Soundtrack for this Chapter:

Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy

You're the one that seduced me, lured me in with your beauty

Now I know that you used me,

I'm ready now, I'm ready now.

all you did was confuse me, You're no longer what I need,

touch me slow, feel my heart bleed

I'm ready now, I'm ready now.

Chapter 12:

It was strange.

Feeling some sense of similarity to something he had once…

He felt like a magnet. Drawn to something, and unable to resist no matter how hard he tried. He had wanted to try. To push the feelings away. Bury them way down beneath so he could retreat back into himself.

But Becky kept him grounded where he stood. It was an unusual feeling. But not one he was unfamiliar with.

Tobey had been thinking over and over the encounter with Becky from the two night's prior as he walked through the factory at the end of the day, something he had only recently begun doing. She always seemed to notice him when he was around her, so there was no point in attempting to keep himself hidden from her. He instead needed to find reasons why so it seemed normal he was around.

He wished he had stronger willpower. Enough to stay away. He didn't know exactly the cause of the connection between them. There were times in which he cursed that string and wished he could severe it.

But then again, seeing her caused some of his stress to melt away. His struggles seemed to vanish. It was like a hit of serotonin. He just felt better; lighter even. Even a slight feeling of deja vu was washing over him.

"People are going to think you like her or something."

Tobey's breath hitched in his lungs in horror, causing him to choke on air, "I beg your pardon?"

Hunter, the smart alec thespian of the class, gave him a deadpan expression. The blonde haired 14 year old shifted in his seat to fully face the standing Tobey. Tobey didn't exactly want to be stuck there in the back of the science lab with Hunter, but unfortunately, they were lab partners.

"Don't play stupid. You know exactly what I'm talking about," Hunter informed, smiling mischievously.

Tobey refused to respond to the ridiculous questioning. He already hated the fact that he was subjected to sitting with the annoying kid, but now he was digging into Tobey's personal life? He could feel the anger boiling inside of him, mixed with the small amount of panic that was also overwhelming him.

"You know, ignoring me only further proves my point," Hunter raised an eyebrow and took a chip out of the bag of chips sitting in front of him.

Tobey couldn't help but sigh out of frustration, "I'm not avoiding anything. I just choose not to associate myself with you."

"Yeah right. Spending so much of your free time with one girl isn't suspicious at all, Tobey."

"I'm not spending all my time with her."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, pal. All I know is that our entire class knows you have a thing for Becky."

Despite his best efforts, he could not keep his cheeks from flushing red. It was kind of his worst nightmare that people seemed to be noticing his feelings for Becky. He didn't want her to find out and inevitably if everyone was spreading rumors about him, it would eventually get back to her. Sure they were sort of friends, but she would never see him in the same light and his reputation wouldn't help things. It was just best for everyone if she didn't find out.

"I don't have a thing for Becky. She's just a girl I have a lot of classes with. That hardly warrants a crush classification."

Hunter rolled his eyes, but fortunately didn't say anything else the rest of class, leaving Tobey lost in his thoughts until it was time for lunch. Lunch used to be a time he dreaded in elementary school. It was no longer the worst part of his day.

As he headed into the cafeteria, the noises and distractions of the crowded room had no effect on Tobey as he worked his way through the maze of tables and students to his destination. A slightly high pitched voice spoke loudly above the rest, and it was as if he could tune everyone else out.

"Why look who has come by to grace me with his presence," Becky remarked in a very playful sarcastic way. She gave him a sassy smile that made his entire body feel warm.

Tobey smirked, "You should take it as a privilege that I've chosen to spend my precious time with you."

Without a slight hesitation, he sat down next to her with his apple in hand. He used to feel weird sitting down at her table, especially around Violet and Scoops, but at that point, they had gotten used to him.

"You're so right. I would be so bored without you here to torment me day in and day out." Becky gave him a small, gentle push with her shoulder.

Tobey knew he liked her. He was not in denial. He knew why he felt that way too. She made him feel more whole. Safe. Cared after. Despite their banter and rivalry, Becky was the only person in their entire grade that had attempted to be his friend. That actually gave a shit about him. It was hard not to like someone like that.

He couldn't exactly pinpoint when his crush on Wordgirl had faded and his crush on Becky had taken over, but it was different. The feelings about Becky were more genuine and stronger. It felt...right.

"Tormenting is my speciality, my dear Botsford."

