Come and Get Your Love
Edd rubbed his left temple with one hand while the other turned the dial of his locker. He had a slight headache from hunger. A small cereal bar as he and Kevin dashed out the door did not satiate him. They had a late start, choosing to spend more time in bed that morning. It was just so sweet loving on each other that neither wanted to stop. The weekend had been good. They'd gone out on an official date to a restaurant in Peach Creek. Alone. With no cares anyone would see them. It was nice to do that. Nice to wander around downtown, in and out of the shops, afterwards. Holding hands. Showing off their relationship.
Free.
It had been two weeks since their outing and Edd was happy. Happy and basking in Kevin's love, in spite of the stress and pressures of the end of his high school career. Sometimes he couldn't believe it was here. Couldn't believe he would graduate in a handful of weeks and move on to the next stage of his life.
With Kevin.
He smiled as he pulled books from his bag to place in his locker and retrieved the books for his last two classes after lunch, then hung up the bag to wait for him when lunch period was over. He was happy it was time to eat.
College with Kevin. Officially now. Both had been accepted to the University of Maryland. Both had full ride scholarships. Edd hoped for more scholarships to help with the rest of the expenses, but wouldn't find those out until later. All the applications had been completed ages ago. Fingers crossed.
Fingers also crossed about their housing situation. They had decided, for the first year at least, to live on campus. They'd submitted their applications in time, and had requested to live together, claiming the situation would be easier on them as friends. Edd hoped he and Kevin could room together. It wasn't their own place, but it was close. The only thing Edd lamented would be no kitchen, but if things went well, they wanted to find their own place after the first year.
It gave him such a thrill to think of living with Kevin. Fully living with him. Not just playing house while his parents were away. Building their own home, setting up their future.
Besides, playing house would end soon as Edd's parents were due to arrive home next weekend.
The press of students around him brought him out of his reverie. That and the sudden loud twangs of a familiar tune. It sounded like the opening of a song from one of his and Kevin's favorite movies, Guardians of the Galaxy. The one that plays when Starlord is on Morag – the one he dances and sings along to. Edd smiled.
"Hail. What's the matter with your head? Yeah!"
While Edd could hear the original singer of the song, there was another voice singing much louder along with it. A very familiar voice. Slowly he turned to look toward the end of the hall and, sure enough, there was Kevin attempting to recreate the dance Starlord does during the song in the movie. What in the world?
Other students parted before him, laughing as they stood to the side to watch Kevin shimmy, spin, and slide his way up the hall, continuing to sing the entire time. When he noticed Edd staring, he shot him a little grin and zeroed in on him.
"Baby find it, come on and find it
Hail, with it, baby, 'cause you're fine
And you're mine, and you look so divine"
He was in front of Edd by now and gestured to the embarrassed boy as he sang the last line. He shimmied back, spun in a circle, then backed away in small steps making a 'come here' gesture with his upturned hands.
"Come and get your love
Come and get your love
Come and get your love
Come and get your love!"
Edd, by now, his cheeks flaming red, had covered his mouth with his hand as he stared with his jaw dropped at Kevin. "What are you doing!?" Edd cried, dropping his hand.
The rest of the song continued, but Kevin instead yelled over the music coming from his phone, held by Jake, "Edd Vincent, will you go to prom with me?"
"You are insane!"
"That's not the answer I hoped for!" Kevin yelled through a laugh.
Edd glanced around the crowd, only now noticing the familiar faces of the Eds, Nazz, Rolf, and Kevin's other friends. They began a chant of "Say yes! Say yes!" that embarrassed him as much as the song and dance of Kevin's had.
He had expected Kevin to ask him to prom. Had expected it ever since things settled down from the week when they came out. He certainly did not expect such a public invitation. He felt self-conscious as the rest of the students who stood around watching and laughing took up the chant.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" he called out, barely loud enough to be heard over the shouts and the song. He must have been heard, though, because everyone started cheering and Edd was sure his whole head was on fire.
Kevin whooped, did a little victory dance, then grabbed Edd up into his arms to twirl him around. Edd hid his face in Kevin's shoulder, trying to block out the noise of his fellow students. When he found his feet on the floor again, he pulled back to look at Kevin, his hands resting on Kevin's arms. Kevin looked enormously pleased with himself, his green eyes shining and bright. Edd could not resist and, for the first time at school, gave Kevin a kiss right there in front of everyone.
