Kevin cut the engine. As he stepped through the front door, he dropped his backpack to the ground and collapsed on the couch. He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Finally.

"That you, Kev?" his father called from the kitchen.

The teen grabbed a cushion to stifle his groan. Mr. Barr entered the living room, leaning against the back of the couch to peer down at his son. Even with the pillow blocking his vision, Kevin could picture the old man's face perfectly. He wore a perpetual grin, as if he knew more than he let on. Always that glint of humor and mischief in his eye.

"Rough day, kiddo?"

"Like you have to ask."

A chuckle. "D'ya have any classes with yer friends?" The pillow bobbed as Kevin nodded his head.

"Nazz?" The pillow moved.

"Rolf?" Again, the pillow moved.

"... Edd?" The pillow remained still. Bob rubbed the back of his neck, the humor in his eyes replaced by something indescribable. "So, no Edd this year?"

The former football player caught the cushion easily as it sailed towards his head. In no time at all, Kevin was up the stairs. He could hear Kevin grumbling before he disappeared around the corner. "Like I care."

Once in the sanctity of his room, Kevin sank on top of his bed. Nothing much had changed about the place since middle school. The shelf was stacked with more and more sports trophies from the past few years. The motorcycle posters on his walls were replaced with flags, brochures, and sports paraphernalia for different colleges and universities. Chief among them was his parents' alma mater.

Gazing up at the ceiling, his eyes grew distant as he thought back to the dozens of times his mom told him the story of how they met. Kevin could feel her hand brushing the stray hair from his face while he sat propped on her knee. Her voice was a gentle hum in his ear, lacing words together in a story.

"There is no place more exciting than the city. The buildings rise high above you and touch the sky. Hundreds of people walking down the streets and the lights never go out.

At the center of it all is Winnetka University, just brimming with dreams and possibilities. Oh, you'd love it, Kevin! Between the beautiful old buildings are rows of trees and lawns that sprawl across the campus.

It was at university that I met your father.

He was a big football star and I was an English major. We were from entirely different worlds. Daddy had earned a free ride on his football scholarship with no plans whatsoever, while I was earnestly pursuing a career in journalism. He spent his days on the football field, while I spent mine working on the school newspaper. It was only by chance that we even met, really.

In our second year, I had to cover the homecoming game for a friend who'd called-out sick. Unfortunately, I knew nothing about football. I spent most of the night scribbling furiously in my notebook. However, I didn't have to know much to see that your father was very talented. He barreled through the other players, knocking them down like dominoes. Touchdown, after touchdown! It seemed as if there was no stopping him. In the final minutes of the game, he had just passed the ball when several members of the opposing team plowed right into him. A white stretcher carried him off the field.

I don't quite know what had possessed me then, but I decided to follow the medics into the infirmary. He looked so lonely, sitting in bed all by himself while the rest of his team was outside celebrating. Eventually I worked up the nerve to talk to him. I sat down in the bed next to him and introduced myself. He laughed, but didn't seem to mind. We spent the rest of the evening talking- he explained the rules of football to me and I got an interview for the paper.

Truth be told, even with your father's help, the story didn't turn-out very good. But from then onward, I made sure to go to every game and he would wave to me each time he stepped out on to the field.

I always hoped we might take you back to the city, but with Daddy working so much it never happened. I guess that's just what happens as you get older. You get comfortable where you are and, pretty soon, you learn to let go of certain things..."

It was all quiet throughout the last house on Rethink Avenue. A single figure passed by the second-floor window, the rest of the house devoid of any signs of life. Only the occasional rustling of paper disrupted the silence.

Edd sat at his desk, pouring over each syllabus he'd received on his first day of school. The tip of his tongue poked through the gap in his teeth, his eyes trained on the papers laid before him. Though he'd grown accustomed to an empty house long ago, he couldn't seem to break certain habits he'd developed to comfort himself. One particularly stubborn habit was his tendency to talk aloud as a means of filling the silence.

"All students are to come to class with the following items... Any students who fail to come to class prepared will..." he placed the paper on his desk, careful to return it to it's original position. "Well, that seems more than fair! A sizable reading list, but most certainly manageable- so long as one follows the assigned schedule."

