Hye! I am back! Sorry for the late update. I have time now so I'll try to update as often I can.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ed, Edd and Eddy and never will.

Chapter 31: In the Middle of the Calm before the Storm

Chapter Summary: Premonition of the upcoming storm...

Oh my goodness!

Was this the comeback of my nightmare? Things hadn't been the same when these three were suspended.

Chad, Jason and Mark.

My life hadn't been entirely peaceful but it was tolerable. True, Chad had divulged my secret that I, personally had not known until Kevin made me realize what I really was.

My heart was pounding really loud that felt like it wanted to come out from my chest. I knew the moment that seeing Chad, Jason and Mark was not actually a good idea. They were never a good idea to be exact.

Their suspension had been lifted.

His hand suddenly slammed unto the locker behind me making me flinch in the process.

"Did you miss me, Dork?" He asked repeating the whole process while showing his wicked smirk at me.

My lungs took up enough air so I could gather enough courage to push him away, "I don't think that's necessary." I made a beeline to the hallway as soon as I got away from him.

"Oh come on, Dork! It's not like we haven't been through so much." Chad said following me making me chagrin at the realization.

"Yeah, and putting me into so much trouble. Thank you very much." I whispered but I knew he heard it. I quickened my pace trying to get away from him as soon as possible. Where were my friends when I needed them?

"I knew what I did and I am sorry."

That stopped me from walking. I found myself turning around to face him. I studied his face when I realized what he said.

"You are... apologizing?"

"No, I am singing," He mocked making me frown even more, "Of course, I am apologizing." Jason and Mark stood beside him, making the same expression that Chad had.

"I know it's a shock for you but yeah, we are." Jason said before he looked at Mark who nodded.

"If you allow us, we want to make it up to you."

I looked at Chad, then Jason and Mark. Then looked back at each of them again. Somehow, I found their apologies so... dubious. They were never the type to apologize. Not sincerely at least. I took a few steps back away from them.

"It's okay really. Just--just never do it again." I immediately turned around and made my way to my class. Asking them not to repeat the incident? Who was I kidding? I couldn't believe that I wasn't able to reply with snide remarks at them. Just where were the wise words I had in my brain when I needed them?

xxx

I made it to the class without another problem. Sure my best friends were dilly-dallying on their respected seats where they were supposed to be reading but somehow they noticed the look I had on my face. Eddy raised an eyebrow at me, his head was not lifted on his desk anytime now.

"Why are you tense, sockhead?" He asked after he stared at me for a few seconds.

I took a few deep breaths until I finally calmed down. Ed was also staring at me now, probably waiting for my answer too. Knowing that I couldn't hide the information from them, it was better for me tell them right away. Relaxing my shoulder, I faced my two best friends.

"I just had a run-in with Chad and the other two in front of my locker a while ago."

"WHAT!" Eddy suddenly stood up catching everyone's attention. Even Kevin, who stayed at rarely times in this class, was looking at him now. My best friend gritted his teeth like he was up for punching anyone who dared to try messing with him.

He was definitely seething.

I carefully grabbed his arm and firmly pushed him down, "Calm down Eddy, nothing happened. They only apologized to me." I whispered making that he only understood what I was saying.

"That's even more suspicious. Those morons never apologize." He whispered back. I could see a line of nerve from his temple knowing how pissed he was.

"It's not that I believe them. And look, their suspension is over so it's natural that they are back," It was actually the day that I dreaded. But there was nothing that could be done now. I was back from being cautious now that they were, "I'll just try to avoid them as possible."

Eddy stared at me for a long time but he took a deep breath himself. Ed just wait for us to stop speaking because he was trying to entertain us. Kevin was looking at may direction but I was trying to avoid his. I knew that look that he was giving me. He was aware of the sutuation. He must have known about them so why didn't he tell me?

xxx

The day hadn't been better for me after that. Classes were uneventful but I was not complaining for that. I only became wary of the situation I was in. Now that Chad was back in school, I couldn't seem to calm down. They were no longer members of the team so they could just tardy around if they wanted.

