Tord didn't draw a crow.
No he didn't draw anything because his eyes began to hurt and sting again.

He didn't understand, maybe he'd call pat about it.

But then again, that would worry him, so no.

Tord walked out to be greeted by a bored Tom.

"AVID is so useless." He groaned.

They began to walk side by side down the hall, Tom acting casual as kids tried not to peer his way, Tord too focused on Tom to notice.

"All we do is take pointless notes. Like teaching someone how to use a toaster oven. Like thanks I knew the basics and you gave me some small help but it's actually worthless..." Tom continued his rant. Tord actually listening, surprisingly, still looking at him.

They arrived to 5th Mod. Tom sat in his seat which was actually pretty far from Tord.

Avery sat next to Tom.

Tord got up, annoyed as hell, and tapped on someone's shoulder, he mumbled something to them and they gladly switched spots with him.

Now he had a better angle of the two.

Whatever she tried, Tord would be ready to make it as meaningful as Tom's AVID class.

~~~

Tom didn't feel right.
something felt...off.

He looked up and he saw Tord.
He felt right.
warmth.
happiness.

Tord looked at him and kept his stare as reached into his pocket.

Tom gave a confused look.

Tord took out a strip of paper and wrote on it, He then proceeded to fold it up into his signature star and he flicked it at Tom.

It hit Tom in the nose, Tord held a hand to his mouth and muttered a "Oppsie."

Tom chuckled and unfolded it, for some reason, He was nervous about what he'd find.

' I want breakfast.'

Tom glared at him.

"At this time?" he harshly whispered .

Tord shrugged and went back to 'work.'

Tom felt colder now that he wasn't talking with him anymore.

Tom fiddled around with the strip of paper, He tried to refold it but it just didn't look anything like what Tord did.

He felt a familiar pair of eyes on him.
He knew Avery was next to him, He didn't really mind, she was nice earlier, and she really is a sweet person.

from what Tom could recall during one of those cheesy 'About me. ' things teachers do when a new student arrives, Tom knew she was a ballerina.

But that was it.
all he knew.

and all he needed to hear.
He really didn't care that much about anyone besides his friends.

So he didn't notice when Avery drew a small heart with a smiley face on his desk.

Tord did though.

He didn't see it.
But he saw her scribble it
He knew.

he thought of what could possibly be written, He was glad Tom was distracted by a bird outside that started singing, because right now Tord was practically burning holes in the side of Avery's head.

The more he thought of her his eyes just went haywire and stung terribly.

He quickly held his hands to his eyes and rubbed profusely, which, would've worsened it in a normal sense, But Tords eyes were hurting every time he thought of how much he hated someone,

this was no where near normal.

" at this rate with this pain ill actually be blind."

"guess it'll match my stupid eyes though -"

" Tord you are not okay. "

Tord looked up, Tom was in his face with a concerned frown.

Tord could see Avery in the back who looked a bit upset that Tom paid more attention to Tord than her stupid doodle.

Tord liked that.

"I'm fine Thomas." Tord sighed.

" Its probably just for Today. "

Tom scoffed.

"It better be." He mocked.

Tord rolled his now 'less in pain' eyes and stretched, Last 5 minutes of class he was bored as fuck.

Everyone was allowed to do what they wanted, (within reason, of course.) So Tom naturally walked over and sat on the edge of Tords desk. Then he had accused him of not being okay, and now they were here.

Tom pulled out the strip of paper from earlier.

"How do you do this?"

Tord smiled. "Very easy, actually."

" Speak for yourself. "

Tord laughed and took out an extra strip from his pocket, Tom asked him why he kept them but Tord ignored the question and continued with step 1.

"First you kind of make a paper knot."

Tord and Tom went back and forth on what a paper knot was, until Tord just took Toms paper and folded it halfway into a knot.

Tom continued after the misunderstanding and eventually got a little star out of the dumb paper. Tord applauded him.

"Now I can make a galaxy."

Tord chuckled. "Please. you've already made one."

Tom arched a brow. "I have?"

" Yep. "

Tom was about to speak but-

"Because your eyes are out of this world!" Tord laughed.

Tom just dead eyed glared him and got up to go to his locker after the bell went off.

Tord laughed behind "Eh? Eh? Get it? It's because your eyes look like black holes-"

Tom got an idea and turned around to face his red friend. He smiled . "Yes, and you just get spaced out when you look at them."

Tord froze.

Tom now began to giggle and walk away.

'who's flustered now?' he thought.

~~~

Tord walked to his locker. a pouty blushing mess of a teen.

He muttered swears in his native tounge, and he soon enough bumped into Laddi.

"Oh Sorry Tord." she seemed dazed, like that collision gave her a concussion .

Tord smiled awkwardly. "It was my fault."

"Well, it's okay-" she sighed. "What's his name? uh... Tom! Yeah. Toms looking for you." She brushed off her legs and readjusted her tote.

" You know your face is pretty red Tord. " she smiled.

"Uh-huh. Where's Tom?"

"At your locker, I think."

Tord was about to walk off, but Laddi grabbed his arm.

"Tord have you seen my brother?"

