Chapter 2-Speak Low if You Speak Love
A/N-For, after all, you do grow up, you do outgrow your ideals, which turn to dust and ashes, which are shattered into fragments; and if you have no other life, you just have to build one up out of these fragments. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, White Nights and Other Stories
There he was, Kevin Barr, sitting across from Edd with that sexy smirk playing across his face, his green eyes drilling holes into Edd's very soul. Kevin was several years older than Edd, seventeen and a senior at peach creek high, but everyone knew him, he was the most popular kid in their school and the star pitcher for their baseball team. Every guy wanted to be him and every girl wanted to be with him, this man exuded confidence with every step and every word. And here he was sitting across from Edd and actually wanting to talk to him, no cronies around to impress no malicious words being slung at the dork that Edd obviously was. Edd swallows the lump in his throat by taking another drink of his soda, "N-nothing much Kevin, just sitting here enjoying this very unhealthy but ultimately tasty snack which unfortunately is one of only a few things this establishment sales. There for I am stuck with very few options of things to …."
"Wooo man anyone ever tell you that you talk a lot." Kevin cracks a smile as to say he didn't mean it in a malicious way.
"I'm sorry I ramble when I get nervous." Edd looks down at the half eaten tray of nacho's, debating on whether he should just continue to stuff his face with the cheesy treat to abate his mouth from speaking anymore.
"Ah, do I make you nervous?" Looking up Edd could see that Kevin's expression was still kind and playful, no signs of wickedness in it.
"Maybe just a little." Edd said sheepishly, picking up a nacho and shoving it in his mouth.
Kevin snags a nacho from the tray, "Don't be man, chill and be yourself." Then eats it, sitting on the table and propping his feet upon the bench Kevin looks out over the rink, I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls started to play, "Tell me man what do you see when you look out there."
Edd doesn't even look up at the rink, he knew his reply but decided to give a generic one instead. "I see children of various ages skating repetitiously around an oval shape, to modern and 80's music."
"Come on man I know you can do better than that." Kevin looks over his shoulder at Edd to see him looking down at his nachos. "I'll tell you what I see, the eternal struggle to assert dominance over each other and secure a mate. I see rams butting heads and wolves pissing on trees, the peacock spreading its tail feathers."
Edd was a little surprised by this analogy, he never thought of Kevin Barr as a deep thinker, but it's not like he really knew the man. Being in different grades and social levels did put quit a distance between them. "But where would we be without such displays?"
"Extinct." Kevin says plainly, "But that doesn't mean I have to like the teenage power struggle. The more I think about it lately the more I find distaste in it." Kevin sits back down on the bench and faces Edd again. "Let's take you for example, one would think that with the way the world is today with all its technological advances that intelligent people would be prime matting material, but no we are still stuck on the appearance and standing of people, the plumage sort of speak." He pauses for a second at the look of disdain Edd was giving him, "Not that I am saying you're not an attractive guy, but let's be honest you're not alpha male material either."
Edd took all that in for a second and had to agree with him on that point, "True I don't have the muscular physic or social standing that would secure me a person that most would desire." And as if on cue the next song is U2's Desire and Edd continues. "But who's to say that I want someone who is all appearance and no substance, I might want someone that can hold a decent conversation."
Kevin smirked at this, pleased with the dorks answer but still had to tease him just a little. "So you would be happy with all brains and no looks?"
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Kevin, what you might find repulsive another might find enchanting." Edd was not really pleased with Kevin's response, "And to imply that only one way of looking at things is the correct way is asinine. Take Myrtle over there," Edd points to a heavy set young lady rolling on by on the rink that was in his science class, "she might not be your type, but Tommy," Edd points over to an athletic young man who was slowly rolling behind Myrtle, "thinks she is gorgeous and has for quite sometime, if only he could work the nerve up to ask her out. And you know what," Edd looks at Kevin and Kevin at him, "the sad thing is that I am sure his nerves have nothing to do with her and everything to do with how others would react to him dating her."
"The course of true love never did run smoothly." Kevin said with a little sadness in his eyes, whether it was for Myrtle and Tommy, Edd couldn't tell but just assumed it was.
"That's lovely, sad but lovely." Yet again Kevin had surprised Edd with the way he expressed himself.
"It's Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream." Kevin looked a little shy at this, like he had exposed himself more than he expected he would with Edd, but shook it off quickly like he had made a choice not to care.
