Author's Note: Hey! Up in the sky! What is that?! Is it a bird?! Is it a plane?! NO, IT'S MY GODDAMN UPDATE COMING TO YOU IN THE SPEED OF LIGHT. Hot damn tho, I finished this chapter a lot sooner than I expected, but I feel satisfied with it, AND it's hella long for all you lovely readers :)

The end is near guys!
Once again thank you guys so much for the likes / follows and reviews! If you have any feedback on what I'm doing right / what i could improve on just let me know, since I do plan to keep on writing.
My next fics will be GamTav (Homestuck), RavexNat (EEnE OC's that I adore!) and another KevEdd! and I've already started brainstorming these...and if I'm not mistaken someone on Tumblr gave me a prompt for a Nazzarie oneshot...huehuehue...*collapses*

Welp, back to my studies I go; the semester is nearly over...

And, in advance: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! MUCH SPOOKS, MUCH CANDY, SUCH HAPPY.

Tumblr: little - laughssassin . tumblr . com

Nat belongs to c2ndy2c1d! this is her OC!

Chapter 14: Sweaters and Booze

He was home, finally. Edd bursted through the door to his room and quickly jumped into his neatly made bed; he took a moment to just breathe peacefully and enjoy the familiar comfort of his old room. His desk, his books, his closet, Jim the cactus, everything was intact and well kept, as if he had never left to begin with. Part of him wished he hadn't. He loved learning, and university was going just fine for him as far as his grades were concerned, but everything else was a complete mess.

The only friends he had were Kevin, Nazz, Nat, and that guy from his English class that swore at everything and everyone he encountered. But Kevin and Nat came and went, Nazz was in a whole other area of the campus, and the guy from his English class…well…he was difficult to befriend…he tolerated Edd though, and spoke to him normally – albeit with constant swearing and sarcasm; but that was still good enough for Edd – and otherwise, he just felt alone.

It was so different from high school. All those promises of "friends forever" and "I'll see you soon!" and "I won't forget you!" honestly, who actually kept them? Yeah he and the other Edd's were still best friends, and they likely would be for the rest of their lives – he hoped – but even they hadn't seen each other for a long time, and texting can only do so much.
"I'll see you soon!" Yeah right, more like "I'll see you when I'm not too busy with my own classes and my own life and manage to find a little time for you!"
"I won't forget you!" More like, "Yeah I remember you, but I don't feel like saying hi, so I'll pretend I'm checking my phone so I can avoid eye contact and avoid an awkward encounter because seriously we only spoke like once in math class."

And then it hit him, most of those 'promises' were made by people he didn't even know that well, classmates who were too nice or didn't really know what to write on your yearbook, or what to tell you, so they just gave you the go-to-messages like "have fun and good luck!" Not that they necessarily didn't mean it, but they just kind of show who knew you most and who didn't.

"Yearbooks… yearbooks, yearbooks," Edd repeated the mantra as he stood up from his bed and went over to his library in search of the items. 'Dictionary, encyclopedias, Botany 101, old textbooks, ahh there we ware.' He pulled out the 5 thin books and sat back in bed with them. "Let's see…should I go in chronological order, or shall I go backwards? Perhaps by the year I think was my best?... Chronological of course!" He smiled softly as he opened the book and with it, his memories.

8th grade. What an awkward year that was. First year in secondary school, and everyone was now once again at the bottom of the pack, the little fish in the big pond, and puberty was starting to show signs of the biological and hormonal storm to come; but there wasn't much difference from 7th grade to this; no growth spurts, no facial hair, no change in style, nothing, or at least not statistically significant. They were still just kids, just 13 year olds starting their secondary educational career and learning to play by the rules of high school. Edd flipped slowly through the pages, through the club photos, school team photos, assemblies, spirit week shenanigans, 'my, how nostalgic…'

He got to the section of portraits for each grade, and of course, his group was first; 'There's Josh…hah, he had just gotten his braces then…Amy back when she had no tattoos…oh!' The faces of all his friends from the cul-de-sac almost seemed highlighted in his mind, and his peripheral vision made him notice and zoom in to each one; he giggled, 'Eddy was never too photogenic when it came to school pictures, and being his first one ever in highschool I remember him having a huge tantrum back home about it; how the photographer didn't know what he was doing and how he totally missed his good side.' He giggled and continued looking.

