Permafrost

Chapter Four

After the tests they were all dismissed. Around half of the new group of people got their Seasons, which resulted in a lot of excited chatter filling up the hallways as they left, taking turns holding the door for the next people to walk out.

Purpled shuffled on through them, his hands shoved in his sweater, and one single mission going through his mind: to get as far away from Tommy as he possibly could.

Behind him, the taller blonde bounced around, a wild grin on his face. "Some of those fights were so epic!" he cheered, smiling at everybody around him. "Don't you agree, Purp? I especially loved seeing the new Summer's come out with their powers! You could just feel the delight spring up on their faces!"

"Mmm, hmm," he said in a flat tone. Hopefully, it would deter him away.

But, like usual, it only made Tommy step closer, shining his light to be even brighter in an attempt to 'befriend' him. It was pathetic, really. And, also a bit worrisome, because sooner or later he was going to get light-headed from all the heat he radiated out. "Oh, come on! Don't be an ice block! Cheer up! A few Winters spawned too!"

The guy really was too many exclamation points stuffed into one human. Exhaling, Purpled glanced around the hallway, looking at the markers on the walls, and turned right from the arena, heading back to the dorm rooms. "I know," he said, walking off. "I was there too."

He heard the footsteps behind him falter, then speed up after him. "Wait, the cafeteria isn't this way!"

Turning his head, he gave a pointed look at the Summer. "I've realized that."

His smile slipped away a bit. "But, what about the s'mores! Surely nobody can resist those!"

At the mention of the desert, he curled his hands into fists and he had to force the same bored expression on his face. "I guess there's one that can." Damn it, they just had to serve s'mores. It was almost like they knew of his love for marshmallows. But if he was going to escape Tommy, then he had to push even those aside.

His roommate gave him a confused look, and then shrugged happily and bounded after him. "Oh, well. Maybe I can have Tubbo bring us some?"

Inside his mind, Purpled was banging his head against the nearest wall. Why wouldn't the guy freaking leave? But he made his eyes widen and said, "Hey, if you want some, you can go and get them. You don't have to stick around me."

Tommy just smiled. "And why would I leave you alone? I've been inside that room by myself for a month and it sucks. There's literally nothing to do."

So he just nodded, trying not to deflate. He might as well just throw his plans of exploring the castle into the trash, or, better yet, burn it. "Well, I wasn't going to do anything either," he said, giving it one last attempt. "I'm kinda tired, actually."

"Great!" He grinned like that was the best thing since sliced bread. "We can play three truths and a lie! I'm honestly dying to get to know you better."

For somebody that had been attacked with a knife by the said person he wanted to know, he was really enthusiastic. Or just stupid. And Purpled couldn't help but admire that, at least a little bit. Still, though, it meant that his self-plans weren't going anywhere if this kid was going to be by him every single second. So all he really could do was shrug and mumble, "Fine."

Which, impossibly, made Tommy glow even brighter. Purpled shifted in his sweater, almost panting at how much heat he expelled out, and moved an arm to wipe his forehead.

"Oops, I'm sorry!" Tommy said, dimming down the light and lessening the heat. "Sometimes I forget that not everybody around me is a Summer."

Inhaling the cooler air, he nodded. "Yeah, makes sense. It's hard to constantly control it."