Insecurities and Paralyzing Self-Doubt.

[smile♥]

Teddy was awakened by several sets of harsh knocking on his front door. Upon looking out the peep hole, he saw two officers and immediately opened the door, forgetting he was only in a pair of boxers.

"Teddy Geiger?" The taller one asked.

"That's me."

"Do you know a Bailey Connor?" The same officer asked.

He nodded. "Yes. I do. Is something wrong?"

They pushed into his apartment and told him to put on some clothes, he had to be taken down to the station for further questioning.

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"Yes, I went there to surprise her that night, but that girl said she was off that night," He answered the same question for the fifth time. "We're good friends. I thought she'd like that I came here to surprise her."

"A Riles Bentley is also missing. Do you know him as well?"

Teddy shook his head. "I've never heard of him."

They nodded before exiting the room and leaving Teddy alone in front of the two-way mirror.

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I stood up and looked down at my feet. I still had my shoes, and I was still dressed in the same clothing I had been in the night before. I looked around the room to make sure there wasn't anyone watching before turning the nob and entering the rest of the house.

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Teddy sat at the same table he had been sitting at all day with his head on the table. He didn't know what time it was, but his eyes were heavy and all he wanted was to just fall asleep, or wake up from this ridiculous dream.

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It was a small house, much smaller than Gran's. It also looked like whoever last lived in it didn't care about taking any of their stuff with them; They also didn't care about putting the house up for sale either, no one had been inside this place in years.

I went to the kitchen and pulled out all the drawers, looking for something to protect myself, but all the knives were blunt butter knives that couldn't kill a wounded animal.

I did find, in the cabinet filled with half empty cereal boxes, a gun. I wasn't sure how to use it, but I stuck it in the back of my jeans before walking to the front and back windows to make sure no one was watching.

[smile♥]

I felt like a fugitive... Or someone on the show Lost when they would venture out into the jungle with their guns to protect them from "the others", which, if you thought about it was exactly what I was doing. This house was in the middle of the woods somewhere with nothing but a long dirt driveway that led to nowhere in particular, and I was sure that the ones - "the others" - the ones who put me here, would be searching for me in a matter of hours.

I only hoped that I hadn't lost my skills of climbing trees and hiding silently in them while I was living in New York.

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Soon, Teddy was escorted out of the room just as another male, who he assumed to be Riles, was being escorted in. They took Teddy to an officer's desk in handcuffs, just in case he tried anything.

"I'm telling you! I love her! Why would I do anything to hurt her?!" He yelled at the two officers, but they only gave him blank expressions.

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"Riley Bentley?" A new officer asked.

He nodded. "Yeah."

"When was the last time you saw Bailey Connor?"

"The other night... I went on a date with her, and then the next night I was sick. I guess I'm allergic to something I ate. I was up all night throwing up." He told them. "Why?"

"Because she's missing."

"What? She can't be missing. She's, like, the biggest caution freak." He said matter-of-factly.

"Well she is. You don't happen to know anything about it, do you?"

"Why would I hurt her?" He said, calmer this time. "I went on a date with her. I have feelings for her, I guess you could say. Now why would in anyone in their right mind hurt someone they had feelings for?"

They only looked at him before exiting the room and leaving him there by himself.

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I had no clue what direction I was headed... Or what direction the main road was in. I was completely lost. What was that thing I learned in elementary school about moss? Doesn't it only grow on the north facing side of trees? I thought to myself in an attempt to get myself un-lost.

It was getting colder, and I was guessing it was Wednesday evening, because I had been abducted Tuesday night. The sun was setting to my left, which meant I was facing north. Maybe I did know a little something about my cardinal directions.

Something was so familiar about these woods... About this house.

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"Sir, we've questioned everyone we can find, but we still can't get anything about where she is." Officer Moore said to the Sherriff later that night as they all sat in a conference room, discussing plans.

"I say we set up a press conference with the local news stations." Sherriff Jones said. "Get a recent picture from her Grandmother or whoever you can find one from. Only our department and locals for the search. They - and we - know the area, anyone else will just confuse us."

"And what about the suspects?" Officer Moore asked.

"Keep them separate. You can un-handcuff Mr. Geiger. I trust him."

----------

I was so scared to make any sound. It was so quiet in the woods at night. I had climbed a tree to avoid coyotes or any other animal that could kill me if they were hungry enough. I knew I wouldn'y get any sleep, I was too scared.

