Charley went to math first thing. A few students were absent, like everyday. Nick was gone. His former friend, Adam Johnson was absent. Been a few days now. Charley didn't care as he looked back at Ed who stared right at him. Math seemed to fly by in a blur and Charley found himself standing at his friends locker watching videos on his new Android.

Ed and Lilith stood across at another set of lockers, watching them. "Dude, I think Ed and his gothic pet is going to talk to us," said the taller out of the trio.

"Hey, can we get a minute?" asked Ed to Charley.

"Just the two of you? That's sweet!" cooed the shortest friend. Ed tried to say that by we he meant Lilith, himself and Charley. "Now he can school you in the ways of geek-douchery."

"Nice. Don't you have some sluts to go fuck?" asked Ed as Lilith giggled.

"Actually, yeah, I do," retorted the small friend. "Don't you have some goth ass to go fuck?"

"Oh please!" laughed the tall friend. "Lilith fucking Ed? Edward Lee? Ha! She may be desperate but she ain't that desperate!"

"It's important, Brewster," said Ed.

Charley excused himself from the group of his friends. "What's up, Ed?"

"You know Adam's missing right?" asked Ed as Lilith adjusted her collar. She almost seemed nervous. Charley figured it was because she knew Ed was about to spaz out and if she were normal, she'd be ashamed.

Charley snorted. Yup, Lilith was ashamed. It had to be it. "What do you mean, Adam's missing?" said Charley.

"He keeps trying him. He never gets a text or a phone call back. Nothing," said Lilith. "Kind of like what your wannabe jock ass does to my poor Eddy."

Charley glanced back at his friends who were having a fit of laughter. "Lilith is right. I don't know if you were paying attention at roll call but he's not the only one gone," said Ed.

"Kids aren't coming to school. That happens all the time. Lilith used to have absent days and I didn't see you getting so worked up," said Charley.

"Lilith happens to be very pale, so whenever it gets really hot, she has to stay indoors," sneered Ed. "I want you to meet me at Adam's house after school. We'll check around and see if he's okay."

"I can't. I'm sorry. I'm busy," lied Charley.

"I don't think you understand what I'm telling you. Adam's gone," said Ed.

"Do we really have to do this here?" asked Charley.

"Wow. Is he not even supposed to speak to you anymore jock boy?" sneered Lilith.

"Would you two please be quiet? Ed, don't spaz out," hissed Charley.

"You don't want me to spaz out? Oh my G-d! It's so horrible! Crossing the streams! Will high school as we know it cease to exist!" cried Ed. "You want me to tell your pals how well we really know each other? The LEGO contests, the Farscape conventions, the costumes?"

"Please stop," said Charley.

"Or how about that one time you took my Stretch Armstrong, so you could tie it around your balls and jerk off for an hour?" asked Ed as Lilith was giggling like a mad women. "Be my backup."

"Okay, fine. Adam's after school," said Charley giving up.

"Don't be late," said Ed. Charley started to walk back towards his friends. "I'd really like Stretch back, by the way!"

Amy's lime green bug pulled up to Charley's house. They both got out, Amy holding a very large smoothie. "You know what I want for dinner?" she asked.

"You realize you're eating right now, right?" asked Charley. He wondered if Ed had any of these problems with Lilith. "You just forced me to get you a smoothie so big that they named a planet after it."

Amy looked down and pouted. "It's true. I'm insatiable."

They leaned in for a kiss. Even if Ed didn't have insatiable girlfriend, Amy was the best kisser. No questions asked. At least when he kissed Amy, he had no black lipstick on his face. Charley glanced at his house and saw his mom and the neighbor talking. The neighbor was male and muscular. Wearing his dark hair messy, a tight wife beater and blue jeans. "Is my mom flirting?" asked Charley as he drug Amy over.

Meanwhile, Ed and Lilith were at Adam's house. Again, Ed was back on his phone calling Charley for the umpteenth time. "Hey, Charley, I'm at Adam's house, and it's really weird because you're not here."

"He's not gonna show," said Lilith sitting on the porch of Adam's house. Ed said something to the voicemail about videos. "Okay, maybe he will now."

Ed sat on the curb. "Ed?" asked Lilith, making Ed look at her. She drew a heart with her long, pale finger on his chest, making him blush. "I'd like to see you in tights," she whispered before kissing him.

Meanwhile, Charley's mom was asking the neighbor what exactly he was working on. "Foundation problems. I had to rip up half of the basement. My daughter doesn't much like the mess either," he said with a smile.

"Oh, these house were practically built overnight. It never surprises me when one comes apart," said Charley's mom. "By the way, what's your daughter's name? Maybe she's in one of Charley's classes. Maybe he can introduce her to his friends."

"Lilith," said the man. "She hangs out with her boyfriend, Ed. She's told me Charley doesn't much care for Ed."

"It's a shame, they used to be so close," sighed Charley's mom. "Jerry, this is my son Charley and his...I don't know. Do we say girlfriend?"

"I know how that is," laughed Jerry. "Lilith won't call Ed her boyfriend until...they've been dating for longer."

"Hi, I'm Amy," said Amy, shaking Jerry's hand. "Nice to meet you."

"So, Jerry is our new neighbor at the Perry place," said Charley's mom. "And he's handy."

"I'm sorry about the mess, Charley," said Jerry. "Lilith doesn't much like it either. I was just telling your mom I'll have the dumpster gone tomorrow."

"Doesn't bother me," said Charley.

"Jerry does night construction on the strip," said Charley's mom.

"You play ball?" asked Jerry referring to Charley's shoes. "Always looking for a pick up game. Ever since Lilith has found Ed, dad has taken a back seat. But it takes a real man to wear puce. I like them. So, I'd invite you guys inside, but it's a mess."

Jerry excused himself back to work as Charley's cell phone rang. It was a text from Ed. Not a nice one judging by his face. "I got to go," said Charley kissing Amy. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"Dinner's on," said Charley's mom.

"That's fine. I'll eat after," said Charley hurrying away from the two women.

Jerry had moved into his garage, where he to got a text. From Lilith. Asking him to meet up with her and Ed. Tonight.