Chapter Text
Third Grade
Tord frowned at his desk. Scree Scree Scree. He pressed the metal pen tip deeper into the wood of the desk. Dark lines formed as he sketched out a box. His classmates were wandering around the room, passing out little cards and candies. The norski looked up from his scratching. There was a boy in front of his desk. “I Help you?” He asked, English still shaky from the recent move. The Norwegian accent was thick in his words. Ew.
The boy held out a card. Green hoodie sleeve slipping slightly over his hand. “Look! Its red like your coat.” The boy with chocolate brown locks gave a lopsided smile and held the card closer to Tord. It was indeed red like the norski’s favorite hoodie. With shaking fingers Tord took the card. There was a sucker taped to the paper. “Best of friends!” Read the overly fancy grey script. Tord looked up at the boy. “My name is Edd.” The boy in the green hoodie pointed over at two other boys across the room who waved. “And thats Matt and Tom. You wanna come over an hang out?” Edd looked back at Tord.
These boys.....wanted to hang out with him? Tord nodded eagerly. “Yes. Thank you.” He picked up the bag and his card and went over to the other boys.
5 Years Later
“Tord. Hey Buddy.” The sound of Edd’s voice through the bathroom door echoed slightly. Tord sniffled, hugging his legs closer, back to the wood door. The wood shifted as Edd sat down and leaned on it as well. “It’s ok buddy. None of us are mad at you.” Tears rolled down the Norski’s face slowly. His breath hitched as another sob racked his body.
“Listen. You are an amazing guy Tord. No matter which way you swing. We like hanging out with you a lot. And just cause you like guys doesn’t mean we hate you or anything.” There was silence. Tord rubbed his runny nose into his sleeve. They.....They didn’t hate him? He was disgusting and not normal. But they still liked him? “Tord. Come on dude. Matt is Trans and Im asexual, do you really believe we would leave you for something as simple as being gay?” Edd’s voice made him relax. Then there was Tom’s voice.
“Yo, We’re gonna go made good on those valentines day discounts at the icecream shop on the corner. You coming or not, Tord?” The door was unlocked and Tord opened it slowly, peering out. “Icecream?” He asked, eyes still red from crying. Edd pulled him into a hug. “Yeah, Ice cream.”
4 Years later
Tord glanced over at Tom. They sat at a small booth, across from eachother in a local diner. Tom picked at his burger and Tord nibbled on his fries. The other two boys had gone out on a date and had left Tom and Tord alone for the night. The two decided to get dinner and a movie as friends. “So you want to head over to the theater?” Tord finally asked, setting down a half eaten fry.
The black eyed boy smiled. “Yeah. I really hope they have some horror stuff, even if it is valentines day.” Tord paid the waitress and they left to cross the street. Stars splayed out across the sky like silver glitter. Tord smiled at Tom and lead them to the line for the tickets.
Turns out there were horror movies playing on Valentines day. Tord found them a seat against one wall, Tom sitting to his right. The movie was terrifying but Tord laughed through most of it due to shitty graphics. Tom kept smacking his arm lightly to get him to shut up. But soon both were giggling in their seats.
It took another hour for the movie to finish, Tord dumping their leftover popcorn in the trash he followed Tom outside and to his parked car. The stars were brighter, given it was even later. They drove for about an hour to get to a park near the edge of the city. Perfect for star gazing.
And while they lay there, connecting gold lines to the silver sparkles, Tord finally asked. “Tom. Can I kiss you?” The blue hoodied male took no time to waste, rolling over to place a soft kiss to the norwegian’s lips. When they finally pulled away, Tord stared at Tom with wide eyes. With a bit of shuffling, Tord was on top of Tom’s hips. The black eyed boy plucked a flower from the grass and handed it to Tord.
With a deep inhale, Tord smelled its sweet fragrance. Tord winked and threw the flower over his shoulder, leaning down to kiss Tom again. And again. And again.
7 years later.
Tord sat, fiddling with his thumbs. The weight of the box in his pocket felt like a thousand kilograms even though it wasnt truly that heavy. Him and Tom were sitting in the same icecream parlor that he and the other boys went to when he first came out of the closet.
Matt and Edd were there with them, all four crammed into a small booth. Finally Tord stood, “Hey tom? Can you stand up dear?” His voice was small and nervous. With a worried glance at Edd, Tord’s boyfriend did as told. The norski had not told anyone what he was going to do. With a hand in his pocket he dropped to one knee.
Tom gasped, hands flying to his mouth. “Tom. Love? Will you make me the happiest person on this planet and marry me?” Tom’s eyes glistening with tears as he nodded frantically. “Yes yes oh gods yes Tord!” Tears were forming in Tord’s eyes as well, he slipped the sapphire and ruby laden ring onto Tom’s finger gently. There was clapping from Edd, Matt, and the others in the shop.
When Tord stood, Tom lurched forward and kissed him hard and deep. Tears stained their cheeks but this time it was happy tears. Very happy tears of pure joy.