𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓, tubbo

005: it's called: freefall

"Who? Toby, there's no one there."

Tommy looks over at me, but he is looking through me at something behind me. The wall, the couch, I do not know. I cannot tell. But it's not me. He can't see me. The realisation should bother me more than it does, but I just realise with crystal clear rationality that he cannot see me. Which means... which means only Tubbo can. Or is it just a selected few people?

Time moves quicker than I'd like to admit, and suddenly Tommy is laughing, looking me in the eyes. Looking at me. 

"I'm just joking. You thought you were going insane, weren't you?" Tommy grins at Tubbo's paling face. I furrow my eyebrows at how spooked he looks. He didn't look that scared even when he found out about me. 

"Yeah... yeah, I did." Tubbo nods and I realise he must have been clinging to the hope that this was all just some weird dream this entire time. I ignore the stab at my chest as I think about it. 

Tommy's grin falters for a fraction of a second. "Hey, it was just a joke. I'm sorry, Toby." 

"No, it's- it's fine, Toms." Tubbo clears his throat. "Anyway, this is Alec. He's... he's cool." He motions toward me and I wave dumbly. 

"Hi."

"Hello. Alec, right?" Tommy smiles and holds his hand out towards me. 

I stare at his outstretched hand for a second, momentarily forgetting everything I was taught as a child. I have just been dead for too long, I suppose. I force a placid smile and take his hand. 

"Yes. And you're Tommy? It's nice to meet you." I say, keeping my voice even as I speak, smiling unfaltering. You're doing well. You are doing everything right. Calm down. One voice says while the other screams excitedly. HE CAN SEE ME!!

"You too." He drops my hand. "When did you guys meet then? Oh, right, I came because-" He is cut off by Tubbo.

"Last week. By the pier." He lies easily. I stare at him with wide eyes, impressed by how quickly he came up with that lie. And how utterly believable it is. If I did not know better, I would be fooled by it too. 

"Oh. Cool." Tommy nods. "Anyways, I was gonna ask if you wanted to be in a vlog. I'm doing... uh, you won't tell anyone about this, right? Not until the video is posted?" The question is directed towards me, and I stop myself from laughing. Who would I tell?

I shake my head. "Don't worry. My lips are sealed." I pinch my thumb and pointer, moving them over my closed lips, pretending to lock them at the end, throwing away the imaginary key. 

He nods urgently. Was he always this impatient? 

"Thanks, okay. Anyways, Phil is in on it, Wilbur too, but I thought it would be funnier if there were more of us." He tells Tubbo.

I glance over at the boy. He is uncharacteristically silent, watching us quietly. I bite the inside of my lip. Is he okay? What is up with that... numb expression? His face is completely blank. Worry settles in my chest and I tap my glass anxiously. 

"Can- no." Tubbo starts, but cuts himself off, looking like he wants to curse at himself. "Nevermind. Sorry, Toms, no can do. I promised to hang out with Y/n." He says, expending an open palm towards me.

I stare at him, mouth agape and eyes wide. What did he just say? Tommy looks equally shocked. 

"But- but he can come with." He scrambles for a response. 

Tubbo crosses his arms over his chest and raises an eyebrow. "And be in the video? I don't think so." He shakes his head. 

"Well, he could, but I don't know..." Tommy trails off, looking over at me.