THE BRUSH ran through her damp hair, listening to the words of Steven who was ranting about Shayla Wang, who, in his words, was drop dead gorgeous. "I just can't handle her. She's gonna ask me to be her date to the deb ball if I meet her tonight." Steven complained.

"She's so hot! I mean, she is, right? And she's so sweet and stylish— I've never met anybody like her, Teds. I mean," Teddy groaned loudly, smacking her brush onto the vanity as she turned her chair around. "Sorry!" He sighed.

"Wait, where are you going?" Steven asked, noticing the outfit laid out onto her bed. "I am going on a date." Steven's eyes shot open wide, making her laugh as he stood up, "With who?" He laughed.

"Lucas Blythe." Teddy smiled, applying the makeup to her face. "The football player?" Her chair turned around slowly, "He's a football player? The more you know." She shrugged, "No, like he has inquires looking at him for colleges. He's only a Junior this upcoming year."

"Steven, what's the big deal?" Teddy rolled her eyes, grabbing the outfit from off her bed, walking into the bathroom. "He's a total man slut. How do you not know this?"

She poked her head out of the door, holding her hand out as Steven handed her the shirt, "Steven, come on. You and Jeremiah have been saying this since we got here," she took a pause, the sound of spraying echoing the bathroom, "plus, I'll keep an eye out. Okay?" The door opened and Steven sighed taking in her appearance.

"Okay. I know you will," he spoke, "Wear your dunks with that outfit." Teddy smiled nodded, "Read my mind." She high fived him, twisting her arm to do it under as well. "I'll be down in a minute."

Belly was doing the same thing but it was like Belly had beat her to the chase, already making her way downstairs. "See you guys, later." She said, gaining the attention of Jeremiah.

Trey noticed this, rolling his eyes at Jeremiah. Trey was against Jeremiah and Teddy's whole friendship. Why? Because he wasn't blind. The boy he called his brother was obviously unaware of his love for Teddy. And Teddy, well, she was in the womb with Trey. He would wanna hurt anybody who even got in the way of his little sister's happiness.

So, when he saw the inhale she took whilst staring at Jeremiah and Belly, it angered him. "Hey, Teds." Belly waved, "Hey, your rides here." Teddy spoke up, pointing at the door. "Oh okay."

"Where are you going?" He was ignored as Belly begun looking in the mirror, before quickly walking out, grazing Teddy's shoulder with her hand. She looked at Jeremiah, giving him a small smile before walking back upstairs. Jeremiah didn't know what to say. He hadn't talked to her since this morning. It was weird now. Not knowing what she was thinking or how to think himself.

Susannah bumped into the girl, grabbing her shoulders as a way to catch herself, "Sorry, love. I need to pay attention, huh?" She laughed, making Teddy formed a slight smile then letting it fall.

"Are you okay?" Susannah put a hand on her face, pushing the curls out her face. "Yeah, im fine." She put a hand on top of hers, now their hands were intertwined together, smiling. "Oh, Bear." It was Susannah who started calling her that first. Then everyone else started piggybacking off of the women's nicknames. She adored when Susannah called her that. If she could have it her way, it could be imprinted in her mind for the rest of her life, never forgetting the way it sounded when she said it. Nobody else.

"Is it your mom?" Teddy took a deep breathe, shaking her head, "No. I'm okay, Susannah. Really."

"I wish she was here too. You know, she was my bestfriend before your dad came along. He will always be in denial about thinking he was first." Teddy chuckled lightly, "Your mom just has some things she needs to deal with."

"Yeah. I know. It's just she never comes for the summer anymore. I'm used to it." She shrugged, making Susannah take her in her arms. "You shouldn't have to be."

Those words broke her heart as she squeezed her tighter, "I love you." Teddy sniffled, closing her eyes. Susannah returned the favor, rubbing her back as she smiled, "I love you too, Bear."

A cough was heard behind them, as they let eachother go slowly. "Lucas is here." Jeremiah said, making her nod as she let go of Susannah's hand.