Tobey accidentally met Scooops eye, and Scoops gave him a slight frown. Tobey couldn't hold back the smirk that was just waiting below the surface to escape. He knew that Becky had had a long standing crush on Scoops, but there she was, sitting next to Tobey and enjoying his company and not Scoops for a change. It was a kind of vicious boastfulness he had tried to subdue for the most part, but couldn't always hold inside.

No, he didn't actually expect Becky to like him back. But there was something about the fact that he was getting more of her attention than Scoops that just felt like a win.

The entire lunch period drifted normally; the typical conversations over homework and study halls were the main focus but Tobey was too caught up in Becky to really pay attention to the conversation. As was per usual.

It was only at the end of the period and on his way out that he caught Hunter's gaze. He gave Tobey a knowing smirk.

Tobey would usually ignore it, but he had almost been caught red handed, walking side by side with Becky out of the lunch room.

"You okay?" Becky questioned, noticing he had stopped in his tracks.

It was almost like his heart had stopped working, his entire body going into a state of shock.

"I just need to have a little chat with Hunter."

It was almost like his heartbeat was echoing back into the floor with each step. He could feel the heat in his face. He didn't know what he was going to say, but he was definitely going to nip the rumor in the bud no matter what.

"Say what you want to say, Hunter. I'm not going to waste my valuable time arguing with you," Tobey snapped at the blonde kid sitting in front of him.

"I wasn't going to say anything. But I just find it funny how hard you're trying," Hunter commented, glancing towards Becky with an edge to his voice.

Tobey frowned, "Trying so hard in what?"

"To get the girl. I mean...you have to know that Becky would never choose you right?"

"You know what, I don't believe I asked for your opinion on the matter…"

"She's playing you, man. There's no way that girl is genuinely friends with you."

It was like being hit by a truck. Hearing those words aloud- gave a certain reality to the situation. It made his insecurities real...

"Oh so now you speak for her, do you?" Tobey choked out, making his voice as steady and secure as before despite the fact internally he was beginning to have a breakdown.

"Becky just sees you as a charity case. She feels pity for you. Maybe even took you on as a friend as a bet."

Tobey could feel his heart drop down into his stomach. Part of him didn't believe it; didn't want to believe it. He felt like he knew the kind of person Becky was, and that didn't seem like her. Hunter was just blowing smoke out of his ass. But…

On the other hand, the reality of the situation was truly that it wasn't too far-fetched. Why, in a million years, would Becky actually be his friend? He had always been her enemy. He had done terrible things as kids. To her and to the city. Why would she ever trust him after everything he had put her through? In fact, it absolutely made sense for her to have taken on a bet, or to only see him as a charity case.

The likelihood of Hunter being right was...

"You're lying."

"Am I? I have an inside source. Are you sure he's lying?" Hunter challenged, crossing his arms and smirking hard at Tobey. It was almost like he was getting a kick out of messing with him. Not that Tobey didn't deserve it. They had only ever been rotten to one another.

Tobey didn't know what to think. But he began to notice Hunter's line of vision leading directly to Scoops standing at the front of the room with Violet, every so often glancing over to where Hunter and Tobey were talking.

The inside source-

It had been a long time since he had endured a panic attack, but he could feel the symptoms manifesting throughout his body. The ground felt unsteady beneath his feet and it felt like a dagger had been stabbed right through his lungs. He knew he couldn't let Hunter see him like that, nor Scoops for that matter. He couldn't show weakness.

So without another glance at Hunter, and ignoring Hunter's distant mocking, Tobey turned on his heel and strode out of the cafeteria with purpose. He could feel the pressure welling up inside of him. His vision was already starting to blur out, and the fear of not being able to catch himself if he fell over was not helping things. The trembling in his hands was becoming a little too much to hide as he picked up his pace towards the mens restroom. Thankfully, Tobey was so little regarded by his peers that no one seemed to notice him.

Tobey flung open the bathroom doors like he had a grievance with them and basically sprinted the rest of the way into a stall. Not the best or cleanest place for a panic attack but he had no choice. He knew how to deal with them and it was all about becoming still and at peace in his external environment so his mind could catch back up. Fortunately, the bathroom seemed empty.

Tobey shut his eyes and mentally pulled up an image of the beach in an attempt to calm himself down. It was an old memory of him and his parents on the shore at sunset, running around in the waves.

He felt stupid. He felt stupid allowing some petty rumors and girl drama to cause him so much strife. He didn't know if Hunter was right, but regardless, he felt ridiculous that he had even allowed himself to hope. To feel something. What was the point? What was the point in trying and caring if this was all he got out of it? Sitting on a dirty bathroom floor in a stall stifling a panic attack he hadn't had in years.

