CHAPTER - 10 Bears and Boys

Andie walks home from the bus stop with Chase. Nicky's waiting at the end of the driveway for her smoking a cigarette. He's holding a white teddy bear.

"What are you doing here?" Andie asks Nicky.

"I have something for you." Nicky hands her the bear.

Andie takes it. "Thank you. It's adorable, but it's not my birthday yet."

"I know. I saw it and I thought of you."

"Gag!" Chase says.

Andie looks at her brother. "Chase, go in the house. I'll be there in a few minutes." Chase walks up the driveway. Once he's out of sight Andie tells Nicky. "You know that I'm dating Tyler."

"Tyler's not your type. You belong with me." Nicky tells her.

Andie's mouth drops in surprise at that statement. She doesn't know what to say. "I better get going," she tells him. "Thank you for the bear." Andie walks up the driveway to her house.

"Why'd he give you that bear?" Chase asks as he fixes himself a snack.

"He likes me."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why, Chase? I'm likeable."

"But, he knows you're with Tyler."

"He doesn't care." Andie puts the bear down on the kitchen table and makes herself some popcorn for snack. She starts to do her homework when the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it." Chase answers the door and lets Tyler in.

"Tyler? What are you doing here?" Andie asks

"I figured since we both have homework, we could do it together." He sits on the couch and does homework with Andie. After a half hour, Charlotte comes home with Drew. "I have to work at the hospital." Charlotte says. "I need you kids to keep an eye on Drew for me until your father gets home."

"No problem, momma." Andie waves up her hand.

Drew runs into the kitchen for a snack. "Where did this bear come from?" Drew picks the white Teddy Bear up and looks at it.

"It's Andie's" Chase answers.

"I like it. Where did you get it?" Drew asks his sister.

"Uh….Uh…" Andie looks at Tyler.

"Where'd you get it?" Tyler asks.

Andie confesses. "Nicky just gave it to me. I don't know why. He just did."

"Can I talk to you in your room?" Tyler asks Andie.

"Sure." Andie gets up. Tyler follows her to her room. He closes the door and crushes his lips into Andie's. He pushes her onto the bed and presses her down into the sheets.

"What are you doing?" Andie pushes Tyler off of her.

"This is what you want, isn't it Andie?" Tyler grabs her boob, cupping it and squeezing. "You like bad boys. I can be bad."

"Stop it, Tyler. You're acting like a moron."

"Now, I'm a moron? You like Nicky because he's experienced. I'm giving you what you want."

"Except, you're not experienced." Andie tells him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know what, Tyler? I don't think we should see each other anymore!"

"You're kidding me right?" Tyler asks.

"Look Tyler, you're a nice guy. You pushing me on the bed just now, that's not you. I don't want you to change for me" Andie tells him. "I don't want you to be a bad boy for me."

"You're really breaking up with me?"

"Yes."

"Why? So you can date him?"

"I'm not dating Nicky."

"You probably will be by the end of the week."

"No, I won't. I need some time to think. You should go home now."

Tyler picks up his books from the living room. "I guess this is goodbye." He walks out the door.

"Bye." Andie says. She walks him to the front door.

Chase looks at her. "Don't tell me you just broke up with Tyler because Nicky gave you a Teddy Bear?"

"I broke up with Tyler because he got all jealous that Nicky gave me that bear and started acting like a moron."

"What did he do?"

"He tried to be Nicky, and he's not."

"What does that mean?" Chase asks.

"Never mind." Andie picks up the bear and carries it to her bedroom.

Andie sits on her bed with the bear and calls Danielle. "I just broke up with Tyler."

"Holy crap!" Danielle tells her "Lucas just broke up with me."

"Why?" Andie asks.

"He got accepted into Yale for next semester. He said we should see other people while he's away."

"Are you okay with it?" Andie asks.

"I have no choice. He's going to be on the other side of the country dating college women. I'm back on the market."

"It's wierd that Lucas broke up with you at the same time I broke up with Tyler."

"Why did you break up with Tyler?"

"Nicky gave me a stuffed Teddy Bear and Tyler was jealous." Andie holds the soft bear up to her face. "He got all weird so I had to break up with him."

"I see. Are you going to start dating Nicky now?" Danielle asks.

"If he asks me to, I might." Andie kisses the Teddy Bear.

"Then would you mind if I ask Tyler out?"

Andie puts the bear down. "Are you serious?"

"Andie, you're in love with Nicky. You dated Tyler because Nicky wasn't available but now he is so you broke up with Tyler. I know you. I'm your BFF."

"For the record, I do like Tyler but I can't get Nicky off my brain."

"That's cuz you're in love with Nicky." Danielle tells her.

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes. I do" Danielle answers. "So, you shouldn't mind if I ask Tyler out."

"Would it be fair if I told you not to ask Tyler out?" Andie asks.

"Not really because you get Nicky and me and Tyler get to sit home alone."

"It's just that, I'm not sure. I mean …I do like Tyler and if it wasn't for Nicky I would have let Tyler jump my bones today."

"Alright, I won't ask Tyler out." Danielle tells her. "I'll just sit home and watch movies with my mother and Sam for now on." Danielle tries to make Andie feel guilty.

"Come on, Danielle, you're hot. Lots of guys would love go out with you. Why do you have to pick Tyler?"

"Because he's cute and hot and nice…-"

"I get it, but he's also mine." Andie says.

"You broke up with him, Andie. You can't have them both."

"Give me a week to decide." Andie tells Danielle. "I don't know if I'm ready to date Nicky. I mean…I like him but I'm a little scared."

"Why?"

"He's a man, not a boy, ya know." Andie sighs. "And I don't know if I'm ready to date a man yet. Tyler may be more my speed. Just give me a week to think about it and if I choose Nicky then you can have Tyler all to yourself. Deal?"

Danielle hesitates but then answers. "Deal. I'll give you one week to make up your mind but if you can't decide or you choose Nicky, Tyler's mine."

"Deal." Andie agrees and they hang up. Andie hugs her Teddy Bear and thinks about what she should do.

Who do y'all like better for Andie? Nicky or Tyler?