She stopped and turned to face him, tears in her eyes. "No! How could you??"
"But..."
Sweetheart interupted, refusing to listen, "I've had it with you! I never want to see you again!!" She spun back around and swiftly disappeared out the front door to the school.
Teddy lowered his head, he felt awful. "Congrats asshole, not only did you screw up your life once again, but you brought someone else down with you too." A few nosey ponies had been watching through the small windows in the cafeteria, one ventured out.
He approached cautiously, "Teddy?" Ace had figured out how all this happened, he had shared his realization that morning with the wrong pony. Mack, being his usual jackass self, had gone and blabbed to everyone. Ace couldn't go back now, the damage was done. But maybe he could try to explain, help make things right again. He doubted it, but he had to try.
"Haven't you fuckin' said enough?? Get the fuck away from me!" Teddy started to walk away, without even looking at his former friend. He couldn't handle any more confrontations that day without completely losing it. By this time a small group of ponies had gathered outside the cafeteria doors, positive there was going to be a fight.
Ace just couldn't let it end there, "Look, I know you're pissed, and you have every right to be. But will you just let me explain?" Teddy kept walking away, he was determined not to settle this at school. Anything that could possibly jeopardize his graduating in a few weeks would have to be avoided at all costs. He already had enough riding against him in his records. "Goddamnit! Will you stop and listen to me?!?"
"Ooooo...he's askin' for it!" Spinner whispered to all within range.
Teddy stopped and walked back toward Ace, barely hanging on to the last shred of his sanity. Ace didn't know quite what to expect. In all the years he had known Teddy, he'd never seen him act this way before. Ace started to take a step back, just as Starlight interceded.
"Ace, Teddy, this is not the time nor the place!" She placed herself between them, she just couldn't watch them destroy their friendship like this. Everyone needed some time to cool off. Teddy reluctantly backed off, realizing she was right. He walked out of the school and back to his apartment, he needed some time alone.
Teddy locked the door to his room and plopped down on his bed. "Why does shit like this happen to me? Where did I go wrong? Maybe we should've kept waiting, maybe it was too soon...no, she wanted to do it. She was the one who initiated, so obviously she wanted to. How did everything get so screwed up? Maybe she's right, maybe I'm just a hopeless jerk, with even bigger jerks for friends..."
Later on that night, Teddy gave in to the urge to join the party his roommates were throwing outside. They didn't care if it was in the middle of the week, they were all college guys. The rules changed once you were in college, hell, rules didn't exist! It was the only way he knew of to totally drown out everything that was going on, to enjoy some time where he didn't have to think about anything, or suffer the consequences. Sweetheart could care less what he did with his life now.