"Ed looks as lovable as ever, not a care in the world; I somewhat envy him for it, I must admit…Ah, there's Rolf…wait…is that?...did Victor photobomb Rolf? How did I never notice the goat in the picture?... Ahh well, it is Rolf…what is he even wearing?... Nazz, beautiful as always, hah, and there I am…not my most photogenic year I must admit, but decent enough I suppose." He sighed and continued looking around, but stopped at the shock of red hair and serious green eyes that were so familiar to him. "Kevin…"

He looked like a complete child, and yet back then Edd still saw him as someone to be somewhat avoided and respected; then again, Edd was but a child back then too, but it amused him how he feared someone shorter than he was…granted, however, that at 13, Kevin was surely at least 2 times stronger than Edd had ever been. Edd delicately ran his finger over Kevin's picture, a pang of pain jabbing his heart and mind as his finger slid over the small portrait. He looked to his side and decided to open all the other yearbooks to the portrait section for each grade. 'Grade 9…Grade 10…Junior year…Senior year…'

And there he was, there they were in every page. He could see it now, the gradual change from children to young adults; the change in the face structure, the change in hair colors, clothing, the change in innocence. Edd himself had grown too, his huge bright green eyes and soft features had hardened a little with age and puberty, but were still soft for a male, and his eyes matured as well, but Edd was still the same little nerd he had always been with his gap-tooth smile and signature ski hat. Kevin was another story, each year he seemed to develop more muscle as his body matured with him, his face became well defined, the freckles going across the bridge of his nose softened in tone and his eye shape matured as well. He hit his growth spurt when he was 15, like Edd did as well, but due to all the physical activity, and genetics Edd guessed, Kevin finally managed to surpass Edd in height. He looked strong, confident, and mature, and like Edd, he never got rid of his signature hat.

Edd was about to close the books again when from the corner of his eye he caught something teal in the page; that's when he remember that Nat was there too. Smiling brightly in the couple of portraits he had in Peach Creek High's yearbooks; with schocking teal hair and honey-brown eyes in all their glory. He also looked strong, confident, and mature, but there was a devilish-happy-go-lucky-nature to Nat, that seeped through every inch of his little photo.

He missed them.

Screw romance, screw this emotional torment, screw everything.

He just wanted his friends back.

"Eddward, dinner's ready!"

Edd jumped in spot, startled by his mother's beckoning voice, "Coming mother!" He quickly closed the books and put them back where they belonged before quickly exiting his room.

"So neither of them has said a word to you since? Still?!" Eddy asked Edd as he played with one of Edd's frozen bug specimens in his room.

"Eddy please return that to its place! Anyway, yes you are correct."

"This is bullshit!"

"Language! My parents are home!"

"Tch…sorry." Eddy rolled his eyes and sat next to Edd on his bed. Ed sat at Edd's desk, swirling around in his desk chair.

"Have you tried talking to them?"

"I do not dare…besides, I feel like most of this mess, if not all of it, is my fault; I've done my part at apologizing to them, whether they wish to try and mend our friendship once again is their call."

"3 broken eggs do not make a big omelette Double D."

"Pardon?"

"Lumpy, you kinda need to break the eggs in order to even make an omelette…"

"No, no! Double D, you have 3 broken eggs, but, they are cracked eggs. You don't want to make an omelette with cracked shells inside it! You need nice eggs so you can make a nice omelette!"

"I…I'm afraid I do not follow Ed, forgive me."

"Are Bubbles and Buttercup the same without Blossom? Do Kirk and Spock feel like a trio without Bones? Have you ever started a pokemon game without a grass type? Or water, or fire? The power of three Double D!"

"You're saying…That while I'm feeling miserable about this, they are probably unhappy too?"

"Mhm! You can't butter a toast without butter."

"Did you just call sockhead butter?"

"Like the doctor and Amy and Rory!"

"More like the doctor, Amy and Jack." Said Eddy with a low chuckle.

"I suppose you thought of Jack for Nathan?"

"Duh! And shovelchin can be Amy cuz he's the sassy redhead who sometimes gets on my nerves, and they both have a heart boner for the doctor, at least, at some point."

Ed laughed and nodded, and Eddy laughed too, Double D simply furrowed his eyebrows and smiled, but soon enough he began to giggle too.

