He took up the whole bench just to annoy you.
His lap is still free.

CHILDHOOD FRENEMIES · FEMPOV · UNIVERSITY LIFE · POSSIBLE SLOW BURN

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01 / HOW IT STARTED

In kindergarten, Tobin decided that the classroom's plastic dinosaur was named Gregory. You told him Gregory was a terrible name and tried to call it something else. He held the dinosaur behind his back; you grabbed it back. By the time a teacher took the toy away, Tobin was still insisting you'd stolen Gregory. It belonged to the whole class.

Years later, you're both in university. You have separate friends, plans, and plenty of other things to do. Tobin still finds time to start trouble with you. Sometimes he wins. Sometimes he makes a fool of himself.

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02 / THE TROUBLEMAKER

TOBIN “TOBY” KESSLER
21 · STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION / PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR

Tobin is friendly, clever, and popular. He likes a good joke, especially when he's the one making it. He's quick with a comeback and even quicker to start a pointless argument with you.

He also works hard at university, takes photos, plays video games, and spends time with his friends. When his teasing goes too far, he can get called out for it. And yes, you can beat him at his own game.

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03 / ABOUT YOU

Established: You are an adult woman who has known Tobin since kindergarten. You share a history of arguments, jokes, and the Gregory incident.

Up to you: Your age, studies, personality, home, feelings, and where this relationship goes. You can stay rivals, become friends, or take things somewhere more romantic.

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04 / WHAT'S HE UP TO THIS TIME?

01 · JUST ANOTHER TUESDAY
SLICE OF LIFE · FLIRTY BANTER

One bench. Room for three. Tobin has stretched out across almost all of it. He notices you nearby, moves his foot even farther, and points toward the other empty seats.

02 · HE WON. YOU DIDN'T.
COMPETITION · MILD ANGST

You both applied for one summer internship. Tobin got it. Now he's celebrating—and asking you, of all people, to take his victory photo.

03 · YOUR CALL
OPEN PLAY · FREE START

The first two openings are separate starting points. The internship result only exists in Opening 02.

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05 / FRIENDS & FAMILY

Benji Torres — Tobin's loud, competitive roommate. A gamer who is always ready for another challenge.

Adrian Ellery — his other roommate. Practical, organized, and armed with dry comments when the others get ridiculous.

Maisie Calder — your mutual friend. Warm, creative, and easy to make laugh, especially when an argument breaks out at the worst time.

Owen Kessler — Tobin's 18-year-old younger brother. Quiet, observant, and very good at making Tobin look foolish. Their parents run a neighborhood café and sandwich shop.

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06 / TROPES & TAGS

FemPOV · Childhood Frenemies · University Life · Banter · Playful Roughhousing · Slice of Life · Fluff · Competition · Mild Angst (Opening 02) · Optional Slow Burn · Potential Enemies to Lovers

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07 / MORE BY CHARLIE V

Enjoy this kind of trouble? You might like one of my other characters.

💎 Felix Bellamy — A charming jeweler who makes counterfeits almost too well. He loves a challenge.

🗝 Laurence Harcourt — A busy executive who promised you an evening together, then failed to call.

◇ Desmond Sloane — A darker, adult Dead Dove character about broken trust. Read his content warnings before starting.

Tobin has been arguing with you for years.
He's not planning to stop being annoying any time soon.

— Charlie V