Beakers and Beanies

Chapter 17

It would be useless to try to explain the mayhem that was occuring when Jay, Kevin and Edd walked into the home. From the five goats (classic Rolf) roaming the dimly lit home to footballs and cold cans flying across the living room, everything indicated that this party was already in full swing. After noticing that he and Jay stepped into the party with their arms linked, Edd lightly pulls his arm away, hugging the large jacket he's borrowing tighter around himself. He looks back to a downcast red-head still standing at the door frame and is about to ask him what was wrong when he hears a thick accent yell over the numerous other voices.

"OH~! Rolf sees a strange trio! Hello, hello, welcome to Rolf's party!" The three turn to a blue-headed Rolf running over.

"Hey Rolf, bud!" Jay shouts back as Rolf completely disregards personal space and begins to take all their jackets off, "Give Rolf your filthy outside clothes!"
Kevin's jacket is slipped off Edd's shoulders and he feels the strong absence immediately as Rolf wishes him a 'happy party' and scurries away. Edd noticed that Kevin is beginning to be greeted by people and is getting lost in the crowd.

"SOCKHEAD! FINALLY!" Edd's eyes turn back immediately to see a looming Ed and eventually a much shorter Eddy that's already opening his mouth again to speak.

"Hey dude, you'd never guess what I just dared Ed to put up his- wait who's this?"

The slightly inebriated Eddy looks up to Jay who's now much closer to Edd than half a second ago.

Jay smiles and holds a hand out. "Jay. You're Eddy right? I'm pretty sure we have the same plug- Joey right?"

Eddy's face twists to a side smile and he lets a laugh out, "yea, fucking Joey dude!" This causes them to both cackle until Ed thought it important to add: "Joey's a real nice guy hah!"

...

"Anywayyss, you the one who brought our child here?" Eddy asks as he motions his chin towards Edd and demands Ed to give him his half drank cup.
Edd, seeing Jay and his friends are talking just fine, takes this time to turn around but sees no sight of Kevin. He couldn't quite say he was surprised but it definitely was faster than he expected.
Jay answers with a smirk on his face, "Nah but I'll keep him company all night." Eddy and Ed exchange oh-faces and laughs are heard from the group once more.

"No but really," Jay's words then get serious to match his deadpan face as he swings an arm over Edd's shoulder.
"Jay-" Edd quickly starts, finally deciding he's uncomfortable, "Are you gunna continue being in the way or what?" a deep voice interrupts.

Faces twist in confusion as the ginger quarterback pushes between Jay and Edd and then past Ed and Eddy. Eddy mumbles a sarcastic "Excuse fucking you" as Kevin leaves and Edd feels chills in the shoulder that Kevin lightly bumped.
To think that not long ago he had his arms wrapped around the now cold boy.

'Kevin sounds mad. Should I follow him? Ah but his football friends are surely here by now so he might be looking for them.'

His mind races about what he can do to fix it or how he can find a way to ask him if he was mad but he can't hear himself think over the continued banter of the group he's still in that wasted no time continuing to talk after the interruption.

That is, until Jay, who had been glancing down at him often, leans in pretty close to say, "he chose to leave you." These words freeze Edd over completely now and he finds himself now visibly upset.

"Is Edd okay??!" Ed announces a bit too loudly. Edd quickly nods but can't meet anyone's eyes. "Yes, I just might need some fresh air."
Ed nods his head up and down and asks, "Do you want me to go with ya Edd?" Jay's quick to speak up, "Ed you should probably stick with Eddy so he doesn't fall over somewhere," the comment gets a cackle from Eddy and he continues, "I'll get you some water so do you wanna meet me in the backyard, Edd?" Jay asks.

Edd finds himself nodding and the group split ways. Ed and Eddy go back into the crowd in the living room and Jay heads to the kitchen. But, instead of going out back, Edd makes a detour upstairs. Normally, he wouldn't wander through someone's home without their permission (even if it is a party) but he felt himself in a cold sweat and needed to be alone for just a minute.

He walks past the people standing and chatting in the stairwell to the less-busy upstairs bathroom. He only waits a handful of seconds before he's up next and he rushes in, locking the door behind him. He washes his hands with soap, for the minute one is supposed to, then pats them dry and takes a moment to stand still in front of the mirror. He very rarely is lost at what to do next. It's as if he's had goals since he was born.

He was the first to learn how to write his name in kindergarten, he then mastered cursive and math and eventually how to mix chemicals without so much as pausing to ensure he was doing it correctly. Though he has a somewhat hesitant air around him, he knows what he's doing when it comes down to it. Or at least he always has.
Lately, he's been at a loss for how to even form sentences and conclusions.
So, Kevin showed him that he once had a secret crush on him. Then he took him to the beach and they kissed once again. He treats him gently when they're alone but is hesitant about making promises. If anything at all, this was something to appreciate. For if Kevin was promising him the moon and stars now, he was definitely coming up short.

Edd pauses and looks up and right in the mirror.

'I had told myself this was fine, so fine it will continue to be.'

He furrows his brows and gives a short stern nod to himself. He then readjusts his knitted sweater and turns the knob to exit the bathroom.

As is his life lately, he runs into someone he can't say he was the happiest to see. He sees her bubbly smile before he registers her words, "Edd! Have you seen Kevin?"