Tord felt her concern, it was heavy. A heavy upset weight she was carrying, She only referred or spoke about Matt using 'brother' when something was wrong. Tord felt a pang of fright.

"No, I'll look for him with Tom okay?" he tried to reassure her.

her face saddened. "Okay."

she let go and began to call his name out to the crowd.

As Tord walked off he heard a faint: "Has anyone seen my brother?!"

What did Matt get himself into?

Tord found Tom, He expected him to be smug, but instead he was a bit shaken.

"Tord!" he screeched running over.

" Tom? " Tord tilted his head.

"I got lost in the halls." He whined. " Laddi can't find Matt, I just saw him looking for Edd that way-" Tom pointed down a hallway as Tord opened his locker, pulled out his stuff, slammed it and took Tom by the arm down the hallway He pointed at.

"Matt shouldn't even be down this hallway." He growled, upset and done with all the mess. He practically dragged Tom along as the boy struggled to keep with Tords fast pace.

Tord eventually made it to a side exit, at the left of the school, He kicked open the door and screamed Matt's name as everyone around backed up or covered their ears.

Tord huffed and groaned as he got no reply or sight of Tom, just a bunch of kids starring at him from the trees. Tom wanted to stay and admire the trees but Tord pulled him away and punched a locker.

a few more muttered Norwegian swears and Tord ran into Laddi again.

"Matt's looking for Edd."

" You saw him? " she beamed.

"No. Tom saw him go down this hall, he's not here."

Laddi groaned.

"I hate it when he does that."

Tom blinked. "does what?"

" He goes looking for someone, usually me, Laddi or Edd, when he knows we have a meeting spot. But he goes looking anyways and gets lost. " Tord kept his glare while scanning the crowd. "last time the smartass ended up on the roof of the school."

" This school has a roof? " Tom gasped.

"Yea." Laddi bit the inner side of her cheek.

Tord relaxed his grip on Toms arm, when he realized he still had his hand on it, He let go. Tom rubbed his wrist.

"I'm going to the archway. I don't need another panic attack like when we thought we lost Edd."

Tord walked off, kind of stomping out his anger. Tom waved a goodbye to Ladd I as she continued a useless search. Tom caught up and followed Tord.

"we just wasted 6 minutes"

Tom tried to lighten the mood. "I mean, at least I know we have a roof we can get on."

Tord sighed. "I guess it's not as useless?"

~~~

Tom and Tord didn't find Edd at the archway.

They were too tired to search so they just left.

"We're great friends." Tom smiled

Tord decided to match the sarcasm.

"we just care so much about Matt and wherever the hell he is."

Tom chuckled. "Yep. and Edd too."

the joking went back and forth, until they reached Toms house, where Asha ran out to greet Tord and give him some washed fruit.

Now Tord walked to his house.

He looked around, saw a few birds, a cat out walking around, thankfully not Ringo, which he noted from its white fur.

He hummed a random tune, He hadn't been able to really sing it do any sort of musical therapy nowadays.

He opened the door to his house, stumbled in. No homework.

Today was pretty uneventful. Really boring. He did have fun with the whole paper stars thing, teaching Tom how to do them.

He ate The berries Asha gave him, she was sweet enough to toss slices bananas, which really made it a nicer mix, He hoped someone else cut them for her, or that she didn't cut herself with a knife.

He didn't worry that much.

suddenly getting cut by a knife didn't seem like such a big deal to Tord

The search for Matt was annoying yet frightening, He still had a feeling something was wrong.He'd text Matt about it later. Or Edd. He never got Laddis number out of constant forgetting.

Now Avery, the subject he hates the most right now, He knew she had an interest in Tom.

His Tom.

He figured he'd have to think of someway to get her feelings to fade.

or for her to fade

creeped out by his own thoughts, Tord stopped thinking about it, his eyes started to hurt again.

"Man I seriously need to get that checked out." He sighed and took a wet rolled up towel to hold over his eyes.

He felt around to go the the couch, when he found it, he sat laid down and just let the birds sing him to sleep.

Though it didn't work.

He hated sleeping
He hated how it was hard to do.
last night he woke up feeling as he didn't sleep at all.
But he did.
But he thought he didnt?
sleep was such a confusing thing to him not happening when he needed it  to or when he didn't it just came by and hit him like a truck.

He could never have the satisfaction of sleeping in his house.

He slept there.
But it didn't
feel
the way sleep should?
like...

a comfortable release from the struggles of the waking world.

He never had a, comfortable slumber

The only time he remembers one was when he fell asleep with Asha and Soke.

That one felt nice.

He took the towel off his face and opened his eyes. Still very early in the afternoon.

He decided to go work on his corkboard.

=====================================
Notes

SaltyDeath just letting you know I totally planned to go on a sleep rant and it was definitely not from your comment.

no really I've had this written down for a month-

Uh

Really nowadays i don't have much to write in the notes

damn I suck.

I guess here's a reminder you can ask questions and stuffs for that 5K special that is coming up

Makeshift Inbox you know the drill

ummm
yeah

Oh I'll post the banner later because I don't know what to draw for it + I'm feeling lazy and tired

I'm eating cherrys right now

anyways
Thank you for reading and following the development of this story!
cya next chapter!
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