Chapter 3: Cold Nights and Warm Memories*

Marie Kanker cursed under her breath as she wrapped another blanket around herself, pulling it tight against the biting chill that had seeped into her apartment. The old radiator, an ancient beast that groaned more than it worked, had finally given up. No heat, and the temperature was dropping fast.

She wasn't exactly keen on interacting with anyone tonight, but it had been hours, and she still hadn't heard back from Sarah or Jimmy, her landlords. Not that she was surprised. Sarah and Jimmy had always been… unreliable. They meant well, but they were stretched thin managing their property and their new lives together. Still, Marie figured they'd at least send a maintenance guy, but so far—nothing.

She groaned, standing up and wrapping her coat around her. If she didn't do something soon, she'd be spending the night freezing. There was no way she'd make it through the night without frostbite.

That's when she remembered: there was a tenant living upstairs.

Maybe they had the landlord's number or at least could give her some idea of when Jimmy would show up. With a sigh, Marie grabbed her phone and made her way to the staircase, knocking on the door above her.

A moment later, the door swung open, and she was greeted by none other than Eddy.

"You've gotta be kidding me," she muttered to herself.

Eddy raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze quickly turning into a familiar smirk. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the mystery woman from the podcast."

Marie pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look, my heat's out, and I can't get ahold of Sarah or Jimmy. Do you have their contact info?"

Eddy chuckled and leaned against the doorframe, looking annoyingly casual. "Sarah and Jimmy? You're in for a long wait if you think they're gonna get back to you anytime soon. They're probably off doing one of their weekend retreats or some 'couple bonding' nonsense."

Just her luck.

"Great," she sighed. "Well, do you have a space heater or something? Anything?"

Before Eddy could answer, the sound of footsteps echoed from inside the apartment, and Edd appeared, his neatly combed hair and glasses making him look as prim and proper as ever. He glanced at Marie and then back at Eddy with a raised eyebrow.

"What's going on?"

Marie sighed again. "My heater's out, and I can't stay in that icebox tonight. I'm trying to figure out what to do."

"Ah," Edd said, always the problem-solver. "Unfortunately, the heating system in this building is… well, let's say it's seen better days. I can try calling Sarah or Jimmy for you, but they're notoriously hard to reach on weekends."

Marie groaned. "Yeah, I figured."

At that moment, Ed came bouncing into the room, as exuberant as ever. "Marie Kanker! From the old cul-de-sac! I've been thinking all day that I thought I recognized you" he said excitedly.

Marie couldn't help but smile a little. Ed's energy was the same as it had always been—clueless, but endearing in his own way.

"My heat's out, Ed. I need to figure out how to not freeze to death tonight."

Eddy clapped his hands together, clearly enjoying the situation a bit too much. "Well, looks like we're neighbors, huh? Small world."

Marie shot him a glare, but before she could say anything, Edd spoke up again. "You're welcome to stay here for the night, Marie. It's the least we can do. We have a couch in the living room, and you'll be much warmer here than in your apartment."

Marie hesitated. She hadn't exactly planned on spending the night with the Eds. But it was freezing, and the last thing she wanted was to end up sick.

"Fine," she muttered. "But just for tonight."

"Make yourself at home," Eddy grinned, stepping aside and gesturing her in like he was hosting a dinner party. "Mi casa es su casa, or whatever."

Marie walked into their apartment, looking around. It was a surprisingly cozy place—better kept than she'd expected. The smell of cheap takeout and old coffee lingered in the air, and the furniture was mismatched but comfortable-looking. There were papers scattered on the table, probably notes for their latest episode, and a couple of empty soda cans by the TV. It wasn't glamorous, but it had character.

Ed plopped down on the couch with a happy sigh, seemingly unfazed by the change in plans. "We were just about to watch a movie. Want to join us, Marie?"

Marie glanced at the TV. They had some kind of old horror movie queued up, the kind with bad special effects and worse acting.

"Sure," she said with a shrug. "Why not?"

--

As the night wore on, the conversation naturally drifted to old memories. The Eds had known Marie and her sisters when they were kids—back when the cul-de-sac was their entire world. The old days of pranks, scams, and their awkward encounters with the Kanker sisters now seemed distant and almost funny in hindsight.

Eddy brought up one particularly memorable moment. "Remember that time you and your sisters ambushed us with those wrestling moves? I swear, I had bruises for a week."

Marie chuckled, surprised by how much she was enjoying the company. "Yeah, we didn't exactly give you guys a break, did we?"

Ed grinned. "You three were scary! I used to think you were gonna eat us alive!"

Marie smirked. "That was the idea."

Double D, who had been quieter than usual, cleared his throat. "It's, uh, nice to see you again, Marie. I must admit, I hadn't expected to cross paths with you after all these years."

Marie raised an eyebrow. "Didn't expect me to show up in a murder investigation either, huh?"

Edd smiled softly, but there was something else behind it—something more than just amusement. "No, I didn't. But it's... nice to see that you're still sharp as ever. You were always one of the smarter kids in the cul-de-sac."

Marie blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. "Thanks, Double D," she said, trying to hide the surprise in her voice. She hadn't thought much about how the Eds had seen her back then. Mostly, she figured they were terrified of her and her sisters.

Ed yawned loudly, stretching his arms above his head. "I'm going to bed. It's been a long day, and I'm tired." He shot Marie a grin. "Night, Marie! Don't let the bed bugs bite!" He shuffled off toward his room, leaving the three of them alone in the living room.

Eddy leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Yeah, I'm about ready to hit the hay too. You gonna be alright on the couch?"

Marie nodded. "I'll be fine. Thanks for letting me crash here."

"Don't mention it," Eddy said, standing up. "Just, uh, don't expect us to be your personal bed and breakfast." He shot her a wink and headed toward his own room, leaving Marie and Double D alone in the soft glow of the TV.

Edd glanced at her, fiddling nervously with the hem of his shirt. "Are you sure you're comfortable? We can find some extra blankets if you need them."

Marie smirked. "Relax, Double D. I'll survive one night on the couch. It's a hell of a lot warmer than my apartment."

Edd nodded, but the nervous energy didn't leave him. There was a long pause before he spoke again. "You know, I used to—" he stopped himself, then started again. "I always admired your, um, strength. Back when we were kids. Even if it was a little... intimidating."

Marie looked at him, curious. "Intimidating? You used to be terrified of me."

"Well, yes," Edd admitted, his cheeks reddening slightly. "But, in a way, I suppose I was also... fascinated by you. You were... different. Bold. Strong. I didn't realize it then, but I think I may have..." He trailed off, his face going crimson.

Marie raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you had a crush on me, Double D?"

Edd looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. "W-well, I wouldn't say—"

"Relax," Marie said, laughing. "I'm just messing with you."

But as she settled into the couch, the warmth of the apartment finally sinking into her bones, she couldn't help but notice the way Double D was still watching her, like the awkward boy from the cul-de-sac hadn't quite grown up after all.