Chapter Twenty Eight
Victoria shoved open her door with a heavy heave, ever since her flat party her front door had been acting stiff and unwieldy.
"Oh, the prodigal daughter returns!" Charlotte exclaimed loudly her snappy tone telling Victoria that Charlotte was in fact anything but excited to see her. Damien just laughed as he scanned Victoria wrinkled clothes before he sighed shaking his head and returned to making coffee.
"I never should have given you a key." Victoria hissed kicking her door close, Charlotte watched Victoria closely noticing the stiffness in the short girls movements as she tugged off her winter coat. "Let's do this." Victoria laughed, every morning before game day, she had under gone a make-over and she knew this morning was no exception.
"What's that?" Charlotte asked swiftly crossing the room and pinching the hoody Victoria wore. "Is this Teddy's?"
Victoria furrowed her eyebrows bewildered, "Eh yeah." She didn't see the big deal, William had her wear some of his jersey's to games too. Even in Ireland most of the sporty guys liked their girlfriends, even their friends to wear their team colors.
"Damien..." Charlotte breathed warily, but he had already abandoned the kettle and was already walking down the hall and into Victoria's closet.
"On it." Damien exclaimed with an easy wave of his hand. The pair had waited for a while outside Victoria's apartment before making an unanimous decision to wait inside, and the longer they waited for her to return the more bored they'd become, so they choice Victoria's outfit while they gossiped about Kevin and Charlotte's unnamed valedictorian.
"Charlotte, are you all right..." Victoria began staring after Damien curiously, but Charlotte was already back in the kitchen finishing off the coffees, ignoring her.
Victoria followed her warily as Damien's merry humming emitted from her bedroom, what ever he was doing in there she trusted him. "So did you sleep with him?" Charlotte asked a few moments later slightly forced, Victoria laughed astonished, it was the last thing she expected Charlotte to ask. "You spent the night!" Charlotte attached accusingly, her pretty pouty lips pressed tight together.
"Yeah I did." Victoria laughed lightly sitting on the stool, Charlotte rounded on her with astonished blue eyes. "Sleep over!" Victoria amended quickly with a hot blush. "Teddy asked me to."
"He asked you to sleep over," Charlotte scoffed, pouring milk into Victoria's cup, "I just bet he did."
Victoria didn't feel like exploring the world of feminism this early in the morning so she let the topic go. "So your valley guy…" Victoria began merrily.
"Not you too Vicky!" Charlotte muttered as she handed the white coffee across the breakfast bar. "He has a name." She snapped modishly.
"Oh?" Victoria mused with here eyebrows raised, "You've never said. And so you know Natalie is just about to go FBI on his ass."
"Natalie would," Charlotte pointed out moodily, "she'd take his name online and search him like an agent in a bad spy movie."
Victoria laughed, "And me?" Charlotte glanced up at the blond, as she stirred sugar into her coffee. "Trust me?"
"Course I do, I just don't want to make him out to be more than he is." Charlotte muttered fretfully as she leaned on the other side of the bar and sipped her coffee.
"He's fabulous, super smart and handsome in his nerdy way." Charlotte rolled her eyes at Victoria description and Victoria's tummy grumbled quietly.
"Not all of us are into meatheads with pretty eyes." Charlotte explained earnestly, Victoria grinned appreciatively.
"So you've noticed how mesmerising Teddy's eyes are too? Wait till you see his body, wait, you have already." Victoria tittered amused sipping her coffee, thinking back to her boyfriends parade around her house in his boxers. "I can't wait to find out everything he can do with his hands..."
"God damn, Victoria stop it," Charlotte hissed tugging her immaculate braid over her shoulder, "this is obviously a conversation for you and Natalie to bash out."
"You're the one who brought up sex first!" Victoria accused fickly. "And if don't want to talk about me and Teddy, start spilling on valley guy." Victoria declared as Damien reappeared with dark blue jeans, a top and heels. "I'm not wearing anything heeled unless they're my comfy wedges, you psycho." Damien tusked at her unhappily, turning to retreat back to the bedroom. "Oh and I already have a top, Teddy gave me his training jersey, it's in my bag."
Damien bounced, actually bounced on the duffle bag and ripped it open. "It's the black one," He declared happily and the girls just chuckled at his delight. "Now your wedge boots work out fine."
"So would my black converse," Victoria pointed out loudly.
"You mean the ones that should be retired by now?" Damien countered unsmiling, "Over my dead body."
"Would you prefer poison or lethal weapon?" Victoria sniggered, Damien cracked a smile and walked over chuckling.
"You're meeting the parents later too, you know." Charlotte pointed out pensively, "You want to look the part right?"
"I've met them already, I'm just sitting near them at a game." Victoria pointed out, "Besides Christian and Ana are lovely."
"How do we talk to them?" Damien asked curiously stand aside her at the breakfast bar, Charlotte handed him his steaming coffee.
"Obviously it's Mr and Mrs Grey to us," Charlotte pointed out then turned to Victoria for further instructions, Victoria gazed at the pair shocked, they actually wanted rules for the Greys.
"Actually, Ana prefers to be called ma'am, by strangers." Victoria explained as frankly she could muster, Damien nodded understandingly rubbing his hair flat. "I've never seen anyone show their backs to them either, its like disrespectful or something." Victoria explained and Charlotte's eyebrows furrowed confused. "Oh and Christian is obviously spoken to as Your Royal Highness" Victoria laughed and Damien nudged her grumpily before chuckling too.
"Oh haha!" Charlotte snapped, "Seriously Vicky, what should we do? This is one of the most powerful business men in America, the world even! The whole Grey family are successful, it's a family legacy to be great."
"Not to mention Teddy's Dad and Uncle are some of the hottest men walking." Damien pondered and Charlotte nodded her approval.
"Maybe not mention that later, Christian's wife and daughter will be nearby," Victoria mused with a light giggle. "But honestly, they're just like us, completely normal people."
"Normal people don't have private planes and security teams." Charlotte pointed out.
"So act normal," Damien mused shaking his head, "you sure?"
Victoria wondered briefly if Damien was worried Christian Grey would judge him on his sexuality. Which was insane to think since he didn't judge her, or at least he didn't show or openly judged her, on what he knew William had captured in photographs. In fact, Christian and Ana Grey had done plenty more than expected of them for the LGBT community.
"If you even so much as blink any differently today, you're both banned from this flat for two weeks." Charlotte laughed and Damien scoffed, "I'm serious, if you start worshiping them or acting overly polite or star stuck, I will loose my mind. And I need you two to help me fake at being a football fanatic." Victoria sighed sipping her coffee.
"I wouldn't strive for fanatic," Charlotte laughed sincerely, "beside if we're not faking it today, neither are you. You know enough to pass for a friendly match, but when the Harvard Crimsons starts into the big games you'll need to do some learning, especially if you want to impress the parents."
"So did you get the name out of Lottie yet?" Damien asked zestfully, Victoria shook her head defeated.
"Its like she doesn't want us to know it." Victoria declared dramatically, Charlotte flushed.