I was totally worried about that.

Lunch time came and I sat with my two best friends in our usual table. Eddy was planning of another 'business' scheme when another tray was dropped beside me. I looked up and almost caught my breath when I saw Chad sat next to me. Jason sat beside him while Mark sat beside Ed. The combination that we had now was gathering enough attention in the cafeteria.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" Eddy stood up and glared at him. Chad on the other hand raised an eyebrow as if he just did some magic trick that no magician had ever made.

"Eating. What else."

"Why are you eating with us?" He leaned forward still glaring at him.

The former jock took a bite of his food before replying to him, "Why not? This table has more rooms for three people." He then looked at his two friends who nodded.

"We don't want you here."

"Yeah! We don't!" Ed agreed slamming his hands on the table before pointing at Chad, "You made Double D cry! I won't forgive you for that!"

I waved at my taller friend's figure to catch his attention, "Calm down Ed. It's fine."

"But Double D!"

"That was in the past. I am okay now." I said reassuring him.

"See, even dork here understands us," Chad exclaimed and to my surprise, he wrap his arm to my shoulders before pulling me closer to him, "He forgave us from our misdeeds."

It was more than misdeeds. I thought but never said it. My heart was pounding really hard from my chest. I pushed his arm away when Eddy almost growled at the gesture, "Yeah, and it would have been better if we finish our meal now. I don't want to be late on our next class."

"Speaking of classes," Chad started looking at me, "You know that I missed some of them. Would you tell me, tell us some topics that we missed?"

I blinked at him, making sure that he heard him right. He was asking me about the classes that he missed? He must have seen my reaction that he suddenly smiled. His smile made me uncomfortable. I knew that it wasn't a smile.

It was a smirk.

"Definitely no, you idiot!" Eddy said before I could reply, "Ask someone else."

"That's what I am asking," Chad pointed at me, "He's someone else."

My best friend was seething. He was trying to get him out of my way. I never wondered why I hadn't said anything until now. As possible, I didn't want to be close to him. Despite everything, I could still feel jitter around him. The attention we were giving was already awkward enough and I wanted it to end.

"I am sorry. It's best if you could ask someone else instead." I said afterwards. If given a different situation, I would've agreed to his request but things were the other way around. I doubted that Kevin would appreciate it if I did.

Chad had this gloomy aura from his eyes before they came back to pure black. I wasn't sure it that was just my imagination so I ended up shrugging it off.

"It's your lost then," Chad stood up, grabbing his tray before gesturing for the other two, "Let's go hunt someone else instead."

"Yeah do that." Eddy muttered firmly as he sat back on his chair watching the three walking away from our table. Chad's words somehow troubled me. I just hoped that they wouldn't create a mess or worse bad to the person that they were going to ask.

Sighing, I tried to continue eating my lunch. I lost my appetite but I wasn't the type who would waste food. I was worried and I hadn't talked to Kevin yet.

Speaking of my boyfriend, I had not seen him around the cafeteria. I wondered where he was. Even Allex was not here either. Did he know that they were back? I couldn't calm until I talked to them.

"Don't do it."

I looked up and noticed that Eddy was staring at me. His expression was serious. He must have been doing that for quite a while, "Don't do what?"

"I know you. You are the person who puts himself into someone's trouble."

I almost snorted at his words before replying back at him, "Says the person who creates the trouble."

"I am serious here, Edd," Eddy said firmly, leaning on the table now, "Stay away from them."

Staring at my best friend, I knew how serious he was. Even Ed was being quiet. He just knew when to shut up. The atmosphere must be giving them much evidence. Not really planning to argue with them, I assured them that I wouldn't.

xxx

"Chad and the others are back?" Allex whispered closer to me. He noticed my wariness when I entered the library to do my duty for that afternoon. He didn't let go of my condition until I told him. It was actually a surprise that my taller friend didn't know about it. I ended up nodding at him.

