Last One Standing (wattys2017) (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Something Just Like This

A heavy cold and tense silence hung thickly in the air the entire ride home.

Toby had his hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel, eyes straight ahead, refusing to avert even the slightest in my direction. He hadn't uttered a word since we had parted with his family at the restaurant, and had acted as if I were no more than another part of the car from the second I climbed into it.

"That's it then? You aren't going to even talk to me about it?" I slapped my hands against my lap, startling him. His eyes shifted to me for a second before retraining themselves on the burgundy Mazda swerving in front of us.

"What do you want me to say, Alex?" he huffed exhaustedly.

"Were you ever going to tell me?"

"Of course I was going to tell you, Alex. I just didn't want to throw more on your shoulders. Knowing I wouldn't be able to spend next year with you makes me feel shitty enough, seeing the look I knew would be on your face would be a hundred times worse."

The car slowed to a stop on the curb of my street as he spoke, his head shaking repeatedly.

"I guess I get it." I whispered, "You don't seem like you really want to go? Why are you going?"

"I need to go, Alex. There's so much of the world to see, so much to experience, tons of different cultures to study." a dreamy haze entered his eyes, "I know it seems like everyone is leaving you right now, Alex, that your life is over. But it's not. I'm still going to bug the crap out of you and call every day. Lucas is still going to pop in and out unexpectedly. As much as I hate to admit it, you've got that egotistical douchebag with you too. As much as we'd both like him to, Griffin isn't going anywhere."

I leaned back in my seat and let my head roll so I could see the faint image of the triplets passed out on the couch. "What a shame."

Toby nodded, "Agreed. He lives and breathes testosterone."

I climbed out of the car and headed up the path to my front porch, feeling Toby at my tail the whole way up.

"I'm sorry for my mother. You know-"

"Toby, don't apologize for something you can't control." I wrapped my arms around his waist, "It's not a good look on you."

He laughed and hugged me against his chest, his lips against the top of my head.

"Thanks for coming tonight." His voice was so quiet I could barely hear it over the wind.

I nodded, feeling as if I could stay in his warm embrace forever. Instead of acting on my crazy, absurd thoughts, I stepped out of his hug and reached for the door knob.

"Any time." I smiled.

"Good night, Lexi." he smirked at the old nickname. I shook my head with a laugh.

"Good night, Dingo." I kissed his cheek once more before turning the knob and ducking into my house, catching him staring after me with a longing look as I gently shut the door behind me.

I was surprised to find Griffin at the kitchen table when I turned to hang up my jean jacket, sipping at what appeared to be a cup of coffee.

"How was your date?" He questioned. I could feel blush creep into my cheeks as I made a move toward the stairs.

"Wasn't a date." I mumbled, "It was a disaster."

"Disaster?"

"I found out that Toby's spending his last year of high school in Singapore from his mother. After that, I couldn't concentrate on anything. So yeah, pretty much as bad as it could get." I answered, closing my eyes so I didn't have to see the knowing look on his face.