Ugh, I am beyond a terrible person. I won't start up with any excuses, just that I had some unfortunate personal business going on that kept me away for the past few months. However, your awesome reviews and sweet private messages have helped me incredibly and I'm back and back for good. I don't want to prattle on too much, since I'm sure you are more interested in what Marie and Double D have going on, than what I have to say. However, I do want to invite you all to my new tumblr account made especially for my fanfiction. Its where you can keep up to date with the story development, with myself, as well as a place I'll post songs and other things that inspire my work. I'd love for you guys to join in and share with me your favorite songs that fit the story! ( )

Anyway, remember - I own nothing.

Chapter 8: American Kids

By the time that Marie had another encounter with Double D, it had been weeks since she had demanded that he leave her alone. In those few weeks, Marie had spent countless, blissful hours with Kevin, partying with friends and grabbing beers after class. They'd sit on his deck and smoke joints and make fun of the Ed trio and stupid things people had done around school. Kevin, despite his stereotypical frat boyish ways, was a good sport and a great laugh. He took Marie to nice restaurants and brought her along to all the best parties. His fridge was always stocked with beer and his brother always supplied them with fire to smoke.

Kevin wasn't one for pills, but that didn't stop him from hooking her up. Ralph loved coke and always offered her a line or two at his parties, but she was pleased most by how she'd managed to score Blues. They were her favorite back home, aside from the occasional beans, and after she snorted one up, she almost felt like she was back home, without a care in the world. Almost.

She'd taken to retreating to Kevin's truck to take a dose during lunch hour and was savoring the taste of the drip by the time third period ended. Feeling so high on Cloud 9, Marie didn't even bother to insult Double D when he arrived by her locker. She was exchanging her American History text book for her Physics text book when he appeared in his usual black beanie, along with a plain black t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts.

"Not even you can bring me down today, sockhead." She sang happily, before he managed to get a word out. Confusion swept over his features momentarily before he nodded slowly.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Mind clouded in a yummy haze, Marie surprised him with a large smile. "So, what can I do for you, Double Dork?"

Clearly perturbed by her sudden change in demeanor, he stared at her oddly for a few moments before responding, "I was actually going to ask you if you wanted to go to a party tonight, but it looks like you're already at the party." He frowned. "What are you on?"

Marie chuckled and shut her locker. She bumped him lightly in the shoulder with her own (well, really his arm, since he was a good bit taller than she was), and began walking to her AP Physics class, which they shared.

"Silly Double D, the worry wort. Don't you ever just like, let go? Do something crazy just for the fun of it?" Double D was hot on her heels, hands gripping his backpack straps around his shoulders. He looked like he really wanted to reprimand her for doing something as foolish as being high at school, but kept his mouth shut, as if knowing it were a lost cause. Maybe he was experienced enough with such behavior – she heard Eddy smoked more weed than anybody in the school.

That gave Marie an idea. She stopped abruptly, causing Double D to slam into her. Unshaken, Marie turned and grinned up at Double D.

"I know! Why don't you just ask your buddy for some green? A nice joint every now and then would work wonders for your stress, beanie-boy. Then maybe you can join me up here in La La Land."

Double D hushed her and looked around wildly. She chuckled.

"Oh, come on, like the rest of the school doesn't know about Eddy being a pothead. You don't have to be so square all the time, Double D. It's not like I'm so fucked up I'm gonna do something crazy like streak through the halls butt naked." Double D flushed a little. "Loosen up a little, dude." She flicked him in the nose.

Double D grumbled but didn't argue back.

"Now," Marie began as she turned back to her trek to the other side of the campus for Physics. "What's this about a party?"

"I've got the perfect opportunity for you to talk to Ed."

May jumped in surprise as Marie slammed into her room. Over the past few weeks, Marie had been so busy with Kevin that she had been neglecting her little sister. Aside from a few late night chats, Marie barely had time for May. Feeling a little guilty, she knew that Eddy's party would be the perfect chance for May to chat with Ed outside of the school setting.

Besides, people always managed to hook up at parties.

Normally, Marie wouldn't have bothered to show up to anything the Sockhead invited her to, much less a party at the pervert's house, but she was feeling generous. And Kevin was out of town for the weekend with some friends. It was Friday evening and the party was just two hours away.

