Thomas opened the door and walked out still thinking about what Carol had said and what she really meant. John washed his face and came out of the shower wet.
"You look pretty dapper" he smiled "but you don't look happy".
"It's hard to look happy after yesterday"
"True" John said sadly as he ate some of the cookies Thomas's mom had left.
"Where is mom?" Thomas asked.
"I don't know, she said she had something important to do" John said.
"That's strange" Thomas was surprised "she didn't even tell me".
"Do our parents have to tell us anything? I didn't even tell mine that I was sleeping at your place" John smiled "They're probably worried".
"I think you should tell them"
"Don't worry, I'll make something up"
"Why don't you just tell them the truth?" Thomas asked, straightening his shirt.
John had only slept in his underwear, so he had to pull on his black pants and shirt again.
"I'm not going to explain anything to them, especially since my father and I are on bad terms now"
"Has something happened?"
"Never mind it is personal"
"Okay".
Thomas was taller than John and had a better build, but John take after him, although Thomas was far from John's cigarette use. John had just left the Tachful's yard and immediately smoked.
"Hey, don't you think that's a bit much? " Thomas said, looking at him
"What do you mean? "
"You smoke too much".
"I know, but I can't help it. I thought that after this trip something would change, but I was wrong, Willie is a bastard" John said, throwing out his cigarette "He doesn't seem to care about me, he only thinks about drugs and finding a woman for the night".
"I told you he was like that and you didn't believe me".
"I thought I knew him better than anyone".
It was sunny outside and Thomas suddenly wanted to check if he had anything in his pocket and remembered his diary, he must have left it at home, but what if mum... "No, she wouldn't touch it" Thomas grumbled.
"Who are you talking to?" John looked at his friend, dumbfounded.
"I'm okay" Thomas said not looking at him.
"Then why were you talking to yourself?"
"I must be going crazy".
John smiled but didn't say anything. Suddenly they noticed Ethan walking a little farther away. Julia approached him and he kissed her then went to school, apparently. Julia was dressed in a black skirt and blouse with puffed sleeves.
"Damn it" John said "she likes him after all".
Although Julia was far away from Thomas, he could feel the gladness in her, she wanted to be with Ethan and it was obviously.
"She wants to be with him... Ethan was telling the truth" Thomas mumbled.
"What a fool she is". John pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, but noticing Thomas's judgmental look, he shoved it back in.
"You're right, it's not worth it" Thomas said, and they walked on.
They walked in silence, not wanting to talk about it, though Thomas didn't seem to care, unlike John who liked her, he couldn't look at Ethan's face and the way Julia walked beside him, it was disgusting.
"I hate that Ethan" John said as he walked inside.
"Better not mention him"said Thomas, but to their surprise Ethan was not inside, but Julia was.
"I wonder where he is"
Julia greeted them with a small smile.
"She even dares to mock" John said and sat down at his desk.
Julia was sitting and holding a notebook in front of her.
"Look" John said, pointing to a picture of Ethan and Julia together on his phone "That bastard posted it yesterday and I didn't even see it".
"She can go to hell, she wants to be with him, so you should just accept it" Thomas said and looked away
"She just doesn't know what she wants and I've already given up on her".
"It's her life, John, let her do what she wants".
"I still think it's because he's got the money".
"You always say that, but maybe it's true love".
John snorted but didn't say anything.
"You have a math test tomorrow" it was the first thing Morgen Oklide said when she walked into the classroom.
"I always forget about exams" John said, shaking his head.
Morgen heard the indignation of the students, she slammed her book on the table and said:
"We studied everything in class, just try someone not to answer any of the questions".
"She speaks as if I was listening to something" John smiled wryly
"You heard me, Derkins" the woman said, looking at John.
"Yes, I heard you".
"Try to fail this exam, and you have other exams right after this, but just so you know, if you don't pass the math test, your life will go to waste". Morgen Oklide was one of those teachers who valued her subject very much and didn't care about others.
