Hey guys! Here's chapter 24 as promised. I've been sick as a dog the last couple of days so writing has been a wee bit slow but I'm still ahead a few chapters so that's good. Not much else to say. Hope you guys like it :)
Enjoy!
Kevin lead Eddward forward by the shoulders, a silly grin plastered to his freckled face as he stirred the boy out of the way of a trashcan. He nearly tumbled forward but Kevin was quick to catch him, righting the blindfold when it slipped. "No peeking." The sockhead harrumphed as he reached his arms forward, nearly stumbling over his own feet again. "I see no reason in blindfolding me." He waved his arms about, feeling a tug to his left then to the right. "I promised not to open my eyes and yet you insisted."
"Well duh. If you peek you'll ruin the surprise."
The sockhead chuckled. "Mr. Barr you are impossible. Now may I please remove this blindfold? Lord knows this cloth hasn't been washed on eons."
Kevin flicked the giggling boy on the forehead. "Yeah laugh it up punk."
Edd struggled not to laugh as he stumbled again, the strength of Kevin's arms holding him up as they climbed a rather random flight of stairs. He could only imagine where the man was taking him. Step by shaky step they made it to the top. Edd kept his arms stretched out in case Kevin thought it funny to drive him into a wall; he certainly wouldn't put it past him, and contemplated what to say when all was said and done. Nothing seemed quite appropriate. Thank you? No, no, he rather not sound pretentious. He tried his best not to fidget, relying on his smile to convey what his words could not.
When the red-head insisted on celebrating the sockhead's birthday, it was safe to say he had been more than hesitant. Memories of the past threatened to haunt his present, cutting like a razor deep into the open wound of mental scars still in the process of healing. He had every intention of refusing and moving on. However, the determined gleam in Kevin's eye had made him pause. He had a good reason but looking directly into those twin pools swimming of forest green made him think otherwise. When he sat before the other in preparation of letting him down easy he found he simply… couldn't. At first he reasoned epilepsy. His jaw had clamped shut and his heart squeezed tight in his chest when that two letter word 'No' rolled about on his tongue, burning like acid until he was forced to swallow it. When he didn't seize completely he speculated insanity. Yes he had to act insane but why else would Edd have agreed to this? It was madness, pure and simple.
My, Eddy and Ed would surely be sore if they were ever to find out about this.
He tried not to think of how hurt his two best friends would be if they ever caught wind of it. For years the boys had tried to get their buddy to have a little fun, using every plan and scheme in their repertoire to get the skinny boy excited for his birthday. Every year they tried and, to his silent relief, every year they failed. He was a firm believer in letting sleeping dogs lie, but oh no, Kevin Barr wasn't about to just leave it be.
It seemed to the sockhead that birthdays meant something special to the red-head. There wasn't much he knew about Edd's family history so the scokhead really couldn't fault him for it. Eddy and Ed, shameless as those two were in pushing the tender subject, had their hearts in the right place- but where could he place Kevin? He knew the man to be as easy going as he was stubborn but in reality he knew just as little about him. He wasn't quite sure what made him question his own logic half way into the debate. Maybe it had been Kevin's witty responses or the handsome smile he wore deliberately to throw Edd off. Again he wouldn't put it past him. In the end Eddward lost the argument and agreed to a party. A small party. A very teeny tiny party- sardine compact small.
He should have known better.
"How much further until we arrive to our mystery destination?" He teased.
From behind his mirror glasses Kevin rolled his eyes, pushed the dork forward. "Keep your panties on. We're here." Carefully he reached around to push open the door. When Edd reached up to undo the blindfold Kevin smacked his hand away. "Ouch! Was that necessary?!" The red-head snorted, relieved that the dork couldn't see the excited grin that cracked over his face. He waved down a figure standing across the room and held his finger to his lip. He bit into the end of his finger to keep from laughing. "And ruin the surprise?"
Edd huffed, dropping both hands to his hips. He turned his head in Kevin's direction. "Mr. Barr I get the feeling you have gone overboard with this. I specifically agreed to a party on the condition that it remains intimate. You were not to fuss over this remember?" Kevin snickered and Edd frowned, dropping his arms to his sides. "Kevin?"
"Oh my god he's here!" Edd's head whipped around to the sudden whispering. The voice sounded familiar. "Nat I swear I'm going to punch you if you don't zip it!"
"Nat?" Edd took a cautious step forward. "Nat is here Kevin?" The dork felt his cheeks start to burn. He now felt as though he were being watched. "K-Kevin?" He reached his arms out to where he last heard Kevin's voice but was met with only air. He took another step forward. "Kevin Barr this is not funny. Nathan, are you there?" The dork felt a sudden heat at his back. Something tall and slim pressed flush against him, nearly bumping him forward. Edd turned crimson as arms no bigger than his own wrapped snuggly around his waist. Then, suddenly, he was hoisted into the air.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETCHEEKS!"
"GAH!" Eddward squirmed as Nat squeezed the ever loving life out of him, turning his red face two shades darker.