"Yes well, that may be so…but… Amy got sent back in time by a weeping angel, and she married Rory anyway, and Jack left too and he's in Torchwood remember?"

"Then forget Amy and Jack and find your own River!... Clara… whichever you prefer."

"Find the Rose to your Kanaya!"

"It's not that easy Eddy…"

"You still like him, don't you?"

Edd sighed and nodded, looking down to his hands over his lap.

"What are you gonna do about it then?"

"Nazz said they would both be coming to her Christmas party soon, so, I suppose I could try talking to them there."

"Atta boy, sockhead."

"I just hope they won't shoo me away…"

Eddy lowered his head and shifted his eyes to look at his friend next to him; he licked his lip and bit down on it, furrowing his eyebrows as he thought over his next words or actions. He quickly slung his left arm over Edd's shoulders and said "You'll be fine, and if do anything to you, Ed and I will get em; and just so we're clear beforehand, boxhead is mine." He ended with a fist in the air and a devilish grin.

Edd smiled and nodded at his friend's words, "Thank you guys."

Before they could both even react, Ed lunged himself at them and squeezed the two boys into a dog-pile-hug, "That's what moirails are for!"

"Moirails?"

"It's a Homestuck thing." Replied Ed contently.

"I do believe Ed explained once that it is a "quadrant" closely associated with 'brotherly love' or best friends." Said Edd.

"Oh…yeah, sure, ok, 'that's what moirails do'."

Edd stared into his closet as he decided what to wear for the party; should he be festive? Preppy? Casual? More formal perhaps? Curses, he should've asked Nazz what the desired protocol for clothing was. His phone beeped to signal a new text, from Eddy, telling him he and Ed would be there soon so that the 3 could go to Nazz's together.

To Eddy: I do not know what to wear for tonight!"

To sockhead: Are u serious right now? Go with whatever; just don't show up in a tux or a light-up-embarrassing-cheesy-Christmas sweater!

To Eddy: Very well…I shall be ready shortly.

To sockhead: hope so. Ttyl.

Edd sighed and looked over his options once more, before opting for a nice pair of jeans, a simple shirt and over it a red sweater with a subtle, winter design of snowflakes in white, his beanie (of course) and black boots; casual, yet nice, and although "festive", not ridiculous. He changed, and just as he was fixing his dark locks under his beanie, he received another text from Eddy to inform him they had arrived.

He quickly made his way down the stairs and was greeted by his mother as he walked to the now open front door where his friends stood on the opposite side. Eddy was wearing dark jeans, with a blue jacket and scarf, his hair clearly styled for what could've been hours, meanwhile Ed wore his everyday pair of jeans and a green sweater with a Christmas tree in the middle.

"Don't do anything your father or I wouldn't do." His mother said with a smile, "Have fun!"

He waved goodbye and went outside with his friends. They walked over to Nazz's house a few houses down, and the closer they got the clearer they could hear the music from the party, and a few people they somewhat remembered from highschool also entering her house.

"I thought Nazz said it would only be people from the cul-de-sac." Pondered Edd.

"Whatever! The more people there are, the more girls there will be! Holy shit I bet her old cheer leading squad is in there! HURRY UP GUYS!"

The three boys hurried over and Eddy knocked on the door, they didn't have to wait long until Nazz opened the door for them. She wore a long sleeved, Mrs, Clause dress, with black knitted leggings and boots with a furry rim.

"You guys made it! Awesome! The party just started, so not everyone is here yet. Make yourself comfortable!"

"Lookin' good Nazz." Eddy grinned as he walked inside.

"Thanks dude, not so bad yourself. Aww Ed, that sweater is so adorbs!"

"Thank you Nazz!"

"Oh, you guys won't believe who made it home in time! Rolf is here!" She said happily.

"Rolf? Rolf!" Over the years Ed had developed a nice friendship with Rolf, and would sometimes even help him out at home to tend his chickens, because, well, everyone knew Ed loved chickens. He dashed inside in search of his blue-haired friend, who he hadn't seen in such a long time.

As Double D stepped inside, Nazz put a hand on his shoulder and whispered into his ear, smiling, "Kevin will be here soon, and Nat is already here."

Edd's eyes widened and he looked at her with a mixed look of excitement and terror. She laughed and patted his shoulder, "Dude trust me, it's gonna go well! If anything, they want to talk to you!"

