Week of Prom, Monday

After Edd completed his work in study hall, he asked to go to the library to work on a project. As he was sitting at a library study table, finalizing the outline that wasn't due until Friday, he found that it was harder to concentrate in here than in study hall. There was idle chatter coming from the computer side of the library, and someone was clearly trying to gain someone else's attention, with the constant "Pst!" and "Hey!" he could hear. Edd was really hoping that whoever they were trying to talk to, they would listen soon. Or that a teacher would intervene. Either suited Edd.

But before either could occur, a paper airplane hit Edd on the forearm, landing right on top of his work. He heard a half-whispered, "Bullseye!" before he looked around for the culprit. He immediately spotted Kevin and Nat sitting at two computers, and Edd felt silly for not looking at his surroundings sooner.

Kevin dragged a hand down his face, clearly embarrassed by Nat's antics, before mouthing, "I'm so sorry" to Edd.

Nat, on the other hand, had leaned back in his chair and loudly whispered, "Open! It!"

Edd gave him a confused look before looking back down at the paper airplane, unfolding it, to find "TIX!?" sprawled out in orange highlighter in Nat's handwriting, with added hearts for the dots in the punctuation.

Edd slowly looked back up at the boys. Kevin now was turned back to his computer, with his head in his hands, but Edd could see the blush on his ear and neck.

Nat stood up immediately when he made eye contact with Edd, and started gesturing with his hands, going back and forth between thumbs up and thumbs down. Edd looked back at the paper with the orange highlighter, and finally put it all together.

He gave Nat a thumbs down. Nat's smiled faded, and he slowly turned both his hands so they were mirroring Edd's thumbs down.

Edd tried to signal for Nat to sit back down, but it was too late. A man who Edd believes teaches British literature, walked up behind Nat, and smacked him on the back on the head with his folder. Nat surprising didn't make a sound but looked meekly at the teacher as he rubbed the back of his head and sat back down.

Edd looked back over at Kevin, who was now shaking with quiet laughter. He was still hiding his face and didn't see what happened, but he probably could hear just enough to know that Nat had gotten into trouble.

Nat slapped him on the arm, causing Kevin to turn his head towards him. Nat gave him a thumbs down. Kevin spun around, now facing Edd. He dropped his shoulders and gave him such a disappointed look.

Edd waved his hands in defense, and then hastily scribbled something on the paper airplane Nathan threw at him. He started folding it back up into a paper airplane, then stopped himself, laying his head down on the desk.

Was I seriously about to pass a note in the library via paper airplane, like a common… a common… Nathan!?

Edd turns his head and sees Kevin still sitting sideways in his chair but looking confused this time. Nat leaned back in his chair to get a better view, looking just as confused as Kevin.

Edd quickly crumpled up the papers and stood up partially from his chair.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

And apparently Nat and Kevin couldn't believe it either, judging by how wide-eyed they became. All three boys quickly looked around to see if there were any teachers or librarians watching. Nat mouthed "GO" to Edd, who immediately threw the paper ball towards Kevin. It wasn't heavy enough to make it all the way, so Kevin almost fell out of his chair trying to catch it.

Kevin double checked for teachers or librarians before opening the paper ball. Right below Nathan's message was Edd's neat print, which read:

I will get the "tix" during lunch.
I promise.
Now tell Nathan to behave!

Edd could see Kevin's smug look as he read the note, before turning to Nat, clearly pointing at that last line on the note. Nat snatched the paper from Kevin, and Edd had to throw a hand over his mouth to suppress the laughter when Nat's jaw dropped opened. He turned to Edd, look of shock and betrayal still on his face.

His face went stern, almost challenging. He maintained eye contact with a still giggling Edd, as he pulled out a pink highlighter from his pocket, pulled off the cap with too much dramatics, and then slapped his hand down on his notebook, loudly hitting the keyboard in the process. Kevin glanced back towards Edd, giving him a worried look, before leaning over to see what kind of damage Nat was attempting this time.

Kevin must not have liked what Nat was writing, because he started tugging his arm, and even tried scribbling something out with his own pen. But Nat manage to pull the pen away from Kevin, and both boys had to return to pretending to do their assignment as the teacher approach.

By the time the teacher finished his lap around their set of computers, Nat had apparently already finished his message. He ripped a piece of paper from his notebook, crumpled it up, stood, and immediately tossed it at Edd without checking his surroundings.

Edd hastily reached over his table, surprised he managed to catch it, and quickly sat back down, hiding the paper ball under his table. He looked back over at Nat, hoping his face screamed displeasure, but Nat appeared unphased. He was still standing, posing as if he just threw a basketball, with Kevin tugging on his shirt, trying to get him to sit back down, which he finally did after Kevin gave him a light punch on the stomach.

Kevin turned back to Edd and mouthed "Sorry!" again. Edd gave him a sympathetic look and nodded, hoping Kevin knew he understood. You just can't tame a Nathan.

Edd subtly unfolded the paper before smoothing it out against his open textbook. In pink highlighter was Nat's handwriting, stating,

Double Cutie! HOW DARE U!?
We were NOT misbehaving.
We were just worried you'd forget your ticket.

PS. You lookin fine today. As per usual.

