Chapter 4

As the weeks progressed, Edd and Kevin became really close. They did nearly everything together, hanging out in every available amount of free time. They didn't discuss the kiss, nor did it happen again. Kevin was waiting for Edd to make a move, and Edd still didn't think the time was right. No one bothered them after what Edd had done to Aaron, although the two were sure he'd be back.

And they were right.

Edd was sitting on the couch at Kevin's house. He'd waited for Kevin after school, but he hadn't shown. He assumed Kevin had just gone back home, and went to see, but he hadn't. It was so unlike the redhead not to meet up with him, and Edd was instantly worried about the boy. What if something had happened to him? He couldn't live with himself if something happened to Kevin. That nerd was the most important thing in his life.

He left the house in search of his pumpkin, driving back to the high school. Aaron and a few others were exiting the school, throwing a smirk his way. He'd obviously done something with Kevin; it was written all over his face.

Edd ran into the school, calling out for Kevin. He received no answer, and tried to think of where his nerd would be. Where would they have taken him? It didn't take long to dawn on him.

He sprinted toward the locker room, running as fast as his long legs would carry him. He entered the corridor, hearing water running from within. Cautiously, he entered the locker room and made his way toward the showers. What he saw nearly made him lose his lunch.

Kevin was stripped naked and covered head-to-toe in cuts and bruises. The word "FAG" was carved into him in several places on his body; the shower was left on and washed his blood down the drain. He was unconscious, but thankfully breathing.

Not sure of the severity of his wounds, Edd called 911. As soon as he'd hung up with the dispatcher, he turned off the freezing cold shower and knelt beside Kevin. He wished he'd brought a blanket or something; he was worried the redhead would fall sick in this state. Then he remembered he had a towel in his locker for swim team. He hurried over to it, returning with a large, deep red towel. At least the blood wouldn't be noticeable.

He lifted Kevin to wrap the towel around him, cradling the broken boy in his arms as he carried him to the closest bench to his locker. Edd gently laid him on his back, and felt him stir. The boy whimpered, afraid that his tormentors had returned, and the ravenette nuzzled his neck. Kevin seemed to recognize Edd's scent and relaxed, opening his green eyes, red from crying.

"Edd..." he sniffled.

"Shh, pumpkin," Edd said soothingly, holding onto the redhead's shaking hands. "Everything's gonna be fine. I'm here now. I'm gonna kill those guys when I get my hands on them. They're gonna pay for laying their filthy hands what's mine."

Kevin felt his cheeks get hot. Edd called him "his".

Edd opened his locker, grabbing swim trunks to put on Kevin. The nerd lifted his bottom half to aid the swimmer in putting them on him, blushing profusely from being this exposed. Edd helped him sit up, holding the towel around his shoulders and hugging him tightly. The raven-haired boy couldn't believe himself. He should've looked for Kevin in school first, just to be sure. This was all his fault; he was supposed to be the nerd's protector, and he let him down.

Kevin could see the tears in Edd's eyes, and he wrapped his bleeding arms around the latter's neck. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known."

"I should've looked for you," Edd said. "I shouldn't have assumed you'd leave without me; how could I have been such an idiot? I could have prevented this. You should be pissed at me! I couldn't save you! I broke my promise!"

His voice had gradually gotten louder until he was yelling. Kevin flinched, kissing Edd's cheek over and over in an attempt to calm him.

"Stop," the nerd said softly. "This is not your fault. I'm just happy that you came back for me. You're gonna make everything okay now. It won't happen again, I know it won't."

"You can't be sure of that," Edd said, tears running freely down his face. "They slipped under my nose once, they can surely do it again. And next time it might be me in this state. Then you'll be defenseless. I need to focus. Next time I won't be such an idiot."

Kevin wiped his tears away. "Stop beating yourself up. I'm gonna be okay."

"Kevin...I love you. And I let you get hurt."

"You love me?"

Edd nodded.

"I love you."

The two stared at each other in silence for some time until they heard paramedics come down the corridor. Edd picked up a shocked Kevin and laid him on the stretcher.

