NC17!!! At Teddy's place (AFTER SCHOOL, MON)

[Cres]

Sweetheart blushed a little, but started hurriedly dressing herself and then looked up her cell. Yes, she needed to concentrate on the essential now. She could discuss all this with her confession priest later.

”Here it is,” she said, finding her bag from near the couch. She took the cell phone out and clicked Dan's number. She started to call him.

[Sharise]

Teddy joined Sweetheart in the frontroom after a couple of minutes. He grabbed his shirt off of the couch and slipped it on. Now that he was fully clothed, he felt a little better. Which was strange for him.

He took a sit on the armrest. His eyes were cast down as he waited quietly.

[Cres]

Sweetheart waited impatiently, but finally Dan's voice answered.

“Hi, Sweets, you calling for dad?”

Sweetheart frowned a little.

“No,” she answered him, not minding that Teddy was nearby. She didn't have secrets from him. “I just called to make sure you haven't told dad that I was with Teddy.”

Dan's voice sounded odd. ”You mean you're not home either?”

“Yeah,” Sweetheart answered, smiling a little uncomfortably and glancing at Teddy. “I sort of lost track of time. Dad's called me ten times already.” She felt a little relieved that Dan wasn't home either. This would somehow compensate for her not being there. “So I want you to tell him that you drove me to the library and that's all you know, ok? I don't want him to blame Teddy, it wasn't really his fault. I just forgot the time entirely.”

She was a little surprised that she could lie so easily. A little disturbed as well.

Dan's voice had a rather dangerous tone now. ”I see.” He paused. Far too long. ”So you're still with Teddy?”

Sweetheart frowned and felt a tinge of desperation. He couldn't get difficult now, could he? She felt she didn't have the strength to fight with him now.

“Look, Dan,” she said, trying to sound harsh, “where I am and what I've been doing is my business, not yours. I just want you to tell dad I've been in the library. Is that clear? Or do I have to remind you of the hundred or so times when I've lied to save your ass?”

There was a long silence at the other end of the line. Sweetheart glanced at Teddy, nervous and a little flushed. She couldn't believe she'd been so harsh with Dan. But finally he answered. His voice was slightly dark still.

”All right, Sweets. I'll hold your story. But get your ass back home right now. Or wait, I'll come pick you up.”

Sweets nodded illogically – it wasn't like Dan could see her.

“All right,” she said. “Do you need the address?”

”Don't bother. I have it already.”

Sweetheart didn't come to think how odd that was. “Ok. Bye then.”

She clicked the connection off and looked up at Teddy.

“Dan's coming to pick me up,” she said. “Apparently he's forgotten the dinner as well.”

[Sharise]

Teddy ran a hand through his hair and looked away. He knew Dan had a problem with him, he always had. It didn't seem like things were going to change.

"At least you're not alone." Teddy smiled a little. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes, though he wasn't aware of it.

Doubts were flooding the boy's mind, and quick. He wasn't one to worry, so when the occasion did occur, it really fucked him up. There didn't seem to be any hope for them, and all he wanted to do was talk to Bp. She was always able to help him.

[Cres]

Sweetheart picked up on the sadness in Teddy's eyes. She wasn't sure what it meant, and she didn't know what to do. She remembered painfully the times when she and him had been the best friends. She'd been able to tell him anything, and she had assumed he had felt the same way. And now it seemed as though she couldn't even say she wanted a hug. She didn't even know him anymore.

And yet, they had slept together. Sweetheart felt as though her head might explode with everything that was messed up inside. She looked down.

"I would rather stay here," she said quietly, not sure why she said it. She meant to say so much. She wanted things back the way they had been... that he could talk with her, and she could talk with him, and that they shared something.. special. Suddenly, she wasn't sure of it anymore. Her eyes drifted around the apartment, and suddenly she remembered that he didn't live there alone.

She remembered what he had said about him and Bp. They slept together. Somehow, that made her very jealous. It was a new feeling for her. She had never felt it before. And it consumed her. What was there between Teddy and Bp? Was it really just... sex, like Teddy had somehow led her to believe? Was there more?

Had someone taken Sweetheart's place in Teddy's life and heart? She swallowed. Suddenly, she didn't want to stay anymore. She wanted to go, flee.

[Sharise]

"I think your brother would sooner decapitate me than allow you to stay here." His shoulders slumped forward. Things were falling apart in his mind.

Blue eyes slowly trailed up the girl's body before resting on Sweetheart's face. He could tell something was wrong. "What is it?"

[Cres]

Sweetheart looked up at Teddy, a little guilty for being caught feeling bad. She couldn't tell him the truth. He would think her silly. Or worse. Of course he would. And maybe he would go to Bp after all this when he felt bad, if she told her she couldn't handle it. Bp probably could. Of course she could. Sweetheart had seen her.

But as she looked at him, she saw he was feeling bad. Her own thoughts of jealousy blew away as worry of him took over. She wanted to comfort him. She didn't know how, but she wanted to try. She walked quickly the few steps over to Teddy, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Never mind," she said quietly to him. "I'm just thinking about all the horrible things that might follow, and I shouldn't." She managed a smile on her lips. "And don't worry about Dan, Teddy. He gets like that with every boy who's ever tried to ask me out. Sometimes I think he thinks I should become a nun."

[Sharise]

Teddy smiled a little as Sweetheart wrapped her arms around him. He held her in an embrace, and kissed her forehead. She always had been a, well, sweet heart.

