Chapter Text
Tommy is ordinary to put it simple. Of course, he had interests and dreams, but it never led to anything more. He plays video games, and he's somewhat decent, some would even say he is good, but it’s not like he could make a living out of it. That’s why he’s going to college. He applied to a couple of colleges all located by the west coast. He got into three out of seven, he then picked the one the farthest from Los Angeles as possible, Tommy wanted housing to be as cheap as possible.
He would be staying at campus the first year, he had promised his parents that, also by the time he was a sophomore he would be eighteen, that would make the whole thing easier.
He was excited about starting school again, he was going to make a lot of new friends and hopefully get to party a lot. He didn’t really care about the whole work thing, many people made it through college with a decent grade while going out every weekend.
Tommy is just realistic, he won’t do very well in school anyway, so why spent the best teenage years busting his ass off for some A+ grade that only his parents cared about.
If anything, he’s being responsible by putting his mental health before his grade. Yes, Tommy is sure that him living alone is going to go just fine.
Tommy haven’t met his roommate yet, they have chatted online, just talking about the practical things at first. They are roughly the same age, Tommy likes that, also they like the same games, that’s really the jackpot.
His name is Tubbo and in the last four days that they now have known each other Tubbo have sent exactly onehunded and eighty-five messages. Most of them random nonsense, but Tommy loved it, he hated silence and he dreaded a quiet roommate. Tubbo didn’t seem like the quiet type. In a couple of hours Tommy would fly out to California and then he could meet Tubbo.
Tommy couldn’t remember the last time he was this excided. For anything, really.
Tommy was all packed up, for once he was ahead of time and not running late. He still had to pack his carry-on, but that would only take a minute. The rest of his things had left on a truck yesterday, they should arrive shortly before himself, so that’ll be great.
The plan is to go with the flow. Buy everything he needs when he gets there.
Tommy doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it, out of college. Makes the whole thing scary. He’s not afraid of the whole thing, more worried that he won’t be good enough or smart enough, or maybe he won’t make friends, maybe everyone will think he’s wired.
But it’s not like Tommy is a baby about it, he’s not more scared that anyone else! Everyone starting college at seventeen would be scared, Tommy’s feelings are completely normal. He’s going to a new city, to start a new life without his parents, it’s normal to be frightened.
Wait, no.
Tommy isn’t frightened of anything, he’s a grown up now and he just got to man up. Yeah, he’ll just man up and everything will be fine.
The flight to California is only two and a half hour long. Tommy is well prepared, he got three cans of soda and a fire playlist.
On the plane Tommy sits next to a guy his age. They look at each other a couple of times, but none of them say anything. The kid is tall, like freakishly tall. He seems cramped in the middle seat. At first, he seems okay, but after only fifteen minutes he’s tossing and turning, clearly trying not to disturb Tommy or the lady sitting by the window. The guy has half his hair-colored white, the other half a natural brown, what an odd choice, Tommy thinks. Then the guy accidently knocks his knee into the front seat, earning a grunt from the person in front.
Tommy sighs and taps that guys shoulder “We can switch if you want to?”
The guy gives a smile and nods. Tommy gets up and gather his things, the guy does the same. Tommy has to take a step out in the hallway next, allowing the other kid to step out. They switch and Tommy is soon after comfortable once again in his new seat.
Tommy is not that short, he’s at average height. He isn’t the tallest of his friends, but he’s taller than some boys and most girls, so it’s not really in insecurity for Tommy. He knows that being taller would make his life a little harder, just look at the kid next to him. He can stretch his legs out now, and that’s only thanks to Tommy’s good heart.
The guys seem nervous, he’s not sitting still, either playing with his hands or his shirt. Constantly checking his phone. Not that Tommy really wants to ask into anything, he just took notice. Tommy’s not really the guy to get involved in other people’s business, sure he can be nosy, but not strangers on an airplane. That’s where he draws the line.
Tommy puts his music back in and lightly sleeps the rest of the flight.
At seven pm the plane lands in California and a little under an hour later Tommy is standing, with his suitcase and carry-on bag, in front of the train station. It’s dark now and as Tommy gets to the platform of the train station, he spots the guy from the plane. Tommy gives him a smile before standing to the side waiting for his train. The station he’s on is a little packed, but that’s expected when it’s right next to an airport. Tommy closes his jacket, keeping the night air out. It’s not cold but closing your jacket at night is pure habit. The station is open anyway, the only protection from the light wind is a roof on top held buy thick pillars.
The train arrives and Tommy gets on. He’ll have to switch trains once, but other than that it’s only a fourth minute train ride.
After tommy finds a seat, he spots the guy again. He can see his half white hair poking up over the seat.
Maybe Tommy should color his hair too. Isn’t that a normal thing to do when you’re at college? Pricing your nose and coloring your hair with cheap hair-dye? This was Tommy’s change to be wild, to live life and be a teenager for real.
A buzz from Tommy’s pocket pulls him out if his thoughts, he takes out his phone and looks down and sees both his moms contact and Tubbos. He texts his mom that he’s safe and on the train.
