Sorry i took a while with this chapter, had a bit of writer's block hehe

Anyways on to the feels

Hope you enjoy this chapter!

It all started with his conscious mind coming into focus with the faint sounds of cars driving away, the chirping birds and a source of light breathing. Then a strong pain surged through his brain, a pain that ran from the teen feet to his brain twisting and turning his stomach making him become nauseous. At this he tried to open his eyes to finally wake up, but had a difficulty with the task realizing that the sunlight burned him painfully so. Turning his head away from the window he felt something warm shift. The source enveloped his hand gently, and he felt a pressure on his abdomen. Slowly opening his eyes, the boy groaned from the terrible headache and wished the birds would shut up. His throat was excessively dry causing him to be awfully thirsty for water.

Gaining his composure a bit and pushing away the nauseous feeling Eddward looked down finding a bright head of orange hair. Kevin was fast asleep on top of him, his head lying on Eddward's chest while their hands continued to gently intertwine with one another. The swimmer laid his head back down on the pillow looking up, his eyes felt swollen. A huge feeling of dread ran through him as he stared at the wall, his hand however gingerly tightened its grip on the freckled one. What was he to do now? He groaned quietly again annoyed from the headache that wouldn't let him think properly. He needed water, and some aspirin. The teen looked towards his bed stand praying he would find something but found nothing.

The raven haired wanted to get up but at the same time felt guilty pushing the ginger off when he was sleeping so soundly. He raised a hand and ran his fingers through his hair trying to calm down the headache that felt like it was tearing his head in half. Sudden awareness came when he realized he didn't have his beanie on and his body froze. The swimmers long fingers traced the scar slowly pondering the question if the ginger had seen it... No one had ever seen it before...well, except for his past two "friends". The ginger was sure to ask about it, but he didn't want him to know. Kevin knowing would make everything so much more problematic for him. He was to keep his scar a secret until he was considered an adult, only then would he be comfortable to roam free without the disguise. If he lived that long he supposed, maybe just maybe… two years wasn't necessarily such a long time.

Eddward felt the ginger move and thought he had finally woken up. When he looked down he saw the boy had only changed sides and was now facing his direction. The boy's small freckled hands held his wife beater, and his open lips ugh...were drooling. If it wasn't for the fact that they were in the same grade Eddward could have sworn that this boy was twelve. Lowering his hand he grabbed the edge of his sweatshirt and used it to quietly wipe it. He sighed heavily cursing his headache once again. The swimmer wanted to get up and at the same time wanted to keep the sleeping ginger where he was. What was he to do when the smaller teen woke up? The slightly blurred memories made him feel nauseas all over again.

For the past week the raven haired had been cooped up in his house only going out when necessary or for a run at 6 in the morning or late at night. Summer was never fun for him, it bored the hell out of Eddward and the only way he'd ever find some sort of enjoyment was to get the hell out of town to his mother's cabin up in the mountains about one hour away from Peach Creek. He so wanted to be up there at this moment. The only reason he hadn't gone straight there this summer was for Sam's senseless party. It would have been better if he hadn't attended in all honesty, what he had witnessed there was absolutely horrendous. Just the idea of what little Kevin would think of him if he ever found out make his stomach turn.

Not able to suppress his nausea Eddward released the gingers hand and gently lifted his head placing it on the bed as quietly as possible as not to disturbed the boy's asleep. He silently made his way out of the room before making a run for the bathroom and letting the contents of his stomach come back out. It was disgusting, his mouth tasted vile and his headache only more painful with the fast movement. Hearing a small chuckle at the door the swimmer groaned out.

"That's why you shouldn't drink excessively" the chuckling voice spoke from behind him

Eddward coughed a bit still feeling nauseous "...fuck you" he mumbled out flushing the digesting contents away. He lowered the toilet seat and laid his head in his arms whining a bit.

Kevin chuckled a bit at the response "well good morning to you too" The boy lowered down to kneel besides the swimmer and gave him a simple pat on his back "it's good for you I'm here I know exactly how to treat a hangover" Eddward peeked an annoyed looked towards the ginger questioning him "my dad gets drunk with his coworkers every so often" he responded.

