You Get Me Through

By: KellyCRocker59

Chapter Six: In My Place


"Thank you so much for everything, Teddy. I can't even begin to tell you…"

"Don't worry about it. I just want to see you on the right track again." He replied from the kitchen, scrambling some eggs. It was two in the afternoon, but after spending most of the morning getting rid of the remaining teenagers from Sophia's house and doing a bit of trash pickup, he needed some food in his system.

"Trust me, this…this was a one-time thing. A mistake." She said. She had woken up thirty minutes ago; she sat at the kitchen bar dressed in the same dress, mascara turning her cheeks black and her hair twisted in a crown around the top of her head. She looked like she'd gone on an all-night bender, and that wasn't completely off base.

Teddy separated the eggs onto three different plates and toasted some bread before plating it as well with some peanut butter. He set a plate in front of Sophia, who made a face.

"You need to eat. You'll fill better if you get something in your stomach." He prodded, leaning against the counter and eating his food.

Sophia forked her eggs grudgingly, biting into a morsel of it and swallowing without chewing. Teddy snorted, but she ignored him.

"Are you immune to alcohol or something?" She questioned as he shoveled down his eggs and started on his toast.

"I only had a few shots before I had to start taking care of your party."

"Wow, you couldn't even get drunk before you had to clean up my mess. I really am sorry."

He shook his head. "It's probably for the best anyway. Someone had to do it."

Footsteps on the stairs diverted his attention. He turned to see Ian enter the kitchen, toweling off his wet hair, re-dressed in the clothes from last night.

"Thanks for letting me use your shower, Sophia." He greeted.

"Oh, please, it's the least I could do." She answered, nibbling on her toast.

"What's this?" Ian asked, setting his towel down and grabbing the third plate from the counter. "My man made me breakfast? I had a feeling you'd be the perfect housewife."

Teddy smiled and kissed him, putting a fork in his hand. "Whatever. Go sit down. I'm gonna shower."

Ian smiled up at him and grabbed his butt through his jeans before sauntering over to sit by Sophia, who seemed fascinated by the exchange.

"What?" Teddy asked, putting his plate in the sink.

She shook her head. "Nothing. Just thinking about stuff."

"Yeah, I bet." Teddy replied, but let it go and headed upstairs.

XxX

"You know, you got pretty lucky, Teddy." Sophia said. They stood outside her doorway. Ian was already seated in the car while Teddy said a few words.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

She nodded toward the car. Teddy turned; Ian was fiddling with the radio, lips moving to the presumed lyrics. He smiled and turned back to her.

"He's something else. You two…you've got something."

"Yeah, I know; I'm going to hold onto him as long as I can." Teddy replied, lighthearted.

"I'm serious, Teddy. Don't let him go. I know you two are still in high school, but the way you two are, it isn't normal. I'm just saying, if you have to work at it, you should. Don't give up on it."

He frowned. "You say that like you're anticipating something bad is gonna happen."

She shrugged. "Well, you two are going to different colleges, surely. I mean, it's going to be tough. I'm just saying that from what little time I've seen you two together, I think it would be worth it if you stick it out."

Teddy nodded, but his mind was already sprinting out of his grasp. He hadn't even thought about being away from Ian come fall. He had just sort of thought about the current time, about high school. He didn't even have a scholarship yet, and time was running out.

"Hey, you okay?" She asked.

He looked back into her eyes, and her brow was knitted, hands on her hips.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" He questioned.

She laughed, and put a hand on his arm. "C'mere."

She pulled him into a hug, and he returned it. She felt frail in his arms.

"You're a great guy, Teddy. We're going to have to play some tennis this week, and I may call you up if I need to talk. I hope that's okay."

"Of course it is, Sophia." He pulled back, grasping her shoulders. She gave him a weak smile. "We're friends. I'm here for you, for whatever you need. Don't hesitate."

She nodded, and he gave her the best smile he could manage. He had no idea if it had worked, regarding her neutral smile in return.

"I'll see you soon, Teddy."

Teddy nodded and left her there on her front porch, hoping she wouldn't fall apart when he left.

"Think she'll be okay?" Ian asked as Teddy closed the door and put the car in reverse.

"I hope so." Teddy replied, grabbing his hand and weaving their fingers together on his knee.

