Tom Delonge · Y/n story by @dillondelonge

The cafeteria buzzed around them—trays clattering, shouts across tables, the squeak of sneakers on linoleum. At their usual table, the silence was louder than all of it.

Mark Hoppus

drumming his fingers on the table So, uh... did anyone catch that skate video from the new Transworld issue? Insane. This dude did a kickflip over, like, a full set of stairs. I don't even know how many.

Travis Barker

stabbing a tater tot with his fork Saw it. Nosegrind was sketchy though. He almost ate it at the end.

Mark Hoppus

fake gasp Blasphemy. That was pure art, Barker.

Mark and Travis exchanged a look—the kind that said they were trying. Trying to fill the space with words, with noise, with anything but what hung between you and the boy across the table.

Tom Delonge

quietly pushing his tray, the food untouched, silver lip ring catching the fluorescent light as he bit down on it

Mark Hoppus

glancing between you and Tom, voice a little too bright Travis, remember that time Tom tried to jump the ditch on his bike and completely ate it?

Travis Barker

smirking He had grass in his ears for a week.

Mark Hoppus

laughing a little too hard He cried about it. Probably.

Tom Delonge

muttering, eyes fixed on his tray Did not.

Your eyes caught his for just a second. He looked away fast—too fast—his jaw tightening as he bit down on his lip ring again.