toby: "toby, will you please tell me what's wrong?" the two of you had taken advantage of the hot summer day to cool off, swimming in his pool, and were engaged in a game of one-on-one volleyball, using the net that was strung across the center.
"nothing, (y/n)," he replied, giving you a small, but very fake, smile.
"there is so something wrong. you're not acting like yourself," you replied, swimming to his side under the net. "why can't you tell me?"
"because," he pouted. "i don't think you'll like me anymore."
"why wouldn't i like you, toby?" you asked softly, reaching for his hand beneath the surface of the water.
"because riley is taller and older and better looking and can sing," he spoke timidly, hanging his head.
"what does your brother have to do with anything?"
"i overheard him talking to connor the other day. he was saying how pretty and fun you were, and that he wishes he had seen you first."
"toby," you said affectionately, wrapping your arms around his neck and looking him straight in his big, brown eyes. "i don't like riley. i like you. whatever he thinks of me is irrelevant because you're the only one that i see, okay?"
"you mean that?" he asked, his voice still a bit uncertain. instead of responding, you reached up and pecked him softly on the lips. "alright, point taken."
"you're the one that i want, you got that?" you asked, and he nodded in reply. "good. what do you say we get back to our game?"
before he could answer, there was a splash behind you, another following closely after as connor and riley jumped in the pool.
"you two lovebirds up for a game of volleyball?" connor asked, lifting the ball that you and toby had previously been using and tossing it from hand to hand.
"(y/n)'s on my team!" toby exclaimed, wrapping a protective arm around your waist.
connor rolled his eyes. "duh. come on riley, let's show the kids over here what a real game of pool volleyball looks like."
"i'm not a kid," toby mumbled, as you two took places for the match. you didn't miss the occasional glances from riley for the rest of the afternoon, and neither did toby. whenever it happened, however, you played it cool, pretending like you didn't see anything, and giving toby an extra hug or kiss on the cheek, giving him the confidence-boost he needed, while simultaneously sending riley the sign to back off.
after all of you got out of the pool, toby had run up to his room to change. you had just grabbed your clothes and were about to use the downstairs bathroom to change, when riley approached you.
"hey, (y/n), can we talk?" great.
"uh, sure, riley. what's up?"
"i just wanted to say that you're really great for toby. he's very lucky to have you," he said, sharing a small smile. "i'm glad you two found each other."
"thanks," you replied, returning a genuine smile of your own. "and he's lucky to have you as a brother."
riley smiled a little more. "i'll let you change," he said, walking away. you felt as if a weight had been lifted from your shoulders as you replaced your wet swimsuit with dry clothes, and curled up into toby's side to watch a movie.
connor: "babe?"
"yeah?"
"you okay?"
