THE COLDNESS that filled her body in the middle of the night woke her self up, wiping her eyes as she looked around the room. Confusion hit her body as she tried to remember what happened the night before. She turned her head to see no Jeremiah.

She quickly got up, worry filling her body as she walked down the stairs. She rubbed her eyes and stumbled outside, slowly opening the door.

Her heart skipped multiple beats at what she saw. Jeremiah and Belly kissing.

She shook her head, rushing inside as she slammed the door behind her. She didn't know why she was angry. But, as she smelt his scent on her hoodie she knew.

Jeremiah Fisher was somebody she had always been close with. He was her first kiss, her first friend and she had always loved him. But, he had always chosen other girls over her year after year. Between the hookups he had, the girlfriends— she was always the friend. The best friend.

Her fingertips grazed the portrait on her desk of him holding her in her arms as the sun shined behind them. She remembered the moment like it was yesterday.

"Let's take a picture! It's so pretty!" Teddy smiled, the sunset hitting the water perfectly. It was one of the last sunsets at Cousins that summer and in a couple days Teddy was gonna be going home.

He came up with the idea. They were gonna be up all night just talking at the beach for as long as they could handle it. She admired it. She admired him.

Jeremiah laughed as she grabbed his hand, pulling him towards her as she propped her phone up on the rock, setting a timer on the picture.

"Okay, okay! Um, what should we do?" Teddy asked him, before he looked at her glistened skin, picking her up with ease as her legs wrapped around his waist. Her giggles filled his ear and he held her up, smiling as she put a hand on his cheek and pressing hers against his, closing her eyes.

The picture was already taken but Jeremiah didn't put her down but only staring up at her. Teddy laughed, about to jump down before he lifted her back up against him. Her laughter died and she fumbled an eyebrow at him, "What?"

"Nothing. You're so beautiful." Jeremiah whispered, letting her put a soft hand in his hair. Her body slowly dropped down from his arms, staring at him with awe.

This was the moment she realized her feelings for Jeremiah, letting his hands rest against her hips. Jeremiah was about to speak, before Teddy latched her lips onto his.

Teddy realized something she hadn't before. No matter how much she tried to stay away from him, she couldn't. The feelings she dug deep into her heart, had came up so fast seeing him in Belly's arms.

Oh my god. She loved Jeremiah Fisher. She loved his blinding blue eyes, his messy curls that she always fixed for him, his annoyingly perfect smile— she loved him. She was in love with him. But, she was to late.

Susannah even noticed the down mood of Teddy as the paint brush in her hand brushed against her portrait. "You okay, Bear?"

"Mhm. Do your thing, Su." Teddy tried to smile but the thoughts were bursting through her chest. She couldn't even bare to think about Jeremiah without thinking about all of her hidden thoughts of him.

Susannah finally had enough, putting down her paint brush as she walked over to the girl who was holding her ukulele, softly stroking it in her hands. Susannah lifted her chin up, fixing her buret that hung in her hair, and fixing the strap of her dress. The motherly touch that came from Susannah was what she needed right now.

"What's on your mind, sweet girl?" Susannah asked, fixing her hair. "Your son."

Susannah almost jumped up and down in happiness. She had always wanted it to be Teddy for her Jeremiah. Even if it wasn't in that moment she knew they would end up together. "Oh, really? Finally coming to your senses?"

"It's not that. It's nothing." Susannah shook her head, bringing her into her arms, stroking her back, "He loves you, that's all that matters. We all do."

Teddy sighed into her arms, "I don't know what I would do without you, Su."

Susannah almost broke at her words, squeezing her tighter. "I actually have something for you," she pulled away, reaching into her bag as she pulled out a necklace box. "I have worn this out. I can no longer wear it, so many memories." Susannah chuckled.

"But, you love this necklace." Teddy hesitatingly handed it back to her. "I want you to have it." Susannah pushed it back into her lightly, taking it and putting it onto her neck. Teddy smiled softly, holding the silver necklace in her hand. It had the letter "S" on it making her smile. "Thank you, Su. I love it."

"No more thoughts, okay? I'm almost done with your painting. And then I'll be all done with all of you." Teddy fixed her posture looking back down at the ukulele.

