Tobey took a breath. His mind broke free of its robotic boundaries and flew unhindered towards the thoughts that he didn't want, but so desperately needed. Life, it seemed, had turned against him. The 10-year-old boy genius had found himself pushed towards hope, yet flying far away from anything resembling it. The semantics, intelligence, and rapier wit of one girl had pressed him in this way. Crowning all of those irresistible elements were sharp, piercing eyes and hair that made his own want to stand on end. His heart thudded against his chest as he maneuvered up the street and, quite possibly, to his own destiny.
He hadn't liked her at first, but then he'd found out a secret only she could know. Yes, while one of his robots had been out on a mission of rampaging destruction, it had caught this hidden truth in action. Quickly, it had videotaped the moment and brought it home. When Toby watched the tape for the first time, his jaw hit the floor. The super heroine that had stolen his heart was one and the same with his most hated personal nemesis from school. Yes, indeed, it seemed that Becky Botsford was WordGirl. He'd always harbored a tiny suspicion, but the tape clinched everything.
But the funny thing was…he felt no joy over the revelation. His evil heart should have thrown a party, complete with confetti and some of his mother's delicious chocolate cake. But he wanted none of these things. The tape, though glorious in its uncovering of Becky's utmost secret, was also a small window into her personal life. He saw how much it pained her to have to lie to her family in order to protect them. A distinct and direct love was there…one that he could never hope to replicate.
I can't continue on this path of villainy, he'd thought, I mean…all I wanted was for WordGirl to see me. But now…I've seen her…the real version of her, anyway. Though I've detested Becky…I love WordGirl…which means I love Becky by default! Oh, what a fool I was to think that being a supervillain would gain me any traction on the road of romance! Perhaps…perhaps just…being honest…
That self-reflection had led him to this current moment, walking up the street towards the Botsford residence. It was a simple house, and one that he'd often teased Becky about. But now that he'd decided to upend his evil ways in favor of good, the home seemed far less dull. In fact, he thought it was the most amazing home he'd ever laid eyes on, simply because it housed the most beautiful girl he'd ever laid eyes on. Whether WordGirl or Becky, Tobey understood how he felt about her and that he never wanted to do anything to harm her ever again.
Now…will she accept me as a friend? He thought as he stood on the doorstep.
"I'll get it, Mom!" He heard Becky's sweet, dulcet tones ring through the wooden portal as he rang the doorbell. But when the door swung open, he was greeted with a scowl…or, more accurately, two scowls. Becky was accompanied by her ever faithful primate companion, Bob. Neither of them looked overly enthusiastic to see him there. He couldn't help but notice Becky's eyes darting this way and that, seeking out his familiar robotic force.
"Hey, Becky," Tobey said nicely.
"Tobey," Becky responded with a small flip of her hair. "Why are you here? Come to do damage to any of my family's personal property?"
"Normally, I'd comment sarcastically on how perceptive you are," Tobey said. "But, in truth…no. I haven't."
Becky gave him a weird look. This wasn't the Tobey she knew. The Tobey she knew had a put-on British accent, a bevy of remote controls, and an army of robots. He was sinister, selfish, calculated, and cold. True, he was predictable as hell, but all the same, he ranked among her greatest rivals as WordGirl. Now, he had shown up unannounced and was being decidedly cheerful and kind to her. He also seemed to be completely on the level. His honesty was refreshing…almost too refreshing.
"…you haven't?" She questioned in a suspicious, yet equally curious tone.
"I haven't," he responded with curt stoicism, yet retaining an air of politeness.
"Why don't I believe you?"
Tobey closed his eyes and took another deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "I know it's difficult, but I need you to believe me. Becky…I…I found something out…something huge."
"What's that?"
"Not here," Tobey said. "I need to see you somewhere more…private."
"Alright, fine," Becky said with a small bit of exasperation. "Let's head upstairs…"
—
They arrived in Becky's room and Tobey took a moment to familiarize himself. It was the abode of a typical, 10-year-old girl. The walls featured a smart combination of green and pink and posters of unicorns were laid out in an organized fashion. Those same creatures dotted the white shelving that stuck out next to the closet. A similarly colored dresser sat across the room from Becky's bed and nightstand. It was exactly the type of room Tobey would expect Becky to have. Not only did it speak to her personality, but it gave absolutely no credibility to the idea that she could be WordGirl.
