~Chapter 1~ Tom was sitting on the couch watching TV while eating popcorn that was probably in the cabinet for months longer than it should've been. He munched on it at an unhealthy pace, his show was now becoming suspenseful. He sat on the edge of his seat until he heard a voice from behind him. "Lukas falls off the cliff into the water and is eaten by sharks, y'know." It was Matt, who was staring at the TV while stealing the popcorn. "Hey! Spoiler alert!" Tom snapped, sinking into his seat with a sour expression. "Jerk..." He muttered. Tom reached down into the bowl to grab some popcorn, but his hand only grabbed grease and kernels that hadn't been popped. "Aw... Dang it Matt, you ate all the popcorn!" Tom barked at him. Matt turned to face Tom. "No I didn't..." Matt said with a mouthful of popcorn. Tom sighed heavily. "Just go get some more. AND DON'T BURN IT!" Tom yelled the last part. Matt nodded, running off into the kitchen, tripping over his shoelaces as he made it to the kitchen.

Tom heard a loud clatter, followed by a screaming Matt. "NOT THE FACE!" Tom chuckled. "Why are you so stupid...?" Tom muttered under his breath. Footsteps started coming down the stairs, or maybe that was the rain. It had been pouring for the past three days, and they had to install the house with legs pretty much. The basement was soaked, along with Matt's mirrors, although he didn't know that yet. Tom sat on the couch smiling thinking about what Matt would say when he found out. Maybe he would leave! Edd walked over and sat beside Tom, rubbing his eyes. Tom could tell that he hadn't slept well last night. His eyes were red and there were bags under his eyes.

"Good morning, Tom." Edd said drearily. Tom smiled. "Mornin' Edd." He said back. Matt walked in with the bag of popcorn, and Tom snatched it from his hands. "You've had enough, my turn!" Tom barked, now happily reaching his hand into the warm bag. Grease covered his fingers, and he grabbed a handful and shoved it in his mouth... But there was nothing there. Tom looked in the bag, which was completely empty. Not even the kernels were left! "MATT~!" Tom growled. Matt looked at him with a guilty expression. "I was hungry!" He countered. Tom sighed, giving up. "Can you go make three for me, you, and Edd then?" Matt nodded, running to the kitchen again.

Edd laughed. "He's a handful, isn't he?" Tom nodded, giggling. Edd pulled Tom close, and Tom laid his head on Edd's shoulder. A loud bang of thunder made Tom grip Edd's hoodie tight, and the lights flickered a bit. Matt shrieked from the kitchen, running in the living room as the lights came back on. He wielded popcorn bags in his hands and one in his mouth. Edd laughed, hearing a knock on the door. "I've got it!" Edd said, getting up. Tom looked over at the door. Who would be in this weather? He thought. Edd opened the door, giving Tom a small view of a red something standing in the doorway. "Tord?" Tom said, but Matt overpowered the small voice with his. "TORD!" Matt said, running to the door. As Tord walked in, Matt basically tackled him, making Tord drop his bags. "Oof!- Hey buddy, how ya been?" Tord said. Edd pried Matt off of Tord, whispering something in his ear. Matt nodded and ran upstairs, grabbing his popcorn.

Edd turned back around, looking at Tord. "So... Hey." Edd said. Tord rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey..." He said. Tom looked at Tord, raising an eyebrow. "Uhm... What are you doing here? I thought you were going to live with your brother in Ohio because we-" Tom stopped as Edd gave him a stern look. "I mean, welcome...?" Tom corrected himself, making Edd smile. Tord nodded. "Thanks Tom!" He turned back to Edd, giving him a hug. "So, how have you been?" Tord asked. Edd smiled. "Good! How about you?" Tord put his arm around Edd's shoulder, walking upstairs. Tom looked at them as they disappeared. "Edd?" Tom said sadly. Without an answer, he sighed, turning around to face the TV, grabbing a bag of popcorn. The show he was watching was now off, and some kids show was on. Tom changed the channel, and again, just saw a kids show. He looked at the clock, until he remembered Matt had broken it with one of his paddle balls that had broken. Whatever time it was, there was nothing good on.

