"I accept. Your offer, I mean."
Tord smiled lightly. "Good. Now c'mon. We leave in 15 minutes."
"How the freak have you never been to McDonalds??"
I shrug.
"So when people talk about it or ask you if you've had a big mac before, you say."
"I say yeah and that a big mac is my favourite."
"WHY??"
"To be nice?" I shrug, watching Maisie play in the playplace. "I like Harvey's. Underrated as fuck."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Watch yourself. No bad words around Maisie. If you must, say 'freak' and 'shoot'."
"Awe. So no swearing whatsoever?"
Tord sighed, rolling his eyes playfully. "Maybe if we're alone."
I gagged jokingly. "Ew! As if I'd wanna be alone with you! You probably reek of cigarettes."
Tord hummed, eyeing me. "I'm actually two years sober." Okay now that surprised me. I've tried rehab for my drinking, even quit cold turkey. Both didn't work. Man I think I'm actually two weeks sober now?
"EYYYYY LETS GOOO!!"
Tord jumped at my abrupt joy. "...Thank you...?"
"Yeah yeah we're both two whatever's sober! I'm like two weeks. I didn't even realize until now! I'm just that good."
Tord chuckled lightly, smiling. "Well done, Thomas. You're gonna have to keep that up too."
"No swearing or drinking? Sounds like...what was it you said before?"
"...What do you mean? What did I say before?"
"That uh..." I think for a moment, absentmindedly tugging on the back of my hair. "'Some hellvitt' thing?"
Tord seemed surprised for a moment, then a large smile creeped onto his face. "Som helvete?"
I nod. "Yeah that! Som helvete?"
Tord nodded excitedly. "Yes!! You said that so well, surprisingly!"
"It's kinda like some pronunciation from a latin class I took."
"...pardon?"
"Latin? I took a class in uni. Helvete itself is a lot like Hecate—strong first syllables y'know? HEL-vete and HEC-ate—which is a Greek goddess, but the Roman's and Greek themselves are very similar in culture and stories. Even language too!"
"...You went to university?"
I munched on my wrap and nodded. FUCK. FUCK I LOVE WRAPS!!!!!!!!!! Comfort food fr ugh they're so good I'm screaming. Where was I? "Yeah it was after you left. I got a full ride scholarship majored in Ancient History. Minored in creative writing."
Tord stared at me, his mouth agape.
"What?" I asked, taking another bite.
"How do you not have a job?? Dude that's AWESOME!!!!!!!!! And...so out of character for you."
"That's what everyone says." I snort, giggling. "Yeah there isn't a lot of music where we are. I'm always told to work to my strengths so that's what I did! Too bad there's no job opportunities around here for me. Sucks." I stick my tongue out, and smile as Maisie sits back down beside Tord. "Hey kiddo! How's the playplace?"
"Det er klissete!"
I look at her, then at Tord. "Right. Riiiiiiight. So..."
"It's sticky."
YOU ARE READING
The Cicada
Fanfiction"Sick of his own face; sick of his skin, of the dark. He crawls outside himself to sing-a better poet than most." Tom himself is a cicada, always has been. The fear and panic forcing him further underground as everyone around him strives to reach th...
