Looking from side to side Double D took a cautious step forward, his blue orbs never leaving the space over his shoulder. He could have sworn he felt eyes following him, a gaze hot as fire searing the very threads of his favorite orange shirt to oblivion as he walked up the steps of the school building. Math book in hand the dork sighed, pressing the tips of his fingers to his pink painted face. An hour before class he had done a rigorous routine of squats and pole lifts- his usual morning regimen to get his muscles stretched and the blood flowing- but in all reality it could not beat the adrenalin rush he now felt as fear pumped through his veins like solution through an IV; clouding his near infallible logic.

Swallowing the stone that formed in his throat the dork did his best to ignore the strange feeling of being watched, turning his attention back down the hall. He was sure to find his friend, Eddy, lounging about beside his locker in his pseudo teen angst facade but to his surprise he found gentle giant Ed instead.

"Ed?" He was baffled. "I thought you were served morning in house suspension."

The taller boy nodded, his goofy smile taking up over ninety percent of his face. "I did Double D. And I drew you a picture!"

The happy go-lucky teen rummaged about in his pockets looking for his gift, his smile widening as he extracted a wrinkled paper ball.

"The principle said I could draw myself into the ground but I instead drew you a butterfly."

"Oh." Edd hesitantly took it, silently praying there were no remnants of some stinky cheese that could have been left to mold in Ed's pocket. "Why Ed you shouldn't have."

Carefully he peeled the paper apart using the tips of his fingers. The larger teen's face turned pouty.

"Eddy was so mean Double D!y. " smile turning pusing the points of his fingers. The paperen left in Ed'eling, h him like An hour before " He was practically shouting, tears suddenly welling up in his eyes. "I wanted you to remember I am your friend. Like the peanut butter to your jelly."

Edd's brows scrunched together in slight confusion but the boys tangled words did little to deter the happy feeling seeing his smiling friend gave him. As he opened the parchment Edd's eyes widened, his blue orbs dancing in wonder. He bit softly into his lip, his fingers unintentionally gripping the paper tightly and winkling it even further.

"Oh Ed." His eyes softened. "You drew this? For me?"

The boy nodded. "You're so pretty when you dance Double D. Like a molten lizard-ant dancing the dance of peace in the Fires of Lorax." Ed giggled and held up two fingers. "Episode three."

Edd held the picture to his chest and smiled. "I love it. What a splendorous gift Ed- why, I must take this home and frame it."

He opened the picture once more to stare at it. It was the loveliest rendering he had ever seen. With chalk, pencil and bits of other stencil he couldn't place Edd found himself staring at it in complete admiration.

"Thank you my friend. I shall encase this in the best frame mother has at home and place it upon my bedroom wall." When Ed started clapping, he smiled. "Would you like that Ed?"

"Yay!" Ed bounced from foot to foot excitedly. "I do, I do!"

Edd chuckled from behind his hand and very carefully began straightening the paper along the wall. "A simple brown one shall do for now. I know of one mother keeps filed in her-"

"Hey guys!"

Eddward froze. His heart began to race, his knuckles turning white as he felt his nails scratch tiny marks into the peeling paint of the school's wall. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Ed, his broad shoulders slumped and eyes staring sadly at the ground. The source of that voice looked about, scratching his larger than life size head in confusion.

"What's got lumpy's panties in a bunch?"

Eddy!

"Uh hello? Double D I asked you a question."

The dark haired teen refused to look at the scammer even as said boy waltz up and slouched back against the locker beside him, trying to look as suave as can be. Edd turned his back on him, silently trying to quiet the rage rattling about in his head.

"I'm not speaking to you."

Eddy's eyes widened, his pocketed fists bunching at his sides. "Wha-wha-WHAT?!"

"You heard me." Edd spun back around only to march around his so-called friend, tucking the carefully folded drawing into his pocket. "Come along Ed. We mustn't be late to class."

The scammer gawked, hurt shining in his eyes. "What the heck?" He kicked off the locker behind him and chased after Double D.

Ed, while unsure, chased after them both; his large fingers knitting together as his gaze switched between them worriedly. "Guys! Wait for me!"