Tom sighed, turning the TV to a random channel, which happened to be the News Network. He heard something about a flood in so and so states. Matt was running back down the stairs but ended up falling. "NYAA!" He yelled before falling. Tom turned around, sighing. Matt got up, dusting off his face. "Matt, what the **** are you doing?" Tom asked, his voice cracking. Matt looked at him, smiling. "I'm dusting off my pretty pretty face!" He exclaimed. Tom started to sniffle a bit, turning back around. "Tom? Are you alright?" Matt asked, the smile clearing from his face as he walked over. Tom shook his head. "Well, what's wrong?" Tom looked at him, pulling his head up from his fetal position. "Why are you so dumb~?" Tom asked. Matt sat down beside him, patting his arm.

"GHAHAGH DON'T TOUCH ME!" Tom hissed, smacking Matt's hand away. Matt backed up, startled. Tom curled back up, grumbling. Matt stood up. "I'ma go check on Ringo." Matt said, walking away and up the stairs. Tom sat like stone until he heard Matt go all the way up the stairs, then he looked back, forwards, and sighed. Just then he heard laughter and two sets of footsteps. He looked back, seeing Edd and Tord walking down the stairs. Tord and Edd had their arms around each other, both with a Cola in hand.

"So, he went there instead of where?" Tord asked. Edd chuckled. "Well, he meant to go to the-" Edd turned to see Tom, his hair and 'eyes' the only visible thing perched on the couch. "Oh, hey Tom!" Edd said in his usual cheerful tone. Tom glared at Tord, but waved to Edd. "H-hey Edd?" Tom asked, motioning for Edd to come closer. Edd stepped forward, Tord behind him. "Yeah?" Tom looked down. "D-do you think we could have our movie time now? Our show comes on in seven minutes." Tom said. Tord and Edd exchanged a glance. "Oh, sorry Tom. I promised Tord I would show him around the block. They have a new carnival down next to the Cola factory. It might not be as good as ASDF Land, but I'm sure it'll be fun. You can come along if you'd like!" Edd said. Tom shook his head. "No thanks..." He said, his voice pitiful. Edd shrugged. "Okay, but that leaves you with Matt~!" Tord chuckled, and Edd headed up stairs to grab some items in case of an ASDF Land recurrence.

Tom shifted so that his back was away from the red hoodied tag along. Tom sniffed a bit, going back to his fetal position. "Hey Tom, you okay?" Tord said nonchalantly. Tom nodded slightly, trying not to make any noises. Tord chuckled. "You suck at lying." He said. Tom wiped a tear from his cheek, turning to face Tord. "Just face it, Tom. Edd doesn't have the same feelings for you as he used to. He's moved on. Give. Up." Tord growled. Tom tilted his head. "What are y-you talking about? I-I'm fine." He said.

Tord only chuckled. "Oh please. I can see right through you. It's pathetic." Tord snapped. This is when Tom started to cry. Tom's eyes started to water, a tear running down his face. He quickly wiped it away, trying not to prove Tord right. "No, that's n-not true." Tom muttered. Tord raised a brow. "Sure~ it isn't." Tord said, rolling his eyes. He looked at Tom, grinning in an evil manner. "He hates you, Tom. He told me so himself. Said that you're too clingy." Tord sneered. Tom shook his head, trying not to listen to him.

"N-no, he wouldn't say that." Tom growled. Tord laughed. "You don't know everything about him, Thomas." "Don't call me that!" "What? Thomas? Well, guess what?" Tom glanced at the staircase. Edd, please hurry up. Tord stared at Tom menacingly. "He wishes you were dead. Matt does too." Tord said pretty quietly. "N- what?" Tom yelped. "They all hate you, Thomas." Tord growled. Tom shook his head. "Nonononononono! I...I-" At that moment, Tom ran upstairs, bumping into Edd. Edd tried to grab his arm, but Tom shook his hand off, running to his room and slamming the door. "Hey Tord?" Edd said once he was at the bottom of the staircase. "Yea?"