All I wanted was to be back in my warm bed dreaming about Teddy like I had the nights before.

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I set out just as the light shown enough for me to see. I had to get out of there. I could hear the sounds of a car from far in front of me, so I kept walking, careful not to snap any twigs underneath my feet.

I could see it now, the small white Honda Civic that had driven me all the way out here. I was glad that I had worn a brown shirt with green pants to work that night, now I blended in with the foliage.

Whoever was inside the car had just gotten out, to hike through the woods to the small, adandoned house. I wasn't sure if I should make a move or stay still. I didn't want to be noticed, and I was good at not being noticed.

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"Just let me go, please?" Teddy begged with the officer. "I'm telling you. I didn't do this."

"You came to her job the night before, right? You asked if she was there and when you found out she wasn't you left, right?"

"And that makes me a suspect?!" Teddy yelled. "I told you! I was going to surprise her!"

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"Please... just let... me... go." Riles said tiredly, unlike Teddy, he had been awake all night with the officers questioning him.

"We can't." Officer Moore told him plainly.

"And why not? I certainly didn't do it! What about that other guy out there? You haven't questioned him near as much as you've questioned me and he's not handcuffed!" He yelled furiously. "Am I more suspicious than him? You think because I come to the bar every night and drink a Cherry Coke makes me a d*** suspect?! Please... I am the least likely to hurt her."

"And that, is why we can't let you go."

"What?" He asked. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Your name is not Riley, correct?"

He nodded his head. "Yes it is."

"No. Your name is Walker Brown." The officer stated. "You've lied to us, to Bailey all along. So therefore, we know nothing about you."

He was silent for a minute. "Sounds like you know me then." He snapped before refusing to answer another question.

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As soon as the car sped away, I noticed the sign across the gravel road that read 'No Tresspassing'. I know where I am! I knew how to get home.

As a kid, I had been dared, along with several other thrill-seeking nine-year-olds, to stand on the porch of that run down shack for a minute, which was when the old hag living inside was supposed to come out and kidnap you so she could steal your face. Talk about lame, right?

I took off running, being careful to stop and hide behind signs every so often. I didn't care if I passed out when I got to the police station, I was running the whole way. At this point, there was no such thing as walking in my book.

[123456]

ilu jamie. what a great chapter.

[smile♥]

thank you, thank you

[alyssa duhhh]

holyyyyyyyyyy crap.
this is brilliant.
you amazing, amazing, girl you.

[Carie]

wow this is AMAZING!!!!!!!

i need more NOW!!!! lol
more?!

[smile♥]

By the time I reached the police station, I had decided that running was complete torture for anyone who wasn't a short-short wearing, pulse counting, headband wearing freak of nature. I wasn't sure how long I had been running, but as soon as I came through (more like fell through) the doors, I collapsed in the floor. My whole body felt like one big blob of jelly as I coughed out the cold air that had filled my lungs.

Willa, whose search party was the last to check in that night, had caught me under my arms and drug me to a chair, where I passed out from the lack of oxygen.

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"Ok Elvis," Hank and I laughed at the drunk man at the end of the bar who was convinced he was the re-incarnate of the one and only Elvis Presley. He decided that attempting to stand on top of the bar and swaying his hips in a jerky, drunked fashion was a good idea.

The bouncer thought otherwise and drug him outside, where he took his keys and placed them in the front of the car, while he stuck the man in the back so that he couldn't drive anywhere.

"So how are you doing?" Willa asked curiously as she smiled at me.

"I'm good." I smiled back honestly. The whole court thing was over now. The guys had went to jail, including "Riles" or Walker, who was the younger brother of one of the guys that held me hostage. He said his brother had raised him and that he couldn't stand to see such a great person go to jail. Great person my butt.

"What about that Teddy guy who came here to surprise you?" She asked curiously with her chin propped up on her hand.

"What?"

"You know, that guy that you know from New York, Teddy. He moved here to surprise you." She told me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"I... I didn't know that."

"Well, apparently he was a suspect for the first two days until they found Ri- I mean Walker." She shrugged. "He went through heck for you. I'm surprised you didn't see him that night you passed out."

"I didn't see anybody hardly. Everything was spinning." I told her.

"You should've seen the look on his face when he saw that gun you had." She laughed. "I thought that was pretty crazy myself. I just can't picture you using that."

