BOOM-CHACKA-LAKA!
Hey guys I'm back! And with a new chapter. The man and I got our shit squared away and I'm SOOO relieved. I can finally get back into my normal writing pattern again :) Feels great to be back for good.
Ok this one was hard. I had so many avenues to choose from as far as this chapter goes and boy I cried while writing this one. I don't know, I've never made myself cry while writing but this one- while hardly a Legend of the Falls kind of cry- it moved me to the point I had to stop before finishing it off. I kept the other edits so I may reveal them along with the other bits I've written and scrapped towards the end.
Anyways I know you all have missed Kevin. Admittedly so have I. So I'm happy to say here you go lads and lassies. Here's your dose of Kevin goodness.
Enjoy!
Kevin licked his lips, the amber eyes across from him daring him to make his move. The sweat on his brow tickled as it fell past the bridge of his nose, stinging the inner most part of his eye as they flicked back and forth between his hand and Nat's. His gaze shifted back to his crummy hand, bracing himself for their final round of the most intense game of Go Fish man has ever known.
"Got any-" Kevin bit his cheek, whipping his head to the side dramatically. "Sevens?"
"Go…" Nat copied Kevin's gesture with one of his own, flipping his fabulous teal hair from his eyes. "Fish."
Kevin howled, slapping his hand on the table. The neatly folded deck next to him shook and toppled over, a few cards floating haphazardly to the ground beneath the coffee table.
"Fuck you pencil dick."
Nathan Goldberg laughed, scooping the two crumbled twenties on the table to his bosom and nuzzling his nose into the vast number of poker chips he had accumulated. "All's fair in love and war baby." Nat chuckled, reaching down to collect the fallen cards beside him. "Good game."
Kevin helped him pick up the cards, shuffling them quickly before putting them away.
"Yeah. Good game." The motorcyclist made a face as he collected the rest of the cards, packing them into their cardboard container before tossing it on his bed. "I'm out forty bucks man."
Nat smacked his lips, the corners coated in crumbs from his half eaten desert sitting idly by his elbow. He dabbed them away with a napkin and his eyes dancing over Kevin's stiffening posture.
"If you kept a better eye on your shit instead of worrying about what I had, maybe you wouldn't have lost."
Kevin cocked a brow at his longtime friend, scurrying off to the kitchen to get himself a beer. There he goes again being cryptic and shit. He returned quickly, this time with two glasses.
"Your point?"
Nathan picked himself off from the floor where they had been playing and settled himself on the couch.
"My point-" He stressed. "Is that maybe you should have just focused on your hand. You could have taken me out you know. Even with that crap hand."
Nathan took the glass of Schnapps Kevin offered him, the two setting up camp on either sides of the couch, with the model letting Kevin lounge back and settle his head on his friend's knees. He didn't mind it in the least bit and even patted Kevin's forehead in the process. Long time friendships had their perks. Whatever boundaries they could have had were done away with years ago. Thanks to Nathan of course.
Kevin grunted in response to the pat and swatted Nat's hand away. He couldn't bring himself to care what day it was, or the time for that matter. Nathan's presence had the incredible power to make time stand still or blaze by in the blink of an eye. It was an effect on people Kevin envied of his friend.
Nathan grinned. "So big guy, you ready to tell me what's got your panties so twisted?"
Goldberg was such an incredibly open person that one found it incredibly easy to open up to him. It was as if he secretly tore down the barriers between your problems and yourself, stripping away anyone's fool hardy disguise to expose what lay underneath. What Kevin admired most was how he did so in such an unobtrusive way, making the talker think he was overcoming some grand obstacle by their merry selves.
Kevin huffed. "And what? Cry my eyes out so we have an excuse to paint each other's nails and bitch about the moral values of the characters of Jack and Rose?"
Nathan gave a barbaric snorted. "As if they had morals to begin with."
Kevin fingered the aluminum of his beer, the perspiration wetting his fingers. He brought it up to his lips and sipped it as if it were a fine wine, letting the alcohol linger on his taste buds a while before swallowing.
Nathan glanced down at him, one hand holding his drink while the other reached forward to play with the soft red strands poking out from Kevin's cap. With it he looked a little younger and it amused Nathan that Kevin held on to it for as long as he had. The little red cap had been Nathan's last minute birthday gift to him back when they were teenagers. It reminded him of the times they were busy experimenting and doing crazy shit together, the seams of their friendship as strong as the ones holding the cap and its brim so tightly together.
