All We've Ever Wanted. (A Toby McDonough & Before You Exit Fan Fiction - Part 2) ON HOLD

Chapter 11: Run. Run. Run.

I don't even know how to apologize for how long it's been since I updated. I've been so busy and the first version of this chapter deleted... The whole thing. Even though it's not an excuse, it's true and I truly am sorry. Hope you all like it and the next update will be this week or so and I promise, it'll be every week or 2 from this point on. Sorry again. Dedicated to all of you wonderful people still reading. I love you guys💕

*Emily's POV*

For a moment, there was silence and very little movement. Then, I slowly felt his arms loosen around me and drape off of my shoulders. I turned around to see he'd moved back about 5 feet. "Baby?" "I can't believe he'd... I knew it." I looked down at my hands that I was playing with. "Emily dammit, didn't I tell you? Ever since he called you beautiful I just-" "He said I was beautiful?" "Yeah, after he hit me that night I came home from tour." I looked back on that day and how horrible that period of time was for both of us. "Well... How was I so stupid?" I then cupped my face because I knew I was going to cry. How could it be like this? He was my best friend. I told him everything. I'd been so open with him and around him. I didn't listen to Toby. Now, I wasn't just crying, I was bawling.

Only a few seconds later, I felt Toby's arms wrap around me and his lips on the top of my head. "Shh... Em." I just cried though. I felt bad for him. I felt bad for Tripp. I just felt bad. "Just... Just don't kick his ass, okay? I know you want to but, but he's just, he's my best friend and I can't believe any of this and I'm sorry just... You don't need to physically hurt him." I cried more. He stroked my hair. "Baby shh... Im not, I'll take care of it but I won't hurt him." There was a long silence and it sounded like he was crying too but I couldn't look. Finally, he spoke soft soft I could barely hear him. "He was my best friend too." At that moment, I realized that it was his best friend too and I kind of took him away from him. I felt bad about it, but they were still close and I realized even though Toby was probably furious, it probably hurt him a lot too. At that moment, Toby wasn't just holding and comforting me, I was also holding and comforting him.

A little while later when both of us had calmed down, we went back to the party. For the most part, we ignored Tripp as much as we could without letting anyone know what happened. Of course, everyone eventually would find out, but just not tonight. Toby and I both deserved a graduation party without any bullshit. I felt bad for Tripp. He looked miserable, like he was going to cry which I'd never really seen him do. Eventually, he left. My mom of course had not known what had happened so she made me say thank you for coming but I refused to hug him. The only hands I wanted around my hips were Toby's. That night, all the family and friends that'd come in for the graduation slept over. I told Lauren and Grace what'd happened but I couldn't find it in myself to tell anyone.

*The Next Day*

I woke up to the annoying sound of my ringtone that Curtis had put in for himself when he called. "Curtis," I groaned out, "what do you what?" "You need to come over here and bring Toby. Tripp is missing." I sat up in shock. "What?" "Tony asked me to check on him with me this morning since his parents and sister had to go somewhere today and he was gone. His phone is off too. Just get over here now." I hung up the phone and ran into the kitchen. After I grabbed my keys, I ran over and got Toby, practically dragging him into the car as tears ran down my face. "Emily what's wrong? Where are we going?" "To Curtis. Tripp is missing." Toby said nothing. He just sat there as I drove a mess to Curtis' house.

When we got there, I ran inside. Toby walking behind me. "Where is he?" Everyone shrugged and stayed quiet. "Where is he!? Mother fuck! Where is he!?" At that moment, I feel to my knees and began to sob. "It's not fucking fair! It's not fair!" Curtis came over and hugged me trying to help me off the floor. Toby did too. When I calmed down, they brought me to the living room where everyone had gone. "Emily... Do you want to tell them, or do you want me to," Tony asked me from the other side of the room. "You know?" He nodded. The guys all looked at me as I looked down at my hands that were slowly starting to play with each other. "Tripp told me he was in love with me." Even though I practically whispered, everyone heard. "It's horrible, but we need to find him. We need to just try and get past this." "Emily... He was accepted into Notre Dame." "What," Toby and almost gasped out. "Okay, we just need to worry about this later when we actually find him. Where could he be," Curtis blurted out.