He kissed the redhead's forehead, and said, "I'll meet you at the hospital. I'm gonna swing by your house, inform your dad of where you are, and grab a couple things for you."

Kevin nodded and smiled, then the paramedics took him out. Edd cleaned up most of the blood left behind, and walked out of the school, getting in his car and making his way back to Kevin's. He wasn't sure his father would be home yet, but Edd was hoping he wouldn't be. The nerd had never let them meet; he was a violent drunk. He was hoping to just leave the man a note.

He entered the domicile, going into the kitchen. A large redheaded man stood at the counter, a bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand.

"Kevin?" he asked. "That you boy?"

"N-no sir," Edd said. "I'm Edd Vincent from across the cul-de-sac. I came to inform you that your son was injured at school and I'm going to bring some things for him."

"Edd..." the man said, thinking for a moment. "Oh yeah. You're the gay kid my son's always hanging around with."

Edd blinked. How did he know that?

"I don't appreciate you trying to turn my boy into a faggot," Mr. Barr leered.

"Sir..." the swimmer said slowly.

"Get the fuck out of my house, faggot!" he spat. "Your kind ain't welcome here."

"I still need to get Kevin's things! Didn't you hear me: he's in the hospital!"

"I said get the fuck out of my house! Don't make me get my shotgun!"

Growling, Edd turned and left the house, parking in his driveway. He got out and leaned against his car. The swimmer ran a hand through his thick black hair, sighing. Everything would be so much easier if he weren't gay. He wouldn't get judged or threatened as much. What was so wrong with being gay anyway? Love is love, regardless of gender, religion, or race, right? A homosexual relationship is just as real as a heterosexual one. Why can't these thickheaded imbeciles get it?

Edd kicked his tire, then stalked into his house. He went up the stairs to his room and packed a backpack with a few of his smaller clothes for Kevin. He slung the backpack over his shoulder, and went back to his car, starting it and starting toward the hospital. The swimmer didn't want to keep Kevin waiting much longer.

Reaching the hospital, he parked in the nearest empty space and jogged to the entrance. Entering, he was greeted by the smiling face of a receptionist.

"May I help you, young man?" she asked cheerily.

"I'm looking for Kevin Barr," he explained.

She tapped away at her keyboard, scanning the screen. "Ah yes. Room 308."

Edd nodded his thanks, and starting down the hallway. He hated hospitals. They always smelled horrible, like medicine and imminent death. He didn't trust doctors for that matter, either. They basically made a living making you believe you're more ill than you are just to make you pay them more money for checkups and prescriptions. The thought sickened him.

The ravenette finally reached room 308, entering nervously as he imagined every worst case scenario. He hadn't realized his eyes had been clenched shut, and when he did he opened them. Kevin was sitting up on the hospital bed, covered in bandages and reading a magazine.

"Hey," Edd said.

The redhead looked up, and grinned widely. "Hey Edd. I'm so glad you came."

Edd nodded, taking a seat next to the bed.

"I went by your house to get you things," he said after a short pause. "Your dad wasn't very happy to see me."

Kevin's brow furrowed. "He's a harsh man. He knows about you, that you're gay. I'm surprised he hasn't confronted me about you yet. I'm surprised he hasn't tried to keep me away. He isn't around most of the time, that's probably why. He also drinks until he can't even remember who I am."

"That's not what home should be like," Edd muttered. "My parents aren't even home most of the time. Always working and shit. We're both alone."

"We have each other," Kevin said. "We're not alone."

Edd smiled at the nerd. He rose from his chair, leaning over the bed to press his lips to Kevin's. The latter's eyes widened, then closed, kissing him back. The two stayed like that for a long time, moving their lips in a tender dance that neither wanted to stop. Eventually, though, they had to break for air, even though the swimmer could've gone on much longer.

"Wow," the nerd whispered.

"I know right," Edd said cockily.

Kevin shoved his arm lightly, then tugged on it, pulling him into the bed with him. Edd gently wrapped his arms around the fragile boy and toyed with the television channels as Kevin fell asleep in his arms.