Sweetheart's Art (Friday after school)

[Sharise]

Teddy wound his fingers around Sweetheart's hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "Either way, the other still stands."

The thought of Sweetheart living with him made his heart skip a beat. When his father would beat him, one of the thoughts that always helped him make it through was that one day he could be with Sweetheart, and live with her. Then he'd always be safe.

But he wasn't a little boy anymore. His father hadn't been a part of his life for years now, and yet, he still felt the safest when he was with the girl. It was something he couldn't quite understand.

[Cres]

A faint blush rose to Sweetheart's cheeks as she looked at Teddy and felt the squeeze of his fingers around her hand. She wanted to ask why wouldn't they just do it right then and there, they had already slept together, why not take another step in their relationship... but she steadied her silly heart. She had still more romantic dreams in her head. Some day he'd ask her to marry him. Someday they'd have a beautiful wedding, and they would live happily ever after.

This idea had always been so constant in her heart that it was hard for her to even consider other possibilities. Teddy and she belonged together. They always had. It was destiny.

"Thank you, Teddy," she said softly, her affection clear in her voice. She had already forgotten that Melody was there. She stood up from her stool and reached up, to kiss him softly on the lips, while joining both her hands into his.

[Sharise]

Teddy returned the soft kiss. His hands held hers ever so gently. It was moments like this that made him wonder why he hadn't taken the next step in their relationship. He knew how he felt about Bp, but he knew even better how he felt about Sweetheart.

Despite what everyone believed, Teddy knew that he and Sweetheart were meant for each other. They weren't as different as everyone thought.

[Cres]

Sweetheart smiled, not really pulling away from the kiss but rather letting herself rest against him, her head wandering over onto his shoulder. She rested it there for a while.

"Teddy... would you come over for dinner to my folks tonight?" she then asked, blurting it out more than anything else. Immediately she blushed, realising it might not be something he wanted to do yet - but she didn't dare to move, barely even breathe, as she waited for his reaction.

[Sharise]

"Oh...." Teddy's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't expecting such an invitation this early on. "Yeah, of course."

Granted, Sweetheart's family scared the hell out of him, but he wasn't about to let her down. If she wanted him there, then he'd be there.

[LNS]

Mel smiled, "Who's jaw do you think would hit the floor first if you showed up at school with blue hair?"

The other girl chuckled. She wouldn't have opposed the hug, even if she would have ended up with paint all over her. It wasn't exactly like she was wearing anything that great anyways, just a pair of faded jeans and an older t-shirt that looked well worn in.

"Yeah. Me either." Melody had to agree.

She was amazed at times to see any of the 'gang' at school. It seemed like forever ago since they had been friends. But than to have Sweetheart talking to her truly surprised her. She hadn't expected that either.

"Hi Teddy."

Was everyone here today? Or was she just lucky to have wandered here and everyone was always here? What were the odds of both Sweetheart and Teddy being there, right than? Or had they made plans to meet? Was she interfering?

Melody had been silent as the two talked, not wanting to interrupt them. They had always seemed like the ones that would make it if they ever got together. Somewhere in the back of her mind she still believed the two stood a chance. But were they together? Mel hadn't a clue. That wasn't uncommon though. She didn't have a clue about most of the people who she had been close to a few years back.

[Cres]

[[ohh sorry LNS we've quite ignored Mel there... And sorry this took so long. Been busy.]]

Sweetheart breathed a little easier when Teddy promised to come. She stepped back and smiled happily.

"I can't wait. We eat at six pm," she said. Then she glanced at her watch and noticed it was not long until that very time. "Oh! I didn't notice it was getting so late."

She looked around and only then realised they had completely ignored Melody for a while there. She blushed and looked at her old friend.

"I'm sorry, Mel," she said. "We've ignored you. It's really great to see you again though. We really have to get together again sometime, yes? Maybe call some of the others too. I mean, it's been a long time. I really miss our little click. We used to have such fun."