Jeremiah put a hand on her back, guiding her down the stairs and to the door. "I wanted to talk to you about um, earlier." Teddy shrugged, "There's nothing to talk about. It's fine." Jeremiah sighed, "You were worried about me. I understand." Teddy put a hand on his cheek, her eyes darting around his whole face before a honking car made her eyes fall back to the ground. "See you tonight."

She put a smile on her face, quickly rushing over to the car as he hopped out eagerly. "Thought you gave me the wrong address." He laughed, opening his arms as she stopped infront of him. "I'm not cruel, Lucas." She smiled along, letting him open the door for her.

The car ride was slightly awkward, reflections by the neighborhood played quietly in the speakers. "You listen to the Neighborhood?" Teddy asked, furrowing her eyebrows. "Mhm." He nodded, a grin forming against his face. "Do you?"

"Of course, I do." Teddy turned her body, tilting her head at him, "Tell me more about you. It's like the more I hang out with you the more I know." Lucas took his eyes off the road for a split second, slightly biting his lip as he stared at her. "Well, I play football. AAU, it's very important to me. I know how to surf, I'm the oldest sibling and um, the most basic, my favorite color is purple." Teddy seemed so interested in his words, nodding as he spoke.

"So, you have sisters or brothers?" She asked, "I have two younger brothers on my moms side and a sister on my dads side." Teddy realized what he had meant giving him a soft glare, "Tell me about you Teddy Kreese." She giggled at the full name, trying to think of some things to tell him.

"I'm a cheerleader and a track runner. I also know how to play volleyball since I grew up playing it. But, I plan to go elite for college cheer which I doubt will happen. And I have a twin brother, older. I live in Boston which is close to the Fishers and Conklins if you count a 2 hour drive." She shrugged, "Oh and my favorite color is pink."

"Why don't you think you can go Elite?" He asked, "Um, I'm not sure. I just don't know I if I wanna go to college for a sport. If I'm gonna go to college I want it to be something I don't regret." Lucas hummed at her words, "What do you wanna do after college?"

"Honestly, I have no idea." Lucas smiled at her answer, "And you?"

"I don't really know if I even wanna go to college." Teddy nodded, "I understand. College isn't for everybody."

Lucas was quiet at this, parking the car. "Shall we?" He raised an eyebrow, making her tilt her head with anticipation, quickly nodding her head. He held the door open for her, leading her with his hand. This felt weird for some reason. She never let anybody but Jeremiah do that. So, she sped walk, making his hand fall from her back.

She hated that everything anybody did reminded her of him. Whenever somebody ruffled her hair, or even the slight graze of a touch would remind her of how much she cared for him. For her Jeremiah. Her bestfriend.

"Um, what are you getting?" He asked, his eyes trailing to the necklace around her neck that she held in her hand, "Hm? Oh, I'm getting cookies and cream. You?" Lucas shook his head, "Vanilla." She scrunched her nose up.

"Who just gets vanilla ice cream at an ice cream shop?" Lucas pointed to himself, making her roll her eyes jokingly.

"Can I get two cones, one cookies and cream, one vanilla." Her smile dropped, watching as he swiped his card. "No, I have money I got mine." She shook her head with pleading eyes, a hand on his holding it from swiping. "It's on me tonight." He said, pulling her hand from off his as she sighed.

"Thank you," Teddy took the ice cream from his hand, grabbing napkins. "That ice cream looks boring." She teased, making him put a hand on his heart, "You cant go wrong with a vanilla ice cream." Lucas shrugged as they walked out the ice cream shop.

"So, tell me," he begun, "What's the necklace about?"

She looked at him in confusion before he looked at her neck, making her realize what he was talking about, "Oh, this." Teddy seemed almost excited that he asked about it, eager to tell him.

"My dad bought me this for my 11th birthday. Its a locket. I never new what to put inside of it so it was empty for a few months but I was always wearing it." Lucas was content, focused on her words, "So, every summer the kids take a picture. You know, me, Steven, Trey, Belly, Jere and Conrad."

