Author's Note: Sweet bby Jesus I am alive... I am sooooo sorry I haven't updated in forver :/ but I am back in school now and there's lots to do so that takes away most of my time and attention, so I am also extra sorry if this update disappoints :
On an also not so great...or maybe it is depending on your preference...note: I had originally planned for this fanfic to be about 18-20 chapters long, however, due to my now busy schedule I have somewhat lost a lot of the inspiration for it...yeah, sorry... but do not fret! it does not mean I'm going to abandon it; I'm simply going to shorten it to about...14-15 chapters. So that means 2-3 more chapters, 4 maximum if really necessary!
Thank you so so much to everyone who has liked / followed this fanfic and have also read my NaVe and KevEdd onshots uvu Please continue giving me helpful reviews and tell me what you are thinking so far ~ and hopefully i can improve!
Again, because of school, i am lacking inspiration and time, and because of that, i will be taking longer to update. So. Yeah. Be ready for that.
Anyway, here you go~ Ch. 12!
Nat is c2ndy2c1d's OC !
my tumblr: little - laughssassin . tumblr . com
Ch. 12: DamagED
Double D felt as if a storm was brewing in his core; he felt something would go horribly wrong once he spoke to both Nathan and Kevin separately. He had no idea what would happen between the three, or what would happen if the other two males confronted each other. Kevin is an alpha male, he is a star athlete, and it seemed he genuinely cared for the dork; likewise, Nat is also a star athlete, a lot smarter than he may seem, and he also cared for Double D. There was also something else, something Double D had seen and confirmed over the years of knowing both Kevin and Nathan: Neither male likes to lose.
He was terribly nervous, but at the same time he felt this was right. He needed to tell them and they needed to know. To be perfectly honest, Double D was more than surprised over the fact that neither of them knew of their mutual infatuation with him. They are best friends, surely it would've been known one way or another…but apparently, that was not the case.
The text to Kevin had been sent, and a date agreed on; now it was time to send Nat's.
To Nathan: Greetings Nathan, I hope you are having a good day? Would it be okay for us to meet for lunch or something of the sort? There is a matter I must speak of with you, and it is quite important.
Not even 2 minutes later, his phone vibrated in his warm palm, and he checked the new text message.
To Double Cutie: Heyah! Yeah today has been alright I guess, you? Also, sure we can meet up for lunch! :D what day works for ya?
To Nathan: Would next Sunday be good? Say 1:30?
To Double Cutie: Yep! I'll see you then Prince Cutie ;)
To Nathan: Goodbye!
Double D took in a deep breath and let it all out after a moment. He couldn't chicken out now. It'd be wrong. He owed it to the two boys.
He sent 2 more texts, to Eddy and Nazz, informing them that it was time for him to come clean. Nazz was happy and cheered him on, saying she would help him calm the beasts if need be, and Eddy called him right away.
"So you're really gonna do it huh?" Was the very first thing Double D heard when he picked up.
"Yes. I've been having such a wonderful time with them, and they have been nothing but attentive with me…it's the least I can do."
"You really feel like this is it though?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, have you really spent enough time with them?"
"Well, I have gone out with both Nathan and Kevin on a few occasions; not to mention I actually have a class with Nathan, and I do text both of them in a nearly daily basis by now. So, yes I suppose I feel comfortable with my decision in that sense."
"So who's it gonna be?"
Double D's fingers hovered over the keyboard on screen, and his thought process screeched to a halt. Indeed, who had he chosen?
Eddy could tell his friend was talking a little too long with what should have been an easier answer, if in fact Double D really had thought this through.
"You don't even know yet do you?!"
Double D furrowed his brows and bit his tongue lightly with his front teeth. "This isn't exactly common for me Eddy! Of course I'll come up with an answer!"
"Oh really? Fine, you got 10 seconds."
"Pardon?"
"OH, OH, I KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Ed piped up, having quietly listened to his friends' conversation all along.
"Ed? Wait, Eddy am I on speaker phone?!"
"Yeah. No big deal sockhead, not like there's anyone else here. Just lumpy and me.
"Double D, I know how to help!"
Eddy regarded his taller friend with hesitation, "How are you gonna help?"
"Double D, all you have to do is answer without even thinking! Here, left or right?"
