"This is our new student Tord! He just moved here from Norway!! Please give him a warm welcome!" The teacher spoke in a sweet tone as kids huddled over me. "Do you speak Norway?" I corrected them, " I speak Norwegian yes." Everyone gasped, "such a beautiful accent!!" A girl said and the others squealed. I can't speak English properly so it's hard to even tell them to back off, all of this is overwhelming. The teacher told the rest of the kids to go back to their seats, I saw a lonely table with no one there. I sat down and saw a backpack on one of the chairs. I decided to sit next to it, there was a knock at the door and all I saw were brown spikes, I heard some of the other kids giggle, confusion sweeps over my face. I see a boy with spiky brown hair and deep black eyes, or no eyes? He took his backpack off his seat and sat next to me, he laid his head down and the teacher sighed at him. "Thomas what took you so long?" The kids continue to giggle, "I tripped." I could tell he was lying, the kids laughed and Mrs.Johnson had to calm them down. She continued to teach class. I whispered "yous okay?" To Thomas, he groaned at me "shut up jerk." I continued to pester him more, "Sorry, can't speak English. Did I do wrong?" He looked at me, "What's your name?" He glared at me. "Tord Larsin, you?" He gave a confused face, "You're new?" I nodded. He smiled at me, "I'm Thomas Thompson, call me Tom though." I chuckled "Thomas Thompson, sound funny. Tom sound nice" he smiled at me. Since then we've been friends, Tom taught me how to speak proper English while I scared away bullies. During middle school we were very close, we'd constantly go out together and hold hands, that's not gay right? We constantly question our sexuality and our feelings for one another, "do you really want to do this?" I asked Tom as I was pressed on top of him on my bed.  He nodded gently and that's when we had our first kiss, our teeth clanked and it was just very awkward. But we were just experimenting at the time, eight grade, we finally started dating. During ninth grade we were a bit judged but we really didn't care, we kissed a lot, went on dates, star gazed. We were really gay. We've been like this since junior year- I had to move away. We promised to keep a long distance relationship, but whenever I called him he got busier and busier. Whenever he did pickup he sounded bored and disinterested, I realized our relationship was a sinking ship I couldn't save. Our feelings slowly died out- I was heartbroken, but pretended nothing fazed me. I got new friends and we did a bunch of crazy things, but it always got tiring and all I wanted to do was cuddle with Tom and talk. But of course, that would never happen again.

"Oh.." Edd replied with a soft low tone. I sank into the seat, my shoulder hitting the window next to me. "So you were the person that constantly called Tom!!" I looked at him, "what?" I heard Tom sigh, "okay, my side now."

"Hey freak! Where's your dad? Awwww are you gonna cryyy?" The older kids nagged at me, constantly. Making me feel worthless, then Tord came around. He made me feel safe and wanted, he never asked about my eyes or my family when he met my mom. He treated me like a normal individual, there was just one flaw about Tord. He wanted to be with me everyday, that doesn't sound as bad as you think but in reality it just meant I couldn't make much friends. Time to myself. When we made our relationship long distance I was actually excited, as rude as that sounds. Finally, alone time, a chance to make friends. But spending time with friends made me constantly busy, the constant sound of my ringtone made my friends question. "Who's calling you Tom?" I looked at my short friend, his hair drifting across his face,covering his eyes. I start to get nervous, senior year, people that didn't know about me and Tord. "Oh, uh, an ex. She's a bit...clingy." I replied softly, I mean it was true wasn't it? Edd's shoulders stiffened, "oh. Does she want you back? What was she like??" I get more nervous until I realized the truth. "She didn't let me talk to my friends when we were dating. She was possessive, I'm not sure if she knew he- I uhm. SHE was doing that.." The vibrations in my hand felt cold as I looked at the caller id. He really was possessive, behind the talking and stargazing was a person who kept me from doing what I always wanted to do. Making friends. I let it go to voicemail, one day I answered, his voice made my heart beat. How cheerful and optimistic he sounded, but I just didn't feel anything. I felt dark and cold, bland. I talked slowly, and felt dim. I think he realized it during our call because he started to sound nervous. Panic rose in his voice, yet I still felt numb. This is the guy, my mind kept saying. This is the guy that kept you locked in a cage. He's the reason why you feel so worthless around your friends. The reason you don't have that many friends. I didn't say anything, but he knew I was done, he knew I didn't want to continue the relationship anymore. The call ended with a "goodbye, have a goodnight" the sorrow in his voice, clear as day. My reply "mm. You too" dull, numb.  Then we never talked since.

Silence.
The table was absolutely quite, no one made a sound. Not even Matt, for once he was listening. "T-Tom..why didn't you tell us? About your sexuality..?" Tord looked up at Tom "you still haven't come out?!" He hissed at him through his teeth. Tom sighed, and looked out the window, looking at the row of cars in the parking lot. "Because I was scared. I wanted friends so badly that I just didn't want to ruin it with them knowing that I'm gay." Edd looked panicked "Tom. We set you up on so many dates, with girls. Why didn't you tell us,we could of-" he was cut of by the waitress coming over with their plates. It was quite as they ate, Tord finished first and gazed out the window and would occasionally look at Tom. Tom finished next and pretended as if he was doing something on his phone; he was thinking of what to say. Matt finished next, he barely finished, he had eaten earlier but didn't want to seem rude and decline the offer of a dinner. Edd finished last, he chewed slowly, wondering what else his friends were hiding from him. Wondering if he is the good friend he though he was.  They all left, "were going to the arcade right?" Tom asked, breaking the silence. Edd nodded, "yeah.." Tom smiled gently and softly, "I'll take Tord, Edd you take Matt. We'll meet you there." Everyone lightly jumped, surprised with Tom's idea. Edd saw Tord slightly panicking, "sure. That sounds like a great idea." Tord was panicking. Edd and Matt walked to Edd's car while Tom lead Tord to his car. They drove in silence.