"We met twice today. After we parted ways this morning and during lunch. Speaking of lunch, where were you? We didn't see you there?" I asked checking the stock of books from the shelves as I waited for his reply.

"I helped one of my teammates train for the upcoming tournament," He shrugged, "He wanted to become better so he wouldn't be a burden. I told him that he wasn't. He's good at blocking and stealing, by the way. I just told him to keep working on them. I missed my lunch for that."

"You must be a great coach." I teased grinning at him. Showing my toothed-gap in the process.

He grinned back at me, "I sure am."

"Let's just get back to work." Shaking my head, I resumed to my duty that afternoon. Allex did the same and we remained silent for a while because of that.

We busied ourselves until it was time for the library to close. Allex started fixing his things so I did mine. We both said goodbye to the librarian before we left.

"Let's get you to your dorm then."

I turned my head as I fixed my sling bag to my body, "There's no need Allex. You can go directly to yours."

"And leave you defenseless? No way," My friend argued looking around the hallway, "Not that those three are back."

"But--"

"No buts, Einstein!" Allex cut me facing me in the process, "We're on our way anyway."

I blinked a few times before sighing. I continued walking which was I wasn't aware that I stopped before replying to my insisting close friend, "Alright, if you insist. Just don't complain when--" I abruptly stopped speaking as we turned to a corner when I noticed something.

"What?" Allex looked and leaned down at me when he noticed my reaction, "What is it?"

My senses became alert as I frowned, "I hear something."

"Huh?"

I ignored Allex and walked forward. Following the sound, I slowly recognized that they were voices that laughing. More like mocking. Dread filled me as I neared to where the voices were. I knew I shouldn't be minding someone's business but I couldn't help it. If it was something I could do, I'd try and see to it.

And there was no way for me to turn my back now.

Opening an isolated room, my eyes witnessed a compromising scene... well almost. Kneeling on the floor was Rave, keeping his composure intact. He was trying to but his face was flustered. If I wasn't imagining it, I thought I saw a bruise from his cheek. Jason was behind him, securing his hands while Mark was just watching them. In front of Rave was Chad. He was smirking as he looked down on him. What worried me was, the jock was unbuckling his belt. My heart raced at that.

"W-what the heck do you think you are doing?!" I exclaimed stepping inside making my presence known by them. I never realized that they hadn't noticed me until I made my appearance but I couldn't worry about that anymore. I was more worried for Rave.

Whatever their position were in at moment, I knew it wasn't a good sight.

"Well, well, well! Look what we have here!" Chad grinned devilishly. Jason and Mark did the same as they looked at me, "Are you going to join the party?"

I ignored him as I turned my attention to Jason who was still holding Rave, "Let go of him."

"I am afraid he can't do that," Chad answered for him. He leaned down and tapped Rave's cheek a bit harshly before he continued speaking, "You see, I asked him for his help too but he refused me. I won't actually take no for an answer for the second time. That would ruin my ego."

"You don't have one." Rave grumbled but it was enough for us to hear him.

To my surprise, Chad backhanded him making his other cheek turn pink.

"I never asked for your opinion, queer! You should behave like a good submissive," Chad sneered at him. The insult was quite offending and I wouldn't ask for another.

"Stop this, Chad! You can't force someone like that!" I said walking another step towards them. Rave was giving me a fair warning but I ignored him, "What you do is not right! Let him go."

"I am not forcing anyone. I was asking, remember but you both refused me," He looked down on Rave once again, "I am actually doing him a favor now." His eyes were observing Rave's for a few seconds before something suddenly hit him. His smile became senile before he slowly turned to me. His devious grin was frightening as his eyes were darker than the original color. His expression was something I saw from him before... two months ago.

"Unless you can replace him."

The room became silent. Dread was finally registering in my system.

How was this chapter? As a come back? I will focus on writing this one and I intend to finish this story. I just don't know how many chapters are left though. The next chapter is almost done.

I try not to read anymore novels. Yeah... Guilty as charge... :P

Next Chapter: And the Storm Comes