"Huh? Uh, right."
"No, no, no! Double Deeee," whined Ed, "you CAN'T think, just say it!"
"Ed I really can't see how that could possibly help me. This is a serious matter that requires careful consideration; it's not a simply left or right question, these are peoples' feelings we're dealing here with. Now, I'm sure that if I simply make a list of each of their qu-"
"NIGHT OR DAY"
"D-day?!"
"BLUE OR GRAY."
"Blue, Ed please I'm-"
"SQUIRTLE OR CHARMANDER?"
"Squirtle."
"COFFEE OR TEA?"
"Tea."
"WINTER OR SPRING?"
"Spring."
"LEFT OR RIGHT?"
"Right."
"HULK OR IRON MAN?"
"Iron man."
"KNOWN OR NEW?"
"Known."
"RED OR TEAL?"
"Teal."
By now the gears in Eddy's head managed to catch up to what his friend was doing. Ed was actually succeeding in coaxing honest answers from Double D without the boy genius overthinking it. 'Nice Ed, nice.' Thought Eddy with sincerity. But then he notice the turn Ed's questions were starting to take: known or new, red or teal, serious or chill, childhood or adulthood, etc, etc. All his new questions were having to do with Kevin and Nat, whether Edd noticed or not.
And then it happened, Ed went for it now that he felt Double D was into the little game for long enough and his brain had finally let go.
"KEVIN OR NAT?"
"K-N-K-..."
"You said K first Double D." chimed in Ed, satisfied by his accomplishment.
"Yeah but he threw in that 'N' in there." Added Eddy.
"But there was a 'K'!"
"AND AN 'N'!"
"K!"
"N!"
"KAAAYYYYY"
"FUCKING N"
"I know my answer."
The moment Ed and Eddy heard Edd's voice they completely shut up, looked at each other, and nodded.
Kevin was working on some French homework when his phone began to vibrate next to him, he groaned – he was on a roll! Finally starting to really comprehend his class from the times Double D had helped him on a few Saturdays or right after school if it was urgent – and picked up to see who it was that was calling him.
'Nat?...This better be très important…' "Oui-I mean, yes?"
"Well hon, hon, hon, bonjour, Eiffel tower to you too." Answered Nat in a sing-song voice and a fake French accent.
"Shut it, I'm doing French homework. Anyway… Sup?"
"I think it's gonna happen man!"
"Huh? What's gonna happen?"
"My brand new relationship! Kevin I think this is it, he's gonna tell me he likes me too and then BAM so long singleville!"
Kevin chuckled, "Really? Well congrats man!"
"Aw don't congratulate me just yet Pebbles; still a man of the single life."
"Not for long though! Hey, you know what's funny? I'm meeting up with the person I like too and…well it seemed they wanted the conversation to be important…so… this could be it for me too."
"Woah seriously? Well shit Kev, our friendship was destiny! Next thing you know we'll be having a double wedding!"
"Oh god." Laughed the redhead, "To be honest though…I'm still amazed we've actually lasted this long without actually telling each other who our crush is…"
"Yeah, it's been fun having you guess though. I can't believe you thought it was Derek from the baseball team; I mean come on Kevin, Derek, really?"
"Alright, alright, forgive me for having noticed the one time you checked out his butt," Kevin heard Nat scoff but laugh softly soon after, "I guess there's no harm in telling you now."
"Really? SWEET! Then imma tell you too!"
"You wanna go first then?"
"Alright, well, for the longest time now, and I mean LONG Kevin…"
"Oh really? How long? Like 2 months?"
"Heh…try 10."
"TEN?! Motherfucker…you've liked this kid that long?"
"Yeah… I don't really know why I waited so long, I mean, I knew for sure I liked him in…weeks really…"
"Then what took you so long?"
"I guess I was scared of their reaction? I didn't wanna blow it, and I wasn't even sure if he even liked dudes hah…wasn't that close to him back then."
"Understandable."
"You? How long have you liked this one?"
"About…a month…nearly 2?... it was very confusing to me." He chuckled deeply, and a look of pure affection consumed his eyes once he silenced. His chest would do weird things whenever he thought of Double D. He never ever would've thought he'd be feeling like this about a boy, let alone his childhood dork… but he did… oh, he really did; his smile, his gap, his eyes, his voice, everything really. There would be times where he would feel like it was just such a mismatch, with him being the popular jock and Edd the calm scholar, but it didn't feel wrong either.
