I Never Knew

By: Gaby (edwardcrazy9713)

I couldn’t be here. I wasn’t ready yet. I’ll go back and stay with Elmo again. He
offered.
I picked up my unpacked suitcase and rushed out into the wintery air of
Harlowton, Montana. I tossed my bags into the trunk of my Mazda and jumped into the
driver’s seat. I had to get out before the memories came back. I slammed on the gas pedal
and reversed out of the driveway. I pulled onto the parkway and was going well over the
speed limit.
“Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way.”
I dug through my purse looking for my phone. I quickly took my other hand off
the steering wheel to unlatch my purse. I placed it back on the steering wheel and peeked
at the road to make sure I was still in my lane. I dug deeper into my purse, getting
frustrated.
There was a deafening honk and then I began to flip. I closed my eyes and
whimpered as the glass of my windshield broke and sliced my forehead. The airbag had
deployed. I pathetically tried to pat it down, but there were two cracks that caused me to
scream. My arm and leg had broken. The last thing I had heard was a man’s faint voice.
“Miss? Can you hear me? I need someone to call nine-one-one! Now!” Then I lost
consciousness.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep
I attempted to reach over and shut off my alarm, but there was something holding
me back. A warm hand touched my arm and my eyes fluttered open.
I looked around the white room, my mind not registering my location. My eyes
met the bright blue eyes of a muscular, blonde man.
His fingertips caressed my cheekbone and he pulled a chair to my bedside.
“How are you feeling?” He asked in a soft tone. His voice was so soothing and
relaxed.
“I’m fine, thanks. Who are you?” I asked, perplexed. I pulled myself up into a
sitting position. He smiled revealing a perfect set of white teeth. He was cute, but why
was he here?
“Theodore Hanks, but you can call me Teddy.” He held out his hand towards
mine and I shook it.
“I’m--” I began.
“Chandra Odetta Choverse.” He finished, interrupting me. I raised an eyebrow at
him and he flipped open my wallet.
“Thank you very much.” I said sarcastically, snatching it from his hands. Hair fell
in front of my eyes and he brushed it behind my ear.
“So Chandra Odetta—“
 “It’s Chan.” I snapped.
“Like Sean?” He asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah, but I spell it C-H-A-N.”
“Nice. So Chan Odetta—wait. So your initials are C-O-C? Like cock?” He
chuckled so loud that I began to get a headache. I let him laugh it out and waited a while
after he finished.
I sighed and said, “Yes, like cock. Grow up. How old are you?”
“Twenty five.” He smiled a crooked smile and I rolled my eyes.
“And why are you here?”
“Look, drop the twenty questions. I saved your life don’t you have something to
say?” He asked, fluttering his eyelashes and moving his hand dramatically. I laughed and
nodded.
“I guess you’re right. Thanks Teddy. So, why are you here?”
He chuckled and shrugged.
“You don’t know?” I asked.
“I don’t have a clue. But something’s telling me to stay. So I am.” I glared at him
and looked away.
“Who hit my car?” I asked, still not making eye contact with him.
“Some old drunk douche.” I laughed at his term.
“But you were seriously speeding too. Where were you planning on going that
was needed for you to go ninety in a sixty zone?”
“No where. I was trying to leave somewhere.” I kept my eyes focused on the IV
in my right wrist.
“Is there a reason for that?”
“Yes, but I don’t assume that’s your business.” I growled.
“I guess not.” He murmured. “You broke your left wrist and your left ankle. Plus
you had to get stitches on your forehead, ‘cause the glass left its mark there.”
I raised my hand to my forehead and felt the gauze taped there.
“Well, this sucks.” I mumbled. He nodded and let his eyes wander.
“Anything I can get for you?” He asked.
I let my mind wander through the things I wanted right now. I blushed as my
stomach rumbled. “Yes, a Big Mac, large fries, and a large Coke. And my phone and a
mirror.” He chuckled and lifted my purse onto the bed.
“Somehow this survived. I can’t say the same thing for your car though.” He
smiled and shrugged. I pulled out my phone that was sitting at the top of the purse and
went through my notifications. As I saw the new message from Teddy my eyebrows
raised.
“You put your number in my phone?” He nodded blushing. I giggled and pulled
out my compact. I cringed at the sight of how weak my unusually pale face looked. I
grabbed a brush out of my purse and combed through out my knotted, straight auburn
hair. I took out some cream to put around my light blue eyes to make them look less
restless.
“Do you have Disney Land in their too?” Teddy asked, peering into my purse. I
lightly pushed away his head and gave my attention back to my phone. He stood up and
grabbed his keys off the table next to my bed.
“Do you need a nurse or anything before I leave?” He asked.
 “Where are you going? I’m fine.”
“McDonalds like you said.” He chuckled as he left he room and I laid back down
and let my heavy eyelids droop shut.

