Broken Friendship.
Chap. 2: Jealousy?
When I went at the Factory with Lori on that evening, I was a hundred per cent sure I would love being there. But then again, I was mistaking. As I was drinking and dancing with Lori, my sixth sense was tickling. Something was terribly wrong. I'm not good at finding monsters, actually it's Merton's job, but this time, he couldn't know what had happened in the hallway, about me saying nonsense. It's now my job to reiterate justice.
.
If I'm sure of one thing, it's that Lori must have a sort of mind-reading power. You don't believe me? Fine. Explain me how she can always go straight to the point without ever mistaking? You don't know? Well, I don't either. That's what ended our little evening. She suddenly looked at me in the eyes, sipping her glass silently, and raised a question in a small voice:
« -Tommy, what happened earlier in the hallway?
-Wadoyoumean? I asked, confused. T'was nothing. »
She didn't believe my mysteries, and asked again:
« -You're not good at lying Tommy. I heard you shouting and I saw Merton leaving with a kinky expression on his face. »
I sighted. Lori always knew everything.
« -Ok, I yelled to him. But I didn't know why and I figured out I could make excuses later. Merton's cool about this, isn't he?
-Merton's cool? Lori got all worked up. So you really yelled at him! Why did you do that? And why are you here with me if you need to apologize?! I don't understand you! Come on, let's go to the lair! You've got to tell him you're sorry! »
I was a bit confused. Sure Lori was right, but wasn't it a bit late to go to Merton's?
« -You know, I can still apologize tomorrow. Merton is...
-Merton is waiting for you! That's what he's doing! She interrupted me. You're very important to him you know that, don't you? Let's go! Now! »
She lifted me up and pulled me out of the Factory. We went straight to Merton's lair, with a weighty silence above us. As we drew near my friend's, every step was an opportunity to stop. I have been very cruel to him, and I knew that wasn't me at all. But will he understand that? Will this strange thing happen again? I didn't know why, but suddenly, I thought about the new kid. When I saw him leaving and going after Merton in willingness this afternoon, I caught his eyes for a second. And my wolfness was telling me that something wasn't right with him.
« -Tommy? I heard Lori almost whispering to me. We're here.
-Oh, really? Ok. »
Merton's door has never seemed so impassable, even if it was always unlock. When I caught the doorknob, about to turn it, I heard laughs. Was there somebody else? Lori and I exchanged a puzzling look, and then I entered. I ran into something I would have never thought of: Merton and the exchanged student sharing a bowl of popcorns and bottles of Woo-Hoo, watching one of what I thought was Merton's movies about monsters.
« -Already? I let out, surprised.
-Oh, Tommy and Lori! What a surprise! Smiled Merton. What are you two doing here tonight? Didn't you need some rest*mon ami?
-I... I... »
I stopped working. Barry was here! Merton hadn't invited me to a movie party at least two weeks after our encounter! But the new kid, freshly arrived from Hartsdale, was in my best friend's house the very same evening! And I wasn't invited! Well, after how I blew him off this afternoon, the last point wasn't so surprising. But I definitively thought that there was something uncommon about Barry, and I didn't want my buddy to be in danger! Yes, I can be a little overprotective sometimes.
« -Hi Merton! Hi Barry! Lori smiled. What are you watching at?
-You know how astounding is the number of people who still haven't seen Dracula yet? Complained Merton. It's really stupid to say, but everybody has heard about it, and almost nobody has seen it at least once! Sure it's the best movie ever! I'm not letting anybody who comes here leaving without having seen it! »
As Lori and Merton were chatting, I carefully examined Barry. He had a strange poker face, but his eyes! God his eyes – what a frightening expression!
« -Well, we didn't come for any reason Merton. Explained Lori. Actually, Tommy has something to tell you. »
All the eyes were turned towards me. I felt Lori's accusing stare, Merton's questioning gaze and Barry's placid look falling on me all at once. I was like a child being accused of stealing sweets and having to make excuses to everybody.
« -Yes Tommy? Merton said seeing that I couldn't utter a word.