"Really?"

"Mhm! They told me so!"

"O-oh…that's…very good to know actually, thank you Nazz."

"No prob. Just enjoy yourself ok? IT'S A PARTY!" She closed the door behind Edd and went back inside.

"I thought this was gonna be a more intimate party?" Asked Edd.

"Yeeaahhh but then I started talking to Emily, and then Patricia, and then Patricia told her boyfriend and then he told his friends and of course Claire heard what was going on because her best friend is dating Kyle from the baseball team and so now all of the baseball team, part of the football team AND my old cheerleading squad is here…and I think a few others too, but they're also from PCH so you'll know em anyway."

"Ah, very well, let's just enjoy tonight shall we?"

"Rad!"

Just then, Nazz was called by one of her friends, leaving Edd alone in the living room full of people he vaguely even recognized anymore, or just plain didn't talk to. Ever. He looked around for his friends, but saw no sign of Ed, and Eddy was over by the exit to the yard trying to flirt with some cheerleaders. 'Of course.'

He awkwardly walked around, trying to see if there was anyone else who he might've actually spoken to back in high school, but seeing as the majority of the people here were athletes of some kind or another, that would not be very likely. He knew Jenny from the cheerleading squad since they were also in the school newspaper together, but he felt weird trying to talk to her with some of the other cheerleaders – which he didn't really know – all around her.

The music blared and people walked past him with red plastic cups in their hands and stupid smiles plastered on their already-pink faces. 'It would've been a little too much too think there'd be no alcohol tonight…hmm…Nazz said Nathan was already here…and that both he and Kevin actually wished to speak to me…perhaps I'll be able to find Nathan.'

Just as he was turning the corner he saw the familiar flash of teal hair inside the kitchen; Nat was leaning against the top of the island, talking to a few other people, Edd recognized them as 2 of the old cheerleaders and 3 old teammates from the baseball team. He was debating whether or not to enter the kitchen when Emma, one of the chearleaders, turned to her side and spotted him by the doorway.

"Eddward?... EDD!" Edd jumped a little from the sudden shout and looked at the girl with big, startled eyes. The rest of the group were startled too, and all of them, including a certain teal-haired boy immediately turned their gazes to where Edd stood.

Edd made eye contact with Nat, and Nat with him, and both boys visibly gulped, unsure of how to proceed, what they should even say, or how this was going to turn out. Emma skipped over to Edd with her own red cup and grabbed his wrist with her free hand, guiding him to where the group was.

"Double D, oh my God, I haven't seen you in like, so long! You still remember little ol' me right? From cooking class?"

"Ah-o-of course, Emma. I remember you."

Emma smiled brightly at Edd, "I'm glad! You saved my ass more than once in that class, and thanks to you I can properly bake cookies without burning a single one!"

"Glad to hear I was of help to you." He smiled, still a little shaken by what was even happening.

The other cheerleader and the boys from the baseball team waved at him and said hi as well, 'They seem harmless enough.' Thought Edd.

"Hey Double D."

'That voice.' "H-hello…Nathan."

Both boys maintained eye contact for a moment, as if trying to study each other, trying to decipher whether each other's aura said it was ok to proceed, or to just leave them alone. It wasn't hostile, just careful.

"You guys are both going to PCU right? Got any classes together? I ended up in Riverview Uni…so…I only know about five other people from our high school there, and I'm not super friends with any of them, but at least we say hi to each other; still, totes lame! But I did make some cool friends!"

'I had almost forgotten to cheerful Emma was…how fitting, and in a way, endearing I suppose.' "Yes, well, I suppose I share your sentiments there Emma. PCU is really nice, and I enjoyed my classes, but I too felt separated from my old friends, although I did have some people from highschool with me, including Nathan.

"Nazz and Kevin right?"

"Indeed."

"So you did have friends at least!" she smiled.

Nat's throat tightened and he looked intently at Edd, waiting for the boys reply to Emma's words.

"Yes…I supposed I did." He nodded with a sad smile.

'Damnit Edd.'

"Hey Edd, mind if we talk for a second, need to ask you some stuff about next semester." Said Nat, standing up straight now.

"Ah, I…uhm…ok, sure."

"Next semester? Jeez Goldberg, since when are you such a planner for school?" Joked one of the baseball players.

