The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven novel Chapter 9

Once I was done, I took a seat beside him, observing the way he rolled his shoulders back to heighten his stature. His voice was raspy as he inquired, “Are you ready?”

“Yes, it is about time I leave.”

He turned away from me to exit the kitchen first. He did not want me to leave the house just yet, but he would never vocalize those thoughts aloud. For some reason I could understand those feelings, the fear of being left alone once again. I watched him stand in front of the doorway, observing the way he was trying to pull down his sleeves to regain some level of control. Teddy would not look at me as I walked down the hallway, but I knew he was listening to my soft footsteps. Once I was beside him I politely asked him to move away from the mat, knowing I would have to slip on my rain boots. He moved back a small margin, and unconsciously watched my every movement as I slipped on my boots. Once I was finished, I looked around for my jacket, but Teddy had fetched it first.

“Let me,” he entreated, and held out my rain jacket so I could place my arms through the sleeves. For half a second I thought of protesting, but then I realized it would only insult him.

“Thank you, Teddy,” I hushed, after I slipped my arm through the right sleeve first.

There was a deep thunderous clap coming from outside the house. It quickly followed by a heavy pouring of rain.

“Do you have an umbrella?” Teddy inquired, as I slipped my left arm into the sleeve of my coat.

“No.”

“You can borrow mine. I know you will have to wait outside for your bus, and even then…” He stopped himself short once I turned around to face him. His cheeks took on a pale shade, almost fearful to be standing in front of me. He lowered his gaze with nervousness as he added: “You would have to walk home in the rain after you reach the bus stop and I couldn’t have you doing that.”

“You do like taking care of me,” I observed.

Lightning flashed, bouncing off the narrow corridor where we stood. The thunder grew louder, making a small part of me almost fearful of the sound.

“I want to see you safe,” he answered me with a nervous quirk of his head that let his eyes fall over the staircase. “But I should get the umbrella.” He turned around to open a small closet, a storage area where there was a small collection of his outer clothing and boots. A long black umbrella was pulled out of the closet and then he turned around to hand it to me. “Keep it.”

“I will give it back tomorrow.”

“No, really,” he emphasized. “Keep it.”

“Oh, I couldn’t.”

He merely smiled at my reply, a sign that I only amused him. Teddy outstretched his left hand to get a hold of the doorknob, and soon enough the door was pulled forward to let the heavy downpour crash against the front carpet inside his house. “Are you ready?”

“Do you mind if I run?”

“Only if I run with you,” he teased, and with a quick nod of his head we both jumped through the doorway and were immediately soaked by the onslaught of rain. I ran forward, unaware that Teddy was far behind still locking the door. I eventually heard him screaming out my name, and looked over my shoulder to see he was running as fast as he could. I laughed at the spectacle, seeing how soaking wet his dark brown hair was already. “Use the umbrella.”

“I can’t run in it.”

He took it from my hand and pulled it open, providing enough protection for us to hide from the rain. I moved my body closer to his own, noticing how my teeth were chattering from the frigid temperature of the water. It was warm outside, but the rain was icy cold whenever it touched my skin. I pulled up my hood more, and leaned into Teddy’s body to continue to hide myself from the rain. We walked at a brisk pace over the flat terrain, knowing we had a while to go before we reached the car that was further down the hill. I could hear the raging sea off in the distance, and the remote call of seagulls as they sought a place of refuge.

A hand was laid over my lower spine once Teddy leaned closer into me, bridging the last of the gap between us. I looked up to see his side profile, but his facial expressions gave nothing away.

“It’s so cold,” I blurted out. “My teeth are chattering.”

“I can hear it!” he yelled over the rain.

“Aren’t you cold? You don’t have a hood.”

“Not nearly as cold as you are.” He made sure to look downwards as he added: “I have heat in the car. That will warm you up.”

I nodded my head at him in acknowledgement, and then looked straight ahead to see a dip in the earth that immediately sped downwards. “The hill will be too steep,” I fretted.

“Let’s take the long way around,” Teddy suggested in a commanding tone of voice. His hand felt firm upon my back as he led me over to the left. We walked close together, trying to find shelter under our shared umbrella. The wind was howling over us, blowing so fiercely that the umbrella threatened to break. “I say we make a sprint for it.”

“Deal.”

“3-2-1…” The umbrella was pulled away from us and shut immediately. “Go!” We sprinted down the natural ebb of the hill, thankful that it was not as steep as other areas. I outran Teddy easily, though I suppose he let me do it since my boots had more grip on the wet grass. I reached his car first and then immediately pulled over my hood as I tried to suppress my laughter. Teddy ran into me from behind and bumped me right up against the side of his car. “My shoes have no grip,” he complained. “Sorry! Here, take this.” The umbrella was placed into my hand, and then he ran around the hood of the car.

It took a few minutes for him to retrieve his key and unlock my side of the door, so I had my umbrella open and was staring at the silhouette of his house that rested on the top of the hill. The clouds were so dark over the area, while the trees swayed violently from the stormy gale.

A sharp rap against glass drew my attention, and when I peered through the car window I could see Teddy signalling to me that the door was open. I closed my umbrella and shook off the raindrops before I yanked open the car door. “Get in!” shouted Teddy.

He watched me jump into my car seat and immediately toss the umbrella in the back. “I’m soaked.” I unzipped my jacket and balled it up before placing it behind my car seat as well. I was so distracted by this action that I didn’t realize Teddy was watching me the whole time. When I finally looked in his direction he looked spell-bound.

“Your hair is so curly,” he tried to explain. He reached out his hand ever so slightly before he retracted it backwards. “I am afraid mine isn’t as pretty.”

“Flat as a pancake,” I teased. He burst out in laughter at that, not expecting that answer at all.

“I look like a drowned rat,” he remarked. “I should take off my jacket too.”

I fell into my seat comfortably as he removed his outer layer. Teddy took care to fold his jacket neatly, exhibiting behaviour that was completely opposite to my own.

“This storm is terrible,” he voiced aloud with a worried look. “I think I should take you all the way home.”

“All the way?”

“You don’t object?”

“A little rain never killed anyone.”

“Are you willing to risk it?” he gibed. “And you’d be surprised.”

“Alright,” I submitted. “If it will please you.”

He never responded to my statement. The key was placed into the ignition and then Teddy started up the car. I looked at the darkened silhouette of his house once again, seeing the pale white glow in front of his house from an outdoor light.

“Will Luna be okay in this storm?”