Teddy's Schedule
Eli and Nate were meandering through Brooklyn after Eli complained about gas and needing to cut the joyride short. Eli had a busted wrist and Nate a short-circuited suit from a battle they got sucked into yesterday, so Billy had convinced them to cancel training today. Nate still couldn’t shake the feeling of anxiety, of Must-Do-Something-Must-Get-Better, but it was admittedly nice. Walking around, eating cheap food, making stupid conversation with an actual, real-life friend. There weren’t many of those in the year 3000.
Nate was about to make a joke around a chunk of half-chewed hotdog when Eli elbowed him. “Hey, isn’t that Tee?”
Nate followed Eli’s gaze. Sure enough, Teddy had his backpack slung over his shoulder and the same Varsity jacket he always wore (or “flaunted,” according to Eli). Nate quickly swallowed his food and waved. “Tee! Come here!”
Teddy glanced up, breaking out into a smile and jogging up. “Hey, what are you guys doing here?”
“Encroaching on your territory,” Eli quipped, face stoic.
Teddy pointed at him, a happy curl to his lips. “Stay away from my customers. I run a solid business.”
Nate scrunched his nose. “You’re a businessman?” He took another bite of his hotdog.
Teddy laughed softly. “No drug dealers in the future?”
“Guess the government is around for a reason,” Eli remarked.
“Oh, there are,” Nate dismissed.
Eli shook his head. “Fucking knew it.”
“Ah,” Nate sounded. “You should hang with us. We’re not doing anything, but like, in a fun way.”
Teddy’s smile drooped. “I wish I could.” Eli rolled his eyes, but Teddy said, “No, really. I got practice.”
“For basketball?” asked Eli. “How? We usually have training at 6.” Eli read his watch. “It’s 3.”
Nate’s eyebrows knitted together. “How long does basketball practice go for?”
“A while.” Teddy grimaced. “I actually have to leave early sometimes to meet up with you guys for training. I think Coach hinted last week he’s contemplating revoking my Varsity status.”
“Can he do that?” Eli questioned.
Teddy shrugged. “Not really up to finding out, honestly.”
“Teddy,” Nate said seriously. “Do you rest before you come to training, or do you just - come straight from practice every day?”
“Straight from practice.”
Eli’s face contorted into something vaguely freaked-out. “Do you, like, get any sleep? You got homework, don’t you?”
“Four hours, usually. Weekends are easier. And I do homework after training.”
Nate admired Teddy for it, but that was unwise. “You can’t work 24/7. I need you at full strength if we’re ever going to defeat Kang.”
“Can Kang not come up in every conversation with you?” Eli requested.
“He’s a major threat!”
“I get rest, Nate, I promise,” Teddy assured.
Eli snorted. “Yeah, how else would he have so many obnoxious inside jokes with Billy?”
“Oh, good. At least both you and Billy find the time to relax.”
“Ugh, I wish. I’m so exhausted after practice and training, but Billy is a night owl and by the time we’re alone he just wants to - ” Teddy abruptly stopped, jaw snapping shut.
“Holy shit,” Eli repeated.
Teddy pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. “I’m sorry. I must be more tired than I thought. Let’s just… pretend this conversation never happened.”
“I can do that,” Eli agreed, nodding.
Teddy checked his phone. “Oh, I really need to head on over to the meet,” he said hurriedly. “See you - hopefully - tomorrow. Um, later.” Teddy started away, a little too fast.
Eli and Nate looked at each other in solidarity. Nate bit his hotdog.
“Actually, I’m kind of glad he doesn’t have a social life,” Nate explained, enunciation garbled. “It means he’s not just avoiding me because I’m a loser. Is that bad?”
Eli shook his head, starting up their walk. “I’m still pretending we never saw Teddy.”
“Huh.”