Broken Friendship.

Chap.1: A new comrade.

You know, as a werewolf, you don't usually spend your evenings studying or gently doing your homework. As far as I am concerned, I mostly go wolfing out and howl at the moon. That's why I have such bad grades. And in chemistry, even Merton can't help me. So when the teacher stopped the lesson during the course to present us a new student, I was probably the first and not the last one happy about it.

.

In class.

« -Hey dear students, pay attention, one second please. I'd like to introduce you Barry White. He's just been transferred from Hartsdalle, so be kind with him. »

Barry stood there one second and went to sit down at a free table. He was obviously very ashamed. The professor couldn't even catch him up to make him introduce himself to the class.

« -Hartsdale? I heard Merton whispering in plain. That's not even far from here!

-Yeah! Pepped up Lorie. When you choose a new town to live in, go to a more well-known town than Pleasantville! »

They both laughed more or less silently. I chuckled under my breath.

« -Come on guys! Don't be so harsh! Maybe he didn't had the choice! »

We laughed even more. Too bad for us, the teacher saw it.

« -Hey, Dingle! Baxter! Dawkins! Whatever makes you laugh it isn't allowed. I want to see you three after class. »

We struggled. Man! This teacher wasn't easy to deal with. But immediately, Merton came at our rescue.

« -Hum, sorry? Interrupted the Goth kid. Actually, it's my fault. They were just… being polite by laughing I guess?

-You? Asked the teacher, startled. It's not that I don't believe you but… »

At Merton's begging face sight, he let go. "Fine, if it pleases you Dingle…" He perfectly knew that Merton wasn't a trouble child. You just have to look at his grades to understand that. But again, he couldn't show favouritism. I leaned back to my friend.

« -Thanks, Merton buddy! Did you do that because I have training after class?

-Yes of course! No problem Tommy. »

As the teacher scanned the class, I focussed back on my work. Arg! Chemistry! Horror for mind and nerves! But what I wasn't aware of was the cold glance the new kid was giving us. The cold and emotionless glance heading straight to my best friend, Merton.

.

The hallway.

After class, I went directly to my training. I devote myself entirely to sports. After all it was thanks to Merton if I could be there, and I was grateful to him about that. I ended first at every exercise, but when I got back into the hallway, I was so tired I only wanted to go back home. No more school, no more talking and for god's sake, no more babble mouth Mert…

« -Tommy! Guess what? »

Speaking about him…

« -C'mon! Guess! Try at least! »

I backed up my head, looking at the ceiling for a second and then went back to Merton. He was as nervous as a cat. For one second I even wondered why he was so full of bean.

« -Ok… Did you… win a cross chess tournament?

-No! It's… Wait what?

-Don't know dude, you asked me to guess.

-Well, that's funny, but you're wrong. He told me, not even affected by my odd comeback. You know the new kid, Barry? I can't wait to introduce you to him, he's awesome!

-Yeah? And what makes you say that?

-He came after class to talk to me, and he was very kind! I suspect him to be a little Goth inside. We quickly became friend!

-The only fact that he came after class to chat with you is enough.

-What with the ironic talk? Asked suddenly Merton. I thought you were cool?

-I am! I said as a reply. I'm just… »

I couldn't find an honest answer, and Merton felt that. I know Merton wasn't the type to make friends easily, so why was I so tickly about it? I hardly even know myself.

« -C'mon Tommy, I'm no stupid! He uttered. You can tell me if something's wrong!

-I'M ALL-RIGHT! I snapped. »

What was that? I didn't mean to say that! Merton was petrified. I don't usually shout at him, even when he's truly annoying me. But… This feeling was like I couldn't help but saying things I didn't want to say. Strange. Merton tried to answer back, but I cut him:

« -Now MOVE! I yelled. »

No! Don't be so harsh… myself! Again, my actual reply hadn't wanted to get out. To say sorry was the top priority, but that wasn't the correct way to express regret! Merton made a weird smile, which was more like a grin, then took his backpack and sighted:

« -'K. Anyway, see you tomorrow. He declared as he left. »

I saw my friend leaving with a sad expression on his face. I wanted to call him back, but I couldn't say anything. The words were trapped in my mouth. As he disappeared at the corner of the corridor, I noticed a boy standing at the exact opposite of me. He never left my eyes. Without warning, he began to run to catch somebody in the direction that Merton had taken. Wait, wasn't that Barry? Before I could follow them, Lori rejoined me.

