Hey guys! I know it's been forever and a day since I posted the last chapter for this story but here it the next one.

I kind of hit a really bad writer's block with this one and while I would have liked to have added more to the chapter I felt about 5k words was good enough. I've been working on this chapter for a while so I hope you guys like it. Again, sorry for the long long long long... wait. I don't know when the next chapter will be available but I really wanted to post something. Eventually I'll finish this thing. Anyways-

Enjoy!

Edd clasped his pole with an iron grip, fingers curling expertly around the glossy brass tool as he languidly lifted his feet off the ground. His stomach dug against the brass and the friction on his skin held him up, giving him a chance to dangle in the secure but awkward position he was in.

He had a lot on his mind.

Eddy hadn't tried to talk to him at all at school. In passing the scammer had ducked his head as though he were trying not to be noticed and slunk against the lockers to put as much distance between him and the sockhead as he possibly could. It was hard not to notice, what with goofy Ed shuffling after him rather noisily, but avoiding any kind of contact with him was made much easier this way.

For the rest of the day Eddward had done his best to avoid Eddy in every possible manner. He snuck out the back door of each of his classrooms in order to bypass walking the same halls he knew Eddy trekked, and even opted for the long way to the cafeteria. He was five minutes later than usual but he was still able to grab his food and escape without being spotted. It wouldn't have helped things if Ed caught him before he was able to make it out the back. He knew he couldn't deny sweet Ed but sitting at the same lunch table with Eddy would have been far too awkward for even him to stand.

Before leaving the cafeteria, however, he had heard a whistle and paused to glance over his shoulder.

It was Kevin. He had been sitting with his jock friends playing a game of cards and using the treats in their lunches as bargaining chips. The red-head was sitting on the table's surface, one leg bent beneath him and the other resting on the bench seat below. The jock had smiled, making Edd wave back shyly. He ignored the way his heart had pounded in his chest and turned abruptly, the paper bag in his hand clutched so tightly no amount of straightening would have gotten the wrinkles out of it again. After that he found he couldn't eat. The butterflies in his stomach just wouldn't stop their insistent fluttering and his untouched salad found its way into the nearest receptacle.

His last period class, AP Astronomy, had been cancelled and to his dismay he couldn't stick around for the remaining hour in the library. A workman had informed them they were remodeling a part of the building and was it would be closed for the rest of the week so he decided just to go home. It was a bit of a walk but at least the time alone was serene. The road was quiet for the most part, the sound of rustling leaves filling his ears with music of the earth. His inky hair danced in the wind as a gust flew by his face, kissing his reddening cheek with falling leaves and petals.

It was a nice walk. It gave him the quiet space he needed to collect his thoughts.

He knew for certain what Eddy did would require a hefty amount of time for healing. He was still hurt, and Nazz tremendously so, and neither of them were prepared to face the scammer until they were ready. As Eddy's best friends the sockhead knew he couldn't avoid him forever. Eventually the two would have to face each other but now was just not that time. While he hadn't been directly under fire from the teacher's cruel words or his so-called friend's antics it didn't erase that fact he was made a victim in this as well. He hated thinking that way but to ignore that part of him that was shocked and revolted by Eddy's attitude would have made him no better than Eddy himself.

He and Nazz had a good thing going on. They weren't friends' per-say, but they were on good terms. They related enough to one another in sharing a like passion. As they were involved, they were responsible for keeping one another's secret. Other people, unwilling to understand, just wouldn't get it. So as Eddy's friend he felt responsible. Should Eddy have found out about his pole dancing Edd would have been put on blast as well and while he was thankful he hadn't been caught, it just didn't seem fair that Nazz had been the only one to be outed.

Maybe I should have been discovered as well, he thought apathetically to himself; his reflection gleaming back at him through the gold surface of his titanium pole.

If that had happened Nazz wouldn't be alone to face the aftermath of all this. Again, it just wasn't fair. She was a sweet girl, head cheerleader and perfect female role model. Or at least she was. For all he knew her chances at being prom queen for senior year have been utterly destroyed. Would she even be taken seriously by her teachers or peers anymore? And what of her friends? It saddened him to think Eddy just didn't think things through before he went and did this.

With precise movement Edd flipped his legs so that his inverted body came to a full blown hand stand, his fingers gripping the pole tight and his side rubbed furiously against the pole to keep him elevated. With a deep breath he let his lower half angle back, his knees bending until very slowly his toes came to touch the ground. Carefully he let his weight settle back on his feet and used the pole to crawl his way back up to standing. The spot just below his ribs felt sore but it was a good kind of sore. The friction burn helped to alleviate his burdened mind and kept him perfectly distracted, putting his focus on treating the wounded skin rather than continually stewing over matters he had no control over.

