Chapter 10

As the sun came into view over the distant factory, so did the day many have been anticipating, Valentines Day. Double Dee's alarm went off at 6:00, the time he usually rose out of bed, as he had remembered to set it the night before. He went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He then went back into his room and dressed himself in his favorite educational attire. Double Dee went downstairs to the kitchen. As usual, his parents had already left for work, and various sticky notes were left around the house with tasks for Double Dee to accomplish. After a quick breakfast, he set out to accomplish the tasks before he had to leave for school.

Surprisingly, Eddy was already up. After all, in his mind, he knew he would be the hippest guy at the school with the ladies today. He jumped out of bed and went through his records until he found a recording of "Green Onions" by Booker T. and the MGs. As the music played he threw off his pajamas and slid a pair of jeans over the leopard skin underwear he was already wearing. He then put on a button down shirt, but only buttoned it as far up as his chest, leaving it exposed. He squirted gel into his hands and rubbed his palms together before slicking his hair back. As a final touch, he donned retro 70's style sunglasses and wore them close to his nose.

"Hey good lookin, what's cookin?'", he said to himself in the mirror.

Ed's morning was rather different than his two best friends. It was 6:30, and Ed was still sleeping in his bed. His dreams were soon interrupted by his door slamming open.

"ED!" yelled Sarah.

Ed groaned. "Not now Sarah I'm dreaming." said Ed.

"Mom said to get your big butt out of bed and come upstairs for breakfast!" yelled Sarah, she slammed the door behind her as she left. Ed got out of bed, still wearing the same clothes as he did the previous day. He had never changed into pajamas from the previous night. He disregarded applying any kind of deodorant and left his room for breakfast.

It was now 7:30, Double Dee had finished all of his chores and was in his room brushing up on his studies. Just then, he heard the sound of his doorbell. He quickly ran downstairs and opened the door to see Eddy.

"Geez Double Dee, that's what your wearing today" said Eddy grinning.

Double Dee stood speechless at Eddy at first and then began chuckling. After holding back for a few seconds, he burst into full out laughter at the sight of Eddy's wardrobe choice.

"What, what's so funny?" said Eddy

"Eddy" Double Dee barely got out his words due to his laughter. "You do realize that it is 2012, don't you!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Eddy. "If it's my duds your making fun of, your just jealous."

"Oh yeah Eddy." said Double Dee. "I sure am jealous."

"And you should be, cause the lady's are all mine today." said Eddy.

"The only girls you'll get today are the ones that are in those magazines in your room!" said Double Dee chuckling. Eddy stood shocked at Double Dees joke.

"Great, the first time you make an actual good joke and I have to be subject of it." Eddy said disappointed.

"You walked right into that one Eddy." said Double Dee. Eddy walked into Double Dees house and took a seat on the living room chair.

"Hey Double Dee, you've been acting different the last couple days." said Eddy.

Double Dee was shocked, he quickly answered.

"Why do you say that Eddy?" he replied.

"Well for one, you were late to school, two you aren't turning in assignments, and three, you just made a joke about me and my magazines." said Eddy.

"I was just having a bad day yesterday." said Double Dee. "And for your information, I am perfectly capable of having a sense of humor."

"Double Dee, I think you're hiding something." said Eddy grinning slyly.

"That is absolutely absurd Eddy, why would I feel the need to hide anything?" replied Double Dee.

"Spill the beans, you have a girlfriend." said Eddy.

Double Dee had no idea what else to say. He had to do something, as he was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

"Alright, Eddy I will be completely honest with you only because you are one of my closest friends. I may have a little…."

Double Dee was cut off as Ed burst through the door.

"Eddy, Double Dee!" Ed yelled as he walked over to the two boys. He grabbed the both in headlocks. Both boys noticed a really strong odor emanating from his armpits.

"Ed!" yelled Eddy. "You freaking reek man!"

"Good lord Ed!" yelled Double Dee, "Have you not been bathing again?"

"I have been preparing for this day for weeks Double Dee." said Ed. "No girls for me on this valentines day!"

