Chapter Three Part Four

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(AKA PIC COURTESY OF KIT)
"Do we have to go to the baseball tryouts, Eddy?" whined Edd
as they walked towards the cafeteria for lunch. "What, and
risk missing Daisy shaming Kevin if we dont? Of course we
have to!" laughed Eddy as he strutted along. "Anyway,
Melissa will be there!" he teased, puckering his lips.
"Yes I um, suppose you have a point." Giggled Edd shyly.
Suddenly he stopped and pulled Eddy back as he looked at his
jeans.
"Hey Eddy Ive just noticed." He pointed to his waist. "Your
chain is missing."
"This stinks!" complained Eddy, searching frantically for
his chain in his pockets. "I love that stupid chain! Id be
heartbroken if its lost!"
"You have to have a heart first, Eddy." Chortled Edd.
"Swinging bricks dont count."
"Speak for yourself, Double Dee, you homewrecker you!" laughed Eddy. " I think you've well and truly gutted Sarah!"

"What are YOU talking about?!?" asked Edd with annoyance
in his voice
"Oh c'mon Davinci, get with the score!" Eddy slapped his forehead. " Sarah's still got the hots for ya, y'know!"
"Oh please Eddy, that old chestnut's history!" snapped Edd.
"And if I was honest, even if Sarah did
maintain her affections for me, for one, she's 3 years younger, and there's no contest as far as looks and
personality go between her and Melissa"- "A-ha! You DO like her, doncha?" sniggered Eddy.
"Oh Bravo Eddy, my regards for pointing out the obvious!"
snubbed Edd as they headed down the spiral staircase towards
the cafeteria." How can I not, she's poetry in motion!"
"Ease up, Sockhead! Don't be getting all matrimonial on me now!" Eddy patted his back patronisingly.
"Not if I can help it, Eddy!" winked Edd as they stepped off the last step with a haze of
romance buzzing vibrantly in his
belly. The two boys laughed as they pushed the cafeteria door open.
"Man, I can't be doing with all these 4th graders running around!
Why are they doing links so early on in the darn year anyhoo?!?"
Sarah stood at the top of the staircase watching
the object of her unreturned affections slip further and
further away from her. The stinging reality of Edd's words burned mercilessly in her heart like a branding rod.
With welling eyes she stared at the huge mirror adjacent to her
and a plain shrimpy kid with a gargantuan attitude
grimaced threateningly back at her. Everyone else
wanted Melissa, loved Melissa, enjoyed Melissa, welcomed her with open arms, and although a dormant part of her did too, the fork-tongued lizard inside Sarah saw this invading
Vegas bombshell of a girl,
with her early developing curves and sapphire eyes as a pesky bluebottle that had to be caught and swallowed quickly.
How hard it was for Sarah to feel the way she did. How does a person feel violent jealousy but lingering feelings of admiration from some place else at the same time?
And that's what Sarah felt...she liked to hate Melissa...but hated more to like her..........

The Eds raced towards the kitchen to get some grub when Edd
noticed Melissa walk in, a forlorn look on her face.
"Oh my... I wonder whats wrong?" worried Edd as he noticed how
miserable she looked.
"One of the bulbs has probably gone out on her vanity
mirror." Scoffed Eddy.
Edd took a deep breath and felt his pulse quicken as he
walked over, leaving Ed and Eddy in the queue.
"Hey, wheres sockhead going?!?" protested Eddy.
"Hes gone to water...the Christmas tree because its dry."
Explained Ed.
"Hey Melissa." Said Edd as he approached her. Melissas eyes
were sad and moist.
"Oh Hi, Double Dee." she answered with a small smile.
"Is something the matter?" he asked with concern in his
voice.
"No I mean, yes, but its nothing." She lied, her voice
cracking.
"What is it?" he asked again. "Tell me. You know what they
say, a problem shared is a problem halved." He comforted.
Nazz came down the stairs and noticed Melissa sitting on the
edge of the table nearby.
"Melissa, whats wrong?" piped Nazz, barging past Edd and
putting her hands over Melissas. Edd stood by, feeling
pretty useless.
"Its,,, its" sniffled Melissa. "Its my tapestry, Nazz!" she
blubbed. Edd felt his insides churn with guilt.
"Why? What happened?!?" asked Nazz, sitting down next to
her. Edd handed her a tissue, his hand shaking. She dabbed
her eyes and blew her nose.
"I went to textiles this morning,,," she sniffled. Nazz bit
her lip with anticipation.
"And,,," Melissa blubbed. Edd felt a rush of nausea run over
his body. Melissa heaved in some breath and collapsed.
"Elvis' pelvis was ripped!" She held on to Nazz for comfort
as she cried uncontrollably into her T-shirt. Nazz patted
her back kindly as Edd wrestled with his troubled
conscience.
"Who could do that?!?" said Nazz in disgust, swaying Melissa
from side to side.
"Wheres the funeral?" squawked Eddy through a mouthful of
cheese and tomato sandwich.
"I dont know where the funeral is, Eddy" spat Edd, taking
his arm and marching him into the corner. "but the funeral-
ee is right here!"
"Where?!? Where?!?" shouted Ed, his head swinging around.
"Stop it, Bean dip!" snapped Eddy, slapping Eds forehead.
"You see that, Eddy?!?" pointed Edd to Melissa sobbing in
the corner, by this time Rolf, Daisy and Kevin had gone
over. "Those are the tears of a broken heart, Mister! The
heart youre guilty of shattering! Do you know how much work
was put into that tapestry?!?"
"No and I couldnt give a flying monkey, either!" hissed
Eddy, swiping at Edds pointing finger and storming off. Edd
let him go, figuring he would catch up with him later. He
and Edd walked back over to where Melissa was sitting.
"Whoever did this is getting thrashed!" promised Daisy.
"What? By you? Pull the other one, tinkerbell!" mocked Kevin.
"Youll be laughing on the other side of your ugly face at
the tryouts this afternoon!" she seethed.
"Oh, I wouldnt bet on it." Said Kevin smugly. "Especially as
its me thatll be picking whos taking my place."
"You?!? Why?!?" exclaimed Daisy.
"Well Ive only been team captain in school for the past 5
years running. That answer your question?"
"Get ready to retire, Kevin,,, permanently!" growled Daisy
with fire in her eyes. The two stood there staring each
other down fiercely.
"Guys?!?" interrupted Nazz. "Either leave this until later
or take it outside." Kevin took one last icy look as Daisy
and flicked his eyes away.
"Rolf has never seen such emotion over a throwrug!" stated
Rolf.
"Rolf, its not just any throwrug!" corrected Nazz, Melissas
head on her shoulder. "Its THE throwrug, Dude! Its got
everything Vegas from The Hard Rock to the Paris Hilton
hotels, the Stardust to Elvis Presley! Its even got Melissas
Mom and Dad embroidered into it!"

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