Nat simply forced a laugh and through a napkin ball at his old friend, then turned back to Edd and nodded his head to the side and began to walk away, and Edd followed suit.

They went out into the yard, which surprisingly enough, wasn't crowded with bodies, and found a quiet place to just talk and say what they had to say, with little fear of somebody walking into the conversation unexpectedly.

"How have you been Nathan?" Asked Edd with a meek voice.

"Me? I've been alright I guess…pretty sure I somehow managed to pass all my classes…glad the semester is over…what about you?"

"I supposed I've been fine as well…nothing much has really happened."

"Ah." Answered Nat, nodding and looking at the grass below his feet.

Edd bit down on his lower lip and began to fidget with the end of his sweater.

"Listen, Edd…I…I'm sorry."

Edd stopped everything, mouth now slightly agape and looked at Nathan with a surprised expression. "Pardon?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I acted like a jerk, I'm sorry I didn't really let you explain your side of the story, I'm sorry let you walk away… I'm sorry."

"No…"

Nathan furrowed his brows in worry; was he too late? Was Double D mad and going to completely ignore his apology? "W-what?"

"No, you shouldn't be sorry for anything."

"Yes I should, Edd! I was a total ass who couldn't even bring himself to tell you not to go so that we could talk things through. I just let our friendship go to the grave!"

"It is my fault this whole mess happened to begin with. Had I told both of you what was going on sooner, this might've been avoided, or least not been such an issue."

"No, no, I should've said something a lot sooner…I mean, I liked you for so long dude…since like…ending of high school, and I should've told you, and if not you then at least I should've told Kevin seeing as he is my best friend…I don't know why I kept it in for so long. Had Kevin known…had you known… I'm sorry."

Both boys stood in silence in the cold December air, then Nat spoke again, softly, "Did…did you…miss me?"

Edd looked up at him, looking for the sincerity in his eyes for such a question; of course he did. He looked down again and nodded, "Yes."

Not a second later he was being tightly embraced and nearly picked up off the ground; his face was now being held against the soft neck of Nat's jacket and some of his teal hair tickled Edd's cheeks.

"I missed ya too…Double Cutie"

At the mention of his old nickname Edd felt a massive weight lift off his shoulders and he smiled, "Yeah…King." Behind his head, Nathan's eyes shot wide open as he remembered their little King and Prince joke they had on their date as they were getting in the car, and he smiled wider, hugging the boy closer to him and feeling relief once he finally felt Edd hugging him back.

Nazz searched everywhere for Edd, Nat and Kevin, unable to find any of the 3 boys. Kevin had arrived about 15 minutes ago, and he looked determined to find Edd and clear things up with the boy. Nazz was really happy to know that Kevin had finally come to his senses and was going to properly talk about his feelings with Edd.

Finally she sees one of her targets, Kevin near the door to her backyard.

"There you are! Where you outside this whole time?"

"Yeah…just thinking about what I would've said."

"Oh ok, good, better to be prepared th-WAIT, WAIT, WHAT? Would have? As in past tense? Excuse you?"

Kevin didn't say a word to her, he simply swallowed hard and walked to the kitchen to grab a beer.

Nazz quickly went after him and grabbed his arm once she caught up, "why WOULD have? Why not WILL? What happened? Are you chickening out? Seriously Kevin?!"

"I'm not chickening out."

"Then why are you-"

"Keviiinnn, oh my god is that you?"

Both friends turned their heads to see where the voice came from; a dirty-blonde with gray eyes and a strapless, red party dress made her way to them. "I haven't heard from you in a while; guess university sucked you into a void too huh? Cool party by the way," she smiled at Nazz.

'Son of a bitch.' Thought Nazz, "yeah, thanks Claire."

"So, Kevin." She walked over to where they were standing and practically squeezed herself between the two, making Nazz let go of Kevin. Nazz huffed quietly and looked at Kevin as the 2 spoke, 'Just what the hell happened THIS time?...And lord help me smack a bitch if Claire so even dares to touch a single inch of Kevin.'

"Nazz c'mon they're starting karaoke!" Another girl, a brunette ran into the kitchen area and grabbed hold of Nazz, tugging her away from her friend and into the living room. "It's Uptown Girl! You totes have to duet with me like before!"

