Emily Fields was jogging in the middle of town, her iPod fit snugly around an armband where she caught sight of Toby Cavanaugh sauntering deliberately down the sidewalk. She paused to watch.

Toby. Their last conversation had not gone well. Emily had not made clear that she believed his side of the story, and Toby had taken her silence to mean that their friendship was effectively over. She had seen him in school earlier that day, and Toby e hadn't even looked at her.

He had stared directly ahead, ignoring the taunts and hoots of his classmates. Emily's heart broke for him, but she made no move toward him, fearing that neither he nor her friends would take kindly to it.

As she watched him, he paused in front of two children and smiled. But the elder clutched the younger in fear and they ran off, dropping ice cream in their path. Emily saw Toby's face twist in pain. She stared in shock—as long as she had known him, he was always stoic, always so guarded with his feelings. Toby took off running to an alley where she saw him disappear into.

Emily instinctively followed him, running heedlessly in the middle of traffic. She had to catch him-had to explain-had to comfort. Every part of her felt for every part of him. They were connected, had always been connected. When Toby was in pain, Emily was in pain. She couldn't explain the depth of her feelings for him, but she knew that it was different for what she felt for her other friends, other relationships. It was as if their souls had recognized each other and met.

Toby was crying, on the floor, in the middle of the alley by the time she caught up to him. She stepped hesitantly into the alley, but then moved forward with more purpose. He caught sight of her, and moved to wipe the tears from his face, but she caught his hand before he could and wiped them off for him.

Icy blue eyes met brown ones. In Toby's eyes, Emily saw hopelessness, regret and devastation. Stoic Toby had disappeared and in his place was a broken boy. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him and let him break down.

They stayed like that for minutes, Emily's arms trying to push the pieces of Toby back together. Emily reveled in their closeness. She had missed him-being apart from him felt so wrong for the longest time, and finally, it felt right.

His sobs finally slowed down, and he pulled back from her. "Thank you," he said softly, looking at the floor.

"Thank you," she replied as he looked up, stunned. "For letting me be there…do you believe me now?" she asked gently.

He nodded. "I do," he said. "Do you believe me?"

"I never doubted you," she replied. "We'll get through this, ok? You're not alone," she smiled at him in reassurance. "I'm with you, ok? I'm not leaving"

His eyes said more than words ever could. "OK," he said.

She reached out and touched his face. He took her hand and held it. She got up and pulled him up with her. Together, they walked back to their neighborhood, she nestled in his arms, and he never letting go.

Fin.