#preomitting

[eene-fangirl]

Premonition: Never Too Ed Chapter 1 [An Ed, Edd n Eddy Fanfiction]

“Father, when is Daddy coming home?” Casey asked while on their way to school.

Edd leaned back in his seat, sighing from the morning traffic. He took a peak at the digital clock. Why were they always close to being late?

“Later on. More towards the evening,” Edd answered.

“Where’d he go?”

“A meeting.”

“A meeting that’s all day and all night? That’s boring!” Casey moaned, turning up her nose.

Edd smiled. “No. It was a meeting in the day time, but it was also a convention for other psychologists like your Daddy,” he explained, nearing the school. Cars honked around him to move away from the sidewalk so they could drop their children off. The crossing guard warned impatient parents to calm down. Same events every morning.

“Why couldn’t we go with him?”

Edd tapped his fingers along the steering wheel, nearing closer. “It was business. It would have been boring.”

“It wouldn’t have been, um... monotonous!” Casey said, shuffling through her spelling words. “I think it would have been entertaining if we all went!”

Edd smiled again, ruffling his daughter's hair. She took after Edd in vocabulary. He parked near the sidewalk and Casey gathered up her belongings.

“You studied all your spelling words last night?” Edd asked.

“Yes, for a whole half hour,” she answered.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at Ally’s around 4:30.”

“Will Daddy be with you?” Casey asked, excitement bouncing in her voice.

Edd kissed her head. “We’ll see.”

“Bye! I love you!” Casey called out, opening the front door.

“Oh, don’t forget your lunch!” Edd yelled grabbing her lunch box.

Casey ran back, did a motion with her finger towards her head and whistled. Edd laughed, shaking his head. Forgetful and silly like Eddy.

Edd drove off to work. The usual slow pace dragged along. The bell rang for each period to begin and end. Students walked in, clunking their heavy textbooks to their desks, dozed off or listened to Edd’s lecture.

Some time ago Edd was promoted to a job at Starling High School. A part of him still wished he worked at the elementary school. He didn’t have as many students who practically fell asleep on their desks. He worked here for three years now. By the end of the year maybe he’d consider going back to elementary school. He felt more at home with his elementary schoolers. He remembered the first year he taught and got sick. They all wanted to contact him to tell him to feel better. None of his high schoolers did that.

The bell rang. It was the end of the day. Students immediately gathered their belongings together, rushing to the doors.

“Here are your quizzes back from Monday, don’t forget to take them on your way out,” Edd called out. There were a mix of different reactions. Edd wished more of them would put a care into their work.

One of his students put an apple on his desk. “Thank you, Mr. McGee.”

Edd awkwardly thanked his student. She was the best in his class. He had no idea if it were a bribe, she was being nice, or flirty. It took Edd years to realize that Eddy was flirting with him.

Letting it pass, Edd slipped on his jacket and left work. He yawned while driving along. The days always went in their usual slow pace.

“Hey, Double D!” Ed cheerfully greeted over the phone once Edd returned home.

“Hello, Ed. I was just checking in with you and May,” Edd greeted circling his finger around the countertop.

“We’re fine. How about you and Eddy?”

“Fine. He’s away on business. He’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Can you believe it’s already Thursday? It feels like monsters are eating the days left and right!” Ed joked.

A small smile cracked along Edd’s face. Thursday? He must have been working a lot. It happens to everyone, losing track of the days.

“Have any plans for the weekend?” Ed asked.

“Nothing right now.”

“Ooh! We could all get together Friday night! Just the four of us! It’ll be just like old times!”

Edd grunted in response, somewhat sad. Something felt missing.

Once the conversation ended Edd placed the phone back into its cradle. He noticed a blinking light. There was a message.

Pressing it, Eddy’s voice played back, “‘Edd, listen,” Eddy’s voice sounded tired and worn out, but nervous. “I’m sorry we didn’t leave on a good note. I want to say I’m sorry,’” There was a pause until Eddy continued after sighing. “‘I meant what I said in front of Casey the other night, and I just want you to know I lo- damn, someone else is callin’ me,’” Eddy grumbled partly under his breath. There was another short pause until Edd heard, “‘Oh, it’s you.’”

