Edd sat huddled under a corner of the bleachers that were situated on the football field. Arms wrapped around legs, and head pressed against knee's he rocked back and forth. Gasping in breath after breath he tried to calm down. Panic attacks were not one of his favorite things in the world.

The smartest Edd moved to kneeling as he grasped the grass and pressed his forehead to the ground. He didn't care if he was getting dirt all over him, or even if he was ruining his clothing. The only thing he cared about right now was calming his breathing enough so he didn't pass out.

Stupid Eddy.

This predicament was entirely his fault. Why did he always have to be so damn curious about his hat? Edd let out a noise somewhere between a sob and a growl and he curled in on himself, still huddled against the ground.

"Hey, double dork!" Edd stilled on the ground, trying in vain to control his breathing and willed himself to stop shaking.

"Edd?"

The voice was closer now; probably right above him, and any second now the laughter would start up, or more names would be flung his way. He never expected anything other than bullying, and was already passed his breaking point by far. As a hand was placed against his shoulder and the red haired bully spoke his name once again, almost worriedly, Edd finally snapped.

Edd jerked away from the ground, still kneeling, and slapped the older boys hand away, shoving him for good measure. Kevin lost his balance from the crouch he was in and fell sprawled back on the ground as he watched Edd in disbelief.

"What? What!? What could you possibly want? Have you not ruined my life enough as it is? What more could you do to me? Go recruit Eddy to be in your stupid group of misfits! I'm sure you'll all have a great time royally screwing me over every day of my life!" Edd felt hot tears on his cheeks and knew he was losing it. Pressing the heels of his hands roughly against his tightly shut eyes he tried to stem the flow of tears. If today could get any worse, he didn't know how it would be possible.

"Please, just leave me alone" Edd said, practically exhausted. At least his panic attack had subsided, giving way to his angry rant. Edd sighed as he heard Kevin's forceful "No", and responded with his own "Why?"

Edd ran his slightly tearstained hands through his long black hair, no longer protected by his beanie. Eddy had made sure of that when he had, no more than 30 minutes ago, ripped it from his head in Chemistry, revealing his secret to the entire class. Most people, including Eddy, were amazed and even a little disappointed to find that, under Edd's hat, he was actually normal. After that he had pleaded for Eddy to give him his hat back. Alone because the teacher had stepped out for a minute, Edd had begged and begged until Eddy, angry that there had been no awesome show that would get him some quick cash, had set his hat on fire with a Bunsen burner and thrown it to the ground.

Edd had gone crazy then; he couldn't even remember half of it now. He remembered punching Eddy so hard the shorter boy's nose started gushing blood. Then the next thing he knew he was standing back and seeing everyone staring at him, shocked, and Eddy was moaning on the ground for all the world looking like he had just been mugged. In the end he was bolting through the school and running out on the field before he had practically collapsed behind the bleachers.

Edd glanced up at the now silent Jock in front of him. He had gotten up and kneeled next to the shorter smart boy. Kevin was looking intently at the ground, causing his reddish bangs to fall forward and obscure his eyes. Edd looked on warily as Kevin raised his right hand, curled into a fist as if he wanted to bump knuckles. Suddenly he relaxed his grip and a black, somewhat charred item dangled from slightly lax fingers. Edd gasped and grabbed hastily for the item, effectively squishing down what remained of the item onto his head. It still pretty much worked, but a bit of his bangs fell away from the cap as he held it on tightly.

It was ruined.

Eddy had ruined the most precious item he had.

His safety blanket was charred and useless. It could no longer protect him. Edd pressed his palms over his eyes once again, as he childishly cried his anxiety away.

"I'm sorry, it took me a little while to get to it" Kevin was saying, but Double-d just shook his head.

"No, no...It's ok thank you." He curled into a ball again, fingering the burnt edge of his beanie, what was he going to do? Edd resumed his rocking from earlier, but suddenly froze as he felt strong arms encircle him and he was pulled backward into a warm chest. Kevin's warm chest. He was becoming nervous again, though he was silently pleased that his crush of 2 years, despite the bullying, was actually touching him for once, instead of flinging insults at him.

"I'm sorry, for everything" Kevin spoke, his breath tickling the back of the younger boy's neck. Though Edd was enjoying this immensely and wished it would never end, he knew it had to and so he tried to move away.

