Eddward offered Kevin no real answer, choosing instead to avert his gaze and continue walking. Kevin didn't know whether he should be offended or not, but it felt more like Eddward just didn't want to waste the time, or miniscule amount of energy, confirming what Kevin already knew to be true. It was strange though, they'd only recently revisited their childhood safe haven, and it had ended so sourly Kevin couldn't make sense of why Eddward would want to go back any time soon. Instead of saying anything that might upset the incredibly touchy Eddward, he decided to stare down at his feet and preoccupy himself with counting his footsteps. Every now and then, in his peripheral vision, he could see the blinking glow as a firefly rose up and made it's way towards the night sky.

"Hey Double D!" He exclaimed like an over-excited child, and tugged on the other boys sleeve. "There's some over there!" As Kevin pointed in the direction of some trees, Eddward stared down at the boys hand on his sleeve. But Kevin was too ecstatic to even realize what he was doing at the moment, so Edd chose to ignore it as well.

"Of course they're over there. They'll be in any grassy or leafy terrain. We're going this way because there should be more." He explained in as polite a manner as possible.

Kevin didn't really make any sort of acknowledging gesture, and Eddward felt a small pang of disappointment. In their childhood, Kevin would often tease him for using 'unnecessarily' long words. Or words that obviously had a more simplistic or modern terminology. But his silence only left an nearly unbearable reminder that even in what felt like a short amount of time, in comparison to how long humans actually live, people could adopt almost entirely new personalities. To Eddward, it merely served as nature's way of saying they were no longer the two boys that had met at the creek, but for some reason he still couldn't bring himself to accept it.

"I guess we're just faulty in that respect." Eddward unconsciously mused aloud.

"What?" Kevin responded, but before waiting for an answer the two boys stepped into the clearing and the grassy surface in front of the creek was engulfed in the flickering glow of the fireflies.

"Hah!" Kevin burst out involuntarily at the sight. His expression was childishly exuberant, and Eddward nearly rolled his eyes. Not even ten minutes ago Kevin had been teasing him about 'looking at bugs.'

"They're everywhere!" Kevin laughed, and ran across the field like a little kid.

Eddward smirked slightly, following Kevin slowly until they were both standing at the edge of the creek again.

"It's strange, but right now it kind of feels like you never left, somehow."

Kevin's sudden statement had caught Eddward slightly off guard. He was unsure how to respond, or whether or not Kevin was even seeking one. Instead he decided to remain quiet, as he so often found himself doing lately. Kevin turned towards him and offered a slightly apologetic smile. "Sorry... I guess I just don't know when to let the sleeping dog lie."

"...it's alright." Eddward offered.

Kevin's shoulders slumped forward, and his previously excited nature was overcome with a thoughtful a calm expression. It seemed out of place to Eddward, as the Kevin in his memories was brash and rarely took the time to thoroughly think things over. The reflection of the water danced across them, and seemed to magnify to intensity of Kevin's thoughts. Eddward felt his body's rejection of this 'new' version of Kevin in the pit of his stomach.

"I'd best get to studying." Eddward finally decided as he set his satchel down on the grass and crouched down, removing a notepad, magnifying glass and pencil.

Kevin watched as Eddward sprawled out on the ground on his stomach and pulled his magnifying glass up to his eye, examining a firefly with it. Eddward was focusing so intently, Kevin was sure he had tuned out the world around him already. He decided to lay down himself, opting to be on his back instead, and stared into the clear night sky. The occasional flash of a firefly almost made it look as if the stars were falling. He reached his hand, extending his fingers as far as he could with exerting any real effort. Naturally the farther he reached, the more impossibly far everything felt. He rolled his head to the side, briefly wondering if he could even reach Edd from this distance. However, he didn't let his curiosity get the better of him and kept himself from reaching out and disturbing the other boy, instead letting his hand fall down to his side. He sighed, contently, and turned his gaze back towards the sky, distracting himself once more with the dazzling gleams of the stars and fireflies.

The glow in Kevin's eyes was even more brilliant than the faint luminescence from the fireflies, and Eddward couldn't help but be slightly agitated by Kevin's oblivious innocence. He tried to focus on other things, the glittering specks of light from the bugs, the imprints in the grass where he was laying, he may as well have burned a hole in his notepad from staring so intently. But it was hopeless, and his eyes kept wandering back to his former friend, his content smile, his eyes lids drooping a little bit more with fatigue with every passing moment. Eddward swallowed, the simple noise resounded like a sonic boom from his point of view, but Kevin didn't seem to notice. Edd stared back down at the notebook and halfheartedly sketched out a few more of the glowing bugs, jotting down pointless notes that he'd already memorized back in middle school. He knew he had ulterior motives for dragging the red head out in the night. Most in part because Eddward knew that Kevin enjoyed fireflies, despite the fact that he had tried to play them off before.

