[The next day, Nat wakes up and stretches her arms.]

Nat: "What time is it?"

[Nat rubs her eyes and looks outside, it's very bright.]

Nat: "Well it's early, that's for sure."

[Nat gets her clothes and goes to the bathroom.]

[As Nat takes a shower she uses her bath brush as a microphone and sings to herself. She suddenly slips and falls, pulling the shower curtain with her.]

Nat: "Why does that always happen?"

[Nat gets out of the shower, dries herself, and puts her clothes on.]

[Nat goes to the kitchen and finds a note on the counter.]

Nat: "Dearest Natalie, your father and I had to go run another errand, we also need to run one tomorrow, letting you know so you don't worry about us, have a wonderful day, love Mommy and Daddy."

Nat: "Well...at least they let me know."

[Nat checks the cabinet to find a box of cereal.]

Nat: "Chunky Puffs? Never heard of it."

[Nat pours the cereal in a bowl, she then pours milk in the bowl, as she tries the cereal her eyes light up.]

Nat: "Wow! This is really good!"

[Nat eats the whole thing in no time. As she puts the bowl in the sink, she hears a knock on the door.]

Nat: "Who could that be?"

[Nat opens the door, it's revealed to be the Eds.]

Nat: "Oh! Hi...um..."

[Edd opens his mouth.]

Nat: "No No! Please don't tell me!"

[Nat thinks for a minute, then beams.]

Nat: (pointing to each) "Ed, Edd n Eddy!"

Edd: "That is correct!"

Nat: "And you are called Double D, right?"

Edd: "That is also correct!"

Nat: "Good! I'll remember that."

Eddy: "Enough already!"

Nat: "Oh...sorry...um...what brings you three here?"

Eddy: "Well you want to be one of us don't you?"

Nat: "Well-"

Eddy: "Today is your initiation."

Nat: "My what?"

Eddy: "Your test!"

Nat: "Um...what do I need to do?"

Eddy: "If you're gonna be one of us, you gotta make it worth our while, plus we spent yesterday's cash on your gift, so you owe us."

Nat: "What does that mean?"

Eddy: "What is this 20 questions?!"

Edd: "Eddy!"

[Nat just stands there in confusion.]

Edd: "Please don't mind Eddy, we gave you something out of good intention and don't expect anything in return."

Nat: "No that's ok, I feel like I should do something to show my thanks."

Eddy: "Great! Now come on!"

[Eddy pulls Nat away.]

Edd: "Eddy there are more efficient ways to get someone to follow you!"

Eddy: "Can it Sockhead!"

[Eddy takes Nat to a booth.]

Eddy: "Now sit behind it."

Nat: "Ok but why-"

Eddy: "Just sit down!"

[Nat sits down behind the booth, as she sits there in confusion, Eddy puts a jar on the booth.]

Eddy: "Get to know the new girl! One quarter per question!"

[Immediately after Eddy says this, the cul-de-sac kids line up, Nat just leans her face on her hand.]

Nat: "My first day with the guys, and I end up being used for profit."

[First up is Sarah, she puts in a quarter and introduces herself.]

Sarah: "What's your name?"

Nat: "Natalie."

Sarah: "Want to see my dollies?"

[As Nat is about to speak, Eddy stands in front of Sarah.]

Eddy: "I said one per question!"

[Sarah angrily goes to the back of the line.]

[Nazz is next.]

Nazz: "I'm Nazz, who are you dudette?"

Nat: "Natalie."

[Nazz places her quarter in the jar. She turns to Eddy.]

Nazz: "Can I ask another question?"

[Eddy doesn't answer, he simply stands there sweating along with Ed.]

Nat: "Um...Eddy?"

[Eddy still doesn't budge. Nat looks at Edd, who just shrugs his shoulders.]

Nat: "Mmmmaybe, you should ask again later?"

[Nazz just walks away confused.]

[Jonny is next, he puts a quarter in the jar.]

Jonny: "Want to hold hands?"

[Nat blushes in embarrassment.]

Nat: "O-Oh, well I-"

[Edd makes a nervous look then stands in between Nat and Jonny.]

Edd: "P-Physical contact is prohibited! Verbal communication only please!"

[Edd gently pushes Jonny away.]

Jonny: "She's quite a beauty huh Plank?"