The balm he had was cool but he hissed as the initial touch burned. It felt like being branded. Such was the price for his kind of entertainment. He didn't regret it for a second though. Every bruise was a prized mark, 'a blemish with purpose' as Nazz had called it.

He left the bathroom smiling, feeling his sour mood lifting.

He was extremely close to achieving a move called the funky monkey. If he was lucky he could probably ace it tonight. I must be sure to capture it on film for later note taking.

After pouring himself a glass of water Edd made his way into the living room. His satchel lay beside the couch, his homework untouched. He was tempted to put it off until after dinner. After all he was a bit too hot to think about scholastics at the moment. He plopped down on the couch, feeling a bead of sweat make its way down the narrow column of his neck. He knew he needed a shower, lord knew how many germs were crawling over his skin now, but he was too exhausted to move.

Minutes later the house bell chimed, waking him from his sudden impromptu nap. Edd rubbed the sleep from his eyes, twisting his body around to catch sight of a shadow beyond his living room curtains. Cocking a brow the young boy hurried to the door. He couldn't imagine who it could be. Perhaps I should have checked the window.

Edd opened the door and he was immediately greeted by a pair of bright emerald depths. At first the sockhead was shocked, his cheeks turning a bashful pink.

"Kevin?"

Said red-head was leaning against the nerd's door frame, chewing nervously into his thumb nail; a sight Edd was rather surprised to see. He never knew Kevin to be anything but confident, and in this brief moment he saw something perhaps no other than Kevin's parents had ever seen in him. Vulnerability. He found himself immediately enraptured.

Kevin wasn't sure why he had come all the way to the dork's house when Edd could have clearly come to him. It wasn't like he lived that far away or would forget their date right? Ok he had to stop calling it that. He shouldn't be getting his hopes up needlessly. It wasn't a date date, just some hang out time. So of course he could have forgotten. Maybe he did.

Kevin couldn't help the thoughts that plagued him since walking the short way to Edd's house. He had been waiting since after school to see the blue eyed dancer again. He was excited, in some way. Nazz was busy with her friend, still recuperating from Eddy's stupid stunt, and his parents were out for the night; which meant he had the house all to himself.

The moment school let out he had everything planned, the paper he used to write his notes on during study hall tucked safely into his pocket. He checked the list profusely, counting the minutes away. First they'll play some game station, then eat dinner, then take a ride on his bike to the hell on the other side of town and then-

Damn it, it's not a date you idiot. Just games and dinner. That's all.

Even so he couldn't wait. His heart was pumping and no amount of pushups could get rid of the energy surging through him. He never felt this excited before, not since making his first homerun. So he sat and waited, his game station left purposely idle for Edd to jump right in. Was he even into video games? He would have to wait and see.

To his dismay, however, Edd never showed. It was four hours after class had let out and Edd was nowhere to be seen. This unnerved him. It wasn't like Edd to not show up somewhere. He was prudent, striving to make it anywhere early. Kevin hadn't foreseen this however and had stalked his living room far longer than he would have liked. Finally he gave up on waiting. If the dork wasn't going to come to him then Kevin was going to go to him. We had a date damn it and if the dork thinks he can cancel on me like this then he's got another thing coming.

His walk at first was quick, his feet stomping against the pavement as thoughts about Eddy and Kankers buzzed through his head. If either of them were the reason Edd was being refrained from visiting him he was going to lay a good old fashion can of whoop ass on- wait a minute how did he get to Edd's door so fast?

Apparently a man with purpose will have legs that would carry him far. It was something he heard his father say one time and now he understood why. He didn't expect to be here so soon. While Edd lived just up the street from him, and really it wasn't that far a walk, he didn't expect to be there standing, fist raised and ready to knock so soon.

He hesitated at first, his hand shaking just inches from the door. He thought to lower his fist and rung the bell instead. Then he thought to turn tail and run. What was he to be afraid of? It was just Double Dork. Just sweet devious little Double D.

Devious? What the heck am I thinking?

His finger had punched the button of the doorbell before he could even register what he was doing. Well there was no going back now. He decided to slump against the door frame, raking his fingers through his bangs. It was possible Edd wasn't even home yet but when the door opened what he saw was nothing Kevin ever expected to see: Edd standing half naked right in front of him; wearing nothing but short black spandex fitted snuggly around his hips and looking every bit as flushed as a woman post orgasm.

Also, his hat was missing.