"It's a shame that teachers insist upon prolonging homework," Double D mused to himself, "After the long summer break, it is essential for students to review their learning from the previous school year. Though I suppose easing students into classroom routines takes priority." He chuckled at the thought of his best friends and their countless detentions, often the result of impatience and lack of focus. Double D's eyes grazed his class schedule, his mouth opening wide in horror.

"Oh dear! Oh how foolish of me! I can't possibly have forgotten my Chemistry syllabus!" The teen scooped the papers into his arms and began flipping through them fervently. He raised a hand to cover his mouth as the shock settled. "Now, Eddward, I'm certain there is a solution to be found! Think!"

The young genius touched a finger to his lip as he considered how best to solve his problem. "Perhaps I can call Eddy! I hate to deprive him of his syllabus as a result of my own carelessness, but desperate times call for desperate measures!"

Edd hurried down the stairs into the kitchen, snatching the telephone from it's cradle. He listened closely while the other phone rang several times.

"Hello?"

"Good evening, Eddy!"

"Hey Double D, what's happenin' ?"

"I have a favor to ask of you, Eddy. Would you mind lending your syllabus to me? I will return it to you once I've finished copying any important information."

"You actually read those things?"

Edd breathed a sigh. "Yes, Eddy. All students should review the classroom expectations in order to participate in classroom activities with as little confusion as possible. Would now be an appropriate time to come over and pick up the syllabus?"

"I hate to tell ya, Double D, but I threw that thing away. Can't you just get another one tomorrow?"

"I couldn't possibly! What kind of impression would I be making on Mr. Troy if I were to tell him I'd forgotten my syllabus?"

Eddy rolled his eyes at his friend's scandalized tone. "Take it easy, Sockhead. I'm sure there's somebody else you could call. How about ol' Bazooka-Chin? He's right across the street." The line went quiet, save for the faint drone of static in the background. "Double D?"

"Ah! Yes! I will call Kevin. Thank you, Eddy!"

"Sure thing, Double D."

Double D walked over to the kitchen window. Looking out across the street, he could see several lights glaring from Kevin's house. His hands wrung the curtain. Come now, Eddward! It's only Kevin. You've known him since you were a child. What happened this afternoon, while he was fixing the van... It didn't mean anything. What you're feeling is nothing more than nerves. Besides, it has been a very long time since Kevin bullied either Ed, Eddy, or myself! There is no need to be scared. His eyebrows knit together. Am I really scared of Kevin, though? Or is there something else?

Edd squared his shoulders. He ignored the questions hanging over him and marched out the front door across the street. Right as he raised his hand to knock, however, he recoiled. "What on earth am I doing? I am intruding upon their home without any prior notice! They could be eating dinner or preparing for bed. I should just go back home and wait till morning."

The boy turned around, but no sooner had his foot hit the pavement when a streak of light appeared at his back.

"Edd?" Double D swallowed, thankful for the late hour. His ears burned at the sound of his own name.

"Why, hello Kevin."

"What're you doing here?" Kevin rocked on his heels.

"Pardon the intrusion. I was hoping I could borrow your Chemistry syllabus. It appears I've forgotten mine at school."

The athlete stepped aside. "Sure. C'mon in, Dork."

Double D smiled gratefully at the redhead and stepped inside. He paused at the entryway. A sense of nostalgia echoed through him. How many afternoons have I spent in this house? After all these years, it appears as though nothing has changed. His chest constricted, warm with an affection he'd almost forgotten.

"Who is it, Kev?" Bob Barr appeared at the top of the staircase, his face breaking into a grin. "Well if it isn't Edd! How ya doin', kiddo!" He lumbered down the stairs and pulled the scrawny boy into a bear hug. For a moment, Edd let his arms hang at his sides; then, hesitantly, he wrapped them around Mr. Barr.

"Greetings, Mr. Barr! I'm very well, thank you," Bob held him at arm's length, running his eyes down the length of Edd's body.

"Fer cryin' out loud! Don't they feed ya at your place? Yer nothin' but skin and bones," he released Double D and poked a meaty finger into his chest. "Have ya had dinner yet, son?"