The messenger beeped. Edd stared at the machine trying to decipher Eddy’s words. What did he say to Casey? When did he leave this message?

Edd dialed Eddy’s cell phone and awaited to hear back from him. Instead he got Eddy’s voicemail telling Edd to leave a message. “Hi, I received your message. Did you try to call while I was at work?” He paused, searching for something else to say. “I’ll see you soon.”

Putting it aside Edd got out of his work uniform into something more comfortable before going to straighten up the house. He used to keep the floors cleaned for months on end never letting dirt or clothes cover it. Things had been... busy of lately.

He emptied out the dishwasher and took the clothes out from the wash. Casey’s purple shirt was nice and clean. Along with Eddy’s shirts, buttoned or various shirts for lounging. Even his white sleeveless nightshirt was clean. Edd sniffed it, stared at it and then folded it up with everything else.

Glancing at the clock he needed to pick up Casey in about forty minutes. He needed to get dinner ready soon after. Eddy hadn’t been cooking lately. Maybe a month. It was strange that none of them noticed this, or talked about it.

Just then the doorbell rang.

Odd. Who would come by at this hour?

Opening the door Edd was met by a man around his age dressed in a police uniform. The sight of ginger brown hair was a direct giveaway.

“Kevin!” Edd greeted, smiling instantly. “How are you? It’s been a while.”

Kevin looked grim. It was tough being a friend and having to be on duty at the same time.

“Hey, Double D,” he greeted, though not excited. “I have some bad news,” his tone completely trailed off. He was obviously trying to keep his composure together. “I’m really sorry to inform you but your husband, well Eddy, he died in a car crash.”

Edd’s heart completely shattered. Did he just hear that correctly?

“W-When?” Edd’s voice cracked.

“Yesterday,” Kevin answered.

Edd shook his head. “No, no... that’s not... no, he j-just left me a voicemail. There has to be a mistake. Eddy’s n-not...”

“He was driving off of highway junction 220, there was a truck, he must have died on the scene...”

Edd completely trailed off feeling a heavy weight on his heart. This wasn’t happening. It wasn’t. A few days ago he and Eddy... saw each other. They fell asleep that night and he was gone the next morning on his trip.

A noise caught Edd’s attention.

Over in the trees a group of birds flew away, calling out, spreading their wings, and flying together side by side.

“Double D?” Kevin asked, concerned.

“Huh?”

“Is there anyone who I can call for you? Ed? May? Anybody?” Kevin offered, not wanting to leave Edd in this state.

Edd shook his head, said goodbye to Kevin, and closed the door.

He sunk to the ground, hugging himself. His heart cracked in two. His eyes traced all around the big house trying to figure out the missing puzzle pieces. He glanced at each room from the sliding door leading outside, the kitchen with a stove, the living room. Eight years. They lived in this big house for eight years. It was much bigger when you were... alone.

“No, no... noooo..!!!” Edd whimpered into his arms. He hugged himself, shaking. It had to be a dream. This wasn’t real. This was not his life where his beloved best friend turned boyfriend and then husband... died. What did he do to deserve this? He was a good person!

Edd drove off to pick up Casey. Luckily she was only a block away.

He parked outside the house and honked. Normally he’d go in, but not today.

The little girl excitedly thanked and said goodbye to her friend. If Edd had noticed, the friends mother waved to him. Immediate worry consumed her when Edd ignored, barely even acknowledging her.

“School was fun today! We drew pictures! And we got to the best part in The B.F.G! Father, did you know that Ally has a trampoline? We jumped so high into the air that we could’a touched the moon!”

Edd kept driving. He was just barely holding it together.

“Father?” Casked asked, now worried. “What’s wrong?”

They arrived home without another word. Casey held her father’s hand up the walkway, tightly, and kept staring up at him. When Edd unlocked the door the little girl entered first and looked all around the house. Edd stood by the door, looking into the floor, barely able to look at her.

Finally, Casey approached him. “Father, where’s Daddy?”