Sweetheart knew, of course, that she might be the only one of all seven to actually be able to put behind her everything that had happened, everything that had driven them apart, but she was true to her name. And she really missed her friends. She knew that Starlight, at least, was rather lonely. She hoped they could patch up everything and be friends again - all seven of them.

She wondered in passing what was going on with Clover, Patch, Bon Bon and Bright Eyes. She hadn't really kept contact with those four either. This made her feel bad. How could she have let them all slip away like that?

[Sharise]

Teddy mentally cursed at himself. He was going to have to throw himself into this thing with no preparation at all. He hoped to hell that Sweetheart's family was in a good mood today.

It wasn't until the mention of her name, that Teddy recalled Melody's presence. "Sorry, Melody. My manners seemed to have escaped me."

It wasn't hard for him to recall the group's past. It was always boys versus girls. Lancer usually sided with the girls, of course.

Lancer...

That boy had changed more than any of them. They all had, really. Except for maybe Sweetheart and Ace. Those were the only two who remained consistent. Which was a good thing in Teddy's opinion. He always liked their personalities.

"God, so much has changed, hasn't it?" Teddy's eyes went wide. He hadn't meant to say that out loud, but it was too late now. Chuckling a little, he shrugged. "I guess that's only normal."

[LNS]

Melody smiled, "Not a problem."

Truth be told if she had someone who cared about her even half as much as she always thought Teddy did about Sweetheart she'd forget everyone else around her too.

"Yeah." Melody agreed, "Guess it's called growing up."

But really Mel wondered if it was. Sometimes it seemed to her like she had always been 'grown up'. She hardly remembered being a kid and doing normal kid stuff. Where had the time gone?

[Cres]

Sweetheart smiled a little to the both of them.

"Yeah... growing up," she said, a bit of sadness in her voice. She wasn't sure what she thought about that. She paused for a moment to think about it, but then she shook the thoughts off her mind and smiled to the others. "I guess we should start going soon, Teddy, to get to dinner in time. Did you bring your car?"

She started to pick up her stuff and pack them away.

"Hey, Mel, do you have a cell these days? My dad got one for me last year, and I don't think I've asked your number."

[Sharise]

Teddy remained quiet as Melody and Sweetheart spoke. He chose to keep his thoughts to himself on this topic. He, for one, was glad that the old days were gone. But he wasn't glad the friendships had gone with them.

Blue eyes shifted over to the red head as she spoke. A small laugh escaped through his lips. "Do you really think I'd walk my ass all the way over here?"

[Cres]

Sweetheart giggled at Teddy's response.

"Yes, I know how really truly lazy you are," she said and winked over her shoulder. "Just give me a minute then, I'll get my things together, and we can go."

[LNS]

"Uh no cell phone." Melody admitted with a shrug of her shoulders.

Something like that was a bit too pricey for a family that was trying hard not to end up in a sea of debts and drown. Sure it might have been nice, but than who would she have called anyway? She was home more times than not these days. Someone had to watch the twins with her mom working all the time.

Taking a pen, that she just happened to have in her pocket, she scribbled her home phone number down on a napkin. She glanced at the numbers for a second before jotting her name below it. Handing the napkin to Sweetheart she smiled.

"Can reach me at home."

"If you want to." Mel kept the last part to herself, not wanting to upset Sweetheart in anyway.

[Cres]

Sweetheart took the napkin Melody offered to her with a smile - out of her kind heart not noting that as she had a cell phone she could have just put the number right down. She folded it carefully and put it into her handbag.

"I'll call you soon, then," she said with an eager smile. "Maybe we could get together next weekend? Do something fun together? Talk about our mischievous siblings?" She giggled, recalling the triplets and their latest mischief. "How are the twins?"

Sweetheart loved children. She became always instantly animated when speaking of children.

[LNS]

"Yeah." Melody replied her face brightening, "I'd like that a lot."

The other girl really did hope that Sweetheart would call. What she hoped for most of all though was a friend, which she truly hoped Sweetheart would become again.

The teenager chuckled as she shook her head, "Into soccer. Much to mom's dismay. Hopefully they'll keep outside from now on. What about the triplets? How are they?"