Ed was trying to hurry home after helping Rolf when he spotted Eddy, Nazz, and Double D. Seeing his friends together again brought a big grin to his face. He had been hoping that Eddy and Double D would work things out. It bothered Ed when his friends fought with each other. They had always argued, sure, but it wasn't until Double D started dating Kevin that they started fighting.
It seemed like Eddy got mad about everything, and sometimes Ed just didn't get it. Double D had a boyfriend? Good for him. Double D was sad and wanted to be alone? Okay, he will stop being sad eventually. Sometimes things between Eddy and Double D seemed really complicated so Ed just tried his best to let the two of them know that he cared about them both. That's all he could do for them really.
He knew that Eddy had been mad earlier because of Terrence and not Double D, but because he was already upset that Double D wouldn't talk to anyone Eddy just shoved it all together. Ed didn't like it when Eddy did that because then it was really hard to tell who he was actually mad at. That's why after Eddy started snoozing he had gone over to Rolf's house. Ed liked helping Rolf with the chickens and other animals, it helped him get things sorted out in his own head when things got to be a bit too much.
Ed knew that people thought of him as the stupid one but he knew he wasn't stupid. He knew a lot of things. He knew which comic books people would like best after talking with them for a few minutes. He knew which movies they would like based on the types of comics they liked. He knew that chickens made chicken nuggets and that even though chicken nuggets were good that he didn't like to eat them. He knew he loved his friends. And he knew his friends loved him and each other even if they didn't act like it sometimes.
Yes, Ed knew a lot of things, and even though he was happy for his friends he still felt like there was something not right. As Ed walked up to his house he thought about what all had happened since Kevin's funeral. He felt like he was reading a comic with missing pages though. There were just some things he needed to know that he didn't yet, and he thought that if he looked over it all again he might find the pages he had missed before.
Down the street, Eddy and Edd had gone back to their own homes. Edd's house was empty as usual, his abandoned snack still on the counter where he'd left it. Edd quickly walked to the laundry room to undress so he could wash his muddy clothes. He kept a robe on the back of the door to the laundry room just in case and he was pleased with himself for doing so.
Tossing his soggy clothes and beanie into the wash he wondered what advice Kevin had been seeking from Nazz that had brought the two to his and Kevin's spot by the creek. He knew that it probably shouldn't matter, but until she mentioned that she'd been there he thought that he was the only one Kevin had ever taken to that place. While thinking it over Edd decided that it didn't really matter if anyone else knew about it, it could still be his and Kevin's place.
No one could take it away from him because that was the place where they'd fallen in love with each other. So he held onto that thought and walked into the kitchen to clean up the mess he'd left. His stomach let out a gurgling sound and he knew a snack would no longer do. In an attempt to soothe the grumbling of his stomach he quickly whipped up a couple of quesadillas with mushrooms.
He was about to sit down at the kitchen table and finally feed himself when he heard a crash from in the garage followed by a string of curses. He groaned loudly before setting his plate down on the table. Edd went to grab the baseball bat he kept by the door before remembering that he'd thrown it out. Kevin had given it to him for protection and seeing it every day after Kevin died just made Edd's mind go somewhere he hadn't been ready for it to go yet.
So the brunette took a deep breath.
"Identify yourself before I call the police!" He shouted towards the garage.
"Calm down Beanie Boy, it's just me!" Terrence shouted back from the garage.
Edd felt his face flash red with anger. He made his way quickly to the door. He snatched the door open and turned the light on so quickly that it seemed as if he'd done it in one swift movement.
He tapped his foot angrily and folded his arms across his chest. "What are you doing here?"
Terrence grinned snuggly. "Just came by to check on you. Heard a big commotion earlier about you running through the neighborhood all upset and shit. So I figured I'd pay my new friend a visit."
"I never said we were friends." His voice was laced with annoyance and he rolled his eyes to emphasize how absurd he found the statement.
