Beanie Head and Blue Hair
2,600 words in this chapter! And the first chapter had the same amount.
"For this assignment, I want you guys to form a pair." said Mr. Carter as he looked around the classroom.
Most of the people in the classroom already had their pair in mind. The minority who doesn't know anyone in the class would look at the best in the class, hoping for the guy to help carry them through the assignment, Edd.
"Simple assignment, like I said. You guys will be writing on a single A4 sheet of paper. A plan for the future, as if you two were married. And also, it doesn't have to be a boys-girls pair. And if you're uncomfortable, you can just call it "Lifelong Roommate" instead." Mr. Carter instructed as he pointed around the classroom.
The classroom emitted a small laugh. This was unexpected.
If Marie was sleepy, she surely isn't now. As Mr. Carter has caught her attention.
"Weird assignment, sounds fun." Marie thought in her head.
"Unusual assignment. Interesting." Edd thought in his head.
As Mr. Carter pulled out his laptop from his backpack, he connected it to the projector as he was explaining the work. He pulled out the A4 paper with basic layout instructions for the assignment.
"Alright, everyone, this is my basic layout. You don't have to entirely follow it, format it however you want, what I need on your work is just these on the screen. Write it down in your notebooks if you want." said Mr. Carter.
On-screen were the questions. How many children will they have or adopt? What kind of house would they get? Who would do what chores around the house? How will they spend their time together? So in all, 4 things needed to be on the paper.
"I grade based on how reasonable they are and how well the work is decorated. Now form a pair and have a talk with your buddy, everybody." said Mr. Carter as he sat down and looked around on his laptop.
As everyone began to pick their pairs, Edd, writing in his notebook, had realized some people who didn't have a pair were looking at him. Hoping for Edd to pick them. Edd noticed when he looked up from his notebook to write more details from the screen. As Edd finished, he faced up again. He observed that people were standing up and walking to their pairs, some were already seated next to theirs, and a few 2 to 4 people were looking at him from their seats.
"Yo, Edd. Wanna pair?" asked a boy as he walked up to Edd, his name's Dylan. Troublesome loner.
While Dylan had the courage to ask, the others saw this and likely believed Edd was going to pair with him, so they began to pick different people.
"Uhm." said Edd, hesitating as he did not want that guy as his partner. He began to look around the classroom. And as he turned behind.
Edd was pretty surprised to see Marie looking at him. He had expected her to just look at someone else or be too lost in her world to be looking at anything other than what was on her desk. Marie had a light smile on her face, resting her chin on her right hand. Edd then looked back at the guy in front of him.
"Oh dude, have her." said Dylan as he saw this and walked away. Though Marie has calmed down, her presence is still intimidating, and most would prefer not to stand in her way.
Edd looked back at Marie and away again right after looking at Marie for a second. He then looked back.
"Hey, Edd." answered Marie, dragging her voice in a sultry way.
"H- Hello." said Edd.
Marie waved her fingers at him in response, with a smirk on her face and half-lidded eyes.
Edd looked around the classroom one last time, yep, everybody's got a partner. No one seems to stand alone. He then turned back to Marie. Why not? They haven't interacted for more than a year now.
".. I suppose I choose you as my pair, if you would like." said Edd, scratching his head as he looked at Marie.
"Why me?" Marie asked back.
"Because you're the only person that remains." said Edd, looking at Marie.
"So I'm the last option, huh? Fine, I'll be your pair." said Marie, lightly smiling.
Marie herself was surprised at how quickly people in the class found their pair. Marie had stayed in her seat, waiting for someone to pick her, but nobody came, and her heart rate slightly accelerated as she realized she would end up with Edd in this assignment. So she looked at him, waiting.
"It's not like that. Did you catch the requirements for the assignment?" Edd asked Marie as he turned back to his desk to grab his notebook.
"Nah, I just know we're getting married. That's all." Marie said, teasing Edd.
Edd chuckled at this, grabbing his notebook. He thought, well, maybe she hasn't changed, the thought slightly frightened him. But he knows he'll be fine. She doesn't seem to be that much of a threat.