"Helloooo? Earth to red, come in red, do you copy?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry," he laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, "Uhh, I haven't like this person for too long I guess, compared to you, but, I really like this person. I never thought I would because it's almost like we are polar opposites, but…I can't…I can't get them out of my heads sometimes y'know?"
"Awwwwwww!"
"SH-SHUT UP! Anyway, weren't you gonna tell me who you like?!"
"Finneeeee, well, I like…I really like D-*BEEP BEEP* Ah shit, sorry man, got another call on wait and dad said he was gonna call me today, so it might be him."
"That's fine, just tell me later ok?"
"Sure thing, Ta-ta for now~"
"Later."
Kevin huffed after the call ended; he was so close to hearing who Nat had been crushing on for so long, yet here he was, left in dark curiosity once again.
"Wait…I could've sworn I heard a 'D' before he hung up…wait a second…" Kevin's eyes widened as the gears in his head started turning; clues and ideas clicking here and there as he pieced the mystery together.
"Dark hair, light eyes, has known him since high school, good friends with, spends more time with him now than before…everything…oh my god…THAT LIAR."
Kevin tched as his phone and set it back down next to him, "He DOES like Derek!"
Double D spent the rest of his week at school in an ironically stressing calm; easily comparable to what one would call "the calm before the storm" and the storm was fast approaching. Yet he was able to concentrate more on his studies knowing that soon this would be over and everything could be dealt with properly…that is, if by the end of it all there would be something to deal with…
As his last class ended, Double D stumbled his way through the crowded halls and out the building. A certain blonde girl was actually waiting for him to go out, and once she spotted the familiar sockhead, she quickly made her way to him.
"Double D!"
At the call of his childhood nickname, the boy's head shot up and he smiled softly, "Salutations Nazz, how are you?"
"I'm fine, but most importantly, how are you? Kevin told me you guys are talking this Saturday?"
"Ah, yes, this is true. I am going to tell them both the truth…and my decision."
"You know?! For sure?"
"Indeed."
Nazz took hold of Double D's arm and jumped in place as a wide smile spread across her face, "Oh my God! Congrats! Who is it, who is it, who is it?"
Double D couldn't help but smile too at his friend's honest enthusiasm and curiosity, throughout this whole ordeal Nazz had proven to be a comforting rock for him, and it really helped that he had known her since childhood and she was good friends with both Nat and Kevin. "Goodness Nazz, I didn't think you'd be this excited about it," he giggled, "but very well, I shall tell you."
The two walked away together, arms linked, and the moment Nazz heard his name come out of Double D's mouth she halted and threw her arms around the genius' neck. "I knew it'd be him!...a-ah…but…" She drew back so she could see him better, and bit her lower lip in concern, "what about…"
"Yes I know... I am aware of how awkward things could become once I tell him…I had made such great progress with him as friends and I enjoy being with him very, very much, I do… well, our newfound friendship being awkward would be the best case scenario… no friendship being the worst." He sighed.
"Oh Double D don't think like that! I mean of course he'll be upset when he hears, and he'll probably want some time alone, but he is not the type of person who would dessert you for something like that. Just give him some time that's all."
"I hope you're right Nazz, I really do."
Kevin's leg vibrated like crazy under the booth; any more force and he would've caused an earthquake in the little restaurant. Double D had asked him to meet him there at 1 for lunch, and because of nerves – plus knowing Double D's huge pet peeve for tardiness – he showed up about 10 minutes early, but the wait seemed eternal.
He caught movement coming from the front door through his peripheral vision, and the moment he saw his little sockhead walk in, his heart beat so hard it felt like it imprinted itself on his ribs. He licked his lips and bit part of his lower one, not even realizing he kept doing it as Doublr D approached him. He awkwardly stood up when Double D reached where he was sitting and smiled, trying to hide the fuzziness consuming him from the inside.
"Good afternoon, Kevin." Edd offered him a nervous smile.
"Hey." Both boys sat back down and stayed in awkward silent for a short moment, but for completely different reasons, unbeknownst to each other.