When was the last time Nathan just burst through Kevin's doors and serenaded to him in a horrible key during a Kate Winslet movie? When was the last time they just lounged around the house in their PJ's, playing video games and teasing each other about the cute boy next door? How about the last time they lounged in each other's arms, so relaxed and indifferent to the world around them?
When was the last time they spent and real time together?
A long time, his heart told him. A very long time.
"Moral of the movie is: fly. If you can't afford first class Jet Blue, stay the fuck home."
Kevin burst out laughing, his beer sloshing around in its container. When Nat cursed it was hilarious. It wasn't often the model allowed himself to use such 'loathsome language' as he had put it once, but when he did it would send Kevin right into a giggle fit. Just hearing how the words tumbled awkwardly off Nathan's poised tongue was enough to tickle his funny bone. Kevin's father had thought Nathan was a bad influence. They were kids at the time and Ron only wanted what was best for his kid he couldn't have been any more wrong.
Nathan sniffed indignantly. "Find something funny?"
Kevin shook his head. He was having a hard time catching his breath and Nathan rolled his eyes. The red-head eventually sobered up, wiping a drop of fallen alcohol off the corner of his lips with his fist.
"Thanks for coming over." His chest rumbled with continued laughter. "I really needed this."
Nathan smiled and flicked his fingers through Kevin's tresses. "What are friend's for?"
Kevin didn't answer. Instead he shrugged and left the question hanging in the air between them.
Nat had expected some kind of response but when he received none a frown tugged as his usually smiling face. If he didn't know any better, he'd say Kevin was slipping back into that depressed state he had found Kevin in just a few hours ago. The model was not liking this one bit.
"Ok how about now?" Nathan coaxed, massaging his finger pads into Kevin's scalp.
Kevin hummed softly, allowing his head to sink perfectly against his friend's legs. If he were a cat he'd had been purring away. Nathan had incredibly gentle fingers. Said model must have said something but Kevin didn't hear anything past his fogging thoughts.
Kevin hummed again. "Hm?"
"I asked if you wanted to talk." Nathan felt the urge to broach the subject a second time, becoming a little more insistent as his fingers stilled in Kevin's hair. "Come on. Tell momma Nat all about it."
Kevin's eyes opened but as those green depths spilled back into the light of reality, they came out looking distant. Was he ready to talk about it yet? Lord knew he wanted to pour his heart out to someone and really there was no one better than Nat. But…
"Want me to go get Edd?" Nat offered, his smile returning.
If there was any way to fix this, getting Kevin's boy toy was certainly it. It was rare for Kevin to not want to open up to Nat but the model refused to let his friend down. Besides, Kevin could never resist Edd- not while he looked as struck as a man on tracks whenever the dainty sockhead entered the room.
It was no secret to Nathan what Kevin felt towards the young man, whether said red-head agreed with him or not. Though, Nathan had to admit to himself, Kevin seeking counsel with Edd over him was a little insulting. Picking the boyfriend over the best friend wasn't an unheard concept but still, it affected him and only his love for his best friend allowed him to go through with this suggestion without a second thought.
"Not that I'm saying you should," he wasn't about to count himself out just yet. "But would you rather talk to him? Edd's a great listener after all."
Kevin's eyes brows knitted together furiously. Nathan's partially hurt tone nearly went unheard, completely missing the fact Nathan was offended that Kevin didn't want to talk to him. But the motorcyclist just wasn't up for the inevitable chat they were about to have. So, he sighed and held the container of his drink to his lips.
"He's gone."
Nathan arched a single well plucked brow. "Who's gone?"
Kevin growled. "Edd's gone! Who else?"
He threw the empty aluminum can in his hand across the room, feeling a shudder run through him as it hit the far wall. Nathan was stunned into utter silence. The rage that had spread across Kevin's features was a look Nathan saw on very rare occasions. His dear friend was in complete distress, the veins in his neck becoming more pronounce as anger surged through him with unstoppable force.
Nathan's mouth bobbed as she searched for something to say. "Gone? What do you mean-"
Before Nathan could finish Kevin sat up and returned to his side of the couch. He had his head clutched in his hands, his elbows resting on the ends of his knees. His fingers raked through the hair protruding out from his cap and it wasn't long before the offending article was thrown from his person. Nathan gaped at the fallen hat between their feet, his mouth pinching tight in quick response.
