Beakers and Beanies

Chapter 11

Edd is a boy that likes to know how things work. He likes to understand and be understood. He likes to explain things to those that may not understand. He likes tutoring, he likes having answers ready and more questions to follow. However, his area of expertise is usually science. Though he does have various books explaining the human anatomy and even a young surgeon kit, he doesn't quite understand what's going through a certain someone's head. And, though he would love to, he also doesn't quite understand his own heart either sometimes.

Like now.

He turns to look at the entrance as soon as Nazz speaks up and meets eyes with the person himself. Kevin looks at him and he can almost feel Kevin opening his lips before Kevin's friend, who seems to have appeared from thin air, grips his shoulder and disrupts the gym.

"THE PARTY'S HERE!" 

The eyes in the gymnasium all turned to the entrance and onto the members of the varsity football team. There were some cheers and pats on the back. But the atmosphere was not as exciting as it could be and Edd saw this reflected in Kevin's body language. He still seemed pretty disheartened as he gleamed back and crossed into the threshold of the entrance and into the large room. Nazz was quick to call Kevin over.

"Don't forget your date, Kev!" She called for him and he turned to where they were once more. His cheeks turned slightly pink when he saw Edd was really there. But before he could go his friend pulled him back, "Sorry Nazz, we're gunna borrow him for a minute!" the friend called out. Nazz rolled her eyes and turns to Edd, "See you around, double D." She walks away and Edd is left there, both wanting to look over at Kevin's group but also too nervous to move.

'To think HE is doing THAT with ME... How scandalous!'

He shakes his head in an attempt to get rid of the red in his cheeks and begins to put away the camera, remembering that he was instructed to put it away after an hour. But, just as he's trying to do so, he hears a voice directly behind him, "Woah, woah, we haven't taken a picture!" 

Edd turns around to meet face to face with Mike. He quickly takes a step back.

"Wha happened? We want a picture." Mike says as a girl clings to his arm.

"O-Oh, I'm sorry but there are no more pictures after 8..." Mike raises his eyebrows, "because it has to be put away... I apologize." Edd concludes.

The girl puffs her cheeks and looks at Mike, "awh, I really wanted a picture." 

Mike grips her butt and Edd tenses. "Of course baby, hold on."

He walks over to Edd and, still not even recovered from the last time, Edd freezes.

"Look, fag." He grips Edd's shirt. "All we want is one picture. So, all you gotta do is go back to your spot, put that camera back up and take the fucking picture. Or, I can just take this fist and put it up your-"

"Excuse me gentlemen." 

The two turn to the voice.

Jay innocently stands there.  

"You should probably put Edd down before you make a scene, dude." He recommends.

Mike laughs and lets go of Edd's shirt. "What're you gunna do? Kick my ass?"

Jay lets out a small chuckle, "Is that what you want?" He growls sensually at Mike and and the jock's face twists in disgust.

"You're fucking disgusting." Mike says.

"BAAAABE!" The girl that was beside Mike calls out. "I'm bored, let's go."

Mike snaps back to look at Edd and Jay. "Fucking fags."

...

"Thank you very much... Jay." Edd had finished putting the camera away and is now standing awkwardly in front of the much taller boy.

"It's really no problem Edd, I should have kicked his ass but that's not in my top 10 things to do during a homecoming dance." Edd lets a laugh slip out but is still considerably shakey.

"Do you need some fresh air Edd?" Jay asks and Edd finds himself nodding and letting Jay wrap an arm around his shoulders to walk him out.

...

Kevin had only entered the dance with the team because he found them clustered around in the parking lot. He didn't want to draw attention. He just wanted to get there and eat and sit down and chat with some people and look for a certain cute someone.

But now, he was watching as said someone was being guided out of the gym by Jay, who is way too close to Edd for his liking.