Terrence leaned his head to the side and Edd assumed he was trying to make himself appear endearing. "Awe, come on, I apologized for being a dick. I helped you with your errand, and I even offered to pay for it."
Edd shook his head angrily. "I pointedly ignored your so-called apology, I denied your offer to pay for my things, and the only reason you helped me with anything is that Eddy wasn't here. You inserted yourself in a situation where I was admittedly desperate. You kind of took advantage of my need to get this project finished as quickly as possible. That sounds more like manipulation than friendship."
There was a flash of anger in Terrence's eyes when Edd finished speaking. He stifled it quickly but not quickly enough. The older man rubbed his chin scruff and tried to ease the tension by letting out a quick laugh.
"One could also argue that using someone for their mechanical inclinations might also be considered manipulation. Don't ya think?" Terrence was grinning again but this time there was a smugness behind it that Edd really didn't like.
"I didn't use you. You inserted yourself into the situation and insisted on helping. Now, I'm done with this conversation. If you don't leave the premises immediately I will call law enforcement."
Terrence took a step forward. "You wouldn't do that," the tone of his voice shifted from casual to irritated.
Edd didn't move or respond, he simply stared at the larger man. He didn't care what happened if he pissed the large and lurking man off, he wouldn't back down. Edd knew there was nothing Terrence could actually do to him. Edd wasn't sure how old Terrence was but he did know that he was over eighteen. If Terrence tried to hurt him he'd go to jail for sure. Edd knew the other man had no choice but to leave.
They stood there for only a moment, but it seemed to drag on for much longer. They both held eye contact, and Edd could feel all of his muscles tense up. Eventually, Terrence ran his hand over his chin and mouth.
"Fine, I'll go. But just so you know, you should be nicer to me. I'm only trying to help. Sleep tight Beanie Boy." Terrence winked at Edd before turning to walk out of the garage the way he'd come in.
Edd stayed glued to his position in the doorway. He was admittedly afraid to move from his spot, but after a few moments, he was able to relax his body enough to rush to the door opposite him and lock it. He mentally kicked himself for not waiting for Eddy to return to help him earlier.
As he walked back to the table he hoped that he would be able to eat without any more interruptions.
At Eddy's house, Nazz was leaving after borrowing a change of clothes from Eddy. She had been too wet and cold to make it to her own house so Eddy had let her change into a pair of his sweat pants and a tee-shirt. She had a collection of his hoodies and other clothes back at her house already but they all smelled like her now so they weren't the same.
She was happy about being able to talk to Double D finally. She had known that if she could just talk to him that it would help. Nazz was so caught up in her good mood that she almost missed the loud crashing noise coming from Double D's garage. Almost.
The noise was so out of place and unexpected that she couldn't help but notice it, and when she did notice it her good mood was gone. She could feel that something wasn't right. If Edd was in his garage then his kitchen light wouldn't have been on. She decided she needed to check on her friend.
The storm clouds had brought darkness to the cul-de-sac earlier than usual, and the street lights had been on for some time. She quickly darted across the road and towards the side door of Double D's garage. She was about to reach for the door when the voice she heard from inside stopped her in her tracks.
"Terrence?" She whispered to no one.
Nazz gently leaned her ear towards the door so that she could try to make out what was being said. She could hear Double D's voice, but couldn't quite make out what he was saying. He sounded agitated and Nazz could only imagine why. She hated that she was eavesdropping but she couldn't bring herself to leave just in case Double D ended up needing her help.
The conversation only lasted about five minutes or so before she heard Terrence tell Double D that he'd leave. She looked around and found a spot to hide so that Terrence wouldn't find her listening at the door. Nazz waited there in her hiding spot until she heard Double D come and lock the door. When she knew it was safe to come out she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and search through her contacts.
When she found the number she was looking for she made the call. The line rang three times before someone answered.
"Hey, Doll Face, what's up?" The voice on the other end asked in a friendly tone.
Nazz took a deep breath. "Marie, I need your help."
