This chapter was kinda inspired by a book called Bluefish, you should check it out! (Its not a fanfic, sadly, I know)

Tom shuffled along the hallway, keeping close to the lockers and looking down at his dirty old Converse that he'd had for years. He took out his crumpled schedule from his pocket, scanning the page for his first period.

First day of school. New town. Don't talk to anyone, and it'll be alright.

He took a deep breath and pushed open a door with the numbers 129 on it. There was barely any kids in the classroom. Tom sat at a desk that was in the second-to-last row. He set his backpack on the ground and tapped his pencil on his head.

Can't the bell just ring already?

And just like that, the bell rang. Except there were more kids in the class now. The teacher stood up and started explaining stuff that Tom tuned out.

The door slammed open and dust flew everywhere, floating lazily in the air and being outlined by the sunshine pouring through the windows. A boy stood at the entrance.

His hair was spiked up to look like devil-horns. He had an old-looking red hoodie on that had dirt stains and wore tattered blue jeans. There was a mud streak on his cheek and a bandage wrapped around his arm. His silver eyes shone like he'd never been better, despite his looks.

"Heya, teach," he grinned, revealing a tooth gap.

"That's Mr. Gordon to you," the teacher scolded. "What's your name?"

"Tord. I, am Tord," he faced the class and did a dramatic bow.

A few kids laughed. Tom hid his smile with his hand.

"Take a seat." Mr. Gordon sighed.

Tord waggled his eyebrows and walked over to Tom, plopping down on the seat behind him. The teacher started talking again.

--Time Skip--

Tom sat down at an empty lunch table. He stared down at his pizza, not feeling hungry.

"Mind if I sit here?"

He looked up and saw Tord. Tom shook his head and avoided looking at Tord as he sat down in front of him.

"So..."

Tom chewed his lip. Why is he talking to me?

"I'm Tord. If you didn't already know. You?" He flashed a smile.

"Tom." Tom muttered.

There was a few moments of silence.

"You gonna eat that?" Tord pointed at Tom's food.

Tom shook his head and slid the tray over to him.

"Thanks!" Tord looked at him curiously while taking a bite of the pizza. "Ya don't talk much, do you?"

Tom shrugged.

"Why'd you come here? Did you have to move away because aliens were attacking your old town?" Tord joked. "Ooh, or maybe a giant robot!"

Tom looked at him and felt a smile tugging at his lips. He shook his head.

"Hmm..." the Norwegian boy looked at the ceiling in thought. "Then why are you here? Are you an undercover cop? An alien in disguise? No, no... you're too quiet for those. What animals are quiet?"

Tom laughed a little and tugged at his shirt.

"Aha!" Tord stood up, raising a finger in the air in triumph. "Deer are quiet!" He sat back down and leaned in to Tom's face. "Are you a deer in disguise, come to rob the school of salad?"

Tom shook his head, smiling. I think I like him.

--Time Skip--

Tom walked down a dirt path, heading in the direction of his house. He stuck his toe out from a hole in his sneaker and sighed. Loud footsteps were heard from behind him and he turned around. It was Tord, running after him.

"HEY! TOM!" He called.

Tom stopped walking and waited for him to catch up. Once he did, Tord gasped for breath and leaned on Tom's shoulder.

"Wh-Why are you leaning on me?" Tom squeaked out. His face was burning with a blush.

"That's the most words i've heard you speak!" Tord's eyes shone. "Anyways, where are you going?"

"Home." He said and kept walking.

"I guess we're walking in the same direction, then," Tord replied while walking beside him-- well, it was more like skipping.

Tom pursed his lips, looking down at the dusty ground. He listened to Tord complain about school, homework, and teachers. They reached Tom's house after ten minutes.

Tom walked up to the porch and looked over at Tord with a weak smile. "Thanks..." he said quietly, face dusted with pink.

Tord grinned, showing his adorable tooth-gap, and did a thumbs up. "By the way," he lowered his voice, "my house was the other way." Before Tom could say something, Tord took off running.

Tom's eyes widened and he stepped inside the house, closing the door. His parents weren't home yet. He left his backpack on the floor and went to his room, flopping down on the hard mattress.

"Tord, Tord, Tord..." Tom let the name roll off his tongue as he repeated it until he fell asleep.