WICKED is good

Chapter 2: Birthday

Thomas and Minho immediately became best friends. Minho was shorter than him but twice as fast. He had no problem reminding Thomas that he was the stronger of the two.
Thomas soon learned that he could never take anything Minho said seriously because he was always joking or joking that he was joking. It was very confusing at times.
   The next day, Thomas met the other family. Two parents and their son. Minho introduced the boy to Thomas as Chuck.
Chuck was a chubby two year old with a mop of brown curls on his head. Surprisingly, he had a large vocabulary for such a young age making Thomas forget he was only two. Chuck was the most lovable person Thomas had ever met, like when he snort laughed at Minho's lame jokes or stayed with Thomas while he was crying, missing his dad.
Minho and Chuck became like family to Thomas and he couldn't imagine life without them. They were like brothers.
And like brothers they were on Thomas' fifth birthday, when Minho slammed Thomas' face into the cake then ran away before he could catch him. Chuck couldn't stop laughing.
"I'll get you for that!" Thomas yelled as Minho ran out their house and down the street, their parents laughing from the dining room.
"Psst. Thomas."
Thomas turned around to see Chuck in the doorway, waving him inside.
"What is it?" Thomas whispered, following Chuck to their room.
"First: cwean your face," Chuck said, having trouble pronouncing the "L". He handed Thomas a napkin.
Thomas wiped all the frosting off then asked Chuck what the next part was.
"Gimme dat." Chuck took the dirty napkin then climbed onto Minho's bed, smeared the contents all over Minho's pillow, then climbed down.
Thomas smirked. "Great idea, Chuck."
   They high-fived then left before Minho could catch them red handed.
Mom eventually convinced Minho to come inside, promising that if Thomas hurt him he would be grounded for a week.
Minho came inside, grinning at Thomas. "I'd apologize about the cake but I'm not really sorry. You should've seen your face, it was hilarious," he laughed.
Thomas rolled his eyes, using all his willpower to not tackle Minho to the ground. He didn't care to be grounded, especially on his birthday.
   "Whatever, Minho."
"Aw, don't be mad. I got you this," Minho handed Thomas a crumpled ball of wrapping paper.
"Um, thanks? I've always wanted a pile of trash."
"No, stupid," Minho laughed. "You have to open it."
Thomas did and found the newest video game console, the Shr!nk Screen. It was a screen that could fold so small it fit in Thomas' pocket and unfold to be the size of 36" TV. Also, instead of having to plug in the game chips, they only needed to be scanned.
Thomas stared at the gift in shock. These were so expensive he had no idea how Minho was able to afford it.
"How...?" Thomas started.
Minho laughed at Thomas' reaction. "My dad got a raise a few weeks ago so my allowance got a raise as well." He rubbed his fingers together, implying all the money he got.
"Thank you, Minho!" Thomas exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Minho's neck. "It's the best gift ever."
"Don't be too thankful yet," Minho warned, hugging Thomas back. "I'll be expecting a gift just as good in four months."
Thomas frowned, letting go of Minho. There was no way he'd be able to get Minho something half as good. He got no allowance and Mom was still looking for a job.
Minho smirked and ruffled Thomas' hair. "I'm just messing with you. As long as you don't get me dirt, I'll be happy."
Thomas smiled at his friend. As annoying as Minho was sometimes, he was the greatest friend Thomas could've ever hoped for. "Come on, let's go try it out!"
"Oh wait!" Minho exclaimed. "I hope you don't mind, but when I was, uh, running from you I stopped by my friend's house. I invited him over to play with us."
"It's cool. I don't mind," Thomas assured him. "When will he get here?"
As if on cue, there was a knock on the door. Minho answered it to a blonde kid about Thomas' age, maybe a little older.
"Thomas, meet my friend Newt."

Thomas, Minho, and Newt played on the Shr!nk Screen until Mom made them get off for dinner. Before they could get back to their game, Mom told them they should go see the new park that was built a few blocks away.
   Thomas knew better to argue but Minho didn't.
   "Hmm," Minho thought about it for half a second. "No, thanks. Come on guys let's go— ow!"
   Newt had punched Minho in the arm. "If Thomas' mum wants us to go to the park then we're going to the bloody park," he told Minho in his thick accent. "It can't be that bad."
   "Fine," Minho grumbled, rubbing his arm. "But you didn't have to punch me."
   Newt grinned. "I know. Tommy, do you have a coat I could borrow? I didn't bring mine."
   Thomas nodded. "Yeah. I'll go get it."
   Thomas ran into his room and grabbed the jacket for Newt. That's when he remembered the frosting still on Minho's bed. He considered cleaning it off but decided against it. Minho still deserved a prank.
   Thomas came back and handed the jacket to Newt who thanked him as they went out the front door.
   "Make sure you're home before dark!" Mom called out the door as they were leaving.
   "We will!" The three yelled back.
   "Well, Minho and I will," Thomas said. "You can stay out as long as you want, Newt. As long as your parents don't mind."
   "Thomas, no. Newt's—" Minho started before Newt shot him a nasty glare.
   "Newt's what?" Thomas asked.
   "Nothing." Newt answered, picking up the pace to avoid any further conversation.
   Thomas looked at Minho, confused, but Minho just shook his head slightly as they caught up with Newt.
   "I hope this park has one of those spinny go round things," Minho said, clearly changing the subject. "They're fun."
   "What's a spinny go round?" Thomas asked.
Minho gave Thomas a sly grin. "You'll see."