Chapter 11: In The Eye Of The Beholder

Back with the lads, after around a couple more hours hanging out together, and discussing a couple more aspects of how Chris moved into the cul-de-sac, as they all had an interest in said topic. Either way, they all went back to their homes in order to do any business they had to finish up, or general work.

It's now 7:30 PM, and the four boys were all in their homes, with different reactions to the stunt they all pulled yesterday. On one end. Chris was both relaxed and concerned, seeing as...

"Dude, that's a heavy contradiction. Pick words that aren't opposites, come on now." said Chris.

Uh... yeah. Let's say that although he thinks the stunt sent a message to the sisters, he was now thinking about what the aftermath could be. On the other side of things, Eddy was simply celebrating by blasting some tunes as he thought his issues with Lee were over, thanks to the, "artistic" poems he had written for her, also known as, words describing his utter contempt for her.

Next, Ed was just watching monster movies, as he wasn't really thinking about the stunt like his friends were. He didn't really think about how May would've reacted to the prank, so... oh isn't he in for a treat!

Double D was another story though, as he couldn't even believe that he had done something like that, not only to a person, but to Marie Kanker, of all possible people. He couldn't help but worry about what could happen to him, as if she was capable of chaos due to losing a valuable... yeah this won't be pretty.

However, none of them were ready for what the Kankers planned earlier, as at around 7:45 PM, Marie and Lee went to the cul-de-sac, and the latter had hid in the bush, observing the general area in the middle, to see who was out.

"Yo! Hurry it up!" whispered Lee, loudly, toward Marie.

Marie moved towards the same bush where Lee was hiding. Marie, in a way, felt alone with this idea that Lee had, seeing as May wasn't here, and Marie herself didn't exactly much room to speak on what's going on. Nevertheless, Lee tells her, "I'll get Eddy and Ed, you get Double D, got it?"

Marie didn't say anything, but just nodded her head as to say yes. With that, they went to get the Eds, but once Marie split from Lee, she decided to go against Lee's idea, so decided to do something instead of kidnapping Double D for whatever ploy Lee had in mind. How this could go is something that she no expectation for, but she can only hope for the best. Marie went to Double D's house extremely reluctantly, as she had doubted that he would even want to listen to anything she wanted to say.

She hits the bell, awaiting Double D's arrival.

"One second please!" yelled Double D from inside his house.

He opens the door, and says, "Hello, how many I help-"

Double D couldn't believe who he saw, and wished that it was just a prank, or a dream that he was having. Unfortunately, this turns out not to be the case.

"...hi." said Marie weakly.

Double D could not really say anything, but just cursing himself in his head, for pulling that stunt, as he thought that, "the day of reckoning", has arrived.

"Can we talk?" asked a shy Marie.

"Okay, s-ss-sure." responded Double D.

Double D relaxed a bit, as he expected her to be extremely mad at him, but she is rather more melancholy. Why? He has no clue yet, but is curious to understand more.

"What's going on?" asked a rather nervous curious Double D.

Marie simply only stared didn't say anything. In order to perhaps make it less awkward for the two of them, Double D decided to offer something.

"Do you want a drink?" said a very awkward Double D

"...yeah." responded Marie.

Double D ran to his kitchen, and simply got her a bottle of water, as he wasn't really sure as to what else to bring. He proceeded to sit next to her, although reluctant to do so.

"So, is there a reason why you are here?" asked Double D, who was progessively becoming less anxious.

"Look," Marie said, finally able to speak, "...sorry."

Double D didn't hear her, as she spoke rather quietly.

"Excuse me, but can you-" Double D got cut off by Marie who shouted,

"I'M SORRY!"

Double D got a little scared and jumped, but he quickly focused back to Marie, who was crying to practically no avail. Although still sorta scared of Marie, he had decided to hug her, in an attempt to cool her down, if only a little bit, as this feels like a surprise that wasn't unexpected, like, at all.

"Are you okay? This is quite unusual..." asked Double D.

Marie didn't respond again. At this point, Double D remembered two things. One, he had remembered that he still had Marie's diary from the stunt he and his friends did. Second, Marie most likely thinks Double D is in a relationship, from that one day, even though that was a lie made by Chris and Eddy. Double D decided to admit the truth to Marie, although this could backfire very badly, but he felt as though keeping the lie going was going to be a detriment, not a benefit.

"Marie, I have to personally share something with you." said Double D.

"...yeah?" asked Marie

Double D decided to admit himself, saying, "Remember that day where me, Eddy, Ed dressed up for, so to say, dates? Well, that was something that Eddy and Chris had the idea for getting rid of you and your sisters. We do not recognize anyone that might've been mentioned as our dates that day, as once more, that was a lie those two had in mind."

Marie stopped being sad and was mixed. First of all, she wanted to beat both Chris and Eddy up for pulling that stunt on her, especially because of how much May is hurt by the stunt. Second, she couldn't help but be curious as to why Double D admitted this to her, seeing how she thought that this was something that genuinely happened, based on what she saw.

"Are you for real?" asked Marie.

"I'm not making any part of that up, all of what I said is the truth, everything that you witnessed that day was a fabrication from those two." explained Double D.

"If only you say May right now..." responded Marie.

Double D got curious, and asked, "Why, may I ask?"

"She's extremely hurt by that, and that stunt, that I assume Chris did the other night?" Marie asked, in a serious tone.

"He planned the whole thing, but Ed, Eddy and I made our own little, umm... gifts, as he put it. Once more, it was intended as a way to get rid of you three, but it just seemed more like throwing gasoline onto a fire, or provoking a hungry animal." responded Double D.

"Chris is clever when it comes to planning, but I would seriously beat him Eddy up to teach them a lesson..." Marie said, growling slightly.

"My word!"

"What?" asked Marie.

"I agree Chris and Eddy need to learn their lesson, but VIOLENCE!?!?" responded Double D.

"Okay, what do you propose then?" asked Marie.

"Has everyone forgotten about having civil conversations? I suggest we first speak to Chris convince him to plan a way to help May out." said Double D, facepalming a bit. "Why is it that everyone wants to take more unnecessary measures?!"

"Fine... let's try it at least." said a slightly reluctant Marie.

"Shall we go now?" asked Double D.

"Sure. Oh yeah, Double D?" said Marie.

"Yes?"

"Thanks for being honest." Marie said, before kissing Double D on the cheek really quick.

"It wasn't anything special Marie, I was just getting sick and tired of the constant fabrications, deceptions, and many other things made up along the way recently, when sometimes the more simpler solution is the more reasonable and effective one." responded Double D with a small smile.

Although he was used to disliking Marie when she did that stuff, surprisingly he didn't mind it this time. He couldn't help but wonder why this was the case, most likely due to the fact that it was only 1, and not 1000 or more in a rapid manner. Regardless, they went to talk to Chris in order to figure out a plan to help May out, and resolve all of this ridiculousness that has been brewed.

This is extremely unexpected...