radio & recklessness.

Teddy shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve been here, there, ya know.” He chuckled as Danielle pulled him closer to her. “I’ve been working a lot and trying not to think about the rest of my life.” He shifted awkwardly. “Also, been trying to drink as much as I can.” He laughed. “I know, I really shouldn't do that but, I can’t help it.” 

She can hear someone approaching her, but is still surprised when they tap her on the shoulder. She’s even more surprised to realize it’s Teddy and she barely has a moment to process what’s going on before he’s shooting questions at her. “Hi, hello to you too,” she answers once he’s finished. Maybe she was a little annoyed that he couldn’t even greet her properly, but the topic of his questions override that feeling pretty quickly. “I like you too,” she replies stupidly, suddenly feeling very on the spot.

The sun is bright and she’s squinting up at him from where she’s sitting on the ground and that’s inconvenient, so she reaches out a hand and tugs him down beside her. “I guess we’re not waiting for anything?” The words come out more like a question than she intended and she definitely should be more enthused about the conversation going on right now, but mostly she’s nervous and confused. “You’re my boyfriend?” she finally decides on, still unsure. This was not what she was expecting when she went to the park to study.

Teddy’s eyes widened and nodded. He hadn’t been anyone’s boyfriend in a long time. Instead of saying anything and messing it up, he reached for her face and placed his hand on the side of her face and pulled her into a kiss. He kissed her for a few moments and Teddy chuckled. “Boyfriend, huh?” He half-asked in a sarcastic tone. “We haven’t even been on a second date. How is that supposed to work.” He replied. Teddy shrugged uncomfortably and  placed on his hands on AJ’s shoulder. He caressed it and smiled at her. “So, what are you doing today? Studying?” He continued. 

Teddy rolled his eyes and sighed loudly, adjusting his body on the chair and realizing that he would have to sit next to Elio for more time than he wanted. Teddy didn’t really hate a lot of people, sure he knew he wasn’t the easiest to get along with but he didn’t interact with the people who found him annoying. Like Elio. Teddy’s leg started shaking and he realized this wouldn’t be a good time to get up and have a cigarette. He glanced over at Elio and nodded. “So, did you ever end up finding a job or are you just living off your sister?” he asked him, raising his brows. 

Teddy had just recovered from another bender when he realized what he had done. He remembers going to AJ’s house but he didn’t find AJ, he found her brother. Sighing loudly, he pulled himself out of bed and towards the bathroom. Shower, shaved and clothed he made his way into the kitchen. He didn’t hear his roommate but that didn’t stop him from rustling around and making a coffee. There was a slight mess in their living room but shrugging it off, Teddy sipped his coffee and walked around the apartment. He grabbed his phone from his side table and groaned loudly. He had a few missed calls from his sister but none from who he really wanted to hear from, AJ. Teddy was tired of this game they were playing. Sure, he was the majority of the problem but he knew her birthday was coming up and he wanted AJ to be his girlfriend. He grabbed a hat from his closet and his keys and made his way out of the apartment, desperate to find her. 

For the next hour, Teddy went all over town trying to think of places she might be. He didn’t dare go to her house but he tried the bakery, the library and when he finally found her, he was surprised he didn’t think to look here first. He smiled as he approached her and tapped her on the shoulder. “So, what the fuck are we anyways?” He asked her bluntly. “I like you. You must have to know that by now. So tell me AJ, what the fuck are we waiting for?” 

A smile formed on her lips as she took a sip of her own coffee. “Do I need a reason to bring my good friend and neighbour a little pick me up during his work day?” Max chuckled slightly, setting her coffee on the table. “It’s been a while since I stopped by the station. And I know how hard you work, just thought I’d swing by and see if I could brighten your day a little with some caffeine and sugar.” A deep, crimson flush spread across her cheeks at the mention of seeing her topless. When Teddy had initially made the comment a few days earlier, she’d had a similar reaction - nervous giggling, bright red cheeks and an averted gaze, looking every which way but at the person she was talking to. It was the response she had any time something sexual or flirty was brought up, or even if a compliment was being offered to her. “No, no! It’s nothing to do with that, I swear,” she laughed awkwardly, tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear, green eyed gazed fixed on her lap. “I know you were only joking around. This is purely a platonic gesture. So, help yourself to donuts. And please don’t bring up me being topless again,” she shot Teddy a lopsided smile before hiding it behind her coffee cup, taking a long sip of the latte and hoping to swiftly move on from the topic.