"You'd be amazed at what people would do to live." I told her. "Not that I actually had to use it, but I would've if I had to."

She nodded in agreement. "I guess you never know until it happens, eh?"

I nodded. "So what did he say about me?"

"Teddy?" She asked and I nodded. "That he would never hurt you because you mean so much to him and that he was here to surprise you."

I nodded. I suddenly felt the urge to go back for a while. "So um.. He was the guy in the apartment down from yours?"

She nodded. "Yeah. He hasn't been there in days, though. Must've moved back, although I never saw any moving trucks."

"So what do you say about giving me a little vacation time?" I asked curiously. "I think I should go home for a visit."

"Well, seeing as how you've just been through a traumatic experience and now you want to take a break..." She said sarcastically, although it was true. I didn't want any time to go by before I went back to work, and she didn't argue, although she didn't agree. "I guess I can give you a couple weeks."

I smiled at her. "Thanks. So I'll see you in two weeks?"

She nodded. "That I will."

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Tallie's eyes lit up as I crossed into the airport. "Oh my gosh, you're here!" She squealed excitedly as she held her new baby girl, Lorelei.

"I'm here." I said and nodded as Jerome grabbed one of my bags and helped me carry it to the car.

"How was all that mess you went through?" Jerome asked me curiously.

"I'm good now. I'm just glad it's all over."

The ride home was mostly silent, mostly because they didn't want to wake the baby, until I finally spoke up. "How's Ted?"

I wasn't sure if they didn't hear me or if they just chose to ignore it. I cleared my throat this time. "How's Ted?"

They looked at each other questioningly before Tallie turned to face me. "He's seeing this girl. I don't know her name... She was at some coffee shop reading poetry one night and they talked for a while... blah blah blah..."

I nodded slowly. The sole reason I had came back here was to see him, and now he was with someone else?

"Her name's Bonnie." Jerome reminded Tallie and she nodded. "He likes the 'B' names I guess."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah ok. I'm sure it's just a coincidence."

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"MY CAR!" I squealed as I walked up my driveway and attempted to wrap my arms around the SUV. Brooke and my Mom rushed out to great me as if they hadn't seen me in years, when it had only been months. "Hey Mom, Hey Brooke." I greeted them each with lenghty hugs.

It was rather cold outside, being almost November now. I had dropped out of college, deciding it would be better for me to take a semester off with everything that had recently happened. But I did plan on going back.

They rushed me inside, where they greeted me with a couple cookies. I was surprised when I found out that Brooke had baked them. I never saw her as the baking type.

"Well, since Matt and I are getting married, I figured I might as well learn." She replied and I noticed a change in her. She wore less make up and dressed more... appropriate.

"When is it?"

"Next year sometime."

I nodded as I told them I was going to unpack my stuff and headed to my room.

I put in John Mayer's 'Heavier Things' CD before I did anything. I felt like that CD was the perfect CD for me at the time. Something about it was so relaxing, which was exactly what I needed... relaxation.

There were several vases of flowers, daisies, roses, tulips... From friends and co-workers of my Mom's.

After unpacking and eating a slice of pizza my Mom ordered, I settled in under the covers of my bed, where I didn't get much sleep. There was just too much to think about.

[alyssa duhhh]

teddy is stupid.
the end.

skdfhsjkdf i want to know what happens next.
write more
pronto.
=D

[Kaylie♥++]

AHHH sooo good. i loveee ittt! moree! =]

[live.love.laugh]

AAAHHHH!!!!!!! teddy can't see bonnie he need bailey!!
more please

[possibilities909]

please write more!!! we need more!! haha ur addicting

[curlykt]

ah! this is pure madness! lol Stupid Teddy...what the heck got into him?? ah! I love this story! I can't wait to read more! This is just getting too good...=D

[smile♥]

Thanks guys!
I'm about to work on some more!!

[[[ariane]]]

teddy is dumbbbbb.

[smile♥]

I had decided to move back to New York. Gran said she didn't mind and she understood how hard it was for me to be away from almost everyone I knew, and she promised to keep the house, just for me.

Christmas was over, and I had applied to a local college, that was twenty minutes away from my house.

"So what's your name?" A girl asked me as we sat in assigned groups that our teacher had given.

"I'm Bailey," I told her as I tucked my red hair behind my ears.

"Alyssa," She smiled at me. "And this is Darren. You'll have to excuse him, he's a little slow."

