Chapter 19

Edd had been right and they did keep Kevin overnight. He spent the night in Wilhelmina's room, unable to face the big empty bed alone. The doctor had assured him that despite the breaks and sprains they were only keeping Kevin overnight because of his concussion and that he'd be cleared for release about midday if the night went well. Edd had nodded and called Kevin's father with the updated information but still only received his voice-mail. He left another message and encouraged him to at least call him when he could. Edd seemed to be doing alright until they arrived back on campus, upon which time he realized he couldn't spend the night alone but didn't want to say anything. He had resolved to crawl into their bed and try calling Ed or Nazz but Wilhelmina took one look at him and told him to come stay with her because Elle was home for the weekend again.

"Oh no, I couldn't. I'm alright, truly."

"You look like someone kicked your puppy. Come stay."

Didn't they though?, Edd thought to himself. "No really, I don't want to impose on your night with Jason."

"You won't be. My building doesn't have an elevator, remember? He's staying in his own room tonight to get used to sleeping with the brace. And even if he weren't, you wouldn't be imposing. Please come stay."

Edd nodded. "Would you be willing to accompany me back to my room to get some pajamas and my toothbrush then?"

He also brought his computer and books, hoping to be able to distract himself with a lab report that was due next week. When they made it back to her room, Edd changed into his pajamas and settled on her bed with his homework. After an hour of trying to focus and failing miserably he closed his laptop and began massaging circles into his temples with his eyes closed. A tense knot had formed at the base of his skull and another between his shoulder blades.

Wilhelmina looked up from her sketchbook. "Want a drink?"

Edd nodded silently.

She hopped off her bed and pulled a couple bottles out of her fridge. She handed him one and he took it with a small, tired smile.

"What do you say we just watch a movie and relax. You know you won't be able to focus on your schoolwork until he's back in your room anyway."

After a long pull on the bottle, he agreed.

She put a DVD in at random and pressed play. "Mini series that was on Sci Fi a few years ago. That alright with you?"

"Yeah. Sure."

"You heard the doctor. He's going to be fine."

"I know—"

"Then what's—why are you so—miserable?"

"My boyfriend just had the snot literally beaten out of him. That's not reason enough?"

She shook her head and paused the video. "No, it is. It definitely is. I couldn't imagine what it's like, but I don't know. It just seems like there's more to it then that."

"The guy that I think I'm in love with, an emotion that I didn't even think was possible for me a few months ago, was beaten to hell because he chose to be with me rather than a girl. And it might not have been as bad if he had chosen another guy that his teammates liked better, but they don't like me and they've made it perfectly clear in the bruise patterns littered across his entire body."

She was quiet a moment before saying in a small voice, "But it wasn't your fault."

Edd sighed and took another drink. "I know. That doesn't make it feel any better though."

She pulled an arm around his shoulder and squeezed. "I'm sorry." She pressed her lips against his cheek and gave him a small kiss.

"It's okay. It's just been a really long day. Start the movie again."

She nodded and pressed play. "You could use a shave, just so you know."

Edd gave a small laugh and playfully elbowed her. "Thanks."

"Any time!" she said with a nod. "So...you think you love him?"

Edd swallowed what little beer he had in his mouth harder than necessary. "I did say that, didn't I?"

"You did. Does he know?"

"Good heavens, no. At least not really."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Not really?"

"Technically speaking, I might have told him while you and Jason were out getting food and supplies this afternoon. But he was unconscious."

"Oh." She looked back at the TV screen as a dog came through some sort of wormhole and into Central Park circa 2000. "Has he said it to you?"

"No."

"Really?" She took a drink to try to seem casual, but the look she was giving him from the side showed interest and disbelief.

"Is it quite so shocking as that?"

"Well it's just—I mean you've known each other for how long now? I know that what—three months?-isn't that long for a normal relationship but you've known each other for forever. You grew up together. I just assumed—"

He shook his head. "We've only been dating two months. And we have known each other since we were toddlers, but we didn't exactly like each other through most of our lives." Edd knew that it wasn't exactly the truth, if what Kevin said about liking him since the ninth grade had been correct. And he himself had always tried to be friendly with everyone in the cul de sac, but there had still been some animosity and dislike between them if only because their circle of friends in school had not liked each other. He supposed Wilhelmina was right in someways, and he knew that plenty of people said it after less time. "Neither of us has said it yet."

"But you think you might?"

He shrugged. "I might. I don't know. For all I know this could merely be infatuation or puppy love."

She rolled her eyes. "Right and denial is only a river in Africa."

"What?"

"Come on, you either love him or you don't yet. Either one is okay but there aren't in betweens or maybes. Most people just say they might because they're too afraid to admit to themselves or anyone else that they really do or that they don't but they think they should."

Edd thought on this while the movie played in front of him. By the end of the first episode of the mini series all he could mutter was, "I don't know." But the more he thought on it, the more he thought Wilhelmina was wrong; love was a slow process sometimes and there were definitely maybes and in between. He fell asleep somewhere in the middle of the third episode.