"Okay, what is it you wanna tell me that you couldn't tell me downstairs?" Becky asked as she sat on her bed.
"Alright, I'll tell you…but you might wanna shut your door first."
Becky rolled her eyes. He was getting increasingly frustrating. Her instincts were on full alert as she discreetly scanned the skies through her window. She was concerned about the typical robot menace flooding her yard, but she was also worried about Tobey himself. He always seemed to have some type of surprise hidden up his sleeve. Predictable though he could be, his elements of shock and awe were nothing if not legendary.
"Alright," she said once the door was shut, "NOW will you tell me?"
"Yes," he said. "Becky…I know something about you that no one else could possibly know and I have the proof to back it up."
Now it was Becky's turn to shake and sweat a bit. Her eyes nervously darted around the room, but this time, it wasn't in a heroic search for robots. This time, it was to keep her secret identity exactly where it should be. Her most preciously guarded thought might just have been compromised. The fragile strings that held up her entire family's protection hung in the balance. Everything Tobey said from here onward became instantly crucial. Yes, she had a failsafe in case something went wrong, but she desperately hoped she'd never have to use it.
"…what, exactly, do you mean by that?" She ventured.
"Becky…I know you're…WordGirl."
She tried to laugh it off. "That's a funny presumption, Tobey. I'm certainly not WordGirl. I mean, I can't fly, I don't have super strength…Heck, I can't even pick up a book without cracking a couple of knuckles."
Tobey didn't look impressed by her excuses. "Right…well, I have the tape to prove it."
After saying this, he produced a small touch screen device. He dug through the files contained therein and found, encoded behind a rather hefty security wall, the fateful video. His thoughts raced as he pressed play and showed Becky this irrefutable evidence of all her deception. While he did so, he watched as her expression went from strong disbelief to unmitigated shock to a devastating disconsolation. Once the video finished playing, she sat down on her bed with her head in her hands. Tobey, wanting genuinely to comfort her, sat beside her. He even dared to place a hand on her shoulder.
"You…you really aren't here on any sinister errand," she finally said. "You just…wanted to show this to me."
"Uh, yeah," he said.
"…and you aren't gonna try and blackmail me with it?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Not at all."
"No begging for a date? No asking me to walk to school with you? None of that?"
"None"
Becky sighed. "Alright, then. You've got me. I can't deny this. I don't even know where I would begin trying."
Tobey took his hand off her shoulder and looked towards the wall that stood opposite them. Sitting there were the typical trappings of a girl Becky's age. A vanity table with a mirror, brushes, the aforementioned shelving units dotted with porcelain unicorn figurines. All of it screamed that Becky was normal. Her life needed no more investigation than what was superficial. But now, thanks to his accidental uncovering, she had to face the fact that her entire life had been a lie. In a weird way, Tobey related to her, as a lot of his shtick as a supervillain had been put on as well. But, he realized with a start, her lies were much more crucial than his, for hers had to help save an entire city.
"I…I don't know what to say, Becky," he said.
"You don't have to say anything," she said in a voice that made Tobey want to begin crying himself.
She got up and walked to the window. Looking outside, she noted that a few ominous clouds had begun gathering over the city skyline. Rain may have been in the forecast, but a storm had already broken over her young life. The cosmic weight she felt on a daily basis as both WordGirl and Becky Botsford finally broke in on her. She grasped at the sill with a fragile hand, bent her head on the glass and began shedding a few tears. Her secret identity was all she had to protect the family she'd grown to love and cherish so much. Should things go south and her true nature be revealed, it would be chaos. Her family wouldn't get a moment's peace as villain after villain assaulted their home in a never ending quest to defeat her.
Presently, she felt Tobey standing next to her. Oddly enough, she felt soothed by the act. For a moment, she allowed herself to be a bit more vulnerable around him. In response, he gingerly placed his hand back on her shoulder. Her lip quivered as she raised her own to meet his, sending a small spark shooting between them that they'd never known before. It was the first genuine act of friendship they'd ever shared. Once more, Becky had to re-evaluate someone she thought she knew so well and Tobey had to come to terms with a huge change in his life. There remained a certain awkwardness, however. For, after all, one does not simply flip a switch and change one's entire personal paradigm. Becky and Tobey knew that, with this act, something new had begun. What they didn't know was where it would lead, and the light and darkness that would follow.