Kevin stared after his struggling friend in confusion, and a bit of amusement, until he felt someone's hand on his arm again only to notice that Claire was still there.

"Anyway, how have you been? I can tell you're still doing sports; just as muscular as ever."

"Oh, uhm, yeah I'm still playing baseball." He took a big sip of his beer and Claire grabbed one for herself. They continued making short conversation for a while, each one taking sip after sip of their alcohol; they started to move around the house, watching the others sing karaoke, dancing clumsily with some others, eating and chatting with old members of the baseball and football team, but the whole time Kevin could not get Edd off his mind, how he wanted to tell him everything…or at least…wanted to.

He could've sworn he saw Nat and Edd from the corner of his eye, but he guessed he didn't get noticed, 'why would I be?...' He took a big chug of his beer and took someone else's cup while they were distracted. 'Why should I bother…why did I even come…' another chug, "no…no, why shouldn't I be here? I can still have a good time without him! This is a party for fucks sake! And I'll be damned if I don't have a good time! I'm here for me!" a final, big chug from the cup. The noise in the house seemed louder now, and his mind was starting to get foggy. 'Guess I'm a bit tipsy…or something…'

Claire whispered something into his ear, but he could barely even understand her, let alone hear what she said, all he knows is that he began to stand up after she took hold of his hand and being led away from the group of buzzing drunk teenagers.

Eddy was nearby, talking to an old buddy from all those detention days, when he noticed a stumbling Kevin being dragged upstairs by a bomb-shell of a girl. 'Where the FUCK does he think he's going?!' He glared daggers at the both of them and took out his cellphone to text Ed.

To lord monobrow: ED. GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE. TROUBLE WITH BOXHEAD.

To Eddyyy: Whats wrong? Whats Kevin doing?

To lord monobrow: It's not so much what's he's doing so much as it is who he might be doing soon. FUCK THIS GUY. GET OVER HERE; I'M NEAR THE STAIRS. WHERE'S DOUBLE D?"

To Eddyyy: on my way! And I havnt seen Double D in a while… but Rolf says he thinks he saw him walking around with Nat!

To lord monobrow: shit. Ok.

Eddy put his phone back in his pocket and looked at the stairs again, Kevin now long-gone into the second floor. 'Kevin I will personally fuck you up if you do anything stupid.'

Everything was a blur, his eyes felt heavy and the room was spinning. Kevin was completely buzzed, but a warm fuzzy feeling was building up in the bottom of his stomach. He could feel something on his neck…lips? Yeah…those definitely felt like lips… 'woah…since…since when was I on a bed? Wait…this is Nazz's room…OH MOTHERFUCK.' Kevin freaked out and looked to the person sitting on his lap, and was more than relieved to realize that the person currently biting his neck was in fact not Nazz. And right there is when it clicked and his brained cleared up for just a moment, '…WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?!'

"C-claire, what are you doing?" The words mumbled out of his mouth and he heard the girl chuckle into the crook of his neck.

"I'm just enjoying my Christmas present a little early that's all."

"Christmas present?"

"Mmmhhmm." She said as she separated from his neck and faced him again. Kevin's body was reacting in ways they hadn't in a really long time, and that's when he remembered, that the only thing making conact with his jeans right now, the only thing separating him from Claire's body, were her panties. Goddamn this dress. Goddamn this girl, and goddamn these hormones.

She wrapped his arms around her waist and began to drunkenly kiss the redhead under her. Kevin wanted to yell at her for even trying to do such a thing, but part of him, a more basic side of him, wanted to keep going, but no, he couldn't, he hadn't even talked to Edd yet!

'Edd…' He thought. The girl moved on to playing with his ear as she reached back in an attempt to start unzipping her own dress, giggling as her clumsy hands made the task harder than she had hoped. She was pressed closely to his body and Kevin could smell her perfume, sweet and floral, 'It's too sweet…Edd's scent is softer…simpler…' he could feel her skin wherever it made contact with his, 'this doesn't feel like Edd…' He heard a zip, and next thing he knew Claire had tugged his shirt off so now the both of them were topless with the only barrier between their skin was her bra. 'This touch doesn't feel right…'

Then he heard another zip, from his own clothing, his jeans to be exact.

Oh hell no.

Oh hella no.

Oh hella fucking no.