"It's alright, I'm just happy I got it back, really I'm fine." The arms around him tightened, keeping him from leaving.

"No, I mean, you don't understand, I was only mean because, because..." Kevin tapered off and Edd felt the strong arms go slack.

"Understand?" He asked the now somber boy.

"I didn't realize, didn't know..." Kevin paused

"Know?" Edd mentally slapped himself. What was he, a parrot? He should just run for it now while he had the chance and just try to forget any of this ever happened! Kevin growled in frustration and Edd froze like a deer in headlights. This was it, Kevin had gotten over whatever trance he had been in because of Edd's tears and now he was gonna be pummeled!

Instead of the pain he expected Kevin grabbed his shoulders to turn him so they were face to face. Edd watched as Kevin got closer and closer, Edd's eyes growing larger and larger in disbelief. Warm lips pressed roughly against his own. It was so unexpected, yet so very exhilarating, Edd almost forgot to breath. Closing his eyes he responded full force to the kiss, moaning embarrassingly loud as he wrapped his arms around the equally tall boy's neck.

It was Kevin's turn to be shocked as Edd returned his feelings, and he pulled the smartest of the Edwards close to him, deepening the kiss. This was like a dream Edd thought, as Kevin pushed him back against the ground. An incredibly amazing, incredibly sexy dream.

Edd gasped as Kevin pressed against him and he felt the older boys hard on pressed against his thigh, mirroring his own agonizingly hard member. Kevin moved to covering his neck with kisses. Edd could barely think strait; the bliss he felt was overwhelming. His mouth suddenly took on a will of its own as it forced out one word.

"Stop!"

Kevin pulled back slowly, both boys breathing harshly. Edd covered his face with his hands, hiding his bright blush. Why the hell had he just said that? He wanted to do anything but stop, that should have been the last thing on his mind. Edd realized then why his mind had won over his body, if only slightly, for his little "problem" wasn't going away anytime soon.

He wanted Kevin; more than anything did he want Kevin! What he wanted Kevin for, however, wasn't just some fling behind the bleachers. Edd wanted someone he could be with, someone who would be a friend and not extort money or plans from him. He wanted someone who he could talk to seriously, about anything, be it science or TV! He heard Kevin sigh above him and the jock rested his head against Edd's shoulder.

"Double-d" He whispered, but made no move to restart the kissing, however much he wanted to. Edd pushed Kevin away just a bit and stared at him.

"What is this exactly, that you're doing right now, here, with me? He spoke slowly. Kevin looked a little lost for words, but soon looked at him seriously.

"I, I just, I'm sorry for everything!" Kevin repeated lamely, and Edd stared at him, one eyebrow raised in question. Kevin closed his eyes thinking, before looking at the boy beneath him and beginning again.

"For the longest time I've been...just...I think about you all the time, can't get you out of my head! I thought I hated you for making me think about you so often, dream about you even!" Both of Double-d's eyebrows rose at that remark and Kevin blushed nervously, rolling his eyes before continuing. "But today, I saw how hurt you were in class, how lost you looked when Eddy..." Kevin tapered off looking angrily at the ground near them. "And then when you just snapped, it was amazing! I kept thinking, why didn't he do that to me? After all these years, I've been such an ass! Then, when you ran out, I just couldn't help it. All I could think about was grabbing this stupid hat and helping you. I wanted to see you smile, I want to hear you laugh, I...I...really, really like you!"

Kevin stopped ranting, watching Edd for any reaction at all, anything to give him a clue as to what the mysterious black-haired boy was thinking. Kevin grinned lop sided and slowly moved his hand up to grasp the beanie. Edd simply stared at him, trusting, finding no malice what so ever in the larger boy's eyes. Kevin leaned toward him, paused to check for any objections, and kissed Edd gently this time.

Slowly, Edd felt the beanie being pulled off little by little, and he clenched his eyes tightly shut, grasping Kevin's team jacket tightly in his fists. He felt fingers weave through his shoulder length hair and help push him closer to Kevin, who lightly bit his bottom lip. Edd opened his mouth and let Kevin's tongue immediately win dominance.

After a while they tapered off with short sweet kisses and genuinely happy smiles. Both thought it was too good to be true. Being a nerd was enough without being gay. Being a gay jock was scarcely heard of, if ever, but the children of the cul-de-sac had seen stranger things.