"Hey Red, whatcha doin' all the way over there?" Marie's grating, but sweet, voice rang out in my direction. I felt myself blush, immediately looking around to see some heads looking in their direction. I was glad to see no one knew my nickname, but I still waited a second before I walked somewhat in their direction, walking behind a tree before coming up next to them. At least Eddward had a faint blush on as well.

"Was waiting for Nazz. Didn't know you guys were gonna make this a regular thing, what with...reputation and you know, all that." I was being honest, since I wasn't about to lie and say I minded being with them. Marie was a nice, respectable girl, despite her snappy attitude, and Eddward...yeah.

She smirked at me, shoving me playfully to bump up against Eddward, much to our chagrin, "You shoulda seen the look on his face when he saw you weren't coming over here. Ever seen a sad Wolf? Not pretty, let me tell you."

Eddward shot her a glare, his lips parting for a reply, but closing. He rolled his eyes instead, letting out an annoyed sigh. I felt his arm brush against mine as he folded his arms, his eyes shooting wide as he pulled away, looking down. Marie caught this, and smirked.

"See, what did I tell you? Anyways, you two're together know, so get chattin'. I didn't call you over for nothing." She was smiling, and despite her devious plan, I honestly couldn't help but appreciate what she was doing. I would have never approached on my own, not in school. Despite everything I'd been through with him at this point, I knew better than to mess with his appearance in public. I still remembered the wrist thing, and it tempered my actions well enough.

"Uh, well, like," I started clumsily, but Eddward's eyes caught mine anyways, "what did you do for that extra credit thing? Cuz I figured you'd do it, I mean, just for the heck of it. Not like you need it or anything."

He regarded me with calm eyes, "I wrote a poem."

"...Yeah, and?"

He huffed out softly, shaking his head, "No, mon cher, you may not see it."

I frowned, mumbling, "Why not?"

An invisible smile crossed his lips, "It shall be read in class...do you not recall?"

My eyes widened, "Oh...umm, I...yeah, sure."

Marie cackled, "Oh my god, you forgot. That's rich! Ohhh I am so not skipping English today."

Eddward shot her a glare, "Marie."

She held her hands up, "Kidding, kidding! Hey, is that Goldilocks?" We looked over, and sure enough, Nazz was walking towards us, of her own volition. Marie smiled, "Goldilocks, baby, how you doing girl?"

I snickered at her phrasing, hearing the mocking tone in her voice and watching Nazz's obvious frustration.

She walked up next to me, "Hey Kev."

"What's up, Nazz?" I smiled, taking a little step back to let her join our little group, which, coincidentally, made me bump into Eddward. The surprising part? He leaned back for a moment before he backed away.

"Not much, just a bit tired. And confused. What're you doing hanging with the scaries, anyhow?"

I looked over at the pair, who didn't seem to mind her judgement, before replying, "Eh, it's a thing."

She tilted her head at me, but didn't inquire further. Marie butted in, changing the subject to the topic of the day: a certain holiday I didn't really care about. Valentine's Day.

Whilst Marie and and Nazz girled-out about stupid things like roses and love notes and who was gonna ask who out, I leaned over a little to bump my arm against Eddward's. He let out a soft 'hmm,' and didn't move, looking down at my shoulder. I looked at him, biting my lip as I looked around to see if anyone was watching.

He smiled his subtle smile, "Avez-vous assez chaud?" He asked breathily, and I just stared at him, confused.

"I literally have no clue what you just said."

The smile grew a little, but was still nigh unnoticeable, "Are you warm enough, my Red?"

My voice stumbled at the depth of his tone, my cheeks reddening at the hidden meaning, "I-I'm fine."

"Are you quite certain of that? From what I can tell, there's a chill to you," he emphasized his point by letting the bare, lower portion of his arm rub against mine. I blushed deeper.

"We-we can't, Edd."