Eddy stormed up alongside Edd, surprise to find he had to hustle in order to keep up with his friend's quick pace.

"What the hell dude? What's with the cold shoulder?" He all but demanded an answer, huffing as he continued to openly glare at his friend.

Edd kept walking. He willed himself not to speak but Eddy had a knack for always pushing past his capacity for patience. With every word that came tumbling out of Eddy's obnoxious mouth poor Double D felt his control slipping, and words he'd rather not say inching that much closer to the tip of his tongue.

"Some friend you are." Eddy snarled, crossing his arms only to have them drop stubbornly back to his sides. "I had a great scam in mind and here you guys are leaving me in the dust and treating me like a carrot in winter."

"That makes no sense Eddy. I'm walking behind you." Ed piped but his lips clamped shut when Eddy glared at him over his shoulder.

"Cram it!" He turned a fussy eye back to Edd. "And you! This isn't how you treat your friends."

Double D knew he shouldn't have but he couldn't control his feet when they stopped, nearly skidding against the smudged tile floor before he whipped around to face his… he wasn't sure just what to call Eddy at the moment. Ally, partner, and friend were among the assortment of words he wasn't quite willing to call him at the moment. Instead he caught Eddy's eye with an icy gaze, his stare intensifying as the seconds seem to drag on. Neither were able to say a word more to the other. Double D's fingers curled until his knuckles turned white and this did not go by unnoticed by the scammer.

"Is that so?"

Loveable Ed wisely backed away, slipping quietly behind Edd, but Eddy didn't seem to be getting the silent message even as his friend burned the unspoken accusation right into the center of his thick greasy forehead.

"Yeah man you don't just turn your back on your best pals."

An indignant huff escaped him but Double D didn't seem to care, even as he turned his back once more on the shorter teen.

"I never would have known."

Edd's sneakers squeaked as he quickly pivoted back down the hall, his cheeks burning an impressive shade of red.

"See the friend I have is nothing more than an odious, crass, insensitive jerk that cares for no one but himself."

Eddy gaped. "You can't be serious." He started to laugh but all it did was grate even further on the dork's nerves. This of course he doesn't realize. "What's this really all about?"

Edd threw his arms into the air, his bag sliding off his shoulder in the process. "Are you that daft man?!"

The scammer fell silent. He quirked a brow and never in Double D's life had he wanted to smack the look off Eddy's face more than he did now. His hand tingled at just the thought of it. Briefly, ever so briefly, he wondered if this was how Kevin felt all those time he wanted to beat someone up. This over boil of frustration and hostility was churning his insides like a mixer in dough.

"Allow me to reiterate."

Edd tried desperately to keep a strong hold over his emotions. Yelling would do him no good but every word slipping past his lips was drenched in verbal venom.

"For once in your life Eddy please step down from the soap box you stand on to reach that ridiculously high horse of yours and-" Once more he threw his arms into the air, pacing back and forth between the towering wall that was Ed and the infuriating roadblock that was Eddy. "Why must I bother? Would you even recognize what you did let alone realize it was wrong?"

Eddy's doe eyed expression said it all.

Double D simply shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to will away an oncoming migraine.

"But of course. It would be too much to ask of the likes of you."

His striking blue eyes caught Eddy's softer brown orbs off guard; every feeling of rage, confusion and heart ache articulated in those hardened windows to the soul. Ah, there it was- the light of recognition. It burned in Eddy's eyes so perfectly clear one could practically hear the bell ringing in his head.

"Oh."

An entire minute passed before Edd found his ability to speak.

"Oh?" Edd's voice started to rise. "Oh? Is that all you have to say?!" Edd took a step forward, his hands clenching tight on the strap of his school bag.

The scammer snorted, raking his fingers through his hair. "Yeah what else would I say?"

Edd would have scoffed but took to leaning to his side instead, arms crossed and hip cocked as the expression on his face darkened.

"How about an apology?"

Eddy had the nerve to look befuddled. "Pft, for what?"

Turning on his heels Eddy made his way to the men's restroom and Edd reluctantly followed, grimacing in disgust as he stepped over a puddle of… something at the door.