"Ugh nice going dude." Kevin barked from across the room. "Now put him down."
Nathan pouted, hugging the little nerd to his person. "But Kevy he's so adorable. I just wanna love him and squeeze him and-" Kevin growled, putting an immediate end to Nat's ranting.
Edd squeaked when his feet hit the ground but he didn't have time to catch his breath before he was spun around. He felt the tips of Nat's fingers brush the tops of his cheeks as the man inspected the blind fold, a pair of observant eyes dancing gleefully over the smaller boy's face. Oh, it wasn't Nat. It was Kevin.
"Sorry babe." He heard Kevin's heavy footsteps approaching. "He can be a bit-"
"Let's get this party started bitches!"
"-eccentric."
Eddward chuckled, touching his fingers to Kevin's hand. While blinded he could hear a number of footsteps entering the room. He felt the tension in the red-head's arm release though his own anxiety was increasing the longer he was made to wear the stupid blindfold. A dishtowel was what Kevin used to make it. It made him want to shudder in disgust. Who knew what sort of germs on it? "Worry not." He said to distract himself, smiling as he spoke. "I have begun to grow fond of his… unique ways."
"Not too fond I hope." Kevin smirked.
Edd giggled, his cheeks unknowingly turned pink. Unable to help himself Kevin bent forward, sweeping his lips across Edd's just to watch the dork turn red. Kevin touched his lips to the dork's ear, his hot breath cascading over the skinny boy's neck. "Hope you've got an appetite." The blindfold began to slip.
Before he knew it the dish towel was lifted from his eyes. The dork had to blink as his eyes burned from the sudden light, rubbing them vigorously as the whispering grew into a hum of murmurs. He blinked a few times, his vision returning as he lifted his gaze up to the teal haired man standing to his left. He was grinning like a loon. To his right was Kevin whose hand was now plated at the center of his back. He felt the heat of Kevin's palm through his shirt and tried desperately to ignore the fluttering in his stomach because of it. When Edd looked ahead, he gasped. His hands flew to his mouth, eyes widening as the very breath was stolen from his lungs. Before him was a crowd of people; strangers, men and women in their twenties or thirties standing about the room in casual refinement. In each of their hands were diamond etched tumblers, each filled half way with an array of colorful liquids that sloshed about when they all were suddenly raised. To his left he saw Nat squeal and leaned towards Kevin instinctively. Before the boy knew it the mechanic's arms came down around the boy, hugging him tightly.
"Happy birthday babe."
W-What on earth is this?! His brain felt as though it were about to explode. There were so many people… so many eyes on him… staring and judging. His knees started knocking.
It wasn't that these people frightened him. On the contrary these men and women were all very beautiful; with lines etched into their bodies as if God himself has designed them for a life time of allure. Edd felt as though he could stare at them for days, however, it was their lack of apparel that actually kept that from happening. Every man and woman his eyes landed on wore no more than two or three articles of clothing, stockings and garter belts, bras, briefs… they were all in their underwear! Hair styled and jewelry worn, but still naked!
Edd's eyes flashed over to Nat and then to Kevin in silent accusation. Nat laughed and walked his fingers up the boy's arm. "Bet you couldn't guess the theme." He said in a sing song voice. Why he wasn't appalled by the rooms abundant nudity was beyond him, however this was Nathan Goldberg and the sockhead was quick to remind himself of that fact. He shook his head, dropping his hands from his mouth to his chest. "They are all-"
"Co-workers." Nat beamed. "I invited them all."
"You did?" His tone went flat.
"Yup! Every stud and mare. Well more like hired them."
Edd couldn't help himself; he asked. "Hired?"
Nat nodded, slipping his arm around Edd's shoulders and walking him forward. Edd reluctantly followed. "Well yeah. I mean, what kind of incentive would they have to come and dress this way if they weren't getting paid? And if I say so myself the pretty penny is so worth the view." His ember eyes danced across the way to a rather handsome man, in his late twenties Edd presumed, with thick sculpted muscles and a firm round bottom. Edd had to shut his eyes to keep from staring but Nat was more than happy to stare. The model hardly looked mocked by Nat's open gawking and even posed for the young man, making Edd blush the brightest shade of crimson Kevin had ever seen.
"Nathan!" Edd cried.
"I know isn't it breath taking?"
Edd grabbed onto the hem of his hat and tugged it over his eyes. There were things in life he just did not need to see. "For the love of all that is good give the man some clothing! Habillez-le devant mes yeux tombent!"
Both Nat and Kevin burst into uncontrollable laughter. The sockhead was not amused. "This isn't funny."
They laughed even harder. "You got him to french!" Kevin cackled, smacking his knee. "You're such a fucking dork Nat."
The teal haired model snorted as he tried in vain to control his fit, grabbing his sides. He was practically in stiches. "I didn't think-" He snickered. "I didn't think he'd react that way dude." He turned to the wall for support, wiping a tear from his eye. "The poor virginal thing. I'd cry tears of sorrow if I wasn't laughing so hard!"