"How?" May asked slowly, putting down the book she was reading. Marie cocked an eyebrow when she noticed it was a romance novel of the bodice-ripping type. May ignored her and gave her a pressing look to continue.

Marie smirked. "Eddy's having a party tonight. It'll be the perfect chance for you to show Ed just how fun and hot you really are."

Quickly, May began shaking her head. "I don't know, Marie. I'm not really the party type. And there will probably be a lot of people there."

Marie snorted. "What? Like people from school? I doubt it. I don't exactly see people lining up to be Eddy's friend. But regardless, it's a fun environment outside of tutoring and class that you can spend with Ed. And wouldn't you like to get to know him better?"

May nodded slowly.

"Well, what better way than in his natural habitat? Show him you're cool and can chill with him and his dorky friends. Boys love that."

May was playing with a piece of her straw colored hair. "Yeah, but what if I look stupid in front of him? Eddy always makes fun of me whenever I'm around."

Marie moved to sit beside her sister on her bed and put an arm around her. "Eddy-schmeddy. You let me worry about him. You just have fun with Mr. Ed. Now," she jumped up and walked over to May's makeshift closet. Really it was just a bit of string tied up with clothes hanging from hangers. Lee had managed to stuff the closet with enough styles from the 80s to make Madonna wince.

May didn't have much for clothes, or style, but Marie already knew that. Glancing back at her sister, she mentally assessed her closet before remembering the perfect outfit. Jumping with excitement, she hurried out of the room, not before telling her sister to hang on for a moment.

When she returned, she held a pair of tight black strapless dress in her hands.

"Wait till Ed sees you in this." She posed with the dress dramatically before giggling. "Not even Eddy will be able to say anything."

May opened her mouth to argue, but Marie shushed her. Pulling her up roughly by the arm, Marie positioned her in front of the dirty mirror they had hanging in their room. Placing the dress in front of May, Marie smiled.

"Yeah, this is perfect."

Marie managed to get May to scurry out of another oversized t-shirt and basketball shorts and into the slinky black dress. Marie was definitely more curvy than May was, and taller, but they were about the same size. The dress fit May perfectly, hanging just above her knees and giving even her a decent amount of cleavage. The black material contrasted her pale skin and pale hair perfectly, and though her legs were skinny, Marie figured it was nothing a pair of wedges couldn't fix.

Dragging May back to her room, Marie fixed her makeup. Just a light bit of foundation – light enough not to cover her cute little spray of freckles – and some blush to bring out some color in her face. May fought a bit when Marie attempted to put eyeliner and mascara on. Apparently the girl had never worn either in her life. After some pushing and prodding, and accidentally stabbing May in the eye several times, Marie finally got to work on her hair.

Here was the tricky part. May's blond hair was limp and lifeless from years of neglect, and just brushing it proved to be a chore in itself. They didn't have time for a full blown hair makeover, and with short hair, Marie never had to do much with hers, but she managed to work with what she had. Limp and boring it may be, but it wasn't anything a curling wand and a few bobby pins couldn't fix.

May fidgeted and moaned when Marie pulled her hair into tight curls. She cried out when Marie jabbed bobby pins into her skull, causing Marie to tut. "Beauty is pain, lil' sis."

"This whole thing is a pain." May grumbled unhappily and Marie grinned. So, this must be how it felt to be around her all the time. Ignoring her sister's whines of protest, she finished her hair and stepped back to admire her work.

May looked stunning. Her blond hair had been pulled back in tight curls that Marie pinned back to drape like a waterfall down her pale bare back. The dark charcoal around her almond shaped eyes brought out their ocean blue color and the pink of her cheeks gave her a healthy glow that Marie had never seen on her scrawny younger sister. Marie grinned, satisfied.

Really, people didn't give her enough credit. She was a genius.

May gaped at her own reflection and fidgeted, pulling the dress down her bare legs.

"I don't know, Marie," she began again, "what if they make fun of me?"

Marie grinned. "Then I'll kick their asses. Now, its my turn."

A/N: I just thought I'd mention that a few weekends ago I attended my 7th Metrocon (WOOOHOOOO 7 YEARS OF ANIME-CONVENTION-GOODNESS) and saw a group dressed as the Kanker sisters ANNNNNNNND the Eds! I regretfully didn't get any photos with them, but I'll be on the search for anyone who got shots of them. See you on tumblr!