Mum: You forgot your pillow.
Tommy: Oh, I’ll just buy a new one. I left the airport ten minutes ago.
Tommy: I’ll text you when I’m at the dorm.
Tubbo just sent a blurry, zoomed-in picture of a pigeon.
Tommy: ???
Tubbo: There’s a bird outside our dorm room window!
Tommy: Oh okay, I’m on my way there rn.
Tommy: btw have my things arrived?
Tubbo: It came earlier, yeah! Can’t wait to meet you later!
Tommy: Can’t wait to meet you either!
Tommy haven’t known Tubbo for long, but he knows him well enough that his wired and random text doesn’t surprise him. After that Tommy receives ten blurry pictures of random things, his favourite is a mirror selfie Tubbo took in their shared bathroom.
The lady over the speakers starts talking about where the train is going and what the next stop is. Not long after, Tommys station gets yelled out and he quickly get up, looks back to make sure he got all his things and then exit the train.
As he steps out onto the platform, the guy from the plane does too. He looks over at Tommy and gives a little smile. Tommy shivers, he's aware the things like that can happen, but the guy he sat next to on the plane going to the same station as he is, is still pretty rare. Tommy is painfully aware of how the stranger takes the exact same stairs up as him. How he exit on the left side, just as tommy does.
It continues like that for the next five minutes, every turn Tommy takes, the guy takes. Tommy looks down at his phone that’s showing the rout to campus. He’ll have to go straight for 200 feet and then take a left turn and he should be there, but Tommy doesn’t want the guy to know where he lives. Tommy looks around, there aren’t anyone around, but they are still in a pretty open and public area. He’s not afraid of this guy.
Tommy can clearly hear his footsteps behind him. Then he makes a decision in his head and without warning he stops. The guys almost falling over him.
“Are you following me?!” Tommy turns and asks
“No” the guy says, “Are you following me?”
“No, how would that work, I’m walking in front of you.”
The guy awkwardly rubs his neck “I don’t know, I’m going this way too…”
Suddenly Tommy feels a little intimidated by the guy. Not that he’s afraid, but they are alone out here in the middle of the night.
“You have been “going the same way” as me since the airport!”
The guy quietly mutters
“I’m going this way too”
Again.
The two boys stare at each other for a few moments, before Tommy starts laughing.
“Are you seriously going this way to?”
The guy nods.
“I’m going to my campus” he points down the road.
“So am I”
“That’s wired”
Tommy is set on making as many friends as soon as possible, and if this guy wasn’t some creep following him, but a fellow student, the only logical thing to do was become his friend.
“I’m Tommy”
“Ranboo”
None of them reach out a hand, but to be fair both have bags and other things to carry. Tommy gestures forward and they walk side by side the rest of the way, making small talk.
Tommy learns that Ranboo also is a freshman, going to live in the dorms. He wouldn’t have put Ranboo as a freshman, he’s very tall, with broad shoulders, which kinda makes Tommy feel short.
The dorm has no reception, so to get your key and room number the school sent a emails with personal codes that open a little metal box in the lobby. Every student has their own, and as far as Tommy understood most students just lock their key in the box instead of carrying it around. Also allowing friends to let themselves in if you give them the code. Tommy hopes it’s possible to change the code throughout the year, just in case he gives it to someone he regrets.
Both him and Ranboo gets out their phones to find the email. Tommy has to scroll through spam email after spam email. He should really stop giving, every website that asks, his email.
Tommy pulls out the key set. Two keys and a green keychain with the number 23.
“guess I’m in room 23” he comments.
“I’m in 17” Ranboo laughs.
“I’m not getting rid of you, am I?”
Ranboo shakes his head and closes his box again.
Tommy knocks on the door and waits for Tubbo to answer. He swings the door open with a shining smile, basically screeching from happiness.
“Hi Tubbo”
Tommy looks at the boy, he recognises his face, he’s shorter that he imagined.
“Tommy, hello!”
The boys click right away. Talking about everything with ease. They talk about classes, Tommys flight over here. They spare some time to move in and get organized. Tommy really wanted to play, but he hasn’t gotten any of his electronics set up yet. The evening ticks away and as it gets dark someone knocks on the door. Tommy gets up and Tubbo follows behind him.
Ranboo’s standing outside smiling.
“Hey Tommy”
Tubbo chirms in asking if that’s “that guy”, they laugh a little before Ranboo counties talking. Explaining how his roommate is going to a party tonight and if they wanted to come.
“Isn't it a little bit early to start throwing parties. The year hasn’t even begun?” Tommy asks.
“Well” Ranboo says “Most students here have known each other all last year and some the year before, we’re the new ones, you know”
“Oh yeah, forgot I wasn’t the main character for a moment there”
“also, this would make the third party of the school year” Tubbo adds.
“You two are the dumb dumbs that made the decision to show up two days before the semester starts. A lot of people have been here for a week or two already.”
“I get it, I get it” Tommy says gripping his jacket and phone “we’re coming”
The party is held in a local frat house tied to the school. The party is packed. Tommy straightens up as they walk in. They is going to be epic.