"He's gone Nat." Kevin finally supplied after a pregnant pause. "Gone. Poof. Disappeared just like fucking Cass."
Kevin reached down to pick up his hat only to throw it again, this time further away from him. He hadn't allowed himself to think of Cass for a while but the similarities between their circumstances felt disturbingly familiar.
Nathan shook his head in disbelief. "W-wow. Ok. This is the first time I'm hearing of this."
He was slightly offended Kevin never told him about this little fact. Actually he was very offended! Nathan had liked the little sockhead. He was demure and feisty in a single package. He didn't come off as a runner. He had a pretty good head on his shoulders so what in the world happened between this visit and his last to make the little cute suddenly drop off the face of the earth? Oh Kevin…
As if reading his mind Kevin continued, gripping the couch cushion in an iron clad grip. He felt embarrassed for suddenly feeling the need to spill his guts out to Nat but he didn't think he could hold it back anymore. He had denied giving his father any information and went so far as to actually push him away. His pops was only trying to help but Kevin didn't want it. He wanted peace of mind but he knew that if he didn't somehow unleash the rage settling up inside him to someone who cared, he might just lose his fucking mind.
"Edd and I went to club VIPER a few days ago." He said. "Remember on the phone when I told you we had a bad fight?"
Nathan nodded his head albeit slowly. He remembered that call very well. Nathan had just climbed out of the shower to see his cell phone buzz away on his bed. He answered it seeing Kevin's photo ID light up the screen and had wondered why he was up so late. Apparently Edd and kevin had gotten into it at the club and Kevin had walked home alone. He didn't see a rise for concern then. He just let the red-head vent until he decided to go back for Edd and he himself had gone to bed right after. He figured Kevin had been a snot and said something particularly nasty but now he wasn't so sure it was just that.
"Ok. What happened after that?" He prompted, scooching closer to Kevin. He was eager to know and Kevin seemed just as eager to finally tell him.
"I went back to the club and couldn't find him."
Nathan nodded curtly. "Yes I remember that as well. You called me like three times because of that."
Kevin bit into his cheek to keep himself from flushing with further embarrassment. Instead he let his anger flow, breathing it in like smoke through a dragon's lungs.
"I almost went to the police but found him at home when I got back." Kevin's eyes hardened at the painful memory. "With a guy."
No man but him could have said the word guy as acidic as Kevin did and gotten away with it. It was as if his teeth had shredded the word like a paper cutter before spewing it out past his lips. Nathan completely understood what Kevin had meant but found it impossible to believe.
"No." Nathan shook his head. "Hold the phone. Edd with a booty call? Are you serious? Can you hear yourself?"
"Plain as day." Kevin sneered. "I didn't catch the guy either. He just so happened to leave his keys behind. Lucky me."
Nathan snorted, rubbing his now throbbing temple. "You're not making any sense."
"Ok allow me to elaborate then." Kevin stood and paced over to the sliding window.
It was well into the early morning hours, four thirty to be exact, and the city was still pitched in darkness. The stars had receded but he found himself not caring as he regarded his reflection in the window. His shoulders were hunched and the lines on his face pulled taught. Fire was raging in his eye sockets so fiercely he was surprised they hadn't just popped out of his head. He could see Nathan's confusion through the glass and sighed.
"The whole night I waited for Edd to wake up in the morning so we could talk. I even apologized to the dork for the stupid shit that happened at the club." Kevin whipped around and threw his arms out animatedly. "It wasn't even my fault! I was trying to protect him while he was off goofing around and then he stands there and defends some prick and storms off like I'm the bad guy!"
Nathan clicked his tongue. He knew Kevin's aggression was not directed at him but the red-head was seething. At this point any target would have made for a good target. Still, he couldn't shake off the feeling Kevin wasn't telling him the whole truth.
"We had sex and made up but for the love of Bingy. If the universe didn't like me before it sure as hell hates me now."
"What are you talking about Kev?" Nathan asked, crossing both his arms and his legs. "What happened to Edd between the fight and the time you got home?"
Kevin snarled. He didn't want to think about it. The whole situation had left a hole in his heart. Thinking about it just feeled back the scab, revealing the gaping wound.
"Edd sept with the guy." Admitting it was hard but Kevin felt the world suddenly lift from his shoulders.
The shocked look on Nathan's face said he wasn't experiencing the same kind of feeling.