"Are you okay?" Ian asked as they took off.

Teddy nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. "Yeah. Just…thoughtful."

XxX

Sophia needed more care than Teddy had anticipated, but at least she wasn't afraid to ask for it. They ended up playing tennis three times a week, and another two they would talk on the phone. With the school year winding down, Ian was able to start coming to the courts with him, but all this time with Sophia was cutting into Teddy's time with his boyfriend. He tried not to resent the situation, because he was honored that she trusted him enough to need him as much as she did. He just hadn't realized how much Hilary's death had affected her. It didn't help that he was now constantly plagued with a ticking clock of how long he had left with Ian before they had to part ways for college.

"Sometimes I wonder if maybe I was sort of in love with her." Sophia mused over the phone one night.

"Really?" Teddy asked, leaning back in his desk chair.

"Yeah. But I think it's just that she had this massive effect on my life. I don't think I've ever met someone that so drastically changed my outlook on the world the way she did. Except you."

"Oh…thanks?" He offered, dropping the pencil he was fiddling with.

"It's a compliment. I mean, Hilary was just this beautiful human being. I didn't think anyone could be so…different. That probably sounds bad, but she was just so unlike anyone I had ever met. You…you're not so different, but at the same time, you are. You're an interesting one, Teddy Montgomery. I can't quite figure you out."

"I'd like to think I'm sort of an open book, considering you know I'm gay." He replied.

"You would think so, but really, I think it's more than that. I don't know, when I figure it out, I'll let you know. Or maybe not; I wouldn't want you getting arrogant."

Teddy laughed. "Yeah, whatever."

Silence drifted in and took hold of the conversation. Teddy popped his knuckle in thought.

"You really think Ian and I will work out next year?"

"Yeah, if you really try to. I mean, you're going to have to remind yourself every day that you love him, and why you love him, because I promise you that there will be no shortage of guys wanting to bone you."

"I'm not really concerned about my own self control. I mean, I haven't even gotten a scholarship yet, and he's going to Berkeley. What if he meets people, and, you know…"

"Forgets about you?" She finished.

"It's kind of a scary thought."

"Then you're going to have to make sure it doesn't happen."

Yeah. Like it's that easy.

XxX

"So…I think we kind of need to discuss some stuff." Teddy began.

Ian stopped sipping at his milkshake and studied him. The diner they had ended up at on the middle of the Saturday afternoon was sparse on people, making it opportune for this sort of confession from him.

"Is it bad?" Ian finally asked, once he seemed to give up on reading the other boy.

"No. Well, maybe. I don't know. It's…concerning. Just stuff I've been thinking about a lot."

"Let's get on with it before I freak myself out." Ian urged, pushing his beverage aside.

"Graduation is a month and a half away." Teddy said.

Ian nodded.

"And then there's college in the fall."

Ian nodded again. "And?"

"Well, you're going to Berkeley, and I'm…still waiting to hear back from various other schools. I mean, I've been accepted to places, but I need a tennis scholarship. Especially now that my dad and I are on rocky ground."

Ian reached across the table and grabbed Teddy's hands, setting flat before him.

"I don't really know where you're going with this, T."

Teddy sighed. "I just know it's going to be hard on us when we're apart. But I want you to know that I'm planning on trying to make it work. I hope you feel the same way."

"Of course I do!" Ian exclaimed, leaning in closer. "These past months have been some of the best of my life. I want to keep that. I want to keep you."

Teddy smiled, feeling relief wash over him. "I guess I just needed to hear that."

Ian smiled back. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I mean, unless you want me to. And even then, you're going to have a hard time getting rid of me."

Teddy squeezed his hands. "I'm counting on that."

XxX

Now, even with his mind at ease about Ian, Teddy still felt a bit anxious about colleges. He knew he shouldn't, that if worst came to worst, he could always grit his teeth, swallow his pride and ask his dad for money. His dad wasn't exactly being a parent to him right now, but he still hadn't kicked him out or cut him off financially otherwise, so maybe that counted for something.

"You need to just talk to your dad." Silver said, sitting in her swivel chair across from him as he lay on her bed.

"I know, but what do I even say to him? I mean, he knows, and he's choosing not to deal with it. I should be grateful."

