"Eddward, do you have everything"?

"Yes mother, I believe so" the boy in the black beanie replied, grabbing several suitcases. Eddward, Edd, or Double D as he was known, had spent the summer traveling with his parents. They both worked jobs that required constant and abrupt travel so he was often home alone. So to make up for it this year his parents had him go on their travels with them. Over the course of just the few weeks of summer vacation he had traveled everywhere from London to Egypt all the way to Venezuela. It was the time of his young life.

School would be starting soon and his parents wanted to make sure he was home in time to gather everything he'd need and adjust back to a normal schedule. Unfortunately, they would be heading out again the next morning. Edd didn't mind though. He got to spend the entire summer with them so he was happy. Besides. He would have all his friends back home to keep him company.

Admittedly he had been bad about keeping in touch with everyone while away. Not having much time to return many texts or phone calls. He knew one of his best friends, Eddy would let him have it for that. He could already hear his voice screaming in his ear. Which made him chuckle. Which caught his father's attention.

"What's so funny son?" he asked with a smile.

"Nothing father. Just looking forward to getting back home is all". The airport they landed in was about a two hours drive from Peach Creak. It was 5:30 AM so it seemed like a good idea to try and get a little bit of sleep in. There was a lot to do when he got home.

The sun's light hitting his sleeping face awoke Edd. Opening his weary eyes the place he called home slowly came into focus. As much as he'd enjoyed traveling being home felt good. He eagerly awaited getting back to his normal life.

Edd stepped out of the car and embraced being back home. The clean crisp air was a welcome change to some of the places he'd been over the summer. It was quiet, calm, and peaceful.

Looking around he saw some of the kids of the cul-de-sac already out enjoying one of their last days of summer. Jimmy and Sara were out having a tea party. Kevin was working on his new car his parents helped him buy, which he affectionately called Serenity. Nazz was soaking up some sun trying to get a tan. He didn't see his two best friends around, although that came to no surprise.

"Head in a sock Edd boy", Edd looked over to see his foreign friend Rolf walking towards him, "Welcome home!", he exclaimed while giving Edd a rather painful hug.

"It's good to be back Rolf", he managed to squeeze out. Once Rolf released Edd he held out a small cactus, "Jim! Thank you again for taking care of him while I was away Rolf. I'd have asked Ed or Eddy but they surly would have forgotten or lost interest in it". Edd looked up from Jim to see his friend holding his suitcases.

"Come, and tell Rolf of your travels!", Edd could only smile and follow Rolf into his home.

Two hours spent catching up with his old friend, telling him of his travels flew by in the blink of an eye. Before he knew it he was finishing up shopping for supplies for the school year.

"Let's see. No. 2 pencils, ballpoint pens, highlighters check. Composition notebooks, binders, and dividers, check. Folders and index cards, check. I do believe that's everything.", he said ecstatic about the school year. He would be entering his junior year of high school. He had always been a model student and would not let this year be any different.

On his way back home Edd passed by the local library. With all the plane travel he'd been doing this summer he had actually finished most of his books. So he decided to stop in a grab a few to hold him over.

The library was a relatively new building, only being built two years ago. It was nice having a big library in town. Before it was built the only way Edd could get books was driving 20 minutes to another library. He hated driving, so needless to say this new one was a godsend for him.

He walked in and felt the cool breeze from the air conditioner hit his sweat filled face.

"Hello Eddward. Haven't seen you around all summer. I was beginning to worry." Mrs. Clair, the librarian was a young Women who ran the library. She knew Edd very well due to the insane amount of books he always took out.

"Good morning Donna", she insisted to be called by her first name at all times, "I was traveling with my parents over the summer. Sorry to worry you".

"Well, there's a lot of new books waiting for you" she smiled and walked back to her office. Edd knew just what kind of books he wanted to check on. He wanted to try his hand at a garden so he needed some guidelines and information on plants and proper care for them.

With a handful of books he was ready to make his way out when he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

"Double D?", said with a sultry high pitch voice. Edd turned to see none other then the blue haired girl who, along with her two sisters, tormented him and his best friends during their younger years.

"Oh, Marie. Good morning. How are you on this fine day?" Edd and Marie's relationship had become much better after Lee and May moved away with their fathers. She became a lot more "tamed", so to speak. Since then Edd has had no issues with her forcing her misguided love on him and was now able to speak to her without all the fear of being attacked, kissed, etc...