"We were talking and the guy came back. Edd wouldn't even look me in the eye."
"He. Came. Back?" Nathan spoke slowly and deliberately, trying to comprehend what it was Kevin was saying.
Kevin nodded and felt a bubble of laughter build in his chest. "Left his keys here." It was contrived and cliché all at once. Kevin shrugged in defeat. He wanted to open the sliding door but he was making an awful fuss at the moment. He'd hate to wake his neighbors. No need to be getting in trouble with the HOA here and getting his mom on his ass about it.
"Kevin." Nathan stalked towards him, resting his hand softly on Kevin's shoulder.
He sighed. Sweet little Edd. You too Kev. My, what a mess you both are in.
The teal haired model licked his lips in thought. He knew of Kevin's affections towards the sockhead. Heck everyone knew that. They were as clear as day. The writing perfectly written on the wall. It was highly amusing how deeply in denial his friend was but it was becoming apparent this deep seeded contradiction was taking things way too far. It was causing more problems for the two than they probably realized. Kevin's jealousy was anchoring him in his animosity. He could only assume Edd's stubborn nature was just the unfortunate reaction to this, forcing the invisible wedge between them even further.
"Edd is young and naive. You can't hold it against him."
His tone was gentle and far too understanding in Kevin's opinion. Kevin shrugged his hand off, earning him a look of disapproval.
"Why the hell not? He fights me tooth and nail on everything and then goes and puts himself in danger. And then he betrays me like that? What kind of friend does that?!"
Nathan remained solid in his conviction, even against Kevin's rising tone. "Betray you? Kevin you guys aren't even dating."
Kevin could not believe what he was hearing. Was Nathan being serious? There was no give in the amber eyed male's posture, his lips perfectly set.
"Kevin I see no reason why you should be this upset." If Nathan was anything it was honest; brutally honest. "He has the freedom to choose whoever he wants as a partner. You can't be getting upset just because it was someone else who took him up on the opportunity."
Nope. Nope. Just a whole lot of NOPE. Kevin raked his hand over his face and started pacing.
"Wow some friend you turned out to be."
Nathan refused to let Kevin's hateful words shake him. Kevin was always hot blooded and often said things he didn't mean.
"I know you don't mean that."
Kevin didn't respond but he stopped his pacing, turning his back on Nat. He was gripping the kitchen counter in a bid not to collapse under the weight of his own frustrations.
"You're over reacting Kevin. It was just a booty call. So what? You guys got pissed off at each other and he went to get rid of his frustrations. I see no big deal."
Kevin inhaled sharply through his nose. "The big deal is that I trusted him."
Nathan groaned, crossing his fingers together.
"Ok." Nathan clicked his tongue once more. "Explain."
Kevin paused in his seething, glancing over his shoulder. "Explain?"
Nathan nodded, stretching out his arms over the back of the couch. He might as well get cozy. This was going to be very long day.
"You explain to me how he 'betrayed' you," He said, using his fingers for emphasis. "And I'll consider changing my mind."
Kevin smacked the counter. How the hell did he expect him to explain something like this? This wasn't a paint by number piece of work. This was some MC-Escher shit!
"I don't get it. How can you sit there and defend him like this?" Honestly Kevin had no way of explaining what the felt to Nathan, not without it becoming misconstrued somehow.
But Nathan could be just as obstinate as he when needed to be. "Go on Kev. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me your anger has actual purpose and that what that kid did was any worse than what you would have done if you didn't love him."
Kevin pushed off the counter and stalked away from him but Nathan was hot on his heels.
"Explain it Kevin. Don't just stand there throwing your tantrum if you have nothing to back it up with."
"I don't love him."
"Kevin you're avoiding the answer."
"No I'm not!" Kevin snapped, whirling around on his friend. "He used me. I trusted him and he completely disregarded me as if I didn't exist." Hurt was practically glowing in his eyes. "As if I didn't even matter to him."
Nathan felt that familiar tug on his heart strings. He knew well what that feeling Kevin described felt like. There had been a time when he had loved someone, someone close to him, but had treated his advances as nothing more than just the silly banter friends often exchanged. While Nathan had learned to overcome those feelings he knew this was something Kevin was not accustomed to. He was always the one sought after, not the other way around. Edd's rejection of him probably stung far worse than even he could imagine.
"Kevin you-" Nathan paused midsentence, feeling something crinkle in his left jacket pocket.
