He's Oblivious

Theater

Theater

"Toby!" Screams my best friend down the hall, running towards me.

When she finally reaches the blushing mess called myself, I sternly reply back. "The heck?! You made everyone look!" Though she always has at least someone looking at her.

"Oh shush!" She jokes. Jade is my best and only friend at Mikley High, though I'm not complaining that she's my only friend. She has blonde curly hair and a average weighted body for her height. Though she may not attract me, she makes all the straight boys go crazy. "Anywho, i was wondering if you wanted to hang after school!?" She exclaims.

"Uhh, maybe...I have a lot of chores...and homework..."

"Rah! Loosen up and live a little," she pats me hard on the back causing every guy looking to glare. "We haven't hung out in five-ever!"

"I don't know..." I sigh trying to stand my ground, but utterly failing.

"Please! I have a friend going too and she's bringing her boyfriend...I don't want to be the only girl without a boy..." As usual she's using me as the 'fake boyfriend' I stare at her trying to stand my ground. "The girl has a really cute boyfriend you might be interested in!" She starts to put on a puppy dog face. I blush madly.

"Shuddup! Not everyone knows I'm...you kno-"

She cuts me off and spits the answer out like she's at her 5 grade spelling bee "Gay." She smiles innocently.

"Yes. Don't say it too loud, geez..." I look away blushing.

"Don't say what," she raises her voice "That Toby Carter is..." She almost screams the word out and I cover her mouth quickly with my hand.

"Fine!!"

"Fine what?" She smiles knowing, but needing to hear.

"I'll...go with you to the double date..."

"Yay!" She smiles wide and hugs me tight, not knowing I'll have to deal with the consequences later.

She sent me the coordinates and the time I should be there, but of course I'm always the first person there. I stand outside the theater, awkwardly looking around for Jade. I try to smile at the people walking by, though I probably look like I'm faking the smile. I stand there for a bit, pulling out my phone and checking if Jade messaged me. Yep, she's going to be late. I sigh as I see a shadow walk up to me. I look up and it's a teenage boy, taller than me of course, dressed as jocky as you can get. "Hey, you're Toby, right?" the guy says to me, which I'm assuming Jade made sure to say I was her boyfriend.

"Yeah, and you are..."

"Luke!" He was tall and handsome like every other jock usually is, probably a dick too. He was wearing the usual football team jacket and blue tattered jeans. His short blonde bangs covered his right eye, but he was sure to slick it back up into the rest of his hair. We stand there in silence for a bit "So...how long have you and Jade been goin' out?" he asks and I instantly start panicking because I don't know how long Jade said.

"Uh-"

"A couple weeks!" Jade came to the rescue as usual, giving me a wink. She walked up with the other girl, who I am assuming is Luke's girlfriend. "This is Jess! Jess, Toby, Toby, Jess!" Jade introduces, Jess walks up and smiles shyly, shaking my hand. I smile back starting to make my way into the theater.

"Hey babe!" Luke throws his arm over Jess' shoulder, they begin to chat. Jade looks distressed.

"What's the matter?" I whisper to Jade. She instantly grabs my hand and holds it.

"We have to look like a couple, 'kay?" She whispers back. I don't mind holding her hand, we used to do it as kids all the time, takes me back. I remember she was the first one I told about my sexuality. She was so accepting, I practically cried on her. She's so sweet, doesn't have a care in the world about what you do, as long as you're being healthy and taking care of yourself. She's so open to learning about people and new things. She's not like every other pretty girl.

"4 tickets please." Jade says to the worker.

"That'll be 46 dollars." He replies, looking at me. I blush and look down as I grab my wallet. We all chip in to pay and we make our way into to movie. It's a romance movie of course. I try to watch without being repulsed. To be completely honest, I'd rather be home reading. I enjoy delving into a novel and be completely consumed by the world. I personally enjoy pretending that I'm the main character, I feel the same feelings they do, I walk the same paths and go on the same adventures, until I am completely that person. Then, when I stop reading, I'm just me again. A 16 year old gay boy who gets as much attention as a white crayon. Which isn't completely bad nor good. I realize that I haven't really been paying attention to the movie so I try to advert my focus on the movie again.

I look at Jade, but as soon as I do, she squeezes my hand, she looks distracted, maybe even upset. I can tell something is bothering her. She always pulls a certain face when something's the matter. The movie winds down to an end and we try to get up as fast as we can before everyone else does. As soon as we get out Jade goes to the restroom, Luke and Jess leave before we do. I wait outside the restroom for her. When she finally comes out her eyes are all red and puffy. "Woah woah, what's the matter?" I ask clearly worried.

"It's nothing" she tries to smile, but I know better.

"Come on, please tell me?"

"I'll be fine, can you just take me home?"

"Alright..." I sigh trying not to be too pushy. We head to my parents car, which they let me borrow since I have my licence, and hop in. It's pretty quiet on the way to her house. Just the sound of the cement against the tires. She's seemed to calm down a bit. I turn the AC down because it's getting a bit chilly in the car. I glance over to her, she's just staring out the window, her blonde waves slightly moving due to the air coming out of the AC, she's very beautiful, even if she has cried. I can't stand to see her like this...she's my best friend. I finally get close to the house and I pull into the driveway. She doesn't get out right away. I look at her confused, she's staring at me dead in the eyes.

"Thanks." She smiles.

"U-Uh, No problem." A slight hint of question in my voice. She unbuckles her seat belt, and leans over to hug me, I hug back but before I know it, her lips were on my cheek, and she was gone.

I hope I wasn't the reason she cried...