"I'm doing well thanks. Want me to check you out"?

"You work here Marie? I'll have to admit I'm surprised. I never knew you enjoyed books so much".

"Well maybe you should have asked Sweetie." she said using a seductive voice and wink, sending a slight chill down Edd's back. Marie knew she could still get a fun reaction out of Edd if she wanted to. So every now and again, she would. Much to his dismay.

"The complete encyclopedia of plants and trees? " she looked up, obviously holding back a laugh.

"If you must know, I'm looking to start a garden soon and want to be prepared". The serious tone Edd used made it all the funnier to Marie. Which, of course, he did not find as amusing as she did.

"Here Double D.", Marie grabbed a book out of her bag and handed it to him, "It's a book I just finished. I think you'll like it.", Ready Player One. Edd had never heard of it. "I know it's not the kind of thing you usually read, but I know you'll like it." He couldn't help but smile at the gesture and placed the book in one of the bags he had his school supplies in.

"Thank you very much Marie, I'll be sure to read it and get it back to you soon. He said with a grin that made a now blushing Marie smile.

"I'm in no hurry for it, so take your time. So, where have you been all summer? I don't think I've seen you once before today".

"I spent it traveling with my parents. They're always moving around for work so I got to tag along and spend some time with them" Edd explained.

"Oh! So that's why they leave sticky notes all over your house? Because they're never around to tell you things"? Edd looked puzzle at her, wondering how on earth she knew that. "Don't looked surprised. Remember how much me and my sisters used to get into your house?" Marie stuck her tongue out and laughed, remembering how she used break into Edd's house in their youth.

"Ah, yes. Not sure how I could forget a thing like that." he replied with a shy grin, "However, mother and father no longer leave sticky notes for me. Instead they just text me with things they would like me to get done for them." She could see a glint of worry in Edd's eyes "Don't worry. We never told anyone about that". Marie handed Edd the books he took out. "Here you are. One really big book on plants.

"Thank you Marie. I suppose I should be heading out. Ed and Eddy should be up around now".

"Oh god." Marie said with a loud laugh, "Is he still fuming over what happened?" Edd again looked puzzled at her. "You don't know? How did he not tell you? He was screaming about it so loud I heard it down at the trailer parks. He did so bad last year he has to repeat all his classes. He'll be with the 10th graders. I can't believe he didn't tell you." A blank stare came over Edd's face. "You okay double D"? He hadn't had his phone on for weeks. Eddy must have tried tirelessly to get a hold of him.

"Oh dear. I'm sorry Marie, but I have to go. Have a nice day!" he screamed as he bolted out of the library.

Edd ran straight for Eddy's house. Unfortunately when he got there his mother informed him he was to have no visitors. So after "ignoring" his best friend for weeks he couldn't even apologize until school started next week. With nothing else to do Edd decided to head home and begin his reading.

In his bedroom he was ready to begin the encyclopedia of plants and trees. When he pulled it out of his bag the book Marie had given him fell to the floor. He picked it up and looked it over. "Interesting premise." he thought as he placed it on his desk next to his other books.

"Yes, I would love some Double D. This was a wonderful idea. A picnic by the stream. So quiet here. So private". Edd, grinning cheek to cheek reveled in the happiness he felt. "Come on oven mitt. Let's go for a walk!" she said as she pulled Edd up off of their blanket. Alright alright, I'm coming Mar.." *Crash* (can't think of a better way to write that).

"What?" a confused Edd was now laying on his bedroom floor. Looking up to his desk he saw his book of plants and trees opened. He must have fallen asleep and fallen off his chair while reading. "Curse my rigid sleep schedule. I suppose this is why mother and father had me home early". Edd picked himself up and sat back at his desk, pondering his dream. Not wanting to over think a simple dream he continued to his book.

AN: Hello, thanks for taking the time to read this! I used to love writing but have not really written anything in years. I'm hoping this will be a gateway back into it. I know I'm rusty and have many mistakes in this so any constructive criticism/tips would be very much appreciated. Also I'd like to thank Korvyn77 for helping me decided to start writing again and looking over what I had! Thanks again.