Under Edd's Hat

Liar

A/N: Oh. My. Goodness. 2.5k views in 21 days. Wow. I wasn't expecting that. Thank you all so much for the support and love! Don't lose faith in me and keep reading ;D Love all of you!

Edd leaned back in the seat of his new red Jeep Wrangler as Nat drove.
"Stop being so pouty. It's for the best. You don't need any distractions and Kevin...Kevin doesn't need more heart break."
"But I didn't say it back. What if he never knows?"
"See, this negativity is what's slapping people in the face. Keep it up and I'll return the favor!" Nat snapped, brow furrowed in frustration. "He knows, Edd. Trust me. So, you ready to finally get to the apartment? It will be a nice getaway. I put it together myself."
"Yeah." Edd sighed and leaned his head against the window. He felt terrible. But he had to do this. He hated that he lied to his friends, and his lover.
He thought back to the day when he got to the hospital and was supposed to start the harsh chemo.

"Eddward. Excuse me, can we be alone for a bit? Nancy, you can stay. Kevin, you're dismissed." When Kevin left the room, Edd looked up at the doctor, worried. "Eddward, We did some more tests. And I'm sorry to tell you this, but this treatment is not going to work. We tried to get ahold of you before you got here." The doctor paused as he let the new information sink in. "But, we are testing a new treatment that-"
"I'll do it."
"Excuse me?"
"I said, I'll do it. I want to fight, no matter the risk. Whether this treatment goes bad or if I decided not to, I'll die."
"Are you sure? The side affect-"
"It does not matter. I don't want to put my friends or Kevin through this without letting them know I tried."
The doctor and Nancy looked at him in shock. "Damn that boy! I should fire him right now! He'll get hurt!"
"Nancy, It was my fault. He persued me before he knew of my condition. And I left him in the dark."
"Now I'm mad at you! That poor baby."
"I need you to do me a favor."
Edd and Nancy collaborated the story they were to tell Kevin. Her suspending Kevin was her idea, she knew he would be going through a lot for the next couple months and didn't want him to get distracted and hurt a patient while at work.
Edd turned to the doctor. "Now that Kevin will be out of the way, I will start treatment in 2 weeks. I will not give up, no matter the pain."
The doctor tried to stifle his worried expression as he gazed at his brave patient. "We will have to inject directly into where the cancer is, your spine and the muscles surrounding it. You won't be able to lay down on your back. I can't tell you to have a support system, but I wish there will be someone there to take care of you when you get sent home."
"I have a few people in mind."

*present*

Nat and Edd pulled up to the apartment complex and Nat parked the Jeep. It was an older building, only a couple of miles away from the campus. It was built with brick, vines crawling up the side. "How much did this cost my parents, exactly?"
Nat rolled his eyes and side glanced at Edd. "Like it matters, they're rich. But, as are mine. I'll help with the bill since I will be living with you. Did you want her to pay as well?"
"Of course not. And let's stop thinking too far ahead. She will most likely say no. You know this as well as I do."
"She misses you, Edd. She's just a tough egg to crack. She'll go from hard boiled to soft and gooey in no time. I'll show you to the apartment and go grab her."
They walked around to the building and Nat stood in front of a door made of dark, thick wood with a brass knocker. Edd thought it to be Cherrywood or Walnut. Nat unlocked the door and Edd walked inside.
The brick walls were unpainted, the entryway had a glass table to his left with a potted plant and a floor runner with an elegant design. The floors were a rich, dark wood. Edd was already excited and nervously walked deeper into the apartment.
The ceiling was high, 2 stories because of a spiral staircase in the middle of the floor that went up to another part of the apartment. To his right was a pretty living area with denim couches and glass coffee table, and a matching entertainment center with a plasma screen tv in the corner. Offset to his left was an open kitchen with dark granite counters and black cabinets to complete a modern look. The middle bar had a stove built into the counter with chairs set on the opposite side and the appliances were black.
"You like? I assumed you would want a room on the first floor so we won't have to carry you everywhere. Your stuff is in there, to the door past the kitchen to the left, with an attatched bathroom for your privacy. There's another bathroom for guests in-between the kitchen and living room. I'm going to pick her up. Stay in your room until I get you."
Edd nodded and headed to his room. Inside was a bed with a cushioned blue sleigh type frame, outlined in black with dark blue silk sheets and throw pillows. The comforter on top was a pretty baby blue. His laptop was on a glasstop desk with a couple of other various things from his old room.
Edd reminded himself to get the rest of his stuff that was in the back of the Jeep. He threw away his bedding after this morning when he left his dorm. Edd felt guilty of the brief note he left Eddy but, he was scared that Eddy and Kevin would show up soon and didn't want to see the pain in their eyes.
Edd sighed and crawled onto his new bed, relaxed. He felt as if there was no more pressure to fake a smile through all of the pain he was in.

"Edd, wake up. It's time." Edd rolled over and peered at Nat with squinted eyes. Edd nodded and groggily got out of his comfortable bed.
Once he opened his door, he heard squeeling and cabinets being opened and closed.
"Ermegurd. There is SO much room for activities! A lot better than living with my brother. When do I get to mee-" She spun around and her jaw fell open.
"Salutaions, Arvilla."
A confused look mixed with anger and frustration graced her fave as she looked between Edd and Nat. "I said I never want to see you again."
"Cut the shit, Arvilla." Nat snapped. "Edd is dying. Would you rather visit him on his death bed and apologize or make up with him now? You owe him. He saved your life. Or did you forget already?"
Arvilla flinched and looked down in shame. "So I assume this in-home babysitting job I left the Diner for is to watch Edd? Why is everyone going to lie to me?"
"Because you're as stubborn as a mule. But you're as strong as one, as to why we need you." Edd and Nat explained to her the treatment Edd will be going through the next couple of weeks and the risks. He needed constant care and to be watched at home in a comfortable enviroment between sessions.
"I trust you, which is why I chose you."
"You didn't trust me enough to not leave me in the dark for as long as you did."
"I know. And I'm sorry. I didn't want Eddy or Kevin to quit their schooling to watch over me. So I left them in the dark now. I didn't want to be a burden. And I know you're taking a break from school for the rest of the semester, so I figured if I covered what you could make at the diner and rent, you would be a little more complient. But don't get me wrong, Dear. I missed you so much. I'm not having you do this just because it's convenient. Please don't go, Arvilla. I need you. As a caretaker and a friend. It broke my heart when you said you never wanted to see me again."
Arvilla looked down at her her fidgeting hands. "I guess I can stay." She glanced up at Edd, who was smiling yet had tears in his eyes that were starting to spill over on his gaunt cheeks. Her eyes started to match his as she spread opened her arms and sniffled. "Oh, my sweet baby child." She embraced Edd, shoving his face in her bosom. "Don't be sad my baby. Please don't be like me. I'm here now. I'll fight with you, as you did along my side." Tears fell harder as Arvilla remembered that day 2 and a half years ago. The day she gave up and surrendered to the voices in her head that told her she was worthless. The day Edd rushed into her studio apartment when she canceled plans they made.
She owed him. He showed her how great life could be, and to never surrender. And now, she made it her sole purpose to do the same.