"Haha, yeah? Like in that old run-down house." he said, joking back, as he spun his seat and moved it to Marie's desk, sitting opposite her. He then puts his notebook down on her desk.
As that memory flowed into Edd's head, he felt as if it was waiting for this exact moment to appear in his mind again.
"Wow, you actually remember that?" said Marie, surprised as she put her arms down.
"How could I not, Marie?" said Edd as he looked at Marie for a moment and went back to his notebook.
Marie slightly giggled.
"Alright, this is what we're going to need." said Edd as he pointed at the list of questions he had written down, matching Mr. Carter's requirements for the work.
"Seems simple enough." said Marie, placing her hands on Edd's notebook, skimming over it.
"The difficult part is the decorations." said Edd.
"We'll have to meet sometime after school." said Edd as he slightly shuddered. If he wants this work to be perfect, if he wants his pair to do their part, he'll need to meet Marie later, which intimidated him a bit.
"Yeah. Give me your phone number, then." Marie said, looking at Edd
"Absolutely. Here, let me write it down for you." said Edd as he turned back and pulled out a small notebook from his backpack. Tearing off a page from his wired notebook.
He began to write down his phone number on the small piece of paper on Marie's desk as she looked at him.
In Marie's mind, over the years, she also hasn't given it much thought, as the idea of having a significant other slowly drifted away from her mind. That was pretty much off her priority list. Especially after a bad experience.
The other thing she had forgotten was how much she finds Double D attractive. Back in around early 2008, when they recently moved to Peach Creek, her sisters found the Eds, and each one had a preferred one. Lee had Eddy, as they were both assertive leaders, and May had Ed, as they were both goofballs. But that left Marie with Edd, she picked him because he was the only one left.
But as they continued harassing and tormenting the Eds, Marie slowly grew to genuinely appreciate Edd's intellect and compassion. She liked him for his looks too, her favorite being the small gap between his teeth. All that bullying faded as the sisters matured, and Marie didn't think back much to Edd after she grew out of bullying.
Sure, it seems appealing for her to try and build a real relationship with him after all that's over. But, she believed no way that could've happened as she couldn't see how Edd would be willing to befriend, let alone be in the same room with her. So she decided to let him go after processing her thoughts. She has never rethought this for over 3 years now.
Until this moment.
"And.. here you go. If you'd prefer, you can attempt to dial it to check if you please." Edd said after finishing writing his number, sliding the paper over to Marie.
"Nah, I trust you, why would you give me a fake number in the first place?" said Marie to Edd, picking up the paper and looking at his number. Holding it to her face with both hands.
"Of course." said Edd, with a slight smile
The two sit in silence for a few seconds. Marie folded the paper and pushed it into her pockets, looking at Edd as she thought about what to say, time to power on the machine of small talk.
"So, Double D. How have you been doing the past year?" Marie asked Edd, emphasizing "Double D".
".. I've been.. doing fantastic. I've acquired a car, and- and my academic performance remains strong, as per usual. And I applied to every single Ivy League school in America." answered Edd, looking at Marie, fidgeting with his hands, which were laid on her desk.
"Ohh, I expected it from you, Edd. Applying to big top universities. This early, too. What universities do you want to go to?" Marie asked back, intrigued as she rested her chin on her hand again.
"Well, I'm still considering. I'm between Ivy League universities and top Washington colleges. Probably the University of Washington, given it's closest to home." said Double D, clearly passionate about his future.
"That's nice. You gon' major in something like Biochemistry or Quantum Physics or something, am I right?" Marie asked, tilting her head with curiosity, and looking at Edd.
"Wow, yes, you're absolutely correct. I will be majoring in Biochemistry." Edd said, smiling. The gap in his teeth was visible to Marie.
As stated before, she has likely forgotten how attracted to Edd she was. As she noticed the small detail, she felt a tiny kick in her heart.
"Bingo! Same old Double D! Hehehe." said Marie, smiling and lightly giggling at the end, looking down at the notebook for a split second.
"What do you plan to do with a Biochemistry degree? Doctor Edd?" Marie continued as her gaze returned to Edd.
