Monday, in biology class, Kevin went to sneak a glance at Double D and ended up catching his eye. Edd startled just like Kevin had done every time Edd would catch him staring. Both boys blushed.

Kevin was about to look back over to his notes when Edd leaned in closer. It was just a small movement, but Kevin became nervous and felt a lump in his throat. He tried to swallow it down so he could ask the dork what he was up to, when Edd beat him to the punch.

"Still down for testing out my new telescope tonight?" Edd whispered.

"Of course!"

"Splendid! It's supposed to get quite cold tonight, so remember to bundle up! I'll bring an extra blanket just in case."

Kevin just gapes at him and nods, feeling a bit foolish at his inability to form words.

His mind was too busy thinking about the cliché stargazing scenario involving cozying up underneath a blanket. This was bad enough, but Kevin was also struggling with keeping his mind in that daydream, since it started to drift into more inappropriate territory, involving wandering hands and the press of chapped lips.

Luckily, Edd had already turned away to continue taking notes, something Kevin should be doing now instead of wondering if Edd will let him kiss him under the stars tonight.

. . . . . . .

That evening, Kevin realized he was anxiously waiting for 9:30 to roll around, about 2 hours ahead of schedule. So, he decided to get a head starts on his extra credit assignment, reading and writing a draft on meteors. It didn't take long for him to realize how dull he found meteors and astronomy in general. He was completely bored.

When 9 o'clock hit, Kevin was printing off his paper and had started getting dressed, waiting for the tea to brew so he can pour it into a thermos.

He thought about how cold it would be that night, and how unenthused he was towards the meteor shower itself and messing around with a telescope. He was not looking forward to the actual assignment and might not have done it if he was going by himself. But staring at rocks burning through the atmosphere seemed worth it whenever Kevin remembered how happy Edd was when he agreed to go with him.

Besides, it's a chance to hang out with Double D and possibly get closer to him. Won't knock that, ever.

Kevin knew he was early, but he decided to go ahead and head over to Edd's, hoping Edd wouldn't mind. As soon as he left the house, and the winter air brushed past his face, he immediately cursed the heavens. Fuck stargazing. It's far too cold for this shit. This is gonna suck balls. Celestial gas balls.

He chuckled at his own lame joke as he jogged across the street, hoping he wouldn't have to wait out in the cold for too long. As he hurried up the Vincents' driveway, he saw Edd struggling to lock up his house without dropping all his baggage. Kevin quickly jogged up towards him, taking a lunch box and what he assumed was the telescope bag, as Edd locked the door.

"I can carry that." Edd said, reaching for the bag.

"I know, but I figure it's the least I can do since you're helping me get these bonus points."

Edd simply nodded and led the way down the driveway.

As they made their way to the clearing, Edd started discussing different astronomical topics for that night. Kevin wasn't sure what Edd meant by the moon being "waxing gibbous" or whatever the phrase was, but apparently Kevin would be able to see a few craters on the moon with the telescope because of it. Also, something about a filtered flashlight. Kevin tried to keep up in the conversation but didn't really feel like asking any questions.

The dork sounds like he's got this, so I'mma just trust him. Just need to get my extra credit and maybe some alone time with him. That's all. He can manage the rest.

When they entered the woods, Kevin was a bit freaked out. Edd seemed unphased by venturing in the dark within a wooded area. As they continued to trek through the forest, Kevin nervously asked, "About how far is the clearing?"

"Oh, from here, I'm not sure. But from the edge of the woods, about 50 yards."

Almost the width of a football field. So we're probably over halfway there. Just got to suck it up for a bit longer.

Suddenly, Kevin could see the path opening up in front of them, with trees becoming sparser. He breathed a sigh of relief as they step into the edge of the clearing.

Edd dropped his bookbag and lunchbox on the ground and handed the flashlight over to Kevin. Kevin watched as Edd laid out a tarp on the ground, underneath a large oak tree at the edge of the clearing. He maneuvered the light to wherever Edd needed it as he set up the telescope.

When Edd was done, he stood back and made subtle jazz hands at the telescope while quietly saying "Ta-da!"

Kevin snickered. "So, we good to look at moon craters now?"

"Not quite."

"Not quite?"

Edd took the flashlight from Kevin and turned it off. "We need to let our eyes adjust to the dark for a bit. Then we can break in the new telescope!"

