A/N: This chapter is the longest until now, hope you like it.

However hard he tried to avoid, it was inevitable not to worry. The previous day Kevin's voice on the phone was insanely weird, and today, even though Edd had looked for him, he hadn't attended school. He tried to call numerous times at the redhead, had left so many messages, but no response.

"Do you know if Kevin is… okay?" Edd asked to Troy in the exchange of class.

"Well, dude, not really. But don't worry, Kevin often skip school every once in a while." Troy said closing his locker.

"Yes, but ..." Edd was interrupted by the signal. "Can I talk to you at lunch?"

"'Course!" Troy smiled, but was intrigued by the sudden interest of Edd.

Even though it was biology class, Edd couldn't concentrate, much less enjoy his favorite subject.

Before, he never had worried about Kevin's lack of attention, but the way he spoke yesterday, and that weird guy at the door of his house, and the fact that he doesn't have, perhaps, back home, it was something to worry about.

Maybe I should talk to Nazz. Edd considered the idea for a few seconds, but then dismissed it, perhaps it was unnecessary to worry people for no reason.

When the bell rang for lunch, Edd tried not to run directly to talk to Troy. Instead, he went quietly to his locker, left his things, and took his food.

When entering the cafeteria, Edd saw Troy waving for him to sit with him. Edd was happy by the jock not be embarrassed to share the table with him, as usually happened. As Edd walked towards him, felt many eyes following every step he took, the faces of the athletes who shared the table with Troy were even worse. He started getting nervous and seriously bothered.

Edd sat uncomfortably on the chair in front of Troy, and sighed.

"Don't mind these idiots." Troy said realizing the boy's discomfort. At the same moment Nazz sat on one side of Troy, and Rolf alongside Edd.

The sockhead felt totally relieved by Nazz and Rolf be there, even if he didn't want to involve so many people in a probable idiocy of him, maybe it was good that Kevin's best friends knew something strange was going on with him.

"What a nice surprise to have you sharing our table." Nazz was just smile.

"It's been a while since Rolf doesn't talk to Double-D-Edd boy." The son of a pastor said with his mouth half full, supporting a hand on the shoulder of Edd.

Edd cringed a bit disgusted with the lack of modes of Rolf, but couldn't help but feel happy for being well received. There was indeed a long time since he had talked to the old members of the cul-de-sac. A sad nostalgia dominated Edd.

He sighed. "In fact it's very nice to be with you now, but I would like to ask something serious." Edd found his hat and whispered. "At least I think so."

"What was it Edd?" Nazz leaned a little further forward, Rolf was also more attentive.

Edd cleared his throat; he didn't know how to talk about Kevin without the situation looked a lot worse than he thought it was.

"Do you know what happened with Kevin?"

Nazz smiked. Why is Edd interested in Kev? But Edd looked really worried.

"Casanova Kevin boy? Now that Edd boy mentioned the Son of a Pastor didn't see Kevin today. " Rolf raised an eyebrow taking into account what he had discovered.

Nazz smiled on the lack of attention of Rolf. "I don't know why Kevin didn't come today, but he usually is absence, it's not something I'd worry about."

"That's what I said before." Troy added.

"It is because yesterday I was in his house and a man I never seen before appeared there. I was already leaving…"Edd didn't tell why he left the house, but Nazz found the fact that he was there very peculiar. "and when I got to my room I could see through the window that they were... err… fighting..."

"Fighting?" Troy asked and looked suspicious to Nazz, who shrugged.

"Exactly! Discussing perhaps. But surely they were not friendly chatting. But then Kevin got in the car of the strange, and today he didn't come to school. Everything led me to believe that he stayed out all night."

Nazz, Rolf and Troy began to understand why Edd be worried.

"You remember how the guy was?" Rolf asked.

Edd tried to remember, but he passed the man without giving a lot of importance to him, and when he saw through the window, the man stayed most of the time on his back, the weak street light didn't help much.

He slapped his face mentally for not giving attention to the man. "He was blond. Dressed in black, was thin. He seemed... What is it? Ah! Yes! A Punk." It was the best description Edd could do.

"Punk?" Nazz asked, Edd nodded. Everything was getting weirder. "Are you sure they were fighting?"

"Most of the time I saw someone holding the collar of the other and pressing him against the wall was because they were fighting!"

Both Nazz as Troy raised both eyebrows.

"Is This serious?" Troy was finding it very unusual. Kevin never involved with people like that.

"Why would I joke about something like that?" Edd almost begged for them to understand.

Nazz knew Edd. Edd had never been the type that lied. He was the kind of person who really cared about people. That's why Nazz believed what Edd was saying, and for him to be saying something like that, Kevin was really in trouble.