Eddward's blush receded, his embracement replaced with sudden irritation. He peeked out from beneath his hat to glare at Nat and Kevin, his fingers curling into tiny fists at the sides of his head. They thought this was comical?! How humiliating. He thought of the people dressed so scantily and felt his heart squeeze for them. They must feel horrible, paid to undress before a total stranger and made to parade themselves around their co-workers house. It was inhumane, degrading, incomprehensibly cru-
"Don't look so upset dork." Said Kevin who threw his arm around Edd's neck and pulled him in close. He pressed his lips to Edd's temple and smiled, feeling the boy beneath him tense. "Don't flip dude. It's just a pajama party."
His anger immediately deflated. "P-pajama party?"
Kevin grinned. "It was a prank. Nat's a dickweed that way."
"The best kind of dickweed around mind you." Nat winked over his shoulder.
Edd felt his cheeks flame, releasing the hem of his hat as quickly as possible. "Oh dear. Y-you mean these people-"
"Part of the party." Kevin gave the dork a playful shake and chuckled. "I guess you can say they are part of the décor."
Nat nodded affirmatively, leaning on Kevin's shoulder. His smile was nearly picture perfect. Edd would go so far as to argue that Nat was perhaps the most handsome figure present; simply staring up at him made the dork feel ridiculously self-conscious. If anything he was ready to put this party into full throttle mode and it showed on his smiling face. "Think of it as a room with a really nice view." Nat's words drew Edd from his thoughts. "Living works of art for us to admire while we sit on the carpet eating Cheetos and painting each other's nails like silly little bitches."
Edd slapped his hands to his cheeks, shaking his head. Nat. What word could describe him in a nutshell?
The sockhead had nearly made an ass out of himself. He had been seconds away from giving both Nat and Kevin a piece of his mind and had Kevin not stepped in, he certainly would have laid it into them. Oh Edd you fool. You must think before you speak. He made good work of admonishing himself as he sought for some words of apology. He felt downright silly for reacting the way he had. He should have known Nat would have gone to some harmless extreme. It was just in his nature.
Kevin looked to a still snickering Nat and flicked him behind the ear. "Knock it off asshole."
"That's Mr. Asshole to you."
Kevin kept from rolling his eyes. Instead he looked to his dork who in turn was looking like he was on the verge of aneurysm. Kevin felt a bubble of laughter rise to his sternum as he collected the dark haired boy to his chest and ruffled the top of his head. "Yo don't look so upset. This is a party." Had the prank gone too far? If it had well he wouldn't be apologizing it. It was funny as hell. Eddward looked up to him from behind shaking hands. His face and neck were flushed an adorable shade of pink and Kevin felt the sudden urge to reach down and kiss each of his ample round cheeks.
"Kevin I have never been more dumbstruck in my life."
The red-head shrugged. "Don't say that. You make me sound inept."
"Well I suppose that would explain why I am so shocked. Would you happen to even know the meaning of the word?"
Kevin stuffed his hands into his pockets, bumping the giggling dork with his hip. "Yeah alright wise guy."
"Come!" Nat grabbed Edd's hands and dragged him further into the apartment towards the back where a buffet table was set. Edd's eyes danced over the place setting and his eyes widened further. "W-what is this?" Several bowls of snacks were laid out over a dark blue table cloth. He counted three types of chips, two dips, and an array of colas stuffed in the ice chest located beneath. The smell of bacon and seasonal flavored coffee had permeated the room and Edd was shocked not to have noticed this before. His mouth watered as his gaze landed on a stack of flap jacks that sitting at the very center. There were four kinds from what he could see; blue berry, chocolate, and his personal favorite cinnamon. It all smelt so heavenly.
"Buffet style brunch ala-Nat!" The teal haired model announced proudly. "All my idea. Thank you, thank you, I know, I shouldn't have."
"You shouldn't have." The dork grabbed the edge of the table and wiped the sleeve of his jacket over his eyes. They were brimming with joyous tears. "But I am thrilled that you did. Oh Nat I couldn't thank you enough."
"Well as much as I love my sock-headed fans you'll have to forward all compliments, or complaints, to my main man here." Nat swung his arm around Kevin's neck and pressed flush against him. "He did supply the booty after all."
Kevin grimaced. "Beer, Nat. I supplied the beer. You supplied the booty, the tits, the pussy and everything I specifically told you not to."
Edd couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips and shocked both Nat and Kevin by laughing aloud. It honestly surprised him to see the kid acting like himself so openly. It filled Kevin with a warmth he couldn't describe. Edd was finally coming out of his shell and the sight couldn't have been more beautiful. He poked the dork in the head and Eddward continued to giggle, hiding behind his hand to keep his goofy gap hidden.
The way things were going he wouldn't hear the end of it.
So what do you guys think? Some light hearted stuff before we get into some heavier things. Who knows, maybe a secretive will be revealed in the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and Oc's. Except Nat. That belongs to the C2ndy2c1d.
Let me know what you think. Ciao!
