A/N: Since it was requested, I did the prequel detailing Ed's death.

Warnings: Character Death

"Eddy, why don't we have buttered toast," the tall boy asked enthusiastically. The three of us were trying to fix breakfast, so the comment wasn't totally out of context.

"No, Ed, I want a bagel," I said, popping mine and Double-D's bagels into the toaster, "I'll fix you a buttered toast when I'm done. Okay, Lumpy?"

"Okay, Eddy," he said with a smile. I smiled back and looked outside. It was a bright day and hot, with it being summertime and all.

"Eddy," Double-D started, looking up from his book, "Can you please just tell us what you have in mind? I don't want to spend this glorious day indoors. Not when I could be at the beach."

Double-D, having out grown his unnecessary hate of the sun and sand, loved going to the beach. And since we were all about to be sophomores, he wanted to get some practice looking cool.

"Well, we are going to be at the beach, but not for fun," I said, placing the hot bagels on two plates. I popped Lumpy's toast into the toaster and pressed the lever down. I placed the bagels at the right places and placed the cream cheese on the table. Then, I placed the tea for Double-D and mine and Lumpy's Orange Juice on there. Lastly, I buttered Lumpy's toast and placed it and the jam on the table.

"What kind of scheme are we doing this time," Double-D asked, sarcastically. I rolled my eyes. Of course, I had out grown my love for conning the kids of the neighborhood out of their cash. But, I still needed money and the quickest way to earn a dime was to sell things. Especially lemonade in the summer.

"We are going to be selling lemonade at the beach to the tourists. I still need to buy homecoming tickets once school starts," I said, knowing the truth of it. If I started now, I could make enough by homecoming to get two tickets. One for me and, another for Sarah.

Sarah and I were alright buddies, but mainly, she used me for tickets and rides. But, I was okay with that as long as she didn't wail on me.

"That sounds alright," Double-D said, smiling a bit. He finished eating as Lumpy and I finished. But, I was surprised at how quiet Ed was being.

"Lumpy, you alright, buddy," I asked, cleaning up. He just nodded and said something about how he needed to ask some girl to the dance. I sighed, knowing that the poor girl would say no, unless she pitied him. The girls seemed to avoid Ed.

And I knew why. He was a huge guy. Being 6 foot nine, and weighing 250 pounds, he was a bit intimidating. Not only that, but he tended to be a bit of a creeper, though he didn't mean to. But, as me and Double-D knew, he was a big teddy bear and probably the gentlest boy we knew. He'd never hurt a fly.

The next two hours were spent gathering supplies and things for the trip to the beach. Lemons, sugar, water, towels, pitchers, a cooler of ice, sunscreen and of course, bathing suits. After we sold all the lemonade, we would cool off in the water.

"Off to the beach," I said, closing the door to the house. Lumpy was rolling the wagon that held all of the supplies and I was carrying a bag that held all our personal items. Double-D was on the phone with his cousin who owned a stand at the beach. It was closed today, so he was asking if we could borrow it.

Of course, Double-D's cousin said yes and we were in perfect business!

The sun was setting as I put the closed sign back on the counter of the stand on the beach. Lumpy had gathered our equipment and we were heading back to my house. All of us had pleasantly dark tans from sitting in the sun all day and were happily ready to count the cash when we got home.

That's when we came to an intersection. Lumpy and Double-D had already crossed in the last turn of the light (the crossing time was really short) and I was waiting for the light to turn. When it did, I crossed quickly.

I was almost half way into the street when a sports car flew around the corner, heading straight for me. I had no time to react when I was pushed back into the other part of the street and heard a loud thump. I looked up to see that the sports car had hit Ed and Double-D was calling 911. I got up and ran to Ed.

He was unconscious and bleeding. A crowd had formed, some calling the police, some shouting at the driver, who had gotten out of the car to see if Lumpy was alright.

"Out of my way," I heard a shrill voice exclaim. It was Sarah. She pushed through the crowd and went to Ed's side. Tears were in her eyes as she started to hold Ed's other hand. I looked up at her and said, "I'm sorry. He jumped out to save me."

"I know. I saw what happened. It wasn't your fault, Eddy. It's the drivers," she said, knowing I was already placing fault on myself. The police and the ambulance then arrived. The ambulance got to Ed and the police started questioning us.

"I was crossing when the crossing light was on and was over halfway across when the driver of the sports car sped towards me. Lum- Ed pushed me out of the way and got hit," I explained, tears threatening to form. I had to be strong for Sarah, Double-D and Ed. They needed me. The police man turned to Sarah and she told him the same story, except that she had been watching it from a block away.

I looked into the crowd and saw the other kids from the cal-De-sac. Nazz was tearing up and Jimmy was sobbing into his hands. Kevin had his arm around Nazz and kept a brave face. Johnny had come out from the Subway and was looking on with a stoned expression. Rolf was yelling curses at the driver who was now being placed in handcuffs.

Once the police were done with us, we rushed to the hospital to see Ed. His parents were already there, so we waited with them in the private waiting room.

It seemed like hours before the doctors came in. I just stared as the man uncovered his face and removed his gloves. He looked at all of us before saying, "I'm sorry, but we've done the best we could. He's alive, but he has become brain dead. We ran all the tests and believe he may come back, but, for lack of better words, he's a vegetable."

I watched as everyone began crying and even a few hot tears rolled down my cheeks as we all gathered into a big hug. Ed's mom, though, was the worst, because she wailed on and on about how much she loved her baby.

We were guided to Ed's room and we all took turns visiting. Double-D and I were second to go in. We saw that he was in a lot of bandages, but his eyes were open and he was making weird sounds. The EKG was showing his breathing and his heart beat, but, like the doctor said, he was brain dead.

I moved to his side and said, "Hey, Ed. I wish I knew you could hear me. But, thank you. I would be the one hurt if it wasn't for your selflessness." Tears started falling more freely and Double-D pulled me into a hug. I cried into his chest as we walked out to let the next group in.

It was a couple of months later that I went to visit him, like I did every day. But, this was the last time I would see him, alive. When I arrived, his parents pulled me aside to tell me that he had slipped into a coma last night and the doctors had said that he has little to no chance of coming back.

I looked at them, about to tell them not to give up hope, but their faces told me everything. They had given up, knowing that this day would've come. I pulled his mom into a hug, whispering, "I'm sorry."

Then, his parents told the doctors to pull the plugs on the machines that were keeping him alive. I watched as his heart beat slowed and stopped and knew he was gone. Sarah came over to me and I pulled her into my arms as she wept into my chest. I knew that, no matter how much she swore against it, she truly loved her brother.

I awoke with a jolt. Sitting up, I looked into the mirror across my room. My face was puffy from crying and I was sweating. Then, I looked to my bedside table. A picture of me, Double-D, and Lumpy sat there. The faces were smiling and happy. It was from a week before the accident.

"I miss you, buddy," I said, looking to the sky. I wasn't religious, but, if heaven existed, I knew that was where he would be, "I'm so sorry." My head collapsed into my hands as my body shook with sobs. If it hadn't have been for my stupid idea, he would still be here.

"Eddy, why don't we have buttered toast?"