Chapter 13: Thomas

A/N: 29.04.20

Quarantine has me way too active on Wattpad... I'm writing too much 😂

Tell me something funny/embarrassing. We love a good story time and I'd like a good laugh.

My story? A girl leaned towards me for a high five (we were playing a card game and we were partners. We won the first round) but I somehow missed her hand and high fived her chest.

She laughed awkwardly. I cringed internally. We tried again, this time it worked. Never spoke about it again.

But uh, yeah. Try to watch where you high five. Things get akward if you don't.

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*Thomas's pov*

The weekend went by quickly. Eli had messaged me Friday night once he got home, but other than that, we haven't talked since.

I found myself hopefully glancing at my screen just in case he decided to spontaneously send me a "Hey, filthy rat", but nothing. And when I realized that I was disappointed, I threw my phone aside and distracted myself by studying.

I exchanged a couple of texts with Willow. She seemed much more confident through text, and I don't think she would have been able to say as many jokes if we were face-to-face, but I thought she was cute anyway; shy with a bubbly personality.

"So he just offered you a job?" Rhys deadpanned as we walked down the hallway.

"Hm? Yeah, I guess," I said in a disinterested tone, but her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Did you accept?"

"No, and I don't plan on doing so anytime soon."

"Why not?"

"Because if he already walks around so entitled and spoiled, just imagine what his dad is like," I snorted. "Besides, I'm making enough packing groceries. I don't see why I'd take the job."

'Cause I want to see Eli.

I was seriously getting tired of that devil of a consciousness gnawing in my mind. I hated to admit it, but I was disappointed when Eli had to leave Friday. I wanted him to stay a little longer, actually, a lot longer, even if it meant having to deal with his snobby personality and his constant judgmental glares.

And when he said my name just before leaving? Shit, I had to fight with everything I had in me to stop myself from asking him to stay.

He wouldn't have stayed even if I asked, but who cares? I just wanted him to know.

I mentally shook my head.

I really need to keep my distance from Eli and taking that job offer wasn't going to play in my favor. He was doing something to me and I didn't like it.

"Even if his dad is a snob, you'll still be swiping his money," Rhy said. "And you said that you'd only work weekends. That seems a hell lot better than juggling school with weekday grocery bagging."

I gave her another shrug. "Like I said, not interested."

"The Tommy I know would have leaped at the chance to get easy cash in his hands," she retorted, making me scowl.

"Easy cash but well-earned cash," I said, raising my chin. Rhys bit her lower lip.

"Is there another reason why you aren't accepting the job?" She had a knowing look in her eyes that made me feel uneasy. "And why did Eli offer you one anyway? I thought he hated you."

Panic started rising up my chest. I loved Rhys, but sometimes, being alone with her made me scared, as if I was stuck in a car with my mom hammering me with all the questions I hope she wouldn't ask. Jayden was a much easier swing. He was like the easy, funny, dense father who'd make dumb dad jokes and clap your shoulder with a proud smile, even though there was nothing to be proud of.

Speaking of which, where was he?

"Where's Jay?" I asked, dodging her questions. "He wasn't in first period."

Rhys tucked a string of red curls behind her ear with a frown. "He's having another episode."

My heart sunk. Right, how could I forget? He was always grinning so much, you'd never fathom that someone like Jayden struggled with depression.

One day he was at school, making loud jokes, and the next, he'd lock himself at home in silence. You never know which day it'd be.

"Is he okay?" Dumb question, but I asked anyway.

"I'm skipping afternoon classes to check up on him."

"I'll go with you," I pressed. "Shit, forget school, let's just go now."

"You can't ditch," said Rhys. "Scholarship, remember?"

"But-"

"And Jay and I will need to copy off someone else's notes. You should stay in school, I'll keep you updated," Rhys promised. I frowned and she gave me a gentle nudge. "Relax, he'll be fine. If anyone can cheer him up, it's me. You really want to be a thirdwheel?"

I let out a small laugh. Rhys was right, Jayden fucking loved her. All she had to do was drown him in sweet kisses and sing an out-of-tune laugh that'd make our ears bleed to get him laughing.

"Right," I mumbled. "Text me, okay?"