"I would like to be either a doctor or a biochemist. It is actually possible to do both, but it would remove much of my free time. So, likely not." Edd answered.
Edd felt at ease. Marie seems.. more human, he's pleasantly surprised at how she was genuinely trying to get to know him. He felt relieved as he didn't have any reason to be worried at all.
"Yeah? And what do you do in your free time?" Marie asked again.
"I tend to my ants, and on occasion, I would stroll around outside to observe and identify various insects. Other than that, I spend time in the company of my two best friends. Of course, you can guess who, Ed and Eddy." Edd responded.
"I always wondered what you were doing out on the lane holding a book and looking around. Neat little hobby, I guess." said Marie as she thought.
"Of course. How are you and your sisters?" Edd asked, looking at Marie.
"Me and them, fine.. Still fights, I hate them. But I guess I love them." said Marie, looking down, fidgeting with the pen on the table.
Nothing but the sound of the classroom filled the air between them for a few seconds.
"I find myself wishing I had siblings at times. It's fascinating to wonder how different my life would've been if I had some. I've never understood sibling relationships, observed it, but never felt it. Both my best friends have one." Edd said, staring at the desk as he thought about his words.
"Trust me, you don't want 'em. But.. you kinda do, I guess, it's complicated." Marie said, her eyes darting between the wooden desk and Edd.
"Interesting." said Edd, thinking about her response.
Silence between the two for a few seconds.
"Well, Marie, since you asked me. How have you been doing yourself? What are your plans for the future?" Edd asked back, looking at Marie.
Marie stared blankly at the table for a moment, still messing around with the pen in her hand.
"Hmph, I've been doing fine, I guess. Nothing.. new much." Marie said,
She pauses for a few seconds before continuing.
"Good, I guess. I don't really care about... stuffs. My future... I did apply to some colleges to major in liberal arts, I guess, early, like you too. Gotta have some kind of plan." said Marie, her movements getting slower with each word spoken.
"Ah, well, what do you plan to do in the future?" asked Edd.
Marie went blank again. Just looking at the pen she's holding with her fingertips.
"Wherever the wind blows. I'll just go wherever." Marie says, the tone of her voice getting softer.
"I see." replied Edd as he looked down at the table.
".. I don't know." said Marie as her eyes darted around the surface of her desk. Pausing before continuing.
"I'm still not sure about what I wanna do for a living." said Marie as she looked back at Edd.
"I see. It's okay, I believe someone like you would be more than capable of figuring out a resolution." said Edd in a cheerful tone to assure Marie.
"Mhm." exclaimed Marie as she looked back down.
Nothing but classroom chattering fills the air between them.
"For the moment, let's plan our work." said Edd as he looked at Marie.
"Okay." said Marie, looking at the notebook as she moved her legs up and down, fidgeting.
The day goes by as usual. Then it was lunchtime. At Peach Creek High School, seniors are allowed to eat lunch outside the school.
Edd, starting his car in the school parking lot, with Eddy in the front passenger seat and Ed alone in the back. Ed was playing some game on his phone while Ed and Eddy were deciding where to eat.
"So Ed, Eddy, where to today?" asked Edd as he started the engine, the action shaking the car.
"I'm feeling Chinese, let's go eat China Palace." said Eddy, looking at Edd.
"I think it would be wiser if we were to save our hard-earned money and head to the grocery store instead. If you would like to eat a Chinese lunch, we can purchase the ingredients and make it at my house." Edd said back. As he began to reverse out of the parking lot.
"Double D! I'm hungry! Cooking takes so long! Plus, I have so much money here! Let's just go to a restaurant, where they cook better food than the three of us!" Eddy said back, ending each sentence by saying the last word of each louder.
"... As long as you agree to cover all of our lunch." said Edd after a few seconds of thinking.
"You know what? I'll pay. I'm not in the mood, I haven't ate BREAKFAST!" shouted Eddy.
"Alright." Edd agreed as he drove off.
"We're getting free food! Yayy!" said Ed with a dumb smile on his face.
"... And for your information, it's 'I haven't eaten breakfast'. Not 'I haven't ate.'." said Edd.
CHAPTER 2 END