Tommy was certain this was the worst day in the history of worst days.

First, Tubbo hadn’t shown up at school which made the decision that today was decidedly a bad day.

Tommy looked around the classroom, his eyes searching for the familiar mass of curly hair and broad smile that Tubbo never failed to bring to class. But the chair beside him remained vacant, and the silence was deafening. It was as if a vital piece of the puzzle was missing, leaving a gap that couldn’t be filled. The teacher, Mr. Woolf, droned on about algebra, but his words floated past Tommy like clouds on a windy day. All he could think about was his best friend, the one who could make even the most boring of lessons feel like an adventure with just a whispered joke or a quick doodle passed under the table.

The day eventually ended and Tommy was ready to go home and bitch about how sad and depressing his life was to Phil, Techno and Wilbur when he stepped foot through the door, and he was just about to before he heard his father and older brother arguing in the kitchen.

He froze. The last thing he needed was to get caught in their crossfire. They had been fighting a lot lately, about everything from money to chores to his brother’s latest school suspension. Tommy took a deep breath and tiptoed down the hall, trying to make as little noise as possible. But as he passed the kitchen, the argument grew louder, more heated.

Tommy covered his hands with his ears, deciding to go talk to Wilbur instead. He knew Wilbur was probably busy with his experiments in the basement, but he needed someone to confide in. Someone who wouldn’t judge or tell him to toughen up.

He creeped up to your room, and pushed open your door where you were currently sleeping. Well…you had never denied him cuddles before.

Tommy’s father’s voice grew more gruff, and Techno’s more defiant, so he crawled under the covers and hid in your arms.