Odd. Usually I empty these boogers out, he thought off handedly.
Kevin it seemed was ignoring him for the moment so Nathan took the chance to search his pocket. Sure enough that was something in there: a wrinkled piece of paper. Nat arched a brow as he unfolded it.
Kevin was back to fussing with his hair. It was getting a little long and he'd have to go get it cut soon. In fact there were a few things he needed to, like call his mother and check his work schedule. He was supposed to have done it all yesterday but hadn't done anything but sit and mope and drink schnapps. He didn't have time for this. He-
Nat glanced his way. "Kevin."
His sharp tenor was enough to draw the angry red-head's attention. It wasn't often Kevin heard this unsettling tone from Nathan. Goldberg was joy in the flesh so when he grew serious, eyes dilating and posture stiffening, it could only mean he was about to say something Kevin wasn't going to like. In his hand was a crumbled piece of paper but he paid it no mind. Nathan however was clutching onto it like a life line.
"You see this?" Nathan held up the paper. "Read that."
Kevin's features twisted into one of confusion. At the insistant look on Nat's face he took the paper, carefully holding it up to his face. He allowed his eyes to wrinkled sheet, noting the elegant calligraphy scribbled across it had been xeroxed off a note pad of some kind. What got him though, what really ensnared his absolute attention, was the soft cursive he was reading. He would recognize that handwriting anywhere.
It was Edd's.
Kevin's eyes widened as he read, a memory taking hold of him in that moment.
"What exactly is your definition of a courtesy call?"
Kevin's grin couldn't get any cockier. "Bring a chick or a dude home, let me know and I'll do the same for you."
Eddward's face lit up like Christmas tree. "H-how necessary a rule is that?"
"Well if you don't want me walking in on you while you are doing the dirty deed then you better let me know so I can steer clear. Or else I just might want to join in." Kevin dodged the pencil that was thrown at him. "What? I think it's a reasonable request."
Kevin's hand started shaking. "Where did you get this?"
Nathan crossed his arms, eyes flashing angrily. "Edd dropped that at my place. I meant to give it back to him but forgot I even had it."
Kevin pinched his eyes shut. This was a copy of their roommate agreement. His own words had literaly come back to haunt him.
"You're not telling me everything." Nathan said in response to Kevin's silence. "What else happened?"
The red-head felt his arm drop to his side, the paper slipping form between his fingers.
"I said…"
"What was that?" Nathan asked.
"I said I hated him."
Kevin stared straight ahead, looking clear through everything. His gaze was not focused, his mind somewhere off lost in the haze of his own realization.
"I told him I hated him and… shut him out." He hung his head in shame.
That had to be the curliest thing Kevin could have ever done. To hate someone was to loath their very existence. To hate meant there was no tolerance but Nathan knew Kevin so much better than that. Kevin was just not capable of that kind of sentiment. People who hated others had enough room in their hearts to find hate in themselves. The very word conjures thoughts of nothing but destruction and it was, in fact, incredibly destructive; especially on the soul, turning bright days black and hardening a soft beating heart.
But Kevin Barr was man of love. Like his father he was gracious and patient. He was a man who had the capacity to give and give until there was nothing left to give. Thinking his friend had said such a horrible thing, and to Edd no less, really disturbed him. The model had to console himself that these words had probably been said out of anger, from a place of hurt that Nathan was having a hard time understanding. He couldn't have meant what he said. There was just no way.
Yet the look in the trembling red-head's eye said something completely different.
He had meant it. Every word.
"Kevin Joseph Barr." The model unwound his arms and stood firmly. "I have only one thing to say to you."
Kevin felt his anger flush away at once, replaced by an awkward sense of panic. The model took his time stepping towards his friend, stopping only to look Kevin dead in the eye. Emerald clashed with wild amber but the fire in Kevin's gaze had diminished. Nathan's had only begun.
"That sweet boy you brought into your home is gone."
"Nat I-"
Nathan held up his hand, silencing Kevin at once. If that was all Kevin had to say to this then he didn't want to hear it.
"This boy you have pined over for weeks is now suddenly gone because he slept with another man." This was unbelievable.
"This guy whom you claim to have no 'romantic connections' with, the same young man who followed you like a duckling and praised you every step of the way, just-" Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "-up and leaves over some nameless booty call you got jealous of." His tone was screaming incredulity.