"Not yet, sir. I planned to make something once I'd finished preparing for school tomorrow."

"That settles it then! Kevin!"

"I'm right here, Dad."

"Edd's gonna stay for dinner. We got enough spaghetti, right?"

Kevin arched an eyebrow, his eyes flicking from Edd to his father. "Uh, yeah. There's plenty on the stove."

Jarred from his stupor, Edd raised his hands in front of him. "That's quite alright! I couldn't impose on you! Dinner is an important time for family bonding. You needn't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"Now, now, Edd. I won't hear of it! Yer as good as family s'far as I'm concerned! Right, Kev?" he rested a hand on Double D's shoulder, his eyes fixed on his son.

The teen, now on the spotlight, slid his hand across the back of his neck before pressing it to his forehead. "Whatever. It's cool, man."

"See? No trouble! I'll go set the table," Mr. Barr nearly ran to the kitchen before Edd could protest any further.

A small laugh escaped him. "Your father is as enthusiastic as ever, I see. It's nice to know that he hasn't changed."

"Yeah... Things were a little rough when, uh... when mom left. But it started getting better after the first year." He watched as Edd shifted his weight from foot-to-foot, tugging at the hem of his shirt. "He still misses her... Idiot."

Kevin trudged up the stairs, looking back at Edd. "You wanted that syllabus, right? Move it or lose it, Double Dweeb."

When they came to Kevin's room, Double D struggled to reign-in his curiosity. It's not polite to pry! Over and over again he reminded himself, but (ultimately) his curiosity got the better of him. He craned his neck every which way, keeping himself planted at the entrance. Kevin watched in amusement, the beginnings of a smile tugging at his lips.

"You can come in, ya know. I'm not gonna bite." The remark sent a flare of color racing from Double D's collar to his hairline, earning a smirk from the other.

As the color receded, Double D wandered around the bedroom. He noted the trophies, the fish- What was it's name again? I shall have to ask - and then, the pamphlets. He stared in awe at the array of colleges and universities that adorned the wall. A sudden thrill ran up his spine. To think that Kevin had such aspirations! Most of these are rather prestigious institutions of higher education. I suppose he could pursue an athletics scholarship... but still! In all the time I've known Kevin, I never realized that he might want to go to college. His excitement faltered and his expression fell. What else do I not know about Kevin? What else might I have discovered had we stayed... friends?

"Double D?" A piece of paper waved in front of the boy's face.

"My apologies, Kevin. I was... lost in thought." He eyed the paper. "Is that the syllabus?"

"Yeah. You can have it, dude. I was just gonna toss it anyway."

"Thank you, Kevin! That is very kind of you!"

In the exchange, their fingers brushed- it was a slight touch, quick as a wink, but the effect was immediate. Both boys pulled away as though they'd been struck by the same jolt of electricity.

"We better get downstairs or Pop'll blow a gasket," Kevin jerked his thumb towards the kitchen. "Ya hungry?"

Double D nodded, biting back a smile. "I am a bit pekish..."

Don't do that. Kevin rounded on Edd and pushed him out the door. "Let's go dig-in, then!"

He continued to hurry Edd along down the stairs and into the dining room. Bob was already seated and loading each plate with a heaping mound of spaghetti and meatballs. However, he managed to look up as Kevin sat Edd down, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Eat up!" he passed Double D a plate, as well as a wink, "Kev's a wiz in the kitchen. Can't imagine what I'd do without him!"

"Starve."

Mr. Barr whooped with laughter and shoveled a spoonful of pasta into his mouth. Edd looked down at his own spaghetti, swirling it around his fork before bringing it to his lips. His eyes doubled in size as the flavor settled on his tongue.

"This is delicious!" Edd beamed at the other boy, his gap on full display. "You're quite the chef."

"Thanks... Edd," Kevin speared a meatball. The rest of the meal carried on in much the same manner: Bob asking Edd about school and his friends while Kevin tried not to die of embarrassment. Every so often, though, Bob would sit back in his seat and watch both boys steal glances at each other.

When Edd had gone home for the night and Kevin was dressing for bed, Bob remained at the sink washing dishes. "Some things never change," he chuckled to himself before drying his hands and turning out the light.