"I just don't see the point in you lot inspecting everything he's done online and anything else you can find out, if it's not going anywhere." Charlotte defended feebly.
"Wait," Victoria declared looking at the pair of them, "have you done an investigation into Victor?" They both said and nodded 'yes'. "And where the hell was I?" She demanded turning her gaze to and fro Charlotte and Damien, "And more importantly what did you find out?" Victoria grinned.
"You were lost in all things Theodore Grey. You and Teddy got together like the same week Natalie and Victor did."
"Technically, Nat and Victor were building up to their relationship without telling us for weeks, she's worst than Charlotte!" Damien declared dramatically.
"I met Victor before that night." Victoria mused, "I'd seen him play at some bar I went to. I remember talking to Natalie about the band, how she liked their sound."
"Nice to see your sneaking out with me," Charlotte accused moodily.
"You're too worried about your education to come out every time I do, and pretty boy here was hitting a gay bar with Kevin at the time." Victoria declared, Damien sighed happily, "Still haven't told him about hooking up with his ex?"
"Nah," Damien shook his head, Victoria glanced at the clock and swore, "What?" He asked alarmed.
"I've got to take a shower, and my hair, and make-up..."
"Relax, your personal fashioners are here," Charlotte explained stretching her arms above her head gracefully. "We've got you sorted."
"Right okay," Victoria nodded settling down on the stool sedated, holding her coffee.
"GO!" Damien snapped, startling Victoria who sloshed warm coffee on her jeans, "Shower now woman! We have a deadline!" Charlotte snickered as Victoria dashed down to her bedroom.
Victoria excused her way down the steps to the row her ticket told to go to. She'd asked Charlotte to go with the others to get food and drinks so she could say hello to the Greys alone, if they were already there. Charlotte had understood and hooked her arm with Damien and Mathew's as they went in search for junk food. However when Victoria stepping down into the row she only found Christian Grey, Ana and Phoebe missing.
"Hey!" Victoria greeted jittery, Christian looked up from his phone and an easy smile broke onto his face.
"Why if it isn't the exclusive Miss Victoria Smith," Christian greeted charmingly as he stood to hug her quickly, "getting information out of Teddy about you is as hard diamonds."
"Oh really?" Victoria laughed uneasy. "I'm not really that interesting," she promised fidgety.
"It would still be nice to know how you are getting along," Christian mused settling back into his plastic chair, sliding his phone away. Victoria on the other hand tightened her hold her on her phone, worried for Teddy and her own confidence in Christian company.
Victoria copied Christian and sat down, noticing a girly handbag in the seat between them as she peeled off her winter coat, "We're wonderful." Victoria declared thinking about Teddy.
"Is that his?" Christian asked amused, seeing Victoria in Teddy's hoody.
"Oh yeah," Victoria flushed gazing down at the hoody, "he asked me to wear his training jersey too." Victoria explained with an eye roll, easing into herself, Christian smirked, "I think it's a deeply inflicted caveman instinct, for men to show off their women. Wearing clothes is mild compared to being paraded around." Victoria smiled pleasantly, knowing that Teddy would never push her into something so arduous for her. Victoria's phone vibrated in her palm and she found a text from Teddy.
Christian chuckled at Victoria's easy smile, "Is he nervous?" He asked watching Victoria respond to a text, "Teddy is usually calm enough before matches, at his flat earlier he was aloof."
"He thinks that he was only given the opportunity because he's Theodore Grey, and he thinks he's going to mess up." Victoria confided easily, "His kinda a mess."
"Reminds me of state championship last year, it was the first time I'd seen him question himself. But he had no reason to question, he had done the practice, earned the title and yet he still wondered, what if." Christian divulged, Victoria stared at him. "Teddy quizzes everything, he doubts."
"He told me I'm his mini-motivator," Victoria grinned, Christian chuckled. "Where's Ana and Phoebe?"
"Oh, they've gone in search of a restroom." Christian explained simply, stretching out his legs. Victoria wondered if both Luke and Darcy had gone with them, or if only one body guard was needed for such an adventure, she smiled to herself.
"And how is Teddy's grandmother?" Victoria asked carefully, Christian turned to gaze at her intrigued.
"My mother is recovering quickly and irritated with the bed rest." Christian announced with a smirk, "But it's for her own good to have a break, she's a busy-body."
"That's good to hear," Victoria smiled, getting an other text from Teddy, "knowing Teddy he'll be hyped up about football for a week and forget to ask."
"That's what he's got you for huh? Remembering the important things?" Christian teased, examining her text abruptly with an effortless happy smile he presumed it was Teddy she was texting with a smile of his own.
"Why is that Ana is for? Remembering important things?" Victoria countered peeking up at him, Christian chuckled delighted.
"I think she's got a far few more uses than that." Victoria grinned at him, "I'm glad to find us back were we left off Victoria." Christian mused untroubled, "I'd hate to intimidate or daunt you."
Victoria smirked and rolled out her stiff shoulders tapping her phone's screen fretting. She had decided mentally that she would make a serious effort to try to be herself around Christian. Especially since he was his saviour not tormentor in the whole photograph situation. "You?" Victoria asked unbelievingly, "I think you lost all your arbitrary horror after our abnormal introductions over winter break."
"Something Ana and I won't forget, for a long time." Christian promised.
"What's this?" Victoria and Christian turned and found Ana and Phoebe slipping into the row, Luke, Ana's security continued down the steps, his eyes scanning the area carefully.
"Just remembering our introductions," Christian explained with a fond smile to Victoria but she was texting again as he stood, letting Ana slip pass him to her seat, Phoebe sat between him and Victoria.
Before anything else could be said Charlotte rushed down and into the row, "Vicky," she breathed delighted, "we all got lost," her smile flattered when she spotted the Greys, "oh hi, I'm..." She started while placed her purchases down on her seat, beside Victoria.
"Charlotte Thompson," Christian greeted with a quick nod, "I remember."
"Finally!" Lucius declared with Tessa hot on his tails, "We've been up and down so many steps trying to find these seats. Christian, Ana, Phoebe." He greeted with a lazy nod for the both him and Tessa.
"Nice to see you both," Ana greeted with a warm smile.
Mathew, Damien and Kevin arrived shortly after arms filled with foods and drinks. "This is Mathew Brennan, Damien Stone and Kevin Wilson." Victoria introduced while they settled into their seats.
"Nice to meet you," Christian and Ana greeted.
"Teddy said his friends would be seated near by, but I can't see them yet." Victoria added. "that should include, Derek, Sam, Beverly, Michelle, Jason and Clark." Victoria was sidetracked by her phone again and the group was awkward for less than five minutes as they got to know each other before they turned back into excited for the match.
"Isn't it cute that Teddy's given Victoria his hoody to wear?" Ana asked them, Victoria glanced up from her phone with a weak smile.
"Yeah," Charlotte grinned nudging Victoria's side, "I didn't think he had a personalised one."
"I think it's a football tradition," Phoebe explained softly, admiring the hoody she'd given Teddy months ago proud. "The football players always give their girlfriends their hoody in high school."