Kevin's browns knitted together, his eyes straying to the fallen piece of paper. "When you put like that-"
"I'm not done yet!" Nathan snapped. He hadn't even begun to lay it into him. "You mean to tell me that you were hurt by Edd for doing what any other normal single guy his age would do? Something you and him already agreed to in the first place? Something you would have done yourself?"
When Kevin just stood there staring. Nathan stepped back, raking his fingers through his perfectly combed hair. He just called his friend a man-whore. This wasn't getting them anywhere but raising his voice felt good. He hoped it would at least knock some sense into him.
"My god you're idiot."
He stepped away from Kevin to catch his breath only to turn back around and jab his finger into the dead center of Kevin's chest.
"Let's get one thing straight here. You had no right to do what you did to him." At Kevin's look of disbelief Nathan carried on, jabbing Kevin harder in the chest. "None. What. So. Ever."
Defiance won Kevin over and he scoffed, brushing Nathan's hand away. The spot he had been poking was starting to throb. He made the poor choice of clinging to what little anger was left inside of him.
"Whose side are you on?" Kevin demanded. "I took care of the dork and he goes behind my back like this and quite literally fucks me over."
"You're still on that." Nat shook his head. "Kevin I have never been more ashamed of you." The model stepped back, crossing his arms. "All you're thinking about is yourself."
Kevin howled in frustration. "Yes because if you haven't noticed, Mr. Best-friend, I was victimized here. Edd fucked me over."
"For heaven's sake Kevin," Nathan cried in frustration. "Eddward is not your boyfriend! Do I have to reiterate it somehow?"
Kevin stumbled over the words that danced right at the tip of his tongue.
"You and him are not together. He can do what he wants and you should be ashamed of yourself for thinking you have the gall to treat him that way just because you weren't the one plowing him."
The lump in Kevin's throat swelled, causing his chest to ache much deeper than the dull surface pain Nathan's poking had caused.
Nathan however didn't let up. "Stop acting like a prepubescent thirteen year old. You're a grown man and so is he."
The model cocked his hip out, dropping a steady hand to it. "Quite frankly after what you've told me I'm not surprised he went and did something like that. I would be mortified. I can't even being to imagine how he felt, hearing the one man in this city who gave a damn about him say that he hated him."
Kevin looked appalled. "How can you say that? I stopped him from getting roofied only to have him flirt with some guy, and he pitches a fit when I confront him about it and then he storms off and-"
"Kevin shut up." Nathan inhaled sharply. "You let the little green monster out. Put him back in right now unless you want me to do it, and trust me, you don't want me to do it. I just got my nails done and if you make me smudge them for the love of god I will nail so hard in the face I'll make it worth the extra hour at the salon."
Kevin snapped his mouth shut. Nathan's threat was hollow but out of respect he twisted his tongue into silence.
He hadn't noticed the tingle in his fingers or how they had curled into the center of his palm. He flexed his numbing fingers until he had feeling back in them, slowly filling and emptying lungs with air. A tiny sense of calm filled him and the dying fire rumbling in his gut finally flickered out. He glanced up at Nathan who took a moment to inspect him from where he stood and once the model was satisfied, nodded his head for Kevin to continue.
The red-head groaned, brushing his hand over his face.
"What, are you saying I didn't do the right thing? Was it so terrible of me to look after him?"
Nathan pursed his lips, shaking his head. "Kevin you fell for the cheasiest love story trick in the book. This has nothing to do with right or wrong."
At that Kevin tilted his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. Nathan's abrasive tone had subsided and their voices had quieted. He was glad there was space between the houses in the building. Having a cop called to settle an over blown argument would have been embarrassing.
"You got jealous." Nathan gently supplied, turning to the kitchen to pour himself a second glass schnapps.
The bottle to his chagrin was empty and so he moved onto the wine Kevin had stashed in the back of the fridge.
Kevin held up his hands, eyes pinched shut in denial. "No. No, I did not."
Nathan snorted and uncorked the bottle. "Of course you did." Bright yellow liquid filled his glass half way, reflecting Kevin's silhouette in its bulbous base. "Why else would you have reacted as insanely as you did?"
Kevin tapped his fingers impatiently against his leg, wishing he still had that beer from earlier. Nathan returned and settled himself back on the couch. The sound of television had deafened into the background, leaving both the red-head and teal-head to the background noise of standup comedy. What was playing on the television was not Nat's concern and he couldn't bring himself to focus on it either.
