Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respectful owners, blah, blah, blah.

This was a very complicated chapter for me to write, but I really like the outcome. So, to everyone who followed and favorited this, THANK YOU. I love you guys. ; w ;

Kari, , and MsEtoile: Thank you guys so much for your reviews! They helped motivate me to keep me going on this chapter! So, as you all requested, here it is continued! I hope you guys enjoy!

And to the rest of you, please enjoy as well!

His eyes opened to the sound of shuffling about in the level below him. With reluctance and sleepiness in his eyes, he sat up, willing himself out of bed. The sound of people moving about took him off guard for a split second. He still hadn't become fully accustomed to living on his own in the dorms of the college. He had grown so used to his mother and father never being home that he hadn't had the chance to get used to living with others around him.

Edd had gotten a scholarship to Stanford University and was currently studying to be a transhumanist while also majoring in biology. It had been seven months since he was last at Peach Creek. It felt as though it had been so much longer, though. Edd had made few friends, and he was now considered only slightly above average on the intellectual scale, just enough to get him into the college without a sweat. But there had been so many things he realized he needed to make a change for.

He truly did love his friends in the cul-de-sac – even though that was a very limited list to two people – but he couldn't bring himself to pass up an opportunity to attend one of the most prestigious scientific colleges in the United States on a full-ride scholarship. It was now that he finally got away from the incessant loneliness that filled his previous home and from the life that had managed to plague him in his last two months of school.

In the last two months before summer vacation, everything had managed to spiral out of control. After the event with Kevin, Edd became confused and frankly, quite scared. He hadn't been sure how to process anything anymore and had ended up avoiding him at all costs, afraid of repeating the scenario that had happened in his room once before. He hadn't understood his feelings with the situation, and for what felt like the first time, he was unable to solve a problem on his own. The only way the problem would have been solved was if he had confronted Kevin himself but, even though Kevin had tried to approach him on several separate occasions, he couldn't bring himself to face him.

After realizing that Edd had lost himself in thought, he shook his head rather fiercely and glanced at the clock on his nightstand. His cyan eyes widened as he noticed that it had already been twenty minutes since he had woken up, and he had yet to take a shower even. With quick movements, he set out the clothes he was going to wear for his final day before winter break. The outfit consisted of a long-sleeve button up shirt and his typical winter sweater, with some jeans that actually suited the small boy. After his hot shower and scrubbing himself with his signature loofah, he got out and quickly changed into his outfit, lacing up his black and white converse and sliding on his hat. He hurried himself out the door, grabbing his messenger bag and making his way to class.

Throughout the lecture, Edd took several notes and answered the questions that the professor thrust upon him. He repeated this in his following classes for the school day that soon came to an end. As he was dismissed from the final class, he sauntered his way to the dorm room, the realization that he was to go back to the one place he had tried so hard to escape for so long hitting him as he opened the door to his room. He was deep into his own thoughts of regret until he noticed just how dark his thoughts were going. He wasn't the type to stay negative; he was always the optimist in nearly every situation. For him to be so down in this one situation was simply unacceptable! The odds are I will be reuniting with my cherished childhood friends once more, he encouraged himself, smiling at the thought of seeing Eddy and Ed again. He had truly missed them more than anyone else in the cul-de-sac. They had always been there before for one another, and yet, he had left, leaving the two behind with nothing but each other and a cell phone number of his. Was that cruel of him? It wasn't his fault after all. Things had just become very confusing for the small lad.

With the hopes that he would see his friends again, he optimistically stepped foot into his room, gathering three weeks of clothing for the long break. Oh, three weeks would be pleasant. He had worked so hard since coming to college; it was going to be nice to simply take a break and relax save for the small project he had to do for one of his classes based on the nervous and muscular system.

As the last of his items were stowed away in the last of two suitcases and a backpack, struggling slightly with the heavy luggage, he left the room for his small Honda parked out front in the parking lot. Double D never had particularly cared about a vehicle, nor a driver's license for that matter, but his parents had insisted considering he was moving an hour away. He had protested, but his attempts were in vain. However, he realized that the little car had turned out to be quite useful. It helped him when he needed to do his minor shopping, or when he needed to get to the other side of town in a short amount of time.