Anastasia's eyes gaze over Victoria's form, "Teddy's never given his football hoody to anyone before."
Phoebe laughed at her mother's dumbfounded expression, Victoria pipped in, "I think he was obliged to," she explained, Christian glanced over her curiously the sea of milling people loosing his attention . Victoria pointed down their row to Mathew who chatted easily to Tessa and Lucius, "We were at Mathew's swim meet yesterday and I wore Mathew's jersey in support, I think it clicked for Teddy then."
Phoebe laughed, "Sounds like Teddy. He doesn't usually think twice about clothes."
"That's not true Phoebe," Ana pointed out, glancing across the grounds while Christian turned to watch the grey sky thoughtfully, it hadn't rained today and everyone was hoping it would hold off till after the game. "Teddy always dresses aptly." Ana declared dignified.
"I didn't know Harvard had swim meets at this time of year," Christian mused turning to face Victoria , his phone also ready and waiting in his palm again.
"Oh they don't," Victoria explained lifting her hand to fix her bounce curls from where the wind blown them out of place, "Mathew is still in high school still, I was asked by the recruiting department of administration to show him around last September. We bumped into each other again at my church, and that's how we became friends."
Teddy sat in the loud feverish Crimson Locker room. But Teddy didn't partake in the merriment, because he didn't know enough of the senior players to start up a conversation. The only time Teddy'd ever spoken to any of them if they were hazing him, or that day when he defended Victoria from Wilke. His nerves were bobbing around inside his chest as he shakily sent a text to Victoria,
'You find your seat OK?'
He didn't expect her to reply, he'd just wanted to do something while he waited it out. He knew that hoping that Daniel would round the corner in his assistant coach uniform was impractical, the coaches had team meetings before matches.
'You bet they're brilliant! You find your locker OK?'
Teddy chuckled, she'd gotten right back to him, like she said she would this morning.
'Charlotte actually looks like Rudolf's nose today, don't get me started on how weird your Dad looks in Crimson red.'
Teddy squeezed his phone in his palm, she was doing it again, diverting his anxiety completely. Victoria must have known he would be panicked, everyone had been wishing him luck all week, telling him to play well or 'else,' while she just joked and diverted the conversation. Teddy hadn't ever felt so much pressure before a match, it was only a friendly game and he wasn't even starting but the weight was enormous. And if the game isn't well by the forth quarter Teddy knew he wouldn't get to play at all.
"Grey!" Teddy looked up from his lap and found Mr Flincher, Teddy wasn't used to seeing coaches in the locker room until the pep-talk. "With me." He explained beckoning him with his hand.
Teddy jumped up, locked his phone and pushed it into his locker, before following the offensive coordinator out of the lively locker room. They didn't go to the offices, but just far enough away from the locker room that they weren't smothered by the teams chants and yells or could overheard.
"Where's you head at?" Mr Flincher asked quickly, clicking a pen's top with his thumb.
"On my shoulders, sir" Teddy answered without thinking, the aged man chuckled and shook his head.
"We heard you weren't joining with the horse play." He explained using the pen to indicate to the locker room, "It's important to get boosted up before a game, you know that."
"Yeah," Teddy nodded, "but I'm a freshman, I haven't had time to get to know any of them yet."
"Right," Mr Flincher scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Sir, I'm fine. I wont be in the game for a while, by then I'll be out there and hyped up from the crowd." Teddy explained simply rolling his shoulders and running a quavering hand through his hair.
"It's important that a QB bonds with his team." Mr Flincher stated seriously, Teddy nodded slowly, "Right, get back in there." He trekked back to his locker and sighed.
Teddy got his phone out and grimaced as he replied to Victoria.
'If I play, I might fuck this up, I don't know any of the players, I haven't even spoken to half of them.'
Victoria replied in seconds, Teddy smirked as he imagined Victoria sitting in her uncomfortable seat in the stands staring solely at her phone, while the pre-game excitement grew all around her but she was immune to it all as she tried to relax him.
'When you get to play, you are going to be brilliant. And of course you know the team, you've been watching them for months. Just breath, act, and never regret.'
Teddy chuckled and rubbed his face over with his palm.
'Are you reading football pep talks for beginners or something?'
'I may have googled the QBs job for the team. Quick thinking, strict focus in mayhem, and an epic throw, you've got this Teddy.'
'You think?'
'This is bordering on coddling'
Teddy chuckled, "Texting Smith?" Teddy looked up so fast, he worried momentarily that he'd managed to give himself whiplash. "I like to send a few quick messages to my girl too." It was McCarthy, the starting quarter back.
"Yeah?" Teddy asked with a grin, glad he wasn't the only one. "My girl is close to coming down here and chastising me."
McCarthy chuckled and shook his head knowingly as he sat easily next to Teddy on the smooth bench. "Look, I thought I'd tell you." McCarthy started grimly, "if I get a solid hit today, I'm coming off. Coaches orders."
"Right?" Teddy nodded slowly, not sure what else he was supposed to say.
"It could be in the second quarter or first, I assumed they didn't tell you that there is the possibility that you could be practically playing a whole game."
"What!" Teddy hissed shocked, "But I'm just a..."
"You've got talent, that what matters." McCathy declared solidly, "Wilke will be your wide receiver at some point today, do not let him dictate plays. He'll try to get in your head." Teddy glanced at McCarthy confused, he hadn't even given Wilke much thought, he was too worried that he'd mess up with plays. "It's not a secret he doesn't like you. And I wouldn't put it pass him to throw the game, just to make you look bad. But I've seen your throws, they're good."
"Not as good as yours," Teddy muttered deflated. "If you're going off after after a big hit why the hell didn't leave Affleck as second?"
"It was only decided this morning, apparently management managed to score a game with some other team, coach wants to make sure I don't get injured. Look, I'm no more happy about this than you are, if it were my call I'd play out the game. It's not like it's going to be a walk in the park out there today."
"McCarthy!" Teddy glanced across the room, where the first string players were chanting and acting the clown.
"You'll be fine." McCarthy stood and thumped Teddy's shoulder farewell, just as the coaches appeared from the hall looking urgent and demanding at one glanced the chatter stopped within the locker room.
"We're overnighting in the Charles hotel," Phoebe explained catching Victoria's attention from her friends and quickly nudging Victoria's shoulder with her own. "Maybe you can bring me to mass tomorrow."
"I think that'll all have to depend on how the press receives Teddy's playing," Christian muse his gaze landing on Victoria, "Payne mentioned that there's been in a boost in popularity."
"Oh?" Victoria played along with his vagueness, "Do you by any chance know why?"
Christian chuckled as he slipped his phone into his jean's pocket, "I don't snoop into my sons private day to day activities."
"That's not really answering the question." Victoria countered with a smirk.
"No, I don't know why. But I can assume it has to do with you and football."
"You're not wrong," Charlotte grinned, "But really it's Vicky that's getting more popular not Teddy."
"Oh?" Ana asked fixing her crimson scarf around her neck and chin against the cold.
"It's not that big of a deal," Victoria smiled honestly, "but being Theodore Grey's girlfriend makes me popular by association."
