Beakers and Beanies

Chapter 16

Although the sounds of the sea were loud, they did not drown out the sound of Edd's ringtone. Luigi Boccherini's Minuetto in G filled the space between Kevin and Edd, leaving Kevin with an open mouth ready to speak.

Edd was quick to find his phone in his pocket and silence it bashfully but was quick to overthink the action as he didn't even check who it was calling.

"You can answer it ya know... let's let that decide what we do." Kevin said with a half smile as he restrained his hands at his sides.

Edd slowly nodded, "I'll do that then." He raises his phone once more only for the ringtone to ring again. He looked at the caller ID and sighs, picking up the call.

"Hey sockhead! Why the fuck did you click on me?!" A voice shouts from the other end. Edd sighs and turns his back on Kevin as he walks back to the motorcycle and away from the loud crashes of the waves.
"Eddy please..." He calmly answers into the phone.
"Where are you? It's so loud," Eddy starts, "we're tryna head over to the party, are you meeting us there or what?"

Edd looks back at Kevin who's now leaning against his motorcycle checking his phone too.

"Party? Eddy I told you I don't feel comfortable in those situations." He states. This is quick to catch Kevin's attention as he looks up with a jerk.

"Edd- a party? Rolf's?" He asks, remembering that he had heard about this homecoming's big party being at his place.

Eddy can hear another voice in the distance and calls out, "Hey, who's that? Does that mean you got a ride? We're gunna leave right now and try to get some drinks with the ID my brother sent but meet us there sockhead!" He hangs up and Edd sighs, worried that his two friends will get arrested since Eddy's brother sent him the worst fake ID he could get his hands on.

"Um... yes Rolf's party. Were you planning to go too?" Edd asks as he turns back to Kevin.

Kevin brushes some sand off his shoes as he nods, "Well, I wasn't really planning on it but if your friends are bugging, maybe we should just go?"

The image of Edd and Kevin walking into the party together creeps into his mind. "Would that be okay, Kevin? Walking into the house with me?"

Kevin clenches his jaw. He told himself he truly didn't know but his silence carried a weight Edd couldn't get off his heart.

"I think it would be best to take me to Eddy's house." Edd states.

The ginger shakes his head and takes Edd's hands in his. "No, no, we'll go in together... hey?"

He finds Edd's eyes and they hold a gaze that gives Kevin the confidence to lean in and kiss Edd.

Even if you asked him, Edd wouldn't be able to give an answer as to why he stood as stiff as a statue while Kevin firmly pressed his lips against him.

'I... do not think our hands will be touching this way once we arrive.'

Kevin tries not to overthink Edd's silence and instead tries to get them moving. "So, we should probably head out then?" Edd finally gives him a nod and takes the helmet being handed to him. Kevin is grateful he's reacting now but notices that Edd's staring straight into the sea. He watches his lips as they move.

Edd, with a quiet voice, asks, "Can I take a picture first?" Kevin can't help but look surprised. "A picture? Of what?"

Edd holds his phone up to snap a picture of the sea lit by both the reflection of the moon and the lamppost by them. Kevin watches as he does so, barely capturing the red handlebars of his motorcycle. He smiles, "hey Edd what the fuck that's a nice picture. That's right, you were into pictures and all that."

Edd found himself blushing. "I forgot I told you that once, Kevin..."

Kevin puts the helmet on him and covers Edd's view as he bumps him with his forehead. "Well, that's great so show me more sometime, yeah?"

Edd's frustrated heart jumps. They both then get on Kevin's motorcycle with Kevin mumbling, "Well... let's get this thing over with."

. 

They pull into the parking lot littered with vehicles. On the way back to the town, Edd had noticed that the street's were free of students, drawing the conclusion that they were either already at the party or still at the dance. By the time they arrived, his hands were moist with prespiration at what was to come. But he still couldn't help but hope that Kevin would lead him, hands tied together, into the house.

This fantasy was quickly shattered when a cars pulls up alongside them and Jay jumps out. As Edd takes his helmet off, Kevin opens his mouth to speak but Jay is faster. 

"OH! Edd! What's up?" He completely ignores Kevin as he bows to Edd. "Would you like to accompany me in? It'll make up for the dance you owe me."

Edd, for the life of him, couldn't help the blush that creeped up into his ears. "Jay I'm flattered but-"

"Hello to you too asshole," Kevin grunts as he shoves his motorcycle keys into his pockets and stands halfway between the two brunettes.

"Oh, sorry carrot top, are you Edd's guardian or- OH!- boyfriend perhaps?" Jay inquires while never taking his eyes off Edd, getting another flustered response once more.

"N-N-No! We simply... we..." The raven-haired boy began. "The fuck does that have to do with you?" Kevin interrupts once more. 

Jay smirks and finally looks at Kevin, "then excuse me." He links arms with Edd as Kevin hesitates then begins walking the shorter boy to the front door.

All Kevin could do is watch as Edd looks back with a shy longing face to a boy who has nothing to offer him.