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When Toby stares at me, there is a look of awe in his eyes. I finish the rest of my can, then set it on the desk and stare back at him. “What?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “You do realize this town’s never seen anyone like you before, right?”
“So? Maybe it needs someone like me.” I flick my empty can playfully, causing it to wobble before settling back in place. “Tell me, does everyone in this town have their nose up everyone else’s ass? Or is the novelty of my existence going to wear off?”
“Oh, it’ll wear off, trust me. People don’t act shocked anymore about Coach Strong turning out to be gay and falling for Billy, my boss’s son. Well …” Toby second guesses himself. “To be fair, that happened when I was a kid, and Coach Strong wasn’t even a coach yet. He was just a football star or something. No, yeah, it’ll wear off,” he then decides, smiling, despite the uncertain look in his eyes. “Everyone’s always hungry for the next big thing. And that’s what they’ll talk about, once that … next big thing happens.”
I snort at that, then eye him. “And what if us getting cast in that play together is it? What if we’re the next big thing?”
He doesn’t seem to have an answer. Then he shifts slightly on the bed, moving himself to its edge, right in front of the TV. A bit closer to me now, he half-turns his face to mine, his blue eyes sparkling. “Can I ask you something … more serious?”
I figured it was only a matter of time before he went there. “Ask away.”
“What made you move here? From your previous school?”
Oh. That wasn’t where I thought he was going. “My dad’s job.”
“I meant …” He clears his throat, uneasy. “I heard that … that you, uh … got into a fight or something. With some other kid.”
This is exactly the kind of inquisition I should have expected, yet somehow put out of my mind completely until now. For as much as I might be connecting to this Toby guy, he’s still a small-town country boy, and suspicion of outsiders will naturally be in his blood—gossip, his language of choice.
I must take too long to respond, because Toby fidgets, sighs, and blurts out, “Sorry. I’m digging. Here I go, just bein’ another guy with his nose in your butt.” He turns back to the TV, red-faced.
I shift my weight in the chair, causing it to creak loudly. My foot slips off the leg of the desk, dropping to the floor. I clear my throat and shrug. “It just wasn’t my proudest moment.”
“Well … we all make mistakes, right?”
“I didn’t say it was a mistake.” I grip my empty can on the desk. It crinkles in protest as I squeeze. “I’m just not the best at communicating how I feel. And I’m not the easiest person to get along with. And I sometimes don’t think there’s a single person on this planet who really understands me.”
Toby peers curiously at the side of my face. “You don’t seem that difficult to get along with. We’re getting along just fine.”
“Give it time,” I mumble.
“Look, how about we just drop the whole subject? I didn’t … I didn’t mean to touch a sore spot. Hell, I just got off work, and my brain’s all …” He makes motions around his head, then chuckles in his squeaky, adorable way. “I just wanted to hang out with you. That’s all. Just … hanging out.”
After a moment, I nod, letting it go.
“And,” he goes on, “since we’re not only chemistry partners, but now costars of Spruce High’s upcoming fall production of ‘I’ll Always Remember Seaside’, I thought it’d be nice to get to know each other. Like, on a real, actual, personal level. And,” he then adds, his tone changing, “I’m guessing, being new here, you’re probably lacking in the friends department. Uh, sorry, that came out wrong.”
My leg started bouncing in place halfway through his little monologue there. I stop it. “Nah, that came out just right.” I give him a look. “Isn’t easy making friends out here.”
“I know I’m …” He laughs at himself. “… not exactly the … the ideal friend situation for you. You probably prefer guys who … who ride a motorcycle like you do, or … or who have …” He’s really reaching here. The more he reaches, the more he blushes. “… who wear band shirts and have lip rings,” he settles on awkwardly, then clenches shut his eyes and shakes his head, seeming to regret it.
Toby is so damned adorable, I don’t think I’m going to be able to resist him much longer. I want to tackle him to that bed and do so many things to him tonight. I don’t want to wait for a rehearsal to show me what it feels like to put my lips on his. I want to do it myself, and I want to do it right now.
