Dad-Buscus (Toby Turner Fan Fiction)

Chapter 4: Meet the Audience

Toby's P.O.V~

''No treats for you tonight, Gryphon.'' I said, putting him down on the foot rest.

He ran to his love sack. He didn't care.

I turned to look at Viviane. She was just continuing to work on the animation.

I studied her for a minute.

Her dark green eyes, following her cursor.

Her fingers, sliding across the mouse pad.

Her hair curling around the pillows on the couch.

She looked up at me, realizing I was staring.

I cleared my throat and looked down at my phone.

I didn't look up, but I could tell she was looking at me.

I decided to glance up at her, eyebrows raised, giving her a 'can-I-help-you?- stare.'

She laughed. This time, I could tell it was a real, genuine laugh.

''Hey, that's the first time you actually laughed.''

She looked down at her keyboard.

''That's not the first time I've laughed..'' she said, with a sideways grin.

''That's the first real laugh I've heard from you.'' I said.

Silence.

She looked up. ''Is my fake laugh really that obvious?''

''Maybe not to other people,'' I said, leaning back, ''but it is to someone whose learned to fake laugh for the best of 5 years.''

She looked back down, tracing the spacebar with her finger.

''Are you un-happy here?'' I asked, leaning forward.

''No.'' she replied, softly.

''Tell me the truth, Viviane, because if you aren't, you don't have to stay here.''

''I like it here- I do.. I just..'' she said, trailing off.

''Just what?''

''It's just.... hard. For me- to.. '' she thought a minute.

''Get comfortable with people.. and.. fully.. well- trust them.. since my mom died and- it's like- I have to fight for my own, now. I have to get a good judgement of people for myself now. Instead of my mom telling me to stay away from a certain person, I have to try to figure it out on my own- and.. I guess I'm not used to it, that's all.''

''I understand.. kind of..'' I said, trying to keep up.

''Sorry. I mumble and ramble. It's also hard for me to talk about my feelings.''

''It's all good. I won't ask anymore questions.''

I leaned back, again and watched her for a minute. She wasn't looking in my direction, sort of like she was trying to hide her face.

She raised her arm to her face, turned back to her laptop with a sniffle and continued on working.

Her eyes were puffy.

I decided not to question her any further.

I got up and got on the computer.

I scrolled through the comments from yesterday's lazy vlog.

Most of the comments were asking if Viviane was my new girlfriend.

I shook my head.

I read comments on other videos, responded to some tweets and answered some questions on tumblr.