Chapter 9

Kevin watched the seconds tick away; 4:59:55, 4:59:56, 4:59:57, 4:59:58, 4:59:59. He knocked on Edd's door. While he waited, he pulled at the collar of his shirt; Nazz had convinced him that a collared button up would be more appropriate for the museum than a t-shirt. She hadn't been able to convince him not to wear his leather jacket though.

"Kevin, it's a nice place!"

"I have to ride my bike there. I'm wearing the jacket."

Edd opened the door. He looked adorable in a sweater with a button down and tie beneath it. He seemed to blush and it occurred to Kevin that Edd had never been on a date before. He stepped forward and offered his hand and a kiss. "This way, Dork," he said in a low voice.

Edd took his hand and followed closely behind. "Where we going?"

With a smile over his shoulder, Kevin said, "That's a surprise. We'll need to take the bike, but only for a little while. Is that okay?"

Edd nodded and when he realized Kevin wasn't looking at him he gave a quiet, "okay."

Kevin rode with Edd holding closely to his back. The ride took no more than ten minutes, but he almost wished it was longer because Edd held him so closely. He parked and felt Edd let go.

"The train station?"

Kevin led him to the correct platform, having bought the tickets earlier in the day. "I thought you'd rather not ride into the city on my bike. The train seemed like a better idea."

When it pulled up a good number of commuters got off, leaving the car they entered nearly empty. The ride took less time than Kevin expected and they arrived in the city by six-thirty. On the way down he tried to distract Edd from the likeliness of the seats being unsanitary by asking him to explain his senior thesis in detail. Edd lit up as he divulged the information and to his surprise, Kevin actually found it rather interesting. It kept Edd busy throughout the entirety of the ride and even a little ways as they walked down the city streets toward the museum.

When Kevin turned toward the large building Edd stopped and stared.

"A museum?" he asked, skeptically.

Kevin's heart sank. "I—I thought you might like it. We've got a little over an hour to wander around and then I made reservations for dinner in the restaurant. I even found out they're having a photography exhibit of close ups on insects and the patterns of like their wings and stuff."

Edd's smile lit up his face and he practically dragged Kevin forward in a kiss. "It's wonderful. How did you ever think of it?"

He admitted that he'd tossed some ideas around with Nazz and Rolf before settling on this one. "You really like it? Because we could go somewhere else if you'd rather."

Edd shook his head. "No. I love it. It's the perfect idea for a first date. Let's go in, please?" He grabbed Kevin's hands and pulled him to the building.

Kevin watched Edd more than the exhibits, finding the boy's reactions and delight far more interesting to look at than the photographs. Edd explained as much as he knew about each insect they looked at. He accounted how each pattern and design helped each species survive or worked to their benefit. His enthusiasm for the exhibit made Kevin's heart race and he had to suppress the urge to press the boy against the wall and kiss his way down his neck. He watched as Edd's eyes traced the lines and colors through each portrait, a gaze similar to the one he often caught in Edd's eyes as he admired his own body.

At ten of eight he begrudgingly pulled Edd away and in the direction of the restaurant. They were seated promptly and Edd stared around in wonder. Kevin had been to the museum with his mother as a child, so he knew the restaurant and permanent exhibits. The sculpture garden lay illuminated under spotlights and the city lights lay behind that. Overall the view was as fantastic as he remembered, captivating Edd's attention immediately. The waiter took drink orders and left them be.

"Have you ever been before?" Kevin asked.

Edd shook his head. "No. I passed it once or twice on school trips but I've never been in. Have you?"

"Yeah. My mom took me a lot when I was a kid. She said she wanted to expand my mind with art or something."

"That sounds like a good idea." Edd chewed idly on a breadstick.

The waiter returned with their drinks. She rattled off the specials for the evening, gushing about how good the lobster ravioli was her favorite thing on the menu and it the best day of the month when they added it to the specials list. Kevin rolled his eyes at her while she spoke to Edd but tried to remain polite. She took their dinner orders and returned to the kitchen. Edd asked about Kevin's favorite exhibit in the museum and they spoke in low voices. The food was better than Kevin remembered and Edd actually moaned aloud, quietly, after his first bite. The sound of it sent hot rivulets down his spine.

