Second Chance [Four/Tobias]

Thirty Three

ᴀᴠʏᴀɴɴᴀ

Tobias's phone rings.

He mumbles something and takes it.

"Be right back," He kisses my cheek and steps out of the room, slowly closing the door behind him.

I sigh. He doesn't have to do that.

He steps back inside, shoving his phone in his pocket. "Sorry about that."

"Tob," I look at him sternly.

"Yes?" He nods, as he hands me a glass of water.

I take it. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" He raises an eyebrow.

"You're going back to work."

He chuckles. "We'll see."

"Tobias." I frown. "I'm serious."

He gives me a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "They'll manage."

"You are the vice president!" I groan. A sharp pain hits me and I try not to flinch. "Listen, it needs you. You gotta go!"

He sighs, rubbing his forehead as he sits on a chair beside me. "Avyanna, you don't worry-"

"Tobias," I glare at him.

He gulps. "Yes?"

"Go."

"Okay."

I laugh but abruptly stop. It hurts.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," He grins.

I shake my head and smiles, stifling a hurting laugh.

Someone knocks and enters. It was the doctor.

"Ms. Gill! How are you?" She says with a smile. It's only been two hours.

"I'm fine, I guess," I smile.

"Someone wants to meet you," She smiles and nods at Tobias and leaves.

I give Tobias a puzzled look and he returns it.

And in comes Bruce.

"Hi," He smiles a little.

"Bruce! Hi!" I grin.

He timidly smiles and gives me a bouquet of flowers. "I'm sorry,"

"Thank you," I grin.

He awkwardly looks between Tobias and me.

"Uh," I clear my throat. "Bruce, meet Tobias, my boyfriend and Tobias, this is Bruce, my colleague."

They exchange a firm handshake.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend. You never mentioned him," Bruce grins at me.

"Bruce, we go to fix emergencies. We hardly have time, now do we?" I try to laugh, it comes out as a pained chuckle.

They both shoot me a worried glance. Great, the number is two now.

"Maybe we should get you checked again, Avyanna?" Bruce raises an eyebrow, thinking.

"Bruce. Heavens, no. I'm fine," I grin.

"We'll see about that," He grins. "Sally said she'd come by soon. See you around."

I nod. He turns and twists the doorknob but looks over his shoulder. "It can get a little lonely here. I'll stop by between my shifts, okay?"

"Aw, you don't have to do that," I smile.

He smiles, closing the door behind him.

"So, that's Bruce," Tobias grins at me, not reaching his eyes again.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Why, yes. Yes, of course," He nods.

I reach out to touch his cheek, something hurts again. He scoots closer.

"Really?"

He looks away. "Yeah."

"Keep your secrets," I grin.

He sighs. I think of everytime I took a deep breath for granted.

"It's just..."

"What?" I hold his hand.

"I was scared. Of...you know..." He looks down at our hands.

"Me dying?" I ask.

He rubs his face. "Yeah. But can you not put it like that?"

"My soul leaving this world while my body is getting decomposed under the ground?"

"Avyanna!"

"Sorry," I giggle.

"I'm...I can't afford to lose you, Avyanna," He says. "I just can't. I... Can't go through that again."

Who did he mourn for?

"Again?" I repeat.

"Yeah. I can't handle it anymore. I don't think I'll be able to. The thought of losing you... Just..." He shakes his head as if to shoo the thoughts away. "Anyway, this is all probably silly."

I open my arms, well, one of them, and he wraps me up in a hug. A gentle one, at that. He remembered the pain.

He pulls back and clears his throat. "Anyway-"

"You should go," I cut him off, gesturing to the vibrating phone beside me.

"Bu-"

I glare at him. "I'm fine!" And then I sigh slowly. "Really, Tob. It's making me feel bad."

"But you don't have to-"

I groan.

He smiles at me. "Fine. I'll go."

"Bye," I grin.

"Bye, take care. I'll call you." He kisses my cheek.

Sally bursts the door open. "Avyanna-oh, sorry,"

She sheepishly closes the door. Tobias rolls his eyes before waving at me.

After Tobias leaves, Sally comes in.

"Sorry about that," She grins.

"No problem," I roll my eyes.

"My shift doesn't start till tomorrow. They gave the rest of the day off after that," She says.

"Nice," I nudge her, ignoring a sharp pain.

She laughs, and then, stops. "On a serious note, though, how are you?"

"Great as you can see," I grin.

"Sure, as I can see," She laughs. "I got you chocolate,"

After a long time of company, she leaves.
--