*Third Person: Teddy's POV*

"Do you want to, umm...maybe go out with me sometime?" Hayley McMillan asked him, nervously chewing on her bottom lip. The only thing Teddy could think was, who was this chick? Something clicked in his mind and he remembered her sitting behind him in science class.

"I have a girlfriend," he blurted out. It had become instict to utter that very phrase every time a girl came up to him-which, surprisingly wasn't that often.

"Oh. Really? Who?" Hayley asked, surprised. Was it really that surprising to her that he was already taken? Bitch.

"Willow Burroughs."

"Oh. Sorry, I-I didn't know that." Hayley tuned to go but then turned back to look at him. "Why her?"

Why her? Teddy racked his brain for an answer, one that would explain everything that she meant to him.

Age 4

Teddy rearranged his G. I. Joe's to form a perfect army line, his bare eyes scrunched, struggling to see. There was a knock on his door and his mother called his name. Teddy turned around and saw his mom standing in the doorway with a little redheaded girl peering at him from behind her legs.

"Teddy, this is Willow. She just moved in next door! You have a little friend!" Mrs. Duchamp cooed as Willow walked into his room, smiling shyly at him.

"Hi."

"Hi," Teddy said. He would like a friend, sure, but she was a girl. He didn't want her to play with him. If she did, she would make him put away his G. I. Joe's so they could play Barbie's or something. And after he worked so hard to put them in a perfect army line!

"Can I play?" Willow asked, pointing at the G.'s. "I love G. I. Joe's. They're my favorite but my mom won't buy any for me."

"Yeah! Sure!" he cried, excitedly. She wanted to play G. I. Joe's? His mom smiled fondly down at them and shut the door as Willow kneeled down next to Teddy, admiring the G. I. Joe's. "You can help them march."

"Where are they marching?" Willow questioned.

"The beach in Normandy," Teddy answered, smiling proudly.

"Cool!"

It was fair to say that Willow was his first real friend.

Age 5

Willow was Teddy's favorite.

When their mothers signed them both up for kindergarten, the two met three boys named Gordie Lachance, Chris Chambers, and Vern Tessio. The five became friends instantly but none of the kids had a connection like Teddy and Willow. They were best friends ("for life," Willow had promised) and anyone who dared come between them would get shot down...by their imaginary guns, of course. Pow! Pow!

Chris Chambers was a handsome kid who was confident and a born leader, even at five. Out of the five kids, he was in charge. In bad times, he always knew what to do. Chris often came to school with bruises and sometimes wouldn't come to school at all, but the other kids didn't know what that meant. They figured he was just clumsy. Out of all the kids, Chris was Teddy's least favorite and Teddy could tell that he was Chris's least favorite too. The reason Teddy always had for despising Chris was that he would get in the middle of his and Willow's friendship. Willow liked Chris-he was her second favorite, behind Teddy, of course-and Teddy was afraid he would steal her away. Willow was his best friend. His. Forever.

Gordie Lachance was shy and quiet, and only Chris and Willow could get him to come out of his shell (Willow can do anything, Teddy thought, privately). Gordie and Teddy got along just fine. They didn't bother each other, they were good friends. His older brother, Denny (a high schooler!) would sometimes pick him up from kindergarten. And Gordie always had the best stories to tell at storytime.

Vern Tessio was a scaredy-cat and Teddy let him know it through constant teasing. But Vern was Teddy's second favorite and if anyone else picked on Vern, it was Teddy to the rescue. Vern was funny and random and always happy about everything. And so, so hyper. He was a little on the chubby side and hadn't quite lost his baby fat. Teddy teased him about that, too, but then he would see the sadness creep into Vern's eyes and stop. Teddy knew when enough was enough.

But out of all of his new friends, Willow was still his favorite. She would always be his favorite.

Today was one of the days where Chris was really getting on Teddy's nerves. In fact, he had never hated Chris Chambers more than on that day.

Vern was giggling and throwing flower petals around and Willow skipped towards Chris, wearing her best Sunday dress. They were in Willow's backyard and having Chris and Willow's pretend wedding. Willow had told Teddy last week that Chris was cute and thought he was really cool.

"Da-dum, da-dum, de-dum!" Willow sang, running up to Chris and planting a kiss on his cheek. "We're married now! Yay!"

"You're my wifey now!" Chris proclaimed, grinning. Gordie and Vern ran around the backyard screaming, "MARRIED! CHRIS AND WILLOW ARE MARRIED! HOORAY!"

That should be me, Teddy thought, spitefully. I bet Chris doesn't even think she's pretty. Willow is the prettiest girl in the whole world, and she's my best friend and that should be me. I hate Chris Chambers. I hate him.

But he tried not to let the whole pretend marriage bother him because he knew that he and Willow would get married for real someday. And Chris won't get an invitation, he thought smugly.