After loading the last of his luggage into the trunk of the car and stowing his backpack in the back seat, he began the short yet long trek to Peach Creek.

It was a little after six o' clock when Edd finally arrived at his parent's house. He pulled his blue Honda into the empty driveway, not even bothering to park in the garage as he saw it pointless. He stepped out, grabbing his bag from the back seat and pulling the tab to open the trunk, before closing the car door. He grabbed one of the two suitcases, figuring it was futile to strain himself with both suitcases when the house was right before him. Rather, he hurried himself to the front, grabbing the spare key that was always hidden under a door mat and unlocking the door to escape the cool winter weather.

As he pried open the door, he sighed in relief at the familiarity that the home brought him. It still smelled, looked, and felt the same. It wasn't a small dorm room that was often rowdy and bothersome or a school campus that was constantly over-crowded. There was only a serene silence that enveloped him. It was so marvelous he just stood there smiling for a moment. After his mind had absorbed it all again, he took a step into the house, closing the door behind him as he dragged his suitcase and bag up to his old bedroom.

Nothing much had changed about his room since he had last been home. He had the same bed that he had upgraded to in high school that was now a comfortable full size; he had the same desk and chair; and he even had the same accessories on his walls. The only things missing were his ants and his cactus, Jim. Jim, however, was at his dorm room back in Stanford while the ants had been set free just before moving. He had insisted on taking them with him, but the college would have no such thing.

Edd set down the two bags neatly, hanging the backpack on a hook labeled "Backpack", and walked back outside, opening the door to the brisk, cool air that greeted him. He stepped outside, thankful that there still wasn't any snow on the ground. From previous years in Peach Creek, he knew that there should be at least a fairly thick layer of snow rather than a thin, icy layer, but in his current attire of a sweater, jeans, and converse, he was in no position to argue. Rather, he figured he would simply hurry himself to the car and grab his last suitcase before the cold air got cooler. In doing so, he ended up slipping on some ice and with a harsh crash, he hit the pavement head first. This was just his luck. Another wonderful experience to add to the Peach Creek list.

A throbbing sensation in his temples was all that alerted him to open his eyes and sit up, an action that he instantly regretted. With a frustrated groan, he laid himself back down on the soft surface, covering his eyes with his hand. He focused on recalling what had happened and why he had suddenly been asleep. It took him a moment before he remembered slipping on the slightly icy ground. His clumsiness made him groan in disbelief once again.

Then it occurred to him. Why was he inside? He could tell he was on the sofa in his living room because of the smell of the house and the texture of the sofa he had spent much of his childhood on. Had his mother and father come home? They had known he was going to be showing up today. Perhaps-

His thoughts were disturbed by the sound of shuffling feet in the kitchen and he willed his eyes to open to the dim light of the living room. He sighed as his head throbbed in response and finally, forced himself to sit up with the assistance of the back of the sofa.

With weak legs and a pounding head, he stood, making his way to the kitchen through the office. The construction of this house still manages to baffle me, Edd thought, amusing himself with his thoughts as he rounded the corner.

As he entered the kitchen, his lips parted slightly at the sight and he just stood in amazement. There, rummaging through the refrigerator, was none other than his mother, dressed in a decorative apron with flowers and a relieved smile on her face. She set the milk that she was in the middle of pulling out back in the refrigerator and quickly rushed over to her son. She placed her hands on his shoulders, staring straight at his eyes, a task that was simple as they were about the same height with Edd being only 5'5". It took him a moment to realize that she was studying his pupils to see if they were dilated or not. Then she breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped back once more.

"I apologize, Eddward," she said. "We came home and saw you lying on the snowy ground and became frantic." She played with her hands. It had been seven months since they had talked since they had lost the ability to use sticky notes after moving. "I was worried you possibly had a concussion," she faded, glancing at her son with her green eyes.

Edd smiled genuinely at his mother's concern and shook his head, wincing slightly at the pain that radiated with the action. "I am well, Mother. Don't fret." He let his breath out and sighed. "Though, some ibuprofen would be pleasant if that's alright." In response to his mother's nod, he walked over to the cupboard that the medication was usually stored in and grabbed himself the recommended dose of two pills. After getting water and quickly taking the pills in hopes of relief, he looked awkwardly at his mother for a moment before speaking.