Eddy fluffed the collar of his shirt and took to grinning at himself in the mirror, completely ignoring his friend's expression of disgust as he perched himself beside the electric dryer.

"Man you should have stuck around. It was funny." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a fine tooth comb. "Mr. Baggs totally mouthed off. Can you believe it?"

He smirked at Edd's reflection, noting how the skinny boy had taken to glaring off to the side. Beneath his smile Eddy knew this wasn't right. He had completely expected Double D to berate him for his childish behavior and blah blah blah this and blah blah that; but this, this was much harsher than any verbal bashing the sockhead could dish. He had turned a cold shoulder on his best friend. His best friend for fucks sake! But Eddy couldn't imagine what he had done wrong. That prank he pulled on the teacher had been trivial, practically harmless.

Ignoring the butterflies that suddenly ascended into his chest Eddy decided to wet his comb and brush back his bangs.

"I knew I could make that snooty teacher cuss."

Double D sneered. He couldn't think of a fitting word to define his revulsion. Eddy had hurt Nazz; humiliated the poor girl before her peers and in front of the teacher no less. The awful things the teacher had said to the girl when Eddy ousted their hobby had been downright cruel. He hadn't been able to stand it at all but Eddy had stayed behind in the class, had witnessed sweet Nazz's degradation, and most likely laughed at it. Edd knew he could not simply forgive this trespass. What if Eddy were to find out he pole danced? What would Eddy do, what would he say? Would the rumor mill suddenly flood itself with false and unwanted notoriety? He could only imagine the nasty things the teens would say- what they were saying about Nazz now. No, he couldn't forgive Eddy this time. He just couldn't.

"Eddy you hurt Nazz. You hurt her."

The scammer sighed, as though he were absolutely put out, and spun around to face his brooding friend. "Double D," it was a harmless prank." He waved his hand, turning back towards the mirror. "Get over it already. Everyone else has."

Sighing, he turned to Double D, placing a hand on the taller boy's shoulder. "It was harmless dude."

"Harmless?!" Eddward felt his control snapping.

His glare threatened to burn a hole right through the scammer but the shorter Ed didn't seem to notice. Of if he did he chose not to acknowledge it.

"You deliberately humiliated Nazz, crossing the line of harmless far too long ago."

Having had enough Double D shoved Eddy's hand off his shoulder and plucked Eddy's comb out of his hand.

"Hey!" Eddy reached for his comb but Edd held out from him. "Give that back!"

"Hmph." Edd looked over Eddy's shoulder and took careful aim, flicking his wrist and minutely grinning when the comb landed with a satisfying PLOP in the toilet.

Eddy howled. "That was my lucky comb!"

"Oh was it?"

Had Eddward been fuming anymore, fire would have erupted all over him.

He stormed out of the bathroom, using the sleeve of his shirt to shove the door open. He may be angry but he would tarnish his person with the threat of bacteria. Just the thought of it made his skin crawl and with that in mind he had every intention of going straight to class. There he could find comfort in lectures and books, far from Eddy's asinine ventures.

The door swung open and Kevin barely had time to dodge it, wincing when the handle accidently grazed his hip. Kevin slapped his hand to the now throbbing spot and just about tore the door open; ready to pumble an idiot or two when he laid eyes on none other but Eddward.

He paused, stunned into silence with his mouth hanging open.

Fierceness had come over the little nerd, his blue eyes blazing a trail of destruction and fire ahead of him as he mindlessly strode onward, never once looking back to apologize. If possible the shadow around his eyes had darkened and Kevin felt his toes curl in response. Never had he seen Edd look so… so… not like Double D. This version of him was much angrier; an expression Kevin thought Edd incapable of exhibiting. Well he sure was proven wrong.

Kevin watched him go in silent praise. He pitied the moron stupid enough to get in his way. He wasn't quite sure what Edd was capable of but with that brilliant mind of his the possibilities were endless.

Remembering why he had come to the bathroom in the first place he opened the door a little more but paused once more, this time in disgust.

"Eddy."