"I honestly thought you might kill me."
"I did not have a weapon with me," Edd said dryly.
"You're not really mad, are you?" Kevin asked in a hesitant way. He did get the answer he wanted, of course, but he knew how Edd was. Hell, they'd only been out to the school for a few weeks and Edd was still adjusting his mind to it.
Kevin had debated over and over with himself (and to Nazz, Rolf, and Jake) about doing the promposal. He wanted to do something memorable, but wasn't sure if it would piss Edd off. Nazz's idea, amended by Kevin on what song to use, seemed like a chancy way to go about it to Kevin, but after a few discreet questions to Eddy, they all agreed Kevin should try it.
"Edd's insanely in love with you," Eddy stated in his usual blunt manner that cut right to the heart of things. "Nothing you do will make him so mad he'd say no."
"He got mad enough at me about the coming out thing," Kevin pointed out.
"He lashed out at you. He wasn't mad at you. Didn't you listen to anything he said?" Eddy growled. "He was pissed at himself. Trust me. He wants to be out just as much as you do. This song is from a movie you guys love, so it means a lot to you both. He'll love it."
Kevin had come, over the past five months, to trust Eddy. It was something he never thought he would say, but he did. If anything, Kevin knew Eddy was honest. Brutally honest. Moreover, he knew Edd best. If he thought Edd wouldn't be pissed about the whole thing, then Edd wouldn't be.
"He will be crazy embarrassed, though," Eddy added, his lips curling up into a sly sneer.
Which was something Kevin already knew.
"No," Edd said, pulling at the grass on the ground next to him. The weather had turned so nice that most of the students spent lunch out-of-doors, under shady trees in the lawn surrounding the school. Their usual gang was there and Kevin and Edd sat cross-legged next to each other, close enough that one knee touched the other's knee. He tended to fidget with his hands when he was nervous. "No, I am not upset."
"You sure?"
Edd lifted his head, gazing at Eddy a short distance from them. He was gesticulating wildly, telling a story about one of his childhood scams on the other neighbor kids. Joel was practically rolling on the grass in laughter. "I am sure," he replied, turning his gaze to Kevin. "I do admit, however, it embarrassed me."
"I figured it would. Sorry about that."
"Do not be," Edd assured him. "It was very romantic." He gave Kevin a smile – the smile only Kevin got to see, and which was like a conditioned response - it made him horny. Ah, so that was his punishment for embarrassing Edd. Edd knew what his smile did to Kevin.
Edd turned his attention back to Eddy, as Eddy mentioned his name while explaining Edd's contribution to the scheme. Kevin rested a hand on Edd's thigh, getting a small hum of acceptance before Edd's hand settled over his. It still surprised Kevin when these gestures were allowed – even more so when Edd returned them.
He realized, then, with a little shock, that Edd had kissed him. Here at school and in front of the entire hallway full of curious students drawn to the promposal scene. Edd kissed him. With no hesitation at all.
That was. That was a lot. He smiled, now really looking forward to prom. Kevin figured Edd would go with him, especially now they were out, but now he could picture dancing with Edd, posing for all the dumb pictures, and kissing him senseless on the dance floor. He could not wait.
Edd would rather have been any other place than here, seated between Brianne, who now knew he existed, and Curt, who pretended he didn't. His first period teacher, Mr. Knight, glared at his row of students, sat in the middle of the auditorium, from his spot at the end of the row. Not as if they were rowdy or even talking. Of all the students in the auditorium, Mr. Knight's were the most well behaved.
He had no idea why the school made such a big deal of this anyway. Prom Queen and King? Really? How outdated a concept, when two of the students in his grade identified as non-binary in the first place, and the top runner for Prom King was gay in the second. Edd should know.
"Do you think Kevin will win?" Brianne asked him.
He shrugged. "I am not sure."
Kevin, of course, had been nominated for Prom King, but it was before their relationship became public knowledge. Edd assumed, before that happened, Kevin would definitely win the title, but now he wasn't too sure. He half-expected Kevin's name to be withdrawn, but the fact it wasn't spoke a lot to him (and to Kevin) that at least the school administration didn't have a problem with students of different orientations.