[Rolf comes up next, and offers Nat a turnip. Kevin is after, and shows off his bike. Then Jimmy, who shakes her hand.]

[Multiple turns and multiple questions later, everyone feels satisfied and leaves.]

[Nat starts to relax, till Ed places a quarter in the jar.]

[As Nat stares in confusion, he then smiles...then tries to kiss her. She blushes in embarrassment and slightly backs away.]

Nat: "U-uh-"

[Eddy shoves Ed away.]

Eddy: "Ed this is not a kissing booth!"

[Nat quickly looks around, then points at the jar.]

Nat: "L-Look how full the jar is!"

[Eddy notices how full the jar is.]

Nat: "I'd say we're even now, don't you?"

[Eddy caresses his jar full of quarters.]

Eddy: "You really pulled through for us new chick!"

Nat: "Um...great...but can you please stop calling me that."

Eddy: "Fine, Turtleneck!"

Nat: "That's not what I-"

Eddy: "C'mon! Let's get jawbreakers!"

[The Eds make their way to the candy store, Nat looks in confusion, then follows behind.]

Nat: (thinking) "What's a jawbreaker? It sounds painful!"

[The Eds go in the candy store while Nat waits outside.]

Nat: "I've never had candy before, I wonder what it tastes like."

[The Eds come out with four jawbreakers.]

Edd: "We acquired one for you, I hope you did not mind, you did help us receive them after all."

[Edd nervously gives Nat her jawbreaker. As she takes it, she makes a realization.]

Nat: (thinking) "Oh...that's what that was."

[This causes Nat to blush.]

Edd: "Natalie, are you alright?"

Nat: "Hmm? Oh yeah! I'm fine..."

Edd: "Are you sure? Your face has changed complexion."

Nat: "Yeah...um...it's just the heat."

[Nat tries to change the subject.]

Nat: "Hey, do you guys do this every day?"

Edd: "Usually...although it doesn't always run this smoothly."

[Nat looks confused but decides not to ask further questions. She looks at her jawbreaker, after hesitation, she licks it, this causes her eyes to beam.]

Nat: "Wow! This taste amazing!"

[Nat puts the whole thing in her mouth. Edd chuckles.]

Edd: "You act as though you're trying it for the first time."

[Nat's smile drops as she blushes, she then nervously smiles and rubs her arm.]

Nat: "O-Oh no! It's just as amazing as the other one!"

[Ed then smiles.]

Ed: "Glad you like it, new friend!"

[After Ed says this, Nat goes wide eyed, pure terror on her face. Edd is the first to notice.]

Edd: "Natalie?"

[Nat just sits there motionless.]

Eddy: "What's with Turtleneck?"

[Ed gets worried and starts shaking Nat.]

Ed: "Wake up!"

Edd: "Ed!"

[Nat suddenly regains consciousness, she then stares at the Eds.]

Nat: "No! I can't go through that again!"

[Nat gets up and runs away as the Eds stare in confusion.]

[Nat runs back to her house and shuts the door. She goes in her room.]

Nat: "It's just like him all over again!"

[Nat paces back and forth, hands over her head.]

Nat: "I'm still not fully recovered from that incident! The last thing I need is more heartache!"

[Nat faces left.]

Nat: "But they've been so good to me..."

[Nat faces right.}

Nat: "But he was too!"

[Nat faces left.]

Nat: "But I like being with them..."

[Nat faces right.]

Nat: "No No No! Not again!"

[Nat shouts in frustration and collapses on her bed.]

[Nat stays in her room, lost in thought. After some time and a few glances at the jawbreaker, she sits up.]

Nat: "Maybe I was wrong to run off like that. I mean, they haven't done anything wrong."

[After glancing at the door and some thinking, Nat gets up.]

Nat: "I should apologize to them, I owe them that much at least."

[Nat leaves to go find the Eds.]

[As Nat walks outside, she notices a bird lying on the ground.]

Nat: "Oh no!"

[Nat rushes over and gently picks up the bird.]

Nat: "Are you ok?"

[The bird chirps and tries to fly, but fails.]

Nat: "You've been down here a while, haven't you?"

[Nat looks up and sees a nest on top of the tree, she gets slightly nervous.]

Nat: "Wow...that's a tall tree..."