Age 7

The first day Teddy came to school with his glasses on, everyone laughed at him. He had begged and begged his mom not to make him get glasses, especially the ones she picked out. They looked like Coke bottles! But she had insisted. The kids at school already made fun of him because of his hearing aid.

The kids in his class made fun of him and calling him a dork, pointing and laughing. Even the teacher stifled a giggle when she saw them. And if that wasn't bad enough, even his friends made fun of him.

"Nice glasses, Teddy!" Gordie had cried, giggling behind his hand and Chris nodded in agreement.

"Uh...yeah! Haha!" Then he and Gordie burst into laughter. And Teddy was smart enough to know they were laughing at him, not with him.

"Teddy, you look really stupid!" Vern cried, laughing like a maniac.

Teddy hated the world. He hated every one of his classmates. He hated Gordie and Chris and Vern. He wanted to cry.

"Shut up!" Willow barked, putting her hands on her hips and Gordie, Chris, and Vern took a break from their laughter to stare at her. "If any of you say one more word about Teddy's glasses, I will kick you in the nuts sooo hard!"

All three of them slunk away, their heads bent in shame. Then Willow turned to Teddy, a smile on her lips. "Don't listen to those wet ends, Teddy," she said, taking off his glasses so she could wipe away the tears in his eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. She put the glasses back on his face and said, "I like your glasses. I think they're cute."

From that day on, Teddy vowed to never wear a different type of glasses as long as he lived. And when he went home, he thanked his mother for making him get glasses. Kids still teased him about them, but as long as Willow thought they were cute, that was all that mattered.

Age 8

Teddy was in the hospital, staring at the ceiling with his ears all bandaged up. His dad was gone. The man he had been so proud of his entire life was in the nuthouse because of him. If he hadn't dropped that stupid plate, then this never would have happened...That was one of his mom's good plates. He should have been more careful. It was all his fault.

No one understood why he was so sad when his dad got taken away. They thought he would be happy that he wasn't there to hurt him anymore. They all thought he was crazy. But he wasn't crazy. He wasn't. The war just made him tougher! He had to be tough on Teddy, that's why his punishment had been so severe. It was then that Teddy decided he wanted to go into the army.

Willow was the only one who understood. He told her everything about missing his dad and this whole incident being his fault and she just smiled and nodded and said she understood. "At least you know who your dad is," she had said. "I don't even know my dad's name. He left right after Paige was born. At least your dad loves you. My dad couldn't even stand to be around me so he left."

That was the first time Teddy saw Willow cry. Not having a dad bothered her more than she would ever want anyone to know.

And Teddy liked Willow more than he would ever want anyone to know. On Valentine's Day that year, when Gordie and Chris and Vern were talking about their crushes, Gordie asked Teddy who he had a crush on and all three of them stared at him, eagerly awaiting his answer. He had lied and said no one even though he was itching to say Willow's name. But no one could ever know.

Age 9

"I have to tell you guys something," Gordie announced, looking at each boy's face. "but you have to fucking swear not to tell anyone."

"Okay, okay, man, what is it?" Chris asked with a grin.

"Well, um...I kinda like...Willow."

Chris and Vern laughed and joked, yelling, "Aww! Willow Lachance!" and made kissy noises.

"Shut up! I mean, she's one of my best friends and she's really pretty! I mean, come on, it's Willow!" Gordie scrambled to explain himself.

"Yeah, yeah, I guess I know what you mean," Chris agreed and Vern nodded.

Teddy was quiet, just smirking to himself. You'll date Willow over my dead body, Lachance, he thought as the two other boys continued to tease the skinny brunette.

Age 11

"Hey, guys!" Vern cried, scrambling up the ladder and into the treehouse. Gordie, Chris, and Teddy were playing their usual game of cards when the chubby boy interrupted them.

"What is it, Vern?" Gordie asked, studying his cards.

"Guess who I think is hot?"

"Who?" Teddy asked, completely disinterested.

"Willow!"

Everyone stopped. Chris and Gordie turned to Teddy, who glared at Vern.

"What?" Teddy asked.

Vern didn't notice Teddy's glaring or the tension. "Yeah! I mean, I never noticed it before but Willow's smokin'! Don't you guys think so?"

Don't kill Vern. Don't kill Vern. Don't kill Vern, Teddy reminded himself.

"Uh...I guess so. Vern, wanna play some cards?" Chris asked, trying to change the subject.

"Naw! Can't! I'm too excited! Do you know where Wil is now? I'm gonna go find her!" Vern chirped, not waiting for an answer before barreling down the ladder.

"Teddy? You alright?" Gordie asked him, nervously.

"Fine," Teddy snapped. "Are we gonna play this game or what?" He gestured to the cards.

"You know Willow better than anyone. You know she would never go for Vern-o," Chris said and just the sound of Chambers's voice pissed him off.

"I SAID I WAS FUCKING FINE! SO DROP IT, ALRIGHT?"

