Where is it?

WHERE IS IT?!

HOW ON EARTH DID I MANAGE TO LOSE IT?!

Books tumbled down out of the locker, papers went flying without a care. Everything was ransacked, the once filled space turning up empty and void of what he sought so desperately. Other students in the corridor looked on at the sight as if he was a mad man, giving him and his scattered belongings a wide berth as they continued on their ways.

Tobias stood before his locker, distraught at the emptiness. He heaved a huge sigh, threading a trembling hand through his hair in an attempt to compose himself. The sudden influx of emotions he felt was overwhelming, panic being the main component threatening to drive him over the edge. Tobias haven't felt so strongly in years, and it was freaking him out. He needed to calm down before he completely loses it.

But the coin... how could I lose it? I always have it on me, in my hand too, more often than not!

Breathing deeply, Tobias steeled himself enough to realize the chaos he caused with his upset. He busied his hands with the clean up, while his mind worked overtime to figure out where exactly he could have lost the coin. The only possession Tobias owned that he cannot afford to live without. He'd become too dependent on it's abilities.

He needed to get it back, pronto. Maybe it could've wound up at lost and found? Worth a shot.

As soon as all his books were neatly put away in the locker, Tobias hurried to the office, wanting to check before the morning bell rang to signify the start of classes for the day. Curses spilled from his lips as others bumped into him, heightening his already frayed nerves. He had a passing thought that being emotionless might have been better than the frantic mess he was now with them.

This is not the time for panicking! I have to have my wits about me long enough to find the coin!

"Can I help you?" asked the cheery middle-aged woman, whose expression was too nauseatingly upbeat for Tobias to deal with right then.

"Lost and found," he cut straight to the chase, having never been fond of dancing around a subject.

"Oh, did yo-"

"I lost something, a coin. Was it turned in or not?" Tobias interrupted her, getting irritated with every passing moment. Apparently he lost all patience when concerning his coin.

The woman's face became sympathetic, nudging her glasses up her nose when it slid down. "I'm so sorry, dear. No one really turns in any money, they only turn in other useless, random junk. It's most likely that someone pocketed it for themselves, you know kids these days."

Tobias cursed under his breath, but turned to the woman again. "But it's not money. It has a picture of a wolf on it, a single image split into two and carved on either side. Are you certain nothing like that showed up?"

"It sounds beautiful, dear. I'm sure you'll fi-"

"JUST ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!"

Geez, why are humans so incompetent?! All I asked was a simple yes or no question!

God, I wish I didn't lose the coin.

She jumped at his raised voice and gave him an ugly scowl for it. "Yes," she replied shortly, just as she could have done before. Tobias groaned in frustration and left the room empty-handed.

I don't know where else to look... His hands had violent tremors in them at this point, the lack of the coin taking a toll on his body. Tobias needed it so badly that he couldn't function without its constant presense and he was already spiralling. He'd sworn off making choices and as long as he had the coin, everything had been okay. Now he was lost and confused, not knowing what to do with himself. The mere thought of deciding on something was making his head spin.

You're fine. You're fine. No one is going to die just because you make a few, tiny, choices. That's ridiculous.

Those words only made the trembling worse, his breath coming in short sharp pants. They made Tobias remember, throwing him back to the last time he called the shots. His mouth opened in a silent scream as the images flashed before his eyes like a film roll.

No, no, no, no! K!!

The sound of a bell cut through his panicked haze, thankfully breaking Tobias out of his stupor before he had to relive the worse night of his life. The night he lost everything...

"What a freak... losing his mind over a stupid coin. Pathetic." Tobias heard the whispers all around him, where he sat on the floor leaning against the wall. Knees tucked under his chin as he curled into a ball as best he could. He didn't recall getting into that position, but truthfully he could careless about that. All he cared about was holding the cracked pieces of himself together long enough to make it through the day. So that he could breakdown in the cover of his room, away from wandering eyes.

Just... don't think about it. I'll just try not put myself in such a position as to... have to choose.

Tobias deliberately breathed in and out heavy breaths to calm down his racing heart. Resting a hand on the wall, he pushed himself up on to his legs with shaky knees. Almost stumbled back down once again when someone raced pass him. But he perserved, and managed to make his way to his morning classes. The only reason Tobias was sane enough to go through half the school day, was the mantra he kept repeating.

Just a few more hours...

And now he had to survive the rest of the day, starting with break. Tobias let out a stressed sigh, crossing his arms to hide the very much noticeable trembling in his hands. Head ducked, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, he attempted to swim through the expansive crowd to the cafeteria uninhibited. He had to resist the urge to reach into his pocket, even knowing that it was empty, when someone came too close to his personal space. Flinching instinctively every time.

He was never fond of social interaction. Tobias preferred his own company.

"Hey! Toby, right?"

Tobias visibly jumped when suddenly a hand came down on his shoulder. He instantly whirled around, shoving the unwelcome hand away and glared at the person responsible for startling him so much. "Don't. Call. Me. That!" Tobias accentuated the words so clearly, as to not leave a spec of doubt that he was entirely against the use of that name.

The eager smile the guy had on face turned apologetic. "Tobias, then?" He wasted no time and soon switched his approach. Tobias nodded stiffly, suspicious of the reason behind his unusual eagerness to meet him in particular. Nobody noticed Tobias, he always blended into the background, as if he'd naturally been a part of it from the start.

"What do you want," Tobias stated flatly, not caring enough to make it sound remotely like a question. The stranger gave him an awkward smile, a light dusting of pink coating his cheeks. He was taller than him by a good few inches, and wider too. Not bulging with muscles, and not exactly lacking any either. An almost perfect balance between the two.

Tobias didn't care enough to wonder why the big guy was blushing.

"I... er-uhm... I wa- would like to-"

"Just get it over with already," Tobias muttered impatiently, face void of any emotion as per usual. For some reason, the contact had turned him back to his unfeeling self, and he was grateful for that.

The person scratched his head, a heavier blush making its existence known. He cleared his throat loudly that had Tobias' eye twitching, wanting nothing more than for this encounter to end. "Sorry, I'm not usually like this. I just wanted to... maybe... talk to you?"

Tobias didn't think it was possible for his expression to flatten further than it already had, but it did. "We're already talking, get to the point."

His responses seemed to be making the guy more nervous, subtly squirming where he stood. Tobias could careless about what he thought, only desiring to get the day over with.

"Yeah... uhm, can we talk somewhere more... private?"

"Why?" He raised an eyebrow in question.

"I'm not exactly fond of having a conversation standing in the middle of a crowded hallway, and I can tell that neither are you," the guy said with a crooked smile. Tobias blinked, only then noticing that he'd been fidgeting the entire time they'd been talking. Taken aback by the consideration in his voice, it took him a fair amount of time to respond, and even then it was drawn out uncertainly.

"Right.... okay. Where do you suggest we go then?" Tobias asked, eyes squinting at the odd guy. He brightened up at that, and immediately started to lead him somewhere.

He's... weird. What the hell does he have to talk to me about?

A/N

Second chapter! Wooo hoo!

So, thoughts?

-RL-

❤💖❤