Edd cleared his throat and spoke first, bringing his hands together over the table and twiddling his thumbs, "I uhm… suppose I should just come out and tell you…something."
The redhead's breath hitched and he felt the anticipation building in the pit of his stomach, "Y-yeah? Well I'm guessing it's something pretty important judging by that look."
"What look?"
"You're biting your lower lip and showing you gap, your playing with your thumbs, and you're looking practically anywhere but me." He answered with a smug smile
The ravenet wasn't even aware he was biting his lip and adverting his gaze, it just happened naturally when he got too nervous, and he didn't think Kevin would have noticed enough to the point of actually remembering these signals. He blushed lightly, and it only made Kevin's smile grow.
"Yes, well, you have your own nervous habit of rubbing the back of your neck." Edd answered with a soft chuckle.
Kevin could only nod and laughed too, since the dork was right.
'Come now Eddward, you MUST say it. NOW.'
"Kevin, there's something I've been meaning to confess for some time now."
Kevin gulped and leaned in closer to Edd over the table, "Yeah?"
"Well…I really don't know how to say this…"
'Please just say it, Edd, please!'
"I feel so terrible about it, please forgive me Kevin." Edd completely lowered his gaze to rest upon his nervous hands.
Kevin's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What? No, Double D, don't feel bad about it!" He reached out with one hand and lightly put it over Edd's. "I mean, I like you man, so you liking me back is the best thing that could've happened and I just think that-"
"Kevin, please! That's…that's not what I was going to say!"
Kevin's smile faded, and worry plagued him, "Oh…then, what's wrong Double D? Did something happen? Are you ok?"
'He's so concerned for me…Oh my it have come to this?!' "Kevin…the truth is… There has been someone else also trying to win my affection."
'…Shit.'
"And well…The thing is, this person and I have become close these past few months, and that makes me happy because they really are a nice person."
The more Edd spoke the more daggers Kevin felt being stabbed into his body.
"Kevin that's not to say I do not like you nor have not liked spending time with you. Becoming friends with you have been wonderful and I am so very glad we moved on from the victim-bully relationship we had as children and-"
"Is that it?"
"Pardon?"
"The "victim – bully" relationship…that's all I'll really end up being in the end won't I?"
"What?! No! Kevin I just told you I am happy to now be friends with you. Please Kevin, let me finish."
Kevin sat back, removing his hands from Edd's and huffed, nodding at the sockhead to keep talking.
"Kevin the reason why I am telling you this is because…because the other person…you know them. Very well."
"What?" His eyes shot back up to Edd's.
"Kevin, this person who has also been trying to win my affection…this person who has become close to me…and makes me laugh, and feel at ease…this person who I am happy to call a friend now, and is dear to me…It's Nathan."
Time stopped, the world was put in mute, and everything was drained of color except for the boy sitting in front of Kevin. No…this had to be a mistake. He probably just heard him wrong. Yeah. That's it. Kevin heard him wrong.
"Kevin, I'm sorry."
"Y-you're telling me… that all this time…all these damn months…I've been blindingly juggling you with Nat?! You're telling me, that my best friend, the guy who would never betray me, also has a thing for you and has been trying to get you to like him back?!"
"Yes…"
"I can't believe this… Why didn't you tell me?!" Kevin's tone of voice intensified, although it did not rise in volume as much as Edd had anticipated from him; but in all honestly, this scared him more than Kevin yelling.
"Double D how could you?! Nat is my best friend! Any other guy and I'd be like "well fuck them, I'm not losing you to Jon Doe that easily," but NAT? Nathan, Double D? Do you have any idea what position this puts me in? Does Nat know?"
"No… I am speaking with Nathan tomorrow."
"FUCK!" The redhead let it out a little louder than he intended, and a few of the other guests in the little diner stared at him for a moment. Double D could tell this conversation had taken a horrible direction, and the jock's legendary short fuse was being poked a little too much.
"Kevin I understand me keeping this from the both of you was wrong but you must also try to understand my feelings!"
"Your feelings?"
"Yes! Kevin you and I both know I'm not what most females, or males, are looking for. I have never been in a position where two, let alone just ONE person has felt this strongly about me and has actually tried pursuing me…except maybe Marie but that's a different story and frankly all she did was hurt me. I now realize that this is still no excuse but it's something that confused me and affected me and was completely out of my comfort zone. I should've told you sooner."