"Weren't you popular before Teddy?" Phoebe asked confused, "I thought Teddy's type was popular?"
Victoria laughed and shrugged her shoulders, "Teddy and I met on the first day of classes, you know we got to know each other while working on group projects right?"
Phoebe shook her head but smiled brightly, "Teddy never gives anything away about you, your relationship is a mystery. He told us you were a friend from Harvard for winter break, and that pretty much it." Phoebe explained dissatisfied.
"What Phoebe means to say is that we know about you, clearly." Ana explained with a smile and a light laugh. "But we don't know much about you and Teddy."
"There isn't much to us." Victoria explained softly, distracted as her phone lit up with a text.
'We're on our way out, I expect to hear your cheers.'
Victoria laughed, "Are you still on that thing," Charlotte scolded glancing at Victoria's phone, "Teddy will be fine."
"They're on their way," Victoria announced happily.
"You've never seen Teddy in uniform have you?" Charlotte pointed out lightly with a small smile, Victoria shook her head no and fixed Teddy's hood close to her neck. "I suppose that's going to be a million dollar picture."
"Oh my God," Victoria breathed, slightly panicked, "I didn't bring my camera!"
Damien chuckled at her panic from down the row, "something tells me there will be plenty of photo's taken, don't worry." He pointed out unflustered.
"Oh right yeah," Victoria muttered distractedly gazing at the huge video cameras and flashing lights in the crowd, she didn't say it but she would have like to take a picture of Teddy herself.
And then the teams were out, the cheerleaders were dancing and Victoria remembered that the football games were supposed to be fun not fretting. Victoria didn't understand most of what was happening, but cheered and clapped along with the Greys and her friends until the teams were starting to play. Harvard defence was out first and Charlotte reminded her that Teddy was on the offensive since he was a quarter back.
The Greys, along with everyone else in the stands seemed to know what was happening, and were in the element of suspense as the game carried on. Victoria on the other hand had no qualms leaving the stands to find some food. She had been surviving on only two coffees all morning and the smell of fast, greasy, junk food was drawing her in. By the time she'd returned the Harvard offensive were playing, her eyes easily found William from habit and she sighed displeased with her own actions.
"It's a great game so far!" Mathew told Victoria as she walked into the row, "McCarthy is killing it out there."
"Not to mention that perfect field goal," Charlotte added with a grin.
"What's a field goal?" Victoria asked confused as she munched on nachos.
"It doesn't really matter," Charlotte laughed stealing some food, "when you see it you'll know."
"Right," Victoria sighed, Teddy was far more accommodating with her lack of knowledge, when they all watched the Seahawks last week. Everyone else laughed at her silly questions while Teddy answered them effortlessly and with a devoted smile.
It was the beginning of the third quarter, and Victoria was throughly stupefied by the football game, her feet were slightly sore, her hands were freezing, her muscles ached from yesterday and she was started to get hungry again. "I can't believe how close the match is," Victoria heard Tessa muse from down the line, she'd braided her hair with red extensions leaving her head sporting a red and platinum blond mix for the day.
"Yeah," Damien agreed sipping on his warm apple cider, "It's nothing like any friendly game I've been to." Victoria glanced at him confused, she felt that the game wasn't very exciting at all, it was all stoping and starting, rugby was nothing like that. Rugby was fast, hard and persistent.
"That's because Harvard and Yale are each others most hated rivals," Charlotte pointed out quickly, over the cheers and chants of the fans. "I knew this was going to a good game."
Victoria glanced down at the game trying not to watch William, it was hard when her eyes had been trained to watch him all last term. A gust of icy wind lashed the crowd when a huge player from the Yale defensive team smashed into one of Harvard's players, people stood with the shock and shouted out, Victoria stood and grinned at the indignation within the crowd, in Rugby most people didn't shout and roar after a hard hit, they went quiet and respectful.
"Oh god" Lucius hissed, "That was some hit." Victoria stared down at the field trying to figure out which player it was, number 16, meant nothing in football, at least in rugby there was a sort of order to the numbers. She sighed, but the crowd started to ease their chants when the player stood and waved them off, maybe it hadn't been a hard hit but a bad one, she mused watching.
"McCarthy's had worst," Mathew claimed turning to gaze at Victoria only to find her quizzically staring down at the field. Mathew was the only one who'd been follow Harvard football for most of his life, since he was the only local. "See he's already up!" Mathew declared facing the field again.
Victoria heart jumped, McCarthy was the quarter back, if he got injured Teddy would be on the field. Teddy's would be on the team for the rest of the year if McCarthy was seriously injured as Affleck's second. Victoria swiftly sat and chewed on her lip, her phone tight in her palm, wondering if players were allowed to bring their phones to the sidelines, she doubted it.
"Ana," Christian snapped astonished, "Ana" he repeated hastily and Victoria glanced at him confused. Christian was standing, with most of the crowd, and his eyes were down on the field studying each play intently his eyes ferocious. "He's going in."
"Already?" Ana breathed, Charlotte squealed beside Victoria reaching down and grasping Victoria's arm tightly to yanking her up aside her.
"What," Victoria hissed rubbing her arm just as the speakers broke over music and announced McCarthy departure from the field.
"Teddy's coming on!" Phoebe squealed, jumping up and down like a rabbit, "Oh wow!"
"He's what?" Victoria breathed confused, the game had only hit the half way mark, Teddy was a positive he'd get to play in the last quarter, and only if the game was a certain win.
"AND COMING ON FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEODORE 'TEDDY' GREY AS QUARTER BACK." The speakers announce and the crowd cheered loudly for Teddy, Victoria clapped along robotically.
Victoria watched awed as Teddy ran onto the pitch in astonishment, but she quickly recovered started to chaotically cheer with everyone else. "He's going to be fine, he's going to play fine." Victoria prayed as her eyes watched Teddy and his number 12 play his first ever game of college football.
Victoria wasn't sure what really happened for the rest of the match, all she knew was that everything Teddy done earned a sizeable cheer from the crowd. Almost all his passes found their mark, the team seemed to work well together, he'd even ran the ball and gotten Harvard Crimson some touchdowns. By the end of it all Victoria was nearly mute with a raw throat and finding it hard to stand throughly exhausted.
Charlotte turned to Victoria at the end of the forth quarter, as she done several time before to remind her if William had played well or not, "You don't need to tell me Teddy played well." Victoria beamed as she sat wasted on her plastic chair wrapping herself in her winder coat. "I know he did."
"He played amazingly, he turned the game around, McCarthy was playing cautiously, it wasn't working at all when you look at how well Teddy turned it around."
"Yeah?" Victoria laughed looking up at the clouds that were darkening to a more threatening grey in the sky.
"What's the plan now?" Charlotte asked sitting down too.
"We're going to the sports bar!" Lucius called back to them. "It's supposed to hold the celebrations."
Damien laughed, "I can't wait to see them win a nail biting game, it'll be the sports bar plus it's entire street that will hold the celebrations."