His eyes softened at this, a layer of ice covering them, "You cannot fault me for...you are correct, though," he pulled away, the February chill brushing against me again, "Jamison is watching, now. Not that I am deserving. The bell will ring soon, let us rejoin their conversation and play our parts, mon cher."

I frowned at the resignation in his voice, but I knew better than to fight it. Even if I hated when he got like this, I couldn't, not now. I looked at Jamison from the corner of my eye, and sighed. He was definitely watching. I wasn't sure why, but I didn't like it. Johnny might have been an idiot, but Jamison was smarter than he let on. It gave me a chill just thinking about it, and for a moment, I wanted to take Eddward up on his offer.

The bell rang exactly a moment later, and the mask slid on his face once more. I wanted nothing more than to remove it for good.

"Alright, class, now the next work I have here is a set of haikus. I'd like you to think deeply when you hear it, because, as you know, poetry is written from the heart, and is not always clear. And a haiku tends to be even less clear, as one must limit their usage of words. Now, ready yourselves, and I'll begin.

"Love is like a flo'er
Silken petals, subtle bloom
Bleeding hearts for stems

"Always to admire
From afar, the briar rose
Thorns adorn her heart

"Love is like a flo'er
Pick her loose and watch her die
Love is like a flo'er"

The room was silent as Mrs. Rhodes smiled, putting down the paper. I looked towards Eddward, and his eyes flitted towards me, then back again. I smiled as well.

"...I know, but you wrote it for him, you just gotta give it to him!"

I scoffed, walking fast ahead of her, but she ran to keep up.

"Please please please, mister Wolf? With sugar on top?"

I gave her an incredulous look.

"Before I tell him instead."

I stopped on a dime, and Marie turned to face me, pouting lip combined with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. I sighed, "Marie..."

"Look, I know it's in your special notebook, but you wrote it for him. Isn't he special enough for you to, I dunno, make an exception?"

Begrudgingly, I looked down at the notebook, and the pen within its binding. During English, I'd...written something. And now, I regretted it, because Marie saw it and wanted me to give it to Kevin. I couldn't.

"I'd rather spare my notebook, and my...my hopes, Marie." The last bit that I said was forced, because I knew she wouldn't believe me otherwise. I didn't truly hope, though. I knew he...he might accept, but I couldn't...

She glared at me, a frown now on her lips, "Eddward...don't. Just...just do it, okay? I'd rather you ask him. I really would. I don't care if it's that note you show him or if you just ask, but just do something."

I sighed, looking down. I nodded.

It was good to see her smiling at me, even as she walked off, but I groaned internally. I flipped open the notebook, poring over the page I'd recently laid claim to.

Beautiful boy in the cap of Rouge, your skin cold to the touch. Let me warm you for an evening, take you into my home as I've oft desired to do simply to revel in your presence.

A date, on this date...such a dated concept. And yet, I wonder, will you?

I dare not ask aloud, in case you refuse...oh, sweet boy, my heart and my bane, would that I knew.

For tonight, I'd rather spend alone
with you...

I closed my eyes, my thumb rolling over the elegant font, blue as the cold, permanent as those thoughts within my mind. I was not afraid of anything, just...just aware of the pain.

I stared down at the note for the millionth time, trying to figure out what he might have hidden in its folds.

My evening is yours, if you'll have me. The door will be unlocked, come at your leisure.

The note, written in blue ink upon a small tear of paper, was pretty obvious, but also confusing. I mean, I guess that's the point; Edd wouldn't be Eddward without being cryptic and unclear. And I kinda liked that, figuring him out and reading him like this. But I still didn't know.

I mean...was this a date? Or was it just an invitation?

I'd taken long enough, though, I decided. I'd been up in my room since I'd gotten home, and knew it was time to let my parents know about my...plans for the evening. Whatever the hell they were.

When I came down the stairs, I saw my mom and dad sitting on the couch, holding hands. A vase of flowers sat on the table.

I sighed, steeling myself, "Hey, I'm gonna head over to a friend's tonight for dinner. S'that okay?"

