7 s e v e n

Still reeling from what had just transpired between her and Dennis as well as the plethora of petals following, Tobi stumbled into the building and made a beeline for a thankfully unlocked empty classroom. Collapsing into a chair in front of a small table in the dark room, she stared blankly at the ceiling, an empty feeling resonating in her. Not only had she just lost her best friend, but also her first love.

As she thought this, a new set of tears began streaming from her eyes. The bell signaling the end of lunch sounded, but she didn't even make an effort to move from her seat. Pulling out her phone, she dialed the only other person she could think to talk to. It went straight to voicemail. --please leave a message after the tone. A long beep came from the phone and she remained silent.

Then, without reason, she laughed. She couldn't stop. By now her stomach hurt so hard that she clutched at it. Gradually, over the course of roughly a minute, her laughs turned to sobs. "Shit, this really does suck, Ashton." Tobi sobbed, now with her face in her open palm. "Nothing is going how it should." Her sobs began to transition back into laughter and she hung up. Folding her arms on the table, she laid her head on them and muttered, "God, I hate this..."

❀❀❀

Now at home and comfortable on her couch, Tobi stares at the ceiling of the living room. From the kitchen, she hears the familiar buzz of her phone on the counter, but she can't find the energy to get up and get it. For a moment, it stops. Then it almost immediately starts up again.

Releasing a loud groan, Tobi sinks further into the couch and covers her head with her blanket. Finally, after the fifth time it begins buzzing, Tobi kicks off the blanket childishly and trudges into the kitchen. As soon as she puts the phone to her ear, Ashton's voice is already asking questions. "Hey, where are you?" He asks, concern laced in his voice. She hears a car honk from his end as he continues, "And what was with that message earlier? Are you okay?"

After a long moment of silence where the event from a few hours ago plays in her mind, she whispers in a barely audible voice, "No, I'm not."

Giving a long sigh, Ashton says, "Okay, tell me where you are and I'll be over in a few minutes."

Releasing a long sigh and dragging her free hand through her short hair, she admits in a tired voice, "Ashton, I really don't think that that's a good idea right now."

A long silence emits from his end before he finally asks meekly, "Okay, but why?"

Giving another long and tired sigh, Tobi mumbles, "I just need some time to process some things right now. I appreciate that you're worried, but I just... I can't right now, okay?"

Ashton gives a sigh of his own and responds, "Okay, I guess." When he doesn't hang up after a long pause, Tobi assumes he's finished and hangs up the phone. Just as she goes to put it down, it buzzes in her hand again. With a groan, she answers, but before she has the time to say anything, Ashton blurts, "I want you to talk to me about it later." Tobi blinks, surprised. "A-and if you don't want to, then we can just do something fun to help take your mind off it for a while."

A tired smile picks up the corners of her lips and she responds, "Yeah, okay. You know, I'm so glad that I have you, Ashton. I really, really am."

"Yeah, so am I, Tobi." He says quietly, too quiet for her to hear.

"Hm?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Hey, I'll see you later, okay?" And with that, he hangs up the phone without even waiting for her response.

❀❀❀

I'm at the cafe. Tobi stares at the text, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. By now, the night is beginning to settle over the city, the reds, oranges, and yellows bleeding into the blues and purples of the night sky. Without responding, Tobi exits the apartment, still clad in baggy sweatpants and an old hoodie and phone in hand.

As soon as she exits the building, she sees Ashton leaning against the windows of the cafe, glancing from side to side. Heaving a sigh, Tobi cups her hands around her mouth and says loudly, "Ashton,"

His head snaps up and he stares at her, surprise written on his face. With a wave of her hand, she beckons him to her side of the road. "Hey," He greets, a slight smile donned on his face. When she doesn't return it, he asks, "Tobi, are you okay? You've been kinda weird ever since that call."

She sighs and grabs his sleeve, dragging him behind her. "Oh, okay, then," Ashton mumbles, slightly annoyed.

As she pulls him into the elevator to go to her floor, she mutters tiredly, "Sorry. I'll tell you about it when we get to my place." As she continued to stare at her feet, still latched onto his sleeve, his face warms.

"Your place?"

"Yes." Turning her head slightly in the opposite direction of him, she mumbles, "Don't worry, I've told you before that I'm not the kinda person to do whatever you're thinking."

Giving a chuckle, Ashton states, "I wasn't worried, really. Just surprised." He sighs, drawing Tobi's focus to him. "I've been getting a lot of surprises ever since I met you, y'know that?"

The elevator dings and the doors open. As Tobi pulls him through the door and leads him to her door, she inquires, "Is that good or bad?"

"Good, I think." He gives a slight chuckle, but it sounds sad. "Most of them, anyway." Tobi doesn't respond, just slows her pace slightly in response.

Once inside and with the front door closed, Tobi mutters, "It's about the person causing my Hanahaki. The one I'm in love with." Ashton barely has time to react before tears well up in her eyes again. "He -- he said that he can't stay around me anymore." Anger building, she adds in an exasperated voice, "Says he wants to help me. But how is that helping, Ashton?" Swiping her hands under her eyes in an effort to combat the onslaught of tears, she repeats meekly, "How?"

For a moment, Ashton just stares, dumbfounded. As if regaining consciousness, he hesitantly reaches out, enveloping her in a loose hug. Tobi doesn't resist, just continues to sob into his chest. Giving a small, sympathetic sigh, he whispers to her, "Hey, why don't you tell me about it, Tobi?"

Reducing her loud sobs to significantly quieter sniffles, Tobi shakes her head and mumbles into his shirt, "No, I don't want to, Ashton." Turning her head up to face him, she says admits quietly, "I'm sorry I always end up crying in front of you. Sometimes I wish I didn't depend on you so much, but..." She sighs into his chest before giving him a wry smile. "there isn't really anyone else for me to talk to about all of this since no one else knows."

Ashton's face becomes blank and his eyes unfocused. Letting go of her, he takes a step back and rakes a hand through his hair. "You," He gulps and continues, "You haven't told anyone else? Other than me and the other guy? The one you love?"

Casting her eyes to the side to avoid his bewildered expression. "No, I haven't."

He blinks rapidly in an attempt to focus. "W-why haven't you told anyone, Tobi?" His voice is simply confused. There's no anger or accusation in it like there was with Dennis.

Giving a huff, she mumbles, "It's because I just..." She trails off. He doesn't prompt her, just waits patiently. "I just don't want anyone to put their life on hold for me. I mean, not many people would, maybe just my brother. But I still don't want that. He's supposed to get married in a few months and..." She sighs again and continues, "I just don't want him to put that on hold, y'know? I want him to just continue on. He has enough to worry about as it is." Continuing, she shrugs, "My parents wouldn't be able to drop everything either. It would just be such a hassle for everyone else and I really don't want that for any of them."

Ashton chews on his bottom lip and, after a long pause, he mumbles, "And you're sure that's best?"

"No, I'm not." She runs a hand through her hair and adds, "But this is what I want to do."

In response, he hums, "If that's what you want, then I can't do anything about it, I guess."

Tobi steps forward and gives him a small but firm hug, mumbling, "Thank you so much, Ashton. You're probably the best thing I've gotten out of this whole situation." Instead of giving a verbal response, he returns the hug loosely.