"Sorry for being hypocritical by saying so, but I never expected a jock to be into Shakespeare." The music changes and now Suddenly Last Summer by The Motels is playing
"Don't worry about it, I get it all the time, maybe not said to me but rather the looks I get when I speak my mind speak volumes. So I tend to not do so." Kevin looked a little sullen by admitting his own hypocrisy at trying to fit into a social niche.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." Edd was trying to make him feel a little better but encourage him at the same time.
"Dr. Seuss?" Kevin said cocking a brow at Edd.
"Yes he did say it, but I think it was originally coined by Bernard M. Baruch." Edd was really starting to enjoy this conversation, the jock was really making him feel at ease with himself, surprisingly he didn't feel like he had to dumb down the conversation like he would with the other Ed's or his classmates. Having figured out a while back that most people didn't enjoy a smart person talking like a smart person, something about it made them feel dumb so instead of learning from the smart person they would shun them. There was Edd's way of trying to fit in socially, by not talking smart all the time, just like Ed had started talking normally as well, and Eddy had stopped doing scams, as you grow up you figure out the things you do that people don't enjoy and you adapt to fit in, because no one like to be the outcast.
They sit in silence for a few minutes watching the kids on the rink, the DJ came over the speakers and called for the rink to be cleared for a couples skate song, and Edd looks up and sees Eddy by the entrance asking a girl if she wanted to join him for the skate having his ego bruised once again as she laughs in his face and then over to Ed and May who were rolling around the rink hand in hand. The song that starts up a moment later is By My Side from INXS. "So, not going out there with your lady?" Kevin said pointing to the rink.
"I can assure you this is one that I will not be participating in." Edd said filling a small sting in his heart, knowing that even if he was here with someone that he cared about it wouldn't be socially acceptable for him to be out there with them.
"Oh sorry, I thought that blue haired girl I see hanging all over you, Marie isn't it, would be here." Edd could tell that the topic was a little awkward for Kevin, like he didn't know how to address it with Edd.
"O please, Marie and I are not dating, it's more of an unrequited love on her part then anything." The mere thought of dating Marie sent a shiver up his spine, the girl was over bearing now how would she act if he did date her even as a cover story for himself.
"Sorry dude, I always assumed you two were an item." Every time Kevin spoke it seem to Edd like a little piece of the well built wall around him was falling, and that Edd was getting to see the real Kevin. He was displaying embarrassment easily to Edd, as well as showing him his intellectual side, which Edd was pretty sure being a popular athlete Kevin didn't show these sides of himself very often.
Reaching over and putting his hand on Kevin's forearm, which to Edd's surprise the touch was not rejected, "It's quite alright, people assume a lot of things about each other, I assumed you were a brainless jock earlier and you assumed I was a desperate nerd we're even."
"Cool," They both went back to watching the people on the rink roll around it endlessly. Kevin looked at him and opened his mouth but closed it like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he should then decided he would. "Hey I was wondering if you wanted to get out of here."
Edd looked a little curious about the request, "And do what?"
"I don't know, just walk and talk, get to know each other better." Kevin still looked unsure as to what he was saying but at the same time trying to keep his cool, like he didn't want the question to be weird but still wanted to hang with the dork. "I think you're a nice guy, and I don't think you're enjoying yourself here so I just thought maybe a change of scenery would be nice."
Edd considered this for just a moment then answered, "I will admit that this was my friends idea, but if you're sure that you want to "Hang out" then yes I would be happy to accompany you Mr. Barr."
"Cool, go get your things and let's get the fuck out of this place." Kevin stood and headed to his locker to get his shoes and jacket, Edd quickly followed suit, looking back over his shoulder at his friends who had as of yet to notice his absents as they were preoccupied with their own affairs for the evening. Opening his locker and grabbing his things from it, he takes off the skates and puts his shoes on, returning his rentals to the counter and heading toward the door.
Meeting Kevin at the exit he opens the door, as they were walking through the clerk informs them. "Once you boys leave you can't come back in."
Kevin just turns to her and replies, "That's cool, we don't plan on it." Once outside the door Kevin noticeably relaxes, the stress of keeping up social appearances off his shoulders he was now free to be who he was and not have to worry about how others would perceive him if they over heard their conversations. "So let's go and have an adventure." Kevin says as he puts his hand on Edd's back and leads him away from the door and toward the road, their night had just begun and the bounds of friendship were just beginning to form between them. Edd who was in awe of this man for his social status and how easy he made looking popular seem, was finding it hard not to like him even more for the little bit he had seen of Kevin's true self.
A/N-Hope you all are enjoying this one, and as always I enjoy back story and building the stage so please be patient when it comes to fluffy smutty things with me.