Winged Cupid Painted Blind Chapter 9 - The Fire-Eyed Maid of Smoky War
A/N- Thank you all for your reviews, I really enjoy hearing from everybody. So I got this conundrum coming up, I guess I should flip a coin and see which scenario you all are going to get. The problem is no matter which side it lands on its always heads, :D. And yes I played the alto saxophone in band that's why both my Edd's I have put in band have played it, use what you know right.
Edd arrived at home with enough time to put his school supplies away, clean himself up from the day's activities and have a quick supper before Kevin and Nat would pick him up at six for the game. After finishing their meal his mother heads toward the stair case to retrieve her purse from her room, "You ready to go?" She calls to Edd as she begins the accent up the stairs, but he looked like he had something to say but didn't know how to approach the subject, "It's almost six, you'll be late if we don't leave soon."
"Some friends are going to be picking me up and…" He wasn't sure if she would approve of him staying the night with Kevin with their age gap, "I was wondering if I could stay over at their place tonight."
"Sure you can stay with Ed and Eddy, why on earth are you act like I'd say no." She could see the nervous expression on his face deepen.
He swallowed and fidgeted with his hands a little, he didn't want to tell her he was going to a party tonight with Kevin and Nat, "Because I'm not going to be staying with them."
She descends back down from the few steps she had taken on the stairs and comes to stand in front of her son, taking in his nervous behavior wondering what it was that was making him act this way. When Edd looked up into her eyes he could have sworn her gaze was trying to penetrate the inner workings of his mind and discern if he was lying to her. "Have I met these friends?"
"Yes," what he omitted was the fact that it had only been once and very briefly. A knock on the front door breaks the tension in the room and Mrs. Vincent turns to open the door.
Standing upon their front door stoop was a very energetic and smiling Kevin, "Good evening Mrs. Vincent, I'm Eddward's friend Kevin, is he here?"
She cocks a brow, giving the older boy the once over before allowing him entrance into her home, then looking at the car out front and it's teal haired driver. Closing the door she turns back to her son with an expression that told him she knew he was with holding something, "So what are you boy's doing after the game?" She looks Kevin squarely in his green eyes.
"Oh you know ma'am, the usual stuff teenage boys do, play video games, watch movies and pig out on pizza." Kevin was keeping that winning smile upon his face and his demeanor calm and collected as though ever word coming out of his mouth was the whole truth and nothing else.
Her expression had shifted from the concerned mother wondering what trouble her son was going to be getting into, to one of confusion as she tried to figure out why this older and obviously more popular boy was interested in her son. The other side of her mind was screaming to her that this could be a good thing for Edd, this boy just might help him come out of his shell a little and get him to interact with different people. Looking to her son she sighs and gives in, "Alright you can stay the night," Edd broadly smiles at the fact that she had agreed to this, he grabs his instrument and a small duffle bag with his change of clothes in it from the couch and begins to head toward the door, "Don't stay up to late, mind your manners and Kevin," she looks to the boy with an earnest expression upon her face, "Take care of my boy." She knew there was more to this evening than movies, but it was a rite of passage most teenagers must go through in their lives and she couldn't keep him under her wing forever.
"Don't worry Mrs. Vincent, I'll keep an eye on him." He gives her that winning smile again and her worries were alleviated, somehow she knew he would.
Leaving the house they pile into Nat's car, closing the door Kevin turns to his friend who lets out a "Lets rock," and turns the ignition bringing the vehicle to life. He pushes the cassette into the tape deck and cranks up the volume, Smells Like Teen Spirit comes blaring out of the speakers and both boys in front began to head bang with the opening guitar rift, eliciting a laugh from Edd at their antics. Nat puts the car into drive and they begin their trip to the high school, and hopefully to witness the destruction of Lemon Brook at the hands of their team.
Dropping Edd off at the side entrance of the school which was closer to the band room, Kevin calls out to him, "We'll see you in the bleachers," as the car and blaring music drove off.
Entering the building he made his way to the band room, setting down his instrument and duffle bag he gets his uniform from the rack and heads to the restroom to change with a few of the other boys. Exiting the bathroom stall he looks into the mirror and places the hat upon his head, he remember the first time he put this on he was brimming with pride. Now because Kevin was going to see him in it he thought he looked like an oversized nutcracker, the square shoulders of the jacket, the hat with the feather coming out the top front and the peach and black colors of the outfit, "God I'm such a dork." Heading back to the room he assembles his saxophone then putting the strap around his neck and attaching it to the instrument. Gathering with the rest of the group they listen to a few instructions from their teacher then file out of the building and to the football field. Taking their positions in the stands, Edd sits on the outside of the group looking around to see if Kevin was coming over, a nervous pit forming in his stomach as thoughts of being ditched crept in, "Have more confidence in yourself, he's your friend," Edd thought to himself.