Edd bounced on his heels in excitement, before shivering. Kevin quickly lowered his own bag to the ground and pulled out the thermos. He asked Edd to turn the flashlight back on momentarily as he carefully poured a cup of tea for Edd, handing it over.

"Here, warm yourself with this," Kevin said quietly before pouring his own cup.

Edd took the cup from him, cradling it in his hands as soon as he put the flashlight back down. "This is mighty thoughtful of you. I only thought to pack water and snack foods," he said, nodding his head to the lunchbox propped up against the telescope.

"Hey, when you said to bundle up, I wasn't going to take any chances. I hate the cold."

Edd deflated a little. "Oh. I'm sorry you-"

"Woah. Stop. I did not mean it like that. I'm actually glad I'm here with you." Kevin realized his mouth responded without permission, and he quickly backtracked. "Besides… Gotta do that extra credit assignment in case I can't maintain my A with the next exam."

"Ah. I see." Edd blew at the steam rising from his tea. "If you want to, you can come over to study for the next exam."

Kevin strained to look at Edd in the dark, the light from the moon not doing much to illuminate the area under the oak tree. It appeared that Edd was peering at him from over the top of his cup, studying him for his reaction. "Choice. I will definitely take you up on that offer."

Kevin couldn't tell what kind of face Edd made. He could only hear him taking a sip of tea and sighing contently. Kevin took a sip himself, trying to stop his mouth from doing something stupid, like asking Edd out or kissing him.

When they finished the tea Edd announced that it was time to break in the telescope. He set it up to look at the moon.

"It's not quite adjusted all the way, but I think that I'm going to let you finish that so you can get the full telescope experience."

Kevin grimaced. "Let me apologize in advance for not succeeding."

Edd, laughing, said, "It's most of the way done already, so you should be fine. I just want you to see that moment when everything comes together."

Kevin thought it was kinda touching that Edd was allowing him the first clear viewing through the new telescope. Well, touching in a nerd way, at least. He looked through the eyepiece, seeing a not quite complete clear image of the moon at the top half of his view. He adjusted the lenses a little in each direction, trying to find the perfect focus. When he finally had it, he moved the entire telescope up slightly, to get the entire moon in view. He quickly stepped back and looked at Edd in terror.

"I think I broke it."

"W-what!? But how!?"

"The moon was a bit too high, couldn't see all of it, so I moved it up a little…"

Edd quirked an eyebrow at him. "I don't see how-"

"It looked as though the moon just fell from the sky, and now all I can see is black."

Edd looked back down at the eyepiece and started laughing. "Oh. That's my fault. It's a refractor telescope. You're seeing a mirror image. So, if you want the image to move up, you'll have to move the telescope down, only slightly."

Kevin let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "That's… that sounds confusing."

Edd shrugged. "Yes. A bit. But I have a diagonal that will make everything right side up. I didn't even think to set it up. I'm sorry."

"It's cool, dork. As long as I didn't break anything," Kevin laughed, hoping what Edd was saying was true.

Kevin watched as Edd removed the eyepiece from the telescope and pulled out what looked like a bent eyepiece from the bag. As he worked, a lock of hair to slip out from his hat, prompting him to awkwardly blow at it from the corner of his mouth. Kevin snickered and reached over, tucking the hair behind Edd's ear.

Edd froze in place for a moment, as did Kevin, his fingertips still gently against Edd's earlobe. He snatched his hand away. As he tried to force out an apology, Edd quietly said, "Thank you."

Kevin, his mouth still in momentum, replied with, "Sorry." Quickly trying to cover his folly, he added, "…but, um… I just wanted to… I mean… no, never mind."

Kevin groaned in frustration, wishing he could stop being so freaking awkward around Edd all the time.

"You wanted to what?"

Guess I'm not being let off the hook.

Kevin sighed and said, "I just wanted to know why you wanted me to try out your new telescope with you instead of one of the other Eds."

Edd didn't respond as he finished assembling the eyepiece. Once finished, he stood up and took a step to the side, turning towards Kevin. There were a few seconds of silence before he said, "I figured you were going to do the extra credit and decided I might as well break in the telescope that same night."

"But that still doesn't explain why you would-"

"Because I had ulterior motives."

"Ulterior motives?" Kevin said incredulously.

"Yes, I've noticed you staring at me for quite some time now."