My mom looked at my dad, and he returned the look, but a little more confused. Mom just looked suspicious.

She spoke first, "Is this a date?"

Before I could respond, my dad added, "Didn't think you had it in ya, boy, why didn't you say so earlier?"

I felt my cheeks heat up, holding out my hands defiantly, "No no, it's just a dinner with a friend, mom! Dad, really? Did you have to say that?"

Mom smiled, "Don't be ashamed, I just wanted to know. I mean, if it's a date, you shouldn't go dressed like that," she pointed at the clothes I'd been wearing all day, "it's really not that romantic."

"It's not a date..." I grunted, but the red on my cheeks wasn't helping my case.

"Well, have we met this 'friend' of yours?" She asked, smiling widely.

"Yeah, it's just Eddward." Their eyes both widened a bit, and I groaned angrily, "It's not a date!"

My mom looked like she wanted to say something, but dad spoke up first, "Alright, go head on your non-date then. Better be home before bedtime, Kevin, even if it's just across the street. Got it?"

I nodded, trying to will the blush away.

"We'll see you later, have fun."

I didn't even look back, walking out the front door and slamming it behind me. I groaned loudly.

"Fff..."

"I'm not certain...would my school clothes be too casual? I know there is a ritual to this-"

"There's not, Eddward. Really, you're totally stressing out over nothing."

"I want nothing less than perfection, Marie."

"You're just worried cuz this is your first date-"

"And that is exactly my point. And I don't believe it's only my own..."

"AWWWWWWW-"

"Marie."

"Look, you just need to chill out. Make something nice for him, wear the clothes you think he likes looking at you in-"

"Marie!"

"-and have a good time. But I gotta get going, alright? I have my own plans. Be good to yourself, okay?"

"...fine."

"Have fun!"

"Adieu."

-click-

Despite having reassured my parents that this was not a date, I didn't believe that for a second. I just..wasn't sure how they'd react, that was all. I hesitated before I managed to put enough pressure on the doorbell for it to actually ring. Then I had to wait the agonizingly long seconds for Eddward to answer the door.

From the moment he opened the door, I could tell he was nervous. For once, the threatening Wolf couldn't even meet my eyes for more than a few moments, choosing to look away as he spoke, "I've a dinner prepared for us, if you'd be so kind as to come to the kitchen and seat yourself."

His smooth voice was laced with little, shaky moments, making it even more clear to me that he wasn't completely confident about this, not at all.

"Sounds good. How did you know when I'd be here?"

He didn't turn back as he spoke, "I did not. I prepared it ahead of time and kept it warm for us, and chilled the salad."

"Oh." Duh.

The delicious scent of steak filled the room as Eddward opened the oven, carefully removing the tray with an oven mitt. Afterwards, he removed a nicely-prepared salad from the fridge. He placed them side by side, turning to me, "Take your pick."

"But you made it, shouldn't you-"

"I m-made them for you. Now pick, please." I would have smiled at the little jitter in his voice, but I was actually pretty nervous as well. The room was filled with anxious electricity and it made it hard to act normal. I picked one at random, spooned some salad onto my plate, and took a seat. He followed soon after.

It was awkward how silent dinner was. I kept seeing him part his lips to speak, but he would always hesitate, and decide against it. I found myself in the same situation, as well as the fact that Eddward was a God at cooking, and I couldn't savor my meal enough. Still, the silent grated on me, and, after Eddward had taken his last bite, I choked out a sentence.

"I can kinda tell you're nervous."

He looked up, staring straight into my eyes, swallowing the rest of the food, "I...how come?"

I looked back at him, "It's like what your mom said. I mean, I'm not as good at it as she was, but I can read you pretty well. And you're, like...scared shitless right now. Or close to it, I guess. Right?"

He stared unamusedly at my comparison, speaking calmly, "Well, this...isn't exactly an experience I'm familiar with. One cannot go purely on instinct. I've had a lot to think about."

"Come on, man, it's just a date," I smirked at him.

