Edd, or commonly known as double d woke up with a start, sweat dripping down his face. "what the hell did I just dream?" a grimace coming from his face as he had a dream that reminded him all too much of the past.

Pulling the covers off him he stood up and stretched. Edd wasn't who he used to be, not since middle school, not trying to think of the past, he walked to his bathroom to take the much-needed shower after sniffing himself. Pulling the curtain to the side, he thought of the home work that he needed to do. "such a pain, I need to set my alarm next time"

he knew no one was going to wake him since he lived alone. His parents moved out on his freshman year promising that they would still pay for the house but only asked for him to be responsible and a phone call every so often. He knew the reason that they left was because of their job but that still didn't mean that they should leave him alone.

He pleaded to move with in with a relative, but none lived in the city that is his prison. "you're going to be late, you wouldn't want that right?" a voice said and edd was enjoying his hot shower. "leave me alone, I know you're not real, just a figment of my imagination" he said while the last part under his breath. He ignored the figure that was in the bathroom with him.

He proved his point by walking through the apparition that was talking. It disappeared with a sinister smile on it's face while dissipating with black and red smoke. "I need my meds, damn" edd said as he dried himself off. Walking back to his room to get another set of clothes for his day at the hell called school.

Looking back at his room, he knew he changed much after 8th grade. But it would surprise anyone if they were ever let into his house. The once shy and nerdy double d became a rough and quite teen. He no more cared for organizing in the way that he did before. He still cleaned his room before but didn't know why, "habits die hard" he said sighing while a smirk was plastered across his face.

His bed was messy which compelled him to clean it. But like always, the voice that has haunted his life for three years now spoke again. "does it still hurt? I doubt since you don't ever talk about it, oh and by the way you forgot your hat" it pointed to the nightstand. Edd glared at it and picked up his hat which held the pain that had no remedy.

The apparition spoke again. "just so you know, you might enjoy today more than you think." That was all it said as it disappeared into mist again. "what the hell does that mean?" he wondered but it mostly scared him. 'since when do hallucinations know the future?' he thought as he forgot to dress himself. He went back to the closet to pull out a black and red plaid button up shirt, normal jeans and a black hoodie to compliment his hat

. He changed his wardrobe since he knew that his old attire wasn't appropriate for the life of high school. Knowing well that he looked like a nerd and this would provoke attention from the dimwits at school. He was glad that he changed in a way even though it hurt his pride in a way. But that peaceful mind was gone when a thought came to his mind

. "why did it change personalities today? It's usually angry at me."

He said in an innocent tone that he himself didn't expect to say. 'whatever, I need to get going' thinking again while he packed up his last night's homework into his bag that was a one strap leather pack that was bigger than it looked, and lastly picking his phone up from the nightstand. He walked out of his room with a frown like always and continued down the stairs.

Walking into the kitchen, he pulled out some orange juice and a pop tart from the cupboard. Looking at the dining room table was his medication that was meant to help with his hallucinations, but secretly, it didn't help. It only helped his peace of mind that was a labyrinth. He took one last look that was his haven. Opening the front door, he breathed in the cold brisk air of the morning.

Headed to a separate building that was now his garage and went inside. Coming up to his car that he believed was older than most models because he didn't care to remember what type of car or year it was. (but for reading purposes it's a 1962 Chevy c10 truck. A rusty coat of navy blue that he didn't mind but hated it since it was on the brink of breaking down.

Opening the door, he set his pack on the passenger side of the truck and started the car. It took time for it to finally blare to life, but it started. He pressed the remote attached to the sun blocker on the roof of the cab. The garage door slowly opened, and he backed out but not without him pulling out a cigarette.

He hated the fact that he smoked but it helped to alleviate the stress. After finally backing up into the street, he headed straight for the school and no amount of training could handle him for his day. After a while to the hour drive to school which was in the next town over, his truck broke down. This cause him to sigh but he then started to laugh at his luck. "ha, this is fucking great. Now I have to walk." He said as he slammed the dash board. He got his pack and exited the truck, but a noise caught his attention. 'is that a car?'

he thought to himself, as well as his hope rising that he didn't have to walk there in the cold. When the noise came closer, he saw a glimmer of light shine at him when a car rounded the corner of the hill.

