Lost Lovers | Tom Holland

Chapter IX: Escape and Evade What They Forever Forbade

Chapter IX: Escape and Evade What They Forever Forbade

"Passengers on the move, not moving,

becalmed in a between place

on the way elsewhere."

- Bus Station, by S. Pugh

Sophie stood by her bedroom window. On the lawn behind the house she saw Tom and her father in vigorous discussion about the sunflowers Sophie's dad was growing. Tom was wearing a pair of old jean-dungarees and Wellington boots that Sophie's mother had dug out from the basement. He looked happy standing there, trying to learn about fertilisers and how to see which tomato plants are growing effectively and which to cut and throw.

"How are you?" Sam asked through the phone.

"I'm good. Just good." Sophie said, somewhat distracted by Tom and her father laughing at something, throwing their heads backwards.

"You sound different. Better." Sam said suspiciously. "Something hasn't happened has it?"

"No. I'm just finally learning to appreciate home." She said.

It didn't feel right withholding information from Sam. But Tom and Sophie had agreed not to tell him. Without saying anything, they both knew it was a matter of time and that they were only trying to stay separated from reality for a while longer. At least they were in the same place, as friends. Although it hurt Sophie to know that it eventually would end, she occupied herself with the knowledge that they both were happy, even if it was only for a moment.

"Sophie, I offered to go to the shops, do you wanna come?" Tom said from the door frame. Sophie hadn't even realised that he was no longer with her father in the garden. She covered the microphone of her phone quickly and looked at Tom with wide eyes who responded with mouthing "sorry".

"Who is that?" Sam asked.

"No one," Sophie said. "Just one of Alice's friends... How are you?" She said quickly to change the subject. Tom smirked and Sophie waved him away, but he started walking around Sophie's bedroom casually.

"I'm all right. Mum's calling me every second to ask about Tom. Obviously I don't know what to say since I have no idea where the hell he is. Frankly, I'm getting annoyed." Sam said. Hearing him, Sophie felt guilty that her best friend was currently complaining about his missing brother when she was looking at that very brother flicking through the vinyl records in her bookshelf.

"We have to tell him," Sophie sighed to Tom as she hung up the phone. She sat down on the bed. Tom frowned. "He's really worried about you."

"If I have to deal with Sam, I have to deal with my whole family. And I just can't..." Tom spoke quickly and sat down beside Sophie.

"I know..." Sophie said, instantly feeling Tom's warmth beside her. She felt a stabbing motion in her stomach. They were sitting right beside each other. Yet they were determined to stay parted. Although Sophie knew it hurt to have him this close, it was worse when they were apart. And she told herself that on a regular basis.

"When was the last time you talked to your parents?" Sophie asked and stood up, consciously creating distance between them.

"A few weeks ago, maybe..." Tom said.

"At least you need to talk to Sam. I think we should tell him that you're here. He'll understand."

"I don't think he will. And even if we would, what could we say?" Tom said and looked to the floor.