"Kevin! Where did you disappear to during the mid-day luncheon hour? Rolf saved you a seat." the foreign boy exclaimed as Kevin entered their Geometry class.
The red-head tugged at his shirt collar. "Nowhere, bro. Just had 'ta stay after class and... uh..." Kevin looked to the door, desperately wishing he could bail. "... clap erasers together," he finished lamely. However, the 'son of a shepherd' seemed to accept this answer and began talking at length about how the "institution of knowledge and toil" would keep him from tending his vegetable garden.
Kevin sank into the seat beside Rolf, resting his head in the cradle of his arms. Though he didn't say it, he was grateful to his friend for choosing seats in the far back. Eventually their teacher took his place up front. Like most of Kevin's other classes, the teacher devoted the period to discussing his expectations for the semester. It was while he was explaining his grading policy that Kevin felt his eyes grow heavier and heavier. His breathing became slow and rhythmic until, finally, he was fast asleep.
It had been a little more than a week since the incident at Mondo A-Go-Go with Eddy's brother. Kevin squatted in his driveway, an array of bicycle parts and tools spread before him. His father already left for work at the jawbreaker factory; it would be late in the evening before he came back. Being home alone used to scare Kevin when he was younger, but as he grew older, he had his bike to keep him occupied. It was his ever-present companion, always at his side. And now it was a pile of junk. The Kanker sisters did a real number on it this time.
Yet, even then, Kevin didn't cry. He'd done enough of that as a kid
A mammoth boombox blared in the background, settled on a popular radio station. Kevin touched a finger to his chin. His eyes darted across the pieces he'd managed to save, looking for a clue where to start. How'm I gonna put my bike back together? I mean, yeah, I've fixed her plenty of times, but she's never been this bad before. Kevin clutched his head, desperate for an answer. Even the dorks- I mean the Ed's- have never wrecked her like this with their stupid scams. Wait... the Ed's... EDD! He's a total brain! I bet he can help me fix her up!
The pre-teen loped across the street and gave Double D's front door three good knocks. When the sockhead didn't appear after a little less than a minute, he brought his fist down harder.
"Coming!" came a faint voice from behind the door.
'Bout time. He bit back any further commentary when the door opened.
"Greetings Kevin! This is certainly a surprise! How may I help you?" Double D poked his head from behind the door.
"Hey, Double D," Kevin scratched the back of his neck. "Can ya help me figure out how to fix my bike? I've been tryin' 'ta put her back together, but I don't know where to start."
Double D visibly brightened. "How intriguing! I would be glad to assist you, Kevin."
"Radical! She's right this way, hombre!" Taking Edd by the wrist, he towed him back to his own house.
Edd surveyed the extent of the damage in complete silence. "Oh dear..." His brow knit together. Kevin could feel his insides turning cold. Don't tell me Double D can't fix her. I-I don't know what I'll do without her. My bike... Tears stung Kevin's eyes. Damn it! I'm not gonna cry!
"Worry not! Supposing we can locate a few more essential pieces, I believe we can reconstruct your bicycle, Kevin." Double D touched Kevin's arm. Kevin sucked-in a breath and hastily wiped at his eyes with his sleeve. "I suggest we start by paying a visit to Ed."
"Ed?" the name left a bad taste in Kevin's mouth and it clearly showed.
With a huff, Double D crossed his arms. "Yes, Ed. Are you coming or not?"
Kevin gave a dismissive shrug and followed him to the larger Ed's house. Double D pressed the doorbell, waiting with his hands politely tucked behind his back.
"EEEDDD! GET THE DOOR! NOOOW!" the house shook with the force of Sarah's roar.
"Yes, dearest Baby Sister!"
Not even a breath later, the lumbering boy collided with the door. The front door swung open with Ed plastered to the other side.
"Double D!" Ed peeled himself from the wooden surface and gathered the other boy in his arms.
"Hello Ed," Double D's voice was muffled by the fabric of Ed's shirt.
"Hi Kevin!"
"Hey... Ed."
"Double D! It's Kevin!"
"Yes, it is, Ed. Can you put me down, please?"
Once Ed had relinquished his grip on Double D, Kevin could clearly see their relative heights. Woah. I didn't know Double D was that tall. He reaches Ed's chin and the dude's a pretty big guy. I don't even think I'm... Kevin slouched forward, unwilling to dwell on his 'little' revelation.
"Ed, Kevin and I have a favor to ask of you," Double D cut-in. "Would you be willing to spare your bicycle? Well, what's left of it, anyway."
"You betcha, Double D!" Kevin and Double D accompanied Ed to the garage. Double D blanched when Ed lifted the garage door.
"Egads! When was the last time you cleaned your garage, Ed?"
