Hey guys I want to thank ALL of you who have stuck around to read this story and a special thanks to those who have left me reviews both eye opening and delightful. Every review counts.
Ok so here's chapter 23. Yeesh I can't believe a month went by already since the last chapter. I'm so sorry. A really bad writer's block hit me after the last chapter and phew it packed a wallop! I'm now ahead of the game so the next chapter will NOT take that long I promise. I hope you guys like this one. So as always-
Enjoy!
"Another failed venture."
Eddward's eyes danced remorsefully, his excited smile fading as he read over the compilation of words glaring back at him on the screen of his computer. We thank you Mr. Vincent for your interest in working with our company, he read. We are currently not hiring for the position you have request, however your file shall be saved in our system for future reference. It was a rejection letter; the seventh one this month. We appreciate your enthusiasm, he went on to read, and look forward to doing business with you in the future. We wish you the greatest of luck in your endeavors.
"I appreciate the well wishes." He sighed. "I will certainly need them if I am to survive this treacherous landscape."
Resigning from his search, he clicked the browser closed and ended his internet session. At least whoever had written this letter hadn't beaten around the proverbial bush as the others whom contacted him had. He would much rather get it over with and move on than to be dragged about by the nose only to find himself with wasted time. Lord knew he'd already wasted enough time as it was. Gathering his bag he returned his check-out card to the librarian and decided to head home. Well, home to Kevin's condo. Edd couldn't find it in himself to call it his home.
Winter had begun its steady approach. Frost had started to layer the streets in sheer shades of white, gathering in the early morning hours and transforming Manhattan into a pre-winter wonderland. His breath came out in shallow clouds and as he watched the clouds of white rise into the cool crisp air, he started toying with the notion of being utterly, and incomprehensibly, broke. He despised it with a passion. By now his usual banter would have been doused in holiday cheer but his economic disadvantage was sucking the very merriment out of him. It didn't help that this was the third letter of rejection he had received this week. His decision to major in computer software sciences was proving to have been a terrible decision on his part. He was sure that by now his vast amount of credentials and squeaky clean record would have gotten him much further. He had not expected the job market to be so competitive where that was concerned.
Though he kept the condo in as mint condition had he possibly could, he was more than positive that after a while Kevin would get sick of his mooching and send him on his way. If he couldn't get himself working the computer software trade then he was going to have to do something drastic. He only hoped it wouldn't be too drastic- like burgers-and-fries drastic. He shuddered to think himself behind a messy counter, punching numbers on a salt stained cash register. And the GERMS! He felt nauseous just thinking about it.
However, spoke his mind of reason, there is much one must contend to if he or she expects to survive in a new and hostile environment.
Still, it made him queasy. He was going to have to approach this dilemma from a new angle, if not head on, if he expected to get anywhere. Even if that meant flipping greasy burgers and standing on the street corner in a smelly corn dog costume. Again he shuddered, nearly tripping over himself in dramatic disgust. Eddward Marion Vincent, garbed in the linens of a corn starched by-product that smelt as though it had liberated during a dumpster dive- OH THE HUMANITY!
To think that just a few weeks ago the very same bench he sat upon had been his bed. It was hard not to recognize the pattern of cracks that gave the bench its familiar charm. On a particularly cold night he had spent his evening alone and, thankfully, unmolested; counting the turns in the cracks and remembering how momentarily astounded he was when he saw them split suddenly in all directions. If he remembered correctly there were exactly two foundationally worrisome lines sprouting form the support of the back rest, and thirteen tiny branches following. Some of the lines met while others missed one another by centimeters.
The bench reminded him of a very dark place he had been when he came upon it some months ago. He came to this very bench the night had had lost everything. Looking back on it the world seemed like a bitter and lonely place, like an old woman sending away her desperate and needy children to face the harsh hand of life. He wish he could say that knowing what he did now would have prompted him to change the past if he could, and yet, as he sat there in the chilly afternoon with his eyes staring up into the silver clouded sky, he doubted he ever would have. His contemplation of then and now made him realize something; that maybe, just maybe, he needed to be homeless. If not to learn the plight of the gravely misfortuned, then to open a wound that may very well teach him how to survive later on. Had his skin thickened? Perhaps but not by much. His constitution? Well he certainly gave Kevin a run for his money. Over all he took from that experience a lesson he couldn't have learned elsewhere. He knew for certain that without it he wouldn't be the Edd he knew today.