"Took you MONTHS to realize that?"
"Kevin, I'm trying. But my feelings are n-"
"I don't care about that!"
Edd's eyes widened and his mouth shut tight in a flash after hearing Kevin utter those words. "Excuse me?!" He asked in an indignant tone.
"I-I mean…" Shit, that was NOT what he meant. Sure he was angry, and hurt, and even disappointed not only on Edd, but Nat too…but he did not mean for his words to come out like that! Kevin still cared for the boy.
But the damage had been done. Edd's eyes were filled with guilt, sadness, and now thanks to Kevin, rage.
"You don't care? You don't care?! Oh, pardon me for getting flustered over a completely new situation, pardon me for not knowing what to do, pardon me for feeling so horrible for days, weeks, months, knowing how much you and Nat mean to each other – more than I ever could to either of you, pardon me for attempting to tell you the truth before things got more out of hand!"
"Hey, woah, woah! Don't tell me how I feel about you or how important you are to me, I know you think I'm dumb, I know you and your loser friends always have, but do NOT tell me how I feel."
"Oh, well, then pardon the…pardon…PARDON THE FUCK OUT OF ME FOR THAT TOO."
Kevin nearly chocked on his own saliva upon hearing Double D actually swear, out loud. Just how angry had he gotten? 'Fuck! No no no no no, this conversation has to end before more damage is done!'
A frantic and upset mind is never a good combination, especially not with Kevin.
"Well considered yourself pardoned then." He retorted.
"Oh how thoughtful of you." Edd said dryly.
"Yeah, cuz that's what I am, thoughtful. As in not an idiot who thinks about himself and tries to make things right even if it hurts."
"Kevin this is really not the direction I wanted this conversation to take. I knew this-"
"Oh it wasn't?! What did you expect me to do? Say some shit like, "golly Double D, that's mighty honest of ya, I wuv you!"?"
"Of course not, do not mock me!"
"Then what did you expect?!"
"You not being a complete insensitive jerk about it!"
"You just told me that for the past few months my best friend and my crush have been having their own little thing on the sidelines without telling me. So, tell me, enlighten me if you really fucking must, how do you want me to act?"
"Kevin this is ridiculous. I am telling you what happened, I am telling you the truth, I am saying I am sorry and I know it was wrong of me."
"Yeah, well, a little too late…dork." He somewhat angrily mumbled the last word, but Edd caught it loud and clear. The insult was back.
The beanie-clad boy was emotionally drained, and for once he didn't know what else to say; he was surprised no one had even come over to check if they wanted something to drink or eat, but then again, with the way they were arguing and the aura around them, he wasn't surprised their booth was being avoided by all.
"I think it's time for me to leave. Thank you for your time Kevin."
"Oh no no no…thank you."
"Kevin I honestly do not know what else to do. I'm hurting to you know? Especially because I-"
"Because you what? Hmm?" He crossed his arms over his chest and tched.
Edd's eyes became distant, and his mouth felt like cotton. "Nevermind, my words will be wasted here. It is… not important." His heart contorted in a painful way as he said that, but he felt that unfortunately, it was true. Kevin wouldn't listen to him. Edd simply stood up and turned to leave in glum silence.
"See ya, dork."
Edd stopped walking and looked down, "Perhaps Eddy was always right."
That was the last dagger Kevin could stand. It was over. They were over, before they even started.
"Goodbye Kevin."
And he was gone. Kevin remained there, sitting in shock, and sadness, and anger, and guilt.
Back in his dorm room, Edd curled up under his sheets and ignored the world around him; his phone kept on vibrating and lighting up from both Eddy and Nazz attempting to contact him. He just wanted to be alone.
He needed to be alone…
Outside he could hear stomping footsteps, and got curious upon noticing that the noise stopped very close to him. He lifted his head from his bed and noticed the shadow of 2 feet standing right in front of his door; they stayed there for a couple of seconds, paced on or twice, stopped again, then quickly ran away back from the direction where they came from, which led to both the elevator and stairs.
