With the warm glow of the setting sun glinting off his boiler, Thomas chugged through a small Toronto neighborhood. A few cars were going up and down the road, and their drivers couldn't help but stare as this steam engine rolled along the tram lines.
"T-Thomas, you know everyone's watching us, right?" Carter asked.
Thomas just grinned. "Let them. It's like they've never seen a tank locomotive before."
Carter chuckled softly. "You sure have changed since today, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess I have. I'm tired of keeping my secrets bottled up," Thomas replied as a familiar house came into view. "Hey, Carter, we're almost there."
As Thomas chugged up to Carter's house, he applied his brakes gently until he came to a smooth stop right at the driveway. Once he stopped, Carter hopped down and made his way off the engine. Moments later, Thomas shifted back into his human form.
"Wow, that was quick," Carter said, a hint of astonishment in his tone. "You can change really fast now."
"I guess all that practice paid off," Thomas replied as he walked up to Carter. "Maybe having to change so often was exactly what I needed."
Just then, Carter's mom stepped out the door. "Hello, sweetie! How was your date with Thomas?" she asked as Carter emerged from the doorway.
"Hi, Mom! It was great!" Carter replied with a smile.
Her eyes then turned to Thomas. "Ahh, so you're Thomas! Carter never stops talking about you—he—"
"O-Okay, Mom! I—I do not!" Carter stammered, his face turning a little red. Thomas felt a blush of his own at the thought of Carter's endless chatter about him to his parents. "Sorry for teasing you, Carter. Feel free to come in when you're ready," she said warmly.
Carter glanced at Thomas, and Thomas couldn't help but smirk. "You talk about me a lot, huh~?"
Carter grunted in protest. "Ugh, since when did you become the teasing one?" he shot back, and both burst into giggles.
"Hey, wanna come in and play some video games?" Carter asked.
"Sure," Thomas replied with a smile.
"Ooh! Got you again!" Carter teased as they started a game.
Thomas rolled his eyes. "Bullocks! This game doesn't agree with me at all!"
Carter burst into laughter. "W-What? Your accent! The way you say that word is so hilarious!" he giggled.
"Geez, I'm British—I can't help it!" Thomas retorted. "My dad says these words endlessly,"
"Would you like some fish and chips, mate?" Carter teased, with a fake British accent.
"Don't you dare," Thomas replied with a playful shove. "Maybe you'd like... uh... Some... what dishes do you have in Canada?"
"Pifft," Carter snorted. "You really don't know?"
"I know! Burgers!" Thomas declared.
Carter blinked, setting his controller down. "That... that is not Canadian."
Thomas looked at him, exasperated. "You don't know how stupid I feel right now," he said, turning away.
"PIFFFTTTT!" Carter laughed so hard he nearly fell over, making Thomas blush even more. After a moment, Carter calmed down. "Well, Pouding chômeur is a dessert from here that I really like," he said.
"Hm? Pounding... um... chôm... uerl?" Thomas attempted.
Again, Carter erupted with laughter.
"Wait... how do you even say that?!" Thomas groaned.
Carter continued laughing. "This is just as funny as the day you tried to say my name without your accent!"
Thomas's eyes widened. "Ugh, not that again!" he yelled.
"Hahaha! That was so funny! Carteal! PIFFFTTTT!"
Rolling his eyes but secretly loving Carter's giggles, Thomas picked up his controller and quickly beat Carter's character in the game. "I have never seen such bullshit before," Thomas grunted.
"W-What! Hey! No fair, Thomas!" Carter protested.
By the time Carter reached for his controller again, Thomas had already claimed victory. "Nooo! That was sooo not fair! Mean!" Carter pouted.
"Yay! I won!" Thomas exclaimed.
"Yeah, by cheating!" Carter giggled.
"Nah, this is payback for all the times you killed me in the game!" Thomas argued.
"That was a fair fight!" Carter said, crossing his arms. "You just suck at the game," he teased, causing Thomas to pout before booping Carter on his belly. Giggling, Carter pushed Thomas's hand away. "You've got an issue,"
"With what?" Thomas asked.
"You Keep on tickling me and messing with my belly and belly button," Carter rolled his eyes. "Weirdo,"
Thomas smirked before turning his gaze back to the screen.
"What was that smirk for, you cheeky dummy?" Carter laughed.
"I am not cheeky!" Thomas pouted.
"You definitely are at times!" Carter chuckled. "See? I know all your British words!"
"Oh really, do you know 'chuffed'?" Thomas challenged.
"What is that? Is that what you do when you chuff-chuff as an engine?" Carter joked.
Thomas snorted. "What, no!" Carter laughed along.
"Well, what does it mean then?" Carter persisted.
"I thought you said you know all British words..."
Carter rolled his eyes. "Ugh, fine, I don't know all of it,"
Thomas giggled. "I'm chuffed around you, mate," Thomas said, deliberately accentuating his British accent.
Carter chuckled at it. "What does that mean?"
"Chuffed is a slang term for happy. I said I'm happy around you... mate," Thomas turned his head to Carter. Carter smiled sweetly at him. "Awww... I'm "chuffed" around you too!" He said, as he leaned over at Thomas, and kissed his lips. Giggling, Thomas kissed him back.
"Man... I love you so much," Carter murmured.
"I love you too," Thomas replied with a radiant smile.
"Thomas... So... uh..." Carter began hesitantly.
Thomas was about to head back to his dad's place as darkness crept in. Carter, still saddened by the thought of Thomas leaving for the island tomorrow—even if it was only for a few months—looked down. "I know... I'll miss you too," Thomas said reassuringly. "But remember, we can always talk over email and video chat. Plus, you'll see me tomorrow—I'll be there for breakfast before I head to the airport with Dad."
"Hold on... I gotta ask my mom something..." Carter said, turning away.
Thomas watched as Carter walked toward his mom's room. "Oh... okay," Thomas murmured, standing by the door until Carter returned.
A few minutes later, Carter came back with a small smile. "Um... what?" Thomas asked.
"I... asked my mom if I could come with you to the airport tomorrow. I told her you're leaving for a few months, and I wanted to give you a proper goodbye, so she'll let me skip school!"
"You'd really do that for me?" Thomas asked, touched.
"Yes! I just want to say a real goodbye," Carter said. Thomas wrapped him in a tight hug.
"It won't be goodbye forever. I'll be back, okay?"
Carter snuggled close. "You better, alright?"