Chapter 2: Old Pain Resurfaces
The next day Thomas walked through the yard. He was relaxing when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Hello Thomas."
He turned around and his heart dropped. It was Rosie.
"Hey, Rosie…"
He still liked her, but she had hurt him too much when she left.
"I heard about your trip. How was it?"
"It was alright." he said. They were both quite awkward as they didn't have much to talk about. "I heard Ryan asked you out."
"That he did." She said. She stayed silent knowing thomas was hurt. But she didn't know what to do.
"Well it's good to see you're alright." Thomas said, before he walked away.
As soon as he got to his locker Duck tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey Duck, What's up?"
"Me and a few others are going to Henry's bar after school, did you want to come?"
"I don't know Duck, I've had a rough day."
"Percy will be there…" Duck said. A grin crossed his face. "And so will Ashima… She asked if you'd come you know."
Thomas let out a sigh. "Alright, I'll be there."
When Thomas got there he walked inside, to see Henry giving him a big smile.
"Thomas! It's great to see you." He said tapping him on the back.
Thomas notice how much he hadn't grown, as Henry still towered over him. There weren't many people there at this time in the day, but most of his friends had stopped by. They both sat down at the bar and James slid down to them.
"Thomas! Long time no see pal."
"That might be a good thing." Thomas Joked smirking. They all laughed. Thomas looked around to see people some people he didn't know well. They looked at him before snickering.
"I heard Tidmouth High's having a Ballroom in a month or two." James said. "We're you going to sing along at that."
"I don't think so… And give me a drink will you. Whiskey."
Henry was taken aback by this but before he could panic thomas shushed him. "My 16th was 5 weeks ago, I can drink."
"You should be in the kitchen pal, I'll look after this rascal." James said before Henry got up and left. "Edward said you weren't doing to great."
"I'm getting over it James."
"Sure you are, you just ordered whiskey at 5 o'clock in the afternoon."
"It's winter, the sun's going down."
Before they could continue Ashima sat down next to them.
"Hello again Thomas."
"Oh, Hello Ashima."
James' Cheesy personality came back and he exaggerated the slide to ashima. It was less than a meter.
"How can I help you ma'am?"
"I'm good James." She said. James stood frozen at the fact she already knew his name, but he continued on to bartend for people down the bar.
"How are you Thomas?" She asked.
"I'm good Ashima."
She chuckled and thomas was confused.
"Oh you're so funny sometimes Thomas."
"What's so funny?"
"Alcohol, at this time?"
"As I said to James, the sun's setting."
Ashima grabbed him by the shoulder. "Come on, this is the last place you need to be."
They walked outside of the Bar and walked over the small hill at the back. They were met with a large river that flowed peacefully.
They sat on the riverbank and Ashima looked at him in the eyes.
"What's wrong Thomas, And before you lie again, I can see right through you." She chuckled.
"You wouldn't know, You haven't been here to see what happened."
"Then we can start from the top."
She had that look in her eyes that meant she was being honest.
With a heavy heart thomas started to explain.
"I finally got a girlfriend. We loved each other. But then James told the whole school what we had done. At the time I was more worried about what he had told everyone about Percy. But then it sunk in as everyone looked at us different." He tried to hold back tears. "After she dumped me I saw how easy everyone else was getting in and out of relationships… I just wish i wasn't me sometimes."
To his surprise, Ashima didn't laugh, but she did smile.
"Oh thomas you are silly sometimes."
She stood up, looked over the river and began to sing.
"Every person that I ever knew
Was at least a little different from the others,
And some were very, very different too,
Even from their sisters and their brothers.
You can only be you,
There's nothing else you can possibly do,
It's plain to me that you're trying too hard,
So instead, just be who you are."
Thomas just sighed. "I don't want to be me."
"You wish you could be faster, bigger, stronger
You wish you could do more to be unreal.
You think if you were just a little taller.
You'd have more ballroom dance appeal."
Thomas stood up, filled with emotion at this point. "Of course!
Every bit of me is short and stumpy,
From my haircut to my muscles to my toes.
Can't you see my clothes're old and frumpy?
That's why I'll be the one who's left alone…"
He walked over to the riverbed and sang into the river.
"Why do I have to be me?
Is this what I'm really meant to be?
Break me, shake me, take me all apart,
There has to be a better place to start."
"Every bit of you is neat and tidy
There's nothing that you need to rearrange
If you ask me, you're completely bona-fide
What makes you think there's anything to change?"
Thomas turned to face her at this point, almost crying.
"Why do I have to be me?
Is this what I'm really meant to be?!"
Ashima put both her hands on his cheeks.
"Calm down,
Be quiet,
You know in your heart,
There isn't any other place to start."
"Why do I have to be me?"
"You can only be you."
"Is this what I'm really meant to be?"
"There's nothing else you can do."
"Shake me, break me, take me all apart,
And find a better place to start."
"You don't have to try, just be who you are,
And trust your wonderful smile to take you far."
Ashima closed the gap between them and their hearts fluttered.
Thomas' pain was whisked away in an instant.
They both looked over to the river, which now shone the moon's reflection at them.
"I should get going my mother will worry." Ashima said.
"Uh, Alright, we'll talk soon."
"Sure Thomas. See you soon."
I Couldn't resist the song! If you noticed, i did change a few words. But hopefully you guys liked it. Another couple is about to surface, So stay tuned for that.
I want percy to have a story, but I don't know who to pair him with... Lemme know who you think.
See ya next time guys.