Ted: Part 24

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"It was quite hard to get a lead on her but we managed." Dad said and he dropped a huge file on the table. It startled me and I looked up from my bowl of frosted flakes. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and peered up at him.

"Dad were you up all night with this?" I asked. He had bags under his eyes that were worse than mine.

"No, no," he waved off my concerns. "I was up with one of the serial killer cases. We're close to finding the suspect. His MO is difficult so it's hard to pin him. Or her."

Dad's FBI talk almost put me back to sleep so I focused on what I needed to hear. "So all the information for Rosanna is here?"

"We were able to track her movements up until about 3 years ago. Then her trail goes cold. But that shows her last known location so that could be a good start. It's listed that she has friends and family there."

"Where is it?" I asked.

"Paris, France."

I looked up. "So she left and traveled the world and then settled back home?" I picked up the fat file and flipped through its pages. Pictures of Rosanna came up matching the one I saw in Johan's picture. There were some with a small child and some with a tall man with tanned skin and jet black hair. Oddly, in some of the pictures with Johan I saw those green eyes that I know and love but in some his eyes seemed hazel, almost brown.

"Seems so." Dad said. He grabbed a granola bar from the pantry and straightened his tie then turned around and spread his arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Looking sharp dad." I told him.

"Good. We're meeting with the head of the Bureau today and I need to make a good impression."

"Knock 'em dead." I said, turning my attention back to the file - and my breakfast. As soon as dad left the room my phone buzzed as I was going to answer Paul moved my now empty bowl of cereal from in front of me and my head promptly fell onto the table. "Hello?" I grumbled.

"Are you still sleeping?"

"What do you expect? It's so early!"

"It's noon." I could practically hear Cassidy smirking behind Johan.

"Well it's early during Summer."

Johan snickered. "Well pick yourself up babe. Mind if I stop over later?"

I sat up. "You're back?"

"Yeah. Remember I said I'll be home on Tuesday?"

"It's Tuesday already?" I groaned.

"Hey don't act like it's a bad thing that I'm back!"

"It's not! But the damn days are going by so fast." I sighed and moved to stand. "Of course you can come by later babe. What time?"

"Maybe around 3. The girls are out with mom and dad but I still have to tidy up before they get back."

"Alright. I'll see you then." And after a thought I added: "love you."

"Awwwwwww" I could head Cass squealing.

"Love you too babe." Johan said over her high pitched voice and then hung up.

I looked at the clock. It was only noon so I had three hours. The first thing I had to do was get my laptop. I stood up from the chair, slightly wobbling, and made my way toward the stairs. I didn't get any sleep last night. I rarely ever got bad dreams but this one haunted me. And now I couldn't even remember what the stupid thing was about. When I got to my room I picked up my laptop from my bed...then stared at it. King sized memory foam mistress with soft pillows and a nice warm blanket......

I drew myself away and sat down at my desk. I couldn't go back to sleep. I opened up and looked up tickets to Paris. Once I found a price I liked I saved the page and closed down my laptop. I had to get permission from Mr. And Mrs. Vasquez before I took Johan anywhere. I grabbed my car keys and texted Johan to meet me at the food court in the mall at three instead. I had shopping to do. The first thing I did was pull up Mrs. Vasquez's number and put it on speaker.

"Hola Ted! ¿Comó esta?" She said as she answered the phone.

I pulled a few words from my limited Spanish vocabulary.
"Muy bien. Gracias."

"Something on your mind?" She asked.

"Yes, but it's a secret. Can you keep this from Johan?"

"What is it?"

"I found his mother."

Silence.

"Well. I didn't actually find her but I got her last known location. And it's in France. I want to take him to Paris this summer."

More silence. Then- "You know, I think that's a good idea. He's been missing her for so long...He deserves answers. And it'll be lovely for him to return to his home town. He's been saving up for that trip for years."

"I've set everything for him because I want him to be surprised. I'm getting him a suitcase and I'll pack clothes in it and everything. All I need from you is his passport."

"All right, I'll get that. And thank you Ted. You do so much for him."

"I'll do anything for him." I said quietly.

After I hung up with Mrs.Vasquez I pulled into the mall parking lot and got out of the car. First thing first, I bought a big suitcase. Then thank God I've seen his clothes or else I wouldn't know what clothes to buy him at all. I picked out a bunch of different clothes taking care to avoid the blacks. I moved from store to store and two hours later I felt like I was going to promptly collapse. How do girls shop like that?! Walking to different stores for hours on end? My legs wanted to collapse and my arms were struggling against the weight of the bags. I dumped the load in my car and sighed. At least that was out of the way but now I had to go home, book a hotel room, get dinner reservations and a tour guide because we aren't just gonna sit around all day. I was still thinking and making my way over to the door of my car when I voice stopped me.

