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H e had been ten when she had started learning his face through the aftermaths of the fights, he’d get himself into.

At fourteen Teddy’s reaction to her touch barely surprised him. He made himself a regular nuisance to his sister when her friends were around, trying to be able to see her. His temper flared easily with no way to let off steam, as his hormones coursed through him. He knew he couldn’t have Beth; she was better than him and her family would never approve. His fights increased, allowing him to spend extra time with Beth. As the boys got older the fights got harder. In the latest fight Teddy had ended up with some road rash on his shoulder from grappling. Bethany had walked in on Teddy as he’d pulled his shirt over his head. “You can’t help with this,” Teddy started.

“Why? Because I can’t see?” her voice strained.

Teddy looked up, the anger in her voice surprising him. “You’re angry.”

The white in her eyes looked more like a sparkle at this point. “Why shouldn’t I be?”

Teddy reached for Beth’s hands, one curled on the bathroom counter, the other fisted at her side. Out of habit she let him take her hands, placing one on his right shoulder and one over his left eye. Her hands moved over him with experience, her eyebrows knit. “Why should you be? There wasn’t anything you could do.”

“Why do you keep doing this?”

“I asked first,” said Teddy.

“Don’t play dumb,” Beth answered, her hands coming off him. She turned to leave. Out of habit, Teddy grabbed the handle to the door and pulled the door open for her. Her hand brushed across his arm, around the edge of the door as it opened. She felt the goosebumps rise on Teddy’s arm. Her normal confidence froze and she turned slowly, “I?—”

“You’re too young to understand.”

“And you’re just a stupid boy.” She was back and turned on her heel.

He took a deep breath as she disappeared down the hall.