He was not gonna get laid tonight! Not by this wench! Kevin's body finally began to listen to cooperate and he was able to push the cheerleader off of him.

"Oh, you wanna fully unwrap the present so soon?" she asked teasingly.

"NO! JESUS CHRIST WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!"

"Wait. Excuse you?!"

"No, hell no, I'm out!" Kevin quickly zipped up his jeans and put his shirt back on; he got up from the bed and exited the room without any regrets, leaving behind a furious, half-naked girl in bed.

He ran down the stairs and began his search for the sockhead once more, but right as he was about to exit the living room, he was stopped by an irritated Eddy and a concerned Ed.

"Where ya going boxhead?"

"Fuck off, Eddy, I needa find Double Dork."

"I. Don't. Think. So."

"You don't know what you're talking about! Chris Hemsworth booty is A+!"

Edd laughed and rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright! So you would date him then?"

"Absofuckinglutely!... if he was single of course. His baby is such a cutie." Answered Nat, smiling down at Double D. "So you would go for Emma Watson? Should've known!"

"Haha, of course." Edd was happy he and Nat had finally reconciled and because of this he was actually really enjoying his time at the party… until he heard the voice he was most hoping for that evening.

"I said OUT OF MY GODDAMN WAY, SHRIMP!"

Unfortunately, the voice sounded quite angry, and unfortunately, Eddward was quite sure he knew because of what…or more specifically, because of whom.

"I SAID NO."

Edd and Nat looked at each other in both confusion and alarm, the last thing either of them wanted was their best friends causing an unnecessary rumble in Nazz's house.

They walked over to the area near the stairs where they heard the voices coming from, and as they got closer they could see a small group of people lingering around and looking at whatever was happening between the two hot-headed men.

Nazz ran over from where she was and stood between them. "Stop it! This is a party! A Christmas party! A happy party! AND SO HELP ME GOD WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY GOOD TIME!"

One of the guests couldn't help but giggle at Nazz's command, but stopped and looked away when she shot daggers at him with her gaze. She didn't want an audience for whatever was happening, so she had to think of a way to get them away or at least distract them, "Hey, Amy, can you move the karaoke over to the back of the house? More booze over there!" The guests whooped and quickly followed the girl with a Santa hat to the back of the house.

"Alright, now, you two are going to explain to why just why exactly you nearly ruined my party!"

"Why don't you ask Casanova over here?" Eddy spat out the words and Nazz turned to look at Kevin quizzically with a quirked eyebrow.

Kevin gritted his teeth and scoffed, but before he could even defend himself, a very annoyed teen came stomping down the stairs adjusting her red dress. Nazz turned to the stairs as she descended and her eyes widened, she turned back to Kevin and looked at him in disbelief, "Kevin…no…not cool dude!"

"I didn't do shit to this bitch!"

"Excuse you!" Retorted Clair, "And FYI Nazz, he's saying the truth. God Kevin, I didn't remember you being such a wet towel in the bedroom."

Kevin turned bright red, but only a bit of the coloring was due to embarrassment, the rest was pure irritation. "I NEVER EVEN…ugh, forget it, just leave."

"My pleasure." Snapped the girl, and she promptly left the party, slamming the door behind her.

Kevin huffed and looked back at Nazz, Eddy, and Ed, "See?!"

Eddy just kept glaring, but Ed bumped his arm with his elbow lightly and looked at him with a soft, pleading expression as if saying 'C'mon, Eddy, Kevin didn't do anything. It's ok.'

Eddy looked up at his tall friend, then to the ground as he thought things over quickly, and finally at Kevin, "Fine."

Nazz closed her eyes and sighed in relief, but when she opened her eyes and looked back up she gasped when she saw the remaining 2 figures behind Kevin. At the sound, the Ed and Eddy looked past Kevin, also noticing the confused teens and Ed gulped.

"What?"

Kevin turned around and his heart sank. Of course; of course his luck would be such bullshit that Nat and Double D would've witnessed this little scene.

Nat stood a little bit in front of Edd in a protective manner, and looked disappointed in Kevin, meanwhile Double D looked at the redhead in hurt confusion. The beanie-clad boy looked down and let out a soft, distant chuckle.

"Forgive me Nazz, but I think it's time for me to go home."

"What? Noooo, Double D please stay!" She pleaded.