Kevin's problem, however, was that he never said when he was with some serious problem. He always thought he was capable of solving any problem himself. The advantage of Nazz was that she knew him very well, and he always knew when her help was needed.

Nazz placed a hand on Troy's arm. "I think we should try to call him."

"I already did it." Edd searched for his cellphone in his bag. "Several times." Tried to quickly access the call logs. "Look."

Nazz grabbed the phone, in fact Edd had tried to talk to Kevin. "He answered at 10:30pm and then ..."

"Nothing." Edd gently withdrew the cellphone from Nazz's hands in order to show the messages. "I tried calling several times more an hour later, when I saw that he hadn't returned." He spoke while searching for the messages he sent to the redhead; when found he delivered the phone to Nazz.

"11:45..."

"It was the first after he didn't pick up."

"One, two, three." Troy approached Nazz and featured the following messages. "Nine more?"

Edd consented. "But he didn't respond, so I tried one more time and..." Edd looked at his hands. "Maybe I was bothering him."

Nazz knew he was wrong. She knew that Edd wasn't a nuisance for Kevin, quite the contrary. She imagined that to Kevin, see Edd so worried about him, were a treat; to Kevin doesn't respond so many calls of Edd, something was very wrong.

"Maybe the battery of his phone went over." Rolf said vehemently.

"It's a possibility." Troy agreed.

"Maybe I should try to call anyway, maybe he answer." Nazz attempted to sound hopeful, pick up your phone, but the signal ringed. "I'll try to call back later and at the exit I tell you what happened."

Edd smiled. He hoped Kevin would answer Nazz. After all, she was his best friend since ever, he had to answer.

"Edd..." Edd startled when he felt Derek's hand on his shoulder. He greeted the others as they arose. "Hey, babe, where were you? I've been looking everywhere for you."

Edd suddenly felt extremely guilty for not telling Derek where he would be at lunch. He said goodbye to the others and turned his attention to his boyfriend. "I'm sorry. I forgot to warn you that I wouldn't lunch with you."

Derek smiled and kissed Edd's cheek. "I just got a little worried." He took Edd's hand and led him to his classroom. "I thought that Conor had messed with you again." Derek looked at length to Edd. "Did something happen?"

"It's that... Kevin was absence today, and I wanted to know if everything was all right." Edd felt bad for some reason.

"Since... Since when do you care?"

Edd felt Derek squeeze his hand a little stronger. "No... that's not it!" Derek didn't look at him. "It's not that simple."

"Then what?" Derek stopped walking.

Edd wasn't understanding why Derek was so angry. "Stop it." Edd made Derek look to him. How had arrived in this situation so fast? "What is the big problem to care about an old friend? Something happened; I wouldn't be worried if he had just missed. There was a reason. A serious reason. "Edd crossed his arms and furrowed his eyebrows..

Derek loved when Edd did that expression, and couldn't stay mad at him.

Derek tried not to smile. "I believe in you Edd, it's just that..." He looked with a sad expression to Edd, causing this to be worried. "It's nothing." Derek resumed walking.

Edd held Derek's arm. "What was it?" He spoke softly.

Derek grabbed the waist of Edd and kissed him. "I'm being silly." He smiled.

Edd's heart pressed into his chest. That kiss was different, not the passionate kiss ever, more as regret, like a last Kiss. He felt empty and scared. He was confused again. He felt like crying.

Edd embraced strongly Derek. "Don't do that anymore."

Derek was a bit shocked, but embraced Edd as long as he could. "Sorry." But I know you know I'm losing you. Derek felt happy, and shamed by this, but decided to get drunk at the time. He wanted to pass out and drown in Edd. He was being selfish, but he couldn't care less.

They walked and talked. Derek left Edd in his class room and kissed him, as if it were forever. He went to his room. Derek then realized love sucks.

If before Edd couldn't concentrate, now he barely listened to the voice of the teacher. His mind was disorganized and the more he tried to understand what was happening, the more he got lost. He kept wandering to Derek for Kevin and then back to the other. What was going on with everyone lately?

His life had never been so disorganized. Except when he was part Eddy' scams. Double D smiled when reminded of the confusion in which he got through with Ed and Eddy. He felt to feel like he could go back in time and live it all again. His life was uncomplicated and he didn't know. He also missed being in love with Nazz, it was a love so naive and carefree, so hard and yet so silly. He thought about Marie, and began to love the idea of being able to runaway of her and other Kankers again.

Edd noticed, and was intrigued, that in not so long everyone's way the way everyone had followed by so different courses, and yet they walked side by side. Edd was sad to realize that he didn't spend more time with the gang of the cul-de-sac as before, but was happy because even with the distance, when they spoke, it was as if nothing had changed. In fact they grew, and the coexistence between them had improved, and that made him even happier.