Jeremiah watched the girl from afar, shaking his head as he was now getting ready for his volleyball match. His focus had to be Belly. He was now committed to Belly. Not her.

So, as he walked into the match with Taylor and Belly he couldn't even bare the sight of her, looking away.

Teddy couldnt believe how fast her feelings hit her, her head laying low in her pink volleyball jersey and her brother following close behind her. "You ready?" Trey asked, "Yup. Only playing because Kai and Taylor basically begged me."

"Speaking of the devil." Trey pointed seeing them rushing over, "Hey!" Belly smiled, the two girls hugging her. "How are you? I haven't really had the chance to talk." Belly asked her, pulling away from the hug. Teddy inhaled, nodding furiously, "Yeah, I'm doing good. How are you doing?"

"I'm great actually. I have so much to tell you." Teddy's finger began tapping her finger against her thigh, her body growing hot as she nodded, "Yeah. Same," she tried to remain calm, but the feeling of her heartbeat slowly rising was just to much.

Belly grabbed her hand, and this didn't help at all, as she quickly pulled away, her hand nervously going to touch her hair, "Go prep, I have to use the bathroom." Taylor noticed her actions, but choosing to ignore it as she pulled Belly away.

Teddy broke down, throwing a rough hand to her chest as she tried to catch her breathe. Panic attacks. Ever since her mom got bad, she's had them ever since the stress got to much.

Kai was laughing with his friends, pointing at the girl with blonde hair, who they were going against. But, his eyes flickered behind the blonde as he noticed Teddy.

He squinted his eyes, noticing as she fell against the wall, holding her chest, immediately jumping up from his place on the stool, "I'll be right back."

Teddy was pulled quickly away from the scene, still trying to catch her breathe as she felt a set of heavy hands apply pressure to her heart, "Deep breathes," Kai said, lightly crouching down as he lifted her head up with hands, "One, two, three."

Teddy shook her head, reaching up to grip his shoulder as he did the same, still counting with her. As her breathing slowed he spoke again, "What color is my jersey? What sport or we playing? How many fingers am I holding up?"

Teddy shook her head, "Pink, Volleyball," Teddy stuttered amongst her words, "Five."

Kai shook his head, giving her a slight smile, placing two hands on her shoulders as she gripped her own shirt. She looked back up at him, as he stared at her worryingly, "How'd you know?"

"My little sister gets them all the time." Kai said, retracting his hands from her shoulders. "Thank you." Teddy mumbled, looking at how oddly close they were, looking him up and down. Kai bit down on his cheek, wrinkling his eyebrows in confusion. "Yeah."

The coughing heard from the other side of them made Teddy's face drop, seeing Conrad staring at them in confusion. "Let's go, T. Match is starting."

Teddy nodded about to walk away, before she turned to the boy next to her, "You better be a good volleyball partner."

Kai sheepishly smiled, making her do the same as she motioned for her to follow, Conrad giving her a tap on her back as she rushed to the other side.

Many, many times, Taylor and Belly went undefeated before the Taylor played injured. Teddy wasn't stupid. She knew what she was doing. Jeremiah gave her a look from the other side, before looking at Belly.

Teddy looked down at her feet once again, anger welling up in body as she was now the next one up. She ignored the two familiar players infront of her, taking a look at Kai.

"You got this." Kai said, "Remember we make a pretty good team right?" Teddy chuckled to herself, "In your dreams, Blake." Kai bit his lip, walking backwards as he got in his position.

Jeremiah watched this interaction and annoyance was rumbling under his skin, "You good?" Belly whispered. "Fine. Just wanna win."

It was their serve and as the ball was up, Kai quickly bumped it passing to the girl beside him. Belly was always competitive, that's where she got it from. So, the spike she sent to their side was quickly saved by a dive which earned them a point.

"Holy shit!" Kai helped her up, shaking her aggressively, her happy laughter making Jeremiah crack a smile. Her laugh was heaven for him. He could listen to it for hours. No music was better than that— nothing was better than her.