His fucking hat.

Eyes open wide with curiosity and lean body standing perfectly erect, Edd looked like a whole other person. Other than the depths of blue staring back at him and the adorable gap between his top front teeth, Kevin would have completely mistake Edd for someone else. The miles of milky white skin and the absence of one black and white beanie had been what threw him off. He didn't think he'd ever seen Edd without his beloved hat. The kid wore it religiously. Without it…

"Wow."

The dork looked up at the athlete, cocking his head to the side. Silk black tendrils fell perfectly into place, framing his round face.

"Kevin?"

Edd stepped forward, opening the door further to reveal his long nimble legs- and they were fucking shaved.

Oh sweet merciful-

"Forgive my intrusion but um… what are you doing here?"

That sobered Kevin up real quick. "You forgot."

Eddward merely cocked a brow, turning sideways to lean into the door frame, inches away from Kevin.

"I apologize Kevin. I do not know what you are speaking of."

The athlete had to summon all his self-control in order not to stare. Even as bare as he was, Edd still found some way to be as confident as he was modest. It was intriguing but very distracting.

"Our plans today?" Kevin couldn't help but feel disappointed. "You were supposed to come over and we were going to hang out. Remember?"

Edd at first seemed confused, brows drawn and soft features cinched in concentration. Plans…plans… I don't remember any- 4 o'clock. His eyes widened. Oh my. Edd's face fell, hand dropping from the door frame as he spun around to check the clock. Eight forty five. Oh blast it!

Edd whipped back around, distress written in his eyes. "Oh my goodness Kevin I am so sorry!"

The red-head sighed through his nose, glancing away. He was rightfully upset. He had been looking forward to spending some time with Edd all afternoon but when the sockhead hadn't shown up, well, he wondered if this was how Nzz felt when Kevin conveniently ditched date nights to spend time with the guys instead. Edd looked like he had been busy with something… or someone, a light sheen of sweat on his brow and looking close to naked.

A sudden burst of jealousy ran through the jock, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"So what was so important you had to go and ditch me like that?"

He didn't mean to sound so angry. Well, actually yes he did. He was ticked.

The dork stood awkwardly with one naked foot rubbing the other. "I um… got caught up… doing something."

Kevin grunted. "Something?"

Double D's face turned red.

"My uh. My dancing." He bashfully admitted.

Edd rubbed his cherry cheeks, shame glistening in his eyes. "Kevin I apologize from the deepest fathoms of my heart. I am a very punctual person. I never forget my appointments. Oh darn my untimeliness."

The corner of Kevin's mouth twitched. Appointments, huh? The dork sure had a way of making things sound stale. More like sterile, he thoughtfully amended as Edd suddenly stepped further into the house, opening the door further.

"My apologies Mr. Barr. Please do feel free to come in."

Kevin almost declined but who was he kidding? Hell yeah he was coming inside. If not to cater his interest, then to get some damn answers. He didn't think in a million years he'd be stood up by a dork. Eddward of all people!

Kevin silently stepped inside, hands stuffed into his pocket. Edd followed after him into the living room, where he was not surprised to find a television and a few modern pieces of furniture. The room was circular in shape, drawing the eye around and back to its entrance and conveniently where Eddward was standing. The dork was standing alone, shirtless and hatless, with his fingers tangled in front of him. He was looking ten kind of pathetic and adorable.

Yeah, Kevin was ticked but staring long enough into those baby blues was starting to make him forget why he was so angry to begin with. It was to his shock he found Edd in possession such power and while the jock would have rather stuffed and mounted his resentment for what double dork did, he also found a much stronger will in wanting to forgive him. It was horribly confusing but watching the young boy fidgeting guiltily as he was, was beginning to work its charm on him. Any anger Kevin felt drained away in and instant and he was left standing in the middle of the room wanting to smile.

"Hey look. It's no big deal." Kevin lied, stepping across the plush white carpet to him. "Next time you got plans just… you know. Tell me."

God did he sound lame.

Eddward looked surprised. He hadn't expected to receive forgiveness. It was rather jarring if he were honest with himself. For his transgression he would have rather taken a punch to the gut than to have witnessed that look of utter disappointment in those grassy depths. He could have very well destroyed the start of a friendship between them. He dreaded the thought. They only just started to get along and to think he blew it on the first try was not only humiliating but inexcusable.

Never the less the dork felt partly relieved. Kevin didn't sound too upset and for that he was grateful. But still…

"Kevin."