Teddy took a sip of his coffee and nodded as Max spoke. “For sure, the owner doesn’t really like me though.” He replied with a shrug. “I mean, I haven’t been in there in a while but, I’m sure she’d remember me. Considering the last time I went in, I was wasted.” Teddy replied. He took another sip of his coffee and picked up another donut. He smiled as Max tucked her hair behind her ear and chuckled softly to himself. He laughed louder when she mentioned his comment and nodded. “Alright, alright. No need to tell me twice.” Teddy put his cup down on the table and turning back towards his sound board. He pressed a few buttons then turned back to Max. “Sorry, someone called in sick so I had to help them with their show.” He replied. “So, what’s going on this weekend?” He asked her. “Are you going to come hangout at the apartment?” 

Teddy crossed his arms and shrugged. Jake had a point, about it all. If it was his sister, there was no way he would be this understanding. The visitor would already be gone. “You’re right. I know that’s true. I screwed up... Well, I think I screwed up.” He sighed loudly. Teddy chuckled at Jake’s question and nodded. “Of course I did something, I’m a fucking moron. I don’t deserve your sister, that’s for sure.” His eyes widened. “I mean, we’re not like, together or anything. That’s kind of why I was here.” Shit. He was making this worse. “Okay, well we went on a few dates. I saved her life during the blood moon and well, I don’t know. She’s the coolest fucking girl I’ve ever met.” Teddy didn’t care at this point. If Jake was going to punch him in the face, he wanted to get all of his feelings out on the table. He just wished AJ was there to hear him. Teddy closed his eyes and groaned. “Man, if you’re gonna punch me, just don’t break my nose... alright?” He replied. 

“Ice cream sounds great,” she responded, offering a smile and tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “After all this chilli I need something to cool down my mouth.”

Teddy smirked at AJ and shoved her slightly. “Are you sure want ice cream?” He asked her. “I’m sure I could cool you down just fine.” He replied with a small chuckle. Teddy was obviously joking but the sudden blush on AJ’s face made him smile bigger. “Oh come on AJ, I’m kidding. I’ll buy the ice cream though.” He quickly threw his arm around her and pulled her into him. At this point, he wasn’t sure what they were but he was going to act like they were together considering how gorgeous she was, how kind she was and how she handled herself. Teddy was blown away that someone hadn’t tried to steal her away from him. Although, they would have a real fight if he had anything to say about it. He glanced down at her and smiled. “So, how’s your love life Ms. Thorne? Is it meeting your standards?” He asked her with another smirk. 

Teddy shrugged. “Chill nights, I’ve never heard of those.” He took another sip of his coffee and reached for one of the bagels. He shoved it into his mouth and shrugged again. “I didn’t throw up, gross. I’m not an amateur, Dani.” He moved over to the couch and sat down, leaning his head back and closed his eyes. “Juicy stuff, huh?” He asked with his eyes still closed. “Well, AJ and I are speaking again. I’m probably going to ask her out for dinner or something. We had a movie night and I sat as far away from her as I could, so I really did that to myself.” Teddy replied, taking a deep sigh. He opened his eyes and leaned forward, taking another sip of his coffee. 

Teddy shook his head. “Nah, Allie. You know I haven’t touched drugs since high school.” He shrugged and nodded. “I met him at a bar, Ian is cool and his best friend is a werewolf. We hangout, it’s fine. It’s better than living with mom and dad.” He said with a small laugh. Teddy shrugged and laughed again. “I mean, Purgatory is fun Al, you should come with us.” He replied. Teddy shook his head and pulled his sister in closer and hugged her harder. “No, you’re never imposing on me, I promise.” Teddy laughed loudly and leaned his head back. “Hey, this means that I might actually have a girlfriend soon... Maybe, who knows. I haven’t dated anyone since Whitney and AJ’s a lot nicer than she was.” He said as he glanced back at Allison.