"No, you shouldn't be grateful for anything less than one hundred percent acceptance, because that's what you deserve. You shouldn't have to settle for the cold shoulder. Besides, it's a juvenile thing to do anyway."

"I guess you're right. But I mean, it took me a long time to actually start being okay with this part of myself. What if it takes him years?"

"Then it takes him years. But he's got no place to not at least make an effort to understand this."

"Sometimes I hate when you tell me the truth." He said.

"I know. But that's why we're friends. I tell you the truth, and you tell me when I'm making awful decisions."

"True. Then please tell me; what am I supposed to do about this college situation?"

"You mean the fact that you haven't gotten any scholarship offers yet?"

"Yeah."

"Well…you should know for sure within the next few weeks. Acceptance letters go out early, but all the financial stuff seems to take a really long time to get sorted out."

"I know, and I hate it. I mean, I'm looking at three or four different places, but I haven't heard a word from them since I got accepted."

"Just wait. I know it sucks, but you really don't have any control over the situation at this point. You've got to let it happen."

"Is that even advice, if you tell me to do nothing?" He asked, sitting up.

"Yes. And it's good advice, too." She retorted, crossing her legs.

He smiled. "I know. I just need to let it go for now."

XxX

And he did. Sort of. He occupied himself with his friends and Sophia, and a lot of Ian. If he wasn't playing tennis with Sophia he was hanging out with his friends, and all the time in between was time spent with Ian. He was putting off talking to his dad as long as possible.

The moment of truth came two weeks after his talk with Silver, as he was watching Ian and his mom make taco salad for the family. It was a call vibrating in his pocket. He answered it in the other room, not recognizing the number. Ten minutes later, he was returning to the kitchen.

"Who was that?" Ian asked, chopping up lettuce.

"That was the University of California in Los Angeles."

Ian stopped and turned toward him. Mrs. Michaels did the same. Teddy couldn't help the smile that broke across his face.

"They offered me a full ride for tennis."

Ian bound across the room and threw his arms around Teddy's neck, Mrs. Michaels shrieking in joy. After kissing Ian, he was pulled into Teresa's arms, being squeezed so tight he felt like the happiness was being expunged from him.

"What's all the fuss about?" Mr. Michaels asked, coming into the kitchen with beer in hand.

"Teddy got a full ride to CU in Los Angeles!" Teresa exclaimed.

John lit up, and it made Teddy's heart swell. John turned to him and offered his hand. Teddy took it, and Mr. Michaels shook it hard, once. "That's great news. I'm proud of you, Teddy."

"Thank you, John." Teddy said, unable to articulate just how much that meant to him.

Dinner was a joyous affair, just like it was almost every time Teddy ate with them. There had been one time when Erica had called her teacher a bitch, and that had led to bit of uncomfortable parenting, but otherwise, the Michaels remained some of the most positive and kind people Teddy had ever met. He found he sometimes had to remind himself that this wasn't his actual family, considering how they had taken him in and integrated him so easily.

"Now Teddy, I want you to know that this house is always open to you, even when you're in college and Ian maybe isn't here. You're a part of this family now whether you like it or not." Teresa said firmly as they stood outside.

Teddy nodded. "I understand, Mrs. Michaels."

She sighed, giving his shoulder a gentle push.

"No need to start throwing around titles like that, though. I already told you, Teresa is fine."

Teddy smiled, and she pulled him into a hug. "I'm proud of you, dear."

"Thank you, Teresa." He replied, returning the hug.

She offered one last smile before leaving him with Ian in the driveway. He turned to the other boy, smiling just because Ian was.

"I'm so happy for you, T." Ian said, throwing himself against Teddy.

"You have no idea, babe." Teddy replied, wrapping him up in a hug.

Ian pulled away with a sudden look of seriousness.

"But I think you know what this sort of thing entails, right?"

"What?" Teddy asked, concerned.

"Lots of hot celebratory sex." Ian said, breaking into a smile.

"Oh." Teddy replied, feeling a smile forming on his lips. "Yeah, that."

"I'll tell my mom I'm gonna stay with you tonight." Ian said, hurrying into his house.

Teddy stood there and looked up at the sky, daring to think that maybe things were going to fall right into place.