"The only thing worse than not knowing is you thinking that I don't know I'm having another episode. I just need a stronger dose."
Teddy had left quickly, not wanting to be seen by anyone, no, he couldn't have anyone talking about it. That would just upset Jarred, and if word got back to Teddy's family that he was seeing a boy... No, he couldn't think about that. He just needed to get out, to breathe, to try and forget about what had just happened to him...
Nothing happened, the voice inside his head told him. That's what couples are supposed to do. Not like you haven't been with your fair share of boys or girls anyway. "Just shut up!" Teddy shouted into the empty corridor, or at least what appeared to be an empty corridor. He felt sick to his stomach when he saw a familiar figure walking toward him, a concerned expression on her pale, flawless face.
"Teddy?" Victoire asked softly as she approached him, tucking a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Teddy lied quickly, even though he knew it was no use lying to her. They'd grown up together, crossed so many important milestones together, she had cried when he went off to Hogwarts, wanting to know why she couldn't go with her best friend... She knew him too well for Teddy to lie to her like that. He sighted when he saw her cross her arms, knowing she had him. "Just a bad party," he shrugged, at least that was half-true.
"And Jarred was involved, I'm guessing?" Victoire raised an eyebrow. Teddy sighed and stared at the floor. Vic had made her dislike for his boyfriend known, and was always giving Teddy a hard way to go about it. He's the best you can do, though, Teddy thought. He's the only one that's ever going to want you. "Come on," she sighed and lay a gentle hand on his arm. "I'll walk you back to your common room."
"Thanks," Teddy sighed and leaned against her side.
Victoire was adamant about staying with Teddy through the night, even if that meant the pair of them would end up sleeping in the Common Room and potentially getting into trouble with their heads of house. Teddy knew that Vic would take the fall for him, though. He just wasn't sure if he'd let her. "I told you he's bad news, Teddy," she sighed and sat with him.
Teddy closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder. He'd always been lenient with personal space, and was glad that neither Michael nor Vic seemed to mind. They'll get sick of it eventually, he shut his eyes tighter. "Can you please not insult him?" he asked in a small voice.
"Not when I know he had something to do with this," Vic shook her head furiously.
"It's seriously not a big deal," Teddy tried to insist. "Just some stupid fight." Vic huffed, but let it drop, She summoned a blanket and draped it around Teddy's shoulders.
"Let me see your arms," Victoire said gently but firmly. Teddy tried to protest, but she'd pushed his sleeve up before he could change his appearance, revealing several newer cuts, bright red lines criss-crossing through his skin. "I thought you quit," she sighed.
"I'm trying," Teddy lied and hugged a knee to his chest. If you make yourself smaller, you'll disappear, he thought. And then no one can ever hurt you again. "It just makes things easier to deal with, okay?" he looked into her blue eyes, filled with concern for him. It's all fake. She doesn't care about you. The only one that ever will is Jarred, and you've already upset him enough.
"You need to end it with him," she sighed and played with Teddy's hair, once a bright blue, now he was lucky to get any color on it at all.
"I can't," Teddy sighed and hugged himself tightly. He knew her eyebrow was raised before he even looked over. "You don't understand," he said in a tone that ended the conversation.