When Time Stands Still (TomTord)

Happy Birthday

Tom was only a few seconds away from murdering the person who decided it would be a good idea to kick the back of his seat. The torture had been going on the entire bus ride, and Tom was almost at his breaking point.

Normally little things like this wouldn't bother him too much. Tom would just pull his brand new phone from wherever it was stashed in his hoodie and crank up the music. He'd let the songs fill his mind and stare out the window at the rolling hills they passed.

Maybe this time it bothered him because it was his birthday. Maybe it was because instead of cake and presents, he'd been shipped off to a boarding school while being told by his mother that he was "embarrassing to the family" and "not welcome there anymore".

Maybe it was everything... or nothing at all.

Still, whatever the reason, Tom turned around to face the kid behind him with fire in his eyes.

The boy looked like he'd peed himself. Tom had almost burst out laughing at the shear absurdness of it, but thankfully reminded himself he was trying at act scary.

"Oh my god..." The boy whispered, eyes going wide as saucers. He pressed himself closer the the back of the hard seats, willing to be as far from Tom as possible. "Your... your eyes! They're gone!"

This time Tom really did laugh.

The bus was almost silent by time he'd stopped, everyone fixed on the inky blackness that consumed the whole of his eyes. Tom squinted slightly, glaring at all the faces still pointed in his direction.

"I got these bad boys from a sight curse. You mess with me, I'll infect you too. Got it?" Tom threatened, pausing for only a moment to make sure they got the message. He sunk back down in his seat, smiling contently at the lack of kicking coming from behind him.

For the most part, the rest of the bus ride was uneventful. People ignored him, leaving Tom to peacefully listen to his music. The landscape flew past, showing incredible sights that even made Tom look up in appreciation.

But then the seat slowly dipped down next to him.

Tom didn't notice at first, too transfixed on the large canyon that passed under them as the bus traveled across a long concrete bridge. Eventually, the tiniest tap on his shoulder brought Tom's head around to face the stranger.

The kid looked way too young to be eighteen. Even sitting down and swimming in clothes way too big for him, Tom could tell that he was only about five feet tall and continuing to shrink under Tom's fiery gaze. He would have like to see the look of terror on the kid's face, if only he wasn't wearing those bulky sunglasses.

"I guess you want to share my curse, huh?" Tom growled, grabbing the kid's arm so he couldn't get run back to wherever he came from. "You just couldn't leave me alone..."

"No, please!" He squeaked, wiggling around in Tom's iron grasp. "I just wanted to talk! I've... Ive never met someone like me!"

Tom tried not to let the surprise show on his face. "What do you mean?" He asked aggressively, pulling his arm closer.

The boy shakily reached up to his face, pulling the sunglasses off as two dark eyes stared back at Tom.

"....What."

The boy quickly shook Tom's arm off as they went limp from shock. "My name's Jon. I, uh, my family was cursed by a sight witch too and," he gestured to his face. "this happened. I just wanted to know how you deal with it... I always wear my sunglasses when in public or talking to other people, but you're so confident! You literally announced it to the whole bus! I'm confident, but not with my appearance, with my eyes. Please help me."

Tom blinked, scooting back into his own seat. "I, uh..."

"Please, please teach me how to be confident like you!" Jon pleaded, looking at Tom with a sad look.

"I don't know what to tell you kid!" Tom snapped, finally getting over the initial shock. He crossed his arms with a huff, turning to gaze out the window. "You just got to not care, alright? Now get lost."

"But I can't!" Jon squeaked, bouncing slightly in the seat as the bus passed over a bump in the road. "That's like asking me not to breathe! Caring about others is all I do!"

Tom glanced over at Jon, not quite sure how to feel about the confused, shocked look on his face. He huffed out a small laugh. "I don't mean like that, idiot. You have to stop caring about what they think of you."

"Oh."

"Yea, your little crisis has been averted. Hooray. Now could you please leave me alone and never, ever bother me ever again."

Jon looked up for a few moments, sticking his tongue out like he was thinking about something really hard. Tom just sat there and stared at him, an unamused look on his face.

After a couple seconds, Jon turned his gaze to Tom. Something different, something determined was sparkling in his eyes. Tom didn't like that one bit.

"After lots of thought-"

"Yea. Lots." Tom mumbled under his breathe, not intending for Jon to hear.

The younger boy just gave him a sharp look and continued on. "As I was saying, I will not be leaving this seat. I have decided that you and I will become friends."

"What."

"That's right!" Jon exclaimed, jumping up from his seat and grabbing Tom's shoulders excitedly. "I am going to turn your life around mister! I'm the best at taking lonely little emos like you-"

"I'm not emo-"

"And turning them into people with at least a couple good friends." Jon finally let go of Tom's shoulders, clearing his throat slightly as he settled back into his seat. "Look, I'm not trying to change your personality, or who you are. I just think that it's important that everyone has friends they can count on, you know? You can't go through life all alone."

Tom shuffled in his seat slight, taking a few moments to think about what he'd really be getting himself into here. He let out a resigned sigh, regretting everything that would happen after this moment.

"Fine." He answered tiredly as Jon's face began to shine with excitement. "But, you have to get me a friend by the end of today. If you do, I'll believe in your magic or whatever, and continue to allow you to 'help'."

"Wonderful!" Jon exclaimed, clapping his hands together happily. "We can start right now!"

"What-"

"Wait just a moment! I'll go get Matt so you guys can become the best of friends!"