"Don't try to deny it Kev."
"I have nothing to deny." Kevin said adamantly but Nathan wasn't buying it.
"Oh please get over yourself already." Nat took a sip of his wine, watching the contents dance as he swirled the ice cube he had plopped into it around. "This isn't a B rated chick flick. People get jealous and I'm sorry, but you're no better than anyone else in that aspect."
Kevin dared to bark in laughter but there was no real weight behind it. "I'm not jealous."
"Ok." Nathan sat his glass down, crossing his legs and he turned to face Kevin. "Then you just had an episode of the most astounding jackassery anyone has ever seen."
Kevin glared at the smirk tugging sarcastically at Nathan's lips. "Can we please be serious about this?"
"Can you?" Nathan sat his chin on his palm, staring intently at the face on the television. "You obviously don't want to hear what I have to say but I suppose I'm going to say it whether you're willing to listen or not and just hope you don't mess things up further."
Kevin should have known better than to expect anything less. He sat back, craning his neck so his head sat comfortably on top of the cushion.
"I'm not saying this to take sides. I'm saying this for your benefit Kev. I think it's time you looked at yourself in the mirror and admitted to yourself that you love Edd."
Kevin inhaled deeply.
"No I don't."
"Yes." Nathan never tore his eyes from him. "You do."
Kevin raked his fingers agitatedly through his hair. "How would you know? I mean I like him, sure. I like him a lot actually. He's a smart guy with eyes a man could just stare at for days. Yeah he means something to me, more than maybe what's healthy, but I don't-" Kevin licked his lips in a desperate manner. "I take that back. Yes I love him. To a point." He stressed. "But not romantically. I can't."
Why is it such a difficult concept for you, Nathan wanted to ask. "Don't or wont?"
Kevin looked away, leaving the question unanswered.
"You have got to stop lying to yourself." Nathan's gazed turned thoughtful and sad. "It's eating you up inside. You can't see it because you're so close to the situation but I can see it. Your dad can see it. Clear as day."
Nathan's hand fell over Kevin's shoulder and Kevin reached up to touch it. Nathan gave him a reassuring squeeze. Through thick and thin they were always the best of friends, even when they simply couldn't see eye to eye on things.
"I know you. You never would have freaked like you did if the kid didn't mean something special to you."
Nathan patted his shoulder, gripping it so he could turn Kevin to face him. The red-head was as stubborn as he could be understanding. Selectively understanding perhaps but enough to get the point he was trying to get across.
"Think about it this way; the apology you made to Edd after the fight, was it still valid?"
Kevin nodded but stopped himself, frowning. He had to think about it. No, it couldn't be valid. He had still held onto that anger after discovering Edd had slept Todd. That anger had festered and boiled inside, making Kevin hateful and short with everything.
Nathan quirked the corner of his mouth. "That's what I'm talking about. You couldn't think past your own jealous thoughts to recognize that everything that happened is because of the both of you. Not just him. You allowed your anger to guide you and here you are wondering where it all went wrong."
Nathan let his hand fall from Kevin's shoulder.
"I think he loves you too."
Kevin snapped his head up, meeting Nathan's gentle gaze. The red-head searched those burning amber orbs for a giveaway, for some sign of understanding that he himself did not know, but all Nathan had to give was a cryptic look of longing.
"How do you know something like that?"
Nathan shrugged, peering into the face of his wine glass. At first he looked at his reflection, admiring how his eyes seemed to sink into the pale yellow of his drink before glancing to the left to see Kevin's warped reflection. His green depths stood out beautifully in a sea of yellow, making Nathan's heart ache. He would know what love was like, what it did to even the most sensible of people. He would know because he had loved once himself.
Nathan smiled. "I think if you went after him, you'd understand."
So what did you guys think?
Yes? Maybe? Get on with it already? Let me know :) I love knowing.
P.S. For those of you who may be reading this fic on Deviant Art, I will be making some updated and posting more recent chapters there.
P.P.S. I've been thinking about writing a short kevedd fic for Halloween. I've written out a small back story and have brained storm a few points for it. It would be...dark... though. Very dark. Probably no longer than 10-15 chapters. If you guys are interested let me know. It of course wont take away any focus from WGAC.
Anyways thanks for reading. And as always I will see you in the next chapter. Bye bye! (Yeah you know who I jacked that from lol. Markiplier is just the best.)
Happy reading folks.
Ciao!