'How odd…' he thought tiredly. 'Kevin was right…what was I expecting?...well… I guess I should take today as preparation for tomorrow with Nathan…I am exhausted.' He looked to his alarm clock for the time, 3:00 p.m., 'Maybe a quick nap will help… I must calm down and recharge so I can work on my homework and readings…yes, that'll got my mind off this nasty mess, even if just for a bit…'
Upstairs, Kevin went in running into his dorm room and locked the door behind him, leaning against it and slowly slumping down onto the floor in defeat. 'What a fucking coward…Can't even say sorry to the dweeb…tch!...But…Why should I be sorry?! He's the guilty one here! And Nat!...but then…Double Dweeb isn't my boyfriend… he's not "mine"… what he chooses to do with someone else doesn't concern me… although I wish it did… I wish…' he sighed and removed his baseball cap from his head, holding it tightly.
"I wish he was mine."
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he begrudgingly took it out, 'Nazz…guess she wants to know how it went…w-wait a second…'
To Kev: Dude, Double D isn't answering me! Don't leave me in the dark! How did it go?
To Nazz: Did you know?
To Kev: Huh? Know what? His feelings?
To Nazz: No…well…yes…Nazz, did you, or did you not know about Nat?
There was silence and Kevin's stomach actually managed to drop even further; bullseye. Nazz knew.
To Nazz: I can't fucking believe this…
Then his phone began to chime, signaling an incoming call from Nazz; he picked up, but said nothing.
"Kevin, before you blow up please let me talk."
"…"
"Thank you. Ok…so… yes, I knew about Nat also having feelings for Double D, BUT I did try to yell you both about it. Also, Edd was confused! You have to understand that. He has never had a guy liking him or a guy that he liked; but he got two and got overwhelmed dude! I understand if you are mad at him, and nat, and me, but you also can't just dismiss your feelings for him out of anger now, or out of pity for Nat! Besides, Double D li-"
"I can't believe YOU lied to me too…"
"Kevin, LISTEN TO ME."
"I don't know what I want to do anymore Nazz. I mean yeah I guess it's not a monumental issue, but this is Nat, this is my best friend we're talking about…And also…Double D might hate me now."
"What? Kevin what did you do?!"
"What do you mean what did I do?! I reacted that's what I did! I reacted to him telling me that for the past like 3 months or whatever he and Nat had been having their own little moments!"
"Well if you liked two girls at once would you not want to spend time with them to help you decide who you click with more?!"
"Well, I mean, y-yeah, but this is different!"
"How?!"
"NAT!"
"SO?! THESE ARE PERSONAL MATTERS. SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA BE SELFISH. Nat can forgive and so can you, I know it."
"But Nazz-"
"Kevin." She said sternly, "Think this through, think like Double D."
He breathed in deeply and then let it all out, "I'll think about it, but I do need some time alone…"
"Alright…I'll talk to you later?"
"Yeah. See ya." He pressed the 'end call' button and walked over to his bed, then slammed himself into it, burying his face against his pillow. Suddenly his phone vibrated again, 'Did she forget to tell me something? I really don't have the motherfucking patience for this topic anymore.'
But it wasn't Nazz who sent the message, it was Nat.
To Pebbles: Sorry bout cutting ya off earlier! Heh, almost forgot to give you my answer too.
To Nat: Don't worry about it. Both. Really.
To Pebbles: You ok bro? & No, I promised I'd tell you, and bros don't break promises to each other!
'Fucking hell.'
To Pebbles: *drumrolls* I like…. Double D!
Kevin had to answer…but how…Nazz told him to think like Double D, to try to really understand why he did what he did…but Nat…
To Pebbles: Kevin? Pretty shocked huh? But yeah, I like him…I like him a lot, Kev
No, it wouldn't be fair to Double D if Kevin were to rat him out to Nat before they spoke…Double D DID say he was going to talk to Nathan tomorrow…
To Pebbles: Well? Whaddaya think?
To Nat: Bro, there's something you gotta know…
To Pebbles: Uhh, alright, shoot?
Kevin hesitated with the message; should he tell him? Should he not tell him? He had already said there was something Nat needed to know…but the voice in his mind kept telling him not to do it and to let Nat and Edd figure things out by themselves. At the same time, he wanted to confront Nat about their mutual crush. The war in his mind went on like this for a few moments, but finally his decision was made.
Message sent!