Chapter 7- Telling Toby

"How do you know?" I asked Emma we where still at her house

" Becuase every first letter of each sentence has a letter of his name. Listen.Tonight I'm going to Ashley's, T, Or chilling at the Dot's Grill, O, By the way maybe I'll meet you in Toby's room, B, You'll be there I hope, so Y, I'll be seeing you, I. Manny T O B Y I. Toby Issacs!!" Emma exclaimed

I thought about it. Thats what the clue was. I can't belive it. I layed on her bed. She layed down next to me.

"I don't want him to be my secret admirer, I was hoping it would be someone more romantic, well you know, not Toby, maybe some hot Senior or soemthing."

"I know, I wasn't expecting it to be Toby either."

We stayed quiet for a long time.

"So what are you going to wear to the party?" Emma asked

I sat up really fast.

"Did you not hear that it's Toby? Ashley Kerwins step brother? I can't go to the party because he obviously is going to be there."

"I know...and now it's your chance to tell him that you don't like him that way, and all those letters are in the past and you guys are just going to be friends."

I looked at Emma I knew she was right I just didn't want to go. I would feel so weird talking to Toby now. I mean he practicly was stalking me.

"Ok fine I'll go" I said

Emma gave me an outift to wear. And I got a cab to meet Craig at Ashley's Party.

I opend the door, music was blasting I couldn't hear a thing besides the music. I saw atleast a hundred people in the house. People where making out in one corner, and smoking in the other. It was crazy. I stood there in aw looking at everyone when someone grabbed me from behind.

"I've been waiting for you" the person said in a strange voice

Was it Toby. I had no clue what to say

"I don't like you that way" I said

"What?"

The person turned me around.

"You want to break up" Craig asked

"Craig.." I said "Hi, I wasn't expecting you, no I don't want to break up"

"Okay have..." he started but...

Ashley came over to us with this guy. He looked exactly like Craig, but not. You know what I mean?

"Craig...this is my boyfriend Larry"

"Hi, Larry nice to meet you." Craig said "I'm Ashley's ex, and this is my girlfriend Manny"

"Hi" he said looking at me

I waved at him. The whole time Ashley didn't look at me. I think she felt uncomfetable with the whole thing also. They started to walk away.

"Ashley" I said

She turned around. She had hate in her eyes, like she wanted to come and attack me.

"Happy birthday" I said smiling

First she had a shocked face, and then smiled back "Thankyou." and started to walk away and then she turned around again "We have to talk later" and then she walked away.

I was starting to feel really sick. I really wanted to leave and didn't want to go to Toby's room. I wanted to stay at home and act like I didn't know it was Toby like nothing hapopend. I wanted to cry. Craig noticed to. We where sitting on the couch talking.

"Whats wrong?" he asked

"Nothing" I said

"But you look really pail something is wrong"

"No I'm fine."

"Go to the bathroom and wipe your face off ok and then I'll take you home."

"Craig, I'm fine" I said

"No your not, now go" he damanded

I got off the chair and walked up to the bathroom.

I got in the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. Criag was right I was a little paile. I felt like I was about to faint or something

"You can do this Manny, you can tell him that you don't like him" I said still looking at myself in the mirror.

I got out of the bathroom, and slowely walked over to Toby's room. I put my hand on the doornob and hasitated to open the door. I can't do this, I don't want to hurt Toby, he was one of my best friends. I've known him longer than I've known Craig. But why can't I just say as a friend, that I don't want to go out with him. I just couldn't do it. I let go of the doornob and started walking away downstairs. But he will still be hurt if I don't go up there so I started walking back to the room. I put my hand on the doornob again and thought it over. I was going to tell him and there was no turning back. I slowely started to open the door. And when I did to my amazment I saw......