3. Double D's day

In the previous chapters you have seen what had happened but there are still many questions to answer. So to erase some blank spots in this story let's see the events from the backstage, through Double D's eyes. I am placing you for one more time at the morning after the prom, before I present you his visit to Rolf. You may now understand some things like... What did really happen as about his relationship with Sarah? Was he actually ill when Marie saw him? And why did he visit Rolf the following morning? Probably not to ask him something about the Math's test. In this chapter things are finally getting clear, for us at least.

Double D opened his eyes. It was morning. Never again he had felt his head so heavy. Never again he had absolute no reason to get up from his bed. He closed his eyes and covered his head with the mattress. He lied there for several minutes before he finally decided to open his eyes again and face the cruel reality. He stood up. He looked forward at his desk. He had finished his homework for Monday. He could stay in bed all day. There was no need to leave from his position. But he did. He moved his legs slowly and reached the bathroom. After he had washed his face he returned to his room. He saw his untidy bed. For the first time he didn't want to fix it. He didn't care a bit. He dressed up, ate breakfast and left his house to find Ed and Eddy.

He was feeling so tired. All night he stayed up thinking what had happened. Thoughts were confusing his mind. 'What on earth was Marie doing with Rolf? They are so different. Rolf isn't her type at all. And as about him, who is he to hold her hand! Marie deserves someone much better than Rolf. He could never make her happy. But unlike me and the others… they left very early. She probably had an awful time last night with him. She doesn't like him. Of course not. And I heard Jonny saying something about Marie's sisters who forced Rolf to go with her to the prom. Yes, that is it. Marie didn't have any other choice than to go to the prom with him. It was stupid of me to think that she likes him.' Double D finally convinced himself that he was wrong and that he shouldn't worry about Marie. He smiled. She hadn't stopped liking him at all.

While he was walking, he passed by Sarah. Last night she was mad about what had happened, but after a lot of thinking she realised that it might had been her fault. She might have pushed him too much. Double D always was the type of person that wants things to move on slow. So she was afraid that she might lose him if she started acting cruel to him. Sarah hadn't thought at all that Marie had something to do with his behaviour. If she had she would be angry, mad and very disappointed with him. Even if she likes him, she would never stand if he liked another girl also. Especially a girl like Marie.

She approached him.

"Hey."

"Good morning Sarah." Double D said. Even if at that moment he just wanted to avoid her, his good manners didn't let him. He had to make things clear with her before he could possibly move on to his next step.

"What happened last night?" she asked him, trying to remain calm.

"Sarah, we need to talk."

"Ok, I am listening."

"I don't think things are going to work out. I am sorry for making you misunderstand but things weren't clear even for me. Asking you to come with me to the prom was a mistake."

"I don't remember you complaining when you kissed me"

"I am sorry." Said Double D, unable to answer her question.

He kissed her last night. Everyone said it was a kiss full of passion, but was it? He kissed her a couple of minutes after Rolf started dancing with Sarah. It was jealousy that made him kiss Sarah, not love. He couldn't stand seeing them dancing. If he hadn't kissed Sarah and he hadn't draw all the attention on them, Rolf was so close to Marie's face that he probably would kiss her. He just couldn't let that happen. But why should he care? It was the moment he saw them together, when he realised that he actually liked Marie, except he couldn't admit it to himself. His heart was complaining but his mind could see why. Didn't want to see why. His reactions happened automatically. He had no idea of what he was doing. In his mind he couldn't say things clear. But later he did. When he saw them leaving, he finally realised his mistake. Just a dim mistake.

He looked around. Sarah had left. She was so mad with him that she couldn't stand looking at him any more. He went to Jimmy's house where she burst into tears. In all her sadness Jimmy was actually happy. His friend had gone back to him. For the past few days they were like someone had separated them apart. And that someone was her boyfriend in his opinion.

Double D decided to move on his way to Eddy's house. There he could calm his mind for a while. Probably a new scam would be exactly what his mind needed. What crazy idea would Eddy think of again? He kept on thinking about Eddy's last scam. 'He tried to convince our classmates that the bananas, he was holding, could disappear any kind of pimple. Some kids actually bought it and he was going to gain lots of money, but Ed ate all his bananas. He was so mad that he had been hunting Ed for the whole lunch break.'

With Eddy in his head, he had finally made his mood change when he passed by the park. There he saw Marie. He tried to call her name but he stopped when he saw that Rolf was there, waiting for her. His smile disappeared from his face. He stayed still and stared. They were walking away towards the woods. He tried to thing clear for a moment. 'Maybe they are just going for a walk. But why would she go for a walk with him!?! I am thinking too irrational. Maybe they became friends. Who am I kitting they are going on a date. They are going on a date! Oh my goodness what if he kisses her. But he won't. She won't let him. Or will she? I've got to follow them, before I lose them in the forest. They are holding hands. Who is he to hold her hand?' While he was thinking of these he found himself deep into the woods.

Rolf and Marie weren't saying anything but he was following them so close, that he would hear if they would say anything. When they stopped and sat on a huge stone he hid behind a huge tree. They were so close to each other that if he wasn't a gentleman, and if Rolf wasn't so strong, he would go and punch him. Suddenly Rolf started talking. He was close enough so he heard every word of his.

"It would be ok if Rolf kisses you again?"

