It's Not You, It's Me (Book Two) #Wattys2018

No Boys

POV TOBY

A knock on the door, and then my dad comes in.

"You have a visitor." He says, and then turns around, awkwardly, leaving the door open.

"It's fine, Ace. You were right anyway." I say, but no one comes through my door. "Ace. Come in?"

Theo comes in my room, his hands digged in his pockets, his expression, serious, strong.

I stand up, surprised and confused.

"Theo! What— what are you doing here?" I pause, and reach for his arm. "I mean, I'm glad you're here."

"I love you." He tells me, and my heart skips a beat, and then beets faster and faster. The feeling of relief and thankfulness is so intense that I can feel my heart beating out of my chest now. And the feeling of unbelievable guilt is so fierce I can hardly breath. So I say it. I blur it out, instantly.

"I kissed Avi. I was heartbroken and hurt and you said—"

"I know." He interrupts me.

"What?"

He doesn't reply, just looks away.

"And... You still love me?" I ask.

"That's how feelings work, Toby. They can't just go away in a blink of an eye." Don't I know it.

"I swear it will never happen again. I love—"

"I know it won't happen again. Because how can you cheat on me if we are over?"

I stare with caution. "Theo no, please don't." I cry. "Theo, please!"

He steps back and shakes his head. "We are so over."

"Theo!" I shout, and cry.

He turns his back to me to leave my room, but swiftly turns around. "I don't ever want to see you again." He tells me, and then leaves.

I sit on the hallway, crying loudly.

My dad runs to me. "Okay, tell me what is going on. Right now!" He demands, sitting beside me. "Tobelia Rose, it's time I know!"

"It's my fault, dad." I tell him.

"What did you do?" He asks, and then changes his mind. "You know what, I don't want to know. I'm assuming the less I know, the better." He sighs. "Listen, whatever happened, it's over. The worst is over. Now you need to react, darling! You can't just stay in your room, crying, forever! Tomorrow morning you'll wake up early, take a shower, and go on with your life. Boys or no boys." He kisses my forehead, stands up, and leaves.

No boys.