Edd stepped towards him, reaching out to take the red-head's hand. The jock's eyes jumped from the blue eyed beauty's face to the hand grasping his own, a burning feeling creeping up from his core to settle around his neck. Any second now his cheeks would burn too but he couldn't stop staring. The dork was holding his hand.

"I really am sorry." Edd's gaze dropped. "If there is anything I can do to make up for it I shall gladly do it. Just say the word."

Kevin swallowed. "I-it's ok. Really, it is."

His fingers twitched, wanting to tighten his grip. Edd felt like liquid silk between his fingers. His grip was firm but incredibly gentle. His nails looked to be well taken care of and he couldn't spot a single blemish on that perfect white skin. With a little sun the dork would look as radiant as his smile, the very same smile Kevin wanted nothing more than to see at that very moment.

Edd shook his head. "No it's not. That was so incredibly rude and unacceptable. Please believe me when I say I never do that. Never."

Kevin's palm shifted in its grip, drawing Edd's soft digits into the cavern of his palm. This drew Edd closer to him, nearly chest to chest. Edd's eyes were wide with surprise but it didn't put the jock off one bit.

"Hey."

He drew Edd's gaze up to his own until their eyes were locked.

"If I say it's no big deal then it's no big deal. We're cool."

Edd's eyes fluttered in surprise yet again. "We are?"

Kevin chuckled. "Yeah. We are."

Figuring the kid would need a clue he drew Edd further into his comfort zone, wrapping his arm around the dork in a guy friendly hug. Despite his better judgment he patted Edd's back, smoothing his fingers across that amazing expansion of skin. Dear god did he feel divine. Miles of muscle lay beneath that porcelain skin and Kevin never felt an urge stronger than the one had now. He wanted badly to sink his teeth into that perfect skin, to get a taste of those muscle writhing beneath his every little ministration.

God he was terrible.

Edd blinked as he was pulled into the sudden embrace, his smaller silhouette falling perfectly into place against Kevin's. His cheeks lit up like a Christmas tree, his chest and chin sinking against the warm form holding him. Their clasping hands were still caught between them but Edd felt Kevin's arm guide its way blindly across his back, sending uncontrollable shivers throughout his body. The dork's breath hitched.

He wasn't exactly sure what to do. Should he hug Kevin back? Should he not? What was the protocol on this manly pseudo hug thing? He really wished he knew. He wasn't exactly hugged in such manners by his friends. He was more accustomed to the occasional slap on the back or the more persistent tackle when he wasn't expecting it. This… this felt far more intimate.

To his relief Kevin slid back faster than his mind could make a decision, slipping his arm from around his back and dropping his hand. Edd's hand now felt empty but it and his back still tingled from the touch. Kevin's smile drew him in even further. Edd felt entranced but the spell didn't last long as the jock turned to step back into the foyer.

"So um, you said you were dancing earlier?"

Snapping out of the cloud of his thoughts Edd followed after him. "O-oh yes." He blushed. "My astronomy class was cancelled and decided to make do with my free time by being physically productive. Again I am sorry."

Kevin shrugged. We supposed he could let that go just this once. "Water under the bridge."

Edd sighed, nodding his head. "Very well. And do forgive my manners. Would you like a beverage?"

Kevin shrugged again, now standing as awkwardly Edd moments ago in the threshold of the foyer. When he came here he had expected to throw a fit but now that that flame was extinguished he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself.

"Soda if you have any."

Eddward finally smiled. "Of course. Please make yourself at home."

Instead of getting cozy he followed Eddward into the kitchen. The kitchen and dining room had an open concept, the room seeming to expand on its own by the lovely stencil lining the crown molding just below the ceiling. There was a slider near the breakfast nook that looked out on a flower and fern filled garden, one he suspected belonged to either double dork or his mother.

The kitchen was very sleek and modern in design, just as he suspected the rest of the house to be. Eddward pulled open the stainless steel door to the refrigerator and glanced inside while Kevin made himself comfortable at the breakfast nook. The backyard was filled to the brim with blooming flowers. It was the loveliest sight of botanical anything he'd ever seen. No plant seemed untended.

"Are you alright with diet?"

Kevin snapped his head around, having completely missed Edd's approach. Edd was standing close, his navel practically at eye level and one of two sodas held out for him to take.

"Y-yeah."

Kevin cleared his throat and took the diet soda gratefully. Edd smiled and took a seat across from him.

"It seems my father had gotten into the remainder of the non-diet beverages."

"Dang. That sucks."

Kevin popped the top of his can and downed the first sudsy gulp. He resisted the urge to belch and cleared his throat into his hand. No need to look like a slob in front of him.

Eddward nodded quietly, taking a sip of his drink.

