Authors Note:
Hello Everyone, I asked for comments and comments you commented.
JACK and TOBY take place over years in a very short time. Where Jake "The Doc" and Toby took place over a one year. As I told you the first chapter (Chapter 1) was never supposed to exist. BUT it had to be written to find out why Jack started cheating. It turned into its own chapter, and ended at Toby's age of 22. I wanted to start this series with Toby being 24 and continue until he was 29, at which point he was done with Jack and left to Boston. Summing up exactly how fucked-up their relationship was.
Yes any relationship has its moments where it is the worst or the greatest. There are some relationships built on trust and some built on what Toby says, "Jack continues to come home to me". Sometimes it is a self-esteem issue or an all we have known type of relationship, "So why try for anything else." Some people leave a relationship when things get rough, some are "Pussywhipped" as someone stated in a comment. Some stay because they are forced, some die or are killed before they can leave. Some stay because it is truly LOVE. Sadly, this is true life, not a fairy tale. I could write Jack and Toby differently but I didn't.
I'm showing how a relationship began, continued (for the good and the bad). How it progresses through to the ultimate ending. It will surprise you, writing Jack surprise the hell out of me. Writing Toby the way I did, surprised the FUCK out of me. To the point of saying how did he grow up by Chapter 1 or even Chapter 9 Pre-Boston? But it all turned around, I could see some growth in his character, and now I understand that Jake "The Doc" is Toby's rock out in Boston. Toby just needed solid ground, yes they were both shy in the beginning. But even the Doc needed Toby for a solid footing.
Again, Thank you for reading.
*****
**Jack**
I walked into Toby's apartment for the first time. He told me a few weeks ago not to come over to his parents' house because I wasn't welcome and he was going to move out. I got bitchy and didn't even talk to Toby until Roy stopped coming around.
I didn't even know where Toby lived or worked. When I called him up, my first few calls went to voicemail. When he finally called me back, he told me he was at work and on break. He finally had a daytime job, he'll be working twelve hour days. But again it was during the day, so he would be home at nights.
He told me where he lived and when I walked in, I WAS IN SHOCK. It was a studio apartment, it was so fucking small you couldn't turn around without running into something.
"I know it is small, but Honey, it's what I could afford. You weren't around, I needed to make a decision and get out of my parents' house. You can visit, stay or." I actually saw despair in Toby's eyes. "There's the door. I don't care anymore, Jack."
"Baby, the apartment is great." Of course a huge lie. "Honey." I pushed him down on the couch which must be his bed too because there was no room for one and I straddled his lap. "When was the last time you spoke to your family?" I was holding his face in my hands so he had to look at me.
"Since I moved out." Oh God, I'm selfish but Toby can't live without his family and I know that.
"How long?" Because sadly I know I haven't talk to him for three plus weeks.
"Two weeks, it took me a week to find this place. I was barely getting any sleep working doubles. I was working both jobs. I worked this one from seven to seven, slept for a few hours worked eleven to six, then back at this one from seven to seven. On my breaks I would call different apartment buildings. When I found an opening, I made an appointment to see them in the evenings when I got out at seven."
"Babe you were killing yourself."
"Well, I found this place it was in a decent part of the city, okay rent. So when I could I borrowed my brother's car when everyone was out, I moved my shit and got out. Yeah I don't have much, but it's a start."
"Toby, you have to go home and talk to your parents."
"No, I don't." He tried to get up but I held him down with everything I had in me, holding on to the back on the couch. "Jack let go, so I don't hurt you."
"No Toby." I didn't want him to know I did have some feelings, shit. "Damn it, Toby. I will alienate you from your friends in a heartbeat, do you know why?" He shook his head, no. "Because I would be afraid that you would fuck one of them."
"But I would never alienate you from your family, do you know why that is?" Again he shook his head. "If you ever repeat this Toby, I will deny it. Because, I would be afraid of losing you. Your family means everything to you. Remember the day you finally told your father that you were in love with me and he told you to get out. You cried that day, Toby, part of it was because you were hoping he was going to except you but most of it was because you were losing your family."
Toby was looking at me. "Toby, I was so happy when Sarah came and told you to come home that your father will talk to you. When I heard the two of you laughing because Sarah had yelled at him so much after he told you to leave. I know it's still taking him time to except you but he's working on it and he loves you."
Tears were coming down Toby's cheeks. "Baby, I love you. I'm sorry that I'm the way I am sometimes." I hugged my dumb jock. "Now, you're going to take me somewhere." He looked at me. "Apparently I need to apologize to your parents, so you three can get along."
"No, you don't Jack. Thank you, for saying what you did. Yes, my family means a lot to me. The world, but you're also in my world. Jack, even as much as you go out on me. I hate it, you know I do." I nodded my head at him, I know he hates me stepping out on him, but he tolerates it, because he knows it makes me happy. "I wish you wouldn't Jack, and that is what my parents do too."
"I know baby, all I can say is I'll try to be good. I love you, Toby." Hell I couldn't promise anything, if a man will throw some money at me, I'm going to take it and anything he's got.
**Toby**
I'm amazed at what Jack said, it was truly out of character for him. I guess somewhere in him he does love me. But I'm not going to go back to my parents right now, yeah I know they have the best interest in mind for me, but it's my decision when to let Jack go not theirs.