Chapter 5: What comes next?

"Lee!?" Eddy's voice cracked, the shock almost caused him to choke from only saying the girl's name. He scrambled to his feet, almost falling over once more when Lee stepped forward. "STAY BACK! DONT LOOK AT ME! I-" Eddy quickly turned and made a mad dash to get away. He ran as fast as he could. As if demons were nipping at the back of his feet. This of course caught Lee off guard and gave her little to no time to react. Within minutes, Eddy had left her behind.

Out of breath, he slowed down, pulling himself to the side of the sidewalk. He then allowed himself to fall onto the grass, though he thought by now he was safe in his own home, but boy was he wrong. In the moment he had reopened his eyes, Kevin had been looking down at him.

"Hey dork. What's with the sudden visit. So what, now that your pal Joseph isnt around, you remember the little peo- whoa, what the heck happened to your face!?"

Eddy was silent for a moment. He pondered whether it was really worth protecting such a heavy secret. He hated being away from his friends. He did all this so he wouldnt get left behind and he was 10 steps back from where he started. So, it obviously was not getting him anywhere closer to his goal, and he was putting up with so much for practically nothing. He didnt even apologize to Edd for the way he acted. Who knows. Maybe it was already too late to reconcile with his pal. Maybe he was already hated by everyone. And all for what? Nothing. thats what.

"...I'm sorry...I'm sorry... I.. I was stupid shovel-chin..." Eddy placed his hands over his face to cover up his crying face. "I made a huge mistake Kev... I really fucked up.. and i didnt know when to quit...Please...help me.."

"Whoa man, calm down. Let's get inside first. We can talk in my room." Kevin gave Eddy a hand, helping the weeping teen to his feet, then escorted him inside.

"Okay, let's get you cleaned up. I think I have some pjs that might fit you. My old man accidently bought the wrong size of jammies and thought they would fit me, but they might fit you. So, uh.. feel free to use the bathroom. I'll wait here."

"..kay.."

Moments after, finally getting all the dirt off his body, and the disgusting feeling of.. well that part wasnt important, what was-was the simple fact that he was clean now. Gettnig dressed was a bit of a hassle. Everything hurt like hell, and when he looked at his foggy reflextion, his sins seemed to appear like a bad movie on repeat.

"Yo done?" Kevin called out, snapping Eddy back to reality.

"Y-yeah.." He responed back, stepping out of the bathroom. The clothed Kevin was so sure would fit Eddy didnt quite give the wanted results. They were baggy and Eddy had to hold up the pj bottoms.

"So..uh.." Kevin looked away. He wasnt sure why he felt his chest tighten at the sight of baggy clothes on Eddy. Maybe he was reading too many of those porn mags his jock pals would bring to the lockers. Yeah. thats what it was. "What happened?"

"Before anything... I.. I want you to promise not to tell anyone. And... Please tell Double D im sorry."

"..Uh.. okay dude."

"Promis me!"

"I promise. I promise. So spill already."

...

Kevin looked over to the empty desk in class. Eddy hadnt shown his face since the night of the confession, and that was over a month ago. Double D and Ed had practically mourned the entire time of Eddy's disappearance. School life was only now begining to go back to the norm. Looking around, there were a few noticable changes. One of those changes was Lee and Nazz had finally become an item after a few failed attempts of open flirting from Nazz.

Another was a very hidden change. It was a subtle yet huge change. It concerned matters of the heart. Kevin's heart.

That one saying, you dont know what you have until its gone, it never had much meaning to Kevin as much as it did now. His chest would hurt each time he came to school and only saw an empty chair. His mind would mentally beat itself for not having noticed anything until it was too late. Kevin felt like the worst piece of scum on the face of the planet. If he could go back in time to that one night when Eddy had confessed his deeds, he would. He would go back in a heart beat and stop himself from saying hurtful words. It was his fault. Kevin knew it all too well. HE was the one who drove Eddy away. Instead of giving that hand Eddy pleaded for, he snatched it away. What kind of bastard was he to do it without a second thought?!

"..v.. Kev!" Nazz waved her hand infront of the jock's face, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You okay dude? You've been spacing out a lot recently... Look, classes have been over 30 minutes ago."

"Yeah, im fine. Just have a lot on my mind is all."

"Is it Eddy?"

"...Yeah. Its kind of hard to believe that this school year is almost over and he wont get to end it with us, ya know?"

"Yeah. I mean... He just left without a word. Even his parents didnt want to tell us where he went. I wonder if the lil dude is doing well.."

"Nazz... I.. I think I caused him to leave.. And its really killing me. The guilt. I... I think I.."

"You think you loved him? Is that what you wanted to say?"

Kevin bit his bottom lip, lowering his head to his desk, then passed a hand over his red hair.

"Yeah... Little too late right?"

...

tbc