HufflepuffHolland's Writing Collection

Studying Abroad (Final) // Tom Holland

Harrison sighed in comfort. "Last final! We're free men, Thomas!" He hollered, jumping onto to Tom's back and catching him off guard, causing Tom to drop him instantly. "Am I that heavy?"

"You ass," Tom hissed, rolling his shoulder back and laughing at his friend beam next to him.

"Date night?"

Tom frowned, hiking his bag farther up his shoulder. "No, I canceled. Just didn't feel right, you know?"

"You used to be so good at keeping secrets, Holland." Harrison joked, frowning slightly when he didn't see Tom smile, or even a hint of one. "Have you... spoken to her at all?"

"What's the use?" Tom sighed, shrugging as he approached his car. "It'll make things worse. Need a ride?" Tom waved at Harrison when he shook his head, before getting into his car. He turned on the radio, thinking about what's happened for the past couple of months.

It's been all of three months since you've left, and Tom was miserable. The last time he spoke to you, like actually spoke to you, it was rough. You sounded tired – of what, he didn't know. Maybe of everything. Maybe of you, he shook his head, turning the music up in his car and trying to drown out the sound of his own thoughts.

-

"I'm home!" Tom yelled, dropping his backpack near the coatrack and throwing himself on the couch. He felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. He lifted his hips, digging his phone out to see what it was. A text message from you. He sighed, locking his phone and placing it on the coffee table.

"Hey, kiddo," Tom's mom called, letting her hand ruffle through his hair. Tom smiled faintly, feeling his phone vibrate again – this time, a call. "You're not gonna get that?" She asked, seeing him lock his phone, declining the call.

He shook his head, leaning back on the couch. "If I do, I might say too much."

She frowned, but shrugged it off nonetheless. "Date tonight, you ready?"

"I canceled it." He mumbled, causing his mom to roll her eyes.

"Thomas Stanley." She said, in a warning tone. His eyes widened slightly, not daring look up at his mother, afraid he may turn to stone if he did. "You avoiding this is not okay. I don't care how scared or nervous you are, you're acting like a child. She deserves some answers – even if it's not the whole truth. Give her something. You're going to drive her crazy."

Tom pouted, only for him to realize he was acting the way his mother described. His phone vibrated, another text.

are you avoiding me?

Fine, he thought. The next time the phone rings, he'll pick it up... and like clockwork, the phone rang again. Before he could even think about it, he swiped to answer the call, giving his mother a thumbs-up before walking over to the staircase, for privacy.

"Hey, sorry I ignored your call."

"Ignored my – what? You... you answered it, though."

Tom's eyebrows furrowed, moving the phone away from his ear and holding it in front of him, looking at the caller ID: Martha. "O-oh, I thought you were someone else."

"Who else would I be, Tom?"

-

"Why isn't he answering my calls? My texts?" You asked Martha, pacing back and forth around your room.

"Maybe he's busy," she shrugged, laying on your bed and texting someone back on her phone.

"I'm... nervous."