"Do you know what's wrong with Tom? He seems upset." Tord was now sitting on the couch, reading a 'magazine'. "Uh... I think something happened on TV. Something about a... Cat I think?" Tord shrugged, not looking up from the... thing he was reading. "You sure? He seemed pretty-" Tord cut him off. "Okay, ready to go to the carnival?" Tord asked excitedly, jumping out of the chair and throwing the magazine on top of Ringo, who hissed and jumped off the couch, running for safety -and a possible Cola- beside Edd. The cat had always loved the sound of an opened Cola and the smell it emitted when freshly opened.

The grey cat purred, rubbing Edd's legs and weaving in between them. Edd knelt down and stroked the kitty, picking her up and nodding to Tord. "Yeah, let's go." Edd said, looking up the stairs. "Matt! We're heading out now!" Edd called, making Matt fly down the stairs. "Bye!" Matt said, grabbing Ringo. Edd and Tord walked out the door, closing it and locking it. The car started up, and got softer and softer, until it was no longer audible. Matt sat down on the couch, setting Ringo beside him and turned on the TV. Ringo, purring, sat down staring at the TV. Matt looked around, muttering, "Now, where did Tom hide the remote?' He got back up, looking under the cushions, on and under the coffee table, and in the kitchen, in case he had accidentally grabbed it instead of the popcorn.

He was about to call for Tom, when the TV turned on. "GAH!" He yelled in surprise, looking at the couch where Ringo was, his paw on the remote. "Ah, there it is! Good Ringo!" Matt said, sitting down and reaching for the remote. Ringo hissed, clawing at Matt's hands. "Oww!" Matt yipped, fake hissing at the grey cat. "Gimme the remote!" Ringo hissed again, pulling the remote to sit under her. Matt grumbled, crossing his arms.

-Scene Change, Tom's room- Tom sat in his floor, blood on both his arm, and the floor itself. He looked at his arm, the marks were still red, bleeding. His 'eyes' were torn. Not in a literal way, but you could see the pain flooding over. Growling, he flung the knife he had in his other hand at the wall, sending it flying into the wall. A loud thump was heard, and then a shatter of glass. Tom looked over where the noise was heard. "No!" He sobbed, seeing a broken picture on the ground.

He scraped away the glass and wooden frame, paying no attention to the new cuts on his hands. He picked up the paper image, flipping it over to see how badly it was damaged. . It was a picture of Tom, Edd, Matt, and Tord in second grade around Christmas time. Tord and Matt were making a snow fort while Edd and Tom were pelting snowballs at the large fort that was more like a castle. The lamination was scratched, and parts of the picture was punctured with glass. Tom tried to wipe away the small fragments of glass, but they only snagged the small fragments of glass and stuck into his skin. The pain, although not mentioned, was making him cry. It was that or the picture.

The picture, when everyone was happy. Where everyone was innocent. A tear dropped onto the page, and Tom put the picture in his pocket. He slowly pulled himself to the bed, opening the window. He pulled the picture back out, and another tear fell. His eyes blurred, and as he blinked, he was transported to... ... A snowy street filled with laughter and cold, wet snow. A memory, nonetheless. His small hands were covered in wet gloves, a thick coat, and a large, fuzzy hat. To his left was Edd, making a snowball. He was smiling, pure joy. "Hurry up, Tom! Tord and Matt are gonna get us!" He said, hurling a snowball and hitting Matt in the forehead, sending him backwards like he was shot. "Man down!" Called Tord, making Tom and Edd run over. Matt was laying steadfast in the snow. Remnants of the snowball were on his forehead.