For a moment Edd wished he could say this through sticky note so he wouldn’t have to see his daughters complete and utter heartbreak. He immediately regret that. He promised himself he’d never be like his coldhearted parents.

Bending down, he took Casey’s hands and looked into her eyes. “Casey, your Daddy has been in an accident.”

Casey whole face broke. Hope still swam in her eyes. “Is he okay?”

Edd completely broke into tears and hugged his daughter close.

-

“Wow, you’re really good at drawing,” Eddy’s mother complimented her Granddaughter as she watched her draw a picture.

“Daddy and I were still finishing it,” Casey said, a bit calmer now. “He liked my rainbows.”

“I’m sure he did.” Eddy’s mother comfortingly pat her hair.

Eddy’s parents sat with Casey, keeping her company. As soon as they were informed of the awful news they over at Edd’s place in a heartbeat. Eddy’s mother cried and cried for the longest time but eventually forced her tears away for her Granddaughter’s sake. Eddy’s father was also quite saddened. They disowned their oldest and now they lost their second. Edd could only imagine how they were feeling.

Edd sat on the opposite couch. A glass of wine was almost untouched on the table to his side. Eddy’s father worriedly glanced at him, mainly the glass. They were all trying their best to keep it together.

Edd picked up his cell phone, dialed a number, and listened to the ringing.

“You’ve reached Ed, May, Alexander, Jenny, and little Ed Hillis! Leave a message!”

Hearing the cheerful memo did nothing to quell Edd out of his misery. He went ahead leaving a message, “Hello. It’s Double D. Um... if you could call me back, that would be splendid. Bye.”

Edd wasn’t aware of the passing time but the wine in his glass was practically empty.

Eddy parents came down the stairs. They sadly sighed looking at Edd gazing off into nothing. They hadn’t paid much attention to him since they arrived.

Eddy’s father took away the wine as Eddy’s mother sat down next to her son in law.

“Casey’s asleep,” she said putting a comforting hand against his shoulder.

This snapped Edd out from his thoughts. “I should say good night.”

“Oh, no, dear,” Eddy’s mother gently whispered making him sit back down again. “She’s already asleep.”

Edd sat back into the cushions. He felt an immense amount of anger, sadness, unfairness inside himself. He couldn’t help but feel angry with Eddy. He never pictured raising his own daughter alone. Eddy helped him along the way countless times through parenting. And it wasn’t hard to admit that Casey was her Daddy’s girl.

His own parents wanted no part of his life. He was so thankful to have Eddy’s parents support.

“Edd, Edd, honey,” Eddy’s mother spoke, her voice immediately starting to tear up. “I’m really sorry, but we should think about funeral arrangements.”

Edd pulled his hat over his eyes. “I’m not ready for that.”

“No one is,” Eddy’s father, assured. It was unusual to hear Eddy’s father’s voice so quiet. He was just like Eddy. Loud. “When my mother passed away my father and I went through the same crisis. You’re not alone.”

Edd was still silent. There were no tears left in him to cry. He was completely drained from the days events. He couldn’t move from the couch. When they lived in their old apartment they didn’t have to go up any stairs to bed. He still missed it after all this time.

“We’ll talk more in the morning, alright? We’re going to sleep in the guest bedroom. If you need us for anything don’t be afraid to come get us. You can even sleep with us if you want.” Eddy’s mother openly invited.

Edd was left alone. Tears ran down his cheeks. Why couldn’t he have supporting parents? Where were they right now? He had moved in with Eddy to their apartment when he was twenty never to return home again. Was it really going on two decades? Edd waved them off. He didn’t need them. They didn’t need him. Or want him. He had...

Eddy glanced at the wedding photo of himself and Eddy on the table.

He picked it up and stared at the picture of he and Eddy shoving cake into one another’s faces. His lip trembled even more and whimpered remembering their wedding. They had their wedding in Eddy’s backyard. It was a small crowd filled with their family, relatives and closest friends. They had a food fight. And shared vows. They both promised to love one another forever.

Forever. This isn’t forever.

Hugging the picture frame tightly to his chest as if it were Eddy, Edd picked up his feet and curled up on the couch in a fetal position. He was off to sleep in an instant.