When Time Stands Still (TomTord)

The One and Only Matt

Tom... wasn't exactly sure how to feel about Matt. He was loud, annoying, stupid, and only seemed to care about himself... But on the flip side, he could (on those oh so very rare occasions) make Tom laugh and was a very easy person to talk to.

They'd chatted for nearly two hours on the way to the school, discussing their favorite things, activities, and whatnot. Matt wouldn't have been Tom's first choice, but he could see them getting along in the future.

That is, if he'd ever shut up.

"So, I obviously know Jon's element, he is my brother after all, but what is yours?" Matt excitedly, hanging over the backs on the seat so he could talk to them from the row behind.

"It's not very interesting..." Tom mumbled, hoping to deter them from finding out. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his element or anything, it was more like it was the most boring power ever. Tom personally hated it.

"Oh come on." Matt pouted, crossing his arms as best he could in his position. "All I can do is turn my body to metal. I can't even control it or anything! Elemental of metal my a-"

"That's enough!" Jon quickly interrupted, clearing his throat. "We would still like to know if possible, Tom. Only one person has a certain element, it's fun to see what everyone has!"

Tom sighed dramatically, pulling a granola bar out of his large duffle bag and handing it to Matt. "Drop it."

"Just... drop it?"

"Yep." Tom replied, popping the 'p'.

Matt gave him a confused look, before dropping the bar to the ground. Right before it hit however, Tom caught it in a blue beam of light as it travel back the exact path it had came, and landed back in Matt's hand.

"Whoa! You can control gravity?!" Matt asked, eyes shining.

"Nope."

Jon paused for a moment, seeming thinking super hard about something. His face suddenly lit up as he snapped his fingers. "Time!" He pointed at Tom. "You can control time!"

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner." Tom replied sarcastically. "I told you guys it's nothing special."

Matt's mouth fell open. "You seriously think that's nothing!? You can control time! How is that not special!?"

Tom just shrugged. He'd never thought of it as special, and had had people always tell him it was lame and boring so...

"That is the coolest thing I've ever seen!" Matt squealed, gripping the seat tightly in excitement. Tom just stared at him, unbelieving.

"Sure it is." He mumbled, crossing his arms and looking away. Tom was and idiot for showing them. Now they'd all mock him just like everyone back home. 'Classic stupid Tom.'

"We're not making fun of you." Jon said gently, almost as if he'd read Tom's mind. "I don't know where you're from, but here your powers are a big deal. There are people that would kill for what you're able to do."

Tom let out a small sigh. "Great. Not only am I stuck with some weird power, but people will want to murder me over it. Yay."

Jon quickly shook his head. "That's not what I meant! I meant that people would be jealous of you! Everyone will want to be your friend!"

"So basically a bunch of people will love me for my power and not my personality." Tom snorted in response, leaning his head back to stare at the ceiling. "Sounds about right anyways. No ones making friends with me solely on personal-"

"Are you always this pessimistic?" Matt asked bluntly, staring at Tom.

"Matt-!" Jon scolded quickly, before suddenly being interrupted by Tom laughing.

"It's a core part of my personality, so you better get used to it buddy." He said with a small smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. Tom quickly realized what he'd said, his face dropping back down into his normal, board expression. "That is, if you do stay..."

The words 'with me' hung in the air, unsaid. Tom looked down when neither brother responded. He sighed quietly, starting to get up and leave when someone unexpectedly shoved him back down into the seat.

"Hey!" Tom cried, looking up and glaring at the two. He couldn't stop his hands from curling into fists, his fight or flight reflex kicking in. "What the hell was that for!?"

Matt had a panicked expression on his face. "I'm sorry! You were just getting up and I didn't want you to go yet, we didn't want you to go yet and we're sorry for not speaking up, you just shocked us that's all and-!"

"Matt." Jon said calmly, stopping the other boy as he grabbed his arm like he'd done it a million times before.

Matt seemed to relax, the tension draining out of his shoulders and the panic leaving his face. "Right, right... sorry..." He seemed to be apologizing more to himself than anyone else. "We just... Did you really think we were just going to leave?"

Tom's immediate answer of 'yes of course why wouldn't you' got stuck in his throat. All he could do was give them a tiny nod, making Jon let out a soft sigh.

"We've been talking to you for hours Tom! If we wanted to leave, we would have done it already." He said with Matt nodding in agreement. "I told you I was going to find you a friend. Friends stay."

Tom just stared at them for a moment.

"Oh."

Matt smiled, clapping Tom on the shoulder with one hand. "Jon is right! We're not-"

"LOOK EVERYONE! IT'S THE SCHOOL!" Someone cried out behind them.

It was suddenly a mad dash for the windows on the right side of the bus, ruining the little moment the boys had been having. Sounds of astonishment rose up from the teens.

Jon grinned apologetically at Tom as Matt quickly ran over to join the crowd. "He gets easily distracted."

Tom glanced over at the crowd with distaste. "I can see."

Why were they all so excited to look at what would be they're prison for the next few years? Tom had only seen pictures of it in the pamphlet from his parents and he still felt like he'd seen enough for one lifetime.

"Jon! Jon! You've got to see this!" Matt's voice rang out from somewhere in the mass of teens.
Jon turned back to Tom with another apologetic look and an open mouth like he was going to speak, before Tom beat him with a long sigh.

"Go to him." He muttered, watching the small boy smile at him before going to find his brother.

Tom couldn't wait for this whole thing to just be over...

Too bad the story had only begun.