"Matt, are you okay? Matt, speak to me!" Tord said dramatically. "Come on, comrad! The Army needs you now more than ever!" Tord put a bit of snow on his cheek, making it melt to seem like a tear. Matt quickly picked up three snowballs, sending them all into the faces of his friends. "NOT THE FACE!!" He exclaimed. They all fell back, and silence broke upon them. Edd and Tord exchanged a glance, stifling a laugh. Not able to hold it in, they all bust open laughing, with Tom exclaiming, "No, stop laughing! I CAN'T FEEL MY LUNGS!!" Wheezing, Matt goes, "I can never feel my lungs!" Only making the group laugh harder.

Tom sat on the bed, tears flooding his eyes, and choked sobs came out. Tord's words echoed in his head. They all hate you. A set of five knocks brought Tom back to reality. The only one who knocked five times- and the only one in the house- stood at the door. "Tom, are you in there?" Matt asked. Tom sniffed, wiping a tear from his face to keep Matt from seeing, although the door was still locked. "Go away, Matt..." Tom said brokenly. No movement. A few seconds pass, and Matt shifts his weight, making the old floor creak. "Tom, are you alright? It sounds like you're crying." Matt said, and the doorknob shook a bit. "Matt, please. Leave me alone." Tom said, on the verge of sobbing.

Matt could tell something was wrong. "Tom... Please let me in. I want to help you. Edd isn't here right now, just me and you. Please." Matt begged. Reluctantly, Tom got up and opened the door, his hoodie up and tight around his face. "What do you want?" He said, his voice sounding hoarse. Matt gave him a look of empathy. "Oh my... What's wrong Tom?" "Nothing, Matt." "Tom." "It's nothing!" Matt sighed. "Okay, if you really don't wanna talk, I'll leave. But if you need me, I'll be in my room." He said, stepping down the hall. Tom looked at him, stepping out into the hallway without Matt noticing. He followed him to his room, and stopped at the door.

Matt turned around with a gasp of surprisement. Tom looked down. "C-can I come in?" Tom asked. Matt nodded, and Tom walked in, sitting on the bed. He sat in fetal position. Matt gave him a sympathetic look, sitting down beside him. "So, you wanna tell me what happened?" Matt asked. Tom sighed shakily, nodding. Matt sat, ready to listen. Tom sniffled a little before starting. "T-tord said that- that Edd... That Edd and y-ou hated me and that you all wish I was dead..." He sobbed. Matt had a look of horror and pain on his face. "No..." He said, wrapping his arms around Tom. "No, that's not true." He said.

Tom sniffled. Matt dried a tear from his face, pulling out Tommy bear. Quickly, Tom grabbed the bear, holding it tight. A few seconds of silence passed with Matt gently calming Tom down. Tom sniffled a little into Tommee bear, wiping a tear from his face. Matt gave him a smile, making Tom smile back weakly in return. "It's gonna be alright Tom. I'm sure there's a logical reason that he said those things." Matt said. Tom jerked his head up, wiping away another tear. "Yeah, it's because he's a total DICK!" He snapped. Matt put his arm back around Tom, for it had come off of him when he snapped.

"Oh, Tom. You don't mean that." Tom grunted, curling back into his bear that was next to soaked. Sighing, Matt started to whisper. "Tord doesn't hate you. He actually is jealous of you. You always get the attention from Edd, and that's something he wishes he had." Matt murmured. Tom looked up, trying not to let the surprise show on his face. "He... He is?" Tom muttered half to himself. Matt nodded. " Yeah. He really does like you though. He's just... Not good at showing it."

Tom yawned, closing his eyes a bit. He leaned his head on Matt's shoulder. Matt sighed, glancing outside into the sodden world. He gently laid Tom down on the bed and closed the blinds, turning the room slightly inky. Walking out the door, he gently closed the door and drifted down the hallway. (A/N) that's the end of chapter 1! If you guys like it, be sure to let me know!

Thanks! I'll probably add the 2nd chapter tomorrow; I'm working on the third.

I have another one called The World As We Made It. Pretty much what would have happened if The End didn't happen

thanks

Aww thank you! That means a lot from you

eeee thank youuuuu

:3