"Ethan, what is he doing here? " Jonh said maliciously
But it was too late to run away because Ethan had already spotted them, but this time he was alone without his friends. He was dressed as usual in an elegant suit, his hair was well styled and his shoes shone in the sun.
John clenched his fists, but Thomas advised him not to start a fight because the last time it hadn't gone well for John.
"I know, we will just walk away and won't say anything"
John held his head high and pretended not to see Ethan, and Thomas turned away as well.
As they passed him, Thomas noticed a smug smile on his face.
"Derkins, watch your step or you'll trip and fall".
Ethan flashed his smile that had already won over many girls "And even Julia had fallen for it" Thomas thought.
"What's wrong with you?" John asked, calming down a bit.
Suddenly Ethan noticed a bottle of wine in his hand.
"Your mom knows you're drinking, you're still a kid, don't you remember, Johnny?" Ethan mocked.
"I'm not like you, it's just your parents who are so worried about their son that try to provide him with everything so he can show off new things".
Ethan pursed his lips in frustration.
"I think you're just trying to be a tough guy, trying to make everyone jealous" John said with a wry smile.
Ethan grabbed John by the collar of his shirt.
He clenched his fist:
"Remind you, who Julia chose? You're right, she chose not you but me, that's why you're mad, but you're a real piece of shit, and I'm going to break your head." Ethan swung, but Thomas suddenly stopped the blow and held Ethan's fist back.
"Tachful" Ethan said angrily, and John was able to pull away.
"Julia only chose you for the money" he said
"For the money " Ethan repeated " Do you think she is like that?"
Ethan was about to leave and finally said:
"You'll always be weak" he said, straightening his shirt and walking away. John wanted to say something but Thomas stopped him.
"Damn, I am really weak" John said in frustration.
"Just don't talk to him" Thomas said calmly.
"You saw he started first and if it wasn't for you, he might have won again." John sat down on a nearby bench and tipped the bottle of wine again.
"Why am I weak, Thomas, tell me why I am weaker than him".
"Don't worry about it, John, he'll answer for everything someday".
John exhaled a breath and looked at Thomas.
"But he's right, damn it, he's telling the truth, Julia didn't choose me, she chose him, and I'm really far from him, I will never catch him up".
"You know Ethan's always had money, his parents were powerful people, and like you said, girls are attracted to money".
"But is Julia like that, can money buy her?"
"What if she really likes Ethan, so there's nothing you can do about it" Thomas said, though he couldn't believe what he was saying.
John exhaled heavily and left his half-finished bottle of wine on the bench.
"Get up, you're looking a little tired, John".
"I thought I'd forgotten her, I thought I could forget her, but..." John didn't prove it, he just stared at the ground sadly."I think she'll realize someday that she was wrong to choose Ethan" John said in a broken voice.
"Maybe" Thomas grumbled and they went to the clothing store together even though they had nothing in their pockets.Thomas ate one cookie and looked at his friend.They didn't stay there long because they didn't find anything normal according to John. John sat down on a bench.Thomas sat down next to him.It was getting dark outside.Suddenly Thomas noticed two men standing behind a nearby bench.
"What are they doing there?" John asked, suddenly noticing them too.
Thomas looked at the men. They were holding a bottle and smoking without noticing the boys.
John lit up and handed Thomas a cigarette, but he refused.
"Hey, you!" a dry voice suddenly called out.
Thomas looked at the three men in surprise.The one who called out was the smallest and had blond hair.
"What do you want? " John grumbled, blowing clouds of smoke.
"Why so rude, I just wanted to ask you to light it".
John threw the man a lighter and after a while the man returned it.
"Would you like to join us?" said a black-haired man the same height as Thomas.
"No thanks, I think we'll pass" Thomas answer hastily, standing up.
"Why are you sitting here alone?" the smallest man said "maybe you have some problems".
"We don't have any problems"
John held the cigarette with two fingers and was not going anywhere.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, boy? " The third man said to Thomas, he was fat and the oldest of them all.
Thomas looked around at the streetlights, but it was not so bright here. He sat down on the bench.
John exhaled heavily and said to Thomas:
"Let's sit a little longer." Thomas looked at him in a puzzled way but said nothing.
The short man handed John a glass with alcohol in it and John gratefully accepted it. Thomas refused when he saw that he was also offered a glass.
"So you don't smoke or drink, boy" the tall, black-haired man suddenly smiled "I used to get drunk and blackout when I was your age".
"I'm just not in the mood" Thomas said, trying not to look at the men.
"We will drink for you" a fat man raised his copper glass "By the way, what's your name? ".
John answered first
"My name is John and this is Thomas".
"I'm Roger, he's Arnold" he pointed to the taller man "And this is Dick".
John smiled, tipped his glass and then coughed.
"I thought this was wine, I'm not drinking any more"
"Come on, boy, it's pretty good.
John suddenly turned pale.
"Are you all right?" Thomas asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, just a little nauseous".
John suddenly jumped to his feet and ran away, covering his mouth with his palm.
Then he came back, all pale white.
