Winged Cupid Painted Blind Chapter 20 - Come, Sit Thee Down Upon This Flowery Bed
By the end of the meal Edd was relaxed concerning the situation with Marie, she had slowly returned to her normal self over the course of their breakfast, minus any of the usual flirting. Though her eyes did betray that she was still heartbroken over the situation, he could only hope that over time it would heal and become whole again so that they could get to know each other as true friends. Mr. and Mrs. Hill paid for everyone's meal, politely refusing the three boys offers to chip in, "Oh no boys, its fine, just consider it an early birthday treat Edd." Mrs. Hill said as Nat got up out of the bench to allow Marie to leave, she wiggle her fingers in goodbye to the three of them as she walked away toward the door, "We'll see you next weekend for your party Edd," Mrs. Hill bid her farewells and followed the teenagers out the door.
"You boys drive safe," Mr. Hill stated as he looked Nat in the eyes, remembering that the teal haired boy was the driver who cut them off earlier that evening.
"Sure thing Brad," Nat says as he gives the man a mock salute.
Kevin looks over at his boyfriend with a side eye glance, "So, when is the birthday boys special day?"
"A week from Tuesday," Edd offered the last bite of his apple pie to Kevin, to which the jock playful took.
Nat stirs the sugar into his coffee, "So November third, you're a Scorpio then, I'd watch out for this one Kevin, you just might just get stung,"
Not believing in astrology much Kevin just rolled his eyes at his friend's remark, "The party is this weekend then," Edd nods in response, "Your place or theirs?"
Edd fidgeted with his hands a little as he spoke, "Well the traditional birthday celebration of blowing out candles and gift giving will be at my house." He felt that at fifteen he was mature enough to forgo the birthday song, or the embarrassment of his father teasing him with fifteen birthday spankings, aw the mortification of it all was already making his cheeks red just thinking about it. "But my friends and I are going to hang out afterwards, probably watch some movies and maybe smoke a joint or two," Edd whispered the last part.
"Count me in," Nat says enthusiastically.
"You just want to get high," Kevin admonished him.
"True, but it's our boys birthday as well, so it would be rude of us not to come don't you think," Nat checked his watch, Jesus Christ it was 3:30 in the morning and they still had an hour drive ahead of them. He taps his watch so they get the gist that it was getting really late and Kevin checks his own with a surprised look on his face, the three of them leave the booth and head toward the door. Nat asks as he held the door open for the both of them, "You won't mind if we crash your party now will ya?"
Edd pauses and looks Nat in the eyes and shakes his head, "No, it should be fine, but," he looks toward Kevin, "Eddy most certainly cannot find out about us," and he continues through the door.
Kevin holds up his hands defensively, "I promise, I'll be on my best behavior." Making their way into the parking lot they load up into the car, with Kevin and Edd sitting in the back seat. As Nat turned the engine over Kevin states quite simply in a mock upper society like tone, "Home Jeeves," earning him the finger from Nat. Both boys laugh at the gesture from their friend as Edd leans his head on Kevin's shoulder and places his hand in the jocks intertwining their fingers together.
The scenic route of the rural highway back to Peach Creek was quiet and dark with only barely a sliver of a crescent moon in the sky with light fluffy clouds rolling by quickly blocking out the stars. Nat was keeping himself awake with the coffee he bought from a gas station on the outskirts of the city along with blaring Metallica over the speakers, the current song however was one of their more softer pieces, Nothing Else Matters. Edd's head was lolling from the surprisingly gentle music, waking him up with a start every time it would drop, "Come here," Kevin says softly. Releasing Edd's hand he takes off his trench coat and makes it into a makeshift pillow placing it to the side then he has Edd take off his own coat to use as a blanket. He turns his body to face the boy and awkwardly brings his leg behind him, "This seemed easier in my head I swear." They both chuckle but manage the awkward position eventually, bringing Edd in close he leans back and lets the boy fall asleep with his head on his bare chest as he runs his fingers through his hair. The position was uncomfortable in the back seat but was also intimate so Kevin didn't mind it so much, Edd's gentle breathing and warm body against his own soon sent him off into sweet dreams as well.