Victoria turned to Christian and Ana who were chatting jovial while Phoebe played with her phone. "Would you like to come to the sports bar?" Victoria asked lightly, Christian glanced over at her.
"Oh no, it wouldn't be very safe. And I'd hate to pull the attention away from Teddy." Christian explained, "We'll see him tomorrow for lunch."
"No," Victoria decided quickly, "Teddy told me to meet him near football offices after the match, you can come along."
"I'm sure they wont let just anybody into the offices." Phoebe pointed out.
"Oh I think they'll know who you are." Victoria laughed, slowly moving to her aching feet.
"We don't mind waiting to see him tomorrow Victoria," Ana promised, Christian's hand curled around her waist slowly.
"Don't be ridicules, I'm sure he was too busy worrying to remember to ask you to come see him." Victoria pointed out sliding her arms into the coat and fixing her wind whipped hair.
"You've change since Seattle," Christian pointed out raising a single eyebrow at her teasingly, "more pushy."
Victoria laughed and shrugged easily, "Well, I don't work for you anymore."
Ana laughed, "I like it, shows you're not frightened by us anymore."
Phoebe scoffed stowing away her phone, "You two didn't see her working in the animal shelter, she was turning into a tyrant." Phoebe explained sarcastically, Victoria and her had spent most of their time in the shelter coddling the animals and laughing through the chores together as a team. "Bounty was glad to see the back of her."
"Traitor," Victoria whispered to Phoebe before taking her hand in her own, "come on, I think I know the shortest way. And I want to hear all about Bounty, I miss him."
"He was adopted a couple weeks ago," Phoebe explained, "I was going to tell you over Skype but then, I got busy." She flushed.
"I'll see you in the bar," Victoria told Charlotte when she caught up with Charlotte on the stairs.
"You going to kiss him in front of his daddy again." Charlotte teased, Victoria nudged Charlotte with her knee, hoping Phoebe hadn't over heard the comment as she flushed pink.
The team and Teddy were quickly bonding, the victory against their college rivals, Yale, and his good passes were earning heavy pats and loud congratulations as Teddy walked out of the locker room, dressed and hauling his bag. Victoria had texted saying she was by the entrance, with his parents and Phoebe, the offices weren't letting anyone inside without a team pass. Teddy made a note to himself that he needed to remember to get some for them, especially if this was going to be a reoccurrence.
He had felt a twinge of guilt for not remembering to ask his parents or sister to come see him after the game, but was glad he had Victoria to ask them. Stepping out of the building, the scene was slightly hectic with people crowded around, it was like walking into the arrivals area of the airport at christmas. He found his Dad first, his tall strong stance catching his eye. Walking over with a wide grin he watched as Phoebe chattered to Victoria animatedly.
"Good game Teddy," Christian greeted quickly stepping over and clasping Teddy's shoulder proud. "That statue of liberty play, then to add the statue of liberty fake play in the forth quarter, beautiful."
"Yeah?" Teddy laughed dropping his bag to the tarmac, "I just seen the opening and went for it."
"You were great Teddy," Ana breathed as she wrapped her arms around her baby boy. "Like always."
"Thank's Mom." Teddy breathed to her happily, before she released him and Phoebe held her hand up and Teddy slapped her palm effortlessly before tugging her in for a hug too, "impressed Bee?"
"You bet!" Phoebe laughed pushing out of his tight hold. "Victoria seemed like she about to up and leave before you came on, she looked terribly bored."
"Yeah?" Teddy asked glancing at his awful quiet girlfriend, as she watched their interactions, "you were going to leave?"
Victoria scowled at Phoebe, "No, I was just hungry and sore and, well bored." Teddy chuckled and reached out and grabbed her hand tugging her to his side. "Then you came on."
"Yes, I did," Teddy laughed squeezing her hand, "were you bored then?"
"Of course not," Victoria smiled leaning into his side.
"Good," Teddy laughed, "she's a newbie to football, it's hard to convert her off rugby."
Ana laughed, "It took me quiet a while to like football too, you know." She reminded him, thinking of all the arguments she'd had with christian about the violence of the sport and blood spilled and bruises Teddy had. "That time you dislocated your shoulder I was close to banning you from it."
"Which would have been a mistake," Christian explained with a powerful smile, "you obviously love it, still?" He asked Teddy curiously.
"Its fun, and I'm kinda good at it." Teddy grinned lazily, Phoebe laughed at his idle approach to the question.
Victoria scoffed and slapped his chest, "you're great at it." She corrected.
"Don't fall for his ruse, he's just fishing for complements," Phoebe pointed out.
"Teddy doesn't need to be told his good," Victoria claimed glancing at Teddy's happy features, "when he already knows he's great."
"Sir," Teddy watched as Victoria turned and spotted Taylor, her whole form stiffened at the sight of him and her hand tightened on his. "Payne said he seen camera crews and paparazzi parking on the West side."
"That's our queue to leave, Teddy." Christian declared taking Ana's hand and nudging Phoebe forward. "We'll give an official statement tomorrow."
Ana spun and smiled at them, "See you both tomorrow!"
And the Greys were gone, Victoria breathed relieved when Taylor was gone also. "Both?" She asked sharply glancing at Teddy confused.
"Yeah," Teddy nodded bending and picking up his bag, "we're doing lunch."
"Sunday lunch with your parents?" Victoria asked amused, "When was I going to be told about this?"
"Probably tomorrow," Teddy chuckled fixing his bag strap on his shoulder, "did you drive?"
"Yeah," Victoria nodded with a laugh, tugging him towards a gap in the crowd.
"Grey!" someone called,
"GREAT GAME!" Someone else cheered loudly.
And as Teddy and Victoria walked through the crowd they were ambushed with well wishes and chatter, half of which Teddy knew Victoria didn't understand. Most people wanted to talk about his choice of plays in the game, the fakes he'd done and the throws he'd completed. He was glad Victoria didn't understand, it left her awe'd at it all, but at the same time Teddy wished he could talk about football with her, ask her opinion about plays.
A friendly enough looking guy was going to drop his arm over Victoria's shoulder and Teddy's cool-headedness dropped a fraction. "Tell you what," Teddy started off shifting so Victoria was pressed flushed along his sore side, "find me in the Sports bar later and you can ask me all you want, for now I just want to cool down and be with my girl." There was a wolf whistle and a few girls told Victoria that she was lucky with envious stares .
Teddy and Victoria escaped the mash of cheers and laughter, to find Payne standing at the side lines with a distressed frown and his phone clasped in his palm. "Teddy!" He rushed over the few step between them and scanned the pair of teens carefully, "I'm so sorry."
"It's fine," Teddy explained earnestly, he'd never been allowed to be so vulnerable before. Teddy had to admit to himself, he didn't particularly like the celebrity-like ambush.
"No, it's not. Miss Smith, are you all right?" Payne asked turning his visional scan completely on her, Teddy glanced down at his flushed girlfriend and smiled.
"Never better," Victoria promised, "but you might need some help at the Sports Bar later," she advised with a playful smile, Payne exhaled a long breath agreeing with one quick nod.