"Is it?" He spoke softly, then bit his lip, "Sot, I, what I meant to say is..."

"What's that even mean?"

He cocked his head.

"That...word you said. In French I'm guessing."

"Oh, I...did not realize it. Forgive me."

"I just kinda wanna know what you meant," I leaned my cheek on my hand, staring at him.

"If it truly interested you, I imagine you would have researched the language more at this point, mon cher."

"Like that," I held my palm out, "What does that mean? What are all these things you're saying to me?"

He huffed amusedly, "Things you'd rather me not."

"Try me."

He rolled his eyes, shaking his head, "Mon cher, I want nothing more than to faire la danse du loup, and yet, I refrain. It is...for the best." A blush began spreading over his cheeks as he stumbled that out, looking away from me.

"Seriously? Stop pulling French on me and just tell me what you mean."

He stood up from the table slowly, lifting his dishes and bringing them to the sink, "You speak as though you've no interest in my language, mon Petit."

"It's not that, it's just..."

"As though there is no one you could, perhaps, ask to teach you of it."

I sat up, bringing my plate and silverware over to the sink as well, Eddward taking them from me before I could set them down.

I didn't reply to him. I, honestly, felt rather stupid. Because he was right. I could have asked him any time, to teach me. I guess I just didn't care. I mean, the only person I'd ever meet that spoke French would be him, so why did I care? ...Why did I care?

"Mon Petit, you appear to have something on your mind...something to inquire, perchance?"

I mumbled a response I wasn't confident with.

He smiled, genuinely but faintly, leaning towards me, "Mon cher..."

"My," I stopped, my voice soft, "my what?

"My cher...you are correct, at least, you are mine," I felt a flutter go through my chest, "but what does it mean?" I tried to respond, but he lifted his finger from the soapy water, wagging it, "Tut-tut, I shan't tell you until you can say it back to me."

"But, I don't know what it means."

He smiled wider, it was almost visible, "Then you cannot mean it, and so, what is the harm?"

I parted my lips, remembering, "...mon cher." It was a sad attempt, but I couldn't move my mouth quite like his, I couldn't understand how he said it.

"Again. Watch my tongue as I speak it, mon. cher." he spoke, voice suave and near, his face closer to mine. I watched his lips, his tongue...

"Mon...cher."

He leaned closer, inches away, "Once more..."

I was blushing by this point, "Mon cher..." It didn't sound as, well, as elegant as Eddward had said it, but it was close. I could tell he approved from the way his eyes gleamed.

He was so close, "My dear...la langue suits you."

I swallowed, cheeks burning, and I could feel his breath, "La...la langue?"

In a soft, smooth breath, he spoke, "The language," his lips brushing mine as he spoke, and I could feel it as he spoke, "and the tongue..."

As our lips finally met, I could feel something different about this kiss. A velvety warmth ran over my bottom lip, sending a chill down my spine, unconsciously parting my lips to accept it. His tongue, I knew, gently slid between them, teasing delicately over my tongue. I could taste what we'd eaten earlier on his lips, but mostly I tasted him. A muted groan rumbled in my throat, and he pulled away.

I looked up at him, his cheeks flushed, a half-lidded gaze cast over me. His lips were parted, just enough for me to see the slight gap between his front two teeth. I, myself, was breathless, unable to say a word as I felt the lingering texture of his tongue still lingering on my lips.

Eventually, I found my voice, "I...what...what was that?" I asked, despite how obvious the answer was. I just had to fill the silence, and with how hard my heart was beating against my chest, I knew I didn't have it in me to try and initiate another one.

His lips parted, eyes wandering in thought, "It was a," he paused, and then, the strangest thing occurred. A soft, breathy laugh escaped him, "a French kiss, mon cher. How ironic."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion, "Ironic how? I mean...you kinda, well...led into it."

"Entirely by accident, it seems. Hmm, how quaint." He was smiling, as though he was amused by himself.