The signal brought Edd back into the real world, leaving him lost because he noticed that he spent the entire class drifting. He dragged himself to his next class, and both this and the following ones, until the end of the day, followed without Edd paying much attention.

During the exchange of lessons Nazz tried desperately to talk to Kevin. The first attempt is not successful, just leaving the more worried. She tried twice more during the first Exchange of school without Kevin the answer. This made her not paying attention in class.

Nazz tried twice at the exchange of next class, and nothing. She was already starting to get seriously worried, and already hopeless that Kevin would answer. She decided to try just one more time.

"Hey Nazz!"

The blondie's heart almost stopped. "Don't hey me!" She was nervous, but it was a relief to know that Kevin was right. "Kevin, what's happening? I'm worried about you. "

"I… I know!"

Nazz realized that Kevin was panting. "Kevin, what's happening?"

The redhead sighed trying to calm his breathing. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"No!" Nazz increased her voice attracting looks from who was near her. She calmed down. "No Kevin! I am getting seriously worried, and I'll have to do something if you don't tell me what's going on with you."

He sighed again. "Nazz, I promise you I'm fine, but I can't tell you everything now."

It was the turn of Nazz to sigh. "All right. But I'll see you today. Double D told me what happened yesterday."

"How's Edd?"

"Worried! How could you not answer his messages nor answer his calls?"

"If I had called him..."

"What?"

"Nothing. I just don't want to worry him."

"But it was just what you did!"

"I know Nazz, but I need you to trust me when I say I'm fine. And if you want to help me, comfort the Edd. I don't want him to worry. And if anyone else knows, tell them I'm fine."

Nazz didn't have what to do, she wouldn't give up, but she had to be the friend and support Kevin now. She sighed. "Fine, but..."

"I gotta go."

"KEVIN!"

"Trust me"

Nazz was going to say something else, but Kevin had already hanged up.

When it was 4pm Double-D was anxious to speak with Nazz, he expected from the bottom of his heart that the blond had had some success in talking with Kevin. At least to know if he was okay.

After passing at his locker, Edd went straight to the bleachers; today Nazz would have practice being more convenient they meet there. Edd arrived before Nazz, and every minute that the girl took to arrive, more anxious Edd was.

As much as it have seemed an eternity to Edd, the blondie came only five minutes after him.

"So?" Edd didn't bother to be polite.

Nazz gave a crooked smile, trying to raise the hopes of the sockhead. "He's fine. You don't have to worry."

Edd's shoulders relaxed. He smiled. "Where is he?"

Nazz looked down. "He didn't tell me that. And although he's well..." Nazz needed to be honest with Edd. "I really think something strange is going on with Kevin."

"Why? What happened?"

"Don't panic, relax." Nazz held the boy's hands. "It's just that when Kevin picked up the phone, his voice was a little out of breath, and I heard some strange noises in the background."

"What it was?"

"I'm not sure." Nazz didn't want to say anything without being sure.

Even with this new supposed problem Nazz said, Edd smiled. Kevin was fine, that was enough. "At least for now we don't have to worry about him."

Nazz smiled too. "Yes. Let's wait to see what he has to tell us, and then we worry."

Nazz said goodbye to Edd, because her training had begun, and for the first time in the day she could focus a little more on what she was doing without worrying so much about her favorite ginger. When practice was over, however, Nazz didn't mind to change herself; she just put sweatpants over the skirt and drove as fast as the law allowed back to the cul-de-sac.

The blonde stopped the car in front of Kevin's house and ran to the door ringing the bell. Was 7pm, Kevin had to have come back. Nazz had to play twice more before hearing footsteps in the house.

Kevin barely opened the door Nazz jumped on him in a tight hug. "Kevin, you big idiot!" The blonde said still stuck in his neck. "You left us very worried."

Kevin embraced her friend with the same care. "Sorry about that, but it was inevitable." Kevin smiled by his best friend to be there.

Nazz released him and looked worried to him, and she didn't have to say anything to Kevin understand what the girl wanted.

"I'm going to tell you what happened... but not now Nazz, so please don't insist."

The girl crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Fine." She couldn't argue. "But promise me that if what is happening gets worse you'll ask for help."

It was time for Kevin to cross his arms and raise an eyebrow.

"Promise." Nazz insisted.

Kevin sighed and raised his hands, beaten. "I promise Nazz."

Kevin lef the girl in and went to the kitchen

"Where is Francis? I miss that old man. "

"At a friend's house." He omitted the whole truth.

Kevin had never been good at making things up. Even if he had improved over the time, Nazz always knew when the redhead was hiding something, but she decided to pretend to believe him.

The girl has expired by the nose, and Kevin knew that the girl would want to know more in the future, but was extremely grateful for the friend's discretion.

"When he comes back, say I miss him, and this week I'm coming to see him."

"What's this? You're my friend." Kevin tried to look indignant, but ended up laughing.