"Shut up Lys, I am not." He smirked at me. "She's my cousin."

"Oh, I see," I nodded as he winked at me as if her being his cousin made everything she had just said false.

We talked for a few minutes before the teacher took over once again and we continued our lecture about the American Government.

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Teddy had yet to talk to me - Not that I had actually went out of my way to "accidentally" run into him or anything. I wanted so bad to see him and ask him if everything Willa had said was true, but I was just too scared.

You'd think that after being kidnapped and escaping, I wouldn't be afraid of anything, but sure enough, I was still afraid of admitting my feelings to him.

"Bailey!" Alyssa giggled as she waved her hand in front of my face. "Hello! What did you put for number twelve?"

I laughed as I shook my head. "Sorry, I got uh... Congress."

"Ok. I think we should call it a night," Darren spoke up as he ran his hand through his straight, dark brown hair. It was perfectly straight and fell just below his ears. I couldn't help but notice that his skin tone was the exact same as Teddy's. "Why don't we go out?"

"Heck yeah!" Alyssa laughed.

"Party animal," Darren muttered under his breath, but she still heard him and gave him a playful punch.

"Ok, ok. I'm sorry." She apologized and gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek, to which he was thoroughly disgusted. "So, we'll meet you there, ok?"

"Wait. Where are we going?" I said confused and she began pulling me in the direction of my Durango.

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"You know, he totally likes you," She confessed as I fixed my hair.

"He?"

"Darren." She said. "Duh."

"Oh. Ok."

"So?"

"So what?" I laughed as I searched for my eyeliner, which she handed over as if she had read my mind.

"What do you think about him?" She asked like it was a chore to get anything out of me.

"He's cute."

She let out a huge squeal and began searching for her phone. "Oh gah! He's going to like this!"

I just rolled my eyes as I grabbed a couple twenties out of my purse, along with my license and cell phone and slid them into my pockets.

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I had to say that Darren was pretty good at dancing, which probably made up for my lack thereof. It was almost sexy when he danced; It was like a Justin Timberlake video, minus the scantily clad hookers hanging all over him.

"Let's get something to drink," He said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the bar and ordered all three of us something.

"I didn't know you were twenty-one," I laughed and he nodded.

"Yeah. This is my last year in college."

"Oh, that sounds fun." I nodded as I sipped at my drink. I wasn't sure what it was, even after making tons of them at the bar in Colorado for all the skanky sorority chicks, mostly because they just called it 'Ya know, the one with the cherries..'.

I was so enveloped in its taste that I almost didn't recognize the couple Alyssa was pointing out at a booth in the back of the room. I almost choked when I saw him with her.

"Oh come on," Alyssa laughed. "At least wait until you're drunk for that!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her as 'She Doesn't Get It' by The Format began playing throughout the club. I wasn't sure how, but I was already on my second drink.

"Oh I love this song!" I said as I stood up and grabbed Darren's arms, and pulled him into the huge crowd of people. Considering I didn't make it a habit of drinking alcohol in my spare time, I was probably drunk and had no idea about what I was doing, but before I knew it, I had fallen over my own feet and landed on Teddy's.

He didn't even noticed. Well, I'm sure he noticed, but when he turned to see what idiot had just fallen on his feet, he didn't so much as care that it was me, which infuriated me.

"Hey, I think we should get going," Darren said in my ear. "We have class tomorrow, remember?"

"I just want another one of those things..." I said as I grabbed the rest of Alyssa's and began drinking it.

"Are you done now?" Alyssa laughed as I nodded and we exited the club. "So do you drink often?"

I looked at her lazily and gave her a goofy smile, but didn't answer as we drove the rest of the way in silence.

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"Wow. You look like crap," Alyssa told me bluntly.

"Gee thanks." I said in a mock appreciative tone as Darren walked in and sat next to me.

"I'm sorry," he told me. "I shouldn't have bought those for you two last night. I mean, I could've been caught and we all would've been in trouble."

"Shut up Darren," Alyssa said. "I didn't mind."

"Well I do," I laughed, but then winced. "I'm hurting here."

"Like I said, I'm really sorry," he told me as he rubbed my back. Alyssa cleared her throat as if to signal some sort of code to me, and I couldn't help but laugh about what she had told me last night. "Can I make it up to you?"

I smiled at him and agreed, on the condition that there would be no alcohol in sight. Maybe I should just forget about Ted. I mean, he's happy, right?