𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚋𝚘𝚠 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚎

Nobody can blame him, she was gorgeous. She was also funny and kind, and was an amazing cook too; he loved when she callend him Teddy because his mom was the only one who called him like that, and she was the only person besides her who did it too. He felt weak everytime when she tangled her fingers into his hair, or when she brused it softly. She smelled like cherries, and she always looked stunning.

He didn’t understand it, she couldn’t be that magnificent without effor. But guess what? She could and he couldn’t help but fall truly in love with her.

When she went to college in Los Angeles, he felt a bit lost and empty. He missed her so much but at least he had Bill, and he wasn’t too lonely.

Ted didn’t see her since three years ago, but that was the best for her and he knew it. She was one of the most clever minds in High School and she graduated with honors, it’s logical that she deserved study in a smart college with a bunch of smart people. He was the only boy she knew that wasn’t smart enough to stay permanently in her life.

She was a truly bodacious babe, and he was a clueless eighteen years old dude who was dumber than hell.

Talking about that, his luck (maybe his brain too) was so bad that he’s almost reproving physics because… Well, he doesn’t understand a flying shit of it.

Honestly, not everything was his fault. The teacher didn’t explain again when he expressed his concerns and doubts, or didn’t help him when he asked for her advice in many ocassions to resolve those hellish excercises.

When she said his terrible grades, he felt almost humilliated when his classmates started to laugh about him, some of them screamed that he was an idiot, but he looked like he wasn’t too worry about it.

Internally, he was almost crying out loud. Maybe he’s a bit goofy and clueless but he has feelings, and that witch hurted him when she told out loud that he won’t approve her subject and he won’t pass the final test because he was a dumb boy.

Ted doesn’t hate anybody, he’s a goog guy, but in that moment he almost hated her.

“Dude!”, Bill yells at Ted trying to attract his attention. He was so inmerse into his head that forgot about Bill being by his side. “Are you worry about the physics witch? Aren’t you”, his best friend asks.

Ted nods with a gulp when he realizes his fate. His dad is gonna kill him when he finds that out.

“I’m so over, dude”, Ted pulls his dark hair with concern. “Dad is gonna kill me, and the band will split.”

“No way, dude!”, Bill yells again. Ted knows how much his blonde best friend loves to yell when he’s excited or mad. “If you approve the final test you will pass the subject, that was the physics witch said.”

“And how the heck will I approve the test if I don’t know anything about the subject?”, Ted asks. “It’s impossible, dude.”

“No, it’s not!”

The two of them walk through the parking lot when Bill’s step-mom, Missy, parks her car waiting for them. The only thing is that she isn’t alone this time.

That’s a bit weird, being honest. Missy not often has female company, not since she got married Mr. Preston.

And like always, Ted punches Bill’s shoulder and reminds him:

“Dude, she’s your mom!”

Bill moves his head right to left, looking dumber than usual.

“She’s a bit older than us, dude!”, the blonde boy answers. “And look at that babe, is gorgeous.”

Maybe Ted was worried about his low grades in physics and stuff, but when someone mentions «babe», he just can focus on the girl.

He was in love with someone who didn’t have idea, not married or something.

Missy gives them a kind smile when they get close to the car, and the second girl mover her head too; his throat’s dry and his stomach twists nervously at the sight of Angelica.

How can it be that possible? She was busy studying a smart career with a lot of smart people in LA, not in San Dimas!

“Hi!”, Angelica greets when they get into the back seats with a jump. “Gosh, you guys got truly handsome while I was away!”

Okay he’s really nervous right now, but he can act carefree about the situation. He oftenly does it and he manage to fool people making them believe he’s carefree about everything… While in his head he’s on crisis and most of the times crying internally.

Yeah, being a clueless eighteen years old dude isn’t an easy job.

But Angelica is smart and he’s not sure about how many time he could manage this whole situation, she knows him better than himself does.

“You know, baby”, Bill starts to talk crossing his arms in front of his chest. “Puberty and stuff.”

Ted looks at Bill archeing his brows with esceptical eyes; Missy tries to not laugh about him and Angelica smiles.

“I believe that of Teddy”, Angelica says and those butterflies in Ted’s stomach starts to make troubles there because of the nickname. “He was shorter than you three years ago, but look at him now. I’m sure he could play basket in college.”

Oh c'mon! She’s making his whole carefree thing harder than usual.

“I don’t think so, babe”, Ted replies with a shy smile. “But thanks for the accompliment.”

Angelica gives him a bright smile, Missy drives to theit neighbourhood and Bill half-shuts his eyes looking at his best friend, who has his «daydreaming awake» face right now.

Oh man, this guy is so obvious.

