RL is typing... [TordEdd]

RL is typing...

Knuckles lightly tapped on the door, and it slowly creaked open. "... Edd?"  A head poked through just enough to see into the room.

Matt peeked into Edd's room and frowned. The only light in the room came from the crack where the door was open, but it lit up enough to see inside. The carpet floor was littered with clothes, comic books, snack wrappers, and soda cans, as well as the nightstand next to Edd's bed. Edd's bed was covered in blankets. They were all pulled to the middle, though, as his friend hid under them enough to look like a lump.

Matt sighed and quietly walked in, avoiding stepping on the junk around Edd's floor. He made his way over to the bed and sat down on the side. His eyes were glued to the floor, but he had a hand rubbing circles on Edd's back, listening to his breathing.

"... Edd... I know it's hard, but you have to try to come out of your room. I..." Matt sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve, "I miss him too. But it's been nearly two months since then... We need to move on. It's what Tom would have wanted us to do." Matt looked up from the floor and instead looked at Edd.

Edd's blanket lump curled up a little more as he tensed. All you could hear were empty, tearless sobs, with ragged breathing and a small rhythm of fabric rubbing against itself.

"E-Edd... Please..." A few tears began to roll down Matt's cheeks. "Please don't do this to yourself..."

Edd just lied there, with his cheeks stained with tears, until he fell asleep.

When he next woke up, it was still dark, and all the lights were out, meaning Matt had gone to bed. Edd rubbed his eyes groggily. He sat up and looked to his nightstand, where Matt had left some cold pizza and a glass of milk for him. A small note laid next to it, that read "Eat. You need it. -Matt." Edd sat up fully and looked to his stomach. He was losing too much weight because of his lack of appetite, but lately he had been fainting from not having enough to eat and drink, so Matt made sure he kept healthy.

Edd looked back at the food guiltily. He wasn't hungry and food didn't seem like something he wanted right now, but Matt had gone through the trouble and he knew he needed it. He took the plate onto his lap and ate in small bites. The empty feeling in his gut didn't want food, it didn't want to eat and it made him feel nauseated, but Edd found the strength to eat anyway, albeit slowly.

After taking a sip of milk, he reached over to his phone to check the time. It lit up and told him that it was nearly three in the morning. Edd unlocked the phone and texted Matt's number.

Hey, Matt. I'd remind you now but you're asleep and I don't want to wake you up, so could you remember to get a new pillowcase for me? Thanks

His thumb pressed the home button and took Edd to the opening screen where his apps showed. There was a small, red notification on KiK with the number one on it. He had a new message.

Edd, raising his eyebrow a bit, opened the app to see the conversation.

RL 🚬 started chatting with you

Edd: Hello??

RL: hey

Edd: Sorry but... do i know you??

RL is typing...

RL: no
RL: i just decided to text someone randomly

Edd: Oh.
Edd: So, um

RL: this is more awkward than i thought it would be

Edd: ??

RL: forget it
RL: what's up?

Edd: I'm just confused and eating cold pizza. Lol
Edd: You??

RL: boring work stuff. cold pizza sounds nice rn

Edd: Where do you work?? It's like, three in the morning here

RL: that's confidential
RL: sorry
RL: i can't tell you my timezone either

Edd: Um... alright then
Edd: I guess
Edd: Why's it so secret??

RL: that's a secret too

Edd: Well can I at least know your name?? You can tell that mine's Edd

RL: call me RL
RL: i can't tell you anything specific about myself

Edd: This all sounds really sketchy...

RL: no, it's fine! we can still talk. i'd tell you if i could, but my life is on the line.

Edd: You're kidding!!!!! Really?!

RL: yeah. it's serious.

Edd: Well now I feel like I'm talking to a criminal lol
Edd: ...
Edd: You there?

RL: yes, sorry. my coworker caught me off-guard.
RL: and who knows? maybe i am a criminal.
RL: ... i'm kidding.

Edd: Sorry, this is still all kinda weird for me. I don't know anything about you and you're talking like you know me

RL: don't worry about it. we can still become friends?

Edd: I thought I was a random username you messaged??

RL: yeah, but i like you.

Edd: You've known me for like... five minutes.
Edd: You're seriously creeping me out.

RL: no no no, i mean like
RL: you seem careful and open
RL: and i guess i just...
RL: don't have any friends, really. i lost them all a couple months ago.

Edd: D: You're kidding!!
Edd: I get the feeling, though
Edd: One of my closest friends, uh... passed away
Edd: And I guess another one was just faking it to use me.
Edd: That second one really hurt...
Edd: I still have my friend Matt though and he's been super supportive and helpful.

RL: what happened?

Edd: I don't want to relive it right now. It messed me up big time...

RL: oh
RL: can you tell me about them though? the two you lost

Edd: Well... the one who passed, his name was Tom
Edd: Tom was really funny and sarcastic and... I don't know. He was one of my closest friends. He always drank and messed up a lot, but Matt and I forgave him every time.
Edd: The one who, well, used me... He was my best friend since preschool. He was cool and fun and just a great guy to be around. But he left a while ago and came back completely different. It's like I don't even know him anymore.

RL: i had friends like those once
RL: thinking about it makes me feel guilty
RL: i treated them pretty poorly
RL: they deserved a lot more but i think it was for the best that they're not friends with me anymore

Edd: Well, RL, I'll give being your friend a try
Edd: Even if you can't tell me basic stuff, we can get along, right??

RL: thanks
RL: that means a lot

Edd: :)

RL: i have to go. something just came up.

Edd: Oh, um... work related, then?
Edd: ...
Edd: I guess you left