Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
TDF
Wednesday, October 5, 2011 – 6:47 pm – Silver Spring Mall, Port Angeles, WA
"Teddy, Nooo," I whine.
I am trying my hardest to remain level headed but he is making it hard. "You do not buy a woman gift cards, auto supplies, or Marlins paraphernalia for her birthday."
"A woman I am dating, of course not," he laughs at me. "But these all are very practical options for my mother. She loves the Marlins, is obsessive about her car, and likes to shop."
He looks at me triumphantly and all that I can think is stoooopid boys. It's been my slogan since I was 4 and made the observation in front of my mother and her feminist friends in a particularly raucous play area in the Phoenix Cliffs Mall. And whether I liked it or not, it has followed me around ever since.
Despite often branding him a stupid boy, Teddy is a great guy, way down deep under the crusty man whore exterior and faux-misogynist sub-layer, is a fiercely loyal and kind friend.
"Teddy," I sigh as I loop my arm through his and lead him away from the personalized Marlins gear kiosk. "Sixty is a big birthday, especially for a woman, your options are jewelry, Waterford, and maybe art, as long as it isn't phallic in nature. All must be accompanied by flowers and you paying for dinner."
Keeping his left arm linked with mine, Teddy runs his right hand through his hair as he sighs in what I hope is defeat. I squeeze his arm and tug him along.
"Come on," I smile. "We both know that jewelry isn't exactly your mother's style, nor is it your style to give it. I think we will have some better luck in Macy's."
It takes twenty minutes but Teddy has narrowed his selection down to either a 9" Waterford Lismore angled vase or the Waterford Lismore picture frame. His brow is furrowed and he cannot stop running his hands through his hair. He looks young and adorable like this.
He looks up at me, eyes pleading and my heart melts a little for this boy that just wants to buy his mom a great gift.
"They are both great gifts Teddy. You go with the vase and can write something sweet in the card about bringing her flowers every Sunday. Or you can go with the frame and put a picture of the two of you from your cuter toddler years in there, Moms love that type of stuff," I explain.
He nods, but remains silent. The wheels are turning and I wish I could hear what is going on underneath all that auburn hair.
"Since they are both in the same pattern family, I can buy both, give her the vase tomorrow and save the frame for Christmas or Mother's Day?" he asks instead of telling me.
I smile wide and give him an awkward side hug.
"Hey big spender," I try and sing but fail. "I think you solved your problem, though I was looking forward to our next shopping trip."
Teddy grins down at me for a beat longer than I expect before tossing his arm around my shoulder and waving over the sales girl who has been hovering and staring for the past ten minutes.
"I will always need your help shopping, Swan," he hugs me into his side. "We will find an excuse for you to drag me around the mall again. Now let's pay and get some dinner."
Teddy looks down at me and winks as he pats his growling stomach and I can't help but compile a mental list of reasons he will need me to take him shopping again soon.
TDF
AN: This chapter gave me such a hard time. I played with it and changed it up until the last minute. I think it works. I think…I dunno, the Teddy/Bella dynamic is harder for me capture in words how it is up in my noggin.
Remember, no Beta, just me having fun!
Three down, two more to go…