A hand claps him on the shoulder, looking up he sees Kevin standing behind him waiting to sit down, scooting over a little he allows him to sit. Taking his seat he takes in Edd's uniform, "Classy," he says as he gives a gently tug to the hem of the jacket.
Edd blushes mildly and turns his head to try and hide it from his friend, "Thanks," not seeing the usual teal colored hair anywhere he asks, "Where's Nat?"
"Playing match maker," Edd gives him a confused look so he elaborates, "He has decided to play cupid and try and get Myrtle and Tommy together."
"But what if Tommy rejects her because of his social status," Edd looked exasperated, "You'll break her heart telling her Tommy likes her."
Kevin scrunches up his face at the implication that he hadn't already thought of that, "He's not telling her that, we're just extending an invitation to the party is all." He bumps his shoulder against Edd's playfully, "Don't worry, we're only giving them a little nudge in the right direction."
The announcer came over the speaker system welcoming everyone to the game, then makes the appropriate introduction for each team and finally, "Please stand for the National Anthem." Everyone stands and the band begins to play, Edd felt at peace with the rise and fall of the music, it brought him joy to bring into the world something that sounded so beautiful. Once the song ended everyone takes their seats again, Peach Creek having lost the coin toss Lemon Brook would be receiving at the start, and as Peach Creek lines up for the kick, Kevin speaks "O war! Thou son of hell," and the game begins. By the end of the first quarter both sides had an injury and Peach Creek was down by a touchdown, at half time they were down by four points, Lemon Brook missing the extra point and Peach Creek getting a two point conversation.
At the half time show the band lines up on the field with the color guard to perform their routine, the music was two pieces from the movie Hook and a drum line solo in-between them. Edd was a nervous wreck, he had performed this number countless times, keeping in time with the music and where he should be on the field. But now Kevin was watching and his palms were sweating, if it wasn't for the strap around his neck he felt he would have probably dropped his instrument. By the end of the number he was thanking god that he didn't trip or make some dumb mistake to draw attention to himself, returning to the stands he takes his seat beside his friend. "You were amazing out there," he said smiling at Edd warmly.
"Oh really," Edd said feeling a little embarrassed, "It's not like you could tell which one was me from up here."
"I could tell," Was Kevin's response with his trade mark smirk, Edd could do nothing but blush. In the second half the excitement in the stands was palpable as Peach Creek came to the field for war. And it showed as Lemon Brook was quickly being dominated by the barbarians that was the Peach Creek offensive line, and held at bay by the Spartans of the defensive line. Close to the end of the third quarter Nat comes and sits with his friend, "Where've you been?"
"Just getting to know Myrtle's friend Tracy a little better, that girl's ass, mmmh." Nat made a gesture with his hands as though he was cupping her butt right now.
Kevin didn't look to happy about that, "You didn't do anything to scare the poor girl?"
Nat feigned shock at his friend's words, "I would never," then putting his hands behind his head, "But you know the girls love me though."
"Sure they do."
"I know who's going to be scoring a touchdown tonight, and it's not you Kev." And the crowd goes wild around them as Peach Creek scores.
"Such deplorable behavior," Edd spoke under his breath but Nat heard him anyways.
Nat leaned forward and called over Kevin to Edd, "Hey Double Dry spell, don't hate the player."
"Leave the kid alone."
"I know Kevin, let's get the boy laid, he will be better off," Nat then slaps Edd's leg, "We'll make a MAN out of ya boy."
Kevin grabs the wrist of the hand that he hit Edd's leg with, "Back off Nat."
"Geez, I'm just having some fun." He pulls his wrist from Kevin's grasp.
Kevin leans over to Edd, "Sorry about that, he gets a little excitable sometimes."
"It's quite alright, I know he doesn't mean anything by it."
"You tell him Edd, it's just guys being guys," Nat was caressing his wrist where Kevin had grabbed it, and the conversation about Edd' virginity had been dropped by all present. They turned their attention back to the game and the conversation followed the games happenings from that moment on. By the end of the game Peach Creek won by a single point, but it was a win none the less.