Covering his eyes to prevent anymore blindness, he let his hands down after a few seconds. When the car got closer but seemed to slow down at a steady pace. When the car came into a certain distance, he made out that it was an old car, but not older than his piece of crap, it was completely white but had two racing stripes parallel alongside the hood of the car.

A thought entered edd's mind as the vehicle got closer and closer. 'that car looks familiar, but where have I seen it?' as he was still in thought, the car pulled up to him and the window was rolled down by the driver. "you seem to need some help, need a ride?" the driver said, as the driver finished, edd leaned down to accept the offer but the face that matched the voice almost left him speechless.

"uh...um... yeah that would be nice, thank you Marie." Edd said this but felt a small tug at him to walk away. Marie spoke up. "cool, now get in here before you freeze to death. Edd complied with this and slowly opened the door. Before he got into the car, he saw that she moved her bag into the back seat alongside a travel duffel bag.

He didn't question why she had that and why it looked almost full to burst. He sat down and put his bag down between his legs and thanked her again looking at her in a nervous tone. "thanks again Marie, I don't know if I would make it on time without your help." He said meekly. But Marie took it with a little salt considering how her morning was.

"well, why would you be driving that heap of junk in the first place?"

she said with a questionable tone. This caught edd off guard at her random question. "it's the only thing I got, plus it was a gift, id change it if I could." He said now with a solid and monotone. He didn't want to start something, especially with Marie. Marie then started to laugh almost uncontrollably at edds feeble attempt to hide his embarrassment. "what, what's so funny?" edd said now questioning if this was the right decision by getting into her car.

"it's just that your voice doesn't match your actions." She said at pointing at edds shaking. Edd became flustered and started to cross his arms. "whatever, I'm just trying to say thanks." Edd said meekly and at this, Marie brushed her hair out of her face to see him clearly.

'he looks better since the last time I saw him, it's kind of cute. The tough guy persona, but I ain't judging.'

She thought to herself, now starting the car again since it was parked behind edds truck. She turned it off to conserve gas, which is reasonable since she doesn't have a job, nor did she have a place to call home now. The engine started with a roar but then went into its normal hum of an engine. Marie then put into drive and turned back onto the road.

After a few minutes, Marie was getting anxious and decided to ask edd "hey edd, do you mind if I light up?" her weird question caught him off guard." "what?" he replied. This gave a grunt from Marie and she pulled the pack of cigarettes that was now almost empty and showed him what she meant." He got the picture and told her that he didn't mind.

But this soon gave edd the feeling to smoke as well and shocked Marie by asking something similar. "Marie, do you mind if I smoke?" Marie was caught off guard. 'when did edd start smoking? I guess that's ok.' She then looked at him and offered him a cigarette, but he shook his head and pulled his own pack out. "wow, never took you for a smoker edd." She said but he just stared out the window while putting a cigarette in his mouth, lit it and replied to Marie by saying.

"well, life changes more than we all know, can't change the past, nor the future, besides, cigarettes are a good way for me to relax." She gave small a chuckle on hearing what he just said. "well whatever floats your boat." She said as she took another puff of her cigarette.

They didn't talk for a few minutes which made edd oddly uncomftorble. So, he decided to break the ice and speak up first. "hey um." "I uh" they both talked at the same time which made it even more awkward between them. "you go first edd." Marie said and edd looked away shyly. "so…um" he almost stuttered thinking about his question but knew that if he asked, she was more than going to be mad at him.

but Marie was now curious as to what he seemed to be struggling to ask her. she couldn't wait and became slightly annoyed. "well spit it out." She spoke boldly. "then you won't get mad at what I have to ask then?" Marie raised an eyebrow at wondering at what he had to day.

"ask away captain, I won't be mad."

She said playfully and almost as a flirt. Edd just stared at her and an unknown force made him spill out his question. "are you moving somewhere? I saw your bag in the back." He now was face palming himself at the question that he just asked her, he was now physically showing his nervousness and was prepared to fell pain. After a moment, there was nothing but the sound of crying.

"double d, you might want to forget that you saw that and don't mention it again." She said coldly, and tears began to roll down her face. "I'm sorry, I was ju.."

he was cut off when Marie put her finger to his lips to hush him. "I'm sorry Marie." He said now mentally kicking himself over this stupid question. He knew of how she was, but he never expected her to cry over a question like that. But when he was about to drop the subject, the apparition appeared behind him and leaned into his ear.

