Freddy Valler--6

   Lilly laughed. "Yeah, okay, whatever you say, Valler."

   "Have you ever heard the quote, 'sarcasm isn't the lowest form of wit. It's not even wit at all,' Lilly?"

   She mock punched me in the arm. "You're an ass." It was obvious she didn't mean it, if her bright eyes were anything to go on.

   "I try," I answered truthfully.

   "Well, it works. Oh, my, God. There's Tomas!" Lilly squealed and I winced. That girl sure has a pair of lungs on her. Damn.

   I glanced over at the guy she was running towards, who was standing next to the band room doors. He looked vaguely familiar, like I'd seen him before, but maybe a long time ago. Tall, build like a brick wall, short brown hair, sagging blue jeans--ridiculous looking, if you ask me--beat up Converse sneakers and a black Tap Out tee shirt. "Hey, babe," he said, and gave Lilly a swift kiss on the lips. "Who's this?"

   "Oh, Freddy?" She took the guys hand and dragged him toward me. I had a terrible sense of deja-vu. What the hell? "Freddy, this is Tomas." It felt like my world tilted on its side. Here he was, hiding in this small sad town. Here was Tomas 'The Trickster' Mayfield, in all his traitorous glory.

   I could tell the feeling of shock was mutual. His dark green eyes widened with recognition. "Well, I'll be damned. Freddy." He offered me a hand, which I ignored. I examined him. From up close, he looked pretty different. I knew him back when he was an awkward eleven year old with bad skin, crooked teeth, and a cowlick. Now he was just your stereotypical football player.

   Lilly looked confused, but I couldn't blame her. "What? You guys know one another?"

   Tomas and I didn't take our eyes away from each other. "You could say that." I mumbled. "Tomas used to be a good friend of mine. Emphasis on used to be."

   Tomas raised an eyebrow. "What, Valler, you still hold a grudge?" He had a sneer on his face that I wanted to wipe off. With my fist.

   "Well, Tommy, I'm not a traitorous, waste of space bastard."

   "Look who's calling the kettle black, you stupid piece of shit." Ah, now there was the Tomas I used to know. The one who was as ugly on the inside as on the out.

   I grinned, but there was no friendliness in it. "Go fuck yourself, you murderer."