"I take it you're heading over there now?" He asked tiredly, glancing behind the teens to watch the fans greet the next Harvard Crimson player.
"Hell no," Teddy chuckled, squeezing Victoria's hand, "I plan on getting some real food and a nap in before I head to that craziness."
"Oh, I knew I liked you for a reason." Victoria breathed relived as did Payne.
Teddy laughed, "If it can be arranged, I'd like one of you to drive us there. We'll be drinking and I don't want Victoria's car left in town over night."
"You have my number, just text and someone will come."
"Maybe not Taylor," Teddy pointed out glancing at Victoria, before he nudged her forward toward the main parking lot, "thanks" Teddy smirked, and left Payne to calm his nerves.
"I can deal with Taylor," Victoria pointed out hotly as they walked to her car.
"But you don't have to," Teddy declared, "especially if he makes you nervous. I don't like to see you upset."
"I'm not upset." Victoria countered unlocking the car and sliding into the front seat. "I'm ecstatic" Victoria told him as he slid into the passenger seat looking distracted. "My boyfriend played a brilliant game of football." She declared dumping her small handbag by Teddy's feet.
"Yeah?" Teddy chuckled glancing at her, Victoria leaned across and kissed him cheerfully, her lips only lingered on his for mere seconds. "Do I get my massage then?" Teddy asked with a crooked grin.
"I knew you didn't want a nap," Victoria scoffed starting up the car.
"Can we pick up some food on the way?" Teddy asked, Victoria nodded absently as she directed them out of the crowded parking lot. "What do you feel like?"
"Me?" Victoria scoffed pausing at a stop sign, "I'm not the one who's been taking hits, I'm happy with anything that isn't nachos." She laughed, pulling out onto the busy road.
"I could do steak," Teddy mused.
"A steak?" Victoria asked shocked, glancing over at him. "Really?"
Teddy grinned, "Yeah, why don't we eat out," He added deciding that take-out steak sounded vile.
"Cause you're Teddy Grey that's why." Victoria pointed out, "And Payne thinks we're on the way to your flat."
"Live a little," Teddy grinned, "there's a good restaurant beside the corner cafe."
"Want to chance the walk there from your apartment?" Victoria asked, "Oh should I park closer?"
"You don't mind eating out?" Teddy asked curiously, he just didn't want to wait for the food, if they sat in they could have a drink and quick starters. "Park at the flat" Teddy, thinking about drinks.
Victoria glanced at Teddy, "After that ambush I feel like we should tell Payne," She mused seriously, "But as long as you're safe and we don't get bugged about the game too much I'm fine with going out to eat."
"Awesome," Teddy grinned pulling out his phone to let Payne know the change of plans. "Consider this a date"
"A date" Victoria scoffed, "I'm half dressed in your clothes, god only knows what my make-up looks like by now..."
"Victoria you look great, and I like you half dressed in my clothes." Teddy pointed out flirtatiously as he reached up and lifted her hood over he bouncy blond curls, "In fact, maybe later you'll take off that other half altogether." He grinned boyishly.
"Wash your mouth out," Victoria teased glancing admiring at Teddy at a red light.
"You love my dirty mouth," Teddy whispered leaning across the car to kiss her jaw.
Victoria inhaled slowly as she concentrated on driving, trying to ignore him. "Take a little too many hit to the head Teddy?" Victoria joked.
"I didn't get hit much," Teddy claimed off handily.
"What!" Victoria hissed, "It felt like you were being targeted to me."
Teddy burst out laughing as he leaned back to his side of the car and fixed his seat belt. "Of course I was being targeted."
"More so than McCarthy," Victoria gritted out, not wanting to look a fool.
"I wouldn't say that," Teddy mused, "I got less even."
"And you're not in pain? Does all them pads and gear actually safe you from injury?" Victoria peeked over at him curiously.
"I'm sore all over," Teddy professed rubbing his ribs cautiously as he did, "but players usually do after a match."
"They were saying that even though it was a friendly match, the sides were giving there all, is that what normal matches are like too?"
Teddy glanced at her confused, "I know you've been to real games before Vicky, you don't have to pretend for my sake..."
"I've never really paid attention before, I usually pretended to watch and cheer, but most of the time I was on my phone, Saturday is the day my friends from home sometimes message me, or if it was got really boring I'd read on my kindle." Victoria shrugged, "He never spent the time to teach me how the game works, it was looking at a jigsaw puzzle before you started schooling me," Victoria pointed out as she turned the corner for Teddy's flat.
"But surely Charlotte, and Natalie." Teddy pointed out.
"Natalie spends most of the matches drinking or laughing or cheering for her brother, and Charlotte is extremely intense during matches. Mathew tried once but got tired of explaining things to me and Damien is useless at teaching," She chirped pulling into a free parking place.
"And I can't help you if I'm down with the team." Teddy pointed out.
"You're supposed to be down there," Victoria pointed out turning off the car.
"Affleck wasn't there today." Teddy mused thoughtfully.
"He was probably licking his wounds, I doubt many second stings get the opportunity to play for half a match." Victoria pointed out, glancing down the street, it wasn't a long walk to the corner cafe, but the clouds were threatening rain. "Is it supposed to mean something that you're bringing me to a restaurant next to the cafe you tried to ditch a one night stand at?" Victoria asked bemused, turning glance at Teddy.
"Of course not," Teddy laughed pulling himself out of the car, leaving his bag. "Now, if I brought you to the cafe..." He teased and Victoria locked the car as they walked down the street.
"Tell me it'll be a while again until I have to watch you get pummelled by mini monsters? I need to gather up some strength for that." Victoria murmured as they walked, Teddy chuckled and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"It should be, Affleck is the teams real second QB. And since he'll be first when McCarthy graduates this year, I'd say the offensive coordinator will want to give him more play time to sharpen him up." Teddy explained simply.
"So being friendly with Affleck is kind of important?" Victoria asked, "And some of the other seconds too I suppose, since that's who you'll be playing aside."
"Maybe in the long run" Teddy mused, "But a freshmen might come in next year and knock me on my ass either."
"I should know all this stuff for you," Victoria sighed, Teddy chuckled and squeezed her side.
"If you knew this stuff, I wouldn't get to have all this fun explaining it to you." Teddy chuckled, "Besides, I'm sure there will be a rugby league some time this year you can school me with." Teddy grinned at the bright smile Victoria sent him.
"You'd watch rugby with me?" She asked excitedly.
"I'd watch the little mermaid on ice for you happily." Teddy teased and Victoria scoffed.
"And ruin your manhood, I think rugby will do me fine."
Teddy spotted the restaurant front, and pointed it to her, "Here we are." He grinned, Victoria laughed drily.
"That looks too fancy for a football hoody, Teddy." She mused.
"Too fancy for a football hoody huh?" Teddy asked in wonderment as they cross the road, it had started to drizzle slightly. Victoria tugged at the sleeves of the hoody and felt her face redden as they crept closer to the entrance.
"Maybe we could just go to the cafe, eat cakes and get a coffee…" But Teddy had already pulled opened the door for them. "Teddy," Victoria hissed anxiously.
