Secrets & Lies: Two Short Stories(16)

Then he saw me.

For a second it felt like everything had frozen. People were still dancing. The music was still playing. But neither Toby nor I moved. He was looking at me—at the huge sign over my head—and standing so still he could have been made of stone. And maybe I was, too, because a second later I had to remind myself to breathe.

Finally, he started walking toward me. It seemed to take him forever to make his way through the crowd, but eventually he was there, in front of me, and I… I had no idea. Luckily, he spoke first.

“ILTT,” he said.

“Yeah.” I lowered the sign, holding it at waist level. “ILTT.”

“And that means…?”

“I like Toby Tucker,” I said. “Or… I love Toby Tucker, maybe. I don’t know.” My face was on fire, so I turned away, unable to look him in the eyes. I was so embarrassed and nervous that I just wanted the floor to open up and swallow me.

It took him a second to say anything, which just made it that much worse. But then I felt a hand next to mine as Toby reached out and gripped the top of the sign. I took a chance and looked at him. He was smiling.

“You know,” he said. “I think that’s an abbreviation I can get behind.”

A smile broke across my face and I laughed, so happy and relieved. He laughed, too. I dropped the sign and wrapped my arms around him. And his were around me. And I don’t think either of us wanted to let go. I pulled back a little, just enough to kiss him. It wasn’t a sloppy, grope-y, eww-not-in-public kiss. It was simple and sweet, and I wanted it to last forever.

“Save some for midnight!”

Reluctantly, Toby and I pulled apart. Wesley was walking through the crowd, carrying a couple cans of soda. He waved as he passed us, then headed toward the booth where I’d left B and Jess.

“So,” Toby said. “He knows. Does that mean…?”

“Bianca knows. And she’s actually okay with it. I should’ve told her sooner. I shouldn’t have kept you a secret. I’m sorry.” I let out a breath. “But now she knows. Everybody knows.”

“I suppose they do,” he said. “Thanks to your sign. I wasn’t expecting that, by the way.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen the back!” I bent down to pick up the cardboard. “I have another abbreviation you might like.” I flipped it over and held it up to my chest so he could see the other side.

“TTFP,” he read.

“Yep. Toby Tucker For President. I figure I’ll be making a lot of these in twenty years or so. I should get started now.”

He chuckled. “You’re ridiculous.”

“But that’s why you like me, right?”

“Perhaps.” He smiled and tapped the sign. “I need one that says ILCB, I guess.”

“I’ll get on that.” I leaned forward and kissed him again. “Now, come on. Everyone at the booth is totally staring at us and waiting to know what happened.” I tucked the sign under my arm and grabbed his hand, and we made our way to the table where my friends were waiting.

“And here comes the happy couple,” Wesley said as Toby and I squeezed into the booth next to Jess. He reached across the table and extended his hand to Toby. “Nice to see you again.”

“You too,” Toby said, shaking Wesley’s hand.

“It’s so nice everyone can be so civil,” Jess said. “I mean, considering Wesley walked in on Bianca and Toby making out that one time and then Bianca dumped Toby to be with—”

“Okay,” B said very loudly. “Time to change the subject.”

Toby was on top of it. “What’s everyone’s New Year’s resolutions?” he asked.

“Mine is to call home more often,” Wesley said. “I’m not the best at keeping in touch. Oh, and to—”

“If you tell them the other one, I will kill you,” B said.

“Why? What is it?” Jess asked, puzzled.

“It must be something dirty,” I said.

“It is,” B said. She looked at Wesley. “And it’s never going to happen.”

He made a face of mock disappointment. “You break my heart, Bianca Piper. Speaking of things that’ll never happen, tell them yours.”

“Shut up. It’ll happen.”

“Oh, what’s yours, Bianca?” Jess asked.

“I’m going to curse less.”

Every. Single. One of us burst out laughing.

“What?” B demanded. “I can do it. I’m not that profane.”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Sure…. And you, Jess?”

She sighed dramatically. “I’m going to get over Harrison Carlyle. I think it’s time I move on…. Guys, I think he might be gay.”

I opened my mouth, about to remind her that we’d been trying to tell her that for years, but she looked so disappointed that I couldn’t make myself do it. So I just patted her on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jess. It’s his loss. He’ll never find someone with shinier hair than yours.”

She gave me a small smile.

“What about you, Casey?” Toby asked. “Are you going to cut back on the abbreviations?”

“No,” I said. “I kind of like them. Especially the new ones—like ILTT.” He blushed. I shook my head. “No, my resolution is to stop with the secrets. I think that should be all of ours.” I looked at B and Jess. “This year has been full of lies and secrets, and it sucks. So, no more. No secrets from one another this year.”