-I wanted to... Tell you something. I repeated. Actually, I was very eager to say that I... »
Again, I felt my tongue speaking at my place. That was a very unpleasant moment. Moreover, I knew it wasn't me speaking.
« -I... can't stand being your friend anymore! I don't want to see you again! Since we're classmate, my real friends don't want to talk to me anymore! »
That through a cold around the room. Both Lori and Merton were looking at me with round eyes, opened mouth, unable to believe what I have just said. But my eyes were fixed on something else. As I was speaking, Barry's mouth formed the exact same words as mine, at the same time, but with no sound, and with his eyes still fixed on me. I knew it! It was him!
« -What? Trembled Merton. What do you mean? You want to... part away? »
That's not it Merton! Look at Barry! Look at him! Don't make those sad eyes! I tried to resist, I really tried hard to close my stupid mouth, but Barry's power was too strong. I could see that they were confused, that Merton was still hoping that I was making a sort of bad joke and that he was trying to hide his hesitating feeling behind a confident make-up look. But all I could do was assisting at that horrible scene, where my body was paralysed and my words completely transformed against my will.
« -I don't want to see you again. I said against myself. You disgust me! »
I never saw Merton so chocked. Even I couldn't realize what I've just said. Barry sure wasn't pulling his punches:
« -You're not serious? He burbled. You can't be! »
Merton was almost crying, and I would have too if my body was answering me.
« -I am. »
The Goth kid lifted his head high, and yelled at me.
« -So that's it? I thought we had something! I thought we were friends! Barry was right, people only use you! »
Lori was mortified. And it wasn't the end of my nightmare.
« -Yes, I used you! But now I don't need you anymore, so stop coming around at school, Ok? »
Suddenly, the door upstairs banged open and Becky entered the lair.
« -Hey freak, stop shouting! She said in a rush. There're people trying to work up there! Whoa, what's happening? »
The tension was unbearable. I was sure that even outside the room you could have felt the pressure without having to enter. Broken, Merton gave me a last angry look, filled up with small tears, and left abruptly, pushing his sister and slapping the door behind him to go upstairs. As I saw him dashing out, I felt I regained control of my body.
« -Merton! Merton! I barked. Come back!
-It seems like he doesn't want to see you right now... Whispered somebody. »
I whirled around. It was Barry. I dashed closer to him angrily and grasped him by his tee-shirt:
« -You... That's your entire fault!
-What? He marvelled, pretending to sound innocent. I didn't do anything; you're the one who hurt Merton!
-Tommy calm down! Lori shouted after me. Get out of here!
-But Lori I...
-OUT! We'll have a discussion later. »
Silence fell on the small room. They were all expecting me to leave, which I did, because the burden was overwhelming me. What did I do? That was a real life-nightmare! A... monster made me yell at my friend with no reason and now, everybody was against me! Shitty evening.
.
The lair.
Tommy let go off Barry's shirt and left. Lori was very surprised that he could clash with Merton just like that, and she was even more astounded by her friend's reaction. She expected Merton to fall apart crying, but he walked away with dignity. Becky was still at the door, chocked by what she just saw, but even if she usually plays like she doesn't care about her brother, she still loves him, and went straight to catch him up after Tommy's escape. As Barry was about to follow the same way, Lori caught him.
« -Wait Barry...
-Yes?
-I... I know you've just arrived, and that you've not known Tommy since too long, but he's been acting strangely today and you... »
Barry shattered his eyes, and wondered if Lori knew something. He wondered if he had to worry about her too. But Lori hadn't finished:
« -I think you shouldn't judge him too quickly please.
-Oh... Really?
-Yes, it's not his day. »
With the full moon tomorrow, he must be a bit agitated. Lori thought. But that doesn't explain his strange behaving.
To her greatest satisfaction, Barry agreed, slightly surprised.
« -Yeah, Ok. A bad day I got it.
-Thanks. Really. You don't know how much they need each other »
With that, Lori vanished away, following Merton's paths. Finally alone, Barry had an evil rictus.
« -Oh yes ma'am, I know exactly how much they need each other. Ahahahah... »
*mon ami : french for "my friend"