After Kevin had paid the bill, much to Edd's protestations that they could at least split it, they left the museum. The exhibits had closed at nine. They walked the city for a while, wandering without direction or motivation to find any. Finally, as it neared eleven o'clock, they boarded the train home.

Edd held tightly to Kevin on the ride back to the cul-de-sac. The cold October air whipped at their faces, biting the skin. He only reopened his eyes when the bike came to a complete stop and Kevin said, "We're back, Dork. You can let go now."

"Maybe I don't want to," he murmured as he straightened and let go of the boy. He looked at the house in front of them: Kevin's house. As he dismounted the bike he started to walk in the direction of the street and his own house across it, hoping Kevin would follow but unsure. The streetlight on the corner glowed orange-yellow in the distance, mimicking the leaves that clung to the last vestiges of summer in the yard, refusing to fall and admit defeat after another year.

"Where are you going?" Kevin asked, taking a couple steps toward him.

Edd returned to him with a kiss. "I assumed it was the time of night that I should be going home. I had a wonderful time."

"Oh. I was going to ask if you'd like to come in?"

Edd chewed his lip.

"Dad's out of town. No need for us both to stay in empty houses."

Edd thought of going home to the large house, empty yet again. He admitted to himself that he didn't relish the idea. Then he thought of staying with Kevin, a warm body nearby, perhaps some laughs and goodnight kisses. And he could always go home later, if he really wanted to. There was no need to end the night just because they'd returned to Peach Creek. The choice was obvious. He nodded with a smile. "Alright then."

Kevin led him in. He looked nervous as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Is everything alright, Kevin?"

"I—the best stuff for movies or whatever is upstairs. I didn't really think about it til we got inside."

"Okay. Well, would you want to go up? Or would you rather stay in the living room?" Edd wondered if Kevin was embarrassed of his bedroom or just didn't want Edd in there.

He continued to pull at the back of his neck with his palm. "I wouldn't mind going up but it seemed presumptive to invite you to my bedroom on a first date," he mumbled.

Edd rolled his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. We live together at school. Nothing about this is traditional. And it's not exactly like I've never seen your dirty underwear before."

Kevin coughed out a laugh. "Okay okay. Follow me then, your dorkiness."

As Edd walked up the steps behind Kevin he couldn't help but wonder if it were actually a good idea now. Rationally he knew that it was no different than being at school with Kevin. But part of him knew emotionally that this was different. He couldn't at the moment say why it was different, only that he felt the same nervousness that Kevin felt.

Kevin turned down the hall and led him to a door at the very end. Edd walked in slowly and looked around. His bed stood toward the center of the room, queen sized and clean. In front of the bed on the opposite wall sat a small entertainment center, with a TV, gaming system, and a stack of movies and games. A small bookshelf stood near the closet door, and a desk sat under the window. Posters of athletes and movies hung on the walls. And on a shelf perched above the bed were a few trophies and awards from his various athletic endeavors, and his high school diploma.

Kevin cleared his throat a little. "Did you um want to watch a movie?"

"Alright."

He nodded then went to a dresser. He pulled out a couple pair of shorts and tossed one to Edd. "If you, you know, didn't want to stay in your nicer clothes. They might be a bit big but you don't have anything over here. I mean, you could go get something from your house if you want, but they'll probably work out alright. I'm going to go change, I'll be right back."

Edd decided to change as well, stripping down to his boxers and undershirt before pulling the shorts up his hips. They were a bit big but not too bad. Kevin walked back in the room, wearing only shorts and a pair of boxers peaking out the top. He popped a movie, Edd didn't see which, into the gaming system, took the remote, and went back to the bed. Edd sat at the edge, unsure what was considered proper behavior.

