So, I'm how late again? I'm really sorry about all the late posting sometimes things just happen. I'm also sorry if this chapter is messed up in anyway (please let me know), I'm so ridiculously out of it, listening to Welcome to Night Vale, and I've got a headache so bad I can't tell if my legs are actually attached to my body or not. It's a bit longer than the other ones so it might get a little rambly, but you learn just a bit about why Edd is so... Yeah. Hope it's not terrible.

~SevenSneakyFoxes

P.S. This hasn't been beta'd so it probably has issues, lemme know if you find any so I can fix them. Thanks.

"Yes, of course. Yes, mother. I've tended to it already. Yes, ma'am. No, not yet I haven't been able t—" he sighed away from the phone "Yes, ma'am." The call ended. "Goodbye." He set his phone on the kitchen table and frowned. The clock in the hallway chimed 6 o'clock. Outside, the sun was beginning its descent, casting a pink hue across the neighborhood as it went.

An annoying chime startled him out of his silent reprieve. His phone screen lit up with a new message. He checked it suspiciously.

James

Edd.

Unlock your front door or I'll break in through the window.

He gazed over at the front door. Through the window he could see eyes staring back at him. The boy got up and crossed through the entryway to welcome his friend into the house. "So demanding, and please refrain from entering my house forcefully in the future. The basement window is normally unlocked." They crossed back over into the kitchen

"I'm not going to crawl around in the dirt just to check on you." He sat on the counter. "So what's up? I thought dear old mommy and daddy were coming back tonight?"

"They found files they missed before and have been tasked with looking through them." Rave's face changed to one of indifference.

"You know our door is always open right. If you ever—"

"I'm quite alright. Thank you though, Rave." The two boys sat comfortably in a moment of silence until the doorbell rang. Edd huffed and went to answer it, leaving Rave to sit boredly on the counter. When the door opened Edd thought to slam it shut, but stopped himself as he looked at the thoroughly ruffled redhead on his porch.

"Okay before you slam the door in my face I just need help with this fuckin' math problem." He explained. Edd made a gesture for the redhead to continue. "Thank fuck. No one else could help me and I was starting to get pissed." The taller boy mumbled something that sounded a bit like 'language' but Kevin was too busy lifting the piece of paper with his writing scrawled across it. He handed the slip to Edd and watched as the boy tried to decipher the chicken scratch.

"Your handwriting appals me. Its wretched." Edd disappeared into the house for a moment before coming back with a pencil. He scribbled something on the paper and handed it back to the redhead. "Goodnight Mr. Barr." Kevin nodded once and took off towards his house.

"Was that Kevin? Did Eddward Marion Vincent just fraternize with the enemy for a whole five minutes? I should have been recording!"

"Thinly veiled sarcasm doesn't suit you. I prefer it when you're brash." Edd scowled. "Now, am I feeding you, or did you already eat?" He pulled a few things from the refrigerator.

"I could totally eat some food."

The light of a Saturday morning shone in through a thin blue curtain resting over the living room windows. It was nearing ten in the morning (Edd could only tell because he'd spent countless years watching the sun hit the coffee table at exactly 9a.m.). He wondered idly if his parents had done that on purpose. It would be just like them.

Rave is curled up on the chaise lounge across the room with a cup of what Edd assumes is tea. Dark eyes stare at him over the lip of the cup. "Morning Edd."

"Good morning James." He sat up and stretched. The room was quiet.

"Edd, are you okay? I just ... I don't think I ever asked you after we met, and lately you've been more—"

"I am quite alright. Everything feels different. It doesn't feel like I grew up with these people. None of them actually know what happened and I don't want to have to discus it. I have to worry all the time that something will trigger me and I will shut down when it matters most. I am lucky I was able to talk your parents into moving here so I wasn't alone. I guess, I'm just reluctant to let someone in. Well, someone else." The boy's stared at each other.

"You know what? You're gonna help me with my drama assignment. I'll be right back." The teen exited the house barefooted leaving the front door open. It was half-past nine and Edd was still "in bed". He got up, muscles aching after spending a night on the couch. The blanket he'd used last night was folded and set over the back of the couch. Rave returned looking less sleep-ruffled, holding a script, and someone, Edd wasn't sure who (he hadn't checked) followed closely behind him. "I was stalked back here. I'm sorry." The boy behind him looked more than pleased to have found Rave this early in the morning.

"Mr. Goldberg, what a lovely surprise. If I may, it is to my understanding that you live nowhere near here? What could you possibly be doing in our lovely cul-de-sac?"

"I was out with Kevin. Saw hottie here cross the yards and wanted to say 'hi'." Nat smirked giving a cursory glance at the boy who was, once again, sitting in the lounge.

"Please do not call him that." Nat bristled at Edd's words. He shifted nervously.

"Anyway, I have to get back to Kev. I'll see you guys later." He waved briefly before disappearing from the house.

"My knight in shining armor." Rave jested staring down at the script in his lap.

"Yes well someone has to defend your honor." Edd sat himself gently on the ottoman. "Shall we then?"