33Summary: Genny and Toby are best friends. Genny hates love and Toby is a romantic. What happens when Toby finds a letter that Genny wrote to him—but never meant for him to read?
NOTE: Also part of a future story. Enjoy!
Toby would always remember the day that Genny had declared that love was stupid and pointless and that all romantics should die. He reminded her that he was a romantic and she took back that one little bit. She stood firm on the issue of love though.
"Haven't you ever been in love?" he asked her.
"Yes. Why else would I hate it? Did you think that one morning I just woke up and thought, 'Gee, maybe I should just hate love. I don't know why, but that sounds fun.' No, Toby, I've been in love, but they didn't love me back. It hurt. It still does," Genny murmured. Tears came to her eyes, but she blinked them away.
"Did they know that you loved them?" Toby asked.
"No," she mumbled. "But it was obvious how I felt!" Her lower lip trembled and Toby hugged her briefly.
"Genny, not everyone is as good at reading emotions as you are," he said softly. "Just because one guy didn't work out doesn't mean you should give up on love completely. There's somebody for you; maybe you haven't met him yet, but you will."
Or maybe I have and he doesn't love me, she thought sadly.
"Toby, all romantics think that their perfect soul mate is out there," she sighed, "but I don't. For me there are two choices: I don't' have a soul mate; or I do but he doesn't love me. See my dilemma?" Her green eyes pleaded with him to agree with her just this once.
"You're wrong, Genny," he said flatly. "You do have a soul mate somewhere in this world. You may not have met him yet. Somehow I doubt that you ever will because you don't let anyone in. I understand if you are afraid, but that just means that you need to get over your fear!" Toby was on a full-blown rant and Genny knew there was almost no way she could win.
"Toby, aren't you supposed to be nice to me?" she whispered. "You're my best friend."
"Genny, you just don't realize how difficult you are!" he snapped. "How can you hate love but still want it? How can you want love when you are afraid of it?"
"I'm in love right now," she murmured.
"Then tell him. Ask him out; get him a present. Something so you won't feel alone," Toby said.
"Guys don't like me that way," she said.
"You're so pessimistic! Genny, you have the greatest personality; you're smart, funny, caring, and creative. Not that anybody knows you're like that, but you are. And you're beautiful. There's no way you can hide that. Guys do like you, Genny," he told her.
"Beautiful?" she whispered.
"Yes. You are. Haven't you noticed? You'd be prettier than Sakura if you didn't try to hide it. Just let it be."
"You really think so?" she gasped.
"Yes," he replied, sounding very sure of himself.
'Thank you," she said. "Toby, I have to go now. Homework."
"Okay. I'll talk to you later," he said, hugging her tightly. Genny grinned and then scurried away. Toby was about to walk away but he stepped on something that made a crunching noise. It was just a piece of paper. He was about to kick it away but then he saw his name written on the paper in Genny's hand. Slowly he bent over, picked it up, and smoothed out the wrinkles and creases. It was a letter
My Darling Toby,
Lila and Neal thought this would help me. I'm sure you haven't noticed how I feel about you; you aren't that type of guy. I guess this letter is to help me not feel so bottled up or something. I'm never sending it, so it's okay. If it isn't obvious by the greeting, I love you. Why am I talking like I'm actually writing to you? This is for me, and no one else. If I was smart, then I would ask you out or do something to get you away from Sakura, but I won't. I don't want to hurt you. You love Sakura so I won't do anything to keep you away. Pierre is already hurting you enough by dating her. I wonder what you would say if I told you that I want to tear Pierre's eyes out. God, why does love hurt me so much? In a perfect world, you would see that Sakura and Pierre are perfect for each other, and that I love you. You would know that I would never hurt you or leave you. Wow, I'm a sap. But, like I said, this letter isn't for you. It's for me. I guess that makes it even more pathetic. If you ever did read this (which won't happen) you would undoubtedly shun me forever. Maybe not. What do I know, eh? Okay, well, since I really can't think of anything else to write, I'll just say this: I may not be a romantic, but I know what love is.
Love,
Genny
Toby felt like a moron. Genny was probably feeling really bad right then because he had yelled at her. Had it really been so obvious that she liked him? She seemed to think so.
He rubbed his hand over his face and thought. Pierre and Sakura being together had really hurt him at first; now he didn't care that Sakura chose Pierre over him. What had happened? Did he love Sakura?
As soon as he asked himself that, he knew the answer.
"Hey, Genny," Toby said.
"Toby!" Genny screamed. "I lost something really, really important! I've gotta find it! Please help me!"
"Calm!" he cried, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Good. Now, when did you last see it? And what is it?"
"It's a…a letter, and I don't know when I last saw it. I had it in my jacket pocket and it must have fallen out. Toby, nobody can read that letter," she whispered. She looked about ready to cry, so Toby pulled her into his arms.
And suddenly they were kissing. Neither of them quite knew who had started it. Genny backed away and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Genny, I need to go now. I told my study partner that I would call him at seven thirty. He'll kill me for calling late. I'll see you later, okay?" He kissed the tip of her nose.
"Okay. Bye," she said. He grinned and walked away. As soon as he turned the corner, she jumped up and down. Quickly, she realized what she was doing and froze, slipping her hands into her pockets. There was a piece of paper in her right pocket. She pulled it out and unfolded it.
My Beautiful Genny,
I'm not good at writing letters. I just wanted to tell you that the world is a lot more perfect that you think. And can I keep your letter? I found it on the ground earlier today. I love it. More importantly, I love you. Good-bye for now.
Love,
Toby