Teddy grinned down at her charmingly before he led her into the room, straight to the hosts' podium. "Table for two," Teddy explained.
The girl stared at Teddy's over all hotness for some long moments before flickering her gaze to Victoria, then her eyes widened as she read the name and number on the front of the hoody, "Of course," she smiled spinning on her heel to show them to their seat. Victoria's eyes narrowed as they followed her lead, she decided that the girl must be a college student.
Teddy was glad when the waitress returned quickly with their drinks so that he could order and Victoria was swift to make her choice too, both teens were ravenous. They were served quickly and left completely alone in the fancy restaurant, much to their delight. Victoria told Teddy that she felt awkward about wearing a jersey when men dressed in business suits sat not to far away eating a late lunch, she pointed out how odd it was that they were allowed to stay. Teddy just chuckled and reminded her that he was Theodore Grey. Victoria just laughed and asked him if his shoulders ever hurt him from holding up his huge ego.
Victoria pulled Teddy into his room, with a lazy smile and plans. Teddy kicked his door closed, even thought he knew Tessa would have Lucius would be out on the town till the break of dawn if she could. "On the bed." Victoria ordered, walking away from Teddy and into his bathroom.
"Excuse me?" Teddy chuckled but followed her command and sat perched on the edge watching her as she disappeared into his bathroom.
"Down to your boxers!" Victoria called slightly muffled from behind the bathrooms' half closed door, Teddy tensed when he heard her moving things around. "If I come out there and you're not in your boxers I'll have to undress you."
Teddy chuckled lightly and easily pulled off his jumper before kicking off his shoes, Victoria walked into the room before he could take anything else off. "You don't give a man much time do you." Teddy chuckled.
Victoria stepped over quickly and dropped the bottle she held to the bed covers forgotten as she raised to touch his bruised side, but thought twice and lowered her arm slightly. Teddy caught her hand and pressed it to his tender side, "Oh Teddy." Victoria breathed uneasy.
"It's fine," Teddy reassured, turning his gaze away from her concerned filled eyes to the bottle on the bed. "Oil?" Victoria nodded speechlessly, "For my massage?"
"I got Tessa to stash it," Victoria explained.
"When?" Teddy asked confused, "She only got in this morning and she's been at the match all day with Luke."
"I texted her on my way down the lift this morning, she got it in the airport." Victoria explained as her hand trailed his massive bruise, twisting to check out his back worried.
"Tessa doesn't do favours for people easily." Teddy mused, and inhaled sharply when her soft curls slid over his chest as she manoeuvred around him.
"She owes me." Victoria declared and pulled back and smiled at him. "Bitchiness is something us girls slave away."
Teddy chuckled, "Phoebe's in your debt too then," He mused, reaching out and trailing his hand through her soft perfect curls.
"Phoebe's growing up, she's got an excuse." Victoria explained.
"I think Tessa could do with some growing up too." Teddy mused with a grin, his hand falling to her collar, "Take off my hoody, it's roasting in here." He commanded.
"Take off your jeans, it's roasting in here." Victoria countered with a quick eyebrow lift, as she peeled off the hoody.
"Take off your shoes, it'll be more comfortable" Teddy raised both eyebrows, and pushed off his jeans, he noticed the way Victoria's breath hitched when she see the bruises on his hips and legs too.
"Can I ask you to put on your glasses?" Victoria grinned, her eyes jumping to his as she kicked off her shoes.
Teddy laughed, "No," he shook his head amused, "I think I'm undressed enough."
"I wont hurt you?" Victoria asked eyeing the bruises on his pale skin.
"You couldn't hurt me if you tried," Teddy chuckled yanking off his socks, "but maybe try to keep off the bruises on my ribs, they hurt the most."
"On the bed." She repeated and grabbed the bottle of oil, "Face down I think."
"So do I" Teddy hissed as he lay down. "My backup is all the way on the floor now."
Victoria grinned at the back of his head happily as she lathered up her palms. She been hoping that by without bringing up sex, that she'd manage to trick him into cracking his prolonged waiting concept. She knew Teddy was a sexual person, this absence had to be killing him as much as he was tormenting her. "I haven't done this before," Victoria whispered laying her hands down on his shoulders and rubbing down laying his skin with the warm oil, pushing her fingers tips deep into his tense muscles, "tell me what you like."
"You," Teddy grumbled as he rolled his shoulders and sighing as Victoria repeated the movement. "That's great."
"Yeah?" Victoria smiled, twisting her thumb in circles at the back of his neck.
"Hmm" Teddy sighed happily.
Victoria mesmerised by his beautiful back, massaged and tried to learn every inch of his body, adding more oil every now and then, when she grew bored of his back she moved to his arms, neck and shoulders before moving again to his thick thighs, every now and then Teddy would groan or moan or speak incoherently which would cause Victoria to giggle and continue working. But all good things come to an end, Victoria's phone burst to life from Teddy's hoody on the floor.
"No," Teddy groaned as she slipped off the bed and rubbed the little trace of oil off her hands into her hair. "Come back here!" Teddy demanded, twisting to watch her find her phone.
Victoria found a message from Lucius saying that the team wants to know where Teddy was. "Luke says that if I don't get you to the sports bar, McCarthy is going to hunt me down." Victoria looked up to find Teddy gazing at her with his chin in his palm.
Teddy sighed dramatically, "I guess we better get going then," He grumbled sarcastically, as he grabbed his own phone and sent off a few texts.
"I didn't get my massage," Victoria grumbled she pulled her shoes on as Teddy stepped into the bathroom to rub off the oil before he dressed into a button down pale grey shirt and dark designer jeans and expensive shoes.
Teddy stepped over and pressed a kiss to her lips, "Oh you'll get yours Miss Smith," Teddy chuckled nabbing his hoody from the ground and her hand, before pulling her from the flat.
"We got an approximate time for that massage, Mr Grey?" Victoria asked, as she watched him lock the door, "Like we talking this weekend, next weekend?"
"I'll catch you when you least expect it," Teddy decided stepping into the lift and dragging Victoria in with him.
"I was having fun in there," Victoria grumbled, And as the doors closed she turned to ask Teddy if he wanted to go to the club later but her mouth was assaulted by his. Moaning Victoria found herself entangled with Teddy, her soft hands around his shoulders, his around her narrow waist. Teddy tasted Victoria lips with his tongue as they shared breathes and shivered until the lift slowed to a still and Teddy forced himself off her. "Wow" Victoria breathed amazed.
Teddy chuckled and pulled her into his side and walk out of the lift, "Tessa will want to go to the club later," Teddy warned.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to go," Victoria smiled as he held open the apartment building door for her to walk through first.
"I'll go if Luke does," Teddy explained stepping to the black SUV he knew Darcy was driving from the outline in the window. "But it wont be for long, I don't want to stay out late."
"Oh?" Victoria mused, Teddy opened her door for her and she giggled at little at his antics before sliding into the SUV. "Hi Darcy" Victoria greeted the youngest man on the security team.
