After that sweet relief, Thomas turned to get to his bed. "Well, I'll get some more sleep until school starts," he said.
He was about to enter his room, but then he felt Duck touch his shoulder. "H-Huh?" He asked, turning around. Only to see that Duck was looking him him, with a rather very confused look on his face.
"T-Thomas... School is tomorrow. Today is Sunday-..." Duck said, seeming like he was judging everything about Thomas at the moment.
Thomas blinked. So, he probably did reset everything back to normal.
"O-Oh... Oh right!" Thomas said. "Um... You sure it's not Monday?" He still was doubtful.
He heard Oliver make a soft giggle. "Thomas," he said. "What's gotten into you? Carter melted your heart that much yesterday it has affected your brain?"
Even Duck had to chuckle at that. "Seriously," he said folding his arms. "Maybe you shouldn't talk to him for a week to get your bearings," he joked.
Thomas rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up you!" He pushed Duck playfully.
"But seriously, why do you think it's Monday? Just yesterday I did tell you I was going to help Edward with something, right after you introduce me to Carter," Duck explained. "Although, that might not happen today, since Edward needs me earlier than expected,"
Thomas had a small flashback. He even visibly gasped to himself remembering that.
Duck blinked at him.
Thomas realized that he had gasped out loud. "Oh! Well... um... good look with that!" And he quickly ran back to his room and shut the door.
Duck and Oliver just stayed there staring at the door.
It was now a little later in the day. Thomas was planning to video call Carter. He needed to talk to someone, and Carter would be the only one who could relax him. He would have called earlier, but he knows Carter might of been still sleeping.
But now, since it was midday for him, he knows it was late evening or early morning for his boyfriend now. The time zones confused him.
Thomas felt exhausted as he waited for Carter to show up on the video call.
But once he did-
"Oh! Hey Thomas!" He said. But then his happy smile faded as he saw how Thomas looked. "Whoa, dude? You okay?" He asked tilting his head.
Thomas looked down for a moment. "No," he said looking back up.
"Did... something happen with Diesel in the time from yesterday?"
Thomas was a little surprised how Carter remembered that, but no. That wasn't the reason.
But Thomas's feelings instantly changed after looking at his boyfriend. He realized he didn't know how to word the situation. And... he really didn't want Carter to worry. He was really wanting to let off what happened, off of his shoulders, but letting Carter know all of that, he knew would only worry him.
"No... Actually, nothing, I just felt really tired... I just wanted to talk to you or something..." Thomas said. Carter tilted his head.
"You sure?" Asked Carter.
Thomas could see that Carter already did look worried. And that was what he didn't want.
There was silence for a while.
"Hey, Thomas...?" Carter asked, breaking the silence.
Thomas blinked, then looked up at the screen.
"Huh? Yeah?"
"Um..." Carter sighed before continuing. "Are... um... Do you like, feel sad...? Or... anything?"
Thomas squinted because he didn't know what Carter was referring to. "S-Sad? What do you mean?"
"Like... Do you remember our talk before? Yesterday when we were talking about therapists and stuff? Do... You think you might be depressed or something?" Carter asked.
Thomas looked into Carter's eyes through the laptop screen.
"What? No, of course not..." Thomas said, blinking. There was no way he could be that. Or, at least that's what he thought
Thomas saw Carter put his hand up to the camera.
"Thomas... if you are, just know that I'll always be here for you, alright?"
Thomas, for a moment, didn't know what to say. But, at the moment he was very grateful for what Carter just told him.
"T-Thanks... man..." He said, looking down.
He heard Carter make a soft chuckle. "Anytime Tom," He said.
Thomas made a sigh. "I just wish you were here didn't now..." Thomas looked back up at the screen with a sad look on his face. "Carter, I miss you..."
Carter just smiled sweetly at him. "I know Tom... I miss you too, a lot."
Thomas returned the smile back.
Carter leaned over a little, then kissed the camera. "Love you,"
Thomas did the same. Then also responded with "Love you too,"
"I'm... going to go back to bed," Thomas said.
Carter nodded. "Sure thing... oh! And, Mei and the rest of our friends are stopping by my house tomorrow, in the afternoon. And we are going to have someone special with us! You think you'll be on by then?"
Thomas tilted his head. "What time would be for me?" He asked. "And... someone special?"
Carter thought. "Um... I don't know actually...and yes! Someone special!"
"Well, I'll see if I can come on, see you," Thomas said.