"You look well, Mother." Her long, raven black hair whirled about her face as she looked at him in shock before smiling and thanking him. She was a beautiful woman, really. Edd had gotten his black hair from his mother while inheriting the striking blue eyes from his father. Along with her hair, he had also gotten her small stature, smooth skin, and slightly feminine body from her. He would be very pleased if he were a daughter rather than a son. However, this was something that he had grown very used to throughout his nineteen years of life.

"Would you like something to eat?" his mother asked him.

Edd realized that he was quite hungry, but he wondered how long he had been passed out on the sofa and if it was almost too late to eat. "May I inquire what time it is?" When his mother responded with 10:46 at night his eyes opened wide and he sighed in frustration. His father was probably already asleep, and it was a mystery as to why his mother was awake at this hour. He had really hoped he could have had this day to relax at home until his parents came home after promising they would for his homecoming.

Remembering her inquiry about food and dragging himself out of his own thoughts, he responded, "That's quite late. But no, I believe I will have to decline dinner for the night. Though I do appreciate it, Mother." He gave her a hug, something he hadn't been able to do for months now. It was nice, though different because of his slight – very slight – growth spurt he had experienced over the seven months he had been on his own. It wasn't something he often did before either, but he really felt the need to give her one after all this time.

He stepped back and looked at her sleep-deprived eyes. "You really should be in bed, Mother. I'll be fine," he reassured her, reading the worry that was apparent on her face. "You still have work tomorrow, correct?"

"Yes, I always have work, Eddward. You know that," she said, giving him a bewildered look, almost as if she had completely forgotten that he had been gone for over half a year. The realization hit her, visible on her face and she gave him a weak smile. "Alright, then. I shall head off to bed, then. I most likely will not see you in the morning, so do as you would like until your father and I arrive."

Edd nodded and rushed her off to bed, taking her apron from her and hanging it on a rack in the kitchen. "Good night, Mother." He truly loved his parents, and it comforted him that he had gotten to talk to his mother like that again. There weren't many memories he had of his parents; they had always been working and there wasn't as much time for him as he would have liked. In all honesty, the ordeal with his parents as a child made him very depressed as he dwelled on it. They had never communicated much with him other than the sticky notes that he would always fold neatly before discarding. But he did know that they loved him just as much as he loved them. He had understood that their work was a very high priority considering it was what provided him with the house he had become so accustom to in the cul-de-sac.

He hadn't realized how much he had dove into his own head and his thoughts until he looked at the clock on the stove and saw that he had been standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter for another twenty minutes. He slumped his shoulders and looked about the kitchen. After hitting his head and sleeping, he honestly wasn't all that tired. He was actually quite awake and alert of everything.

He glanced out the window of the kitchen just above the sink and stared intently for a moment. Is it really a good idea to go back out into worse conditions than that which nearly gave me a concussion? Contrary to his own concern though, he shrugged his shoulders and decided on going outside for a walk.

After searching for his coat and eventually finding it in one of his suitcases, realizing his parents must have brought in the second one while he was passed out, he slipped his arms into the large orange jacket. He also grabbed a scarf, bracing himself for the cold that awaited him outside. It was mid-December and the weather definitely reminded him of the fact as he stepped out into the near-midnight brisk air.

He made his way to the forest across the street, passing the rest of the houses in the cul-de-sac and cutting in between what he remembered being Kevin's house and Nazz's house. After he stepped out of the short grass that was the sign of a well-kept yard, he breathed in the fresh air. The forest hadn't changed, much like the cul-de-sac. There were minute differences in each – the trees that had lost their leaves and the homes that had lost their child occupants. The branches that seemed much duller, much like the dark windows of the children's rooms that now only reflected the dark night outside. There was an abundance of sounds from the forest, however; there was the hoot of an owl somewhere and the scurry of what sounded like a squirrel that shouldn't be out in the current weather; there was the rushing of the creek that ran through the forest, a calming and pleasant rush of water that could calm even the most shocked of nerves.

