The First Punch [t.h.]

Chapter 14 - Coyotes

The sound of dishes clanking from downstairs stirs Tom awake. The space against his chest is cold and empty, the opposite it was when he'd fallen asleep. His arm had been wrapped snuggly around SJ, holding her as close to him as possible. Now, his arm is pulled against himself, holding the blanket close to his chest to keep warm against the cooled bedroom. He peaks an eye open, the room dim with the closed blinds. To an unfortunate but not surprising sight, SJ is gone.

Tom sighs and he thought that maybe he'd wake up to her this time. It's her house and they really talked last night. It wasn't just bullshit and beating around the bush, they talked. But, to his dismay, she's gone and he's waking up in a cold bed again. It's only the second time but there is something, like a gravitational pull, that makes him feel like she's left him a hundred times over.  SJ has a fucking crest burned into her own arm. She was branded and she went on. She picked herself up and kept moving. So, Tom's always wakes up alone but she makes me him never want to wake up alone ever again. So, his heart is aching in his chest but he gets up.

The burns on his back sting as he stretches but he ignores it the best he can. It's a part of him and after talking with SJ last night, he's not going to let the burns hold him back or stop him or even dare to make him quiet. He's just going to pretend like they're not even there and like they're not bothering him as he tosses his shirt over his head.

Tom hits the bathroom before grabbing his bag and heading down the stairs that lead into the kitchen. They creak beneath his feet but he doesn't pay the wood much attention. Laughter is heard as Tom gets closer to the kitchen. He knows one is Harrison but the other he can't quite identify fully. If he had to guess, it'd be Matty and that brings his chest full of hope. Matty makes him feel welcomed and if Tom were being honest, he doesn't really want to ask about SJ if Mikey is around. There's something about the way Mikey looks at him that rubs him the wrong way and makes him uncomfortable.

To Tom's delight, when he reaches the end of the stairs, Harrison and Matty are standing at the sink doing the dishes, Matty washing and Harrison drying. It's a sight that warms Tom's heart. Ever since moving to the states, Harrison and Tom haven't spent much time in trying to gain friendships. They've always been well off with the two of them but seeing Harrison getting along so well with Matty last night and this morning, it's nice and Tom couldn't be happier.

"Hey." Tom greets, voice still a little groggy with sleep.

Harrison and Matty both look over their shoulder to see Tom. "Hey." Harrison nods.

"Morning." Matty chimes before attending to the dishes once more.

Tom walks from the staircase to the side of the table. "Uh, where's SJ?" Tom asks, rubbing the back of his neck.

"If she wanted you to know, she wouldn't have left." Mikey says as he appears from the living room, leaning against the open door frame.

Tom turns to him and his heart sinks but annoyance fills his blood. Tom has done nothing to Mikey and Mikey is throwing him this type of attitude. Mikey very clearly dislikes Tom and Tom doesn't know why. It was Tom and Mikey who pulled Arthur away from SJ and it was Tom threatening Arthur afterward. Tom and Harrison picked up SJ when she needed someone, on the anniversary of her mother bailing, not Mikey. There's something SJ trusts in Tom and Harrison in a different way than her two best friends and Tom doesn't know why but Tom also doesn't grasp why that is such a huge problem with Mikey.