The sun was shining brightly, as Thomas and Duck were walking over to the station. Thomas was still a little rattled by what he saw earlier. He didn't want to bring it up to anyone. At least, not at the moment. He just wanted to kill some time and wanted to help Duck out.
He tried to wipe his memory from that and was going to help Duck with what he needed help with.
All they needed to do, was bring some loose cars from the station, over to the dock again.
Thomas knew the way by now, so he was pretty used to it. It really wasn't much to this route.
But he knows many train lines go all over, and part of him just wants to explore. But he's smart enough not to do that, just yet. The last thing he'd want is to crash into someone because he read a signal wrong.
After Thomas and Duck were done, it was the end of Sunday.
But, Duck noticed that Thomas looked exhausted.
"Thomas? A-Are you ok? I know the work we did wasn't... simple, but?" They both were walking back to the dorm.
Thomas looked over at his new friend. "Um? Yeah... I am okay. Just tired..."
Duck sighed. "Honestly, I am too. I think I may go to sleep once I get back. Are you?"
Thomas nodded. "Yeah, and school is the next day after this, right?"
Duck nodded. "Yep,"
Once they reached back, Thomas was too exhausted to video call Carter. So, all he did, was send him a message.
-Hey Carter, sorry about not calling you after the last time. It's probably either early for you, or late anyways. I'm just going to go to bed. Love you!-
It was the next day. Monday. Thomas lost track of how many days he's been here. But it definitely wasn't a lot. Considering that this was only the second day of school, he knows he hasn't been here much.
"Today seems beautiful, doesn't it?" He heard Duck mention to him as they were walking to the cafeteria for breakfast. There was a growling sound, and Duck rubbed his stomach. "Can't wait to eat some of that delicious toast-"
"Boo!"
Unluckily for Duck, Oliver snuck up behind him and gave him a scare.
"AHHH!"
And unluckily for Thomas, who was next to him walking, got scared by Duck's screaming.
"PIFFFTTTTT!" When it all played out, Oliver erupted in laughter.
"Ugh! That wasn't funny Olly!" Duck yelled as he pushed Oliver.
Poor Thomas looked dazed as he looked at him.
"I got you good! And apparently, I also got Thomas good too!"
Thomas coughed, then brushed himself off. "N-No you didn't..." He said.
Oliver snorted. "Sure, whatever you say, Engine Of The Prophecy~,"
All of the other students walked into the building, to get their breakfast.
Thomas was sitting at the table, eating his eggs, with his two new friends, Oliver and Duck.
Thomas at first was watching the other students around the room, but then his eyes drifted back to Duck and Oliver.
Oliver kept on reaching over and taking some of Duck's food.
"O-Oliver, stop taking my bacon!" Duck snapped, pushing Oliver's hand away.
Oliver pouted. "But I want the bacon!"
"Then why didn't you get your own!" Duck asked, looking at Oliver with an annoyed look.
Oliver grunted, then rolled his eyes. "They had run out. You got the last one!"
Thomas just chuckled at their bickering. But that moment of joy, soon went away as he saw someone he wasn't too fond of, enter into the cafeteria.
Diesel.
Thomas again... felt his heart start to race.
Every time he sees him... he can't shake off that horrible feeling. The horrible feeling that he nearly killed him. Diesel even seems like he doesn't even remember. 'How...?' Thomas would think. You couldn't just forget about a blue steam engine crashing down on you.
Duck and Oliver were still bickering with each other.
But then Oliver saw Thomas's dazed look. He jammed his finger up to Duck's lips. "Wait..." Oliver said.
"Mrrf!" Duck grunted, then he slapped Oliver's hand away.
"What's with Thomas?" Oliver asked.
Duck looked over at him, then at what Thomas was looking at.
He saw Diesel, sitting at a table.
"Thomas-," He said turning his attention back to Thomas. "Please don't worry about him. He isn't worth your time," he told him.
But Thomas didn't hear him. His mind was still racing with horrible memories.
Duck tilted his head, then looked at Oliver, who just shrugged.
"Hey? Thomas?" Duck reached over and waved his hand in Thomas's face.
Thomas snapped out of his daze with a gasp, then looked in Duck's direction.
"A-Are you alright?" Duck asked, with a concerned tone.
Thomas tried to adjust back. "Y-Yeah," He tried to say normally. "Everything is... fine with me," He said.
But Oliver and Duck just looked at each other, then back at Thomas.