Yet, the students voted on the Prom King and Queen. Certainly, in the last few weeks, they hadn't run into much resistance about it. A little at first, which Kevin quickly put a stop to, but little else had been said to them. Still, the idea of a gay Prom King might give pause to some of the students, no matter how accepting they were.
"Well, I voted for Kevin. I mean, really, who else? Jason? That guy's a dick."
"I am sure Kevin will appreciate your vote," Edd said in a neutral voice. He wasn't sure if he wanted Kevin to win or not. He would be extremely proud of his boyfriend, but it was just a popularity contest. Kevin himself didn't care, since he viewed the high school popularity hierarchy as a joke in the first place. Kevin only wanted more votes than Jason received, because of what Jason did to Edd.
Edd wasn't concerned much about the King and Queen thing. Traditionally, the King and Queen were presented at the Prom and then shared a dance. They weren't required to be each other's date, nor were they required to interact more than the honorary dance. Nazz was the shoe in for Queen, so if Kevin had to dance with her at the Prom, Edd didn't care. They'd probably have a dance or two together anyway.
Prom was the cause of anxiety, not the King and Queen thing. He felt both thrilled and frightened when Kevin asked him to be his date. Edd said yes, of course, but with trepidation. He was still getting used to showing affection for Kevin at school in front of everyone. They held hands and gave each other quick kisses at lockers or in front of Edd's first period class ever since the promposal. It was all he could bring himself to do. It was enough to satisfy Kevin, who had only wanted to be able to show off his love for Edd.
Showing up to Prom as dates, though, was something next level. Part of him looked forward to it. He couldn't wait to see Kevin in formal wear and he found he actually wanted to do all the stupid little prom traditions of pictures, limo, dinner, dancing – all of it. He knew they wouldn't be the first gay couple who had attended the Peach Creek prom.
The principal came onto the stage and the rest of the staff and students settled down. Edd thought it ridiculous to have a whole assembly for the announcement. He thought the school's social media would suffice. He knew Mr. Knight was probably fuming at losing precious time in the classroom for something as inane as an old tradition.
"I know you've all been waiting for the announcement," the Principal, Dr. Ruffin said into the mic, smiling grandly at all of the students. The principal was, for the most part, a nice man. A little too enthusiastic about his job in that he tried to be friends with all the kids and come across as their 'buddy'. It normally fell flat, but Edd suspected his heart was in the right place. Edd had never had a problem with him and Kevin had told him most of the students viewed their principal as a standing joke who was well liked in spite of it.
He continued, "I won't hold you up for very long! That way you can jump right back into learning!"
Which was, Edd thought, amusing in and of itself. They'd already used up half the class time after homeroom to assemble in the auditorium. It would take the rest of the class time to return through the crowded halls.
The principal made a show of opening an envelope in front of the mic stand, jostling it a little and creating a short feedback buzz. "I'm so nervous!" he said, sending another smile out to the bored audience. Edd caught the eye roll of his first period teacher.
"Your prom king is…drumroll please…" he paused and Edd thought he might actually be waiting for a drumming sound. "Kevin Barr! Come up here, Kevin!"
Everyone applauded, screamed, and whistled as Kevin came up the far left side aisle to the stairs at the edge of the stage. He wore a huge grin and his cheeks were a brilliant red as he stepped off the top step and joined the principal. He waved, shouting thank yous out to his peers.
Brianne nudged him with her elbow. "Oh, that's so sweet!" she yelled into his ear. "Tell Kev I said 'congrats!'" she added. Edd nodded, his eyes on Kevin.
'What a show off,' he thought fondly, watching Kevin preen on stage. He knew Kevin thought the whole thing was dumb, but he ate up the attention it garnered him. He held up his hand slightly in a wave – he could see Kevin was looking for him. It worked. Kevin's eyes caught his and he flashed the 'I love you' sign to Edd, who flashed it back.
As the applause slacked off slightly, Dr. Ruffin held up his hands to quiet the auditorium. It worked, sort of, and he started opening another envelope just as awkwardly as before. "Okay ladies and gentlemen," he said, then paused a moment before adding, "and non-binaries." He smiled as a few people cheered. "Your prom queen will be…Natalie Van Bartonschmeer!"