"Hey Ted." Said a troubled looking Jake.

"Jake." I said. I hadn't spoken to him since our brawl at school.

"Can we talk?"

I felt like saying no would be really childish so I bit back a snarky response that was building and said, "sure."

"I-I never meant...maybe," he scratched his head. " I was outta line that day."

"No kidding."

"I just wanted to apologize." He looked sheepish. "Can you forgive me?"

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to. Find Johan and tell him you're sorry." Saying that was like pulling the pin on a grenade.

Jake's face instantly shut down and anger took over his features. "I'm not apologizing to that freaking nerd!"

"What's your problem with him?!" I shot back.

"He's a worthless nobody! Remember that Ted? Don't act so nonchalant! Beating him up was your favorite pastime!"

"That was before I realized he is my soul mate and before I realized what an asshole I was!" We were shouting now and heads were turning our way but I ignored it.

"Yeah and now that your little freaking hearts glowed you're all lovely dovey aren't you? We'll I'm sorry I can't see the good side of life with rainbows and roses right now." He spat at me.

I leaned back against my car and pinched the bridge of my nose. "You wouldn't understand. You haven't met your soul mate yet. They change you. You can't help but see anything but good and-"

"Oh spare me the bull crap. You've been so happy that all you do is run around with your little boyfriend.

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because after you started going around with him you left me in the dust! I covered for you when you went out and waited for you to remember my freaking existence like a little bitch!"

"So you're problem is with me! Why act like Johan is the root of all evil?!"

"Because he took my place!"

"He's my boyfriend Jake! You would have still been my best friend if you didn't lose your ever loving mind!"

"No! I mean I should be the one that you love! Not him! Because I'm the one that's been in love with you since 6th grade!" Jake was still shouting but now tears were streaming down his face.

The words hit me square in the chest like an electric shock. "You.....you what?"

Jake was clenching his fists so tight he was shaking. "If it was different....if he wasn't your soul mate...would I have had a chance?"

"I-I........if he wasn't my soul mate I'd still be into girls." I said softly.

Jake nodded solemnly. "Guess it was just a lost hope." He turned.

"W-wait! Jake!" I said, but he had already climbed in his car and drove off.
*******************
I waited for someone to tell me what the heck just happened. I was sitting in my car with my head rested against the steering wheel, parked in front of my building. Jake? In love with me? For 6 years? I groaned and sat up. A ways down from my car I spotted Johan's silver camaro. I didn't want to keep him waiting so I got out and dragged myself inside. I wish I could ignore what Jake said. Johan is my soul mate and I don't and never will want anyone else. But I just felt so freaking bad for my ex best friend now. I silently prayed he'll find his soul mate- and soon.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." I called when I walked into the living room."

"No big deal." Johan said. He turned his head and smiled at me. "Mayrse kept me company." And indeed she did. I walked over to the couch to see her fast asleep and curled up on Johan's lap.

"You're great with kids." I said. His curly black hair was falling into those beautiful bright green eyes and immediately all thoughts of Jake flew out of my mind. "I'll relieve you of this load." I laughed quietly and carefully picked up my sister. She didn't normally take naps during the day but I had a sneaking suspicion that she's been staying up watching Frozen some nights. I could swear that Olaf's song has worked its way into my dreams. Hence the nightmares probably. When I set her in bed she sniffed and rolled over.

"Five more minutes Teddy."

"All right beautiful. Five more minutes." I chuckled and backed out of the room and quietly closed the door. I went back downstairs and promptly collapsed next to Johan. I snuggled up against him and buried my face in his neck. "I need sleep. I got such an early start today."

"What am I? A human pillow?" He asked. He took my hand and ran his thumb across the back of it. "Ted you woke up at 12."

"That's early during Summer." I said persistently.

"You're just lazy."

"Am not." I said looking up at him. He turned toward me but didn't get a word in because I had pressed my lips against his. He immediately melted into me and wrapped his arm around my neck deepening the kiss. We barely came up to breathe and soon the kiss got heated. My fingers wound into his hair and he parted his lips enough for my tongue to slip in. He groaned into my mouth and the sound turned me on. I gently pulled him down until he was laying in the couch and I was hovering over him. I moved from his mouth and began kissing his neck.

"Ted..." He sighed. His hands slipped from my neck down to my waist and then under the hem of my shirt. His cool fingers running up my abs made me shudder and I reclaimed his lips in another passionate kiss. I wanted to take a bold step and moved my hands to his pants but then he went still. His hands came over mine and I moved them away and back up to his face. If he wasn't ready for that I wasn't going to force him.

After 5 minutes - or 15, who knows - we broke apart again. I collapsed next to him breathing as heavily as he was. I turned toward him and buried my face in his chest, the exhaustion from earlier coming back. Johan wrapped his arms around me and stroked my hair until I fell asleep.

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