Insecurities and Paralyzing Self-Doubt.

[[[ariane]]]

teddy is a dummyyyyyyy.
more now please?

[curlykt]

I don't normally read fan fics for some reason, but I totally love this story! I can't wait to read more! great job!

[smile♥]

"Bailey!" Teddy called as I walked into the cafeteria alone later that day. Tallie had a dentist appointment and had abandonded me until practice.

I gave him a curious look and walked over to where he was sitting, also alone. I searched the cafeteria for his new friend, Samantha - I wasn't into causing a scene.

"Hey?" I asked, still confused as to why Samantha was on the other side of the room.

He smiled at me as I sat across from him, but then gave me an odd look. "Is something wrong?"

I squinted my eyes a little and shook my head. "No.. I was just wondering why you weren't sitting with Samantha..."

"What?" He laughed. "Oh. Did you hear that too? No seriously, we just went to the mall together."

"Oh."

"Yeah, see... She called me up and was like 'Let's go to the mall' and rather than burst her air-filled, cheerleading ego, I just said yes. I had been sitting around the house all day anyway." He explained and nodded as he rested his arms on the table.

"Oh." I said again. "Ok... So guess what I got."

"What?" He said, mocking my enthusiasm.

"Season One of Lost on DVD." I clapped my hands. It was something I really got excited about because I had never seen the show, but always I had always wanted to.

"Oh sweet. We should watch it sometime."

I nodded. "We could do it tonight. After practice I don't have anything to do. I mean, if that's ok with you."

He smiled. "Sure. I'll be there around six."

"Cool." I smiled and stood. "I need to go to the library. There's a book report in my English class and I have yet to find a book."

He laughed. "I know what you mean. I got mine yesterday. You should check out that used book store by the mall. It's got a bigger selection."

I nodded and smiled at him for the millionth time. "Ok, thanks. I'll have to do that after practice."

He smiled back and waved as I started walking away. He was so cute when he smiled like that.

----------

"You so like him!" Tallie accused me as Dana, the other girl in our stunt group, and I lifted her into the air.

"Shut up, I do not!"

"Oh come on." She rolled her eyes as we tossed her and then caught her in our arms. "You buy season one and all you say afterward is 'Oh man I have to tell Ted about this. He'll love it!' Then, you invite him over?" She looked at Dana.

They both looked at me and nodded. "Crush."

"Shut up!" I said as we did a few more before joining the rest of the competition squad to practice our dance. Apparently the last competition wasn't our last. Coach Barrett was always so absent-minded it was a wonder she got our names right half the time.

"Good job, Bailey!" She clapped as the mix ended. She was referring to the fact that I was the only girl who wasn't afraid to do a full and land it without falling over at the end. She looked at Samantha, who happened to be co-captains with another girl named Jolie. She wanted to be Angelina Jolie so bad it was sick. "Now, if you two can get it down it'll make the routine even better for Saturday. We're the only team with three first place titles and I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to keep it that way! So far the only people trying hard enough are the Juniors. You can all thank Samantha and Jolie for these laps you guys are going to be doing before you leave!"

I groaned and shot them both death glares at their backs as I secretly wished my eyes were made of lasers.

----------

"You like him, you like him," Tallie teased.

"What are we twelve?" I laughed and she threw her body back onto the floor dramatically.

"I am so sore." She whined as she sat back up. "I think my butt is stuck to the ground."

I rolled my eyes and stood up so I could pull my sweat pants on over my shorts, then held my hand out to help her up. "Did you get your book for English yet?"

She nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"I was going to see if you wanted to go to the used book store by the mall with me."

"What's wrong with the library?" She laughed as she picked her bag off the floor. "And you're my ride anyway, so it's not like I have a choice."

"Oh yeah, that's right." I laughed the picked up my bag as well. "Well there's not anything I care to read in the library."

"And how did you find out about this place?" She asked curiously. "Oh wait! Let me guess! Teddy?"

I rolled my eyes as my cheeks started to get warm. "Yes."

"I knew it! You like him!" She said as she got into the passenger seat and started clapping her hands. "I bet you two were making out and going at it like two gerbils while I was at the dentist!"

I looked at her and my mouth dropped open. "What? Where do you come up with this?" I laughed at her.

"I have my sources." She said as she pretended to brush her shoulders off. I shook my head as we continued to the book store.

----------

"Bailey!" My Mom called as I walked in the door. "Your cousins are here."

Oh fun. I got to introduce Teddy to the two most annoying cousins on the face of the Earth.

Shayla and Lila were homeschooled, so everytime they came over, they wanted to know about all the gossip that they didn't get to partake in.

"I'm getting a shower!" I called and ran up the stairs to avoid them the best I could.

----------

Upon returning to my room, they were both lying on my bed, flipping through my magazines. I rolled my eyes.

"Hi guys."

"Oh my gosh, Hey!" Shayla squealed and ran up to me and wrapped her arms around my neck in a death grip, followed by her sister. "So how is school?"

"Good." I told them.

"You still don't have a boyfriend?" Lila asked, sounding a little disappointed.

"I told you she wouldn't. She's too quiet. She has no edge to her like Tallie." Shayla said. I was speechless. I hadn't even had a chance to respond. When had they become so... Opinionated about me and my love life -slash- social life?

"Guys." I looked at them and they gave me curious looks as there was a knock on my door. I turned to see Teddy. "Hey Ted."

"Oh so she does." Lila said. "I told you I'd be right!" She as she punched her sister in the shoulder.

"Ow! Cut it out you lumberjack!"

