theodore stands just inside the doorway with his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his coat as if he’s holding himself together. eventhough his previous relationship — he's not even sure if he could call it a relationship, they've only been dating for two weeks — ended and his ex was being such a pain in the ass, he's glad that it's over. it all felt too forced, but with elias, things have always felt calm and quiet, just right. now that he's single, he thought that maybe… maybe today would be the day he stopped holding it in. the day he told elias everything he’s been too scared to say because he didn't want to lose their friendship.
teddy sees her. sees her lips on elias’s cheek, her fingers lazily tracing down his arm and elias is just taking it all in. teddy swallows hard. he blinks before he forces a smile and it almost looks convincing. "hm, long enough," he says with a soft chuckle that's forced. he moves toward their table slowly, "i didn't want to interrupt." teddy doesn’t look at her, focusing only on elias. he notices every little detail, ethe way elias’s hair is a mess, his cheeks slightly flushed and lips red where she kissed him, god, teddy feels something bitter rise in his throat.
instead of going down the rabbit hole that is his emotions, teddy smiles. "you two look... happy."
this is not how elias pictured introducing his new girlfriend to his best friend. definitely not by getting caught mid-kiss like some lovesick teenager in a coffee shop, oblivious to public decency or whether anyone might feel uncomfortable. a proper introduction is supposed to leave a good first impression, and right now? he’s pretty sure this isn’t it. to be fair, he’s not exactly blameless. he let amanda do as she pleased because it was easier than pulling away and saying no. but the moment he spots teddy in the doorway, frozen and staring, he finally leans back and creates distance. of course, it’s too late— teddy has already seen everything. and really, it shouldn’t matter. teddy’s in a committed relationship himself. elias can’t be the only one allowed to kiss someone in public… right?
“ i’m sorry, ” he says with a nervous chuckle, quickly pulling out a chair for him. “ please, sit. i haven’t ordered anything yet. we were waiting for you. ” he waits until teddy settles in before taking his own seat across the table. “ teddy, this is amanda, my girlfriend. amanda, this is teddy— my best friend. ”
teddy smiles when elias says the words my best friend, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. he nods at the introduction, his jaw tight as he extends a hand toward amanda. “hello, pleasure to meet you,” he says quietly. teddy doesn’t look at her for too long, honestly, he doesn’t want to — not when every passing second feels like he’s swallowing glass. his gaze flickers back to elias and he hates the way his chest aches just looking at him. teddy forces a breath in through his nose. “sorry i was late,” he lies, reaching for his coat even though he’s already seated. something to do with his hands. anything to stop them from trembling. “traffic was horrible.” well, teddy had been early. he stood across the street for twenty minutes like an idiot, clutching a coffee cup that’s gone cold, practising how to say i think i’m in love with you without falling apart.
he glances at amanda again — she’s pretty… and kind, maybe. exactly the type of person elias deserves. he couldn’t believe that he was going to confess to elias, his best friend. elias didn’t even see him that way, not with the other showing up with a new girl. with a soft exhale, teddy picks at the corner of his sleeve, “you look happy,” he murmurs, eyes locked on elias, the words trembling softly but his lips tug into a soft smile anyways. “i’m glad.”
