Chapter Text
It was a nice cold afternoon as thom walked through the streets of Abingdon. He just finished studying for his exams next Monday, it really stressed him out because he had to do the year over if he doesn’t get an 8.
He decided to reward himself by going to the music store to try some new instruments. It was pretty small but he always felt at home in that store, there was an old lady working there and she knew almost everything you need to know about instruments. Thom had been going there since he was 6 years old. So it always brought back some great memories.
As he walked through the door the lady looked up from behind the piano,’ah Thomas so nice to see you again it’s been a while!’. Thom greeted her kindly and started looking at the guitars. There were all kinds of guitars from really old ones to brand new ones to self made guitars. Thom loved all the different kinds of instruments this place had.
‘Do you mind if I try this one?’,thom asked the lady while holding a 12 string acoustic guitar.
‘Not at all sweetheart! You know where the practice rooms are.’ She responded.
Thom nodded and walked to the back of the store to find two tiny practice rooms. He got in the left one and sat on his favourite chair, he always used it so it kind of became “his chair”. He took a pick out of his pocket and started playing. The guitar sounded beautiful and as soon as thom started singing he was interrupted by the sound of a violin getting tuned.
‘For fucks sake’ he said angrily as he placed his guitar in the corner to complain about the noise. He knocked on the door of the other practice room. Thom started shouting as soon as the door opened
‘WHY ARE YOU INTERRUPTING MY SONG I WAITED THIS WHOLE WEEK TO PLAY AND YOU FUCKING RUINED IT FOR ME CANT YOU TUNE ANOTHER TIME! YOU RUINED MY WHOLE…’
Thom suddenly stopped shouting when he opened his eyes to see a tall handsome young man standing in the opening looking sad and scared. Thom felt really bad. ‘Look mate I’m sorry I didn’t mean to shout at you.’ The tall guy looked confused and was hiding his face behind his long black hair. Thom held his hand against his face out of guilt he couldn’t believe he was being so angry at this poor boy.
‘What’s going on here?’ the lady asked while walking up to the two guys. She looked very concerned. She saw the boy’s scared face and Thoms red face. ‘Thom dear, did you get angry again?’. Thom was quiet, He was so ashamed of himself why was he so mad all the time. he really wished he could change but he couldn’t control his anger.
‘Go sit on the couch thom I’ll make you some Tea to calm you down.’
While thom walked away, the boy was still standing awkwardly I’m the door opening. The lady rubbed his arm and apologised. ‘I’m sorry Jonny he has some problems with his emotions, he’s a really sweet lad when you get to know him.’ Jonny smiled at the lady and went back to his violin to tune it.
Thom sat on the couch and overheard their small conversation
“Jonny, that’s a nice name.” He thought to himself. The lady gave him a cup of Tea and a self made biscuit. Not only was she good with instruments, she was also a really good baker. Her husband used to own a bakery before he passed away. As thom was calming down he really wanted to apologise to Jonny for being so rude. So he finished his Tea and walked to the back of the store.
He stopped and thought for a few second before knocking. ‘Come in.’ Jonny’s voice sounded. “God he sounds cute” thom thought. He gently opened the door and walked in the room.
‘Hey Jonny, it was jonny right?’
He nodded
‘I’m really sorry I got so mad at you I just had a really rough week and I guess I have some issues with my anger.’
‘It’s okay’ jonny said ‘ your guitar playing was really nice, what song was it?’
Thom was kind of confused about the sudden interest of the boy he had just shouted to.
‘Oh it’s just something I wrote it’s not finished yet.’
Jonny smiled ‘I can’t wait to hear the rest’
Thom felt himself blushing for some reason. He got embarrassed and walked out of the room without saying anything. After 30 seconds he was back carrying the guitar he was playing earlier.
He sat on the chair next to Jonny and started playing. When mid song he heard a violin playing beautiful notes that fit really well in Thoms song. He stopped and looked at Jonny.
‘Sorry.’ Jonny said all flustered.
‘No don’t be it was beautiful’
Jonny smiled. His smile was so cute thom wished he would see it more often. ‘Let’s play it again!’ Thom said while adjusting his seat so he faced Jonny. So they started again and again and again they went on for two hours, practicing the song and adding new sounds to it.
Jonny looked at his watch. ‘Oh shit I have to go my brother’s waiting for me.’
‘You have a brother?’ Thom asked he didn’t know how old Jonny even was. in fact they didn’t even talk about their personal lives.
‘Yes his name’s Colin hes 2 years older than me.’ He said as he packed his stuff.
‘Colin? Colin greenwood?’
‘Yes greenwood’ how’d you know?
I’m in the same class as him. Thom said surprised. ‘Really?’ Jonny asked. ‘Yes we get along pretty well.’. Jonny smiled, thom put the chair back and walked out with Jonny. ‘See you around.’ Jonny said while waving kindly at thom and the lady. ‘Bye Jonny, I had a really good time with you.’ Thom said as he walked to the guitar corner to put the guitar back where it belonged.
‘Well Susan I have to head home too thanks for the tea and cookies.’
‘Have a nice evening Thomas.’ She waved as he walked out of the store.
The sun was shining perfectly, it was about 5pm and the tall shadows of the trees and the pink sky where distracting him from all his thoughts but as soon as he arrived at his front door the thoughts returned. He couldn’t stop thinking about Jonny and their song. It’s almost like he was in love but he’d never felt it before so he didn’t know when he was really in love with someone. And of course he was like 3 years younger so that would be weird since thom was 22 and Jonny was stil 19.
‘Thomas Edward yorke!’ His mum shouted as he stepped through the front door. ‘Where have you been it’s already past five!’.
Thom knew he was in trouble, he never heard his full name.
‘Mum I’m so sorry I was at Susan’s store and I met someone and we lost track of time making music.’. His mum was looking very angry.
‘That’s not a good excuse to come home this late, you could’ve been kidnapped!’
‘I know and I’m so sorry it won’t happen again I promise.’
She sighed and saw how her son was almost crying. ‘Ok fine I forgive you but just text me next time ok?’
Thom nodded.
She walked to the dinner table and sat down. Thom followed.
His brother Andy looked over at thom and impersonated thom.
‘Shut up’ thom said as he kicked Andy under the table.
‘Boys!’ The two brothers looked at their mum who was now putting some food on her plate. ‘No fighting at the dinner table.’
Thom rolled his eyes and started eating his food.
~~
Thom was up in his room, he still lived at his parents house since he was still looking for apartments.
He sat down on his desk chair and looked out his window. The sky was dark already and the roofs of the houses were covered in remaining of snow from last night.
His room was on the third floor and he had an own bathroom. It wasn’t that big, it only had a toilet and a sink but thom was still very grateful.
He was spinning on his chair and suddenly he thought about Jonny again. He stopped spinning and took a pencil and paper and started drawing Jonny’s face. He tried to remember it as well as he could. Then he stopped, he looked at his drawing for a few seconds.
He ripped it to pieces and put it in the bin.
‘What the fuck am i doing’ he said to himself and he leaned back in his chair. He looked over to the bin and took out the pieces of paper. He put the piece together with some tape.
“It’s just art don’t throw it away” he thought.
As soon as he thought of destroying the drawing again he stood up and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
He changed into his pyjamas and went to bed.
He closed his eyes and in his head he could still hear Jonny playing his violin to Thom’s song.
Thom couldn’t wait to see him again at school tomorrow.