Eddward regarded the fine stitching of his pants while picking at the end of his tattered shoe. The two articles of clothing were striking in contrast. He felt as though he were staring into the past from his present, and in a way he was. The old Eddward who was scared of everything and everyone would never have worn the clothing Kevin had given him that morning. Well, that and among other amorous… things. Skinny jeans and checkered flannels were a far cry from mismatching purple shorts and orange tee's. None of this had been his intention but the chips had fallen and as a model human he needed to adapt. He wanted desperately to blame these changes upon his surroundings; that he had grown according to his adaptive capabilities, however he knew that just was not the case and lying to himself did little to offer his sensibilities any reprieve.
The bus he boarded was overcrowded as usual and reeked of something piss and cologn. Edd held his nose the whole way to his stop, rushing off to inhale the crisp winter air. Instead of catching the next trip he chose to walk the rest of the way home. He missed the long walks he used to take in the woods as a child. While he hikes the hidden trails behind his house he often pondered solutions to his problems, always finding comfort in observing the imperfections of nature. The trees planted into the city's side-walks had already begun to shed their autumn leaves. In preparation for winter the flowers in window seals high above his head had begun to wilt, petals dancing around his head as the wind tossed them about. Back in Peach Creek he could only imagine how beautiful the town looked in its golden fall glory. He wondered if winter in New York would be anything like winter in Peach Creek. "I suspect not." He said to no one in particular. It just didn't seem plausible.
When Edd arrived home Kevin was at the stove, a frying pan in one hand and his ipod in the other. He smiled, watching the red-head shimmy over to the cutting board. He worked as though he was without a care in the world, rocking out to a song Edd could barely make heads or tails of through the blare of his headphones.
No, he thought. Winter in New York will be nothing like winter in Peach Creek.
Edd entered the kitchen silently, giggling behind his hand as he watched the motorcycle enthusiast work. From the corner of his eye Kevin spotted a dash of black and yanked out his ear phones. His face lit with a smile that could put the sun to shame. "Yo dork." Eddward scoffed at the endearment, reaching into the upper cupboard for a glass. "I had certainly hoped by now we were past that nick-naming nonsense."
Kevin smirked, setting down his kitchen knife and took to leaning on the counter. "Yeah, no. I'm still gonna call you a dork." When Edd rolled his eyes Kevin chuckled. "You're such a-"
"Don't say it."
"Woman."
The sockhead comically blanched. "Why you-! I never… Oh be gone with you." He leaned up onto his tip toes feeling the ends of his fingers brush the cup he wanted. "Of all the things you call me a woman comes to mind? I am insulted."
Kevin laughed and took his chance to get up and close with his favorite nerd. Strong arms wrapped around Edd's center, spinning him around. With no protest he lifted the small boy up and sat him on the edge of the counter. He reached up and collected Edd's glass for him.
"Are you really insulted or just testing my capacity for patience?"
Edd grinned back crossing his arms as if he were delighted by all this. Kevin sat the glass down and chuckled, shaking his head. When he leaned in for a kiss Edd welcomed it with open arms. Forest green peered cheerfully into chrome blue as the sweet lip lock session came to an end, much too quickly in either's opinion.
There were a great many things the two had discovered about one another in their short time together. Edd found Kevin was a cuddle monster from hell while Kevin came to learn the sockhead responded much more positively to eye contact. Kevin craved touch most of all, making a welcome home kiss and the occasional cuddle on the couch the perfect tool to satiate him. Who knew this strapping hard city boy was such a softy for snuggles? Edd didn't mind being his cuddle buddy; in fact, he let Kevin move him about like a doll positioning him this way and that until the red-head was settled. It was downright adorable though he wouldn't dare say so aloud. Edd on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed gazing into Kevin's eyes. It had taken a couple of days and one insane staring contest, for him to figure it out. Kevin thought it endearing. He liked knowing that he was the center of Eddward's attention. Why? He couldn't say. All he knew for sure was that he liked the feeling. There was just something about being the object of Edd's interest that got to him. While he may have played the love interest to a number enamored males and females he had come across in the past, there was just something authentic in the way Edd stared at him; that silly gap showing through his smile.
Genuine. That's what it was.
"So how was the job search?" Kevin asked, returning to his task.
Edd remained on the kitchen counter kicking his legs back and forth as he leaned towards the sink to fill his glass with tap water. "Productive."
Before handling any more of the food Kevin wrapped up his ipod and stuffed it into his pocket. "Choice."
"And yet unproductive."
Kevin grimaced mid chop. "Another kiss-my-ass note?"
"Language Kevin." Edd sipped at his water, humming appreciatively as the cool liquid filtered down his parched throat. "However, yes, I did receive another rejection letter." He sighed, discontented and leaned back against the cupboards. "I've been at this for several weeks now and I have yet to get anywhere. How were you able to procure employment?"