"Bored already" John said. They had a lot of classes today, but they decided to go for a walk again because, according to John, they don't really need such a subject as art. They decided to go to the near shop together first, and then go to the park or somewhere what other place is far from there. Molly was not at school, Thomas knew how she was now, so it wasn't strange. There was Julia when they entered the store, she noticed and turned to them.
Thomas looked at her black skirt.
"Are you ready for the exams?" she asked with a smile.
Even though John was angry, the corners of his mouth twitched and he smiled.
"I completely forgot about them".
"And you, Thomas? She looked at him and he suddenly felt embarrassing.
"I forgot this too" he scratched the back of his head.
"John, go there, there's no longer a line" said Julia, and John looked at them with bulging eyes, but still left.
Thomas wanted to go too, but she held him back.
She took a deep breath. But she didn't say anything yet.
"What's wrong? " he asked.
"Do you really have a girlfriend?" she looked serious.
"Why are you asking me... "
"I know she lives with you, then she is your girlfriend".
Thomas glanced at her.
"What do you need it for?"
Julia didn't answer.
"She's not my girlfriend, she's just someone I helped, and you shouldn't spread false rumors about me".
"I haven't said anything to anyone about this" she said blushing and her wavy hair falling over her chest.
Thomas was indignant, remembering the photo of her and Ethan that John had shown him today.
"And even if she was my girlfriend, it's none of your business".
Julia looked down and then looked at Thomas.He could feel the anger in her.
"You're being rude to me" she said.
"Then go complain to your Ethan, you think I'm blind, you're head over heels with that jerk" Thomas couldn't help but feel that it was unnecessary.
"Don't dare... "
"You just fell in love with him for the money he bought you" Thomas noticed the bracelet she was wearing. "I bet my life savings that he bought it for you" he pointed at it.
"Yes, because we love each other" Julia said angrily "and you're just jealous of him" With that, she walked away and Thomas gave her a stony look.
John pulled him to the table.
"What were you talking about?" he asked looking confused.
"Nothing"
"What do you mean, nothing?"
"Ethan gave her the bracelet" Thomas said, shoving a bun into his mouth.
John glared at him.
"So that's what she wanted to tell you?"
"She said I was just jealous of Ethan" Thomas swallowed the lump that seemed to stop in his throat and not go any further.
John was silent for a moment, then ate the soup to the end and said:
"He's the one who's got that effect on her, he's the one who makes her say things like that, that bastard Ethan".
"So you think he told Julia to come to me to say it" Thomas didn't want to think about what she had asked him.
"Well, maybe girls her age aren't very wise, especially when they are dating with the likes of McRane" John said "but don't worry about it, she'll be running away from him crying".
"What if she doesn't" Thomas rolled his eyes, he didn't even want to eat anymore .
"Don't tell me you like her".
"I don't, but you... "
"I've forgotten about her for a long time" John said firmly, and his words even seemed more than the truth to Thomas.
"Oh, really? "
"Yes, and the fact that she's dating that idiot McRane doesn't bother me anymore, just if she's really with him for the money, then this love is temporary, believe me." John stood up and took his plate away, and Thomas tried to finish his bun, he drank some tea and stood up too.
"Let's go to my place" John said hurriedly as they left the school "there's no one home".
"I have an exam tomorrow, and I don't know anything, fuck it".
"You're not the only one" John said and smiled.
This smile lifted Thomas's spirits, but then they noticed Olivia Parker.
"Why are you grimacing now? " John asked looking at Thomas
"Calm down and pretend like everything is fine".
Thomas smiled at her, but he could sense that she was upset, and she looked exhausted.
"What's wrong with her" John whispered looking at her.
She seemed to ignore them, but John greeted her and then she turned around.
"You were saying something to me" she said weakly.
"We just said good morning" John said with a shrug.
She looked up at them over the top of her glasses, tears appeared in her eyes.
"Your history exam is being rescheduled"
John wanted to be happy, but then she said:
"But it will still happen, if not me, then someone else will be on the exam".
"What happened?" Thomas finally managed to say. For a moment she was silent and looked at him, her face pale.
"My husband died yesterday" she said and looked down "I'm just so powerless right now". She started to cry.
Thomas and John just stood there in silence, unable to say anything.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you this".
She went inside.