"It's alright Nazz. Thank you for inviting me, I really did have a nice time. Goodbye." He said with a forced smile, and then turned on his heel towards the door.

Nazz and Eddy were about to go after him when they felt Ed's hand on their shoulders, "Double D will be ok, he's Double D! Just let him be for a little bit ok?" They looked at each other and nodded.

"C'mon Ed, let's go get a couple of beers and enjoy this party a little longer."

"Okey dokey Eddy!"

Now it was only Kevin, Nat, and Nazz left standing there awkwardly. Nat couldn't stop starting at the door, "I have to go talk to him."

"No."

Nat turned his head to Kevin and furrowed his eyebrows, "No? NO? Woah there cherry bomb, since when can you make choices for either me or Double Dude?"

"Nat don't start with me again."

"I thought you came here to talk to Double D not screw around with one of the easy A's of the class!

"I didn't do anything! You heard her right?!"

"Yeah I did, but she still came down looking like a hot mess."

"Why am I even bothering then?! You guys won't believe I didn't do shit just because she came down like that. For your information she was drunk and horny off her ass and I was also drunk but very turned off!...And anyway…should I even talk to Edd anymore? If he was done hating me before he probably hates me again after that… plus, looks like you two already got close again."

"Huh?"

"Oh please Nat. I saw you two squeezing the life out of each other in the backyard."

"Oh…no, nono, nonono. Kevin that was not a romantic hug! That was a 'hey, we're bros again!' hug!"

"Oh…really?"

"Kevin what have I told you about jumping to conclusions?" Scolded Nazz, "is that why you were suddenly so aversive about talking to Edd."

"Uhh…maybe…"

"Kevin!"

"Ok, fine! Yes!"

Nat huffed and shook his head, "Kevin we already went over this, I'm your bro, and you're my bro, and now he's my bro too, and you don't hurt your bros. You already know Edd likes you, I know Edd likes you, and he knows that I know and that you know that I know. Ok?" He placed his hand and squeezed Kevin's shoulder reassuringly, "Now, if anyone should be going after Edd, it should be you Pebbles."

"Hah…thanks…King of butts."

Both friends smiled at each other, then Kevin nodded at Nazz and Nat before bolting to the door and running outside off to Edd's place.

Back inside Nat let out a big sigh and rubbed the back of his neck; Nazz stood next to him and gave him a hug, "That was very mature of you Nathan."

She heard the teal-haired boy sniffle and hugged him tighter.

"Yeah, I guess it was," another sniffle, and he wiped away a rogue tear from his right cheek, "but then, why does it hurt…"

"Because you like him too. But you don't want to hurt either one."

"Love sucks Nazz."

"I know dude I know. Perk up though, you're in MY party, and no one's gonna have a sucky time at my party! Now c'mon let's go get you a Heineken."

"Got any more Tequila?"

"That's the spirit!"

Kevin ran outside into the cold night, and he could see his breathe as they puffed out of his mouth in irregular intervals. He was about to reach Edd's house when he noticed that the light to his room wasn't on. "That's weird…he didn't go back home?"

The jock walked around the area, trying to spot the boy, but to no avail, so he decided to search somewhere else. "The creek? No, way too cold for that now, and dark too…The back alley? No that's stupid…The playground!"

Kevin turned back from where he came and continued way past Nazz's house and off to where their old playground still stood. He began to feel a few prickles of cold collide with his skin, and when he looked up he noticed that it was beginning to snow. 'Great, now I'll be extra cold and this isn't even my good, winter jacket!'

But at least his search was over; there he was, swinging solemnly on one of the swings. Kevin stopped to recuperate his breathing, and give his heart a moment to settle. He began to walk slowly towards the boy, who still hadn't noticed him and cleared his throat when he got close enough. Double D shot his eyes up at his, and their gazes met, and electricity ran down both of their bodies, although neither of them admitted it at that moment.

"O-oh, Kevin…why are you not back at the party?"

"I had no reason to stay…mind if I sit?"

"If you wish to."

Kevin nodded and took the swing next to Edd's and began to move his legs back and forth slowly so he could swing as well. He licked his chapped lips and rubbed the back of his neck before trying to speak again.

"Edd, I think…you and me…we really gotta talk."

Edd stopped swinging, and held onto the chains on either side of him, playing with the chain with his fingers.

"Yes, I believe we do."