Ed glanced over at Eddy.

"Eddy, you look just like my grandpa in his picture from high school!" he yelled smiling.

Double Dee began laughing once again. Eddy was furious.

"Can we just shut up about my clothes and get going. I have chicks waiting to be swept off of their feet." Eddy began walking out the door with Ed following him.

"I'll be right down!" yelled Double Dee as he was walking up his stairs. "I just have to grab my supplies." Double Dee entered his room. Double Dee let out a sigh of relief. Once again, he had been saved from having to confess anything, thanks to Ed's shenanigans. He grabbed his book bag, but not before putting his gift to Marie in it. He had used the last of his cologne and placed the perfume within the used bottle to make it look more presentable.

As the Eds walked into Peach Creek junior high, they realized that the rest of the school was excited about Valentines Day as well. All of the students were busy exchanging gifts with one another. Kevin approached Nazz, who was standing at her locker, from down the hall.

"Hey Nazz" said Kevin. Nazz turned around to him.

"Hey Kev!" she replied

"Happy Valentines day!" he said as he handed her a flat box. Nazz opened the box and was amazed by what was inside. It was a green sweater with a gold collar, the gold matching the color of her hair.

"Aww thanks Kev!" she yelled, hugging Kevin. "I love it, I'm going to put it on right now!"

Nazz began to run toward the school bathroom before she stopped and turned around towards Kevin.

"Oh I almost forgot," she pulled out a small box "Happy Valentines day to you too."

Kevin opened the box and discovered two bike handle bars with flames painted on them.

"Sweet!" said Kevin. "I've been looking all over for these, thanks Nazz!"

Elsewhere Jimmy and Sarah were exchanging gifts.

"Happy Valentines day Sarah." said Jimmy as he held a large stuffed Teddy bear to Sarah.

"Jimmy, I love him!" said Sarah as she cradled the bear. "Here's something for you too!" Sarah held out a stuffed Tiger.

"Finally, Mr. Yum-Yum has a friend." said Jimmy as he gave his friend a huge hug. "Thank you Sarah"

Eddy walked up to Kevin, who was opening his locker.

"So Nazz really liked your gift huh?" said Eddy.

"You bet, she's in the bathroom trying it on right now." said Kevin from behind his locker door.

"That's good for you." said Eddy. "But after you see how I handle the ladies today, you're gonna wish you were single again."

Kevin closed his locker and began to turn around. "Right, that'll be the…"

Kevin immediately was stunned in surprise at Eddy's manner of dress. He began laughing hysterically.

"You better hope that you're going to the disco, only then will you be able to pick up chicks!" Kevin yelled.

The rest of the students began laughing as well. Eddy began to walk away from the crowd towards the end of the hallway.

"Relax dork!" Kevin yelled, "It's all just in good fun."

Kevin was attempting to hold back a laugh as Eddy continued to walk to his locker. Ed and Double Dee quickly pursued him to catch up.

"Jealous!" said Eddy. "That's all they are."

"I must admit Eddy that you are a tad overdressed and the style does not conform to the fashion trends of this century, making you stand out like a sore thumb so to speak." said Double Dee as he opened up his locker.

Eddy repeated the phrase Double Dee had just said in a whiny and nasally sounding voice as if to make fun of him. After Eddy had finished, two familiar voices filled the air, sending chills down the Ed's spines.

"Hiya boys!" said Lee and May Kanker, in a long drawn out tone of voice.

"Damn it." Eddy muttered under his breath while he was facing the wall.

"Run for it!" yelled Ed.

As both Eddy and Ed tried to run away, Lee and May managed to get their hands on them and pin them to the lockers next to Double Dee.

"Sorry Double Dee." said Lee, as she held Eddy against the locker. "Marie is not going to be here today, but she'll definitely see you at the carnival tonight, guaranteed."

Lee turned her attention back towards Eddy.

"So where were we?" asked Lee.

"You were just about to let go of me!" yelled Eddy.