Seeing the raven haired hide his face again Kevin stood "you might want to rinse your mouth, I'll go get you a glass of water"

Eddward peeked out again seeing the small ginger walk out of the room. He lifted his head staring at the now empty hallway feeling...ugh fucking headache made everything so irritating at the moment. He stood up and rinsed his mouth, it was all so revolting he made sure to brush and when finished took the bottle of aspirin in hand. Pain killers where his best friend at times like these. He made his way back out and found Kevin with the glass in hand and sending a quick text to who knows.

Kevin handed the glass over to the taller teen and shrugged a bit "it was, um, Nazz" he saw the other avoid his glance and instead popped two pills and washed them down with the glass of water.

Eddward made his way back to the bedroom to change, and turned back when hearing Kevin head back down stairs. Entering the room he chose to take out a sweatshirt and a pair of sweats cause for some damned reason his entire house was cursed to forever be cold even during summer. He laid back down on the bed curling in on himself from the pain, he hated absolutely everything at the moment and it was all so frustrating. He hadn't known when he had fallen asleep once again.

The sleeping teen could feel smooth fingers tickle his skin, the sensation brought warmth to his cold body. At first it was quite soothing and he leaned into the touch but the more he concentrated on the touch the more odd it felt. The unsteady fingers were quite nervous and now concerned him. Who was touching him? He groaned out and opened his eyes slightly turning towards to person the hand belonged to. "What do you think you're doing?" He gave the ginger an aggravated glare.

Kevin rapidly sat up straight surprised the swimmer had awakened "I-I um...I was trying to um…" he sheepishly held up Eddward's beanie in his hand "I thought you weren't aware that you weren't wearing it and might freak"

"I'm aware" Eddward groaned out closing his eyes once again, realizing his headache had decreased significantly.

"Oh..." Kevin slouched looking confused now "so um, is that the...um reason you wear your hat all the time?"

"Mmhm"

Kevin pulled his knees to his chest "how did you get it if I may ask?"

Eddward sighed expecting the question "Not your business"

"Fine..." Kevin leaned back on the headboard of the bed "but you promised me you answer me today remember?"

"Indeed but the deal had nothing to do with my scar" the swimmer bit back.

"Well yeah I know..." Kevin said awkwardly not really sure where to start his interrogation. "So um, did you go?"

"Go where?" The taller teen asked irritated with Kevin's nonspecific questions

Kevin rubbed at his jeans a bit nervous "You know the party?"

Eddward rolled his eyes "What do you think genius?" He asked frustrated as if it wasn't obvious for the ginger.

"Hey, I'm asking nicely you asshole" Kevin crossed his arms angered by the gingers attitude.

Eddward opened his eyes slightly staring at the wall on the other side of the room for a moment remembering the events from the party before closing them again "I did"

At this Kevin turned towards Eddward and observed the teen's defensive pose "...was there a fight?" He asked.

"Yes"

Kevin was a bit hesitant. He was afraid of the answer but asked anyway "why?"

There was a long silence shared between them only the sounds of chirping birds coming from outside. The raven haired tried to come up with a way to answer the ginger without giving away too much information. The silence was killing little Kevin he wanted to know what had happened at the event, why had a fight broke out, and if the lemon brook kids were safe, but at the same time he was scared of the answer, was it really that bad that the teen had gone into silence. Finally Eddward spoke out "I'm sure you're going to hear about it from your quiz bowl leader...the fight started because he showed up"

"Ed? What was he doing there? Nazz warned him..." The ginger trailed off thinking.

"Why don't you ask him..." Eddward shifted a bit further from the other.

"Where there any Lemon Brook kids?" Kevin quickly asked

"Not sure, I wasn't there for too long, if there were they must have ran away the moment the fight broke out" he halfheartedly lied; quite honestly he wanted to spare the ginger the details. That and a little part of Eddward didn't want the boy to leave so soon angrily at him again.