Edd breathed in the familiar air once more, sighing in contempt as the sweet air blew out in a white cloud from him. He held up his ungloved hands to his mouth, breathing into them as his nose became redder with the warmth of his peppermint breath. He smiled slightly as he looked up, taking in the sight of the forest's sky once again. He had only been gone for seven months, but it felt as though he had been gone for years. The sight of the stars that sparkling in the midnight sky was refreshing and comforting. He found himself walking again through the trees and eventually, found a log to sit on that hadn't been too wet.

As he sat down, his eyes only briefly looked away from the sky. He began to realize the constellations in the sky and found himself making an amusing observation. Everything is made up of debris from the big bang so, in that aspect that would mean that each and every person in the world is made of the very stars dust that began life. This meaning that every person and organism in the world is, in some strange way, made up of stars. He giggled at his own thoughts. Even the weak and the strong; even the short, or the tall; even the nerds and the jocks. We are all connected… He hadn't intended to go so far into depth with his thoughts. It was just something that he had come to the conclusion of in the mind of his that rarely every shut off.

He stayed like that for a while, simply gazing at the stars in fascination, every once in a while looking down at the moonlit forest and the creek that ran by. He listened to the wind of the night and the rushing of the water. He tuned into the sound of the creek, allowing the sound to engulf him in relaxation until he heard something different. The new sound wasn't the quick scurry of an animal, nor was it the flapping of an owl's wings. No, this was the sound of footsteps trudging heavily on the snow covered forest floor. It wouldn't have caught Edd so off guard had it not been for the time of night that was now far past midnight.

Who could have been arriving in the forest so late? Not that he had much room to speak on the matter, but it still wasn't particularly normal. Rather than moving away from the sound, Edd stayed there on the log, peering now into the dimply lit trees where the sound was coming from. After what seemed like forever, he finally saw the outline of a person. They were tall and slender, definitely a male with a masculine physique. Gazing into the darkness, Edd finally realized who was there as they walked out of the trees and into the full moonlight. He couldn't believe it, but there he was, standing right there looking at him in equal surprise.

Then, a small yet gentle smile spread over their face. "Yo, Double Dweeb," he called out, taking a few steps closer to the black-haired boy who still hadn't uttered a word.

His lips parted but nothing came out. In fear of looking like some slow fish, he closed his mouths, pursing his lips as he waved at the redhead. He turned his gaze away from the green ones that bore into him, staring intently down at the white ground.

The redhead stepped closer to him, his hands hidden in his pockets a he stopped just by him. Edd dared a glance up at him, noting that he was looking up at the stars that he had just previously been analyzing. "D-did you know that, uh, those stars y-you're gazing at are most likely long gone due to the distance a-at which they are?" He mentally slapped himself as he finished talking. How is that the way to start a conversation with someone you haven't seen in so long? Let alone, him of all people. Rather to his surprise, there was a loud boom of laughter from the other male. "K-Kevin…"

The redhead plopped himself down on the log next to Edd as he laughed, finishing by wiping his eyes with the tears that had begun. "Y'sure know how to bore someone, Dork." He finally calmed himself down and looked at Edd, smiling genuinely at the nerd. "But that's still pretty cool." He hunched forward and crossed his hands in front of him, focusing his gaze on his hands and the white breath that he made, an amusing smile playing on his lips.

"I would hope it is…" Edd murmured under his breath, unsure of what to say and feeling extremely awkward with the current situation. Why Kevin of all people in the cul-de-sac? Why him? He sulked as he dove into his thoughts, panic streaking his eyes, being well hidden from his face itself. "H-how have you been?"

Kevin seemed pleased by the question. "I've been pretty good; I got to go to college for football, and tha's goin' pretty good."

Edd mentally cringed at his bad English. It was as if he didn't speak the language that he was raised on at all. "That's fantastic, Kevin," Edd commented, attempting no to simply be silent the entire conversation.

"What 'bout you?"

