Partners [Eddworld High School AU]

"Friendly"

"Hey Tom!" Someone called, footsteps walking over to him. Tom turned, and saw his two friends behind him.

Matt grinned at him, adjusting his glasses a bit. Edd just sort of peeked from behind his boyfriend, giving a shaky smile.

"Oh, hey guys. What's up?" Tom went into the science room, sitting at their table with the others. Matt shrugged and looked at the board. The science teacher was one of those people who would give instructions, then let the kids do basically whatever they wanted.

"Yeah, same." Tom sighed, writing his name on his paper. "Also, heads up. Huge project in language arts. Like, partner worthy." He added. Edd perked up a little, knowing he would be paired with Matt. Not even the teachers could seperate them.

"So.. who did you get paired with?" The short boy asked. Tom grimaced.

"Tord.." As if on cue, said teen and the same group of people walked into the room. Matt frowned.

"Ah, man... that sucks. Well, once you do this, you won't have to deal with him again." He said, being the optimist he was. Tom sighed again, playing with a loose string on his sleeve. He would need to get a new shirt soon...

Tom almost always wore a thin sweater, and one of two t-shirts on top of it. It was nearly impossible to get him to change.

"Hey, dork. Tord told me to give this to you." The teen heard someone say, and whipped his head around to see someone wearing a yellow sweatshirt walking back to the group. He looked down, and saw a slip of paper in front of him.

Don't make me fail this, idiot.

Under it was Tord's "symbol" as he called it, and a phone number. He stared at it for a moment, before stuffing the paper into his pocket.

"What was that about?" Matt asked, tilting his head like a confused puppy.

"Just Tord's number." Tom answered, shrugging it off and getting to work. Edd smirked, making him look up again.

"What's that look for?"

"He gave you his number."

"So?"

"I ship it."

"What?! No, he hates me!"

"Matt hated me. Look at us now."

"He didn't hate you, he just didn't know you existed."

"Same difference."

Tom groaned, rubbing his forehead and ducking his head down. He ignored the small snickers coming from his friend, and wrote on his paper.

Soon enough, class was over, and the teen found himself walking with his friends to the cafeteria. Edd quickly bought a slice of pizza and an apple, and Matt brought in his lunch box. Tom was given the apple, some crackers, and a water bottle. He... couldn't get his own lunch.

"Well, would you look at that. Good ol' Thomas over here has to mooch off of his so called 'friends' like the hobo he is." Tom felt himself stiffen, feeling eyes burn into the back of his skull. "Here, why don't you take this so you won't starve to death?" Something hit his back, and a granola bar landed next to him.

His vision went blurry, and everything seemed to go in slow motion. He could vaguely tell that Edd was trying to calm him down, and keep Matt from socking Tord in the jaw at the same time, but he couldn't hear over the ringing in his ears. He couldn't breath, it felt like he was being choked.

"Go to bed, you don't deserve food, you worthless piece of-"

He was suddenly standing, and being led out of the room.

Pain shot through his empty stomach, and he curled into a tight ball, letting out a choked sob. Maybe he should just-

"...om... Tom!" The boy looked up. A teacher- his math teacher- was kneeling in front of him, her hands on his shoulders. He was in the hallway, sitting against the wall, and tears were streaming down his face.

"Tom, are you alright?" The teacher asked, eyes filled with concern. He couldn't look at her.

"I-I... I don't... feel so good..." Tom wrapped an arm loosely around his middle, still feeling the faint ghost of pain.

"Well, let's get you to the nurse, then." The woman helped him up, and led him down the hall to another room. He blinked, and was suddenly lying down in a dim room, a thin blanket draped over him.

Tom curled in on himself a bit, whimpering softly. He just wanted to sleep, and forget everything.