"Hm..." Kevin sighed leaning back "why did you go? I thought things like that weren't your thing." He pondered looking up at the ceiling, why did he get involved in the fight? He could have just walked away when hell broke loose...

"I was obligated" the swimmer responded

Kevin quickly turned to look at the boy beneath him completely surprised "Obligated! By who?"

Eddward turned and grabbed Kevin's cheeks with a hand squeezing them a bit then shook him gently "Someone far scarier than me minnow" he said comically.

The ginger swatted the hand away laughing uneasily a bit "Don't call me that"

"Minnow" Eddward said again

"Seriously...I hate it" Kevin reached to scratch the back of his head awkwardly looking down uncomfortable. Why had Eddward started calling him that again, was it to intimidate him? Belittle him? Either way the name wasn't cute at all, he hated it. "And you're not that scary" he added quickly.

At this the raven haired quirked an eyebrow surprised at the gingers response. Somehow the comment lifted his spirits a tad bit.

Seeing the other become silently once again the ginger began thinking of what else would be appropriate to ask "Um..." Kevin wondered a moment before sighing uncomfortably catching the others attention. Their eyes focused on one another, one observing, and the other anxious. "...what happened?" Kevin let a breath out.

Eddward continued to stare a bit confused about the question but could tell what the ginger was implying. "You need to be specific Barr" he challenged the boy. He knew what Kevin was asking but he wanted to hear him say it.

"I mean what happened last week?"

Eddward shut his eyes slowly enclosing in on himself. Now he regretted having heard the words spoken out, they brought a painful sting to his ears. Kevin's words were like acid melting into his head destroying him little by little. It was painful to even breathe; his lungs didn't seem to be able to expand fully. "Something you wouldn't be able to comprehend..." He finally was able to manage something out.

Kevin pulled his knees closer to his chest staring down at the raven haired boy. He seemed so exposed and passive, nothing like the Eddward he had known. Just what made him act the way he did? Kevin sighed turning his head away looking out the window "Maybe, but that doesn't mean I don't want to understand" the boy rubbed at his ripped up old jeans "Does it have to do with your...um with what happened last night?"

Eddward was never so thankful in his entire life than in the moment, he thanked the heavens he was turned away from the ginger so the boy couldn't see his scarlet face. Never in his entire life had someone seen him in that state... But Kevin fucking Barr had decided to come in the most unconventional time of all, Eddward had been drunk off his ass and consumed in his depression. He took slow breaths to calm down his embarrassment as he massaged his forehead not sure how to respond. In all honesty he didn't want to answer, because for starters he didn't even understand what had happened the previous night himself. Last night's events were kind of a blur to him, only remembering the strong feelings of his emotions vomiting out onto the open and the gingers expressive gentle olive eyes. He remembered bits and pieces of their conversation, but that was it. "...possibly..." he answered truthfully turning away from the ginger once again.

Kevin frowned at the boy. He bent down placing a hand to the others shoulder and leaned in closer making sure he could see the others face. The ginger could see some hints of flushed skin that resonated among the olive skin. Eddward's eyes were rather wide with bewilderment at the smaller teen's actions, before they became glazed with curiosity. Kevin held his stare for a moment to those crystal ocean orbs finding it a bit difficult to rip his attention away. "...it's not ok..." At the gingers words Eddward curiosity became confusion but he stayed still waiting patiently for the boy to continue. "...it's not ok to...to act the way you did" Kevin lowered his eye sight to his freckled hand on the others arm "you can't keep doing that, it's not healthy...it's not ok"

The swimmer followed the gingers gaze to his small hand. He could feel it trembling softly against his arm "Why do you care so much?" He asked observing the chewed nails that made the smaller boys nervous habit obvious.

Kevin let out a low chuckle "haven't I answered that enough times?" He moved his stare back to Eddward's cyan eyes. They seemed to be going through a series of emotions that Kevin could hardly read, but at least it reassured the ginger that the taller teen was seriously thinking. "How can I not care Eddward? I'd have to be some cold hearted bastard to ignore this..." He ran his freckled fingers down the swimmers arm making his way to lightly trace the bandaged arm.