Kevin shrugged, dumping his chopped onion into the frying pan. "My pops owns a shop remember? I kind of fell into the same thing he did at my age. He figured he'd give me a job working for him so long as I earned my share to pay for tech school and all."
"Oh." Edd had nearly forgotten.
Sprinkling a dash of chili powder into his skillet Kevin left his spicy concoction to simmer, turning the burner down low.
"How was your day Kevin?"
The red-head beamed, feeling exuberated. "Go into the living room. I've got a surprise for you."
Edd raised a brow, his eyes sparkling excitedly. A surprise? Eddward loved surprises. "But you've yet to tell me about your day."
"Just you wait and see." Kevin's lips pulled back into a smug grin. "Well hop to it kid. Oh and put on the T.V. but don't change the channel."
He was about to ask but the sockhead opted not to. He didn't want to ruin whatever surprise Kevin had in mind. He wasn't even home for more than ten minutes and already his mood was taking a 180 spin. He couldn't stop smiling. He carried the taste of the red-head on his lips as he did what Kevin told him to, manually turning the flat screen on and plopping down on the couch- his side of the couch. He gathered up one of the throw pillows and tucked it to his chest as he waited. He craned his head back to look over the head of the couch. "Just what did you have in mind? I certainly hope you didn't go to any lengths for me."
Kevin's back was to him as he went about cleaning his food station. Edd felt a pang of guilt run through him for having left Kevin the duty of cooking and cleaning for the night but when he rose from his seat to offer his assistance Kevin stopped him, commanding him to 'sit his keester down'. Eddward pouted but did as he was told.
"Don't worry 'bout it." The red-head swiped two plates from the cupboard and went about to refilling Edd's water. "All will be revealed shortly."
…And revealed it was.
"Now I know what you're going to say-" Is never the first thing you want to hear when there was a so-called surprise involved.
Edd crawled back on the couch cushions and off Kevin's lap where he had been happily lounging, the beautiful atmosphere Kevin had created with dinner having been ruined the moment Kevin opened his mouth. An apologetic expression came over his face and Edd didn't like the looks of it. Not one bit. Kevin waved him closer but Edd crossed his arms defiantly, one fine brow lifted suspiciously. Kevin leaned forward, their half-eaten plates left forgotten on the coffee table. The movie Kevin had surprised Edd with had been left on pause for the duration of their talk, a silly face left frozen on the screen. He scratched his forehead, tipping back the bill of his favorite hat. He had hoped the movie would ease the dork up some before he went and loosened his jaw; however he hadn't expected the boy to jump fully into defensive mode.
"I know you said you didn't want to do anything for your birthday-" He noted the exhausted look on Edd's face but continued anyways. He was persistent bastard after all. "-however I do insist."
Edd rolled his eyes, his cheeks flushing the lightest shade of pink. He rubbed at his temple where he felt the start of a tension headache. "As I mentioned before in one of our many talks Kevin, it is simply another day. Nothing to bother yourself with." His observation of the red-head told him the man was going to be stubborn about this. Edd cleared his throat while simultaneously clearing his mind. His thoughts felt jumbled and it didn't help that the green eyed beauty was staring right at him. He felt self-conscious and brought his knees to his chest.
"Come on, just hear me out. Give me that at least."
He really didn't want to… but the pleading look in Kevin's eyes was hard to ignore. He relented, uncrossing his arms with a reluctant sigh.
Kevin smiled victoriously as he scooted closer to the sockhead. He didn't stop moving until their legs touched and the two were locked in a stare. Both men eased at once, muscles releasing tension and facial expressions softening. Edd tilted his head into the back of the couch, his blue eyes dancing apprehensive. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't the least bit curious. Kevin grinned, admiring the photographic moment. The kid was really cute with his dark hair spilling beneath his hat and framing his pale face. His eyes were big, blue, and oh so curious. They were beautiful.
Damn this kid could be a model, Kevin though offhandedly. "So this is what I've been thinking…"
Really, Edd had no intention of celebrating his birthday. Throughout his childhood there was no desire to. When forced to he kept it small and very quiet, none of the outlandish parties his best friends threatened to cook up every year. After all what was the point of celebrating the day his very birth tore his family asunder?
Hmm, seems Edd's hiding something and Kevin's got something up his sleeve. I wonder what it is? Oooh I know-! Oh wait I can't give that way. *snaps fingers* Shucks. Oh well. Until next time~
-Also, let me know your thoughts, opinions, maybe even predictions if you've got any. I love hearing them and if you're confused about anything don't be afraid to ask, I can help clarify so you have a better reading experience :)
