When You Smile -TomTord Fic-

Chapter 6

A/N: Shitty chapter with shitty self-insert OC ahead. I'm sorry this is so bad. But the headcannon art should be up once I actually draw it.. I procrastinate very hard on everything..

<Tord's POV>

After Tom stood up for me to Lars, I wasn't bothered too much by the other kids.. It was pretty anxiety provoking, to say the least. When I passed by I could feel the glares being burned into my neck and shoulders..

I was on my way to lunch when a girl made her way in front of me, obviously angry about something.

“Hey, are you that Tord kid?”

“.... Y-yes.. W-why do you ask…?”

She flipped her dark brown ponytail so it rested on her right shoulder. Turning her attention back to me, she gave me a snide comment accompanied by a sneering snarl.

“Because Tom's mine. You won't have any chance with him. Period. End of discussion. I don't know why he's protecting you, but just know that it's more of a gesture of pity than anything else.”

“I kind of figured it was pity,” I sighed. “And I already know I have no chance. He's most likely a strict heterosexual anyway.. Can I get to lunch now…?”

“Fine. Go eat, shorty. I'm keeping my eyes in you.”

I left the conversation with a wave and made my way to the cafeteria. I honestly had no idea who she was, nor did I really care at the time, especially since Tom wanted to talk..

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I sat down at the table Tom was eating at. There were three more kids at the table, all male. Tom noticed my presence and introduced me to his friends.

“Tord, this is Edd,” he motioned to an average height male in green.

“This is Matt,” a tall ginger in a desaturated purple.

“And this is Edd's friend from art, Bryson,” a slightly short, effeminate boy dressed in various pastel blues, greens and lilacs.

“Pleasure to meet you,Tord.” Edd.

“Nice to meet you.. eh.. Todd?” Matt.

“Hey Tord, what's crackin’?” Bryson.

“N-nice t-to meet you all..” I timidly waved to them.

Tom turned to me. His expression held a simultaneous sense of worry, confusion and sympathy. He sighed before initiating the conversation.

“Tord, I'm only asking you this to get a clear understanding behind your obvious anxiety. I don't mean to hurt you. Hell, maybe I can help if you want. But I need to know.. What kind of stuff has happened to you to make you so.. skittish, for lack of a better term?”

He.. he asked about my past.. Matt and Edd looked so familiar now that I focused on their curious stares.. they were at that welcome party, as was Tom… I began shaking for at least the third time that day. Memories of childhood began flooding back to me. I could almost hear my dad as if I was still in Norway..

“Tord, det er vinter. Gå leke i snøen, sønnen. Jeg kommer rett inn i deg, trenger du meg. (Tord, it's winter. Go play in the snow, son. I'll be right inside if you need me)”

“Hva mener du at du er homofil ?! Ingen sønn av meg ville ha noen romantisk interesse for menn! (What do you mean you're gay?! No son of mine would have any romantic interest in men!)”

“Du er heldig, moren din står opp for deg, barn. Ellers ville jeg slå homoseksualiteten rett ut av deg. (You're lucky your mother stands up for you, kid. Otherwise I'd beat the homosexuality right out of you.)”

I could feel my breathing pick up and shake. My heart began to beat it's way out of my ribcage. My quivering also grew in intensity. I knew this feeling..

A panic attack.

Tears now accompanied the sense of panic that flooded my body. I couldn't hear what was going on around me. I could only hear my dad, the voice of Hell incarnate. The source of my depression.

Four pairs of hands set on my shoulders and began to attempt at shaking me back to reality. When that didn't work, three of them left and a pair of small hands wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into a hug, rubbing circles into my back.

I began to calm. Eventually, one of the hands worked up to my nape and began to rub firm cares into that area. When my breathing finally calmed, the person hugging me pulled away, leaving me with Tom, Edd and Matt looking at me with eyes widened in fear and Bryson looking directly at me with a similar expression.

“Thank goodness you're okay, man. I've never had to do anything like that. But holy shit did you scare us,” Bryson gave me the calmest look of worry I'd ever seen.

“Damn, Tord. I'm sorry for asking that. I didn't mean to cause that. Let's just work on keeping calm then, huh?” Tom had a look of sorrow on his face, he must’ve felt guilty for my panic attack..

“Tom.. it's okay. I'm not mad. Just.. confused is all.”

“What are you confused about, Tord? Tom's a good guy. He would never do anything to hurt someone he just met,” Edd stood up for Tom, and I couldn't blame him. I just screw everything up…

“I-it's nothing, Edd.. I'll be fine.”

“Whatever you say… Well, I guess we should get to know each other then, right? Tom went through the effort to introduce us. Why not hang out?”

“Good idea, Edd. Where to, and when?”

“I KNOW!” The four of us jumped in surprise as Matt slammed his hands on the table in excitement.

“WE SHOULD GO TO THE PARK LATER!!”

“Like, today, Matt? I mean, it’s not that far.”

“Yes, Edd. Today after school.”

“Sounds good to me. How about you, Tom? Bryson? Tord?”

“I'll go. Someone needs to watch Matt while you and Bryson geek out over art.”

“Hah, true, Tom! True! I'll go with you guys. Gotta learn the area better.”

I gave a timid nod in response.

“It's settled, then,” Edd gave a confident nod. “We’ll go to the park today after school.”

It was at this point that I couldn't help but wonder..

Why are they so nice to me??

A/N: I told you it was shitty.