by Bryan Cohen
Chapter 49
Natalie's eyes fluttered open. She felt slow and tired, but the pain had left her back. It took her a second to realize where she was. The beeping machine to her left and the blue paper gown gave it away. She looked down at her hand and saw that someone was holding it. She squeezed and Ted woke up.
"You're up."
Natalie remembered flying through the air, as if it was a dream. She knew it wasn't. She knew that Ted possessed great powers now. Rapid healing wasn't one of them, unfortunately, and he had several bandages covering the wounds he'd endured that day.
"Who looks worse, you or me?" Natalie asked.
"You mean generally?"
She smiled. Natalie didn't have the energy for much else. It was tough enough trying to string two thoughts together under the pain medication.
"Everybody make it?"
Ted nodded. He looked different than he had two days earlier. He seemed harder than before. It was like he'd finally found the backbone Natalie had wished for.
"Everybody made it. Except for the bad guys. The deputy disappeared."
"I shouldn't have–"
Ted stopped her.
"If it wasn't for you, we never would have found out who... killed Erica. He would still be in town and anyone could be in danger. No matter what your intentions were, it all worked out in the end."
Natalie sighed.
"I guess so."
When Natalie saw Erica with a gun pointed to her head, there was no hesitation. She was proud of herself for that. Teenage love wasn't worth someone getting killed over. But she was still ashamed that she considered blackmailing a classmate. She resolved to shut those kinds of feelings down if she started to get crazy thoughts.
"I was trying to hurt Erica, but I guess Erica isn't Erica and you aren't the same boring Ted."
Even Ted's laugh was a little different. Perhaps it was the stress of the day, but he seemed to chuckle softer, instead of his typical boisterous cackle. She knew right then that everything was going to change.
"I don't think I'll have much time for boring," he said. "There are a dozen news shows that want to do interviews with me next week. I'm supposed to guest judge on a cooking show, and I've had three reality TV pitches."
Natalie spied Dhiraj poking his head into the room. He didn't seem altered one bit by the events of the day.
"Did I hear something about money?" he asked. "Natalie!"
Ted released his grasp of Natalie’s hand and Dhiraj came in for an awkward hug. She smiled up at him.
"I saw you stab a guy," she said.
"He had it coming," he said. "I knew you wouldn't die. You're so damn tough, you can even handle all the backstabbing of high school."
Natalie laughed and small burst of pain shot through her. She ignored it. The laugh was worth the pain.
"What'd Jennifer think?"
Dhiraj was already happy to see Natalie; he lit up like fireworks at the mention of Jennifer's name.
"She's been all over me since we came here. She was hugging me and she fell asleep on my shoulder. It was amazing."
Ted patted him on the back. Natalie liked having the three of them together again.
"Now, don't take advantage of her," Ted said.
Dhiraj feigned surprise.
"Ted Finley, I would never. I'm going to take her home, wait the requisite three days and then I'm going to ask her out."
Natalie pictured her friend creating a spreadsheet of the best times of the day to ask Jennifer out. He'd probably get someone to write a very complex algorithm to determine the better of two particular hours. It was nerdy and ridiculous, but it was Dhiraj.
"Hey, come here," she said.
As Dhiraj bent down next to Natalie's head, she kissed him on the cheek.
"No reality shows," she said.
Dhiraj laughed. The sound of laughter was exactly what she needed to feel better.
"I'm going to visit you tomorrow," Dhiraj said. "For now, I'm going to ask the sheriff if I can ask out his daughter. Wish me luck!"
Ted and Natalie did, as he left the room.
"Does he know you only have to ask a father’s permission when you want to marry someone?" Natalie asked.
"It's possible that he's going to do that first, just to get it out of the way. You know Dhiraj. He's a planner."
Natalie looked up into Ted's eyes. There was so much kindness behind them. It was no wonder he was picked to protect the world.
"I'm sorry I pushed you up against the periodic table and that it went viral," she said.
He moved back toward her. Even through the medication, she could still smell the laundry detergent Ted's parents used on his clothes.
"And I'm sorry I kissed Erica less than a day after we broke up," he said.
A question came to mind that burned at her. She figured she could use the drugs as an excuse if it was too forward.
"Are you going to date, Erica?"
Ted looked pained to answer.
"I don't know. She's like 300 years old or something."
"And she's totally out of your league," she said.
The two of them laughed together. Ted took her hand again. Butterflies formed in her stomach.
"I don't know what's going to happen with all of this," he said. "One thing I do know is that you and I are going to protect each other. I've got your back."
Natalie didn't want him to leave, but she didn't want to sound needy, either. She held Ted's hand tighter.
"And I've got yours."
Ted let go and came in for a hug. Natalie considered trying to kiss him. She watched herself putting her arms around Ted and bringing his face toward hers. She accepted the hug instead and let him walk out the door.
"I love you, Ted Finley," she said when the room was empty. "I hope you don't get yourself killed."