"Miss Smith, enjoying university?"
Teddy joined them, "Evening, Darcy."
"How couldn't I?" Victoria responded with a large smile as she reached over and snuck her palm into Teddy's.
"Great Game, Teddy." Darcy grinned.
"Thanks," Teddy smirked, Darcy turned back to drive and Teddy gazed at Victoria. "Do you want to go to the club?"
"Not really" Victoria muttered, Teddy shifted so he was facing her completely.
"Your arms still hurt?" He asked stroking her upper arm, "And your legs?"
Victoria protested, "I'm just tired."
Teddy smiled, "I should have given you the massage."
"You won the game," Victoria countered smiling to herself, she'd enjoyed giving him a massage far too much.
"Yeah I did," Teddy smirked wide squeezing her hand and tugging their hands into his lap, Victoria sat staring at their intertwined hands thinking of the contours of his back, the muscles in his thighs and the strength in his arms. Teddy was too perfect, he was smart, handsome and strong, she sighed happily.
Glancing up at his face Victoria smiled when he caught her gaze, "How did you get into football?" Victoria asked softly, Teddy's eyebrows wrinkled. "In Ireland, playing sport... Well, Irish sport like gaelic football or Hurley. Is mostly about being part of the community. I know that most of the players, their dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's played so its sort of a tradition to keep alive, you know. As well as the other things, exercise, winning, friendships." Victoria mused. "But I know your Dad didn't play, or your grandfather."
Teddy smirked as he gave it some thought, he hadn't had to explain football to anyone but his parents. "I was a late bloomer for football," Teddy explained. "It was my second year of high school, Lucius has this old joke that I tried-out for the team to get more girls. We were fifteen, cute girls and playstation was pretty much all we thought about." Victoria laughed lightly knowing he'd never need help getting girls, even as a teen he was striking, she'd seen photographs over winter break. "My parents had encouraged me to try out for some sports when I was a freshmen, but I wasn't interested, I was lanky and insecure if you can imagine it." Victoria curled into his side, enjoying his confession. "I wanted to get on the defensive, but I didn't have the muscles and I wasn't really big enough." Teddy explained, "But it wasn't like I was stumbling out of a decade of sitting in some dusty library and trying out for the team. Dad despises laziness so we have a personal trainer in Seattle, Claude Bastille, he's absolutely brilliant but a complete tyrant to me. He's all sweet and darling to Phoebe, but the minute I get in the ring its like a proper go at it. "
"The ring?" Victoria pipped up confused, turning her chin to look up at him, Teddy chuckled loudly as he stared out the window into the damp Boston streets in thought.
"He's an ex olympian boxer," Teddy grinned, Victoria hummed impressed. "In that year between freshmen and sophomore year, I filled into my self both in my body and built my confidence up. I wasn't as insecure anymore, I made the whole idea of trying out a big joke, but inside I refused to fail, I wanted on that team." Teddy explained. "So I suppose it's the need for success that drew me to football." He mused licking his lip thoughtfully, "there's a lot of success in football; beating the best players in practice by being the fastest, having the longest throw, winning drills, earning praise from the coaches and obviously there's winning a game." Teddy mused. Victoria realised in that moment that Teddy's desire for success drove him in his studies too, his demand for success in his life was going to mould him into a brilliant business man, Grey Enterprise was lucky to have him.
Victoria hummed, "But it was mostly to do with the girls right?" She taunted nudging his side softly, "Little cheerleaders bouncing around, fan girls batting their eyes lashes at you, that sort of thing?"
Teddy's eye crinkled at the sides a little as he beamed down at Victoria, "Don't forget the parties."
"Parties too," Victoria sighed out impressed giggling. They were quiet for a few moments before she broke it again, "I spent the first few years in secondary school trying to impress people," she whispered, "I was used, I used people, it was what the popular kids did. By the time I was seventeen I started to see where I had gone wrong, that's when I found Elizabeth and Amber-Lynn true value as friends."
"Why did you want to impress people?" Teddy asked softly.
"I don't really know, I liked to know people liked me, I thought I had to act a certain way to prove I was likeable. I actually found myself growing into a shallow person. That's when I snapped, realised that I didn't have to do what other people wanted or expected, I just needed to do what I wanted. And back then all I wanted to do was read classic books, run, listen to indie rock music and find myself. Thankfully I had my friends or I would have turned into an introvert, they refused to let me skip nights out, or parties, or cinema outings, you know teenage stuff."
"I must thank them someday," Teddy smiled, bending and kissing her forehead. "You don't ever have to try and impress me, you've already dazzled me just as you are."
Darcy slowed the SUV to a spot outside the insanely business sports bar, Victoria peeked out and seen short skirts and long legs. "Maybe I should have changed," She laughed moving to slide over to the edge of the seat to get out, but Teddy tugged her back to his side.
"Never change," Teddy ordered kissing her lips unyieldingly as Darcy slipped out of the car and waited to hold open the door. Victoria breathed out her heart hammering lightly in her chest, "Ever."
"I only meant my clothes Teddy," Victoria teased, pecking his check before sliding across, Darcy swiftly cracked open the SUV's door and let the pair out.
Teddy's feet hand been on the ground three-seconds when someone boomed an echoing, "GREY!" Across the pavement at the pair of them.
"Have a good night Teddy, Miss Smith." Darcy smiled.
"Tell Payne I'll keep the strippers at bay for tonight." Victoria teased, as Teddy took her hand in his. Darcy sent her a confused glance but jumped back into the SUV quickly.
Victoria felt the tingles of stares as Teddy drew her into his side and made his way into the sports bar, smiling at the people calling his name. He needed a drink if this was what the night entailed. Stepping into the sport bar, it was packed. Victoria spotted Charlotte first, but she was giggling with her valley guy, so instead she searched for someone less preoccupied.
"I've spotted Luke," Teddy declared leading the way, as they crossed the room Victoria heard Teddy's low amused chuckle. "You didn't say that Tessa's hair looks like a candy cane." Victoria laughed at the description.
Victoria stayed out till eleven before calling it a quits when a very drunk Natalie and Victor announced their departure. Victoria nabbed Charlotte from the sports bar to get her home before she went too far with the valley guy under the influence of alcohol. Natalie and Victor spent most of the taxi ride to Victor's apartment down each other throats, and when the taxi finally got to Charlotte's flat, she was blubbering nonsense. When Victoria finally got to her apartment building she was ecstatic, she kicked open her door, delighted she could just crawl into be and sleep, the day had been fun but very long and she condemned herself being so lively at the water park yesterday which left her sore muscles put a dampener on the day. Her phone woke her a few hours later, checking it irked she found a text from Teddy telling her he was on his way home from the night club, already regretting the shots he took with Tessa.
Reviews are very, very welcome !
I love to hear what you think of the fanfiction.
What you would like to see in the future for Teddy and Vicky,
(and any other characters in the story)
And any helpful tips for my writing is always appreciated.
Oh, I've been trying to come up with a backstory to write, it's just a thought at the moment. But if anyone would like to see a moment from Teddy's past, I'm open to ideas.