Said Ed spun around, his face paling at the sight of the red-head. His look of shame had melted in an instant, turning to fear. "K-Kevin! What a nice surprise."

Kevin shot a look over his shoulder, eyes widening in sudden realization. Edd and Eddy had been in the bathroom arguing. He would have been an idiot to notice the red staining the whites of his double dork's eyes. His fist on the door tightened until his knuckles turning white; numbing the longer he held it.

"What the fuck did you do now?!"

Kevin let the door slam behind him, the sound echoing throughout the tile room. Eddy backed into one of the sinks, scrambling around it towards one of the stalls. Kevin had been waiting to get his hands on the dork and now was a perfect time as ever to get his revenge. He crackled his knuckles, smirking as he neared.

"Time to make you pay dork."

"B-but I didn't do anything!"

Eddy tried to get around the towering teen but Kevin easily caught him, dragging Eddy back against the wall by the scuff of his shirt. Eddy howled as his head collided with the tile. His arms and legs were now shaking as the red-head above him glared, his stare intensifying the longer he stared the short stubby Ed in the eye.

"Don't give me that shit." He hissed.

Using both hands Kevin lifted Eddy up off the ground, watching humorously as the shorter teen started to kick but to no avail. Kevin smacked him against the wall once more, his smirk widening as pain bloomed at the back of Eddy's head.

"The fuck is your problem?!" Eddy managed to shout, freezing a pair of students who opened the bathroom only back away as not to get involved.

Eddy continued to kick, throwing out his fists. "Put me down you jerk!"

"I have half a mind to give you a pounding so hard it'll make your head spin." Kevin snarled. "I heard what you did yesterday and that shit don't fly with me."

Eddy stopped his fussing and looked up at Kevin, realization dawning on him for the second time that morning.

"Are you serious?" Eddy growled, rubbing his hands across his face. "It was just a joke. Doesn't anybody get that?"

Kevin glared at him, his jaw clenching tight.

"Just a joke huh? How does my fist in your face sound for a joke huh?"

Eddy cringed as Kevin raised a fist. "I swear it was just a joke!"

"Well I aint laughing."

As Kevin beat the tar out of Eddy, it went unknown to either boy that loveable Ed had stayed behind. He sat in one of the stalls, ear planted to the stall wall as he listened in on the argument. He winced with every audible 'oof' Eddy gave but made no move to rescue him. Instead he sat on the toilet seat lid and counted his fingers and toes. He would wait until they were done before coming out. He wasn't sure how much time had passed until Kevin got sick of beating on Eddy but Ed's head snapped up, peeking through the space between the stall walls in time to watch Kevin spit loathsomely on Eddy's crumpled body. Ed's face fell into a saddened frowned as he watched Eddy cower further into the wall, his arms crowded over his head incase another onslaught of punches came his way. An impressive bruise was forming over his right left eye and his shirt looked wet and torn.

"Stay away from Nazz and stay away from Edd. You got that dork?" Kevin sneered, his fist raised as if to deliver another blow.

Eddy flinched but glared over his arm at the jock. "What the fuck for? Edd's my friend and Nazz-"

Kevin kicked him, and hard. Eddy gasped out in pain.

"Come near my girlfriend again and you'll regret it." Kevin's words dripped with venom. "I promise you that."

Kevin turned to rinse his hand in the sink, saying nothing further. His knuckles were burning and his fingers felt numb from how hard he had been clenching his fists. He hissed as the cool water stun the open cuts on his hand from where Eddy had scratched him and sighed as the pain eventually subsided. He took his time dabbing a paper towel over his wounds, his eyes never leaving the prone figure still cowering in the corner. Eddy struggled to sit up, wincing as he held his stomach. In just a few hours the dork would be covered in bruises. At this point Kevin didn't care if he was suspended for attacking another student. The bastard deserved every punch he got. That's what you get for hurting him, he silently fumed.

Kevin left the bathroom without uttering a single word, leaving Eddy to himself and the suffocating silence that followed. Ed eventually came out, collecting Eddy into his arms and helping him to the handicap stall. He sat Eddy on the toilet lid and sighed. He hated it when friends fought.

