Chapter Text
Y/N had only ever walked home from school with Toby Rogers once. It wasn't because she decided once was enough but because that had been Toby's last day at public school.
When he had arrived home that day, Y/N had overheard that- that had not been his first time being bullied.The boys in Toby's class had been harassing him since the first day of grade 7.
Toby's mom called the principle and talked to many counsellors, but she became convinced that it was best for Toby to stay homeschooled.
When Toby was pulled out of public school he became lonely. He began conversing with various objects in his house and blamed it on his medication.
At the age of 15, Toby's older sister became busier and busier. With college around the corner, her track meets went from once a week to every day after school and it left her very little time to spend with Y/N.
So when Lyra was busy, Y/N found herself getting closer to Toby. It was fun, really. But mostly because they had the house all to themselves on weekdays.
"Wow, how long have you had this for?" Y/N lifted a stuffed cow off from Toby's shelf. Toby pulled his gaze away from the window and turned around to face her.
"Are these band-aids?" she giggled holding up the plush cow's left hoof.
Toby grimaced. "I put those on there when I was 4? Maybe 5?" "I don't know, it was when I pretty much lived in the hospital," he told, walking over to his bed.
Y/N set down the cow and skipped over to Toby's old closet. The doors squeaked when she pulled them open.
"I don't remember giving you an invitation to snoop around my room," Toby said, crossing his arms.
"Aw c'mon Toby, your room is so fascinating and-"
Y/N gasped. "You kept this?"
Hanging on a hook in Toby's closet was the dandelion chain Y/N had made in grade 7. Something about that made Y/N’s chest flutter.
Toby collapsed onto his bed and sighed.
"Y/N you said you'd come to the store with me today, remember?" he interrupted. "I promised my mom I'd run some errands for her."
"Yeah, OK, OK."
"You better bring your wallet though, 'cause this time I'm not paying!" Y/N huffed.
Toby rolled his eyes but Y/N swore she saw the corners of his mouth twitch.
As they walked to the store side by side, Y/N was reminded of how much Toby had grown. When they were twelve, Y/N had been much taller than Toby. Now the boy stood at five feet, one inch.
To be fair, Toby was only taller than Y/N by an inch and a half but now his shoulders had become more broad and his voice had deepened.
Nonetheless, Toby was still Toby with his pale skin, lanky build and signature eye-bags and of course those perpetual tics of his. Good ol' Toby.
The convenience store was only a couple blocks away. The sky began to glow with pinks and oranges as the two passed by the forest.
"Do you always go to the store this late?" Y/N asked. She waited for a response but there was only silence.
"Toby?"
Y/N looked behind her and spotted Toby standing far behind, staring into the forest. Seriously Toby? Y/N drew out a long sigh and stomped over to the boy.
"Hey Toby if you're stalling just to get back at me for earlier, I'm sorry for snooping around your room," Y/N said.
He still didn't respond. Y/N tapped Toby on the shoulder and suddenly he jolted. His eyes were wide and he looked winded. It was almost as if he had seen a ghost. Y/N peaked into the forest just to make sure.
"Woah-" "Tobes....you OK?" she asked.
He opened his mouth but no words came out. Y/N reached out to touch his shoulder but Toby only jerked away and then shook his head.
"I- I'm alright," he said
Y/N raised a brow at him.
"Really, I'm fine."
Toby remained quiet for the rest of the walk and Y/N ended up doing the talking for him at the convenience store. It was hard for Y/N to believe that he was fine.
When they walked back to Toby's house, the sun had retired and stars filled the sky.
It was quiet out, not many cars passing by on the street. Occasionally Y/N would hear the snaps and cracks of Toby's tics but otherwise the streets were filled with the sound of trees rustling in the wind and the sound of cicadas.
Toby pulled out the set of keys to his house when the front door swung open, causing Toby to drop his grocery bag. Y/N flinched at the sound of shattering glass.
She looked down on the ground to see milk seeping out of the plastic bag and onto the Rogers' welcome mat. Y/N took a step back before her sneakers could get wet.
"Well...loook..who it iss.."
Standing in the doorway was Toby’s father, Mr Rogers. Toby hadn't seen him in weeks and Y/N could see his jaw clench.
"Where..the..hell.. is your mother?" he slurred
Y/N covered her nose with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Toby's dad reeked of alcohol and cigarettes.
Toby spoke between gritted teeth. "She's working late, because of you. You should leave."
"That'ss..n- no..way..to..speak..to...y- your father," he scoffed. Mr Rogers suddenly grabbed Toby by the collar and yanked him into the doorway. Toby didn't look afraid, but he looked angry. Really angry.
"You better get your act together..." Mr Rogers spat. "Becausse..you-"
"You're draining this family....like a little leech."
Something changed in Toby's expression when he heard his father's words. His eyes became empty and his gaze fell down to the puddle of milk. Y/N felt an ache in her chest.
"Leave him alone!" she tried to shout, but it came out as a whimper. Mr Rogers threw Toby onto the porch and Y/N's lower lip trembled.
"Who'ss...this?" He breathed. "Toby..you-" "You..TELL..this..disrespectfulll..girll..to leave..my property...or else-"
Toby remained frozen on the ground, an empty look in his eyes. Mr Rogers raised his hand to strike and Y/N suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline. She swooped in to grab Toby's hand, yanking him off the ground and she ran.
Mr Rogers cursed and screamed while Y/N ran as fast as her legs could carry her with a tight grip on Toby’s hand. She lead him into her fenced-in backyard, slamming the gate shut and quickly locking it.
"Why don't you stay here for the night?" Y/N panted.
Toby shook his head, snapping out of his trance. "I can't."
"Why not? My dad's on a business trip, you'll be safe here," she whispered, grabbing Toby's sleeve.
"But my mother a- and Lyra."
Y/N felt a lump in her throat.
"I have to go back," he said. "I- If I don't..It'll just make things worse."
Before she could even reply, Toby unlocked the gate and ran out of Y/N's backyard, leaving her alone in the dark.