Page 20 of Single Teddy
I spotted Bear at the back table, a huge smile on his face, his focus entirely on his drawing, and it warmed my heart.
For a kid who had just lost his mom, he was doing exceptionally well. Yes, he was still quiet, only speaking when spoken to and keeping to himself, but that was true for a lot of kids at that age. Hell, I even had students like that in higher grades. Some people were just more low-key than others, and there was nothing wrong with that.
Although there was an issue I needed to address with Teddy sooner rather than later.
I sighed again, focusing on the ceiling.
Oh, Teddy.
I’d caught sight of him outside, waiting to pick Bear up this past week, looking just as divine as he had when he “rescued” me. I knew it wasn’t anything even close, but in my fickle, imaginative mind, he was the Prince Charming who had saved me from my own clumsiness.
Thankfully, this infatuation had subsided enough to allow me to function. Not that my sister would let me forget him.
I tapped my phone screen and read her latest message.
Ruby:
Have you proposed yet?
I rolled my eyes. She was nothing if not persistent. I was starting to believe she’d scheduled messages every hour on the hour just to mess with me, but I did what I was a pro at. I ignored her and, with a chuckle, grabbed my notepad to remind myself to contact Teddy for a chat.
“No!” someone shouted, and then a cry erupted as the kids gasped in unison.
Shit!
I looked up and approached the activity tables where the kids had all gotten to their feet and were watching two sets of arms tangle with one another in the back.
“Leave him alone!” shouted another kid, and I finally had a clear picture of what was happening.
Bear was fighting with Valentin, one of the twins, and his brother Niko was trying to come between them.
“Get your own,” Bear whined and pushed Niko back.
“Don’t push me!” Niko cried and pushed Bear back.
Bear’s face went red, and he launched himself at Niko.
“Hey, hey, guys. What’s going on here?” I raised my voice and stepped between the two boys before a full fight broke out.
That didn’t stop Bear from raising his hands and punching my arm instead of Niko’s.
“Ouch!” I muttered under my breath and turned to him. “Bear, please, we don’t need to raise our hands or fight, okay?”
“He’s stupid!” Niko shouted beside me, and I glanced at him, putting my finger up.
“Niko! We don’t use that language, okay? Now, tell me why you’re fighting?”
I looked from Niko to Bear, but it was Valentin who spoke up.
“Nothing happened. I took a crayon and he went batshit crazy.”
I blinked, steeling myself.
Had he just said what I thought he had?
“Valentin! That’s not a nice way to talk. Let’s choose our words better next time, all right? Both of you.” I looked at both the twins.
They really looked alike. I was surprised that I’d learned to tell them apart in a matter of days since school started.
