My Teddy

22

Brooklyn

"Brooklyn, do you like him?"
Julia asks quietly.

I blink.

"Who?"

She narrows her eyes.

"Don't play with me, I know you. And what I saw earlier.... I've never seen that before. Not with you, at least."
She says, the light flickering from the fireplace dancing across her face.

I lean back on the couch, not saying anything.

I'm horrified.

Because if Julia could guess that easily, then so could he.

"Yes."
I say softly.

Mom lets out a relived sigh.

"Good. Because if you would have said no then I would start to think you were a lesbian."
She pipes in.

Lizzy snickers, sipping her hot chocolate.

"Mom! God."
I exclaim, blushing.

"This is so great. I knew it! I knew it right from the start."
Mom chatters happily.

I groan.

"No, please don't say anything."
I plead, looking around at each different person.

Lizzy frowns.

"Why not? It's clear that he feels the same way about you."

My heart drops as she says that.

Because he doesn't.

"No, you don't get it. He doesn't like me."
I say softy.

Everyone is quiet for a minute.

"How do you know that, honey?"
Julia asks.

I sigh, staring down into my hot chocolate.

The marshmallows that used to bring me joy as a kid looks so lonely, floating around.

"He had a bad past. He isn't.....his heart is still broken. He even told me himself that he isn't capable of loving anyone."
I explain, staring up into the flames.

"I think that's bullshit."
Gabby says suddenly.

My head snaps up.

She doesn't get it.

She could have anybody that she wants, she doesn't know how it feels to be me.

Possibly in love with my best friend.

"I guess you don't see the way that he looks at you. And there's always the fact that 95% of the time that I see y'all, he has his arms around you. B, t free have you ever thought of the possibility that you fixed his heart? Think about it, you had the power to change him from a social outcast to a regular person. He's so different from when we first met. You helped him realize that no one is alone. You never know."
Gabby says quietly, sending me a small smile.

I lean back on the couch again, trying to understand her words.

No.

I haven't.

Mom reaches forward, patting my knee.

"Just think about it, sweetheart."
She says quietly.

"He could like you as much as you like him."

.

.

.

.
The back door opens slowly and the boys walk in, stomping their boots on the carpet to get rid of the snow.