gift wrapped box in his hands. 'Better late than never Double-D! That's what I tell my Business lecturer all the time.'

'I'm sure you do Eddy. Happy birthday.' Edd presented Eddy with the box. Eddy tore the wrapping paper off like a person half his age.

'Cool Double-D! A digital camcorder! This musta cost a ton!'

'Something can't cost a ton Eddy.'

'Whatever Double-D, this is cool! 'Bout as cool as my brother's present!'

'Oh, what did your brother get you? If you don't mind me asking of course.'

Without any delay, Eddy pulled out an exquisite wooden box from under his bed. It was about one foot by six inches. On the top of the box, in gold lettering, were the words 'To Pipsqueak, from your bigger brother.' Double-D looked in awe at the beautiful case.

'My Eddy, it's stunning.'

'Wait 'til you see what's in it Sock-head!' Eddy opened the case slowly.

'Whatever could it- OH MY LORD! WHATEVER POSSESSED THE MAN TO BUY YOU THAT!'

'Cool, ain't it?' Eddy asked casually. 'If you look closely, it's got my name on the handle.'

'It's called a hilt Eddy, and why did your brother buy you a hunting knife!'

'I dunno, but it kicks ass! Don't it look gorgeous Double-D? Almost as much as me.' Eddy half-joked.

'Eddy, you can't ever take this out in public Eddy! You could be arrested! What was you brother thinking! You'll become a suspect in all sorts of-'

'Get over it Double-D,' Eddy interrupted, 'I'm not gonna carry this 'round the street, who do you think I am? An idiot?'

'I shall not answer that.'

'It's just a fancy knife Double-D, I'm not gonna use it or anything, so lets leave it at that.'

'Ok Eddy, I'll drop the subject.'

'Christ Double-D, I try to show you my birthday presents and you throw a spaz about it. How embarrassing.'

A/N: Wow, third post in less than five days I believe. Seventh chapter up soon hopefully. Until then, please review my work so far.