But honestly, all I cared about was how happy he looked. The corners of his lips were turned up, his eyes overcast and serene. I didn't catch myself lifting my hand to his cheek until I was too far along to stop. It was soft, warm, and...and I'm not sure what else I was expecting. I guess, sometimes, it was hard to remember just how normal he was. Just like me.

His eyes widened, smile falling, lips parting to speak. But the moment the smile fell, I knew what I had to do. I cupped his jawline in my palm, leaning in to catch his lip between mine. My beating heart fluttered, but I didn't back down, and was greeted with a gentle hum.

He pulled back, his eyes staring into me, as he uttered, "Que mes baisers soient les mots d'amour, que je ne te dis pas..."

I tilted my head, "I...can't say that one, Edd."

The genuine smile returned, "But I can, mon cher, I can, and I will..."

I couldn't reply, couldn't even ask what he meant as his lips enveloped mine, stealing my breath once more. My hand fell from his face, slipping behind his neck instinctively as he deepened the kiss, my hat beginning to slide as his head pushed against its visor. Fortunately, he seemed aware of this, as I felt him lift it off and place it on the counter next to us. No longer obstructed by my hat, I felt his nose brush against my cheek, his lips dancing over mine like velveteen pillows. I gripped onto the edge of the counter as he pushed, just to keep myself standing up straight.

Hands found purchase around my waist, gripping my lower back and sliding lower still. I took a step back, a little nervous about what he was doing, but his hands stopped roaming, his thumbs teasing over my hip bones. I groaned again, trying to keep up with the quickening of the two-toe tango that our lips danced. Words escaped my mind as teeth ran along my upper lip, my fingers curling into the sparse hair leaking from his beanie, and what little ran down his neck. He hummed.

A leg slipped between mine, startling me for a moment as I felt his hands dip lower, and lower still, grasping at my thighs. Our lips parted as I let out a small squeak of surprise, as I was lifted into the air, legs tightening around him. I stared at him in shock, both at the fact he could pick me up so easily, and with worry at that same fact. My heartbeat slowed, however, when I caught the timid, soothing look in his eyes.

"May I...perchance...take you to the couch, mon cher?"

I blushed, wondering what choice I had in the matter, and nodded briskly. His steps were slow, but his grip never wavered, helping me to relax. I expected him to seat me, but instead, he sat down, and I remained straddling his lap.

Before I could say anything about our compromising position, he placed his now-free hands behind my head and neck and pulled me into another kiss. It was warm, our breath hot against one another as we gasped for air through our noses, both unwilling to part. I wasn't sure what drove him on, but for myself? Well, I guess there's no other way to put it than that he must have been a good kisser. Even if I had no authority on the matter, it was undoubtedly the truth. There was no way I was just into him that much...no matter what he did to my brain these days.

Minutes passed before we both gave in, panting, lips raw from kissing and faces flushed with passion. I looked into his eyes, and he looked back. We both smiled, and it was ironic.

I nestled my head under the crook of his chin, mumbling out softly, "It's like you've done this before."

A soft laugh made my heart flutter, "My dear, there is quite a difference between reading about something as such...and actually bringing it into practice. It is often that it does not translate well."

I made a 'tst' sound, "Translated better than your French."

A chuckle reverberated through his chest, a free hand sliding down my spine, tugging me a little closer to him, "Perhaps because it was never meant to be..."

"What do you mean?" I listened to the steady beating of his heart, the strumming of his fingertips up and down the ridges of my spine.

"I do not speak it to be understood, I speak it so I can say the words, and no one will understand. It is...it is another 'flaw' of mine, this language."

I curled my fingers slowly over his shoulder, "How is it a flaw?"

A soft, melancholic laugh, "Mo-my dear, I am...it is simply another trait of the character I play. Would that you knew the words I spoke..." He said no more, instead bringing his other hand to run through my messy red hair, stroking it, his heart beating slowly, soothingly.

I let the moment pass, taking the time to enjoy his gentle touches, to think about what he'd said.