Nat managed to trudge through what seemed to be the return trip from hell that would never end, pulling into his drive way at almost five in the morning he was halfway tempted to leave the two of them in the car. The sore neck's and back's would serve them right for falling asleep and leaving him alone to drive them home, "Hey guys we're here," he calls to the two of them. The both of them groan and stretch sleepily, nope, no pull out couch for them, no sir, the floor is all they get and if they were lucky and he was feeling generous they might get a pillow and a blanket but at this point he was not feeling benevolent. Getting out of the vehicle he slams the door and goes to his porch to unlock the front door of his house, his two guests follow behind him in a zombie like state, ushering them in he closes the door behind them, "Edd, restroom and wash the makeup off and you upstairs and change into something more descent." Holy hell, these two are making him act like an adult, what's the world coming to I ask you?
Kevin and Edd trudge up the stairs to do as he asked them, Kevin changed into a pair of sweat pants in Nat's room as Edd washed his face in the bathroom and then changed into his pajama's while Nat scrounged up a few blankets and pillows to make them a mat in his room. Opening his bedroom door he finds Kevin sprawled out on his bed, the door to the bathroom down the hall opens and Edd walks out half asleep, Nat throws the pile of blankets on top of Kevin and storms off to change out of his own costume. "Dude," Edd walks in to the room and begins to lay out the blankets on the floor, "What's eating him?"
Edd was half awake and shrugs, Kevin gets up off the bed and helps him prepare their makeshift mat, once complete they both climbed under the blankets with Kevin sleeping closest to Nat's bed. Edd adjusts under the covers to make himself as comfortable as he could, all things considered, with his back facing Kevin for no other reason than he liked to sleep on his left side he closes his eyes to fall asleep. He feels Kevin's strong chest and stomach come up against his back, and the jocks arm slide underneath his own right arm, and his hand slide up to his chest where it came to rest. "Goodnight," he whispered into Edd's ear and the arm that was wrapped around him gave a gentle squeeze as he kissed Edd's cheek. Edd's eyes shoot open and he turns his head to look at Kevin, romantic affection was something new to him and right now his body craved it, screw sleep. He rolls over and gazes longingly into Kevin's green eyes caressing his strong jaw line with his fingers, Kevin's hand had come to rest upon his hip when he had turned over, he runs his fingers along his side as he brings his hand to cup Edd's cheek. They inch their lips closer, and Edd's heart is racing in anticipation but the spell was broken quickly as Nat enters the room and sees the situation, "No sucking and no fucking, I don't even want you two giving each other a handy."
Nat closes the door, "Jealousy doesn't look good on you Nat," Kevin replies.
Nat heads to his bed and slightly kicks Kevin, "Oh so sorry Kevin," and again, "clumsy me," and once more, "I'm so tired I can't seem to walk straight," then he flops down in his bed and crawls under the covers then turns out the bedside light. Kevin laughed off his friends sleep deprived childish behavior then faces Edd again joining their lips quickly humming out his desire, "No kissing either."
"You're so mean Nat," Edd jokes.
"No just tired," He lets out a sigh and rolls over to face away from them, "And I don't want to be kept up by Kevin's noisy kisses, you would think he was devouring you how loud he is."
Edd looked at Kevin's face as best he could in the dark room and could still see the smile that was upon his lips, Kevin takes Edd's hand and places it on his chest, and Edd could feel the racing heart that was contained within. The jock then takes his forefinger and touches Edd's chest with the tip of it and slowly glides it across his skin, drawing a heart shape upon it, then taps the center of the heart as though to say you, then puts the palm of his hand over Edd's heart to feel his boyfriends quickened pulse. Both boys looked at each other with their hands upon the others chest, and Edd's mind couldn't help but ponder, "did Kevin just say I love you?" He buried his face into Kevin's chest as the jock wrapped his arms around him and whispered, "I do," then kissed the top of Edd's head.
Edd brought his head up even with Kevin's and snuck a kiss, Nat was fast asleep however so sneaking didn't matter in the long run, breaking that chaste and silent kiss he whispered, "And I, you." They lay in each other's arms expressing their love for the other, with gentle touches and sweet silent kisses until Edd's slow and steady breathing told Kevin that his love was fast asleep. Edd's head on his shoulder and his arm around him, Kevin quickly joined him in sleep, the two of them held on to each other as their hearts danced together in their dreams, the simple but intimate embrace was building the foundation to the fortress of their love.