You got me trippin', stumblin', flippin', fumblin'
Clumsy 'cause I'm fallin' in love
You got me slippin', tumblin', sinkin', fumblin
Clumsy 'cause I'm fallin' in love...
So in love with you

~Fergie

Kevin

"Stupid dork," I mumbled to myself as I stomped down the hallway. The trio of dorks never really bothered anyone, not since middle school anyway, but today was different. The short dork's scam blew up, literally, in my face. I struggled to wipe paint off of me. "K-Kevin!" a familiar voice shouted. I was immediately rooted to the spot, my heart thudding violently in my chest. I turned around to see Double D running toward me with a wet towel in his right hand. He was still scrawny, but his arms had more definition to them now. His whole body did, actually. According to the big dork's sister Sarah, his parents forced him to join a sport last year. Something about it looking good on a college app, I don't know. He joined the swim team, and his friends helped him build up muscle and train all freshman year-- especially over the summer. Comparing him now to the end of May when school had let out, it was like seeing two totally different people. He still wore his signature black beanie, but had traded his sweater vests and bow ties with shorts or slacks for skinny jeans with button downs and cardigans. He was...well, he was hot! "Kevin, did you hear me?" he asked, bringing me from my thoughts and back to reality.

"N-no, sorry Double Dork. Come again?" I chuckled nervously. "I said I apologize for the trouble our, erm, experiment has caused you. It's my fault, really, I miscalculated the effects of the 'smoke bomb'. I-it was supposed to release an array of colored smoke, but I see that it didn't...work...that...way," his voice faded out as he held up the damp cloth. I took it, giving him a light nudge. "Don't worry about it," I sighed. I turned to walk away, stumbling over my own two feet. I heard his muffled giggle and glanced over my shoulder to see him covering his mouth with his hand. I could feel the warmth flood my face and I tried to form a somewhat intelligent sentence. "See ya around!" I called before I took off running for the nearest bathroom. I braced myself on the sink, looking at my reflection. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears and, underneath the paint, my cheeks were as red as my hair. "Real smooth, Kev. Very cool," I groaned, running a hand over my face. "What's wrong, sweet cheeks?" a familiar voice asked as one of the stalls slammed open. "Jesus Christ, Nat!" I shouted, whirling around to face him. "You must be all worked up over Double Delish again," he tisked, shaking his head in disappointment. "Is it that obvious?" I groaned as I scrubbed the rest of the green paint off of my face. "From what I've heard, it's been that obvious since you were like twelve, and I haven't even known you that long." I laughed softly, running my hands through my hair. "What do I do?" I asked. He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, giving me a mischievous smirk. I rolled my eyes and bowed over-dramatically. "Oh Mighty Nat, King of Butts and All-Knowing Love Doctor, grant me your wisdom!!" I bellowed. He threw an arm around my shoulder, guiding me out of the bathroom. "Dear, humble Kevin, here's what you must do..."

Edd

"Do you think Kevin has been behaving strangely?" I murmured to Eddy as we sat at the back of the classroom. In most classes, I would be front and center, but the left corner of the room offered the best view of the board. Kevin had turned and looked at me six times already, and we have only been in class for approximately eight minutes! "Who knows with Shovel Chin? He's probably still pissed about the smoke bomb thing at breakfast." he glanced up in Kevin's direction, and the ginger immediately turned away. "He looks all goo-goo-eyed, maybe he's trippin' balls," Eddy yawned, laying his head down on the table. "Whatever it is, he keeps looking at me. Is something the matter with me, Eddy? Do I have something on my face, perhaps?" I murmured. He looked up at me through half-lidded eyes before glancing at Kevin once more. "He's practically fucking you with his stare," he scoffed, making a face of disgust before dozing off. I took notes zealously, but every so often I would catch him turned in my direction from my peripheral. I turned my head away from the board and made eye contact, a bold move for me. His lips curved up in the slightest of smiles before he quickly looked away. I, too, found myself ducking my head away, warmth flooding my cheeks almost instantly. I ignored him and the odd amount of attention I was receiving, until a teal-haired boy placed a paper on my desk. I could not for the life of me remember his name. I unfolded the mysterious note and my face heated up again when I read it.

Meet me in the courtyard at lunch?
-Kevin

If my jaw had the ability to hit the floor, it would have. I looked up, mouth agape, to see him staring expectantly at me. "Okay," I mouthed after some time of staring in disbelief. He grinned, and I swear I could have melted right there. The bell rang, dismissing us to our next classes. I packed up my things quickly and nudged Eddy, tapping my feet anxiously as I waited for my friend. Suddenly, time started to move too slow. I waited ever so impatiently for 11:30 to come. I pondered what it was he would want to meet for. He probably would like to ask for my assistance with school work, I thought, trying to convince myself that it was nothing more. The pounding in my chest and my hopes got the better of me as I drifted through the day in almost a dream-like state.

At precisely 11:25, the bell rang, dismissing me from calculus. By 11:28, I was leaving my locker after exchanging textbooks. I went out to the large patch of grass where tables and benches were set up for students to enjoy their meals outside. I looked around, but no sign of Kevin. I took a seat at the nearest table, drumming my fingers against the smooth stone surface. I despised tardiness. At 11:32 I saw him jogging across campus toward me with an apologetic smile. "Sorry Double Dee! Ms. Jacobs just wouldn't stop yammerin'!" he sighed, sitting down right on top of the table. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to calm the alarming rate of my heart. "Wh-what is it that you wish to discuss?" I stammered. He fidgeted with the strings on his hoodie. "Well, you see, I was wondering..."

"Go on," I urged. His voice had trailed off and we had been sitting in silence for several moments. "I need to know if you, if you'll...tutor me? Yeah, yeah! I'm majorly flunking history, and I could use some help," he explained. My childish hopes had been crushed, but if I was helping someone better themselves in their education, AND I got to spend extra time with Kevin, I didn't really see a losing side to this situation. "Of course, Kevin! I'd be delighted to be of assistance. Just let me know what days would be best for you, and you can come to my house," I grinned. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from me. "I didn't want to ask because I didn't...I didn't want to look stupid." He sounded so sad. "Kevin, I don't think you are stupid at all! There's nothing wrong with needing help sometimes," I tried comforting him. He nodded weakly, the silence between us growing once more. "Is that all you needed of me? I must really be going if I want enough time to eat," I murmured as I grabbed my bag and stood. "No!" he suddenly shouted, taking me off guard. I whirled around to face him, and he just cleared his throat, a crimson blush blooming on his cheeks. "That's not all. Nazz is having a party this weekend, and I'd like you to come. Before you ask, Ed and Eddy are invited, too." I nodded before turning away. "I will definitely consider it," I said as I walked away. So much for hoping, I thought disappointedly.

Kevin

I joined my regular lunch table, sitting in between Nazz and Nat. Nat was practically bouncing with anticipation. "Well?" he asked. "Well what?" I scowled, tearing into my sandwich. "What happened with Double Cutie?!?" he hissed. I grunted in response. "Kevin Daniel Barr, you know better than to hide things from your best friends-- so give us the deets!" Nazz pestered. I shrugged as both of them kept bugging me for answers. "I...asked him to be my tutor," I sighed. There was a long pause as Nat and Nazz shared a disappointed look. "Bad Kevin, bad!" Nat scolded, whacking me upside the head a few times with a rolled up notebook. "Hey, stop that! I may have chickened out, but I did invite him to Nazz's party, so...that's a start, right?"