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Two and a half weeks before Christmas break every student's mind was already gravitating towards time they wouldn't have to spend in school. But their teacher wasn't going to let them start slacking off just yet. And so, one Wednesday morning she announced that the class would be divided into small groups for a project. Tommy couldn't help but groan as the teacher's voice faded out and became just meaningless background noise. He had never cared about group projects, and this close to Christmas his interest was at an all-time low.
"Tomas, I'm putting you with Fredrik and Jean Filip,"
the teacher's voice pulled Tommy out of his thoughts.
"Maybe they can teach you how to pay attention in class."
Tommy rolled his eyes in mild annoyance and watched as the other boys moved their desks next to his.
Of course Tommy had seen them plenty of times before, but had never approached them despite being in the same classroom with them. Mainly because he thought himself to be too cool to hang out with one of them.. And not cool enough to be seen with the other. His eyes brushed over the pair. Fredrik was this somewhat awkward and lanky kid who was always by himself. During recess he spent a lot of time near the bushes, trying to search for bugs. Tommy couldn't help but think that he was a little weird. A kid who could never hurt anyone, he wasn't programmed in that way. This, and his interest in bugs had made him an easy target for the bullies. Tommy didn't agree with the bullies and thought they were all idiots. But then again, he had never done anything to stop them, either.
And then there was Jean Filip. He seemed like this wannabe cool kid who always dressed in full denim and wore sunglasses in- and outdoors, even when the sun wasn't out. He seemed intriguing. Was he really that cool or was it only an act?
"So, I think we could start w—"
Fredrik attempted to say, but Tommy interrupted him.
"Is your name really Jean Filip?"
Tommy asked once the teacher had walked away to check on a different group of students, all best friends with each other, judging by how natural and relaxed their behavior was. One of them was laughing at something the other two had said.
"It is. But no one calls me that. Well, except the adults. Everyone else calls me Määnin,"
he said with a simple shrug. Wow. The kid even sounded cool. Effortlessly so.
"You can call me Freppa,"
Fredrik then said, trying to get a word in, but Tommy wasn't paying an awful lot of attention to him.
"Yeah, sure",
he just said. His eyes were only on Määnin.
Tommy wasn't cool, but not a complete doormat, either. On the scale of zero to hero he fell somewhere between Freppa and Määnin. The latter seemed like he could teach Tommy a thing or two. Määnin could show him how to be cool. If that was to happen, he'd even put up with Freppa. It would be a small price to pay.
From that day on, Tommy started spending more and more time with Määnin. Oftentimes Freppa tagged along. And as time went on, the three grew closer.
One Saturday they were sitting in Freppa's homey kitchen.
"Can you two play any instruments?"
Tommy asked, his mouth full of kanelbulle. A few crumbs fell out on the tablecloth as he talked.
"Sure, I play bass,"
Määnin told the other two, as cool as ever.
"And I've been learning to play guitar,"
Freppa said, drinking his Trip juice.
"Do you play anything?"
Määnin then inquired, looking at Tommy in such a way that he made the other boy blush.
"Uh, no.. I just run my mouth.."
he mumbled, suddenly feeling a tinge insecure.
"Määnin, you're my best friend,"
Tommy said after a while once Freppa had left the room to help his mother with something.
"And you're mine too, Toms,"
Määnin said right back.
"And we'll always be friends forever. Won't we?"
Tommy asked, wishing for Määnin to say the words he needed to hear.
"Yeah, forever."