Thomas could tell that they were just worried about him. He didn't know how to tell them what happened with him and Diesel long ago. Just then, James came to join them. Thomas didn't mind, because James at least moved the attraction away from what was going on with him.
"Ok, who the bloody hell took all the bacon," James said with a grunt as he sat down next to Oliver.
Oliver chuckled. "Blame Ducky for that~,"
Duck grunted. "Ugh, it was just the last one and I took it! I wasn't aware that they actually had none left!"
Soon, it was time for the class to start.
But Thomas didn't mind. At least it'll divert them away from what was going on with what he was feeling. And besides, the class he has doesn't have his old bully. He isn't in Edward's class, but Toby's.
All the students of the school left the cafeteria, and went to start the school day, and also start the week.
Thomas's first full week of being on the Island, what could go wrong?
As Thomas sat at the table with Duck, Oliver, and James, he started to feel a little grateful. All of them were a mix of different personalities, and he felt like he really clicked with them. He looked around at the other students, who were sitting at the other tables.
Like, the ones at the other table next to him. One of his friends said her name is Rosie, and the other one who's Emily. Not saying he wouldn't become friends with them, of course. But, he felt like he wouldn't have connected with them in the way he connected with the guys at his table.
"So, what are we doing today?" Oliver asked.
"Damn, do you not pay attention to anything we did in the previous weeks?" Duck asked rolling his eyes. "We are going to do some math, then science, then some history on British Locomotives,"
Thomas felt a little excited. Back in Toronto, when his teacher was going to teach about locomotives, he did feel a little self-conscious. But after he had become closer to Mei and her friends, and closer to Carter, and the day or so before he left for the Island, his engine being shown to the entire school, he felt way better. Now he doesn't mind learning about engines at all.
"I wonder what engines they're gonna teach about?" James asked. "Because although there is the lot of us here, not all of us turn into every locomotive in the world,"
"Yeah, that's true," Oliver said.
Soon after, Edward came into the classroom. "Morning class!" He said with a class. He walked past them, and up to the front. He started the school day.
Just like Duck said, they learned about usual math, science, and world history, and now, they learned about engines.
It was interesting to learn about other engines that were used in England. His teacher back in Toronto taught a few during the steam locomotive lessons, but it wasn't this thorough.
Thomas had felt like there were even more things about trains he had no idea about after learning about these.
Then, Edward started to talk about the E2 class tank engine.
As soon as that engine's name came out of Edward's mouth, Thomas's eyes looked around the class to see if anyone was looking at him. Some were. He felt a bit shy, then Edward started to talk about what the E2s were like.
"These engines were made by the London Brighton South Coast Railway," Edward said, as he walked over to the light switch, then he turned off the lights, then brought up a photo on the projector.
Thomas blinked, to adjust his eyes, then looked at the photo. He remembered seeing it when he was in class back him. The engine looks just like his, just gray. Well, gray from the black and white photo. It could have been any color for all Thomas knew.
"The E2s were a class of 0-6-0Ts, the wheel arrangement. Another thing it means is that it was a tank engine but with side tanks. Saddle tank engines are 0-6-0STs," Then Edward turned his head to Duck. "You turn into a Pannier tank engine. Those are called 0-6-0PT,"
Duck smiled and then nodded.
Edward turned his head to Thomas. "The E2 sadly had weak spots with everything, small water tanks, small fireboxes, and small coal bunkers," The students looked at Thomas when Edward said that.
"All of those would have been easier to deal with, except the small water tank. Because, no water to enter an engine's boiler while it is hot, is a very bad thing to occur," Edward then tapped the board. "But, Thomas, you don't have to fear that. Because all of us in this room, can get repaired as engines," Edward said with a smile.
"See?" Duck said as he looked at Thomas. "James got repaired once. When he-,"
"Ok, you don't gotta go there-," James said, slightly pushing Duck.
Thomas blinked, then he looked at Edward.
Edward smiled. "There have been only two models of the E2. The Mark I and the Mark II. You can be the Mark III."
It was the end of the school day. Thomas, Duck, Oliver, and James walked out of the school. "Do you wanna hang out with us Thomas?" Duck asked.
"Huh?" Thomas was stepping down the steps of the school and was heading to the dorm. "Oh. Sorry, I can't. I promised Carter I'd talk to him today,"
"Oh..." Duck said.
"It always is about Carter isn't it?" Oliver said with a giggle.
"Well, they're in love, it would be strange if they weren't all over each other," James said with a small chuckle.
