"Alright kid, lay it on me. I know that you left before Jamie did. Now I thought you guys were gettin on well?" Ted inquired, sipping his beer as he poured some in Mandy's glass.
"Well, we were." She nodded slowly, her eyes sinking away from Ted's own and meeting the floor of the Crown and Armor.
"Well, Mandy, why don't you tell me what happened then?" Ted raised his eyebrows in curiosity.
"Promise you won't judge me?"
"Pinky promise, just like when you were a kid."
Mandy continued to tell Ted about everything that had conspired in the last 24 hours.
"Dang, you were absolutely not kidding about it being a hell of a story, huh?" Ted sipped his bear while Mandy practically downed her own.
"Ted, I've massively fucked up. What do I do, help me." She begged.
"Well now Mandy, you're being too hard on yourself. Yeah you messed up. You pushed a really nice guy away because it got too real. Can't say I blame you, been experiencing something similar lately. But, I think we both maybe just need to get over ourselves. Be honest about how we feel. Now, tell me how you feel about Jamie."
"I can't even explain it in words. When I'm around Jamie it's like... it's like how I used to feel playing football, honestly. Before Stanford, before high school even. It's how I felt when I scored my first goal when I was in first grade. I didn't care if my team won or lost, I just cared that I actually had fun and was enjoying myself. I was free. That's how I feel when I'm with Jamie... free." Mandy shook her head, downing the rest of her beer before quickly pouring another.
"Well, that's a beautiful way to put it. Sounds like something you might want to tell him, huh?" Ted raised his eyebrow at her, clinking his glass against hers as she went in for her second drink.
"Hm, depends, are you going to tell Rebecca how you feel?" She smiled knowingly.
"Now what the heck are you talking about missy. How do I feel about Rebecca, huh?"
"Well, you're obviously connected. How? I'm not sure, but it's always seemed to me that the universe has been pulling you both together. Ever wondered why?" Now it was Mandy's turn to raise her eyebrow.
"Haven't really gotten that far yet in all honesty. But hey, when I do, you'll be the first one I tell!"
"Maybe save that conversation for Rebecca, alright Uncle Ted?" Mandy smiled as she pounded down another beer.
"Fine, but make sure you talk to Jamie, too. I know it's hard, and I won't push you to do anything you may not be ready for yet, but try to think about what's best for you AND for him, alright kid?"
"I'm just scared like, what if we can't go back to how things used to be because I screwed up again?" Mandy sighed, shaking her head. "Maybe I was right, Jamie's better off without me."
"Now hold on missy, I am not hearing the voice of Mandy. No, this there is that anxiety monster that tries to take over my life too, isn't it? Well monster, you're not welcome here! Mandy, you have to try and remind yourself that you're not going to give into those fears." Ted's tone turned rather serious near the end, his eyes reading as sincere yet firm.
"Easier said than done," Mandy sighed, clutching her necklace.
"Don't I know it, huh? But the fact of the matter is that you're okay, and Jamie is okay, and you're going to be okay no matter what happens, right?" Ted smiled and Mandy did too. She could tell that Ted genuinely meant those words, and she was starting to believe them as well.
"Thanks, Uncle Ted, I'll try to work up the courage sooner rather than later." She nodded, finishing off her beer before pouring a glass of water and chugging it quickly. "And I suppose I'll slow down, too. I'm not going to lie, I think I'm still hungover from last night."
"Yeah, even though you still look beautiful, I was going to say you also look like you woke up in hell this morning." Ted chuckled, causing the girl to laugh once again.
"I believe I should go sleep off all of this drama. I'll see you tomorrow at training, yeah?"
"I'll be there with bells on! Not literally, it's not Christmas. Or is it? Man, time is a tricky little thing sometimes. Alright, bye Mandy, take care." Ted finished, sitting at the table running their conversation through his mind for the third time. "Tethered together, huh?"
//
Was gonna wait till tomorrow or Wednesday to publish this chapter but I got too excited 😆 also idek if I properly ship Tedbecca but I do love the concept of them being soulmates even if it's platonic, so I threw them in anyways! Love you all!! 🫶
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where it goes
FanfictionON HOLD// Mandy Donnelly was feeling stuck. She lost her passion for football years ago, but a trip to visit her 'Uncle Ted' might be just what the American needs. She originally was just stopping by for the visit, but Ted and Rebecca had other pla...