Kevin awoke in the middle of the night feeling fuzzy and confused. There was a dull ache in his left arm. More disturbing, Edd wasn't next to him. He looked around the room trying to get his bearings. Slowly he remembered he was in the hospital. Edd, Wilhelmina, and Jason had stayed with him until visiting hours had ended and left reluctantly. He heard a slight snore nearby and wondered if he'd been assigned a roommate. He thought he'd had a single room, but couldn't really remember. He tried to look around but the only light in the room came from under the door in a bright strip. He let his eyes adjust to the dark and looked around the room again.

There was no other bed in the room; he had remembered correctly. Instead a chair stood not far from the bed and slumped over in it was a large figure. He squinted at him and finally realized who it was.

"Dad?"

A louder grunting snore.

He reached over with his good arm and poked him. "Dad, is that you?"

A murmur before finally, "Kev?"

"Dad?"

"Oh thank god you're okay. They said you'd been beaten to hell. I got on the road as soon as I got Edd's message. What the hell happened?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. The last thing I remember is walking off the field after the game." That wasn't entirely true; memories were starting to come back, slowly, but he didn't want to think about them now. And he definitely didn't want to tell his father that he'd been beaten after the game because the team had found out he liked guys. "Edd said he found me in the locker room."

"Jesus Christ. Does your Coach know?"

Kevin shrugged and realized in the dark his dad couldn't see. "I don't know. I assume Jason called him, but I couldn't say for sure."

"He wasn't around when it happened, was he?"

He cast his memory back. No, something had detained him on the field. "I don't think so. I mean there's no way he'd have allowed it if he were there. And he wouldn't have encouraged it either. He wants me to be assistant captain next year. That kind of requires that I'm able to play. And he already knew, I told him a few days ago."

His dad was silent for a while, seeming to take it all in. "Where's Edd?"

Kevin felt around until he found his phone on the bedside table. "Well, it's—" he blinked at the glaring white light. "Three A. M. Visiting hours ended about six hours ago, so my guess would be back on campus. He said he would be back in the morning but I'm willing to bet this isn't quite what he had in mind."

"Right. They wouldn't let him stay?"

"He isn't a blood relative. And we aren't married. So no. It's not really a big deal though. By the time he and the others left, I could barely keep my eyes open anyway. Whatever pain killer they put me on does a hell of a job but knocks me the fuck out, too."

"Are you in pain? Do you need anything?"

Kevin shook his head again. "No. No I'm alright. The meds are still going pretty well. To be honest I just want to get out of here and back to school."

"They said they'd be releasing you in the morning. Have you tried walking yet?"

He shifted his leg and felt the brace around his ankle. "Yeah, they had me up to go to the bathroom earlier. Edd and I walked around the floor a bit too. The brace helps a lot. I'll be using a crutch for a couple weeks though." His eyes were starting to feel heavy again. "Sorry to scare you," he mumbled.

"S'okay, kid. Just glad you're okay. You sound tired though. Go back to sleep."

He nodded into his pillow and fell asleep quickly.

Edd entered the hospital as soon as visiting hours resumed the next day and went straight up to Kevin's room. He still hadn't heard from Kevin's father and didn't understand what was keeping him from at least giving him a call back. He found himself irritated that the man couldn't muster up the energy to find out if his only son was okay. As he neared the room, he could hear Kevin's laugh, loud and grating, down the hall. He wondered what had made the boy laugh. He picked up his pace and entered the room.

Kevin sat on his bed, still laughing. He was dressed in a baggy zip up sweatshirt, t-shirt, and a pair of his gym shorts. Sitting in the chair next to his bed, to his great surprise, was Kevin's father.

Kevin looked up immediately as Edd entered the room. His eyes were clearer than they had been yesterday and his smile lit up. "Hey, Double D."

Edd walked over cautiously. "Hey. How're you feeling today?"

He shrugged. "They took the drip out and put me on a less potent pain killer, so a little sore but I can deal. Ready to get the hell out of here though. Doc says he just wanted to do a final check up before he'd sign the release forms."

Edd nodded. "It's nice to see you again," he said to Kevin's father.

"You too. Thank you for the calls."

"You're very welcome. To be honest, I wasn't sure you'd gotten them."

He laughed a little. "Sorry about that. I was in a meeting when you called the first time and as soon as I got the message, I got on the road and drove until I got here. I didn't really think about calling you back until I was here and by then it was late."

"I understand. I'm just glad you got them."

The doctor reentered the room. He signed the release forms a few minutes later and they left the room. Edd carried the small bag of belongings that Wilhelmina and Jason had brought over. When they were on the sidewalk in front of the building, Kevin's father told them to wait while he went to get the car. Kevin took a seat on a bench next to the door and Edd sat next to him, taking his hand without thinking. Kevin leaned over and kissed him. "Missed you last night."

"You too. I couldn't sleep in our bed. It was too empty."

Kevin laughed. "You stayed with Willy then?"

He nodded. "Jason couldn't get to her room because she doesn't have an elevator, so she asked me to stay with her."

"How'd you get here?"

"I walked. It's not more than a mile and I needed to clear my head. I figured I'd call a cab to get us back."

Kevin kissed him again, soft and lingeringly. Edd felt a flutter in his chest at the press of his lips and his breath caught in his throat, though the kiss was not as impassioned as others they had shared. In the back of his mind he wondered again about love.