"you know you're going to have regrets if you don't ask that one question from the start." It said smiling evilly but it had a point. Edd looked at Marie and gained as much courage as he could muster. "Marie, what's wrong, I've never known you to cry, is everything all right?"

she now had his full attention and almost froze but stopped since she was the one driving.

"I don't want to talk about it."

But edd was determined now for some odd reason to help her as much as he could, but it was weird. 'I don't know why I want to help, she tormented me in middle school but why do I care, I hate having this feeling.' What he felt was pity. Here was this girl that was as tough as nails but here she was crying. But at thinking at this repeatedly. He started picking up what random pieces he had of information and came up with a theory. If this didn't work, he'd drop it for good.

"Marie, are you homeless?"

she froze and almost hit a car, edd immediately grabbed the steering wheel and fixed their path, avoiding a near death experience. "I don't want..." she was cut off by edds burst of words that seemed to make her heart jump.

"Marie, I know you better than this, I saw the duffle bag, you're going to school early, and plus I can see the scars through your bracelets, that might not help my point but I'm getting the vibe that you were kicked out. Now I wouldn't be me if I just let someone willingly throw their life away and decline an offer of help."

'help' she pulled over the car and put into a park. Unfastened her seat belt and turned toward ed. She was now clearly sobbing, and it made his heart hurt. "so, what if I am homeless, I'd rather be homeless than live with that bitch and fucking pervert." Her outburst made him tense. "and why do you care, you don't even like me, I'm just a trailer whore to you aren't I?"

she yelled at him now angry at him. edd looked at her with that look that he gave to eddy the last time he saw him. he put on the straightest face that he could muster and told her. "what made you think I didn't like you, nor did I want to help you. Your making assumptions that aren't true. And never did I think that you were trailer trash or a whore.

I see you as a friend in need and I'm more than willing to give you a place to stay." He said this and almost regretted it until she got closer to him.

"you don't mean it."

Her heart was empty now and felt cold, she felt as if she was being abused by her ex's again. He looked back at her with the same intensity. "I meant every word of it, but I'm not forcing you to do anything you want, you can stay with me or find some other place to stay." She couldn't believe what he just said. 'no, no one cares, why would he.' She looked down at her knees after taking the kneeling position. Her hands felt the cold leather, and this made her think.

'could he possibly help?' Marie spoke up after a few seconds. "why would I want that?" he expected her to say this but as he was about to respond she spoke again. "besides, your parents might not want trailer trash in your house, I might get it dirty." He laughed at her and surprised the empty shell that was Marie. "my parents moved out years ago, it's just me myself and I and besides, you won't get it dirty." he said with a grin on his face.

"if I take you up on your offer, then where would I sleep?" she said and soon after thought that he was joking. "I have two other rooms, it's not like ill just make you sleep on the couch or on the floor, I'm not that mean. Edd wasn't paying attention, nor was Marie at that matter as she got closer to him. she neared a foot away from his face.

Edd internally was freaking out and put his hands on her shoulders. "Marie, I want to help." Her eyes didn't glaze over like normal eyes would, her crystal blue became a darker shade and looked at him with such emptiness that it scared him. 'shit, I need to fix this. She's losing it.' He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked away.

"I'll understand if you don't want to, you can stay until you find a new place to live, your welcome as long as you want. I'll give you as much room as you need, you'll have food and shelter, I might even pitch in with your homework." He said this with determination and confusion.

'Why do I do this to myself.' He was certain that she would decline but when he looked back at her, she looked out of the window. "I accept your offer, but only on one condition…. I get my free space, which means that my door stays closed and knock first." "of course, I'm not an animal nor am I a pervert." When she heard that last word she felt angry but calmed down and looked at him.

"hello there then roommate." He said this while smirking. Marie became nervous and stayed quiet for a few moments. Edd lost track of time, he looked at his phone and it read {11:34 am} he was almost about to complain but had a good idea.

'this way, she doesn't have to go to a place I know she hates.'

His next words could be mistaken very easily but Marie took it positively. "Marie, so you want to skip school and just head to my place?" he said not expecting anything really. "sure, let's go, but you drive this time." He wanted to complain but before he could, she pulled him to the other side of the car and moved herself to where he was sitting.

"well here we go I guess." He said timidly, then making a U-turn he drove back to the road to his house.