She stared at me incredulously. "What do you mean? You can't stop making videos! You're Tobuscus, and kids idolize you," she spluttered.
"It's my fault you got hurt, and I don't want to hurt you again," I said.
Why can't she understand?
"I can't believe you! Don't give up. It wasn't your fault, it was their fault. If you really feel bad, then do me a favor and keep making videos," she said.
I sighed. "Fine, but only for you. I love you," I said, running my hand through my hair.
She squeezed me in a hug and laid back down. "I feel the same," she said.
What? "Um, can you say that again?" I asked.
"I said I feel the same," she said. I laid down next to her.
"I said I love you, and you said you feel the same. Jacie, if you're unsure about the relationship I can slow it down," I said.
She couldn't even say she loved me!
"No, no, it's fine. I just, I can't say it back. I do feel the same about you, but I have troubles saying it. I just can't say it," she said.
"Well, let's practice. Okay, I'll say I love you, and you try to say it back," I said.
She just shrugged.
"Jacie, I love you," I said.
I waited for her to repeat it back to me. She turned over on her side. "I'm sorry Toby, I can't. I do feel the same, you have to understand that, but I'll get there in my own time," she said.
I nodded and ran my hand through my hair.
"Yeah, I'm sorry for pushing you," I apologized.
I got up and walked around to her side of the bed. I kissed her forehead.
"Goodbye," I said, leaving.
I stepped into my own apartment and plopped down in front of my computer. I started to play some of my favorite music and walked into the kitchen, pouring myself a mug of coffee. I drained it and walked into my room, falling face-first onto my bed. I groaned into the pillow and flipped over onto my back. I couldn't quite understand it. Why can't she say she loves me? Was I too fast for her, am I rushing it? Maybe I should just slow down. Then again, it doesn't matter.
As long as I know she loves me, I'll be fine. She does love me, right? Oh well, I should just let it be. I picked up a wad of paper and crumpled it up. I tossed it at the wastebin and watched it bounce off of the rim. I groaned and covered my face with my pillow. I loved her, and I know she likes me in some way, but I needed to be thorough and make sure. I don't wanna slip back into the friend-zone. I got up and grabbed some coffee. I poured a mug for Jacie and walked over to her apartment. My hands were full, so I banged my head against the door. She answered and grinned.
"What are you doing, you goofball?" she teased, ruffling my hair. She let me in and sat on her bed, grimacing.
"Are you doing any better?" I asked.
She shook her head and drank from her mug. "Is there such a thing as too much coffee?" she asked.
I shook my head. "No, because there's never enough," I said.
She smiled and sipped her coffee. "So, what do you like about me? Honestly, I don't see whatever your demented little mind sees here, but I'm curious," she said, leaning back against the headboard. I set down my mug and sat next to her.
"Well, you're very pretty, you like video games, you're great with animals, and you love coffee. You're sweet, you can handle yourself, and you've got a good sense of humor," I said.
She scoffed. "Me, pretty. Sure."
I just shook my head. "You are. So, what do you like about me?" I asked.
She thought for a moment. "I like when your hair is messy, I like how you're good at video games, we have a lot in common, and you like to smile. I love your laugh, when you run your hand through your hair, and I like that you can play guitar," she said.
I laughed. "So, running my hand through my hair is a good thing?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, it's a real turn on," she teased, giving my shoulder a playful shove.
I chuckled and downed the last of my coffee. I walked over to Anigo's cage and got him out, going back over to Jacie and sitting down. I handed her the chinchilla and swung my feet up onto the bed. She cuddled him, pressing her face into his fur. I ran my hand through my hair.
"So, you can play guitar?" I asked.
She nodded and put Anigo in his cage. "Yeah, I learned as a kid. It helps when I'm stressed," she said.
"So, what do you wanna do?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Wanna make a video?" she offered.
I nodded and went to the door. "This time, we're doing it on my file," I said.
She nodded and got up, walking to my apartment with me. She grabbed her headset before she left and put them on, sitting in her usual spot. I put on my own headset and pulled up Minecraft. I smiled and turned on the webcam.
"Hello once again, audience. When we left off I was playing Slender with Jacie. Well, we wanted to play Minecraft instead this time. If you've watched her videos, she's a well known arsonist. Got anything to say, Jacie?" I said, starting the introduction.
"Hello, fellow nerds and crazy peeps who watch this. I just wanna say that this should be interesting. Ah, here comes my first victim," she said, walking towards a skeleton. She set it on fire and laughed as it ran in circles.
"Stupid Frank! By the way, that's what I call skeletons. Anyways, wanna go harvest some diamond, or maybe find a dungeon?" she offered, glancing up at me.
I shrugged. "Sure. Then maybe we can build a house of epicosity," I said, leading her towards a cave.
She had a torch and I had my diamond sword. We fell down a hole and into a dungeon. Zombies were everywhere, and a couple of creepers exploded.
"No! Bad Carls, all of you, very bad," she said, slicing through zombies with a diamond shovel. She repeatedly beat them with it, laughing the whole time.
"Shovels are very dangerous weapons," she said after they were all dead.
I nodded in agreement and carried on, placing a couple of torches so we could see. I heard the door open, and I turned to see Gabe in the doorway with a lady. She was hot, with long blonde hair and a spray tan, long nails and perfect make-up. I still loved Jacie, but I could still think she was hot.
"Toby, this is Lucy, my girlfriend. Lucy, this is Toby and Jacie," he said.
I shook her hand and led her into the kitchen to get her a drink. Gabe was walking Gryphon, and Jacie was in the bathroom. I opened the cabinet and got a cup down, but when I turned around Lucy pinned me against the counter. She leaned in, her face inches from mine.
"I want you Toby, I've wanted you ever since I first laid eyes on you," she whispered lustfully, and moved her shirt to reveal a Tobuscus tattoo.
"Not interested," I said, trying to avoid her.
She pressed her body against mine, and I leaned back as she tried to kiss me.
"Toby?" I heard Jacie say.
I looked over and saw her standing in the living room, her headset in her hands.
