Chapter 4- The taste of metal

"NO! I DONT WANT IT!"

-Slap-

Eddy's eye's grew big with dread as he felt his cheek burn red from the contact of Joseph's back hand. He also felt blood trickle down his nose. The impact of the hit had caused a nose bleed, and the fact that Joseph so easily caused it, scared Eddy. It didnt bring him pleasant memories.

"WILL YOU SHUT UP FOR A MINUTE!" The jock hissed in annoyance, clicking his tongue at Eddy as he removed his belt, using the thing to restrain the short teen onto the head of the bed.

"I'm not asking anymore."

Eddy bit back his words as fear now controlled him. Joseph had gotten his point across, and if those cold words were not enough, then the thing probing at Eddy's hole got the message across loud and clear.

...

"What's wrong Double D?" Nazz pulled the Ed-boy's book away from his face to get a better view of the foul mood the boy was in.

"Nothing you should concern yourself with. I just had an unpleasant conversation with Eddy was all."

"Oh yeah. He didnt come to school today."

"Who didnt come today?" Kevin showed up, drinking a capri sun.

"The lil dude. Come to think of it, I havent seen Ed either."

"Actually, the big guy is out sick today. Even Sarah has caught his cold." Double D sighed. "He at least has a reason for missing out today."

"Why didnt Eddy come today? He usually always shows up for school and just ditches the occasional class." Kevin walked over to a near by trash bin and tossed his empty capri sun away.

"I dont know. He wont talk to me, and I for one refuse to be the one to apologize first this time." Double D crossed his arms and huffed. "If he prefers to spend his time waisting away with bad company, then I wont stop him. Not this time!"

"Bad company? OH! Are we talking about that Joseph guy Kevin kicked out of football a month back?" Nazz snapped her fingers as if she had just put all the puzzle pieces together.

"What? So Eddy is real chummy with that guy after all?" Kevin sounded a bit surprised, despite having seen Eddy with Joseph a few times already.

"I dont care." Edd hissed under his breath, storming off before any more of the subject was mentioned.

"Who knew Edd was the jealous type." Nazz giggled.

"What?"

"Jeez Kevin, your kinda slow today!" She punched the red head. "I was making a joke."

"Oh."

...

"Next time, you better not disobey. Oh, and clean yourself up. You look disgusting." Joseph tossed his dirty tissues at Eddy, then gathered his things to leave. "See you tomorrow."

Eddy didnt dare move quite yet. He waited motionless until the door closed behind the other. Tears filled his eyes and slowly poured down the sides of his face. This was the first time Eddy felt like dying. He was dirty. His mouth tasted much worse then the times he gave blow jobs. He was practically drowning in the metalic taste of his own blood. And in the midst of it all, he actually came from the pain.

Suddenly, Eddy shot out of bed, falling a few times as he ran to the bathroom, barely making it over the toilet to barf. The feeling of semen and blood oozing from his backside didnt make his barfing any better. In fact, he felt even sicker than he ever did in his entire life. He was dirty, no better than trash. This... This was probably all he would ever be worth. It was time he learned this life lesson, he told himself. Life has decided that he didnt deserve anything better than the hand he was dealt... But then again.. Eddy chose the wrong paths to begin with. If he had just denied Joseph's offer, he would have been fine. But now...

...

"Yo." Kevin had been standing outside Eddy's home for a while now. Considering finals were just around the corner and Eddy had been distant made Kevin worry.

"K-Kevin!? Wha-what are you doing here?" Eddy held tightly onto his chest tightly, ensuring his heart was not about to jump right out of him.

"What do you think dork? You havent come around lately." Kevin frowned looking over Eddy, examining the short teen. "Is this payback?"

"Payback?"

"Yeah, you know.. for ignoring you back in middle school, when we werent friends...?" The jock made a face Eddy never imagined he could do. It was a face pained with an expression of guilt. "Like, I dont know... Recently, you havent even said hi to us, and just ignore us. You even spend most of your time with Joseph... Are you two that close?" Kevin bit his tongue as he felt himself grow slightly irritated.

"What's it to you who I hang out with? Yeah, so what if we are close? Its not like I ever give you hell over the people you hang out with, so why are you giving me an earful?" Eddy clicked his tongue. He did it on purpose, fully knowing that it bugged Kevin to no ends when they would argue, but.. but this time... he got a completely different response.

-SLAP-

"You are such a freaking DORK!" Kevin snarled, "So you became some fag!? I bet you two have some really great times, dont'cha!?"

Eddy held his burning cheek. It was starting to become normal for him to be hit. Though, this shouldnt be any different than their childhood, after all, its not it was the first time Kevin ever raised his hand to Eddy. But the teen did hope it would never happen again, but then again, Eddy had caused it. He had caused Kevin to over step the line and go back into old habits after it took so long just to be normal pals.

This, it hurt Eddy more than the things Joseph did to him. It hurt to see Kevin's pained expression after realizing what he had done and said. Though, Eddy had one question. Why would Kevin say he was a fag screwing around having fun times with Joseph?

"I... I'm sorry." Kevin mumbled and then took his leave before he could do anything more.

"...Me too." Eddy whispered holding his head down.

...

Joseph stood by his locker, talking to a few of his pals, showing them some photos from his cell. The jock had been completely unaware of the red head storming over in a fit of rage. Students could feel the murderous intent in Kevin as he entered the school grounds and speed walked his way over to Joseph with a closed hand.

Within moments, Kevin called out to the other before knocking the poor bastard on his arse with one punch.

"Stay away from what's mine!" Kevin blurted out without thinking and stormed off.

"Joseph Dude! You okay?!" A group of teens approached the fallen jock helping him up.

"Go get him." Joseph hissed under his breath. "It's time."

...

Eddy felt his body crash against the wet pavement right outside Peach Creak High's sports shed. The rain that had been pouring furociously moments ago had ceased and only left behind the smell of damp dirt and wet dog along with puddles all around.

Picking himself up, he brushed off some mud from the side of his face, looking down into a puddle of water. His nose wrinkled in disgust at his own reflection, causing him to turn away in time to recieve a foot to the face.

"Where do you think you're going porky?"

"You guys. I really think we should stop. What if a teacher comes by. Let's just book it while the booking still good. The pig was yelling really loud just now. Its likely someone heard him."

"Ugh, fine. You got lucky swine. Next time you wont escape."

The footsteps of the shorter teen's attachers grew faint in the distance, giving Eddy some relief. Shivering, he picked himself up, wiping away the tears that fell from his eyes. Looking back into the puddle below him, he studied his reflextion. The cuts against the left corner of his lips were too obviously bruised to hide with make-up this time...

"Eddy?"

"Lee?!"

... tbc