Kevin could have sworn he had heard the slightest bit of a muffled sob escape the raven haired boy's lips but when he turned his attention back up Eddward had no trace of it on his expression. "Even after...what happened..." The ginger mumbled out frowning at the memory.

Eddward folded his hand into a fist, and Kevin could feel the tension in the arm. The smaller teen stayed silent waiting for a response from the other, was he angry? "I don't...you shouldn't be here..." The swimmer finally spoke.

"Why not?" Kevin asked a bit taken aback.

Eddward turned towards Kevin fully and lifted his arm up. His hands so close to the gingers neck, but never touched his skin. Kevin held his breath as he began to feel a sense of panic run through him, his palms began to become sweaty, and his eyes went wide. "Look what I've done to you" Kevin stared back in confusion, and that's when he felt it. Eddward's slender finger tips gently touched his freckled neck, and as tender as it felt he couldn't overpower the fear that enveloped him completely from the small contact. Kevin pushed the swimmers hand away immediately breathing heavily, his own hands shaking. "...I noticed when we were in the locker rooms after Jim attack you"

Kevin still breathing heavily was confused "w-what are you talking about?" He asked his shaking hands still gripping the raven haired teens.

"You're afraid of me..." Eddward stared at the trembling ginger in front of him. "...and now there's no..." He trailed off slipping his hand away and he ran his fingers through his raven locks.

Kevin let a tear escape unsure of how he was feeling "What. There's no trust? Is that what you were going to say?" Kevin's freckled hands tightly held onto the raven haired teen's sweatshirt. "Did you expect me to immediately trust you after the bullshit you pull on me last week? Did you expect me to NOT be afraid?" The ginger raised his voice a bit his anger finally showed through.

Eddward lowered his gaze down once again focused on the gingers trembling hands, though he knew the reason they now shook wasn't from nerves but from anger.

Kevin sighed closing his eyes a moment to calm down "Look, I want to help you. I really really do...but I have to make this clear. I will not tolerate another act like that again" he looked down at the swimmer sternly so the other knew he was being serious.

Eddward returned his stern look but made sure not to be intimating "I can't promise you anything..."

"Then I hope you think carefully before you act" Kevin let go of the swimmers sweatshirt and sat back down at the edge of the bed turning away from Eddward.

It was then that Eddward noticed the ginger had on a change of clothes; he was wearing a different pair of jeans and shirt. Though the swimmer didn't know if it might have been the more fitting outfit or his angle from lying down but he swore Kevin had grown a bit. His shoulder seemed a tad bit broader, and his overall form wasn't as scrawny as he had seen him at the beginning of their sophomore year. It might have been the beatings, or it might have been their most recent event but somehow the ginger seemed to have toughened. His figure was that of a man, not a child. It was a peculiar moment for Eddward; it was as if he was looking onto the future of a matured Kevin. He closed his eyes guilt consuming him as he realized he had been a huge part in ripping away so much of that innocence little Kevin once harbored. If it wasn't for him maybe Kevin might have been able to grow big and healthy. Maybe his mind might have been only stressed about his college choice, and future robotic competitions. The swimmer closed his eyes feeling a headache come again.

...

The raven haired was then back in that isolated room he knew so well, the singular lamp the only thing illuminating the room, the ceiling was leaking leaving a puddle of water formed the lamp. He looked around finding it odd he didn't hear them. He circled the room tracing his hand through cracks on the walls making sure not to step on the puddle.

"Look look"

He finally heard them whisper behind the cracks. "Look...Look!"

Eddward turned his attention back to the puddle and the lamp, and saw something moving within the ripples of the water. He stepped closer careful not to get too close and could now see two boys chanting something, but he couldn't hear what they were saying. One of the boys was fairly short with a grumpy face the other excessively tall one simply repeated the shorter boys words. Eddward recognized them immediately.

"Double D..."