[Nat looks at the tree, then back at the bird, she makes a determined look.]

Nat: "Don't worry, I'll get you back up."

[Nat holds the bird close to her and climbs up the tree with the help of her headband. When she reaches the top, she sits on a second branch and stretches her arm to put the bird in the nest.]

Nat: "There, you're safe now."

[Nat makes her way down, however as she's doing so, the branch starts to break and she ends up dropping her headband.]

Nat: "Ahhh!"

[Nat is dangling on the branch, with it getting looser every second.]

[The Eds end up making their way back to the cul-de-sac.]

Edd: "What could have been the reason for Nat's departure?"

Eddy: "Don't know, don't care."

Ed: "I hope she's ok."

Edd: "I think that as well Ed."

[Suddenly Ed looks up and sees Nat dangling from the branch. He makes a panicked look.]

Ed: "She's in trouble!"

[Ed runs to Nat. Edd also makes a panicked look.]

Edd: "Not to worry Natalie! We will help you!"

[Edd runs to Nat.]

[Eddy just makes an annoyed look and walks to Nat.]

[Ed lifts up Edd and puts him on his shoulders.]

Edd: "Release your grip on the branch!"

[Nat holds on tighter.]

Nat: "I can't!"

Edd: "We will catch you!"

[Nat hesitates, however the branch ends up breaking, causing her to fall.]

[Nat closes her eyes, preparing for impact. However when she opens her eyes, she sees that Edd has caught her in his arms.]

Edd: "Are you alright?"

[Nat doesn't answer, all she does is tear up and hold Edd close to her, although he blushes at first, he eventually holds her as well.]

Edd: "It's alright, you're safe now."

[Ed puts Edd down. Nat has her eyes closed, she then blushes after realizing what she's doing.]

Nat: (thinking) "Stop it Nat! You've already made things awkward!"

[Nat let's go of Edd, after doing so, they both just stare at each other.]

Eddy: "Ahem!"

[Edd and Nat both see Eddy, with his arms crossed and raising an eyebrow.]

Eddy: "Get a room you two!"

[Edd then realizes he's still holding Nat and puts her down, after doing so, they both look away and blush.]

Nat: "U-Um, thanks for catching me."

Edd: "O-Of course! It was no trouble!"

[Nat then remembers why she came out in the first place, she takes a deep breath and rubs her arm.]

Nat: "Look guys, I'm really sorry for running away like that...it was rude of me."

[Ed then cuts in.]

Ed: "Why did you run away?"

[Edd stops blushing and faces Nat.]

Edd: "Did we do something to offend you?"

[Nat lifts up her arms.]

Nat: "No No! it's not you!...it's me."

[The Eds look with confusion, Nat takes another deep breath.]

Nat: "When Ed called me a f-fr- well you know, it triggered a painful memory, one that still haunts me to this day."

[Ed and Edd continue to listen.]

Nat: "Let's just say, things didn't work out between us, it hurt me so much that I was afraid that it would happen again."

[Nat then slightly smiles.]

Nat: "But what you guys did just now, saving me from getting hurt, it made me realize my mistake."

[Nat smiles bigger.]

Nat: "You showed me that I was wrong about you, and that I let my fear get the better of me."

[Ed and Edd smile while Eddy looks unimpressed.]

Edd: "It brings me joy to hear you say that Natalie."

Ed: "Ed is happy!"

Nat: "So...can we...start over?"

Edd: "Of course!"

[Nat makes a full fledged smile as Eddy rolls his eyes.]

Eddy: "Alright! Enough sap already!"

Ed: "Let's hang out at my place!"

[Ed runs to his house.]

Eddy: "Hey Ed wait up!"

[Eddy runs to catch up to Ed.]

[Edd runs as well, but not before checking on Nat.]

Edd: "Are you joining us Nat?"

[Nat just smiles.]

Nat: "Right behind you!"

[Nat catches up with Edd as the both go to Ed's place.]

While hanging out at Ed's house, I was having a good time and enjoying everyone's company

After I went home, I told my parents everything that happened and they were so happy that I was able to make new friends

I told them however, that I didn't consider you guys friends...yet, for I felt it was too soon, so I considered you guys acquaintances at the time, but deep down, a part of me felt hope that we would become friends, something which was the last thing I thought I would feel again.