"Big surprise…" Brianne wailed out, though she did cheer. They were cheerleading teammates after all, Edd surmised. "You won't be jealous, will you?" she asked, turning her attention to Edd, who just wanted to applaud his friend.
"Jealous?" he asked, confused. "Why would I be jealous?'
"Well, Nazz is gorgeous, right? And her and Kevin are pretty close, aren't they?" She waved her hand to the stage, where Kevin had picked up Nazz mid-hug and was spinning her around.
"Nazz is quite beautiful," Edd agreed. "However, she and Kevin are best friends only. I do not think I need worry. Kevin is not interested in girls anyway."
"I thought he was bi."
"No," Edd said firmly. "Kevin most certainly is not."
"They still get to dance together."
"I imagine they would anyway." He was quite certain on this point, and he hoped Brianne would drop it.
Thankfully, she did, because the assembly was over and they were being hustled from their seats in order to return to their normal day.
Kevin leant against Edd's locker, waiting for him to arrive. He scrolled through his phone, idly looking through Twitter. He was slightly annoyed from his grumbling tummy and his peers yelling congratulations all day. 'Prom King?' he thought with a snort. He wished he could have taken his name out of the running or convinced people not to vote for him.
His annoyance came more from the fact that he knew voting started before he had come out. It ended the week after. Would they have voted for him knowing he was gay? He hated those kind of thoughts, but Kevin wasn't stupid. Not that he'd had much of a problem, except for Jason, but still. A queer prom king? He was sure that wasn't on anyone's mind when they voted for him.
At least he'd be up there with Nazz. He didn't mind dancing with her in the stupid, old tradition. He'd rather be dancing with Edd, but Kevin supposed he'd have Edd in his arms all night, and he probably would have danced a few with Nazz anyway.
"Greetings, Kevin," Edd said, suddenly seeming to appear out of nowhere.
Kevin felt a smile bloom on his face. "Hey, sweetheart!" He pushed himself away from the wall so he could lean down and give Edd a little kiss. He still thrilled inside that Edd allowed this now. The feeling was so close to when they first started dating, when kisses were new and made his heart race and his palms sweat. He didn't think Edd ever knew how anxious and scared he was at first. Kevin didn't have much experience before Edd, so it was nerve-wracking to make out with him.
That feeling was back and he lived for it. Edd wouldn't let him go too far, of course. It wasn't as if they were at the point of making out for an hour against Edd's locker. Kevin didn't think he'd want to do that anyway. But holding hands and kisses? Showing off to everyone that he and Edd belonged to each other? It was perfection.
Edd turned to his locker, his cheeks pink as they always were after their school kisses. "I should congratulate you on your prestigious victory," he said as he dialed his locker combination.
"Huh?"
"Prom King?"
"Oh, yeah. That." Edd poked around in his locker. "You-you're not mad are you?"
Edd turned surprised eyes on him. "Why would I be upset?"
Kevin shrugged. "I don't know. I guess. I-I don't…"
Edd smiled, slamming his locker shut and spinning the lock. "There is nothing to be upset about, Kevin. If anything, I am proud my date is considered the handsomest one at the prom."
Kevin made a face and stuffed his phone in his pocket. They walked hand in hand toward the stairs, Edd swinging his lunch box in his free hand. "I wouldn't say that."
"I will, then."
Kevin side-eyed Edd, happy to see the pleased look on Edd's face as his own reddened. Edd loved to make him blush and always wore a triumphant look when he succeeded. "It's just a popularity contest."
"And proves what I have said before. You are the most popular boy here."
"Yeah, but I don't care about that."
"I know."
Since it was a rainy day, they climbed the stairs toward the cafeteria, flowing along with the crowd. It was more difficult to talk in the crush of people, so it wasn't until they settled in their seats across from Jake that Edd continued, "At least you shall get to dance with Nazz and not another girl."
Kevin snorted, accepting the container Edd handed him. Being out now had the added benefit of Edd bringing leftovers for the both of them. "I probably would have refused if it was anyone else."
Edd made a pfft sound, handing Kevin some silverware.
"Our Prom King!" Joel announced, kicking back his chair and plunking his tray on the table.
"Don't you start," Kevin said, frowning up at him.
"I told you the other day I voted for you!"
"You thought that was for the talent show," Ben pointed out, setting his tray down more gently in the spot next to Edd. His girlfriend, Angel, was with him. She didn't often join them for lunch because she was involved in so many activities.
