Disclaimer: I do not own Edd, Ed, and Eddy or any of the characters within the show. I do, however, own the images and ideas of those characters portrayed within this particular story.

Chapter 2: Oblivious

Even with his return to a public school Ed's grades were not adequately improving. In English, during our first real test, Ed had peaked over onto my own test and even whispered, "Pst, what's the answer to number 14, Double D?" at one point. I honestly didn't mind Ed's cheating; perhaps if his grades proficiently rose he wouldn't have so much trouble with his mother constantly bickering over his shoulder. These days I knew were especially hard because the woman was a single mother and took out her stress by over-analyzing every situation her son encountered.

Unfortunately, the teacher caught on to my sharing of answers; I never did actually see exactly how much Ed had borrowed from my paper. Apparently the woman allowed me to keep my flawless test grade and had another solution in mind. Only two weeks into the class and the English teacher without further address moved Ed across the room from me in the rear left corner where no one sat beside him. On the next several assignments, Ed's grades had apparently plummeted so he and I were asked to stay after class one day.

Recognizing our apparently obvious friendship, Ms. Blanch not only brought up my earlier efforts at letting Ed pass but the threat that I knew all too well it could rub off on my permanent record. She proposed that in our spare time, I tutor him in language usage, writing, and more specifically whatever it is that was being discussed in the class at the time. She moved Ed back beside me, which I was thankful for, not many other kids found interest in my existence and I was seldom sat beside when someone had any alternative option.

When the list of classic books was passed around the room, I found I had read about 75% of them already. Immediately Ed gravitated toward Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and I realized that that was indeed one I had not yet read. Having grown up a bit with Ed, the story of Frankenstein was a familiar one and I realized I had always just had a pretty good idea of its plot without reading the original. Based upon what I had remembered, I thought that the story of a conflicted scientist, passionate about his endeavors, was very well suited to my own interest. Of course, Ed was more interested in a monster sewn from human parts, but I took our immediate agreement upon Frankenstein as a good sign.

To ensure her son was paying attention to his tutor, Ed's mother insisted that I teach the loveable oaf at their house. She was strict and left Ed little room for his antics, which honestly proved to make Ed's tendency toward being distracted less of a problem. His room was still the cluttered mess that made me almost twitch compulsively, but he seemed more conscious of his own mess. Ed's mother fussed at him to straighten up every so often, but to generally no avail.

There were old VHS tapes stacked in lopsided towers in one corner next to a player and a small television. Comic books and graphic novels were piled on shelves in a hurried effort to put them back and stuck out every which away. Spiral and composition notebooks filled with Ed's creative writings and doodles were mixed into the clutter, which I found intriguing to flip through. The few I got a hold of lay splayed next to Ed's single recliner in the moderately sized basement bedroom. Much of his language was simple but the bizarre scenarios and fantastic scenes he created were unlike anything I'd seen or read. Perhaps there was more to an intelligent human mind beyond academics after all. Though my grades went unmatched, there was no way I could conceive of such incredible ideas within the confines of my brain.

I was relieved to see that Ed had new furniture since his return from the private school. Recalling the grungy, filthy accessories of Ed's youth makes me shiver slightly. I'd finally be able to take a seat in the damn place, instead of standing to the side, fearful of the grime that might infiltrate my very being.

I approach the recliner apprehensively to take a closer look and I'm relieved when I see that it's in reasonable condition. Looking up, I watch Ed drop onto his mattress from which a couple of comics fall. I resist the urge to pick them up and instead take a seat in the upholstered mush of Ed's chair. My first impression of the pleasant smell that basks over me isn't so bad. It's a mixture of Ed's body spray and something I can't quite place.

Apparently his hygiene had improved since his mandatory routine at the private academy as well, and he seemed to shower at least once every other day. I motioned to derail my thoughts on the matter so that we could begin studying before Ed found something else to entertain himself.

"Hey Lumpy! Good to see you back in the world of the living."

"Hey Eddy!" Ed grinned like a dope as he turned from my side to face an approaching Eddy. Needless to say Eddy had grown into his youthful stature and beyond. Though he reached my height and neither of us were close to gaining on Ed's towering 6'1", Eddy exceeded my lanky presence with his bulk. He didn't typically tend to his physical attributes and wasn't real big, but rather thick. Eddy's constant cynical undertones certainly didn't lessen the unwanted intimidation I felt when in his presence. My intellect proved useless and even my attempts at approaching most situations with optimism were shot down when it came to Eddy. Ed's enthusiasm upon seeing the broad Eddy didn't seem to lighten the invisible storm cloud brooding above my head.

"Want to come over later? I just got some real good stuff in and I'll smoke it with ya', free of charge," Eddy proposed with adept smoothness.

"I have to go home and study because Mom says so, Eddy." Ed frowned and glanced at me because he knew I'd protest if he went off with Eddy. His mother would have his head anyway and recently I suspected that she was only looking for him to do something wrong by the way he looked when mentioning her.

"Studying's for saps," Eddy bluntly spat out. "Why do you even still listen to that bitch anyway? What are you? 12?" I harshly scowled as Eddy's bullying personality prevailed. I don't even think he knew when he was insulting someone anymore. Before Ed could reply, a head of bouncing red curls approached from behind Eddy and a familiar voice rose.

"Hey Eddy! Get your butt out here!" and Lee motioned for the door to the parking lot. She didn't take any interest in Ed's sudden presence and didn't even look in my direction.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be there in a minute! Don't get your panties in a wad! Sheesh!" Eddy turned back towards us as Lee stormed out said door. He looked at us for a moment then burst out in his all too familiar cackle. "Wait! Don't tell me Doctor Dorkus here is your tutor!" and Eddy motioned toward me. "That's priceless!"

Ed smiled idiotically, a dopey chuckle leaving his mouth and I absolutely couldn't take it anymore. "Eddy! Education is the-" but my logical counter was smothered by his callous laughter. I simply frowned and gave up before turning and just walking away. It was a waste of time to try and convince Eddy of anything that made sense! As I drifted farther from the two, I could hear Eddy's laughter die down and missed out on a conversation that I have a feeling I will later regret.