Nazz also laughed. "Fuck you; your uncle is much nicer then you anyway."

Kevin put his hand over his heart. "Now I'm offended." He pouted.

Nazz didn't resist and hugged him laughing, giving a kiss on his cheek. "You can be extremely cute when you want." She pulled away from Kevin and held his hand. "You should go talk to Edd, he was very concerned about you today. He wanted to know what was going on because you were weird, and came to talk to us. "

Kevin' smile died in his face, he knew he had left Edd worried, but he didn't want to involve anyone, especially him, in this madness in which he was involved.

"You owe him an explanation for it." Nazz continued.

"I can't go there."

Nazz rolled her eyes. "'Course you can... And should. Kev, I know you like Edd, but if you keep avoiding him, he'll think otherwise. "

"I don't think so."

Kevin put one hand behind his head as he usually did.

"What?" Nazz asked.

"I… kind of kissed him."

Nazz choked on a sip of drink she was taking. "Kind of?" She calmed herself down so the beverage could go down properly. "When?"

Kevin smirked. "The day before yesterday."

Nazz was happy for Kevin. "But... How did he…? He's with Derek. "

The redhead sighed. "I know. Why I don't want to push Edd. But Nazz..." Kevin's eyes sparkled, he put his hands on the kitchen counter. "I know I have a chance, and I changed, ya know? I'm in love with Edd, and I'm going to wait as long as it takes." He walked away, he looked to the side and shoved his hands in the pocket of the sweatshirt he was wearing. "I just hope he doesn't take so long… I can't wait forever."

Nazz smiled.

Kevin looked at her friend, smiled.

"You made me want to see him" Kevin frowned.

"Okay, go ahead and leave me here alone."

Kevin laughed. "The fault is all yours."

Nazz moved a hand indicating for him to go. "Go! I close the door when I go out."

Kevin gave a tight kiss on his friend's cheek. "You're the best." And left.

"I know." She stared at the can between her hands. I miss Marie.

It was the third time that Edd was trying to talk to Derek and he wasn't answering. He threw the phone on the bed frustrated. Since Friday he also hadn't seen Ed nor Eddy, and they didn't even bother to look for him.

Edd crossed his arms. What's going on with everyone? He threw himself on the bed and hugged the pillow. What did I do wrong to everyone avoid me?

The doorbell rang. Maybe it was the Eds, by the hour. Edd was happy he wasn't forgotten.

The doorbell rang again.

"I'm coming."

Edd didn't know whether to smile or cry, but was surprised to see Kevin at his door.

Kevin smirked.

Edd gave him a punch in the jaw.

Not that the punch had been strong, but Kevin hoped to be received differently. He rubbed where Edd had punched.

Kevin opened his mouth to speak, but Edd interrupted him. "How could you disappear like that? Have worried me that way? How... Right after you kissed me?" Tears rolled down Edd's face even though he didn't want to. He was relieved by Kevin be fine. "How do you think I got after hearing you cry over the phone and know that you didn't return home, and without giving any news?"

Kevin didn't know what to say.

Edd began to walk from one side to the other. "I thought something bad had happened because of that strange guy... I thought maybe you..."

Kevin hugged Edd strongly, he wanted to show his feeling in the best way possible. "You talk too much."

Edd's arms hung beside his body. He smelled Kevin' scent. He cried a little and smiled.

With all his strength he hugged Kevin. "I never thought I'd be so worried about you."

Kevin raised an eyebrow, but smiled. "I didn't mean to leave you worried."

Edd pulled away from the other. "What is happening on Kevin?"

The redhead sighed and shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt. "Nothing is ha..."

"Don't give me that 'nothing is happening' I'm not an idiot. I know that whatever is happening is something serious." Edd crossed his arms.

Kevin passed a hand over his face. "I know, sorry. But even so, it's not time for you to worry about what's going on. I just came here to make sure I'm good. "

"it's well." Edd faced Kevin for a moment, and smiled. "Thank you for that." He took a step to the side. "Want to come in?"

Kevin's heart sped up a little. "I wanted to." He put a hand behind his neck. "But I really just came here for that. So worry no more, 'k? "

"T-that's fine."

Kevin held one side of Edd's face and gave him a kiss on his cheek, slightly near the mouth.

"'til tomorrow then." Kevin nodded while crossing the street.

Edd was going to close the door of his house when he saw Derek approaching. His hands were a shaking slightly and felt his heart clench. He left Derek in.

Derek greeted Edd with a long Kiss, enjoying every corner of his mouth.

When the air lacked, Derek pulled away from Edd and stared him.

"We need to talk."

I didn't want to share a song this time, but Your Arms Feel Like Home (3 Doors Down) is so damn perfect to Kevin's feelings that... I needed to say it...