Next point went to Belly, then Teddy, until it was eventually a tie. This was the last point for that round and it was Kai's serve. Once ball was up, Teddy didnt hesitate taking it to the other side. They went back and fourth until Belly bumped.

Teddy ran from the middle jumping up to spike it. But, her landing sent her to the ground with a grunt. She immediately reacted, hissing and letting out groan in pain.

Jeremiah didn't even realize how perfected she had spiked, landing right in the middle. He was already noticing her stance, and he knew how she was gonna fall. "Jeremiah!" Belly yelped, pointing to the ball as she put her hands on her head. Cheers filled the stands but, he was only focused on her.

Her grumbling stopped when she saw him by her side, holding her ankle. "You good?"

Teddy only stared at him, lost in his face as he held the back of her head with his palm, making her eyes soften, completely forgetting about to shooting pain in her leg.

Jeremiah noticed her look, trying to ignore her as he sent someone to get the paramedics. His life had flashed before his eyes seeing her in pain. It made him realize how much he really cared, applying pressure to her leg quickly.

"Ow! Jeremiah, I'm fine," Teddy hissed lightly as he applied more pressure, making her grab his wrist, "I am fine." She softly stated, grabbing his hand in confusion at his reaction, trying to block out her own pain to comfort his worry.

His body went cold at her touch, staring at her hand. It was like he hadn't felt that in ages. "Come on," Kai grabbed her arm, lifting her up with Trey. Jeremiah rolled his eyes stomping to the other side, longingly watching her get carried off the sand.

Belly pulled his arm, "I can't. I have to win this. You're to distracted." Jeremiah knew she was right, nodding his head, "I understand."

Jeremiah walked off, giving his Jersey to Conrad as he walked to the side. He put a hand in his hair, bowing it into his arms. He didn't know why he was acting like this.

He didn't know why he cared for her as much as he did, but the pulling feeling towards her was like a magnet and he couldn't bare it. Teddy was the sunshine of his life and he would pick her, every time.

But, he couldn't have her. All his life he has wanted to save her from himself. He wished it could be different but, it couldn't.

Teddy watched him from a far, an ice pack taped to her leg, as she got up. Unlike Jeremiah, she couldn't hide how she felt. She needed to talk to him.

He could see her coming out of the corner of his eye, not bothering to look at her. Teddy didn't know what to say, staring at the same sight he was looking at. It was not a comfortable silence and that was an unfamiliar feeling between the two of them.

"Please talk to me." Jeremiah shook his head at her words, swallowing the words that tried to form. "Jeremiah," she grabbed his face, pulling him to face her. He fought her touch, but when she didn't give in, he chose to look at her.

God, she was so beautiful. Everything about her. But, her sad eyes spoke volume and he quickly looked away. "I can't do this."

"You can't? Or you won't?" Teddy mumbled, "Explain to me why. Explain, because the second I got hurt, you acted like I was fucking dying. But, now you won't even look at me." Jeremiah angrily turned his head to glare at her, towering over her and it made her realize something.

"I will always just be the bestfriend to you, won't i?" Teddy's voice cracked, shaking her head as she watched his jaw clench and his eyes begin to water.

He wished she knew. He wished he could tell her everything he has wanted to tell her, but the words just wouldn't come out.

"Yeah," she nodded, beginning to limp away with tears in her eyes.

Kai watched the whole thing. He hated Jeremiah. He hated everything about him. He hated his stupid hair, and how much he lied to Teddy. Because, even though she didn't like him that much, Kai wouldn't have lied to her.

He quickly came up from his seat, walking over to the limping girl as he put her arm around his shoulder, "You saw the whole thing?" She muffled, her voice low and sad. Kai nodded, pulling her closer. Teddy didn't fight him this time, letting him help her back to her seat.

Jeremiah watched Belly and Conrad cheer and hold each other once they got their winning point. He finally let it out, before putting it all back up. He cheered with them, a fake smile on his face as he wiped his eyes from the tears that threatened to fall.

He hated Teddy Kreese for how she made him feel. She made him feel vulnerable, and that's what makes him love her. He feels light, like nothing in the world matters. Except them. If she invited him to dance infront of the whole world, he would. Because it was with her.

He hated his self for how much he loved Teddy.