“Dude!”, Bill mutters punching Ted’s right arm. “Did you get her over?”, he looks at Ted’s guilty face and opens his eyes with surprise. “You didn’t!”, he mutters again. “Why did you never tell me, dude?”, and yes, Bill punches Ted’s arm again.

“Cuz I knew you’ll be so agressive like now!”, the darkhaired boy mutters back. “And she can’t know about this if I don’t tell her, okay?” So shut the hell up, dude.“

Bill fakes closing his mouth like a zipper and Ted takes a deep breath, being sure that those pretty girls in the fron seats are busy talking to each other and didn’t notice the mutters war that he and Bill had a few seconds ago.

When the car arrives to the neighbourhood, Missy stops it in front of Ted’s house. His dad is in the living room and he can see him through the windows. He can’t help but gulp feeling a bit anxious, and a second later, he and Angelica get out of the car, because her house is next to his own.

"See ya, dude and babe!”, Bill yells at the two of them and Missy shakes her hand in goodby, starting to drive to their house.

Ted barely had noticed that Angelica just has a simple backpack with her, and he look at her with curious eyes.

“That boy won’t change ever”, she smiles. “And you neither, in attitude I mean because physically you grew up very well”, Angelica adds and then looks at the door of her house. “It feels like a century since the last time I looked at that door.”

“It’s been three years since the last time you were stood right here, Ange”, he replies sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “For everyone here that feels like a century.”

She approaches at him, brushing his hair softly, just like only her knows to do it.

“Yeah, I know”, she nods while her hand rests onto his left shoulder. “I missed you a lot, Teddy.”

And Angelica hugs him, burying her face in his chest; she’s a lot shorter than him but that doesn’t matter, being honest. She always says how much she loves the way he’s taller than her (even when he was shorter than Bill a few years ago) and the way they both fit perfectly in each others arms without effort.

The butterflies attack his stomach again while he’s thinking about her. She’s so bodacious that it looks almost like a joke or something.

“Theodore, come here”, his dad shouts opening the front door.

And there’s the fear filling his body again, he’s over… No, he’s more than over, he’s a clueless dead dude.

“Bogus”, Ted whispers and Angelica breaks the hug moving her head, staring at Captain Logan with mischevious eyes. “What'cha gonna do, Ange?”

“Shut up and follow me”, she whispers back and they approach together to Ted’s dad, who has this scarying furrowed eyebrows face.“Hi, Captain Logan!”, Angelica greets with a pretty smile. “I’m sorry if Ted is late, I borrowed him for a few minutes because I arrived to San Dimas this morning and I went for him to the School. Excuse me for that, it’s just… I missed him a lot.”

Captain Logan’s face gets a bit softer (in a way that Ted didn’t believe he could) after her speech.

She’s such a sweet talker and she always wins everything she wants. She has talent and he knows it very well.

“There’s no problem with you, Angelica”, Captain Logan says. “But the principal called me a few minutes ago and told me Ted is gonna repprove physics if he doesn’t pass the final test.”

Oh, no those disapproval eyes. He hates them since forever.

Ted gulps feeling anxious and nervous again. He’s dead.

Angelica giggles and Ted forrows his brows.

“Oh, that has sense”, she says. “He had worried eyes all the way until we came here but he didn’t mention nothing about it”, Angelica pats his shoulder very gently. “I could help him with it if you give me your permisson.”

Okay, her mental sanity went to hell very quickly than he thought.

“I don’t wanna botter you with this, darling”, Captain Logan replies. “He will be better studying alone in his room without hanging out for this entire week until he passes the test.”

Yeah, he’s officially dead.

“But Captain Logan, I’m very sure this whole situation isn’t his entire fault because I know his physics teacher, the woman isn’t so kind and sweet, y'know”, Angelica expresses. She’s good. “I had some troubles with her when I was in High School, and I can help him to approve the test, I swear.”

It takes a few moments but after all her argue, Captain Logan accepts her offer for Ted’s surprise.

“With two conditions”, Captain Locan says a little bit too loud and bossy. “Nobody is hanging out to nowhere and he’s gonna studying with you here in the house while I’m working, until I return from work. Understood?”

“Yes sir!”, the both yell.

Angelica loves to yell like that when she’s in front of Ted’s dad. It’s something funny to do.

“I gotta go again, I’ll be back in the evening”, he looks at Ted. “Take care of your brother, Theodore.”

“Yes sir.”

Captain Logan gets out of the house and walks towards his car, leaving them alone again.

And when the vehicle is out of the sight, Ted takes a deep breath feeling calm at last.

“That was so damn close”, Angelica points, giving him a look. “Could we get into the house? I know we live in California, but the heat is gonna roast me alive.”

Ted laughs.

“C'mon babe.”

Angelica is gonna explain him physics an entire week and they will be alone a bunch of hours until his dad retirns of work every evening… Oh man.