Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty-Five

I rolled my eyes. "It actually is because of your modesty," I said sarcastically.

Teddy grinned. "You're awesome," he said.

I winked. "I learned from the best."

***

As days passed by, things between Teddy and I got better and better, and they would have remained that way, but they did not because unexpected events took place. One of them happened on a Monday. I still can clearly remember how grey the sky was, as if foreshadowing for the event that took place.

Teddy had received some news. Someone had spoken to him on the phone, and his smile instantly faded away once he heard the voice from the other side of the line. I asked him what was wrong, but he simply shook his head and told me that he needed to be alone.

I did not push the topic. I understood what it felt like to want to be alone, which was why I allowed him to walk out of the house without following him. I just wanted him to be able to think clearly.

I stayed on the couch, wondering what had happened to upset Teddy so much. I was dying to know, but I decided to let him be by himself.

Minutes passed by, and Teddy had still not come back. I started getting worried as soon as I heard the thunders outside, but I decided to wait for a little more.

It was not like Teddy would stay outside even in the rain, right?

As soon as the rain began to descend, I sighed and decided that it was time to go for Teddy.

I got up from the couch and walked outside the house. Teddy was sitting on the grass with his head on his hands.

I cleared my throat.

He took his hands away from his head and turned to see me.

He frowned. "I really need to be alone, Chris." The rain had already made his hair wet, and I was worried that he would catch a cold.

"All right, but could you get inside, please? The rain's going to make you sick," I said.

Teddy shook his head. "Does it matter?" He gritted his teeth. "Does anything matter at all?"

"Your health does," I said, pointing at the house. "Get inside. Now."

He shook his head and punched the grass. "No!" he exclaimed angrily. "I'm not getting inside! Can you please leave?"

I bit my bottom lip and crossed my arms over my chest. "No," I said. "I'm not leaving until you do."

His angry expression changed to a worried one. "Please, Chris, just leave. I don't want you to get sick, too."

I shrugged. "We'll both be sick. What does it matter?"

He sighed. "Fine. Have it your way," he said, shrugging. "I don't care."

I nodded. "All right." I sat down next to him and sighed.

I remained silent. I did not want to make him talk when he obviously did not feel like talking. It was normal for him to be mad. Whatever news he had received, they could not be good.

Teddy sighed. "Just go, Chris," he said. "It's pointless. I'm not leaving."

"Then I'm not leaving, either," I said.

"Why are you so stubborn?" said Teddy, annoyed. "Just get inside the house, Chris."

"No," I repeated. "I'm not leaving you here alone. We don't have to talk if you don't want to, but I'm not leaving you by yourself. If you need to meditate, do it. Don't mind my presence."

Teddy sighed. "Chris... I really am not in the mood for this."

"I know," I said. "That's why I told you that you don't have to talk if you don't want to."

He gritted his teeth. "Just let me be alone for once," he said. "I don't want to fight."

"Me neither, Teddy, but I'm telling you that you shouldn't be here. You're going to get sick! Get inside the house, and then I will leave you alone!"

"Why do you care, Chris?" he asked, serious. "Why would anything that happens to me be of any importance to you?"

"You know why," I said.

"No," he said. "I know nothing at all."

I sighed. "Don't do this, Teddy."

The rain increased, and with it, so did Teddy's fury.

"Do what?" he snapped. "Oh, be angry? Don't worry! I'm not angry at you! I'm angry at my life! Every time something beautiful happens, every time I'm finally at peace with my demons, something comes and ruins everything. It's like I'm just not allowed to be happy!"

"Don't say that," I whispered. "Please."

He shook his head. "This sucks," he said. "This really, really sucks."

I lowered my face. "Teddy, I know deep inside there's still that kind, optimistic Teddy who made me fall in love with him. It's only a matter of time for that Teddy to come back."

He sighed. "Well, it'd be easier for that Teddy to come back if his asshole of a father had not gotten out of prison today," he said, gritting his teeth.

I gasped. "He couldn't have! That can't be possible!" I exclaimed angrily.

"It was. He got out on parole," said Teddy sadly.

That hurt like a million daggers stabbing my heart. How could a person as evil and sick as Teddy's father be released from prison? Had the jury not seen how much Teddy had suffered?

"But he's a rapist!" I exclaimed. "He is sick! He is fucking sick!"

"They could never prove that he had raped me," said Teddy miserably. "They could only prove that he had beaten me."

"I'm very sorry, Teddy," I said as a couple of tears streamed down my face. "I'm very, very sorry."

Teddy sighed. "Don't be," he said, pretending he did not care. "I'll be okay. I'm always okay."

I wrapped my arms around Teddy, and then we were both crying. We were both crying because of how unfair it all was. We were both crying because of how much pain Teddy had to endure.

I was crying because, despite everything that was going on in his life, Teddy would always smile, no matter what. He would show the world that he was stronger than he seemed. He would prove everyone that misery only took over you if you let it.

Teddy was simply built that way. He covered his scars with smiles and laughter. He covered his tears with gentle kisses.

"I don't know what to do, Chris," he muttered between sobs.

"Ignore he ever existed," I whispered. "I do that sometimes with my dad."

Teddy sniffled.

"I know it's not the same," I said, "But you can only try, right?"

Teddy chuckled a little bit. "Right."

Teddy kissed my lips softly and smiled a little.

"I love you," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder. "We'll get through this together."

Teddy simply grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

I knew it was going to be very difficult for both Teddy and me, but together we would fight the demons that so often penetrated his heart. Together, we would defeat anyone who ever tried to hurt us. Together, we were invincible.