After that, the three boys played cards in silence, only talkng to announce their cards or to knock. Teddy was silently fuming. Since when did Vern fucking like Willow? It wouldn't have been so bad except it was Vern. Vern, who was his second-best friend. Vern, who was always on his side. Vern, who now had the hots for Willow.

Chris had liked Willow when he was five. Gordie had liked Willow when he was nine. Vern had liked Willow when he was eleven, and again when he was fourteen. But Teddy was the only one who had loved her all along.

Age 12

Teddy couldn't fucking believe this.

He was sitting in a circle that consisted of Chris, Willow, Maddie, and Vern in the junkyard with a Coke bottle sitting in the middle of them. They were playing Spin the Bottle, which was probably the gayest game ever invented, while they waited for Gordie to get back from Quidaciolio's.

When Chris spun the bottle and it landed on Willow, Teddy thought he was going to be sick. He turned away when Chris and Willow's lips met. Eight years. Teddy had been waiting eight fucking years to kiss Willow Burroughs.

And Chris got to do it first.

Teddy had never been more fucking angry in his entire life. He wanted to, in his own words, 'Rip Chris's head off and shit down his neck.' Nothing Chris's abusive father could ever do to him even came close to the pain Teddy was in right now.

Age 13

Teddy had only seen Willow cry twice in the entire time that he's known her: once when he was eight, and once when he was thirteen. He had been climbing the ladder to the treehouse and when he opened the latch, Willow was sitting on the floor, her knees pulled up to the chest and sniffling while silent tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Wil? What's wrong?" Teddy asked, climbing into the treehouse and sitting down next to her.

"Nothing," Willow lied quickly, wiping away her tears.

"Don't lie to me."

"It's not important."

"Well tell me anyway."

"Just something Maddie said."

"What did she say?"

Willow glared at him and then said, "You don't give up, do you?"

"You know me," Teddy replied, grinning.

"Well," Willow began to talk. "Maddie got asked out by that creepy kid in our class, Grant Valmer and she said no because she's dating Chris. And I kept making fun of her about it but I was just fucking joking. But then she got all pissy and said, 'Well, at least I get asked out by guys!' And it got me thinking...I'm friends with all the guys in our class, but none of them have ever asked me out-"

"Hold on," Teddy interrupted. "That's why you're crying? I thought you didn't believe in love, Wil."

"I don't! But I mean..." she bowed her head. "it would still be nice to know that I'm pretty enough to get asked out."

"Are you trying to tell me that you think you're not pretty?" Teddy asked, raising an eyebrow and Willow nodded. "That's the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard come out of anyone's mouth, and that includes anything Vern's ever said. Wil, when God made you, He said, 'Damn, Jesus, come look at this baby girl I just made! When she gets older, guys are gonna drool on their shoes every time she walks down the street.'"

Willow started cracking up at that and Teddy smiled while she was laughing. It was quite possible that Willow was the sexiest creature that ever stepped foot on planet Earth. Not that he would ever admit it, but he got an immedite hard-on every time she walked into a room. Maddie must have shoved her thong too far up her ass when she hinted that Willow wasn't pretty.

"Thanks, Teddy. You always know how to make me feel better," Willow said, smiling and hugged him close.

Age 14

"So, do you think Wil will like our surprise?" Gordie asked as the four of them were up in the treehouse, smoking cigarettes.

"You guys are gonna have to call off the birthday surprise," Teddy said, taking a drag on his cigarette.

"What? Why?" Vern asked, panicky.

"Because Willow has other plans tonight."

"With who?" Chris questioned, raising his eyebrows.

"With me. I'm taking her out to dinner," Teddy announced, proudly.

"You two finally got together?" Gordie asked and Teddy nodded.

"Well, it's about damn time," Chris said, putting out his cigarette.

"Shut the fuck up, Chambers."

Age 15

Okay, so Willow cheated on him. And yeah, that fucking hurt. A lot. But he forgave her. He could see in her eyes how much she loved him and that he meant as much to her as she had to him all these years. Teddy wishes he could just forgive and forget. Just move on. And he might have been able to...except the guy she cheated with was fucking Chris.

Chambers just couldn't keep his paws off Teddy's girl, could he? Chris always had to be better than him. He always had to prove how much smarter he was, more mature he was, and took every chance he could to make Teddy seem like a crazy shithead.

So maybe he was exaggerating. But he had every right to be mad at Chris. The stupid asshole had kissed Willow twice, and both times he had a girlfriend. They had kissed two times too many.

So Teddy didn't feel too bad when he punched Chris in the face and broke his nose as revenge for puttings his lips within eight inches of Willow's. He still didn't feel that bad when he screamed, "Maybe that will teach you to think before putting your hands on my girl!" and then storming away. May that be a lesson to anyone who tried to go near Willow again.

And suddenly, Teddy's answer to Hayley's question was simple: "It's always been her."