"Double D! Hey! Get up!" Eddy banged on the smarter Ed's door, nearly pounding the door off its hinges. The larger Ed investigated the bushes, head first, sniffing out any zombies that might be lurking about from the previous night's hunts. "Edd! Get up!"

His fist still slamming on the door, it finally opened and Eddy huffed passed, shoving it open the rest of the way and looked at Double D with exasperation. "Where have you been! It took you forever to open the door, sockhead!"

Double D smiled as he called Ed into the house and shut the door behind them. "Why hello, friends. I was just studying some -"

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go! I'm bored! It's twelve o'clock on a Saturday and I got nothing to do!" he moaned.

"Well, we can do our homework and then-"

"Double D, seriously. Give us something to do!"

Edd smiled and laughed, not phased at all by Eddy's clear frustration. They'd been friends for so long, their moods were more predictable than his own schedule at times.

"Well, there is a new flavor of jawbreaker at the candy store," he said.

Eddy immediately perked up. "What! Really? How do you know?"

"Oh well, Kevin bought me one the other day and it was absolutely delightful-"

"Wait. What?"

"Hmm?"

Eddy scowled at the nerdy Edd. "You hung out with Kevin?"

"Oh, why yes, actually. He invited me to the store the other day and he took me from school on his bike, which was -"

"You rode his bike!?" Eddy shouted, not sure what was more surprising.

"Oh yes!" Edd nodded energetically. "It was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time!" Double D said with giddy excitement.

"Wait! Was that the night you got home super late!"

Edd looked pensive. "I wouldn't say all that late Eddy. It was about 7:00 PM, if I recall correctly-"

"You don't stay out past 5:30 on weeknights! You might as well have been out until midnight, Double D! What were you thinking?!"

Double D chuckled. "Oh, come now, Eddy. You and Ed stay out much later than that. Staying out until 7:00 PM is nothing to be scandalized over and I had all my homework done-"

"What did you guys do for almost 4 freaking hours?" Eddy demanded.

Edd pondered again. "Well, after the candy shop he took me to return a few books at the library and then we went to the park and -"

"Double D! What are you thinking hanging out with him? You were on his bike that long? Weren't you scared! Didn't your parents say anything?"

Eddy attacked Edd with a barrage of questions and Double D motioned for him to calm down. "Please, Eddy, it is not that unusual. We go out all the time and -"

"We're friends, Edd! You and Kevin aren't! What were you thinking? You're supposed to be the smart one! How can you be so reckless?"

Eddy gripped his head in frustration and Double D sighed, feeling a bit defensive.

"Eddy, please. It's Kevin. We've known him our whole lives. I was not in danger in the least with him. There is no need for such alarm and-"

"No, Edd! You can't hang out with him again! You could get hurt and - I can't believe your parents are letting you hang out with him like that! Gah! What the hell!"

Double D tried to talk his friend off the cliff he was so clearly on. "Eddy, please. No need for such alarm."

"No, Edd. Promise me you won't hang out with that scumbag anymore. Seriously. It's for your own good, man."

Edd sighed, losing his patience for a reason he himself did not quite understand. "Eddy, please, let's be logical -"

"Ain't nothin' logical about hanging out with Shovel Chin! Gah! Come on, Double D. Just leave that in the past and let's move on. Talking about that asshole is making me wanna vomit."

Eddy looked around for Ed who was rubbing his face along the carpet, trying to pick out the tiny demons of fluff that liked to collect unbeknownst to the very meticulous Ed.

"Ed! Come on! We're -"

"Now, wait just a minute," Double D huffed lightly.

Eddy was as shocked as if Edd had slapped him clear across his face.

"How dare you think you can tell me what to do. Need I remind you I am the most responsible one out of the three of us and can make my own intelligent decisions, thank you very much. I do not appreciate you meddling into my affairs in this manner. You are not my mother or father. Your logic is baseless and your outrage completely out of line," he frowned at his friends. Even Ed was shocked and staring at Double D. "I will not stop seeing Kevin. If he invites me to spend time with him again, I am going and you can do nothing about it! Now, I will be going for a walk. Please excuse me and I would appreciate it if I did not see you when I get back! Good day!"

Edd huffed out of the house, leaving a very confused and shocked Eddy standing in his living room.

Double D had never spoken to his friends like that and as he walked towards the park, he couldn't understand what possessed him to be so bold and upset. Eddy being nosey was just Eddy being himself but there was something different this time that had struck a nerve with Edd.