Edd was absolutely adorable. Of all things he had a yellow silly straw sticking out of his drink. The tab had had been bent back all the way whereas Kevin had ripped his own off. It was a testament to their striking personalities. His posture was upright, and for goodness sake the kid used a coaster. It was almost lady like though Kevin would never say it outright. Edd had always been a particular kind of person but using a silly straw was just the frosting on the cake. It warmed his heart to know Edd wasn't the kind of person to put little childlike things aside for the sake of face value. Not like him, and it warmed Kevin's heart.

The awkward meter had grown as the silence between them carried on. It made Kevin's tummy rumble uncomfortably but he pretended not to notice, taking to leaning forward in order to break the ice.

"So um." Kevin swirled his finger around the top of his can. "You said something about dancing right?"

Edd's eye lit up. "Oh yes. I was. I was learning a new trick just before you knocked on my door."

Kevin nodded. "Cool."

Edd giggled and nodded as well. "Cool."

He let the word fall past his lips as though trying it out for the first time. He wasn't accustomed to the kind of slang Kevin frequently used and admittedly it felt awkward on his tongue. Such language was looked down in his household but he also couldn't deny the thrill it gave him just giving it a go.

Kevin pursed his lips. Ok as cute as that was, this was obviously going nowhere. He wasn't sure just how much more awkward he could handle. Edd on the other hand seemed perfectly content, hardly looking hot under the collar. Then again he wasn't subjected to gazing at a naked

"So uh what was this trick called?"

Edd hummed quietly to himself, setting his soda down on a coaster. "A move called the Funky Monkey." He chuckled some, rubbing the thin column of his neck. "Such a silly title in my opinion however its name deceives its level of difficulty."

Kevin felt the corners of his lips tilt northward. He loved how bright Edd's blue hues could get. They sparkled like star dust in a night sky, bold and energetic when he spoke so passionately.

"Can I see?"

Edd's brows shot to the top of his head, his soft black tendrils sweeping across the cheeks as he lifted his sharp gaze to meet with Kevin's.

"Pardon?"

"I want to see." Kevin grinned, holding his diet soda to his lips.

Edd felt hot as a pink flush over took the pale spaces of his cheeks.

"You… you want to see me do the funky monkey?"

Kevin nodded, his fingers voluntarily squeezing the thin aluminum clutched in his hand. Of course he'd want to see. He'd never seen a guy so flexible in his life and Edd did it with such grace he made it look so damn easy. Since having seen him dance that one time with Nazz it was all that Kevin ever thought about. That torso swaying, legs clenching- oh his sex addled brain was terrible but tantalizingly so. He wondered if Edd did the kind of things Nazz did for him in private.

What was Edd like when he danced alone? Did he play coy or was he strictly athletic about it? What other tricks did the sockhead have up his sleeve?

"Yeah. Why not?" Kevin supplied after a pause. "I thought what you did the other day was pretty cool. You don't mind do you?" Please say you don't.

Edd broke his gaze from Kevin's heavy stare, fingers tapping nervously against the table. Kevin thought what he did was cool? Impossible. Kevin practically invented cool. How did anything he do in the privacy of his home constitute as being cool?

Edd took a distracting sip of his drink, feeling the cool liquid slip past his lips through the silly straw's thick plastic. "W-well I don't usually perform with an audience."

"Awe come on." Kevin coaxed, using his softest voice.

A humorous smile slipped across the sockhead's face and Edd couldn't help but feel a giggle tickle the back of his throat. Kevin begging Edd for something was perhaps the last thing he thought he would ever happen. When Kevin wanted something he pretty much demanded it like a spoiled child. In a funny way Eddward felt honored for having been asked. It stroked his ego to know someone somewhere had an appreciation for his talent.

When Edd said nothing Kevin grew impatient. He leaned further across the table, hoping to catch the sockhead's eyes. He felt as though he could stare into them for an eternity.

"So can I?" Kevin asked hopefully.

Edd caught his bottom lip between his teeth and rolled it around. Kevin watched him, enraptured by the sight. It was… alluring. So very naughty. So very unlike Edd and he loved it. He caught a glimpse of a soft pink tongue past pasted pearly whites and the jock felt his mouth water- wondering what the inside of Edd's mouth tasted like. After a moment of thought the sockhead finally spoke.

"Well I don't see any harm in it."

Kevin could have jumped for joy but he played it cool instead, leaning back in his seat while a cocky grin slipped into place. Edd's own smile was small and bashful but it lit up his face the same way his eyes had lightened. Kevin felt like he'd just won the fucking world.