“Are you actually meditating?” asks Ben, unbelievably.



“It’d be wise for you to back off now.”



“And it’d be less creepy, if you could just speak with your eyes open.”



His eyelids twitching, Tobby breathes, “Who gave you the permission?”



Ben swallows, and avoids the question, “Can’t you just open your eyes and talk?”



“One…two…three…”



Ben laughs nervously, “Ah, the anger control technique.” He pokes at his mate’s cheek.



“…four….five…”



“Brainy people say it helps, but I highly doubt that. You see, it’s not at all healthy to restrain your activated hormones, Tobby.”



“…six…”



“Let it go, let it go…”



“SEVEN-”



“Okay! I’m sorry, alright? I’m sorry!”



Tobby opens his eyes, “Why don’t you say that to my confiscated phone?”



Benjamin fists his own palm, “Come ON, brother. You-”



“DON’T EVEN GET STARTED WITH THAT BROTHER THING! I’VE TOLD YOU BILLION TIMES NOT TO MESS WITH MY RING TONE AND NOW LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE!”



Wincing, Ben tries to reason, “It wasn’t that bad … if you ask me that was kind of cool…”



“UNTIL IT STARTS RINGING IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLASS! AND OF ALL THE POSSIBLE RING TONES IN THE GALAXY YOU-”



Ben jumps to a stand, “Hey, the Pink Panther theme song is our childhood anthem, okay?”



That causes Tobby to scoff, “Yeah, well, what do you say if I change your ring tone right now to the Power Rangers and let it ring during Professor Brown’s lesson later? Fancy that prospect? Huh?”



Ben holds up a finger, then from the drawer, he fishes out a pair of scissors. “This, Tobby, we call it scissors. See-zers, geddit?” explains Ben while snapping it loudly in the air. “So keep your slimy hands away from my phone, unless you want to end up becoming as bald as a mouse’s tail.”



“You chose the wrong childhood friends, mate. The Power Rangers violence vibe is too strong.”



“They weren’t my childhood friends...” frowns Ben.



“Pink Panther?”



“No.”



“Scooby-doo.”



“NO.”



“Then?”



“Nutella, duh."