Yet still, there was something deeper, something more meaningful. Although Eddward had calculated this out dozens upon dozens of times within his head, he couldn't think of any scenario that didn't make him seem horrifying or otherwise. There were conflicting feelings, wanting to rekindle his former friendship, and losing what ever semblance of interaction they still had with one another, however unappealing it was. He sighed dramatically, which felt out of character and stole another glance over at Kevin. The red head had dozed off, though he didn't seem to be in too deep a sleep yet. His chest slowly rose and fell with every breath he took, his face seemed peaceful and his mouth was slightly opened. A gently breeze rustled the leaves of the trees around them and made the grass sway like a rolling green wave. Eddward caught the faintest traces of Kevin's scent and shook his head in frustration. Obviously the emotions he was constantly in turmoil over weren't in the least on Kevin's mind, otherwise he'd never leave himself in such a vulnerable position. The taller boy took this opportunity to reflect upon how he felt, with Kevin finally so close. He slowly inched his way over, the grass shifting and crunching underneath him with his every movement. Time felt like it'd come to a complete halt, and in it's place sound overtook and every crinkling of every blade of grass seemed crash through his ears at a thousand decibels. He finally made it to Kevin's side and looked down at him, envious of how he could even manage to sleep on the cold ground, and contently at that. Every breath Eddward drew felt awkward and every time he exhaled he worried he might wake Kevin. After a few minutes though, Edd realized Kevin was in a deep enough slumber as to not be woken by something as gentle as his breath. He leaned in a little closer, taking in every stray hair, counting the incredibly faint specks of freckles, the scratches and dents in his glasses some accidental and some he inflicted himself. There was a slight twinge of guilt and he diverted his eyes elsewhere. Eddward had spent many hours staring at Kevin from afar, but up close he was able to see details he'd usually overlook. Slightly hesitant, he reached his hand out and ran it over Kevin's palm, laying at his side. To Eddward's surprise, Kevin's hands were rougher than he had imagined, surely he kept them busy at home in his tinkering. Edd had seen some of Kevin's blueprints, but it didn't seem like he took it all too seriously. He decided the roughness probably was a result of repairing and upgrading his bicycle.

Kevin's fingers twitched slightly and Eddward jerked his hand away reflexively, but Kevin didn't stir any further. Edd leaned back in, taking in Kevin's faint scent once again. An unfamiliar longing stirred inside of him, pushing all sense and reason from his mind and pulling out darker desires he hadn't even dared to think about before. Maybe this would be his only chance to experiment with the feelings that had started earlier in their youth. Eddward inched his hand over to Kevin's face, poking gently and his cheek. When Kevin didn't stir, Edd took his chance and gently cupped it, feeling the smooth skin against his palm. His thumb gently caressed Kevin's cheek and he savored the feeling, not having any other experiences to compare it to. Slowly he slid his hand over and down Kevin's lips, which were chapped and cracked in some places, probably because Kevin subconsciously chewed on his bottom lip when he was nervous. Naturally all of this was too good to be true, and when Eddward was able to comprehend the shifting of Kevin's eyelids it was already too late.

Kevin lazily let his eyelids open. His surroundings were still hazy while his sense came back to him, registering. 'Ah... I dozed off, I hope Eddward won't get mad at me.. Yikes, I hope he didn't abandon me out here, either. That seems like something he might...' His thoughts drifted off as his mind finally processed the weight against his lips. Eddward made no half-assed attempt to move or jerk his hand away in embarrassment. He was caught, and any sudden motion he made know would only result in him looking guiltier. So he held as still as he could manage and let Kevin wake up as naturally as possible in this situation.

"Good morning, Pumpkin." He offered.

Kevin stared up at him and his eyes widened in disbelief. Eddward still hadn't moved his hand, so he was unsure whether or not he was allowed to saying anything. But it didn't seem like anything would progress if he didn't.

"Uh... Edd...?" He managed to sputter out, but it seemed to have been enough. Eddward finally moved his hand and pulled himself up into a sitting position. Kevin sat up as well and turned his gaze upwards. The sky had become and even darker shade, and the fireflies had seemed to have all gone away for the night. Only the moon was left to illuminate the world around him, and Kevin almost wished it wasn't. 'Just what was that...'

"Kevin." Eddward finally broke the silence, his tone was serious.

"Y-Yeah Double D?" Kevin managed to get out.

"First off, I would like to apologize for placing you in so precarious a position. I was merely acting on my own selfish behalf... Secondly I feel like you also deserve and explanation as to why I would even feel the selfish need to behave in such a manner in the first place." He turned his gaze to Kevin finally, his eyes were swimming with the same helpless and lost expression they'd had when the two first met, and Kevin felt as though his heart skipped a beat for a moment. 'What the hell...' He tried not to focus on it, and listen to Eddward seriously, especially since he looked so desperate.

"Kevin..." Eddward started again, searching for all the right words to keep Kevin from running away like a frightened rabbit. Yet he already felt like Kevin was mortified with him. "I..." Every time he went to speak, Kevin seemed to hold his breath, and it made an unbearable pressure wash over Eddward. There was no helping it, no easy way about it anymore.

"I'm... Infatuated with you." That was as good an answer as he was going to manage, it seemed. But Kevin's following actions only succeeded in furthering what Eddward had been fearing before they had even left Kevin's house.

GUUUUHHHH. I'm SO sorry this took me so long, you guys. I wanted to make it up to you, so I tried to make a chapter as long as I possibly could. And even this isn't all that long! OTL

But, I hope you enjoy it, regardless. I tried really hard to make the setting and atmosphere as detailed as I could, so let me know what you think? If any of you are still around. Haha.

Even so, I still love you guys. Thank you for bearing with me.

~Chrono