Kevin sat leaned against his pillows, looking comfortable and more relaxed than Edd felt.

"You can sit up here, you know." His voice bespoke his own uncertain nerves.

Edd nodded and crawled up the bed to sit next to his boyfriend. He internally berated himself for being so unsure when he had been in the same bed as Kevin before, hell he'd seen him in most states of undress—dorms offering little in the way of privacy. But another equally logical part of side of his mind said that this was not a shared living space; Kevin had no siblings and this place in particular was all his. And personal, private living spaces were very different than shared dorm rooms. The room itself bore a testament of intimacy to its inhabitant.

"I uh know this is the part where I'm supposed to be all romantic or put on the moves or whatever, but to be honest, I don't want to push things. Just so you know—I—uh—shit, I'm terrible at this. Just—" he looked incredibly flustered. "Shit. If I do something stupid or go too far or whatever, whenever not even just tonight, just stop me. I promise I'll listen."

Edd nodded. He wanted to tell Kevin not to worry, that he trusted him and that he'd known he could tell him to stop at any point, but he wasn't sure the words mattered. Instead he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to Kevin's lips and settled into the crook of his arms to watch the movie. Kevin held him without making any moves, other than to run his hands up Edd's ribs a few times, sending goose bumps shooting across his skin. When the movie ended Kevin shut the game system off and settled into bed. Edd started to sit up.

"What're you doing?" Kevin mumbled, sleep sounding heavy in his voice.

"It's late—I should go."

He sat up quickly, though still tired the concern in his eyes seems to be overtaking. "No. Why?"

Edd didn't have a real reason, so instead he responded with, "Stay the night on our first date? What would the neighbors think?"

"Fuck what the neighbors think. Stay here."

He shook his head, trying to clear it. Kevin misinterpreted the head shake and pulled him onto the bed, half on top of him face inches from his own. Edd moved his head forward, capturing the boy's lips with his own. When he pulled away he smiled and said, "I suppose I could."

Kevin grinned and ground his hips down on the boy beneath him before seizing his mouth with his own again. Edd groaned low in his throat, almost a growl, as he kissed Kevin back. He bit Kevin's lower lip to elicit the same growl in return. Kevin slid himself against Edd, moving his mouth to take Edd's earlobe between his teeth, causing a gasp to escape his mouth. He repeated the action, sliding his body along Edd's, and Edd repeated his own response with a moan. "K-kevin—I—I—"

He moved down the boy's neck. "Yes?"

"I—oh my—st-stop—"

He pulled back sharply and tumbled off Edd, onto his back. "S-sorry." He rolled to his side and pulled Edd against him gently.

Edd shook his head. "Don't be sorry."

He nuzzled the back of Edd's neck. "But I am." He squeezed the boy with his arms around him.

"Kevin, do your parents know about your predilection for the male sex?" Edd asked slowly.

He was quiet for a while and Edd wondered if he'd fallen asleep. Finally, quietly he said, "You mean do they know I'm gay?"

Edd nodded.

"No. Mom left us a few years back, before I'd really been in to anyone. And my dad would have a heart attack. That is if he could take an interest long enough to find out."

Edd looked around the room thinking that Kevin's father obviously cared more than Kevin gave him credit for. "Your mother left you?"

He felt Kevin sigh against his neck. "Yeah. When I was twelve. But she checked out three years before that."

He stayed quiet.

"She cheated on Dad. And for a while they tried to make it work. But she didn't really give a shit in the end. By the time I was ten she had moved into the spare bedroom next to mine. When I was eleven she and Dad didn't even talk anymore. And then when I was twelve I woke up one morning and she was gone. Left a note that just said, 'I tried.' As far as I know she left us for that guy. One of those guys. Doesn't really matter who she left us for I guess."

"I'm sorry."

"S'okay. Happened a long time ago."

Six years, Edd thought to himself. It wasn't that long ago, not really. Wounds still fresh. Edd didn't say any of it. He let Kevin hold him and eventually fell asleep.