Can't Say No

Chapter Seventeen

Toby's POV:
Kayla climbed back into the tree house with an odd look in her face. She was smiling, but it looked forced. I didn't say anything, but watched as she set down a bag. She had bought a DVD player and some horror movies. Some id heard of, but I'd never seen any of them. When I said this to Kayla she laughed. "Well, you're watching all of them now. Don't fall asleep, the creeps will get you." She joked. She seemed normal, but I could see in her eyes that she was still troubled. I didn't like seeing Kayla like this, worried and on edge. Late into the night, when everyone else was asleep except me and Kayla, I put an arm around her waist and pulled her close. "Something up?" She said, teasingly pulling my brown hair. I take the strand from her hands and push it inside my hoodie. "What's bothering you?" I ask. She sighs and plays with her sleeve. "It's nothing..." She said quietly. I didn't believe that one bit. I put her face in my hands and brushed a stray strand of shirt black hair from her face. I actually really liked her hair short, it was cute and fitted her frame. "Kayla, tell me what's wrong, or I'll force it from you." She gave me a small smile. Even when I'm being aggressive I'm cute to her. She just doesn't see me as the aggressive killer, and I was only to blame. "Well, just promise not to freak out, okay?" Her words are delicate yet heavy, and u suddenly feel a wave of dread wash over me. "I can't promise until I hear it." And she told me. About a man tackling her and demanding to know my whereabouts. About how he tried threatening her with a dull piece of glass, then just being stimulus into thinking she was a twin sister. I had put my glasses back on a while ago, and suddenly happy I had. I felt my eyes sting and I knew they were watery. I didn't want to feel this way, this was the only way I could feel pain. I hated it. I hated that my own existence had put her in danger, and I wanted to tell her. Tell her she could leave me if she was scared and find a better place. A better person to be with. But if I talked, I knew I'd stutter and maybe even cry. I hated crying, I've hated it ever since... Ever since my sister died. I didn't want to cry, I didn't want to break down. But more than all that, I didn't want to lose Kayla.
Kayla's POV:
Toby was extremely quiet. Sure, he's usually quiet, but he does talk more with me than before. But now he was dead silent, and I could only time my hearing to different places. I listened to his heartbeat for a while. I was getting faster, and I looked up at his face. He had put on his glasses sometime ago, and I couldn't tell what exactly he was feeling. But he had left his mask off. He was biting his bottom lip so hard I thought I saw blood. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Toby, are you okay?" I ask. He barely nods. I take my hand and force him to look at me. "Toby, don't lie. Tell me what you're thinking. Tell me what you're feeling." I looked right at him. Toby sighed, and took off his glasses. His eyes were watery, and I could tell he was trying hard not to cry. It was weird, seeing Toby like this. If ever emotional, he was kissing me or snapping from anger. I had never seen him look so...depressed. "I-I don't want to l-lose you." He stuttered. "But, i-if you want to leave I-" I never let him finish his sentence. I leaned forward and presses my lips against his. "If I wanted to leave," I whispered. "I would have a long time ago." I wrap my arms around Toby and refuse to let go. He pulls me into a tight hug and rests his head on my shoulder. If he's crying, I don't care. I wouldn't ever leave Toby, wouldn't ever dream of it. After some time, I hear Toby's breathing slow and he leans a bit to the side. He fell asleep. I feel myself to begin to doze off as well, and I rested my head against his chest. I fell asleep to the beat of his heart and the rhythm of his breathing.
---
The rising sun made me blink open my eyes. Toby was gone, but had written me a note.
"Hey K, I've just gone out. With Masky and Hoodie, you know the deal. Thank you...for not leaving me. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I love you. Truly and dearly. I've never felt this way. Anyway, gotta run. ~Toby."
I smiled and hugged the note to my chest. I couldn't explain why I loved Toby so much, couldn't explain why we had become so close. We were both broken, both so, so broken. But I loved being broken. Being broken had lead me to Toby. Whistling, I dove into the fort and quickly changed. Just into another t and shorts, as it was hot again. I had thought Masky said the group needed to lay low, but I wasn't going to question them. I pulled out my phone and turned it on. It needed to charge it soon, and I suddenly realized I was hungry. Checking the local news, I saw my face everywhere.
"Missing; Girl named Kayla with short black hair has been recently deemed a runaway. Authorities have recently seen her with Ticci Toby, the mass murderer plaguing our city. While we thought Kayla was a hostage, new theories have said she is a partner with the murderer. Kayla has short, jet black hair, emerald eyes, and is approximately five four. If you see her please contact local authorities. Thank you."
Rolling my eyes, I pocketed my phone. Not like they were going to find me, but it was funny to think that they knew I was with Toby. I tuned my hearing out and tried to find the police station, wanting to hear the latest news. But I heard something I didn't want I hear.
"The bounty hunters have been brought in. Toby, Kayla, and those two other criminals will be brought to justice. We'll start with the school tomorrow. Anyone who gets in our way will be eliminated."