Edd rolled his eyes. He noticed several stray marks of blue pen on the paper, including a few spots where he managed to scribble out "Double Cutie" twice, before Nat manage to write the final note. This must have been from where Kevin had attempted to stop Nathan.

Towards the bottom right corner, he noticed that two of the stray blue pen marks made a sloppy "X." But there was a neatly written "O X O – KEV" right after that. Edd rolled his eyes again. He knew both Kevin's and Nathan's handwriting, and this definitely was not Kevin's.

He looked back towards the boys, Kevin clearly trying to actually get his work done, while Nat was leaning back in his chair again, waggling his eyebrows at Edd.

If Kevin ever fails a class, it would most likely be Nathan's fault.

Edd checked the time and realized there were only a few minutes of class left before lunch. He quickly added his own message, right under what was supposedly Kevin's addition to the note:

This awful attempt at forgery is clearly not behaving.

Edd neatly folded the note twice, then packed his bags. As he was leaving the library, he causally dropped the note onto Kevin's notebook right as the bell rang.

He was certain Kevin opened it and read it, because he soon heard what he believed to be the sound of Kevin hitting Nathan with his notebook, which was confirmed by Nat's yelps of protest.

Edd went to his locker, shoved his bookbag inside, and grabbed his lunch box. He made his way to the cafeteria and headed towards the outside benches, his usual lunch spot with Ed.

On the way he passed by a table set up to one side. He glanced over at it and his heart dropped. The poster board on the front of the table read "Prom Tickets!" in glittery cutouts, with "LAST DAY!" sprawled in black sharpie underneath.

Edd patted down his pockets just in case, but he already knew it wasn't there. His wallet was inside his bookbag, in his locker, on the other side of the school.

He quickly turned to go get his wallet, running into Kevin.

Kevin caught him, as Edd stumbled, "Woah there, Edd, where's the fire?"

"I don't have my wallet," Edd rushed out, jerking his head towards the ticket table.

Kevin gave him a sympathetic look and whispered, "Don't worry, I got you."

Edd tried protesting, saying he has the money, just needs to get it, but Kevin brushed him off and shuffled around him towards the table.

"Kevin, I'd rather you didn't."

"It's fine, dork, I'd rather get this done."

"And shouldn't you be in class."

Kevin snapped around, holding up a finger to Edd's mouth, hushing him. "Hey. Don't get me in trouble, now. And besides, it's just gym. Nat's covering for me."

"But why are you here?"

"I came to apologize about Nat, and to warn you… we are planning on crashing at Nat's after the prom. He just got a fire pit, so probably gonna camp out and stuff."

"Oh, dear me, I-"

"Nat was just super hyped about prom because he's super hyped about the sleep over. That's all. And we won't be in school. Paper planes are permissible in your own back yard."

Edd laughed. "That does seem fair. I'll think about it."

"Choice. Now, you gonna let me get this ticket or am I gonna have to fight ya?"

Edd just nodded, admitting defeat.

Kevin grinned at the secretary. "M'buddy here needs a prom ticket."

She takes Eddward's information, looking him up on her laptop, while Kevin pays for the ticket. She hands the ticket to Kevin, who takes a few steps away from the ticket table before handing it to Edd.

Edd doesn't touch the ticket. He just looks at Kevin with a worried expression. "You really didn't have to do this."

"Consider it as a consolation for the bull Nat pulled in the library."

"If that's the case, Nathan needs to give us both a consolation," Edd replied blandly.

Kevin laughed, and carefully slid the ticket into Edd's dress shirt pocket. "You're not wrong. Now, don't lose this!" Kevin said, placing his hand on top of the ticket, on top of Edd's heart, which was starting to beat harder.

Just then, Ed walks by with his lunch tray and causally says, "See ya outside, Double D."

Edd followed him with his eyes, until Kevin patted the ticket in Edd's pocket a few times, regaining Edd's attention. "And for heaven's sake, don't let Lumpy eat this."

Edd gave a breathy laugh. "I shall try not to," he said, turning away to head towards Ed, placing his free hand over the ticket.

Later that afternoon, Edd had thought the whole ordeal regarding obtaining a prom ticket was behind him. That is, until Nazz walked up at the start of their dance practice. "So, Nat told me the funniest story about something happening in the library, regarding you getting a ticket to prom."

Edd groaned and pulled his hat down over his face.

"I wanna hear your side, so I know what's true."

"None of it. None of it's true." Edd said weakly through the fabric.

Lucky for Edd, the instructor started the lesson soon after that. Unlucky for Edd, Nazz was his ride home, so she managed to get the story out of him that way. By the time she pulled up to his driveway, Nazz was in stitches, and Edd was completely drained again.

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you serious?"

Edd nodded.

"Hold up. I need a second opinion." Nazz pulled out her phone, selected one of her contacts, then put the phone on speaker.

"'Sup." Edd heard Kevin's voice over the phone.

"Edd here just told me the funniest story about Nat in the library and how he-"

Kevin groaned loudly and hung up on her.

Edd bid Nazz goodnight, but she was too busy laughing, wiping the tears from her face. Edd left her there, laughing in her car in the middle of Edd's driveway.

Though Edd was shaking his head at Nat's unprofessional behavior, he couldn't help but smile at it as well.

I guess it was a bit humorous… after the fact, at least.