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Todd was questioning if his idea was actually good or not. He had been feeling weird around Neil for a while now and maybe talking to someone would be the best idea. What he wondered was if his idea of telling Charlie was good or not. Todd didn't know if Charlie was the best person to share his feelings with. If what he said turned out to be dumb, Charlie would never let it go. This confession would be held over Todd's head forever.
While he was weighing the pros and cons of asking for Charlie's help, the reason for his turmoil walked into the room.
The door was slammed shut behind an ecstatic Neil. Todd's eyes swept up to see the excited look on Neil's face. His stomach began to feel fuzzy as his heart began to beat faster in his ears.
"Todd you will not believe what happened at play practice today" exclaimed Neil as he began to unravel the scarf from around his neck. "Tom was trying to talk up Ginny like his usual self you know. Super arrogant. And instead of going along with it like she normally does she told him to screw off! It was amazing Todd! He looked so surprised! What do you think Todd did he deserve it?"
Todd didn't reply. He was to busy being distracted by the smile that played on the other boys face. Todd could feel his cheeks heating up with the thought how beautiful that smile really was.
"Hey Todd you feeling all right? You're face is really red. Here let me check you for a temperature." Neil began to move his hand slowly towards Todd's face. Thinking of the softness of Neil's hands made Todd heat up even more and in an act of quiet desperation Todd jumped up from his bed.
"No-no I'm feeling fine. I-I gotta go goodbye Neil" Todd stammered as he ran from their shared bedroom, leaving behind a puzzled Neil.
Todd ran down the stairs and into the common green, pausing only when he knew that he hadn't been followed. He stopped to stand by a tree and gather his thoughts. His heart was still beating wildly out of his chest. He again weighs the option of telling Charlie in his mind. Thinking of the awkward experience that he just had, Todd made up his mind. With a breath, He decided that he would talk to Charlie about his feelings.
Todd began to search for the other boy and found him in the library, distracting Knox's attempts at studying. Todd greeted to two boys and asked to speak to Charlie alone. In typical Charlie fashion a joke was made. After a moment of Todd blushing and stammering, Charlie guided them to a more secluded part of the library.
"What do you need from me? Though if it's what I think it's for I didn't know you could be so forward! You could at least buy me dinner first!"
"That's not- I'm not-" Todd stuttered. "Charlie you're good with emotions right?"
"So it is about you're undying live for me!" joked Charlie "Why Todd how sweet of you. I have to tell you though that I am in love with another. Don't worry we can still be friends! I won't let your crushing love for me put a damper on our relationship"
"It's not about you Charlie and if you're going to make a joke about it I'll just ask Knox" Todd said as he brushed past Charlie and began to walk away.
Charlie made a move and grabbed Todd by the arm "You don't want to ask that boy anything about emotions. Trust me. You could outright say you loved him and he wouldn't even bat an eye. What do you need Todd'o? I swear I'll take it seriously this time."
Todd glanced at Charlie to make sure he was being serious. He looked into Charlie's eyes and saw that they were full of honest concern. "You have to promise to not say anything to anyone ok?"
"I promise" repeated Charlie.
Todd took a deep breath and then began to speak. "I'm having a problem with feelings" said Todd softly.
"Feelings for a certain person?" questioned Charlie.
"Yes feelings for a certain person" replied Todd.
"If it's not about me then whose it about? Meeks? Pitts? Neil?" At the sound of Neil's name Todd began to blush again. "Oh my god you're having feeling problems about Neil. I knew it! Cameron owes me twenty bucks."
"Serious remember! I need actual help with this problem." stated Todd.
"Right serious. A hundred percent serious. All the time. Thats me. They call me Mr. Serious," replied Charlie in a tone that showed he wasn't serious at all. Todd fixed Charlie with a glare. "All right all right I'll be serious! What are the 'feeling problems' you're having about our boy Neil"
Todd took a breath and began to explain his problem. "Whenever I'm around him my hands get all clammy and my heart speeds up my stomach feels funny and it gets harder to breath."
Charlie looked at Todd with stare that meant 'how dense are you.' "Do you know what that means?"
"No I don't know what it means that's why I'm asking you!" quietly shouted Todd.
"Hey calm down. There's no need to get all defensive about it. Ok so what you're saying typically means that you feel a certain way for that person."
"I don't understand?" questioned Todd. "What do my symptoms mean."
Charlie ran a hand through his hair and muttered "it's like confessing to Knox but worse." In a more audible tone he began "Ok I can work with this. You know how when your symptoms keep happening it's normally the body's way of being sick or excited for something right?"
"Yeah..." replied Todd in a tone that shows he was barely following.
"Well maybe your symptoms are saying one of those things. Do you catch my drift?" finished Charlie.
"I think so."
"Well then what do you think your symptoms mean." Charlie stated, leaning in to here Todd say that he was in love with his roommate.
"I think they mean that I'm allergic to Neil Perry and I need to stay far far away from him. Thanks for your help Charlie!" Todd began to walk away from Charlie, waving his hand goodbye.
"Todd no!" yelled Charlie. It was too late. Todd was gone. Charlie brought a hand to his face and whispered "Why are all the boys so dumb?"