I Think I Love You

Chapter 6

*Tobys POV*

I hate feeling like I upset Vince, even though I do it a lot to keep up with appearances...

The team came up with some idea but won't tell me what it is. I'll have to wait until school's over.

First period starts and Vince is in the back, as always. I wish I could talk to him. About fifteen minutes into class, the door opens and in walks the principal and Crystal. Great. After I told my dad about that last night, he told the whole team this morning, and it must have gotten back to her. The principal talks to the teacher, who nods and motions for Crystal to take a seat.

She sits down next to me and says, "Hey babe, I though we could talk about matching our outfits for prom."

I look over my shoulder and see Vince looking at us. He looks upset and puts his head down.

Damn it.

I look forward again.

The day drags on like it will never end. Finally it's lunch.

*Vinces POV*

I decide to actually go to the cafeteria today. I walk through the almost empty hallway when I'm pulled into a janitors closet.

When the door is shut all the way, it's completely dark in here. I hear a click and am blinded by the light. When my vision focuses again, I see Toby standing in front of me.

"Can we talk?" He asks.

"Sure." I say.

"I don't know why I said I was going to prom with Crystal. It's just, my parents were hounding me about not doing my best and then I was asked if it was because of a girl, and I didn't know what to say. So I told them it was because of Crystal but really the reason I can't seem to concentrate on anything at all is because of you and I just wanted you to know that." He takes a deep breath.

I don't know what to say so I just look at him.

"You're staring at me like you don't believe me." He says.

"I do, I do believe you. I just... I don't know how to respond."

He runs his hands through his hair, smiles, and looks at me.

"What?"

He pushes me against the door and kisses me. We have a mini make out session and then the bell rings.

He presses his forehead to mine. We stand there like that, looking into each others eyes, and listening to the shuffle of feet in the hall way.

He sighs and kisses me one more time, before leaving the janitors closet. I wait a few minutes before I exit.

*Tobys POV*

Dad drove me today so I have to walk home because we don't have practice. The guys decide to walk with me since their girlfriends ditched them to go to the mall.

"So you want to know the plan now?" Chris asks.

"Yeah." I say.

"Well-"

"Guys! There he is! Get him!" Is all I hear before the whole team, including Chris, runs down the road, without explaining to me what this 'idea' was.

I run after them. When I get to where they stopped, all I see is them kicking something. When I finally get to see what, no, who, it is...

"Vince." I whisper.

I make my way to the middle of the circle. "Guys! Stop!" I yell, pushing them all off of him.

"Are you defending the faggot?" Kyle says.

"He may be gay but no one deserves to have the shit kicked out of them." I say.

"Whatever man." Chris says, and they all walk off.

I watch to make sure they don't come back for round two, and hear Vince coughing behind me.

I turn around and kneel down next to him. "Are you okay?" I ask.

"That used to be you, ya know. The one to lead the gang to kick the shit out of me." He said, pressing his hands to ground, trying to get up.

"I know, and I'm sorry for that." I say, helping him up. "Here, let me take you home."

-

"My mom's still at work but there's a key in my pocket." He said, reaching into his pocket as we walk up to his house.

When we got inside, I sat him on the couch, went to the kitchen, and got ice for his lip.

I sat on the couch next to him and tried to lift up his shirt. He ripped his shirt away.

"You have to let me look at it. You could be bleeding internally, and as a football player, I know what that looks like." I explained.

"Fine." He said. I lift up his shirt and see more than just bruises. There are scars everywhere. I look at him. His eyes being to form tears. I take his arm and push up his sleeve. More scars.

Our eyes meet and tears begin to roll down his cheeks.

"Are these because of me?" I ask, not sure if I want to know.

"I'm sorry." He hangs his head.

I lift up his chin. "Hey, I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm the reason you did this." I wipe away a few tears. "But I promise you, I will never be the reason you do this again. And I want to see you get rid of the razors."

"No ones ever cared about me enough to say they want to see me flush them. My mom doesn't even know I have them."

"Well I care about you. Now come on." I grab his hand and walk up to his room.

He goes through and picks out all of his razors from their hiding spots. We walk into the bathroom, and flush them together.