As Ed regaled Double D with a story about enormous pack rats building nests for their radioactive eggs- "Rats don't lay eggs, Ed," Double D corrected- Kevin spied a tire tucked behind an avocado refrigerator. Gripping the tire between both hands, he pulled until he was sent flying backwards- broken bicycle in hand.
"Kevin found it!" Ed bounced from side-to-side clapping his hands.
"Well done, Kevin!"
After a brief farewell, they trekked back to Kevin's place. The boombox was still playing, pouring out song after song. Together, Double D and Kevin disassembled the pieces of Ed's bicycle. Double D sorted them into separate piles- those which could be used to repair Kevin's bike, those which could be saved for future experiments, and those which were beyond saving. Kevin rolled his eyes, but couldn't chase away his smile. With Edd's direction, he and Kevin began to fit the various parts together.
The sun was directly overhead when a new song came on the boombox.
"Yo! Turn it up, Double D."
Kevin whistled along as he attached the bicycle stem and spacers to the fork. Double D accompanied the bright whistle with his own soft humming. They worked side-by-side, neither one aware of the easy rhythm they had fallen into. When the final notes faded, Edd set aside his wrench and looked down at his hands.
"Kevin."
Kevin stopped whistling. "What's up?"
Double D chewed his bottom lip, keeping his head down. "If you don't mind my asking, I was wondering... Why is this bicycle so important to you?" Summoning his courage, Double D looked up.
Kevin's body went rigid- locked in a stiff, almost strenuous position. His grip tightened around the ratchet and Double D could see his jaw clench.
"M-my apologies, Kevin. I didn't mean to-"
"It's cool," he spat the words out. "I mean, of course youwouldn't know. Would you, Double D?" Eddward cringed at the sting of his own nickname, recoiling from it as if it were acid. He allowed his head to hang past his shoulders, resigned to the accusation in Kevin's voice.
"It was from your mother, wasn't it?" Double D breathed the words, the sound barely above a whisper.
"Yeah. It was. But what would you know about that? You weren't there, Edd. You weren't there when she gave it to me. You weren't there when she left. You weren't there!" He heaved a humorless chuckle. "No, you were with those dorks. You were with them, even though I needed you. Even though we were-" his voice cracked on the last word, "- friends."
Kevin, the boy who never cried, broke down. His body quaked, racked with sobs he'd kept at bay for years. And now the floodgates had burst wide open. He crumbled in on himself.
Suddenly, Edd's arms were around him. He tried to shake the other boy off, but that only made Edd hold on tighter. When Kevin had stilled, Double D's hand worked soothing circles into his back.
"I apologize, Kevin," their chests rose and fell in time with each other. "I-I'm so sorry."
They stayed like that for a while; the radio, once so loud, was suddenly drowned out.
"MR. BARR!"
For the second time today, Kevin came crashing back down to reality. Most of the other students refrained from laughing, but a few brazen souls couldn't hold back their snickers. Even Rolf couldn't help but cower under the teacher's glare. Kevin sat up in his seat and feigned attention as their math teacher returned to the whiteboard. How long was I out? The bell clanged throughout the halls, shattering the silence that had settled over the class. Oh. A while, I guess. Kevin pulled on his backpack and made a beeline for the exit.
"Mr. Barr." Yikes. He shuffled about-face. " Today is the first day, so I'll overlook your little... nap. Starting tomorrow, I expect your full attention while you are in my class. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," Kevin hustled outside, foregoing his usual finesse. No sooner was his foot out the door, however, when an iron grip clamped down on his shoulder.
"Ho ho! What's this? Has Casanova Kevin-boy's brain been jellied by the gremlins of affection? Surely it is treacherous mountain pixies that have reduced you to a simpering puddle of crushed grapes, yes?"
"Uh... Right." Kevin ducked out of Rolf's embrace. "I'll check ya later, Bro. See ya."
"Fare thee well, Casanova Kevin! And beware the mischief that is wrought by the cursed underlings of Valhalla!"
With one more class to go, Kevin took a detour to his locker. I'm letting Double Dweeb get to me. I can't keep thinkin' about him like this. He massaged his temple and traded out his textbooks before snapping the locker shut. Just get through your last class and then you're home free. Easy!
Adding a little hop to his step, Kevin waved to teammates and friends as they passed; by the time he reached his Chemistry class, he was practically smiling. He paused at the door, his eyes skimming the classroom for any signs of a black beanie. See, Kev. Home free.
"Outta the way, Shovel-Chin!"
"I hardly think such childish name-calling is necessary, Eddy!"
Damn it.
Author's Note: Okay, Lovelies! Question time! I've had the "memory" scene planned out for a while now, but I'm curious- is it too sudden? I don't want to disrupt the flow of the main plot, but I think it's important to give you all "my" background for the characters. So please, please let me know whether or not it worked for the chapter. I appreciate any insights you have to offer. And, as always, thank you very much for reading!