This chapter was written by CherryPezFoo.

"Open up your heart, help me understand

show me who you are,

so I can show you who I am.." - Avril Lavigne

*Teddy*

This wasn't so bad, I could work with this. Sure she was a little... disbelieving. But you have to warm up to the Teddy charm. I entered on the tree house, I didn't see anyone, but I was so sure they'd be here. "Ugh!" yelled Leanne "What's taking so long!" "Nothing" I murmured through gritted teeth. Why must women be so demanding? I climbed down the ladder and flayed my arm extravagantly towards the hobbled ladder. "Ladies first." I said it in a seductive charming way. She started to laugh but it came out like a snort. She covered her mouth in embarrassment and I could not contain my laughter. She pushed by me - quite roughly, I might add - and climbed up into the tree house. I followed behind her. When I got up she was raising an eyebrow at me. "What? What did I do?" I almost screamed. "Nothing" she mused "I just thought that your friends were up here." I was about to explain that they'd probably be here soon when she said "Oh! I get it! Only you can see your friends- i really hope on not sitting on one of them." She frantically gets up and pats where she was once sitting laughing all the while. I decided to take it. "I'm actually glad my friends aren't here." I said confidently, sliding a little closer to her. Mission success. I saw her starting to flush red, it was quite obvious that nobody has ever acted this way towards her.

We chatted for a while, occasionally I would touch her hand with mine, or shuffle a little closer to her. At first she neglected in accepting these gestures. She moved her hand whenever I touched it, she shuffled in the opposite direction. But after a while she just embraced it, she was opening up a little to me. I learned about her father, how she travels a lot, and I've not to get used to her being here. She seemed pretty cool actually. She was funny and witty. I liked that about her. "So, tell me about your friends Teddy?" Just then, I heard the secret knock. I smiled stupendously. "No need my dear Leanne, here they are!" I moved the milk crate and let my three friends up. First was Gordie who didn't even seem to notice Leanne, he just dived straight in to a murder mystery comic. After Gordie was Chris, who at least noticed her. He smiled kindly at her, then turned to me and raised an eyebrow, as if to say "What are you up to Teddy?" Then was Vern, who felt the need to go up to her and tap her. "What the fuck are you doing you strange boy?" she squealed at him. "Sorry!" He replied hurriedly, I just wanted to make sure you were - you know, real." "Of course I'm real!" She barked inching away from him, which made me and the others laugh our asses off.

We talked and laughed and endured the usual banter. She fit in with my friends, she fit in almost too much. We were smoking and playing various card games, talking about cool shit, ya know. I was very engrossed in a game of cards, I had a boss deck, it was almost guaranteed to win when I heard. "I think I need to go guys, my dad will be worried." I cursed inwardly, now I'd have to walk her home, and to walk her home I'd have to forfeit the game and my deck. Why must women be so dependant? This was why i didn't have a girl friend. I sighed. "Teddy." Chris inquired. "What?" I squeal a cigarette dripping from my lips. He tilts his head towards Leanne, giving me yet another silent message. "It's okay." Leanne said sweetly. "I am perfectly capable of walking home myself." "But." Gordie joined in "What if something happens, and there's nobody there to protect ya" Leanne laughed. "You pussies? Really? I can defend myself, don't you worry there." She winked and I grinned cheekily. "Badass, I like it!" She turned slightly pink and I winked at her. She climbed down the ladder.

There was an awkward silence. "Teddy, what are you doing?" Chris sighed. "playing cards" I replied "Why aren't you?" Chris grabbed all the cards - including my deck!- and slammed them on the table. "What the fuck Chris!" I yelled "We were playing!" "Teddy." He started. "Leanne, seems like a nice girl." "So?" "So that's the problem!" "What?" Gordie sighed "Teddy, Leanne isn't the type of girl you usually go for.." I was dumbfounded. "So I'm not allowed to change my mind?" I say angrily. Chris softens his tone: "it's just, you never flirt with funny girls like Leanne" "or date." He added as an afterthought "Leanne isn't very hot." Gordie threw in. "She's nice though!" Vern said. I circled my mind for an answer to their queries. "Fiona Grant was nice.. And not that attractive." I said proudly. "Fiona Grant was rich." Chris argued "You wanted her money, what do you want from Leanne?" "Okay" I croaked "You wanna know? I'll tell you.

I proceeded to tell them my master plan, when I was done. Gordie looked horrified, Chris looked disgusted and Vern, well Vern looked kind of impressed. "Don't do this man." Chris tried to reason with me "She's nice Teddy, she's good for you, don't do this to her!" I huffed loudly "You don't know what's good for me Chris. I know what's good for me, I know where I belong, and it's in the army, and i will do whatever it takes to get there! I'm not gonna sacrifice it for some girl that is not hot or even attractive in any way." They looked taken aback by my speech, as i was usually so laid back. What can i say? I'm a passionate guy. Before leaving I say one more thing. "i don't look in the mirror and think about whose arms, or time, or place I will be. I think of the army, I think of what I will be, or what I will become if I don't get there!" I slammed the trap door and ran across the dirt field. Completely and utterly pissed off.