Thomas blushed as he walked next to his friends.
"So when are you gonna introduce me to him?" Duck asked.
"Yeah, I would love to meet him too," Said James.
"I already met him, I can see why Thomas loves him so much~," Oliver smiled.
Duck gaped and looked at Thomas. "Wait? What? When did Oliver meet him? Geez, you let him meet him before me?" He said, with his tone clearly joking. Oliver gasped, and he shoved Duck's arm.
"Hey, what is that supposed to mean!?" He pouted.
"He'd rather would meet me, and see how dashing I am in red!" James smiled.
Oliver rolled his eyes and scoffed at James.
Thomas just smiled, then giggled.
"What's so funny?" Duck asked.
"The way you two always bicker at each other. Wow, between my friends back home in Toronto, and now you three. I never... expected me to ever become friends with people who appear... to be not weird,"
Duck laughed. "Trust me, we are weird,"
"Totally weird mate," Oliver giggled.
"I'm the only normal one here," James smirked.
"Ugh, you wish!" Oliver said as he playfully shoved James.
Thomas smiled. "It's only been two days, and I love you all already,"
Oliver snorted. "Two days? Did you forget the weekend existed?"
"Maybe he did since he did forget it was Sunday," James remarked.
Oliver busted out laughing. "Oh yeah! That was so funny!"
"W-well no! I meant... the two school days!" Thomas said.
"Well, you know we can be friends outside of school right? We all should hang out more. Maybe not this afternoon since you said you promised to talk to Carter," Duck said. Thomas nodded.
"Yeah," He said.
Well, Thomas had to wait until it was 8 pm. Because he forgot that Toronto is 5 hours behind.
He had sent a quick message to Carter when he arrived in his room, to Carter, but then Carter had told him he was getting ready for school.
Thomas was a little bummed that he couldn't talk to Carter, but he knows if he waited until 8 pm, it'll be around 3 pm for Carter, and he'll be able to chat with not only Carter but his other friends.
In the meantime, Thomas just decided to take a little nap.
He woke up at about 7 pm. He got his laptop, and quickly flipped it open. He went on the email app and pressed the video call option. He waited, and waited, hoping that Carter would pick up.
Eventually, Thomas saw his boyfriend's face on the screen.
Thomas's face lit up. "Carter!" Thomas smiled.
Carter smiled back. "Thomas!" He said happily.
"Ooh! Is Thomas on?!" Yelled a loud familiar voice.
Thomas gaped because he recognized the voice. "Is that Abby?!"
Abby, Mei, Miriam, Priya and Tyler, and another person Thomas couldn't see too well, were all sitting on a couch. They were next to Carter.
Mei smiled. "Hey, Thom-" But then Abby pushed her out of the way.
"Hey, bestie!" Abby yelled, with a giant smile.
"Abby watch it!" Carter yelled, because she had jumped up from where she was, pushed Carter, and nearly made him drop the laptop.
Thomas could only chuckle and what he was seeing on the screen.
"Thomas! Hey!" Said Tyler.
Abby got off of Carter, and Carter turned the laptop, so Thomas could see Tyler. "There's Tyler over there," Carter said.
Tyler was sitting next to Percy, with his arms around him. "Sup' Thomas!"
Thomas smiled. "Hi, guys!" Thomas smiled at seeing Tyler, Percy, and also Mei, Miriam, and Pyria. "Geez, I miss you all so bloody much," Thomas smiled.
"Aww, we miss you too," Miriam said.
"Carter can't stop saying how much he misses you~," Tyler said in a teasing voice, and he turned his head to Carter.
"Shut up Tyler!" Carter could be heard from the right.
Carter turned his laptop back to him. "So how's it going, Thomas? Anything exciting happening?"
Thomas chuckled. "So you miss me a lot huh~?"
Carter blushed and rolled his eyes.
"I miss you too," Thomas said with a warm smile. Then, Thomas answered the question Carter asked.
"Well, since the last time we talked... not really," Thomas remembered the dreams he had, but he really didn't want to get into those right now.
"Ah, I see," Carter said.
"Just has been exhausting, but I'm betting through it," Thomas said.
"So how did you like the Island, Thomas?" Thomas could hear Percy ask.
"It's very beautiful, I wasn't expecting it to be like this at all," Thomas responded.
"You should show us the Island!" Abby said, poking her head into the camera frame.