Eddward turned his head toward the direction opposite the room that the voice had spoken. He hadn't heard that name in a long time and most certainly never expected to be called by that name once again.

"Double D! Double D! DOUBLE D! DOUBLE D!DOUBLE D DOUBLE D DOUBLE D DOUBLE D!DOUBLEDDOUBLEDDOUBLEDDOUBLED"

"STOOOP!" Eddward shouted with all the capacity his lung power could with stand.

There was complete silence for a good moment as Eddward looked around again searching for those damned voices. Then he heard chuckling behind him and he turned.

"Look Look" they directed once again and the swimmer turned his attention back to the puddle where he now saw a ginger boy...Kevin.

In this scene Kevin was perfectly content and enveloped in the sun's striking rays. The ginger was laughing wholeheartedly before there was a ripple and a purple spot appeared on his cheek. Kevin smile began to fade as more bruises appeared on his body. With every ripple the boy let out a sob as his lips and nose dripped blood, the sun now clouded. "s…stop" Eddward stared horrified at the beaten ginger. Kevin began to cough up blood his head seemed heavily injured his body enveloped in cuts. The poor boy was sobbing at this point begging Eddward to end his misery. It was hard to watch…Eddward felt his throat clog and his eyes become wet with tears form his guilt. This wasn't real, this couldn't be real… "STOP IT!" he yelled out begging the voices to end the scene.

"No no…you…end it Eddward"

This was a fucking game to them; Eddward had had enough watching the scene continue. He was done watching Kevin get worse and worse, he was done hearing the gingers screams and pleads, he was done being in this hell.

The swimmer went down on his knees splashing the puddle hoping that would end the scene. In the sudden rush of his movements the lamp collapse and whole room went dark and silent.

Eddward woke up with a gasp as if he was taking a breath from being under water for too long and sat up quickly grabbing at his sweaty sweatshirt. His damp hair stuck to his face, his throat felt dreadfully dry and his hand was shaking uncontrollably.

"Eddward"

The raven haired turned his wide eyes to the source of the voice and jumped when he saw the little ginger stare back at him confused and highly alarmed. Eddward began to breath normally again but his wide eyes never left Kevin's. "Hey, it was just a nightmare…everything's fine" Kevin reached a comforting hand out to hold the swimmers hand. Kevin could feel the swimmers shaking hand in his and held it tighter, wanting to reassure the other that he was back in reality.

Eddward ripped his hand away and held his raven locks painfully tight as he protectively pressed his legs close to his chest. The clear horrendous image of Kevin in his dream was sure to haunt him the rest of his life. It just…it wasn't true…it wasn't real…he tried so hard to remind himself that but he had not seen how badly the J's had left Kevin and the thought that they could have done much worse was terrifying to the raven haired. "Fuck…" he mumbled out.

Kevin sat next to Eddward and enveloped him in a tight hug, much like Eddward had done for him after Jimmy's attack. It had helped the ginger then, so maybe it might help the teen now. There truly wasn't anything Kevin could say to calm the boy down. He didn't know what horrors troubled the swimmer in his mind, nor did he know what disturbed the boy so much to cause him to tremble as he did now. So Kevin stayed still, holding his former bully much like the previous night and patiently waited for the other to calm down. Eddward had leaned into the ginger taking in his warmth as a way to revoke his dream, to let himself know that the real Kevin was fine. However if he continued to be the way he was…he knew that there was the possibility that Kevin might end up like the one in his dream….

That afternoon Eddward Vincent genuinely prayed for the first time in a long time.

.

.

.

.

.

Keep him safe

…

Thank you for reading this chapter! I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who reviewed on the last chapter! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your positive feedback, love and support! I deeply appreciate every one of you who took the time in letting me know how much you're enjoying my story. It's a pleasure to know people actually love AWA as much I enjoy writting it. So once again Thank you lovely's, I send each and every one of you much love.

So with that please leave a review, i enjoy reading them very much!

Let me know if you have any thoughts, predictions, and any feels

Look forward to the next time i update! and let's see what happends next!

I hope you have a lovely Day/Night xoxo