"So you voted for Kevin and not yourself?" Angel asked.
"Mmm," Ben replied, pulling out her chair for her. Ben, Edd had discovered, was very much a gentleman. "He said he put in a vote for Kevin. It must have been for the prom king thing, but Joel thought it was for the talent show."
"But, there was no vote for the talent show." Angel sounded confused.
"Yeah, that's the funny part."
"I'd have voted for Kev anyway," Joel said, glaring at all of them laughing. "I didn't want prom king."
"I can always pass off my crown to you," Kevin offered.
"Did I not just say that I don't want it?"
"Well, I don't really want it either."
"What, you don't want to dance with me?" an offended voice asked from the other side of the table. All eyes turned to Nazz, who joined them with Eddy.
"I would anyway. I don't need a crown for that."
Nazz laughed as she gracefully settled into her seat, while Eddy shot a grumpy glare at Kevin. "Keep your paws on him," he said, pointing at Edd.
"I will most of the night."
"Kevin…" Edd spoke in a reproachful tone, which earned him a cheeky grin from Kevin and laughs from their friends.
Maddie joined them, then, completing their normal crowd, and giving Joel a kiss on the top of his head. He blushed, which made Edd smile. He knew before Maddie, Joel had been a sort of playboy type at the school, moving from girl to girl. It seemed, however, with Maddie he had settled down. They'd been exclusive since January.
"I'm so glad Carla's coming," Nazz said, looking at Jake.
"Good thing you are," Jake frowned. "I have to go to two proms this year."
Kevin laughed. "That sucks, dude."
Jake shrugged. "At least she's letting me use the same tux for both. Hers is the weekend after ours, so I'm renting it for a week. She got two dresses and I get to suffer through two fancy dance parties."
"You're gonna love it," Nazz said. "You get to see her all dressed and looking beautiful twice…"
"I'm looking forward to that. But not two limos. Two corsages. Two after parties. Fuck, it's too much."
"That reminds me, we should make our prom plans," Kevin said.
Nazz, Angel, and Maddie all laughed. "Silly boy," Nazz said, reaching across the table and patting his hand. "We've already taken care of everything."
"You have?"
"Of course. Me, Angel," Nazz nodded to Angel, "Maddie," a nod to Maddie, "Edd, Carla, Sarah, and Karen have already booked the limo bus, restaurant reservations for dinner, got the tickets…everything!"
Kevin turned his head to Edd, who gave him a sheepish grin. "Were you going to let me in on the plans?"
"Eventually."
Kevin wasn't the only one a little shocked about the completed plans Weren't he and the other guys going to have any say in it? "Oh. Okay?" Eddy, Ben, and Joel were looking at their girlfriends in the same way he was looking at Edd. Jake, Ed, and Rolf, whose dates were not there, looked confused.
"We all had a group call the other day," Edd explained. "I was happy Nazz included me in the plans." He did look pleased with himself. "Angel arranged for the limo bus, because her uncle owns Classic Limo in town. Nazz suggested the Italian restaurant you took me to before, and we all thought it would be a nice place to dine before the prom, so I made the reservation."
"And you got the tickets already?"
"Yes, I did. I bought the prom package for us."
"But I asked you! I should have gotten them."
The other boys spoke up, then, because they realized the girls had all bought the tickets, too, which made Edd and the girls tease the boys because of their traditional views on relationships. In the general noise of the cafeteria and the loud discussion among the others, Edd leaned closer to Kevin to whisper, "We are an equal partnership, Kevin. I love to treat you as much as you love to treat me."
Kevin chuckled, pressing a kiss to Edd's cheek. "I love you for that. But dinner will be on me that night. No arguing."
Edd grinned at him, his cheeks turning pink. "I would not dream of it."
A/N:
I know there's not much plot content here. It was mainly to get the promposal in…and show a little bit of their interaction at school post-coming out.
Dr. Ruffin was my intermediate school principal...a much-beloved man who loved his students and his school. RIP Dr. Ruffin.
Here's the song Kevin uses: watch?v=bc0KhhjJP98
It's amazing...listen to it...and if you get a chance to watch the open credits of Guardians of the Galaxy...I picture Kevin dancing like that.
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