One Week Before Prom, Tuesday

When Kevin texted that he was on his way, Edd replied, saying the door is opened. This explains why Edd heard a commotion in the living room as he was washing dishes. Apparently, Kevin had walked right in and started moving the furniture on his own.

He looks up at sees Edd, and grins, immediately saying, "So I followed along with the entire VHS on Sunday. And I even watched a few other videos online. Think I'm getting the hang of the tango now."

Kevin stands upright and starts dancing in the middle of the living room. It wasn't too bad, at least for dancing without a partner, and Edd was actually a bit impressed.

"You're much better at that."

"Thanks! But don't ask to see the foxtrot. All I learned about that one is different ways to fall and get bruised."

Edd laughed as he helped move the rest of the furniture out of the way. "That sounds like quite the feat if you managed to bruise yourself during the foxtrot."

"Hey. It's a lot more of those backwards movements, and my bedroom isn't as accommodating for dancing like your living room is."

"Fair point. So, what do you want to do today?"

"How about you just put the dance music on shuffle, and we'll let that decide for us."

Edd like the spontaneity of this plan and set the music to shuffle. After skipping a few songs for dances they've yet to learn, they finally started their practice with a tango. Now that Kevin had a partner and wasn't just making small movements in a half-cleared room, Edd could tell that he had been practicing. He was more decisive in his moves, making the movements themselves more fluid. Edd was about to comment on this when the song changed to something much more upbeat.

"Dude, what dance do you do with this?"

"Salsa."

Kevin quirked an eyebrow. "Care to show me?"

Edd shrugged and attempted to led Kevin around the room as he showed him how to salsa. Because of the changes in roles and general movements, Kevin was struggling, causing them to go about it at almost half the tempo of the actual song. But they were enjoying themselves, laughing about Kevin's awful movements.

"Dude, you're starting to sound like Ms. Nile," Kevin teased.

Edd turned his head, pretending to address another person in the room. "Could you please come and show this young man how to NOT break my hip!?"

Kevin started laughing so hard, he couldn't even attempt to salsa anymore. When the song changed again, Edd raced over to his phone to skip the song, mumbling, "We will not be trying any rhumba anytime soon. That's for certain."

As Edd skipped songs, looking for one they can dance to, Kevin walked over and hit the pause button.

"So… this is gonna sound a bit awkward…"

"O-okay… what is it?"

"Well, I am having fun and all, and I do feel like I'm learning a lot, but… well…"

"But what, Kevin?"

"We won't actually being doing a waltz, or tango, or salsa at prom."

"Yes, of course." Edd frowned, slowly placing his phone back on the table. Guess this is the end of the lessons.

"Yeah. Exactly. So, I was thinking, maybe, if you're up for it… can we do a dance that I will have to use at prom?"

"What do you mean?"

Kevin pulls out his phone and starts scrolling through something. "Can we… can we slow dance?"

"I, um… I guess that does make sense… to practice a dance you will have to use…"

Kevin starts a song, very mellow and slow, then turns up the volume and places his phone on the coffee table. He rubs the back of his neck, nudging his hat as he asks, "So… can I have this dance, dork?"

Edd wants to die on the spot. Just admit his life has peaked and give up the ghost. He tugs his hat down partially with one hand, while placing his other hand in Kevin's waiting one.

One song.

Two songs.

For three whole songs, Kevin led Edd around the room, slowly. Edd gave him pointers throughout the process, but was careful in doing so, when he noticed what Kevin was doing each time in response.

The way they started the dance, it was like they were at a middle school dance. Slow dancing, but at arms-length apart. Each time Edd would suggest something, give a tip, or correct something, Kevin would nod and adjust accordingly, but not without also inching forward.

By the time Edd noticed, their arms were already starting to slack from the reduced distance. Eventually, Kevin had moved one arm up to Edd's shoulder, while the other remained on his waist, pulling Edd closer as he himself inched closer.

When Edd gave his last tip at the start of the third song, Kevin had nodded, adjusted his hand on Edd's shoulder like Edd suggested, and moved his other hand from Edd's waist to his lower back, pressing his fingertips into him briefly as he took a half step closer. Edd couldn't help but lean closer to Kevin, adjusting his arms so he had a better hold on him, and mentally berating himself for allowing his body to betray him like this.

Edd tried to distract himself from giving anymore pointers, to prevent being even closer to Kevin and possibly hyperventilating to death. But his distractions lead to him noticing that Kevin, usually joking around while dancing or overly concentrating on his feet and counting, was doing neither right now. He was just. Dancing.

He didn't appear to be concentrating on anything in particular. His eyes traveled about, though what bothered Edd was the way they landed on him, soft gaze, with no real indication of what he could possibly be thinking in this moment.

That's what got under Edd's skin. Kevin appeared to not have a care in the world as he was slow dancing in the middle of the living room with someone he had quite the history with. Someone he used to beat up when they were children. Someone he didn't really become friends with until after that incident with Eddy's brother in middle school. Someone he eventually hung out with, rode bikes with, watched monster movies with, and prevented Ed from stealing Rolf's chickens with. Someone he cried to after coming home from the hospital after saying his last goodbyes to his grandfather. Someone who he comforted after they broke down a few weeks later, after realizing what a big change high school can be. Someone he stood up for after they were outed in school, possibly jeopardizing his comradery with his teammates in the process. Someone who has been there for Kevin this whole time, even when they weren't on the best of terms as children, and who is now helping Kevin learn how to dance for prom

I'm helping Kevin win Nazz over, aren't I. All this time together, I've only developed stronger feelings for him, while he only realized how he can benefit from my dance knowledge to make prom more enjoyable for Nazz and him. I am a fool, but I can't simply refuse to help him all because of my feelings. But this hurts so much.

When the fourth song began, Edd felt Kevin's hand slowly move up his back, sending shivers along his spine. Edd took this opportunity to break away from Kevin and sit down on the only part of the couch not blocked by the coffee table.

"Double D, are you alright?" Kevin asked, the concern clear as day on his face.

Edd nodded and downed the rest of his bottle of water. "I will be. Just a bit dizzy."

"Is this recently or-"

"Been happening all day," Edd lied, and hated himself for doing so. "I think I've just been overworked and stressed. You know, with AP exams and end of the semester projects coming up and everything."

"Is that so?"

"I'm not sure, but that makes the most sense."

No, what makes the most sense is you're losing your head over a boy who doesn't see you that way. Who's probably still as close to his ex as he is, for a reason. And who keeps getting too close for comfort. Any closer and he'd be able to feel my heart beating out of my rib cage, attempting to escape and end my… oh dear… you're being quite melodramatic, Eddward! You should just-

Edd suddenly was startled back to the real world when Kevin clamped a hand on his shoulder, giving him a worried look. "Dude. Yeah. You really do seem stressed and a bit out of it, if I'm being honest. Maybe we should stop here for today."

"Oh, I should be fine-"

"Can it, dork. I'm not going to add to your stress. You're already doing so much for me taking time out of your day to teach me how to dance. I really do appreciate this. Not sure how I could even really express that to you."

Edd grinned up at him. "Seems you already did."

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Hey, take care of yourself, and I'll see you Thursday, yeah?"

"Thursday. Sure."

Kevin slowly drops his arm from Edd's shoulder, before grabbing his shoes and making his way home, without another word.