"Balance," she says as she drops the chips.
"You're my hero," I say. I've been craving chips all day.
"I do what I can."
We're totally silent for as long as it takes us to inhale our food in the least gross way we can.
When we're finished, we each sit back with our chips and talk about this and that. I know exactly what she's going to bring up a second before she brings him up.
"I don't want to talk about him," I say as she opens her mouth.
"How did you know what I was going to say?" She raises one dark eyebrow over the rim of her glasses. She only wears them when she's in serious study mode. They don't really work for cheer.
"Because I know you." Even though we've been friends a short time, you don't always need years to get to completely know someone. Being so close at cheer and outside practice accelerates relationships sometimes.
She sighs and munches a chip loudly.
"Fine. Don't talk to me about whatever you've got going on with Rhett. I can't tell that it's been driving you nuts." I narrow my eyes slowly in a glare.
Tobi laughs.
"See, I know you too." Damn her, she does.
"Okay, fine. What did you want to talk about?" I might as well hear what this is.
"I want to talk about how much you want him. One of these days I expect you to come down from a cradle, shove him onto the mat, and go to town." I gape at her.
"Seriously? I would never do that. Especially not in the middle of practice in front of everyone." I shudder. Some people may get off on banging in public, but I am not one of those people. No way.
"Well, maybe after practice . . ." She raises and lowers her eyebrows, almost looking like a cartoon.
"You're being ridiculous. I'm not with Rhett. I don't even like him." Much. Tobi gives me an incredulous look.
"You should be careful, because I think your pants are about to catch fire any moment now. From the combination of lying and being hot for Rhett." I throw a chip at her and she dodges me, cackling.
"You're only mad because I'm right." I refuse to look at her.
"I can see it. He's got that ruggedly handsome thing going on. Like he could go out and slaughter something, but then come home and fuck you in front of the fire on a bearskin rug." I glare at her and look around to make sure no one overheard her. Sometimes Tobi doesn't have a filter either.
"Ew. I'd rather not have sex on a dead bear."
"Eh, to each their own. Anyway, back to my point. I can see what you'd find attractive in him, and he does have one thing that most girls can't resist." I wait for her to answer.
"Mystery," she says, wiggling her fingers.
"You are such a dork."
"I may be a dork, but I'm a correct dork." She smirks and pushes her glasses up on her nose.
"Ugh, whatever," I say. There's no winning with her. When Tobi thinks she's right, there is no convincing her otherwise. Granted, she's smart as hell, so she's right a lot. But in this instance, she's not. I don't want Rhett (much) and I don't think he's mysterious (only a little bit).
I press my lips together and refuse to talk until she changes the subject.
"What about you? Why don't you go for him if he's so mysterious and hot?"
She laughs.
"Nah, he's not for me. But he's for someone," she sings the last word and then picks up her tray.
"Come on. I have a shit-ton of studying to do, and I'd like to go to bed before the sun comes up tomorrow." Tobi is notorious for all-nighters. I have no idea how she functions day to day sometimes. And she doesn't even drink that much caffeine. Science should really study her.
"Fine," I say, getting my tray and following her. I push Rhett out of my thoughts again for the benefit of academia. But he's never far away, lurking in the back of my mind like a big, attractive shadow.
Bastard.
* * *
Tobi and I stumble our way out of the library several hours later, mumbling goodbye to one another. My goal is to go home, eat whatever I can get my hands on, and go to bed early. My brain is really fucking tired, and I have to get up and run tomorrow because everything is awful.
"Hey," a voice says and I jump, nearly dropping my backpack, and prepare for an attack. I find myself looking directly at a wide chest that is sheathed in flannel. My eyes travel upward and meet Rhett's.
"What is wrong with you? Never sneak up on a woman!" I smack him in the chest with my hand, and I'm pretty sure I sprain my wrist.
"Fuck!" This day is not going so well.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry." He backs up and holds his hands up in surrender.