Eventually, I found my voice, and spoke, "S-so my parents thought this was a date. Heheh..." I laughed, but my heart wasn't in it. I stayed close to him, eyes closed.

"Mmm." Was all he replied.

"I mean, sure, it's Valentines Day, but...that doesn't mean anything...right?"

A silence pervaded the room, but his heart told another story. My eyes flicked open.

"I-I mean, I'm just a, a toy to you, right? This is all...just a game...right? You can't seriously..."

He was so tense under me, and I found my mouth speaking far too fast for my mind to comprehend.

"Cuz I mean you're the Wolf, and I'm just Little Red, right? And we can't be anything else because everyone would laugh at us and-"

"Shh."

It was quiet, but accompanied by a hard tug, and I was unable to escape his grasp. I stopped speaking.

"Kevin…tell me, please," his voice was…troubled, "is this," he paused again, before two meek words escaped him, "a game?"

My hand slid down to his chest, pushing me back slowly to sit up on his lap, looking into two broken, frozen eyes. His lips were inexpressive, hiding what he was thinking, but his eyes screamed out the pain he was feeling. It was a shot to the chest.

"No...no! It's not, I just, not to me, I mean, but I thought...you..."

"You thought," he sighed, looking down weakly, "you believed it. I played the part too well. C'est la vie, I deserved this."

"You didn't deserve shit."

We both froze. I was surprised I'd said that, and he apparently was as well, and it gave me a moment to formulate more words.

"Y-you didn't deserve for your mom to...and your dad, it's not...all these things, it's not...Edd," he looked at me, wounded and numb, "c-can I try again?"

He cocked his head to the side slightly, but said nothing.

"What I meant to say before, I just...when you gave me that note, was it just to, you know...to be the Wolf? Or are you...is this-"

"A date, mon cher. That is...correct." He finished brokenly. His voice cracked.

I looked into his eyes again, my heart beating fast with guilt and pain, and I almost sobbed as I spoke, "Wha-why couldn't you just tell me that in the beginning, you asshat?" I leaned forward, my forehead hitting his a little harder than I meant for it to, but I didn't care. My hands and arms slipped around his neck, curling delicately over the soft skin, and I spoke emptily, "I'd...I'dve said yes if I'd known, you know...f-fucking hell, man..."

There was a shimmer in his eyes, and a weakness. His mask was gone.

"Because...I am not wanted, Kevin."

I leaned in closer, "Like hell you are." I bit his lip, letting my tongue run over it as I kissed him, trying to wipe that dumb, sad look off of his face. He returned it so weakly, but he did, and I took advantage of it while he did. When I pulled away, finally, I whispered, "I don't know what I want...but, whatever this is, it's what I want. So please, Edd, Loup...whatever you want me to call you...just smile."

So I looked again, and hoped.

And he smiled. It was everything I wanted, and more.

The evening was awkward, it was strange, and it wouldn't leave my mind. We spent half an hour or so like that, just leaning against each other, breathing one another in. Every time his smile lapsed, I kissed him, and it came back. In the end, he told me we should do this again, in so many words. I agreed.

I didn't plan on what our position had done to Eddward, though. It wasn't until I was off of him and looking down that I noticed...yeah. But I guess I couldn't blame him, I'd been on his damn lap for the past half hour and leather jeans are pretty damn soft. I still kinda can't get that out of my mind, that or the blush he had when I noticed it. Neither of us mentioned it. It was pretty obvious.

I couldn't get rid of my blush before I got home; namely because I remembered what we'd been up to just before I got to the door, and it started all over again. My dad was actually grinning, and my mom...my mom was just confused. We didn't really say much, and I headed up to my room.

Marie probably knows about the 'date,' which I'm still amazed was a thing, but Nazz...well, she'd find out tomorrow, I was exhausted. Who knew kissing could take so much out of you?

But as I went to bed, I couldn't stop thinking about his smile. His smile, his heartbeat, his laughter...and that all this time, he'd been calling me 'his dear.'

And I never knew.