Edd looked up at him quickly, shocked by his curiosity. He looked back down at the snow and smiled at the idea of his studies. "Everything's great, I suppose. I am currently majoring in biology and working to be a transhumanist." He forced himself to look up at Kevin, discovering a puzzled set of green eyes staring at him as if he had just spoken in French to him. "Are you perhaps puzzled by the word transhumanist?" he inquired. At Kevin's nod, he explained, "well, it can be loosely defined as the integration of technology into a living organism in order to sustain life and perhaps cure many issues and diseases currently plaguing the world. It's like making a person into a cyborg," he simplified, smiling bashfully at his silly simplification of the term. It was of course, much more complicated, but he wasn't sure how much Kevin would understand what he was saying otherwise.

After a brief silence, he heard Kevin's response. "Holy shit, man… That's pretty awesome!"

A silence descended on the two, hanging in the air between them until someone spoke.

"So, I kind of realized that I made a mistake senior year," Kevin breathed, running his hand through his short hair after removing the signature baseball cap. "But if you could hear me out, y'know…" He glanced over at the small boy and smiled sheepishly. "It's cool if you don't want to talk to me either."

Edd paused, becoming rigid and concerned with the direction of the conversation. He'd tried so hard to forget about that incident with Kevin. Worked so hard to dismiss it from his mind every time he thought about the past. However, he nodded, awaiting Kevin's response.

Kevin breathed in deeply and took his time to exhale. "Cool," he sighed. "Well, alright, here's the truth. I really am sorry for back then. So sorry. I know I fucked up and probably hurt and confused you, but I didn't do that just because." Kevin began fidgeting with the hat in his hands, tracing the faded black bill with his hand. "I rehearsed this a million times an' now I can't talk. Fuck."

"Language," Edd breathed, hanging his head low.

Kevin chuckled and apologized, finally continuing on. "I did that because… I really liked you back then. I was confused by it myself considering you were a guy an' all. I thought that I liked Nazz, but then I found myself always wanting to be near you, even though I couldn't be because of our reps."

Edd hadn't realized he had been holding his breath until his lungs began to burn and he exhaled quickly, looking up at Kevin finally, still finding it hard to believe his words. Before he could say anything, however, Kevin went on.

"But the thing is, Nazz and I gave it a try and… it just didn't click the way I had always thought it would. Every time I was with her, I kept going back to thinking 'bout the Double Dork that I had fucked everything up with." He finally looked at Edd and, without any warning, he pulled the smaller boy into a tight hug. "I still feel that way about you. I still think about you all the time. And I swear, if you let me, if you give me th'chance."

Edd froze again, taking in the scent that was Kevin – a mixture of cologne, sweat and grease from always working on vehicles. It was comforting and refreshing. For a moment, he let himself melt into the hug, his hands however still refusing to come over Kevin's frame. Rather than returning the hug, he shoved his hand between the two and shook his head while doing so. "I-I…" He was at a loss for words. "K-Kevi-"

He was cut off as Kevin lightly yet fiercely kissed his lips, attempting to convey all his feelings into this one and only kiss. He took joy in the act, missing the feeling of the one lips that fit with his. But before he could deepen it, Edd pulled away, stepping up from the log they had been perched on.

"I-I really have to go, Kevin," he began stepping back from him, back into the direction of his house, his eyes stinging with the threat of tears. His mind couldn't focus anymore, he needed to get away from him. If he didn't, he was going to be sucked back into the trap that Kevin had laid out for him many months ago and end up in the same pain he had before. Before Kevin could say anything more, he turned around and ran, faster than he ever had before, knowing the athlete could easily catch up to him if he really wanted to. Much to his surprise, though, he didn't hear the sound of following steps as he reached the front door of his house. He was taken aback by the disappointment that flooded him as he rushed inside, quickly taking off his jacket to hang on a hook before rapidly climbing the stairs to his room where he laid himself down on his bed, staring up absently at the ceiling.

What was all that? Was that real or had then all been a dream? No, it was definitely real, that much he knew by the tingling his lips gave off at the yearning for Kevin's lips once more. He panted, still exhausted from the short sprint, the tears slowly spilling over his cheeks as he sat there, thinking while his head began to throb once more from the accident earlier. Why now? Why did he have to come back now of all times? And why to do this? Without showering or changing into proper sleep attire, he fell asleep, the mental and physical stress finally weighing him down and winning his body over.