A Complicated Completion

t e n - one condition

T O M M E N

I wasn't bothered about girls often. I mean, sure I'd go out and find a girl to come home with but I hadn't cared about them, they were gone the next day.

I was bothered about Constance, I cared wether she was happy, if she got what she wanted, I was bothered about where she was going and with who. I thought about her a lot, and tried to talk with her constantly. If she was angry at me I couldn't "let it go" I had to grovel until I was in her good books. I cared about her a lot, so much that even when she ripped my heart out and stomped on it, I still cared for her.

And I think that I'm now bothered about Eliza.

Eliza interested me, I didn't know her but felt as comfortable with her as I would with Vin, which completely went against traditional me. If she was any other girl I'd would have just been my normal stoic self around her but I wasn't, she was different.

The school bell snapped me out of my thoughts as I slowly left the geography class, ready for lunch. My favourite part of the day because I'm not really sure my preferences have changed since I was 12.

"What the hell is this?" Eliza asked holding the small Tiffany's bag I left in her locker.

"I don't know, I thought you might like it" and then maybe let me take you out.

"Thank you but you don't need to give me stuff."

She shoved it into my chest, clearly showing her annoyance.

"I only meant that it would look nice on you," I took the bag out of her hand and span her around putting the necklace on.

I learnt that one from Troy Bolton.

"It's lovely Tom, but please don't buy me anything else."

Why doesn't she want me to get her things, I can tell already by the way she's twisting it in her fingers that she like it.

"Okay sure, on one condition."

"Which is..."

"You'll come out with me tonight," her eyes grew like saucers possibly in shock, she'd probably got everything she knew about me from Athena who I know will have told her that I would never do something like that.

"Er- S-Sure," she smiled, god she was pretty.

"Pick you up at 7," I waited for her to say anything in objection, "it's a date." I went to our table and she followed behind, I knew if I turned around I'd see a smile and a blush but I wasn't going to that to her.

As I sat down, I expected as it's always been for Athena to sit next to me. I don't know why but I think every friend group has unofficial official places on tables and we'd always stuck to them, but Athena had swapped seats with Eliza.

Maybe she was better at reading me than I thought, or maybe Eliza had said something to her that made her do that. I hope it's the latter.

But the move made me think of Vin, for some reason he didn't like the idea of Eliza and I, I think he felt like I was cheating on Con which was almost ironic after everything she'd done.

I think that's the first bad thing I've ever said about Con. It feels weird, and I didn't even say it. I guess I do always justify her actions, I need to stop that. She did what she did, my words can't change it.

I love my brain, I can get completely and utterly lost in it, but Vins almost shout of, "Tommen!" Snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Hmmm."

The lunch table was looking at me, like I was insane. Sometimes I felt slightly insane. Sometimes I don't even feel insane, I know that I kind of am insane.

"Are you sure you're even on this planet right now?"

"No, I'm lost in a place called my mind." My voice was dripping with sarcasm as I drew a rainbow with my hand.

"Well would you mind swimming out of it and at least pretend to be interested in us."

"I am interested in youse, but just not the conversation."

"You don't even know what we're talking about."

"Exactly, I'd like to keep it that way."

I slumped into my seat as I watched them clearly making plans that someone would tell me about later but I found studying them much more interesting than talking about what film to see.

Alienating my self from the conversation just let me see how well we worked. If anyone changed too drastically our machine of friendship would stop running- it's a worrying but comforting thought. Comforting as we are all dependent on each other for happiness, and we compliment each other with our varying skills and traits but worrying that if one person decided to change them that we could stop flowing.