Stepping Out Of The Spotlight (Ticci Toby x reader)

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I end the day feeling much more exhausted than I have on any other day. I grab my floating chair and tether it to the dock and sit in it, wearing my swimsuit in case the stranger shows up again.

"H-hey" the strangers voice reaches my ears. My eyes are focused on the stars so I can't tell how close he is to the water.

"Who are you..." my question is soft and desperate, exhaustion reaching my brain.

I hear a laugh and ripples to my right by the shore and trees. I look and see him with his feet in the water, his hood off showing off a messy mop of brown hair.

"Please at least your name..." I cover my chest instinctively.

"It's T-Toby." He says quietly, I hardly heard it.

"I'm (Y/N)" I yawn, needing some more energy to even get out of the water later.

"(Y/n) st-Starlight right?" His voice sounds amused.

"That's what people call me. But actually that's not my real name." I laugh dryly.

"What is I-it?" Toby moves his legs slowly in the water.

"I can't remember... it's been too long."

Silence falls upon us. It's awkward and thick, neither of us know what to say. I use it to ponder what I remember from before Paul.

"I think it was East... (y/n) east..." I speak up.

"So you l-like living here?"

"Yeah it's my favorite part of my life. Being surrounded by nature and being outside while soaking and feeling fresh." I sigh

"It's very pretty here"

"Yeah.... it is" I smile.

"I l-like it" his fingers twitch near his hatchet when I look at him, I hardly notice it unless it's there. I end up falling into the water startled.

"Can you stop scaring me like that!" I hiss once I surface, the water freezing on my freshly covered skin.

"What d-do you mean?" Toby tilts his head innocently.

"Your fingers!" I say softly trying not to be rude but having almost no social interaction with anyone outside of a professional setting I have no clue how to do that.

Toby's expression hardens under his goggles and he removes himself from the water and pulls his shoes back on.

I'm too shocked at his reaction to even say anything so I'm watching him leave with an expression of shock and regret. After Toby has retreated into the trees I pull myself out of the water and go to bed and silently cry myself to sleep knowing I messed up probably the only chance to have a friend.