Don't Look Back
Dunno where this plot bunny came from... I should have the second part of this up soon... Characters not mine. Hope you like.
"Tommy! What is wrong with you?" Lori demanded, her books dropping onto the lunch table in front of him. He was sitting alone today, staring at his best friend from across the cafeteria.
He didn't look up or otherwise acknowledge her presence.
"Answer me!" She ordered, sliding into the seat opposite him, Merton's seat, and grabbing his arm in a vice grip.
He shook his head. "It's better this way."
"What are you talking about!? He's miserable!" She cast a glance over her shoulder at the black haired boy hunched over his lunch, left to his own exile at the otherwise abandoned lunch table.
"Trust me." Tommy growled. "He's better off."
Lori rolled her eyes, let out a frustrated sigh and stormed off to sit with Merton.
"Merton." The football player stopped his best friend in the hallway, grabbing the boy's arm in a familiar gesture. "We need to talk."
"Yeah?" Merton was digging through his locker, in search of – if Tommy had heard correctly – Goofer dust. Some new thing he'd won off of eBay as protection against evil spirits. Or something.
"I… don't think we should hang out anymore." The words ripped through his own heart even as he said them, but it had to be done. "I don't think we should be friends."
Merton turned to stare at him, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "I… but… why?" Hurt was sketched across his face; Tommy could smell the mix of pain and betrayal coming from his friend.
The football player forced himself to answer. "It's just not supposed to be this way, okay?" he didn't wait for a reply, just walked away. Didn't look back.
He hadn't counted on Merton fighting back, though. That afternoon after football practice there was only one car left in the parking lot, a very angry Merton leaning against the door.
"I know you're tempted to take off on me, but we need to talk."
It was hard to resist the urge to run away, to not have to face the hurt and betrayal and mistrust in Merton's eyes. But, he did. "Please… Just believe me. You're better off without me. Safer. Please understand…"
The words must have registered, because Merton stood up straighter. "Is this… about the wolf? Or…?"
"No." Tommy met his eyes. "Not the wolf."
"I can help…" He protested, reaching for Tommy's arm, but the taller boy pulled away.
"No." He said again, stepping away. "Just… don't. Okay?"
Merton, fully aware that there was no way he was sticking to that request, merely nodded. His best friend was in trouble! Hell would freeze over before he let Tommy get hurt. "Yeah."
"Good. Promise me."
"Can't do that."
Tommy glared.
"I'm sorry, but I can't promise you that." Before he had barely finished the sentence, he was being dragged away, towards the trees off to the side of the school. "What-?"
Tommy pressed him against a well-hidden tree trunk, brushing his lips over Merton's. "Someone is watching me. I don't want you to get hurt. I can't let you hurt."
Still dazed by the kiss, Merton almost let him escape, regaining enough sense of mind to latch on to the football players sleeve once again. "Let me help." He protested yet again.
"I can't!" Tommy snapped, though he slid his hand into Merton's for the briefest of seconds. "Just… stay away. Please." Then he walked away again. Didn't look back.
Merton found a piece of folded paper in his hand.
Now, satisfied that he had been abandoned for his own safety and not because his non-existent social status, he sat staring at the note Tommy had slipped him. He couldn't believe it.
The Werewolf Syndicate.
"Tommy Dawkins,
We know what your weakness is now. If you don't cooperate with us, we'll take him. You are both being watched, I assure you. Leave him or he dies."
He read the letter again and again. He was Tommy's weakness? How…?
Then it clicked, combining with the kiss just moments ago. Tommy loved him.