Eddy's left eye was swelling. His lip had already swollen with a nasty red gash marring the corner of his mouth.

"What is they're problem?"

Eddy yelped when Ed touched a wet napkin to his lip and immediately knocked it out of Ed's hand.

Ed sighed, staring down at the dirty napkin.

"Kevin was mean but-" He begun to say, biting into his bottom lip when Eddy looked up at him and interrupted him mid-sentence.

"No duh you idiot. He's a big fat stupid jerk who needs to get run over by a bus or something."

Eddy sniffed, refusing to cry. "What is their deal? So I played a prank on Nazz. It wasn't like it hurt anyone. The teacher got mad. So what? Not like I broke Nazz's arm." He glared even harder at the ground between his feet. "And Double D! Did you see that? What the hell!"

Eddy slammed his fist into the wall, immediately regretting it as he pulled his hand back in pain.

"I didn't do nothing to him and he acted like the biggest freakn' asshole." He looked up to the silent Ed and frowned, his brows furrowing deeply into the lines of his face.

When Ed spoke again it was much softer, his beady eyes glancing off in another direction. "Double D was sad and Kevin was mean." He looked up at Eddy then, his sad eyes catching Eddy's. "But you were meaner."

Eddy's mouth clamped shut. It wasn't often he heard out Ed but for some reason his head was screaming at him to just shut up and listen. It wasn't easy, Eddy was in pain and wanted to scream and cuss to his heart's delight, his arm throbbed like a son-of-a-bitch, but he kept his composure. He almost didn't catch what Ed said next.

"The teacher was mean too but you didn't say you're sorry."

Eddy's shoulders hunched defensively. "Well neither did Mr. Baggs. Why should I?"

Ed shook his head, sanding from his kneeling position in front of Eddy. "Double D is your friend and so was Nazz." His fingers fumbled with the dirty hem of his sleeve and he turned half way from his friend. "Friends don't hurt each other that way Eddy."

"But it was a joke! Honest."

Eddy grumbled beneath his breath, burying his face into his hands. He just wasn't getting it. Why was everyone suddenly out to get him?

"No one is laughing Eddy. No one is laughing."

Eddward ran as fast and as hard as he could, bounding around corners and gripping his school bag so tightly his fingers had begun to dig grooves into his palms. His eyes were red with tears threatening to fall. He picked up his pace, racing outside and gulping up as much fresh air as he could. He took to leaning against the wall opposite of the track field, his face pressed into the backs of his hands as he fought to catch his breath.

He would not cry. He refused to.

He slapped his open palm against the brick and bit into his cheek as a dull throb radiated through his arm. Never before had Edd experience such animosity towards someone he loved. Not since his venture with Eddy's older brother Sam had he been as enraged as he was now, struggling to balance on the tight rope of self-control. All he wanted to do was scream, scream and cry, but he wouldn't let himself do it. The day had hardly begun and already he was ready to pack his things and leave. He wouldn't on account of his nearly unblemished attendance record but he desperately wanted to walk out the double doors and go straight to his warm and welcoming bed. There he could cry his eyes out without having to worry about prying eyes.

Sniffling softly, Edd wiped the snot from beneath his nose and rubbed furiously at his eyes. It took a moment but a whole minute of willing himself not to shed a single tear eventually dried his eyes. Inhaling deeply he resolved not to let Eddy get to him. He knew he couldn't run from his friend all day. The stout teen would surely seek him out between classes and Edd just wasn't sure he was ready to face him yet.

He wasn't sure what he should say. It didn't seem fair that he had to be put in this position by someone he cared about. It wasn't his fault Eddy didn't understand the trouble his actions had caused for other people but… but Eddy is my friend. He sighed.

This just wasn't fair.

Turning on his heels Edd made his way back towards the school. To his surprise on the top step stood the only red-head Edd could ever imagine himself being happy to see. The jock was leaning against the railing, legs crossed at the ankles and arms crossed over his chest. He smirked down at Eddward as the dork made his way up, a smile gracing his face as if he hadn't been on the verge of bursting into tears.