Thomas chuckled, "Well, I can't right now, it's like 9 pm, it's dark out. The camera quality probably wouldn't even look good in the dark,"
"Well, maybe in the morning? Just take some photos with your laptop, and post it to our emails," Mei said.
Thomas smiled. "Yeah, I can do that," He said, Thomas wanted to. He definitely wanted to show them all this Island. Maybe even his little dorm, and the school. And his new friends.
"My friends here want to meet you Carter, but I don't know when would even be the right time," Thomas said. "The time zones confuse me,"
"Oh! Well, maybe now? If they're awake?"
"I don't think they are,"
"Oh, you made some new friends?!" Abby gasped. "You better not replace us!"
"Abby, shush!" Miriam said pushing Abby's arms.
Thomas could only just giggle. "Trust me, nothing could ever replace you guys,"
There was silence for a little while.
"Are we that insane?" Mei asked, with a snort.
Thomas chuckled. "No, but you are all amazing friends, and I'm glad I met you,"
"Awww!" Abby said.
Thomas chuckled.
Thomas was about to say something to Carter, but then he heard Abby yell. "AHH CRAP!" But it wasn't just Abby, it was also Mei, and the rest of them beside Carter.
But since Thomas couldn't see them, and only Carter it made him confused. Thomas had his eyebrow arched, and Carter noticed and giggled.
"Are they alright?" Thomas asked, sounding confused.
"They're... playing something..." Carter turned the laptop. Once the laptop shifted, Thomas saw that Abby had something in her hand, and it was glowing a little from the top, and Mei, Priya, Miriam, Tyler, and his boyfriend were looking over her shoulder.
Thomas tilted his head. "What is that you guys are looking at?"
"Remember I said we were gonna have someone special come over?" Carter asked.
"O-Oh yeah! I forgot you did tell me that," Thomas said, now remembering.
"Well, that thing they have, belongs to him, but he's been in the bathroom,"
"Dude's probably taking a shit for him to take that long," Tyler said.
"Dude shut up!" Abby yelled as she pushed Tyler, who just giggled.
But Thomas just had his eyes fixed on what Abby was holding. Abby looked over to the laptop on Carter's lap, she scooted over and showed it to Thomas. "You wanna see? You can play games on it! It's so cool!"
Once she showed it to the screen, Thomas tilted his head. "What is that?" It looked like a tiny screen. "Is it like a handheld game? That's... a game on it right now?"
"Uh-huh!" Abby said as she continued to hold it up in front of the laptop. "Then where are the controls?" Thomas had a very perplexed face, and it was making Carter giggle a lot.
"You touch the screen!" Carter said giggling.
"Touch the? What?"
Abby reached over and touched a part of the screen, and the game shifted.
Thomas was amazed by that
This 'game' that was on the screen, was showing some room, with two vents on either side and a giant opened square-shaped archway directly in the middle. "This is insane..." Thomas said. Then, Thomas could hear a noise coming from the game.
"Why do I hear pop goes the wea-,"
Then something jumped out of nowhere, and the screen on this 'handled' game system, fizzled out.
"WOAH WHAT THE FU-?!" Thomas got startled, his leg shifted, and his laptop nearly fell off his leg. Thankfully, Thomas was able to catch it.
He could hear his friends laughing at him, "The freak was that?!" Thomas yelled, as he now set his laptop on his bed, and laid down on his stomach.
He could still hear his friends giggling, and he saw that Carter was snickering at him. Thomas blinked. "Did you all knew that was going to happen?" Thomas pouted. "What the bloody hell was that?!"
Carter snorted, then began to laugh more.
"What they had, is a phone, and they were playing a game on it," Carter said.
Thomas squinted. "Since when can you play games on a phone? That's not what a phone looks like..."
Carter looked at Mei. "What did he say the game was again?"
"Five Nights at Freddles 2 or something like that," Mei said.
Tyler scoffed. "It was Freddy's, Mei..."
Thomas tilted his head. "Wait... who is the other person you said was going to be with you? Is that who gave you this ph-," Thomas got cut off when he heard another voice.
"You guys seem to be enjoying thing things from my world," Said the voice. It sounded like this person sat down next to them, Thomas didn't see them.
"Yeah!" Abby said. "It's so weird how you're world is actually in a different time too! What else is from there?"
"Well, I can't show you guys everything,"
Thomas tilted his head as he looked at Carter. Carter smiled, the turned the laptop again.
Once he did, Thomas gasped at the familiar face he saw.
It was Mark.