« -Tommy! You're here!

-Oh, Lori!

-What's happened? Merton left abruptly. Strange!

-I… was a bit crude. I don't know why. »

Putting the problem aside, she went straight to the point, as if she was in a rush.

« -Anyway, I wanted to go to the Factory this evening, mind to join me?

-Yeah, why not? Let me inform Merton and…

-Hum… I was thinking of just you and me? Like… a date?

-Really? I tried to hide my excitement without success. Ok when do we meet?

-Let's go now?

-Sure. »

Screw everything; I was on a date with Lori! My tiredness could stand to wait a bit more. I resigned myself to go to Merton's lair later to apologize. He would understand. After all, Merton's my best friend!

.

The lair.

« -Merton, is that a snake?

-Yeah it's Rasputin, be careful with him. »

As Barry was dazed by his reptile friend, Merton's thoughts went back to Tommy. It seemed as he was in a bad pass today. It didn't happen to him since his dark side had shown up. There was something abnormal behind that.

« -Hey Merry my friend, you ok? »

Barry's head appeared behind Merton's shoulder. Merton almost died of terror.

« -D'ah! Uh. No problem Barry, I'm all-right.

-Eh, relax! It's just the two of us here this evening. Told the new kid, sensing Merton's anxiety. Are you afraid of somebody showing up?

-Well, I expected somebody to show up but… He is a kind of blowing off.

-It's not a big deal, who is he? Who dares tormenting my Merry's mind like that?

-Well, you can call him my best friend…

-Your best friend? That Tommy boy you stood up for in chemistry? He doesn't even seem very friendly to me. Am I not your best friend?

-What? You're not! I mean… We just met today! You're a good pal but you must have better friends in Hartsdale you want to stay in touch with, don't you? »

Swiftly, Barry dropped his head. He looked very depressed. Merton panicked, was it because of what he had said? The other boy turned his back to him, playing with the snake again.

« -I… hadn't. Not a single one… »

All of a sudden, Merton had a vision. He saw himself at Barry's place, one year earlier, when nobody in school wanted to hang out with him. Surely, he had had the chance to meet Tommy, but apart from him and Lori, since then, nothing had changed for him. That was a big revelation. He never thought about that before. The tons of problems Merton wasn't able to see before came up to him. If Barry wasn't just in front of him, he would have disappeared in the blur with the rest of the room.

« -They pretended to be friend with me so they could play dirty tricks on me even more.

-That's not fair. Moaned Merton. »

And that's just like me… He thought. Merton felt a great sense of compassion emerging in him. His social life was exactly like Barry's, except that he never had the chance to climb any social ladder. This boy, right here, ought to have a better social network than he has.

« -Barry, you can start a new life here. You just have to stand out a bit more and above all… not be seen with me. »

It was heartbreaking to tell him something like that but Barry hadn't lived the same life as him. Merton knew his new friend shortly before, but he had a good feeling about him. Barry had a chance he did not get, and he had to save him from the people's general apathy. At his surprise, Barry dazed him like if he had said something really stupid.

« -You didn't get me Merton. Barry explained. I need somebody I can trust, not tons of people I hang out with just because they like the "superficial me".

-Bu… But… I'm a freak! If you start with the wrong person it would be over for you! Zero integration! Same result as in Hartsdale! You'll be categorized as a freak with me forever. I mean… you barely know me and I don't want… I don't want another person to live this. »

Shit. Since when has he become all sentimental like that? That wasn't like him at all. And oh damn was that a tear?

« -Merton? Look at me please. »

With an immense effort, Merton raised his head. Barry had a reassuring smile on his face. Reassuring, and almost eerie.

« -It's too late Merry, I'm already your friend. »