After taking the time to focus directly on his breathing and slowing down his heart rate, the anger began replacing the panic. The raw, hot anger of being played and used. There was nothing he could do to keep the tears inside. The flood gates opened and there was no going back.

His world felt like it was breaking apart beneath his fingers, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Tobey yanked his eyes away from the ground and out of his own thoughts back to the real world around him. Somehow despite his daydreaming, his feet had ended up at Becky's station to no avail. He had planned on escorting her over to the day's photo-op, but after that walk, he kind of felt weird about it.

He knew why he had cut her out of his life. He knew why he had put up a fence around his emotions. For more reasons than just her, sure, but still. He wasn't looking to get hurt again. And yet-

There he was. Standing 10 feet away from her once again.

He just couldn't stay away.

Maybe he wasn't as smart as he thought he was.

"Mr. McAllister, sir! Is there something I can assist you with today?" A blonde girl, one of his manager's, greeted him, stepping into his view of Becky.

Tobey cleared his throat and stood up straight, "Yes. I have come for Ms. Botsford. I am to escort her over to the manor for an event. If you would please release her for today into my care, that would be greatly appreciated."

The blonde manager shot him a look of surprise but ultimately stepped out of the way, to reveal a frowning Becky. She didn't quite have a pissed off expression yet, but he could sense her exasperation with him coming to get her.

Part of him felt a bit smug about it, but the other part of him kept his emotions in check.

"I don't need an escort," Becky snapped at him, crossing her arms and standing her ground.

"Becky! That is extremely rude and disrespectful! You owe Tobey an apology…" His manager began saying before Tobey decided to interrupt.

"No, don't worry. It's quite alright. Becky didn't mean anything by it, I'm sure." He made direct eye contact with her, noticing the fire that was beginning to flame in her eyes.

"But I did…"

"Alas, we must be going. Come along, Becky."

Tobey began walking in the opposite direction to make a point, but he kept his ears focussed behind him. As expected, the sound of footsteps trailing him became louder and louder as Becky caught up with him.

"I don't need you walking me around like some child," Becky shot at him, keeping her eyes focussed directly in front of her.

"I never said you were a child."

Becky was quickly becoming flustered, and it was slightly amusing.

"You might not have directly said that, but walking me to and from places? Don't you have anything better to do than to act like my chaperone? Not enough to do up in your crystal palace, your majesty?"

"Just making sure you don't get lost is all."

Becky sighed and rolled her eyes with frustration, her usual response to him. That sense of deja vu was seeping back in. That almost flashback sensation echoing through his mind and body. It was almost muscle memory.

"How long do you think this interview will be?"

"Why? You got a hot date tonight?"

Becky gave him a deadpan look, "That's not funny."

"It's kind of humorous."

"Only you would laugh at someone else's misery."

"Oh really? You couldn't really think of one other person?" Tobey gestured around the room. Becky's eyes snapped to everyone around her prior to shaking her head. Tobey noticed the side of her mouth curl up ever so slightly, like she was holding back a smile.

The two exited the factory into the bright afternoon sun for the short hike across the field. Becky seemed to have relaxed a bit and the energy was infecting Tobey just the same. It was like a drug; no matter how much he wanted to quit, no matter how much he knew it wasn't good for him and was better off with his facade up, he couldn't resist her warmth.

"I just don't love talking about all this. I don't want this interview to go on forever," Becky admitted, staring straight ahead at the mansion. Her eyes looked glossed over, as if she was in her own head.

Her sudden vulnerability caught Tobey slightly off guard. It wasn't something he was entirely used to, nor was it something he knew how to deal with properly. What did he say? Did he make a joke? Did he give her the facts, that it would in fact be a long interview?

"I know you don't," Tobey replied gently, directing his gaze in front of him as well, unable to look at Becky while responding, "I'll see what I can do."

He could feel her turn her eyes towards him and stare at him. But he didn't say anything more and they walked in silence the rest of the way to the interview.

Tobey wasn't prepared for what he walked into.

His eyes fell upon an older looking woman, short bob-style hair cut, overly saturated red lipstick, wearing a black jumpsuit sitting in the interview seat.

"Mr. McAllister. A long time. A pleasure," She greeted, but with a sarcastic and uptight tone of voice. She eyed Becky with pure judgment and gave the fakest smile Tobey had ever witnessed.

Shit.