She smiled to herself, "Jeremiah came up with the idea of putting every picture in it from each summer for the school year. Then when summer came I would replace it with the new one. Ever since that summer I would do that. I have to cut up our faces in order to fit it inside but yeah." Lucas stopped, infront of her, moving the hair out off her face as he opened the locket.

He giggled, "This was before we hung out wasn't it?"

"How'd you know?" She asked, her eyes roaming his face. "It's the same shirt you had on the day I invited you." This was the last straw for her, no longer being able to control herself as she latched her lips onto his, holding her ice cream away from him, humming into the kiss.

Lucas pulled away, smiling at her. She didn't notice her ice cream was melting, watching as he went to lick hers, laughing to herself. "I know we just started getting back talking after so long but, I do like you, Lucas."

"I like you, Teddy."

He then kissed her once more and it felt as if the whole world was spinning. They didn't have to speak, because they knew this was were they wanted to be. "You ready to go?" He asked her, "Nope. Are you?"

"No," She giggled, nodding as they walked hand in hand. It wasn't until she felt as if her feet were on fire that they left. And when she did it the car ride was silent as Dominic Fike played softly in the background.

She was happy in this moment, watching him pull into her drive way, the quietness filling the air outside as they both hopped out the car, rushing to open her door, "Thank you. Again. I had a lot of fun tonight."

"I did too," Lucas smiled, putting his hands in his pockets, "We should do this again. I love hanging out with you." She gave a cheeky smile which made his heart flutter, "I love hanging out with you to." He leaned in, placing a soft kiss on her lips. It wasn't until she initiated more passion that he quicker his pace from his lips, his hands pulling her closer by placing a hand on her brown locs.

They pulled back both panting as they smiled, wiping the smudged lipgloss off her lips. "Bye." She said, pushing past him as she hurried to the front door.

She came in with the widest smile on her face, setting down her purse at the door along with her shoes, making her way towards her room before she heard a voice behind her, "How was your date?"

"Is it was perfect, thanks for asking." Teddy stated, "He's your boyfriend?" Jeremiah continued, "Okay, what is your problem? You've been pressing me ever since the bonfire about him. Seriously?" Teddy went down the stairs now facing him as he bent his head down to look at her, clenching his jaw in anger.

"Is it because I haven't been up your ass this summer? Hm? And I've been doing things on my own? Please, tell me. Tell me why your so upset, Jeremiah." He turned around in anger, hands in his hair, before turning back around with force, only to be caught off before he got to speak, "Jeremiah!"

"Do you ever pay attention to anything, Teds? Seriously? Have your eyes been shut for all these years?" Jeremiah got closer a finger in her face, "Stop," Teddy lightly pushed his hand out of her face, tears threatening to spill at the yelling.

"Jeremiah, I had to sit back and watch you hook up with different girls for two summers in a row! I had to listen to it, I had to hear about it— and the second I find somebody I'm interested in, you try and fuck it up," Teddy was fuming. His words were hurtful. He made it seem like his past feelings were so one sided.

"Teddy, you kissed me last summer! You never even tried to work it out between us! You ignored it. Because your a coward!" Teddy let her mouth drop, her chin slightly shaking, "You promised you wouldn't bring that up."

"I'm bringing it up!" It was his turn to now shout, making her shake her head, "We barely talked this school year because you were scared to face what you did." His voice cracked, "What we did."

Teddy shook her head, "Fuck you. I've never regretted that kiss more than I do now." Jeremiah scoffed, watching as she turned back up the stairs, "And who's fault is that?" Teddy paused, not looking back as she continued quickly up the stairs.

Her heart felt as if it was being thrown into a trap, and was tortured for hours. She didn't even wanna go to her room, walking into the bathroom as she sat on the floor head in hand as her fingers curled in her hair.

Jeremiah didn't even know what to say as he felt his knees go weak beneath him, grabbing the handle bar as he took a seat on the stairs. He didn't know why he reacted the way he did. Seeing her kiss him— seeing him hold the hand that he held was like watching your own heart be stolen by somebody else.

They didn't know what to feel.