"Greetings Kevin." He gripped the satchel of his bag and scratched the back of his leg with his foot. A light dust of pink colored his cheeks. "W-what are you doing out here?"

Kevin merely shrugged. "Ditching class. The gym coach is doing drills today. Boring."

Edd's eyes widened. "G-gym? You mean class has already begun?! Oh no!"

Edd was just about to burst through the doors when an outstretched arm stopped him. Edd looked from the arm to Kevin's face, his eyes wide and sparkling with curiosity. Kevin chuckled softly, maneuvering his body around so his arm came around Edd's shoulders.

"How about we skip algebra and go to my house instead."

Whoa. Ok, Kevin did not expect to say that.

Well actually the idea sounded good. Double D had never been his house before and the sudden prospect seemed much more exciting. Kevin felt his heart beat furiously against the confines of his chest and his smile widened. He bit the inside of his cheek in a bid not so show just how much it pleased him.

Eddward shook head, his face turning three shades pinker. H-his house?! Oh my. "B-but what about-"

"Forget them. Half the teachers don't even pay attention."

Say Double D was nervous about the thought of ditching yet again would have been an undersatement. His eyes danced between the school doors and Kevin, the burn of his blushing turning his entire face red. Should he? He nibbled on lip.

"Come on. You don't have to turn in any homework right?"

Eddward hummed softly. "Well no but-"

"Then it's settled."

Kevin steered Edd down the steps.

This felt right, he decided; his arm across Eddward's shoulders and pressing the dork close to his person. The warmth radiating off the smaller teen felt soothing, easing away the anger he previously felt. They walked perfectly in sync. He wasn't too short or too tall and fitted like a glove right under his arm. Kevin would never admit it but this was the way he knew it should be.

Kevin kept his arm over Edd's shoulders simply not willing to let him go until they made it to his bike. Hesitantly Kevin left Edd's side to pick the lock on his bike and hopped right on. He held out his hand to Edd who started to fidget on the spot.

"Are you sure we should be doing this again?"

Kevin shrugged. "Maybe not, but it'll be fun." He smiled, waving his offered hand. "Come on. I promise you won't regret it."

Double D took a step back, feeling his own lips curling up into a grin. "You are turning me into quite the delinquent Mr. Barr."

Kevin would have snapped back but he didn't. Instead he let himself hear the science nerd's melodious laughter, feeling his own laughter follow. Edd wiped the happy tears from his eyes and shook his head. Eddward really needed that laugh. As corny as the joke had been it was just what he needed to start feeling good about himself.

"I apologize Kevin but I really should be getting back to class."

He rubbed his arm softly and shyly glanced up at the jock through his thick black lashes. He really, really wanted to go. It would have given him a chance to put some distance between him and Eddy but missing out two school days would certainly put him behind in his studies. He didn't want to miss out should there be a pop quiz and his math test was just around the corner…

Kevin sighed. Damn.

He shrugged. "Nah it's cool. I understand."

Edd's eyes widened. "Really?"

Kevin smirked, lowering his chin to his arms which rested on the handle bars of his bike. "Yeah man. I mean you could always, I don't know, come over later?"

Eddward chewed thoughtfully on his lip, a wet shine being left behind and Kevin couldn't help but stare at it. Briefly he wondered what those lips tasted like. Well he didn't exactly have anything planned for after school. Maybe…

"I'd love to! That is, if you'd have me." Edd quickly corrected himself, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He hadn't meant to sound that excited.

Kevin's smile reached his eyes. "How about four o'clock? We can hang out and, I don't know, do stuff?" Way to go Kev, real smooth.

Eddward clasped his hands together, pressing them to his chest in a feminine manner. His heart beat wildly in his chest and his smile widened even further. Kevin had never seen a more radiant smile.

"Sounds like a date."

Kevin's face nearly turned red.

Not seeming to have noticed, Edd smiled, gripping his bag and running back up the steps to the school. Edd glanced once more over his shoulder, waving bashfully at the red-head before turning back and running inside.

"Until then Kevin."

Kevin gave a weak wave of his fingers, his voice suddenly leaving him as he worked to register Edd's words. A date. Heh, only in his dreams.