"I'm not well" he said.
"What did you give him?" Thomas suddenly barked, helping his friend to his feet.
"It's just a simple tincture, boy, here, drink some".
"I don't want it" Thomas snarled and grabbed his friend's shoulders trying to walk with him. The men laughed, but their voices faded away.
"I'm going to faint Thomas" John wheezed.
"Goddamn it"
John fell to the floor, but Thomas managed to hold him up. "You look like you've had a little too much to drink tonight, buddy"
Thomas suddenly looked around and only now he saw where they were. Julia's house was not far away, but he had to get John there somehow.Thomas straightened up and put John's arm around his neck and his legs dragged somewhere behind him.He was heavy and Thomas was uncomfortable with John's head being dragged back and forth, often bumping into Thomas.
Julia was outside.
"Julia" Thomas suddenly called out.
She noticed them and ran to open the gate.
"What happened Thomas, why did John... "
"I'll explain later, help me put him down, do you have someone at home?"
"No, mom and dad are away on a business trip"
It was already quite dark outside.They dragged John into the house together and sat him down on the couch, he was still unconscious.Thomas noticed Julia was wearing a black dress and her hair was tied in a knot.
"What's wrong with him?".
Thomas suddenly felt anxious in Julia.
"I don't know if the men gave him some kind of tincture, but maybe it was spoiled".
"What men are you talking about, who are they?".
Thomas said nothing but stared.
"Thomas"
"We were just walking in the evening and met some men and they gave John a tincture".
Julia listened carefully and then straightened up.
"Why did he drink it?" she asked.
"I don't know".
Julia exhaled heavily.
"I think he just had a little too much to drink and now he's just sleeping".
"Hasn't he passed out? " Thomas asked, feeling strange.
"I don't know, but I think he'll be fine tomorrow, let's take him to my room".
"To your room, but why?".
"I don't want him lying there in case mom comes back or dad. " In the light of the lamp Thomas noticed that Julia was hiding something, she was acting strange and her eyes were afraid to meet Thomas's. She seemed to be avoiding him.
"Are you sure? "
"Yes" Julia said, finally looking at Thomas, then looked down and took John's legs. Thomas grabbed him by the shoulders and together they dragged him into Julia's room.
"Let him sleep" she said, and then she was about to leave the room when Thomas grabbed her hand.
She turned to him.
"I wanted to thank you, for helping me".
"It's nothing" she shrugged.
They looked at eachother for a moment and then suddenly someone knocked on the door. Julia pulled her hand away and said:
"Don't come out and close the door." Julia left the room anxiously and Thomas closed the door after her.
She opened the front door. Thomas recognized Ethan's voice overhearing at the door, his insides suddenly tightened. "So that's why she was so nervous, she was waiting for Ethan".
"Hey, honey" Ethan said happily, giving her a kiss on the cheek. He gave her the bouquet of flowers and some present. After that he went inside.
Thomas looked at John who was snoring and thought it was good that he couldn't see it.Thomas listened again.
"I missed you" Ethan suddenly said in a gentle voice.
"I missed you too" Julia said, and Thomas clenched his fist nervously.
"I saw those two today" Ethan suddenly said after a long silence that was interrupted by John's ragged breathing.
"You mean Thomas".
"He and his silly friend Derkins"
Thomas heard Ethan flop down on the couch.
"Why does he always act so stupid? "
"I don't know" Julia said, and Thomas was angry at her indifference.
"He wants you to be with him, so obsessed with you, he's a complete fool, how can he be so dumb?" Ethan snorted and Julia just remained silent.
"Ethan, we need to talk" Julia suddenly said, but it was too late. Thomas couldn't stand the insult to his friend, and he flew out of the room and stood in front of Ethan.
"So that's who you were hiding there." Ethan suddenly stood up.
"No, you misunderstood, I'm going to explain everything to you now.... "
"You don't have to explain anything to me, it's all clear here" Ethan barked "while I was gone, you were in this room with him".
"Don't you dare yell at her, she's innocent" Thomas said, a little agitated.
"So you conspired" Ethan said, glaring at Julia, "tell me there's a Derkins here. "
"Ethan, calm down," Julia said and moved closer to him, putting her hand on his elbow. He pulled back and grabbed her hands:
"Why did you lie to me?" he suddenly asked, looking in her eyes.
Julia didn't answer and Ethan suddenly touched her face with his lips.
"You'll be with me anyway. " He touched her hair and then released her and looked at Thomas.
"Why are you still here?"
"Don't talk about John like that".
Ethan suddenly smiled.
"I'll do what I want, and if anyone stands in the way of my happiness with Julia, I'll crush them into dust, and I want you both to get it".
Ethan's voice rose. He was angry and Julia was worried, but she didn't say a word.
"Julia chose you" Thomas said suddenly"and I'm not going to fight it or try to hurt you in any way, but I came here because I felt sick and it was too far to walk home, that's all".
"Is he telling the truth, Julia?".
"Yes" she looked a little scared.
"Well then, you can go now, Tachful".