"I love an aggressive man." said Lee as she giggled and moved closer to Eddy's face. Lee paused just before her lips met his. At this point, Lee had finally noticed Eddy's outfit and checked him out head to toe with a confused look on her face.

"What the hell are you wearing?" she asked. Eddy was even more furious than before.

Meanwhile, May was standing over by Ed, who was petrified beyond belief. May reached into her pocket and pulled out a card.

"For you my love!" she said as she handed Ed the card. It was a white piece of paper folded in half with a pink construction paper heart pasted to the front of it. Inside, it merely said:

Happy Valentines Day Ed, I love You!

Love May

"I hope you like it." said May, after which she leaned towards him smiling. "Now what did you get me?"

Ed stood dumbstruck for a few seconds before yelling.

"Run away!"

Ed ran past May and grabbed Eddy out of Lee's clutches. The two girls gave chase, leaving Double Dee by himself at his locker. In all of the commotion, Double Dee was left wondering why Marie would miss school. The Kankers usually stuck together, and were never without one another. For the rest of the school day, Double Dees surprise remained in his book bag, and never fell into Marie's hands as he had intended.

The day seemed to come and go quickly for Double Dee. Before he knew it, the afternoon bell had rung and he and his friends walked out of their last period class. Eddy was furious.

"This stinks, if the stupid Kankers weren't involved, I would have had about ten girls phone numbers!" yelled Eddy.

"I hardly believe that the prescence of the Kankers had anything to do with it Eddy." said Double Dee giggling.

"Easy for you to say!" yelled Eddy. "Marie wasn't here today to harass you!"

"I suppose I am pretty lucky." said Double Dee.

After minutes of walking, the Ed's had finally reached the cul-de-sac. The carnival did not open until 7:00, and they still had about 2 hours to kill.

"I'm going to go change into something else, seeing as how everyone thinks I look like an idiot." said Eddy, "Let's all meet up at around quarter of and we'll all walk back down to the school for the carnival."

"On the contrary Eddy," said Double Dee. "I will joining you a little later than expected tonight, I must finish cataloging the new ant larva."

"Whatever you say Double Dee." said Eddy, "You'll just cramp my style anyway. Alright then Lumpy, I guess it's just you and me ."

"No more mushy stuff for Ed!" Ed yelled as he ran to his house screaming.

"Ed come on man!" Eddy yelled while chasing after Ed angrily.

Double Dee took this opportunity to return to his house. Of course, they were no new ant larvae, he just needed a suitable excuse not to be with Ed and Eddy so that he could be alone with Marie. He wished he could tell them about his situation, as it would end his guilt about lying to his best friends, but he knew it would be best for him to keep the secret a little while longer.

Double Dee spent the next hour in his room. He had changed out of the clothes he had worn earlier that day. He now wore a blue button down shirt, as well as a pair of jeans. Double Dee applied "Manly Musk" aftershave to his face, and then proceeded to check himself out in the mirror.

When he was sure that everything was perfect, he realized that it was still only 6:15. His friends would be leaving in a half an hour, and he planned to leave at least fifteen minutes later to avoid being caught with them. He could only hope that Marie was not sick, as she wasn't in school and still wanted to meet up with him. More importantly, he also hoped that she could figure out a way to show up without her sisters on her back.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Double Dee ran downstairs to the front door, wondering who could possibly be on the other side. He unlatched the lock, and slowly opened the door.

Double Dee froze as he saw Marie standing right in front of him. She was wearing, the same outfit that she had bought from the store a couple of nights ago, complete with the flower beret in her hair. She was carrying a black purse in her right hand. Double Dee could not help but blush upon taking sight of Marie. Marie took notice that Double Dee was blushing, and began to turn red herself. Double Dee broke the silence.

"He-Hello M-M-Marie" said Double Dee, shaking and sweating profusely, "What a pleasant surprise."

"Hello Double Dee." said Marie as she smiled.

"Please come in." said Double Dee nervously.

Marie slowly made her way into Double Dees house and sat down on his living room couch. Double Dee waited for her to pass, after which he shut the wooden door of his house behind her.