"Oh no." Kevin said quietly, suddenly wishing for death.

Edd raised his hands in defense. "No, no, no. I'm not… It's…" He sighed. "To be honest, I've only noticed you staring because I, too, was staring quite a bit myself."

Kevin negates his wish for death, hoping to hear where this may go.

Edd steps closer, mumbling a bit, as if he was struggling to find his words. Eventually he says, "I'm sorry, but I think this might be easier to just do than to say…"

Kevin was about to ask him to repeat that, when Edd leans over and presses his lips to Kevin's cheek. He lingers for a moment, before slowly pulling away.

Kevin suddenly felt a bit too warm considering the weather. "W-what was that about?"

He can see Edd stiffen in place, looking back at him completely dumbfounded. "I-I-I… I'm so sorry. I just thought that all the staring… I thought you might have felt the same as me… I didn't realize-"

Kevin cuts him off with a sudden kiss to the lips.

He fought against months of pining to not press the situation, pulling back after a couple of seconds. His lips had barely left Edd's when Edd grabbed him by the lapel of his coat, pulling him back in for another kiss.

Kevin immediately wraps his arms around Edd, squeezing him. This sudden change in Edd's typically professional demeanor was a little dizzying for Kevin, but he wasn't going to dwell on it or even question it for a second.

Instead, he gently kept kissing Edd back. Eventually, he worked up the nerve to swipe his tongue against Edd's bottom lip. Edd froze for a second before opening his mouth. Kevin immediately sought to deepen the kiss, when he heard a strange ringing sound and felt a vibration in Edd's jacket. His tongue had barely brushed against Edd's when Edd pushed himself back from Kevin. He pulls his phone, the ringing sound becoming louder, and fumbles to shut off the alarm.

"Guess it's time to start looking for those shooting stars."

Kevin decidedly ignores that statement and steps closer to Edd, placing a hand against one cheek as he kisses him again.

Edd takes a few more steps back, bumping up against the tree, as Kevin slowly followed him. "Kevin! What about your extra credit assignment!?"

"Did you want to stop kissing?"

"Well, no, not really… but…"

Edd trails off as Kevin starts kissing him along his jawline, slowly running his hands across Edd's sides and back, pulling him away from the tree and up against himself. Edd's body feels almost limp as he is easily moves into this more preferable position. He tilts his head back allowing more access for Kevin as he wraps his own arms around Kevin's back.

Kevin licked a long broad stripe up Edd's neck, causing him to shiver. Kevin started to line a trail of kisses back towards Edd's mouth, Edd replying hungrily as soon as Kevin's lips reached their destination.

Kevin finally, finally, got to know for certain what it was like to feel Edd's tongue against his. He sighed with satisfaction just before Edd pulls back again. It wasn't enough to move away from Kevin, but just enough to break the kiss.

"Sorry… I just… I just needed to catch my breath," Edd says, breathing deeply and looking away from Kevin, towards the night sky.

Kevin, realizing his own rapid heart rate and shallow breathing, chuckles. "Same." He takes a few steadying breaths before placing a hand on Edd's face, slowly moving it back to face him. Once they lock eyes, Kevin says, "So I know we kinda did this backwards… but… would you be willing to go out on a date with me this weekend?"

Edd gasps, then looks distractedly back and forth between Kevin and something behind him, not answering Kevin's question.

Kevin turns his head and sees a speck of light streak across the sky.

Another appears as he turns back to Edd, who's rapped in the sight.

Kevin maneuvers to stand next to Edd, holding his hands as the stars kept falling. He felt Edd squeeze his hand before he felt Edd's breath ghost past his ear, whispering, "I'll be free on Saturday, provided you get your extra credit done first."

Kevin grinned and squeezed his hand back, before pulling out his phone to take a few pictures for his assignment. Edd did the same. Once both boys managed to get a few decent enough photos, Kevin pocketed his phone and leaned over to Edd.

"I'll have you know that I'm now officially done with the assignment. Just have to turn it in. Sooo… I guess we're going on a date this weekend!"

Kevin could see Edd blushing furiously as he finished scrolling through his meteor pictures. Edd grinned as he locked his phone and look back up at the sky. "I look forward to it."

Kevin looked away from Edd, towards the night sky, streaked with the last few faded beams of light as the meteor shower ended.

I guess stargazing isn't that bad after all.

-the end-