Chapter Five: Pineapple and Chocolate Drizzle

Grey's Kitchen 10:30PM

After working with Ted's mom for a while, Tamera found Ted doing what he does best, eating. She approached the other side of the counter and sat on the barstool and swung her legs to and fro. Ted chuckled at the sight of her. "You're so short," was the greeting that Ted gave her.

"Are we still stating the obvious Mr. Grey?" Tamera raised her eyebrow and Ted glared at her. He knew she knew that he hated when she called him that. "You're a slacker Grey, you know that?"

"What'd I do now?" Ted said before he popped a piece of pineapple and shot his friend an annoyed look.

"Why'd you bail on your mom like that? A party is a good thing; you were acting like she was asking you to attend a funeral or something." Ted frowned he didn't like the conversation, or more rather where it had the potential to go.

"Mom knows how I feel about parties, especially birthday parties. That's why I haven't had one since; can we drop this please?" Tamera watched Teddy's expression and tried to figure him out.

"Well, I agree with your mom … in case you were wondering." Tam was point blank in her delivery.

"Apparently," Ted said dryly as he continued to munch. "Tam, do you remember my sixteenth birthday party?" Tam's face immediately dropped. It was the night that her first and only boyfriend broke up with her.

"You know I do, why are we talking about that horrible night?" Ted remembered that night as the first time he'd ever seen Tamera cry, it was the only time he'd seen her cry. It was the first time he'd punched someone, and also the first time he was photographed by the paparazzi.

"That's the reason why I don't want another party," he mumbled. "There too much crazy shit that can happen at parties, people think that just because bottles flow, that they can act crazy. I like a more controlled atmosphere. She should've asked. I would've preferred a family dinner or something."

"But this is different, you're going to be 21, your party is going to be in the most grown in sexy lounge in the area." Ted chuckled.

"Like you know anything about grown and sexy." Tam frowned at stupid comment her friend made.

"I know how to read the reviews stupid. This night could change your life," Tam said with way too much enthusiasm. Ted just stared at his friend, he was sure that his mom had recruited his friend to change his mind. He wasn't that gullible.

"This night, tonight could change my life too."

"How so?"

"It could mark the end of my friendship with Tamera Jazmine Black, all because she nagged me one time too many about this damned party." Ted tried to speak with believability, however Tam knew better.

"Please, like you could go a day without me!" She chuckled and pulled Teddy's plate of pineapple close to her. She took a piece and began to suck on it first and then took a bite both she and Ted enjoy pineapple, but there was some sort of inside joke or secret that Ted knew about this particular fruit that made his eyes darken whenever she ate it. He watched as she now licked the remaining juice off her fingertips.

"You know what's good?" Ted said as he raided the fridge. He pulled out chocolate syrup. He drizzled the remaining pieces with chocolate; Tamera picked it up and tried it.

"Hmmmm … not bad Grey. Is this what you feed your lady friends?" She asked ask she licked the chocolate off the fruit and Ted just watched her with this hard stare. He was sure that Tamera didn't know how attractive she could look at times.

"What?" Tam was alarmed by Ted's intense evaluation.

"Nothing, nothing I just think you're amusing. Share the wealth Black." He placed the bowl in the center of the counter. They both ate in silence and then Tam thought about something that Ted had said earlier, or more importantly what he hadn't said. "So is this what you feed your lady friends?"

"You're the only lady friend I have, Tam. The partner's I've been with … there's only one thing I've fed them and it's not really food." Tamera gave Ted a weird look as she tried to figure out what he meant.

"What are you … oh EW Teddy. Why must you be such a pervert?" She hopped up. Lately when Ted spewed his nastiness it crept her out, she didn't know how to relate. She took a deep breath she hated feeling this way. Part of the reason she was taking her female sexuality class was so she could relate and understand what the big deal was about. She was used to being about to talk to Teddy about anything, but this subject made her shut down.

"They don't find it nasty," Ted chuckled but then realized that Tamera had shut down on him. She was standing with her back turned to him and her arms crossed. "Tamera?" He walked over and stood in front of her. She had a frustrated look on her face and her eyes were threatening to tear up. "Tam what the fuck, dude this isn't worth pouting over!" Ted threw his hands up in the air in exasperation.

"No Ted, you don't get it. There's something wrong with me I'm not wired right." Teddy looked at his friend like she'd lost her mind. She hadn't been like this since they were in high school.

"Tamera, you're about as normal as anyone else I know. Please stop this foolishness." He wanted her to snap out of this mood quickly, but he knew that when Tam got in these sorts of moods it kind of lingered.

"Ted I mean look at me, you know like you look at the others. Am I … you know, uh, I don't even know what I'm asking!" She plopped down on the couch and covered her eyes." Ted said down beside her, he was really regretting even mentioning that damn party and making her think of Luke. She always got all sensitive when she talked about him, but the little tantrum seemed a bit extreme. He moved her hand from her face and her hazel saddened eyes stared into his very concerned blue eyes.

"Tam … you are … guy's hit on you. Generally you don't even realize its happening, it's actually pretty funny." He chuckled and then a tear fell down Tam's cheek. "Dammit Tam! Don't do that! Why the fuck are you crying?" He cradled her to him and she sobbed softly.

"You don't get it … girls throw themselves at you. You've never had any doubts that you were attractive, I mean people tell you daily how beautiful you are! Seriously look at me; do you think I'm attractive?" She stood up and spun in a circle in front of him. He thought her action stupid, since he'd met her he'd been attached to her hip, of course her already knew her body.

"You're beautiful," he murmured and even though it was the truth it felt odd saying it to her. Tamera didn't believe him. She could've said it a million times and she wouldn't have believed him. She sat back down and sat as far away from Ted as possible.

"I don't feel beautiful; I don't feel anything that I think I should. I haven't been attracted to anyone since I was fifteen. I'm damned near twenty one and I've never … even remotely felt the urge to uh, um." Ted rolled his eyes, the only time Tamera stuttered was when she was trying to talk about sex.

"The word you are searching for is fuck. You've never felt horny or had the urge to fuck. That doesn't mean you're weird. It just means you aren't like the rest of us dirty heathens." Teddy teased and then scooted closer to her. "And I'm pretty sure you don't have time to be roaming around fucking. If you're out doing that, who is going to be cooking my dinners woman!"

"I'm sure you'd live." She rolled her eyes.

"But very, very, unhappily." They both laughed and Tam's mood started to lift. Ted convinced Tam that they should spend the night with his parents and return to campus in the morning. They collected some snacks and went downstairs to the home theatre. Ted pulled out all the stops to lift Tam's mood and she pretended to be okay. However, tonight's walk down memory lane had dug up all demons and insecurities in Tamera's mind. She couldn't help feeling something was wrong with her.

Author's Note: I know some of you have been wondering about Tamera's race. It will be revealed and you can figure out what she kind of looks like if you visit my website. Go to my profile to get the url! I'm curious do you all know the secret of pineapple? PM me let me know ;-)