UnravellED

Kevin wasn't sure what exactly possessed him to invite the Eds to his party. He was outside Nazz's house, handing her an invitation when the trio walked by.

"Are those invitations I see?" said Eddy from the end of the driveway. Double D was distracted by the big Ed's gift of a single-petal flower and didn't notice the scene. Somehow Kevin also found himself distracted by the pitiful plant, immersed in confusing thoughts as the Sock Head held it to his nose, his eyes lightly closed as he inhaled.

"Yeah, sure whatever," Kevin said dazedly, staring at the boy with a flower. He snapped back to Earth as he felt one of his invitations slip from his hand.

"Thanks!" said Eddy as he examined the envelope. Kevin glared slightly, but kept his cool. His mom would never approve of something as rude as retracting an invitation, no matter how much he hated, no… loathed the individual.

---------

Kevin was really pleased with his party so far. Everyone he had invited, which included most of the cul-de-sac had shown up. They had watched Caddy Shack and Animal House and he had some similar classics lined up for later in the evening. The group dug into three pizzas in no time and all the guys besides Jimmy began playing twister. The game finally ended with Ed tripping and collapsing the others into a heap.

"Hey boys," said Nazz gleefully holding up a shoe box. "I brought a game!"

"Oh dear, I bet its truth or dare," said Jimmy nervously through thick braces.

"Or something dumb like spin the bottle," suggested Eddy.

"I think we should at least give the game a chance," said Double D as he sat on the couch beside Nazz. The rest of the group joined them on the two couches facing one another and watched as Nazz opened the box on the coffee table. Inside was a single stack of cards and nothing else.

"The game is called 'Question Pass'. We sit in a circle and one person takes a card from the deck. It has a funny or embarrassing question on it that the person has to answer. The person to their left has to answer the same question and everyone votes on whose answer is better. If the second person's answer is better then the person to their left picks a new card. If it's worse than the first person's question, they have to choose another card and battle the person to their left. Whoever answers the least amount of questions by the time the cards runs out wins. That, or whoever hasn't resigned."

"Very amusing!" said Edd while the rest of the group gawked.

"Seems to me," said Kevin, "that winning the game totally depends on how dumb the person to your left is."

Edd nodded, catching Kevin's gaze. "He's right. Perhaps every five minutes we should rearrange our positions to make the game more intresting."

Kevin took the first card. "What was your worst kiss like?" Somehow Nazz's presence seemed to glow a little more than normal as he remembered how over eager she was when they had been dating. He decided it was better to make something up. "My aunt always kisses me on holidays, and she's got this lipstick that never goes away and more whiskers than my dad."

Everyone laughed and turned to Ed who was on Kevin's left.

"Your worst kiss, bro?" asked Sarah.

Ed grinned. "May Kanker!"

"Ohhhhh!" yelled the group.

"Pwned, Kevin," laughed Eddy. Kevin couldn't really disagree and so the game continued. Eddy's teasing was funny, but not through two more long rounds. A few people blatantly lied and were disqualified, and some refused to answer questions and resigned. Whatever circumstances, Eddy always got an irritating word in that degraded everyone. By the end of round three there were only three left, Kevin, Eddy and Double D. Eddy beat Kevin and began laughing, wearing on the group's nerves even more. Kevin would have been able to shrug it off if Eddy was only irritating him, but his whole party was being ruined. With a grouchy tone, Kevin read his card to Double D.

"What are you most ashamed of in yourself?" Kevin thought to himself how brutal the game really was. Where had Nazz got that thing? He thought harder. His anger was fuelling his need to win, so he took a risk and told the truth. "When I was younger I used to cheat in school. I wasn't an idiot, I was just too lazy to study. I almost got expelled, twice." No one was smiling anymore. Kevin stared at Double D, watching the pale blue eyes sink into him. "So what is it?"

Double D looked away. "I think the game is over."

"I think you should spill it, Dork. What's the big scare over?"

Double D frowned. "Really now, Kevin…"

"What? Are you gay or something?" There was a very long pause as the group of high school kids watched the ensuing catastrophe. Kevin immediately regretted what he had said. He was pissed at Eddy and took it out on Edd. Too late.

Double D clenched his fists. "I am."

More silence.

"What? The hell you are!" yelled Eddy. All attention went to him. "Just like that, Edd?" Double D winced at the use of his name. "You can't be a fag!" Eddy leaned close to Double D, trying ridiculously to whisper. "You're screwing up any chance of me getting popular." Eddy stood. "Get out." He pointed to the door and stared at the stunned Edd.

Even Ed knew something was wrong. The tall boy stood silently and went outside to wait for his friends. The tension skyrocketed as the two remaining Eds stared at one another. Kevin noticed Double D's face flush and his fingers begin to tremble.

Kevin had had enough. He stood up and to Eddy's surprise, grabbed his collar and shoved him out the door. "Nobody kicks people out of my house but me," he said as he slammed the door.

He turned to see Double D standing, his posture more pathetic than he had ever seen. "My greatest apologies for r-ruining your party…"

He had to say something. Kevin had to remedy this. Double D was walking to the door. "Double Dork. I'm sorry for being an ass." Kevin had by now forgotten that half the cul-de-sac was watching them. "It was pretty slick telling the truth like that."

Edd was at the door, facing away from Kevin.

Kevin turned to the others. "Don't you guys agree?"

"It was really brave," added Nazz. The other kids nodded in agreement.

Double D glanced shyly back at them. "You're not all mocking me, are you?"

Kevin slung an arm over Edd's shoulder, force-leading him back to the group. "I think you should stay and watch another movie."

Double D looked up at Kevin unbelievingly. "I…"

Kevin continued to smile until the other returned it.

Double D finally smiled. "If you insist."

Tbc..

I write for people, not just for my health, so let me know if you're reading!