At first they only received quizzicle glances. The star football player was hanging out with the science prodigy and although everyone knew they'd known each other for years, something seemed different. They would acknowledge each other more in the hallway, sometimes they would wait for each other after school, and there were times when there was a mysterious second body riding in the much coveted spot behind Kevin on his bike.

Edd kept seeing Kevin, though nobody quite knew in what sort of capacity. After school if they didn't leave at the same time, they would go for an evening walk through the woods. Kevin would help Double D find bugs and Edd would sometimes go to the neighborhood baseball games on the weekend. Eddy kept a close eye on his best friend, while Ed was determined Double D was fine and Kevin was just helping him find a little brother for Jim.

"Shut up! That is not even funny!" Eddy roared at the oaf and it was amidst this confusion that he witnessed the moment that completely rocked his world.

It happened late one weekday evening. It was colder now and the days were shorter. Eddy had gotten into the habit of randomly following Kevin and Double D while they went on their evening walks. Not like I can't walk in the woods whenever I damn well feel like it, he huffed at himself as he silently trailed the two. It's a free country!

He hid behind the shrubs and trees as Double D and Kevin happily chatted together. What can they possibly be talking about? The don't got shit in common!

But then neither did he and Edd. But Eddy pushed the thought out of his mind.

They stopped by the lake, sitting on some large boulders. Eddy climbed into a tree and looked down upon them from a few branches away. He felt anger at Double D, though he wasn't sure why. Why did he have to hang out with Kevin so much? Why did it have to be Kevin of all people?

But Eddy was stopped mid rage when he saw Double D lean into Kevin. Kevin put his arm around the smaller boy and held him close. Eddy wanted to lurch forward and chew Kevin's arm off so he could never touch Double D again. But he sat in the tree, quiet and fuming.

"Kevin . . ." It was Double D.

Perfect. Now, he's going to tell shovel chin to fuck off and everything will go back to normal again!

"Hmm?"

There was a sniffling sound and Eddy felt his chest constrict. Edd was crying.

"Don't cry," Kevin whispered.

"This is weird, isn't it?"

Kevin didn't answer but shook his head. "Why is it weird?" he said after a while.

Double D looked up at him and faced him. From where Eddy hid, Kevin's back was to him but he could clearly see the tears rolling down Double D's face. "I shouldn't be feeling this or wanting this with you," he said in a small voice that made Eddy's heartbreak.

Kevin wiped the tears from Double D's face. "Says who?" Edd shook his head. "There are animals like us in the wild too, right? So, it's scientifically explained," Kevin weakly reasoned. But the Ed wasn't interested in what science said as he leaned up against Kevin's chest.

"It would cause trouble if people knew about us," Edd said hugging him. "It would cause you problems."

Kevin shook his head, kissing the top of Edd's beanie. "I don't care if anybody finds out about this," Kevin said confidently. "I'll proudly tell people that we do this sort of stuff."

Double D looked away and across the lake. Kevin leaned against his cheek and nuzzled against his face.

"Hey, dork?"

"Hmmm?" Double D didn't look at him.

"Do you like me?"

Edd looked at him and bit his lower lip.

"We've never really told each other how we really feel, you know?"

Double D shook his head. "Kevin. I don't think this is right-"

"I'm not asking if it is," Kevin interrupted gently, touching Double D's cheek. "I'm asking if you like me?"

Silently, Edd nodded.

"Do you like me a lot?" Kevin asked, taking the other boy's hand in his and kissing the top of his fingers.

Double D shut his eyes tight and nodded again.

"Good. I really like you too, Edd."

A small sob escaped Double D's weakly pursed lips and he sniffled, falling into Kevin's arms.

"Kevin, this isn't normal. We're weird. There is something wrong with us but - but -" the crying boy looked up into Kevin's face. "Despite all that, I think I love you." And Edd crumpled into Kevin's strong arms and cried.

Kevin nodded, holding the boy against him, leaning against the rock and from where Eddy stood, he could see Kevin was holding the majority of Edd's weight.

Eddy sat in the tree, angry, sad - why was this all happening? He felt anger at Kevin, sadness for Double D and completely and utterly at a loss of how to feel about any of this! He watched in silence as Kevin leaned forward and kissed Double D on the cheek and Eddy leaned back against the trunk of the tree.

"It's getting late," Kevin said quietly. Double D nodded. "I'll take you home."

Edd was still weak with confusion and Kevin bent down. "Here, I'll carry you," he said, motioning for Edd to climb onto his back.

"I can walk," Edd protested.

Kevin smirked. "I know you can. I just want an excuse to hold you a little longer."

Eddy shook his head but couldn't help but smile. Smooth, shovel chin.

Double D covered his face but gently leaned against Kevin's back, wrapping his legs around his torso. Effortlessly, Kevin stood, kissing Edd's arm that was wrapped around his neck. Double D clung to Kevin tightly, nuzzling his face into his neck and Eddy breathed deeply. At least Double D wasn't crying anymore.

He watched them walk back along the same path he had followed them down but turned back to a spot on the opposite side of the lake. There was movement in the bushes and he frowned, trying to make out what it was but passing clouds hid the moon and he could barely make out more movement as if the creature was leaving.

By the time the moon reappeared, the animal was long gone and Eddy shrugged.

"They should be far enough ahead," he reasoned as he slid out of the tree. He looked at the spot where they had been minutes earlier and sighed heavily. "Dammit, sockhead. You couldn't do things the easy way?"

He left, his shaking head heavy with worry.

The following week at school, his fears were confirmed.

His bus was one of the last ones to arrive but even before he made it off the long vehicle, he could see something was wrong. There was paper littered all over the school grounds, in the kid's hands, on the walls, on the tables - absolutely everywhere.

"What the fuck is going on?" He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach and he shoved to the front of the line and over the few front seats before jumping out of the bus over the ducking heads of the other students.

He picked up the first pages on the ground in front of him and he felt the blood freeze in his veins.

On the pages were pictures printed of Kevin and Edd that night at the lake. Some were of them hugging, others of them kissing, and the third was Kevin lovingly carrying Edd back to his house.

"Oh no."

Hello, my readers! Chapter 5 is up! Please let me know what everyone thinks! R&R! :D Thank you! Love, moon-bunny15