He was praying that Marie would say "NO" but it was one word that made him crack. "Again. Again! He had kissed her before." He kept on saying it quietly, trying to understand what Rolf had just said. But the absolute silence made him feel better. "Marie was sad because she saw me kissing Sarah. That's why she kissed him. She won't make the same mistake again. That's why she isn't answering him."

To bare his curiosity he looked carefully from the side. He wanted to see her reaction. Marie was kissing Rolf. They were close to each other, holding each other so hard. Double D's heart broke. He started breathing in and out slowly. Big breaths. He put his hand on his head, trying to calm himself. He sat down on the ground. He wasn't feeling good. He was ill. He had the worst disease in its most terrible form. He was in love when the one he loved was with someone else. And he was to blame for all these.

"What I've done." He said and he moved to his way back.

Meanwhile the two other Ed's were searching everywhere for him. As they were walking at the square they found Sarah with Jimmy riding their bicycles. Eddy, who was sure that Double D was hanging around with Sarah, was surprised to see her with Jimmy. Ed on the other hand was still very afraid to ask her anything. Even if he was bigger than she was and stronger, she didn't let him to be involved in anything about her personal life.

Eddy stopped them and started talking to Sarah.

"Isn't double D with you?"

"Nope. Why should he?" she said with an ironic tone.

"Come on Sarah. We went at his house and he wasn't there. Please tell us." Ed started begging her.

"It is your boyfriend after all." Eddy continued, trying to make her speak.

"Well, he is not any more. Let's leave Jimmy."

"What do you mean Sarah? We saw you at the prom together." Eddy asked her, as he was trying to remain calm.

"She means that your friend ditched her!" Jimmy replied with an arrogant tone.

"What!" Eddy said feeling angry with his friend's behavior. He wasn't mad because Double D ditched her. He didn't care at all about that. He was bothered because lately he hadn't been informing them about anything. And they were his best friends.

Sarah and Jimmy were about to leave when they saw Double D coming. He was looking awful. Exhausted, weak and dirty that he was barely walking. He looked at Ed and Eddy and he smiled for a minute. Sarah forgot all her anger and ran near him. He sat down on the sidewalk. The two other Ed's sat down next to him. Double D looked up towards Sarah who was standing still in front of him. He smiled at her for a second. He felt something like regret. He had something wonderful and lost it twice. First he lost Marie, because he thought he wanted Sarah, and now he would lose Sarah if he didn't do anything.

"I am sorry Sarah. I didn't mean what I said this morning. I was acting irrationally." He said so slowly that Sarah barely heard him.

"That's ok Double D. We'll talk about it tomorrow at school." She said with a sweet voice and left with Jimmy. His appearance right now could make even a heart made of stone crack.

"Please Double D don't die." Cried Ed when Sarah had gone and he hugged him.

"Thank you Ed for you interest, but I'll be just fine. It must be a cold or something similar." He said trying to get away from his friend's hug that was strangling him.

"Ok that's great sock head. Because tomorrow it's the big math's exam and I want you to be there. I don't want to fail in this class." Eddy said loud.

"I'll be fine until night and I have studied for the test since Friday. But don't you think Eddy it would be a good idea for you to study for a change."

"Yeah right! Just make sure you'll be there."

Double D was going to say something, but at that moment Marie passed by. She didn't give him even a look. Marie walked by showing complete ignorance. That was the final strike for his heart. She showed once and for all she didn't care a bit about him. He was looking so ill, that even Kevin would have asked him about his health if he had seen him like that. It was all clear right now. She had moved on and so he had to do too. He took a big breath and started to walk his way home.

"Are you ok Double D?" Ed asked him for one more time as he was walking away.

"Just fine Ed. I just need some rest. Shall I see you tomorrow gentlemen?" he said with a fake smile on his face.

"Yeah, whatever. Just make sure you come prepared for the test." Answered Eddy.

"Certainly Eddy. Goodnight." He said and left quickly.

On his way back he was thinking about Marie's attitude. The same morning he was sure he was meaning something to her. And now he found out he was wrong. But if she was happy with Rolf he couldn't do much. He had caused this situation with his wrong decision. There's only one thing he should do now. He would move out of her life once and for all. But before he do that he wanted to be sure that Rolf would be treating her well. If he'll ever hurt her, Double D won't be able to control himself.

He reached his doorway and got into his house. He got up the stairs, went in his room and he sat on his untidy bed. He still didn't want to fix it.

"What's the point of tidying things when they'll just get messy again?" He said to himself.

He rested back on his bed. He started staring at the ceiling. Sarah on the other hand was very kind with him today. Even after he had treated her so badly. She really cared about him. Maybe Sarah was good enough for him. She was pretty and kind and always there for him. She might be too good for him. He had messed things with Marie so roughly that there probably wasn't a chance they could ever be together. Tomorrow he had to make things clear. Once and for all. He would go and talk to Rolf.

Ok, I wish you liked it! Now Double D has to make things clear for him and for the rest of the children. But this is a bit hard since for the first time in his life he had made such a huge mistake. And that mistake hadn't affected only him, but also many others. Will he say the truth about what he feels about Marie or will he bury them under two meters of solid and hope that they would never bother him again? What do you think Double D will do, stay with Sarah or talk to Marie?