Half an hour later Tommy has lost everyone he knows. Ranboo’s roommate had some alcohol that they shared on the way here and the frat offered a few beers as soon as they walked in, but it’s more than Tommy normally would drink. He’s already starting to feel a little light. It may also be because he’s a little nervous. He’s a completely new place with a lot of people he doesn’t know and away from his parents for real for the first times. He may or may not have some butterflies right around now.
Tommy walks into the living room and flobs down on the couch.
Tommy throws his head back to fast and it starts spinning lightly. He thinks he hears Tubbos laugh somewhere in the distance but shuts his eyes instead of trying to spot him. The music switches to something faster. Tommy can feel the alcohol and he loves it. Of course, he has had a couple of beers in the past with some old school friends, but this is different. This is a frat house party. He’s at the cool party. He hasn’t talked to any of the guys living here, but he has spotted a few, they are easy to spot, they are loud and all over everyone. They also hand out drinks, they tell you to take whatever you want from the drinks table, but if you have at least two braincells you know that isn’t true. It’s either got to be a senior or someone living here that gives it to you. They do like having some control over where everything goes.
Tommy has spotted how the drinks system works. When people arrive someone greats them and gives them something to drink, pretty freshman girls get something stronger, obvious. Then most of the guys and a few girls grabs one or two glasses and makes their way to the smaller groups standing around giving it to mostly pretty girls. Tommy can understand why they would want them more drunk, but the fact that they most likely will pressure the girls doesn’t sit right with him. He has heard enough horror stories of girls, getting hurt, at parties like this. It isn’t cool, but he’s not really in the mood to talk about his ethics.
The longer he sits still on the couch the more his head is spinning, or not spinning, that’s not how he would describe it. His head is getting foggy and the music sounds further and further away.
He tries getting up, but every lazy part of his body tells him to sit back down and enjoy it. Then something on the couch dips down and two bodies on either side of him leans in and starts talking. The boy on his right is a little dark, his hair is even darker, and his eyes seam sweet and deep. He’s wearing a white t-shirt and shorts; he probably lives here. Sure, we’re in California, but it’s still a little much to wear shorts. The other guy is wearing a blue hoodie and white sunglasses. Tommy looks around making sure they are indoor, he suddenly got unsure. The two guys lean into Tommy and starts talking to him and Tommy does his best to answer them without falling over his own words. It’s hard.
They ask about his name and age, where he lives and what his major is. It’s a quit pleasant conversation, at least that’s what Tommy would say, but his judgment may be a little clouded. Suddenly the guy with the with t-shirt snaps his fingers in front of Tommys face, making him, with a very delayed reaction, flinch. Tommy gives a little hey, but none of them seem to notice, the guy just nods towards the other and the guy in the hoodie get up and leaves.
The guy that stayed leans close to Tommy and ask.
“You don’t know who I am, right Tommy?”
Tommy shakes his head
“You never told me your name”
“Good”
The other guy returns with three cups in his hands, he gives one to his friend before giving to Tommy, who happily takes it. When he gives him the cup, he says.
“We have to check on something, wait here for us, okay?” Tommy nods and the guys leave in the crowd.
Tommy looks down into the cup, it’s orange and he can smell the alcohol coming from it, but he’s not that drunk, right, he can drink a little more.
Tommy puts the cup to his mouth, but just as he feels the drink on his lips the cup is pulled from him. Tommy makes an unpleased sound and looks around. The cup disappeared over his head and he turns around. He can barely keep himself steady.
“Hey, that’s mine!” He tries.
A tall guy is standing with his cup. He’s wearing a black turtleneck sweater and black pants. His hair is pulled back in a long ponytail. He’s towering over Tommy, firmly holding the cup out of his reach.
“Don’t be a dick” Tommy complains, reaching up. The guy just steps back lifting the cup more.
Tommy tries putting his other hand on the back of the couch, but he misses and bumps his chest into it instead. Grunting in pain and really annoyed and looks up and firmly says.
“Give it back.”
The guy looks Tommy stone-cold in the eyes and pours the drink out on the floor. Tommy yells in protest, getting up from the couch.
Who does he think he is? What a fucking asshole, he’s lucky Tommy is drunk right now.
The guy drops the cup on the floor, turns on his heels and heads for the kitchen. Tommy follows, pushing people away, he’s furious. Who does he think he is?
Tommy turns the same corner as the guy, but what he expected to be the kitchen, turned about to be a long hallway. Tommy could have sworn that the kitchen was right here. He was out here earlier. Tommy looks back into the Livingroom.
This was the living room a moment ago. The couch was standing there in the middle of the room. Now there was a beer pong table. Wait, is this the room Tommy came from? He turns around a couple times.
Everything is getting blurry. He could have sworn this was the freaking kitchen. Tommy grunts in frustration. Rubbing his eyes.
“Are you okay” Ranboo asks.
Tommy only feels a hand on his shoulder. He tries look up from the floor, but his eyes move on their own. First the runs up the person in front of him then he sees the ceiling. Oh, now he knows what’s going on. He’s falling backwards…