I rolled my eyes. "These are my cousins Shayla and Lila." I told him. "This is Teddy. We're going to watch Lost in the living room."

"Oh I so love that show!" Lila said. "Boone was so hot."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks Lila. Now, you two can just... Talk amongst yourselves." I said as I quickly pushed Teddy out of the room and shut the door behind me.

"What was that?" He laughed.

"They're homschooled." I smiled and he nodded as if that really did explain it all. Oh, tonight was going to be interesting...

[Carie]

finally im caught up...and i love it!

[alyssa duhhh]

ha im homeschooled.
thanks.
i guess it means im a nerd.
=D

MOREEEEEEE!

[smile♥]

^^ Haha. no! Just some of the ones I've met have been like...
...Sheltered and deprived...
Seriously... But yeah... I'm just like, blabbering now, but I didn't mean to offend you or anything... Sorry

[Kourtni]

love it. can't wait to read more.

[Kaylie♥++]

<3!

[alyssa duhhh]

lmao jamie, im not even offended.
i wasn't homeschooled until i started not being able to stay in one place for long.
soooo like 2 years ago.
i know how to be social.
=D

but you should still put more upppppppp
pronto

[curlykt]

geez Alyssa, way to go yelling at the author! jk jk! lol

and i agree, I can't wait for more!

[Cristina]

I love it!
can't wait for more!

[live.love.laugh]

more more more! haha i love it!!

[smile♥]

Lila and Shayla had pretty much ruined my night. It was supposed to be my night with Teddy... Watching Lost. I had planned for this night to be the night where I finally figured out how I really did feel about him, because I thought I liked him and I knew I wanted him as a friend... But I could see myself falling towards the actual relationship side as well.

Lila had decided that it was be "fun" to join us and comment on every incident on the show. It made it impossible for me to enjoy anything.

Then there was Shayla. Lovely Shayal... And I say that with a slight hint of sarcasm. She thought Teddy was cute. All she did was talk to him the whole time. I was pretty sure she had weaseled his number out of him by the end of the night.

To say I was mad was an understatement. I'm sure that if we were all cartoons, my ears would be red and steam would be coming out of them. Finally, I made my way to the kitchen to escape everyone... Even Teddy, because as far as I was concerned, he didn't notice.

"I'm so mad," I told Tallie over the phone. "Like, I invited Ted over here, right? And I'm, like, trying to figure out if I like him like him and Shayla and Lila are over for the weekend with their Mom and all they want to do is either comment on Lost or flirt with him."

"I'm sure it's not that bad." Tallie tried rationalizing. "And I think you've figured out whether you like him or not."

I wasn't sure what to say to that, but I knew she was right. I had been so mad that he wasn't talking to me and that it wasn't just me and him in the room, that I didn't realize. I let out a small laugh. "Yeah. I guess I have."

She giggled before responding. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Bye."

"Hey, Bailey." Teddy called as he stood in the doorway to the kitchen. "I need to get going."

I nodded. "Ok. I'll walk out to your car with you." I followed him out and noticed that my cousins had exited the room.

"So your cousins are... crazy."

I nodded. "Yeah, they get that way."

"Especially Shayla. I swear, she wouldn't stop talking." He laughed. "But it's cool. I liked meeting them... Part of your family, I mean."

I nodded.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow," He smiled and wrapped his arms around me in a hug. I was a little surprised at that.

"See ya." I smiled and began my way back to the house. I paused on the porch and looked back, but he was already turned around. I sighed as I continued to my room, where I had to face Shayla, who was waiting for me in my room.

"So that boy is totally cute." She squealed as she bounced up and down in her pink, silky pajamas.

"Yeah." I said as I began searching for my flannel pajama pants.

"So are you two dating or anything?"

"No."

"Oh. So you don't care that we're going on a date tomorrow night?" She asked and I froze.

"You're not going on a date with one of my friends." I told her.

"Uh, yeah I am." She smirked at me and stood up. "Just thought I'd let you know."

"Just thought I'd let you know," I mocked as she exited my room and I shut the door roughly behind her.

I didn't know what to do. Shayla, my cousin was going on a date with Teddy, the guy I wanted to have a relationship with. I changed clothes and washed my face before I made my way to my bed.

I knew I wasn't going to get much sleep, so I stared at the ceiling until I heard Brooke come in with Matt, who was also in town for the weekend.

"Hey Matt." I said in a more sad mood than I had planned.

"What's wrong with you?" They both asked at the same time.

I couldn't help but let out a little giggle. "Nothing."

"OH!" Brooke said excitedly. "Did I tell you?"

I shook my head and made a confused face. "Matt is moving up here with his younger brother. You remember Spencer, right?"

Oh boy, did I remember Spence. He was Matt's step-brother. I had had a huge crush on him when we lived in Alabama. He had dark hair and blue eyes just like Ted, but his hair was a little shorter.

"Because he sure does remember you," Matt smirked. "What was the deal that time you two had to go get a bag of ice on Christmas Eve?"

I rolled my eyes. So I had made out with Spencer. I'm sure anyone else who wasn't blind would've done the same thing. "Absolutely nothing."

"Well it sure did take a long time," Brooked added to the teasing.

"It was Christmas Eve. Most stores close at, like, six on Holidays." I reminded her as I grabbed my glass of juice and headed back to my room.

I realized it was almost four in the morning and wondered how I had managed to not even sleep for a minute. I decided at least attempting a nap would help and buried myself under the covers once again.

Tomorrow was going to be heck.

[Kourtni]

amazing. can't wait for more.

[live.love.laugh]

ahh spense and teddy!! how could her cousins do that? more please!!