She nodded but I still felt guilty. I knew that Jayden hasn't been doing well for a while. He didn't have a particular reason, it just sort of happened. And what made me feel even worse was that even though I knew, I've never confronted him about it. It was stupid and selfish, but we just weren't like that.

We were best of friends, had good laughs and made fun memories, but when it came to serious topics like deep and personal problems, we'd shrug it off and set them aside in a corner. It made me sad to realize that Jayden, someone so close and important to me, was sometimes a complete stranger.

I knew we were running away from our problems, but it felt like if we talked about it, then we'd have to admit and acknowledge that we actually had problems. And accepting that reality was unbearable. If we didn't talk about it, then it didn't happen. If we ignored it, then it didn't exist. That was our logic. At least, it was mine.

And there was also that fear of "what if". What if things got worse for us. We'd talk, drown ourselves with the things we tried to run away from for so long, and then there'd be no turning back. We'd cross the line and be stuck in that undeniable title of admitting that we have problems. It'd make things worse.

What if we were just scared of having another burden weigh on our shoulders? The burden of knowing but not being able to help each other? The burden of knowing and... Knowing.

We pushed our problems aside, slapped on a wide smile, and went by our day. It was easier. That's what we told ourselves.

"Anyway, I have to meet Shirley. I'll see you at lunch?" Rhys said, offering a small smile.

"Hm? Yeah, I'll see you later," I grinned. She went to join some of her other friends down the hall before disappearing around the corner.

"Hey, punk!" someone called after me. I tilted my head back and held back a groan. Steven stormed towards me, looking like the hulk. The only difference was, he wasn't green, and the Hulk was prettier.

"You must be crushing on me hard," I laughed, raising my brows when he halted a meter away from me. "Sorry bro, but I don't swing that way."

Steven narrowed his rigid eyes but I shouldered past him. Steven quickly grabbed my arm, his grip tight to the bone.

"Are you crazy?" he demanded.

"Apparently I'm called the 'Mad dog', so according the students here, yes," I smirked, remembering the lousy nickname. Steven didn't laugh. Good. I probably wouldn't be able to manage another whiff of his stinky breath. I even brushed my teeth twice this morning when I remembered the last time he breathed in my face.

"You lured Eli to your house," he sneered. Oh, so this is what got him so heated?

"Lured?" I laughed humorlessly. "I didn't lure him anywhere."

"You took him to your slum."

I would have knocked him out clean if we weren't at school. I could manage another week of detention with Eli, a couple more even, but detention with Steven? I'd commit homicide.

"What's your problem?" I sighed heavily.

"Stay away from him."

I whistled. "Jealous much?"

"He doesn't belong with someone like you," he said.

"What is this? Some cheesy chick-flic? I ain't interested in him, so relax, you lump of meat," I muttered, slapping his arm away from me. "If you're so insecure, then why don't you go talk to him yourself? Ask him if I tried anything on him? I gave him his bike, that's all."

I tried to skirt around him. He blocked my path. Oh my God, what were his last three brain cells doing?!

"Why did you have his bike?"

"I don't have time to give you my life biography. Talk to your boyfriend and keep your drama to yourselves."

He flinched when I said 'boyfriend', his eyes darting around in case someone overheard. And for some reason, that pissed me off even more than the wrath of his unbearable breath.

"I get that you're scared, but that doesn't give you an excuse to cheat on him."

Steven's eyes flared with shame and anger.

"He deserves better and you know it," I said, lowering my voice. "And if you can't square up, then stop playing with his feelings and leave him alone."

"What do you know about us anyway? You don't know anything about what we've been through!"

"And I don't need to," I growled. "You're a cheater Steven, a filthy cheater who can't figure out his own feelings. Clean up your act, man."

"Or else what?" he sneered. This time, I took a step closer towards him, our faces inches apart.

"Or else I'll swipe him right under your nose and take him for myself," I threatened.

I grabbed him by the collar, crumpling his shirt in my fist. "And if you so dare lay a finger on me ever again, I will break your fucking kneecaps."

I pushed him aside with more force than when he shoved me and stormed down the hall. I ran a quick hand through my hair, wondering why I was so angry. Why did I say all that? Why was I defending Eli? And what in the world did he see in Steven?

I grabbed my phone, petty as hell.

Me: Hey, Eli, it's Thomas. About that job, When can I start?

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A/N: please leave a vote for our petty king ❣

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