"You're too pretty to be a nun."

[Cres]

Sweetheart had to smile a little and rested her head against his chest. She wanted to stay there, unmoving. Never to leave. It was all right just like this. No extra thoughts. No future, no past. Just the moment. She didn't say anything. She felt words were not needed. Would intrude.

[[shall we skip to where Dan and Bp arrive?]]

[Sharise]

Teddy continued to place soft kisses on the girl's head as he held her. It felt so right to have her in his arms. Until he looked around. Frames filled with pictures of an all too familiar face were everywhere. Her shoes sat by the door in a messy pile, her favorite blanket was draped over the chair. She was everywhere, and Teddy knew he would never be able to ignore her presence.

Bp had become a part of him. It was as if she had taken Sweetheart's place in his life, although she had touched him much deeper than the redhead in his arms.

His stomach began to turn. He was stuck. In the past, he and Sweetheart had experienced puppy love, but in the present, he and Bp had a relationship much more real. More mature. They had so many things in common, and they came from the same kind of societal class, where as Sweetheart and him were exact opposites. How could things ever work?

[Lead the way. ^^]

[Cres]

Sweetheart didn't want to think anything. She remained quietly there. She didn't talk. It seemed inappropriate, somehow.

[[cont. from the other thread]]

Dan stopped his bike outside the apartment building. He waited politely for Bp to climb down before he'd get off himself. He was glowering up at the building. He was certain the boy was going to hurt his sister. He was certain that there was something going on between Bp and Teddy. And even if it was just sex, it still meant he didn't want his sister anything to do with Teddy.

He wasn't so sure, suddenly, if he wanted anything to do with Bp himself. Maybe it was better for all of them if he stayed away from her. And who was to say she even wanted to see him again?

[Sharise]

Teddy continued to hold her, keeping all of his thoughts to himself. He needn't bother Sweetheart with them. Things would work themselves out.

Outside, Bp looked up at Dan. At this point she really didn't know what to say or do. She liked Dan, he was a nice guy, but she knew that they would have problems because of Teddy.

"Come on..." She pulled the key out of her back pocket and walked to the entrance of the building. She unlocked the door and held it open for Dan. Hopefully he wouldn't be an ass and would actually come inside.

[Cres]

Dan tried to stop glowering. He locked his bike and hopped off, following Bp to the door. He flashed her a half-hearted smile.

"So this is your place, huh?" he asked while walking in, attempting for lightness. "I didn't think I'd be visiting here quite so soon."

[Sharise]

Bp didn't smile, but she didn't look mad either. Nor did she sound it. "It's a little late to be saying 'so soon'."

[Uh, this part isn't necessary... lol ::fast forward until Dan and Bp are outside the apartment:: >_>]

Teddy heard the sound of a key unlocking the door and knew it was Bp. She had crazy timing. The one thing he didn't know was that Dan would be with her.

Instinctively, Teddy pulled away from Sweetheart and quickly walked to the door, opening it before Bp could. His smile faltered when he saw Dan. "Hi..." The smile on his face looked more natural than it felt.

"Hi." Bp gave a quick smile and walked in, knowing Dan would follow. She saw Sweetheart standing right across from the door by the couch. "Hey Sweetheart."

Teddy remained by the open door, unsure of what to say. This situation was more than a little uncomfortable for him.

[Cres]

[[this is getting interesting *rubs hands together*]]

Dan smiled a bit to Bp's answer, and followed her quietly. He waited patiently behind her as she took out her key and started unlocking the apartment door. He wasn't sure what he felt. On one hand he wanted to punch Teddy the minute he lay eyes on him. On the other, he knew what an effect that would have on both of the girls. He was sure that even if Bp didn't love Teddy, she must care for him, and he knew for sure that Sweetheart would fall apart if he started raging about.

But what was he supposed to do? Smile and be friendly to the man who was plotting for his sister's undoing. Dan couldn't believe a second that Teddy didn't know exactly what he was doing. So God help me, Dan thought to himself as Bp turned the key in the lock, if I ever find he has defiled my sister, I'll...

The thought was left halfway when Teddy suddenly yanked the door open before Bp could. And there they all were, staring at each other. Dan couldn't help the scowl.

Sweetheart, on the other hand, was feeling too lost to do anything. The way Teddy pulled away from her, nearly guiltily, made her feel a little hurt, and when she saw Bp, every bit of self-confidence and good humour fell away from her. Somehow, the other girl looked more beautiful to her than ever. So self-assured. She felt she couldn't possibly compete with her.

She saw Dan only when Bp walked in and Dan stepped into the doorway, a storm-filled expression on her face. She didn't realise the two of them came together. She was simply surprised that he was coming there at the exact same time with Bp.

"Hi," she said very quietly to Bp.

Dan wasn't feeling like all these niceties. He stepped in after Bp and kicked the door closed behind him. He directed a very icy look to Teddy, then looked straight at Sweetheart.

"You got everything, Sweets?" he asked her harshly. "We're going home now."

That was a mistake, as far as Sweetheart was concerned. Dan's obvious commanding tone made her feel like a child. That was the last thing she wanted to be in front of Teddy. Especially now... after... what they had done. She erected her back.

"There's no rush," she said to him tensely. Then she turned to Teddy, trying to smile. "I... had really nice time, Teddy."

Dan's scowl grew darker.