He passed Kevin's house on his way to the park, looking up at the second floor window he knew to be Kevin's room and he smiled. They'd had a wonderful time together. After the initial terror of the bike ride, Kevin had taken him to the candy shop, then to the library, the park, and finally to bookstore to try to find a book Edd wanted but could not find. The book was not in stock, then they walked over to the ice cream shop across the street and Kevin bought him ice cream before driving back home.

The evening had be splendid and ever so peaceful. More peaceful than most day's with Eddy and as Edd passed the house, he realized he hoped for another evening just like that one. But he told himself not to think about it. Kevin had never been his closest friend, that was true, but there had been moments that Edd thought Kevin didn't mind him too much and Double D smiled.

Kevin had always been the coolest kid he knew and now as a young man in high school, Kevin remained the epitome of manliness to him. Strong, handsome, and edgy, he was infinitely cooler than he could ever be and Double D admired that in him. He carried himself with so much confidence, Edd wondered if he would ever be as alluring as him.

He took a seat on the empty swing and sighed.

"Fine work, Eddward. You just argued with your best friend for the first time in almost a decade and for what?" And for once - he didn't have the answer. He wasn't sure but Edd knew it had been unavoidable.

As he rocked back and forth, a sudden memory came back to him from the recesses of an always functioning brain. It was a memory he'd long repressed and as it came back to him, he realized why.

It was a day like any other in the summer of their twelfth year. Eddy was out trying to make some money for jaw breakers and had stuffed Double D into a box with basketballs to paint into jawbreakers to sell to the kids.

Kevin had confronted Eddy and when he tried to see into the box Ed, being powerful enough to lift a home, had shoved him in only to fall face first on Edd. After they both blinked a few times, they realized they were kissing and the two boys erupted into a bright blush.

Eddy climbed over the side of the box to tell Kevin to get out before Kevin himself climbed out of the box and left. It didn't last for more than a few seconds before it was over. Double D blushed on the swing now at the recollection of such a memory and realized he must have suppressed it out of sheer embarrassment. How had he faced Kevin after that! And his lips burned all over again, as if the event had just occurred not five minutes ago.

But nothing out of the ordinary happened afterward and the memory had tucked itself away into the farthest corner of his mind until today. Edd groaned.

"Why today?" he sighed, putting his head in his hands.

Today was turning out to be an even more tiring day than he'd thought and he just wanted it to be over already.

He sat a bit longer, taking in the breeze and peace when someone sat on the swing next to him. He looked up expecting to see Eddy and Ed, prepared to forgive him and ask for forgiveness in return but when he looked up, he saw it was not Eddy or Ed but Kevin that sat next to him on the swing. His heart constricted in his chest and he gasped.

"Kevin!"

"Hey, dorko. You alright? You look kinda down," Kevin said with genuine concern.

Edd smiled. "No, I'm fine, thank you. Just dandy."

Kevin looked at him unconvinced. "You know, I might not be as close to you as Eddy and Ed, but I'm here to listen if ya need," Kevin said awkwardly.

Double D felt his heart race. "Oh, thank you Kevin. But I am quite alright."

Kevin didn't believe him but nodded. "You got any plans today?"

Edd shrugged. No, he didn't. And he shook his head.

"Wanna go somewhere today? If ya got time, that is," Kevin said uneasily.

Double D tried not to smile too big and he sighed. "Uhm, if you would like. Where would you like to go?"

"It's a surprise," Kevin winked at him.

Double D couldn't help but suddenly blush and Kevin laughed. "You're so red, dude. Come on! Let's go! I'll get my bike!"

Edd looked down, hiding his face in his hands. "Oh, Kevin! That's so mean of you!"

Kevin smiled and touched his beanie. "Sorry, Double D. I just like teasing you."

There was a moment of pause that was a little too long for either boy's comfort and Kevin stuck his hand out to break the silence. "Come on, Dork. Let's go. We're burning daylight."

Kevin didn't look down at him, but simply stuck out his hand for Double D to take. He wasn't sure why he did it, but Double D took Kevin's hand and let him lead them to the bike.

Double D put on the same helmet he wore the other day and got on the same seat.

"Hold on tight," Kevin smiled at him, looking back.

This time Double D smiled back and nodded. "Of course!" and without even thinking about it, hugged Kevin tightly and leaned his head against his back.

Kevin wasn't sure what was going or if this was even a dream and he didn't bother asking. He revved his bike to life, feeling the smaller boy behind him startle at the loud sound. Kevin didn't know if this was heaven or euphoria but as his bike roared forward he felt like his heart was soaring on eagle's wings and like his bike could hardly keep up.

New chapter, friends! Please R&R! I hope you enjoy it! :D I do not own any of these characters! Love, moon-bunny15