“Room service!” Teddy’s voice bellowed. I moaned and opened my eyes to a

beautiful fast-food meal.
“Thanks.” I grumbled. I felt self-conscious eating with Teddy staring at me, but I
was too hungry to really care. I grabbed the remote and watched football for a while.
“Odetta?” Teddy asked out of no where.
“Melody. My mom always believed God had blessed me with a beautiful voice.” I
shrugged.
“Will I ever get to hear that beautiful voice?” I shook my head and turned my
attention back to the game. The Seahawks were winning by a touchdown.
“How long do I have to be here?” I asked, playing with my hospital band.
“Well, they already put the screws in your wrist and ankle, so you have to have it
in a cast for seven weeks, but you can leave the hospital whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank God. I’m ready to go. Get my stuff—wait. My bags?” I asked,
remembering them.
“They burned when the car exploded.”
“Exploded?” I squeaked. He nodded and a nurse walked in.
“How are you feeling Chandra?” She asked. I smiled and gave her two thumbs up.
“I feel great in fact, I’m ready to go.” I said.
“Well your breaks weren’t too bad, so come back in six weeks and we’ll let you
know whether you can take off your cast or not.” I nodded and took the information
paper she gave me. I scanned it as she removed my IV.
I swung my heavy boot over the edge of the bed and glared at it. Teddy offered
me his hand and helped my stand up. I felt light-headed and he caught me as I began to
lean. I blushed as my clumsiness, and then blushed deeper when I realized I was in a
hospital gown. He dug in a bag next to him and pulled out folded fabric.
“I kind of guessed the size, but you’re pretty small.” He said
“Thanks.” I mumbled, dragging my boot behind me as I went to the bathroom. I
shut the door and untied the hospital gown. I pulled the red, silk blouse over my head and
shimmied the grey yoga pants over my boot. I raked my fingers through my hair and
rubbed my face. I stuck my hand out of the door and cleared my throat.
“Purse, please.”
“Yes, your highness.” Teddy obeyed. I felt the straps of it being set in my hand
and I pulled it inside the bathroom. I observed my reflection and cocked my head at the
slender brunette. Her eyes had an inexplicable light to them that I had never seen before.
Her face was glowing. I shook my head and found my make up bag. I rubbed some
concealer on my face and put on a layer of mascara. I pulled my shoulder-length hair into
a side ponytail and gave up. I just looked too… I looked like I just recovered from a car
accident, to be honest. I put my bag back in my purse and came out of the bathroom.
Teddy was holding out a big tan suit jacket.
“What are you going to wear if I wear that?” I asked. He pointed to another jacket
slung over the chair.
 “I went home and changed before I got your food earlier.” He said. I noticed his
clothes and nodded in approval. He was in loose jeans and t-shirt. I slid my arms in his
large jacket and buttoned it at the bottom. He closed the room door behind us and we
went to the elevator. He hit the lobby button and we went down in silence.
He held the door open for me and I shuddered as the December air struck me. He
rubbed my shoulders and kept his arms around me as he led me to his Fusion. He opened
the passenger door for me and helped me in, then walked around to his side and slid in.
“Nice.” I commented, motioning to car.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, shaking his head. He turned the heater all the way up and
waited.
“Yes?” I asked after a minute.
“Where am I taking you?”
I thought about that and couldn’t come up with an answer. Tucker was in Hawaii
with her boyfriend. Elmo was with his boyfriend. I couldn’t get him to shut up about the
weekend they were going to spend together at the male spa.
“Would ya look at that.” Teddy murmured, breaking my trance. I looked out the
windshield and admired the snowflakes falling. He turned the radio to a Christmas station
and I sighed, letting my head fall against the headrest. I closed my eyes and vowed that
I’d never go back home.
“Chan?” Teddy’s voice sounded close.
“Yes?” I asked keeping my eyes closed.
“Do you need a place to stay?” He asked hesitantly. I groaned in embarrassment
and turned away from him, staring out my window. He put the car in drive and pulled
out. I watched the snow fall, never looking at Teddy, on the way back to his home.
He pulled into the drive of a nice homey condominium. He walked to my side of
the car and lifted me out by my waist. I followed him through the doors and stopped.
I gazed at the beauty of his home. It was so warmly lit and he had a chandelier
hanging above the entrance room.
A beautiful little blonde girl, she was probably six or seven years old, came
running down the stairs. She jumped into Teddy’s arms and he swung her around. I
smiled and shut his front door, leaning against it.
A man, who was obviously related to Teddy, came down the stairs and stopped
when his eyes caught mine. He went the rest of way down the stairs and held his hand out
to me.
I shook his hand and said, “Chandra Choverse.” He smiled at me and nodded.
“Caleb Hanks.” He said. Teddy rested the little girl on his hip and came over to
Caleb and me.
“Introduce her to Chan.” Teddy told Caleb. Caleb began making signs with his
hand, while also saying the words.
“This is Chandra.” He said to her. She waved and began making signs pointed
towards me.
“She says it’s nice to meet you and that you’re pretty.” Teddy said. I giggled.
“Tell her I said thank you. What’s her name?” I asked.
“Her name is Abby. Chandra says thank you.” He motioned to Abby. Abby
signed thank you to me and I smiled at her. Teddy set Abby down and she ran down the
hall to what looked like the living room. Caleb ran after her.
 “She’s beautiful.” I murmured. Teddy nodded.
“Caleb’s my brother. Abby is probably the smartest little girl I’ve ever met and
she’s so kind-hearted. Sorry about this. I didn’t know they were going to be here, but he
has a wife to tend to so he should be leaving anytime.”
I shook my head, “It’s alright.”
Caleb came back with Abby slung over his shoulder.
“Duty calls, brother.” Caleb laughed. He and Teddy pounded and Caleb and Abby
left.
I walked past Teddy, down his hallway.
“Wow.” I breathed out looking at his living room. Everything was so grand. The
Christmas tree in the corner made the entire house. It almost reached the high ceiling.
The TV hanging on the wall was almost obnoxiously large. His large couch folded to a
different direction when the wall ended.
“The sofa pulls out, but you can have my room if you want.” He said from behind
me. His warm breath against my neck made me shiver.
“This is fine, but…”
“Yes?” He asked, plopping down on couch.
“How do I get to work in the morning? I don’t have a car.”
“I called your boss and you’ve got a week off, and when it’s time for you go back
don’t be afraid to borrow the extra car in the garage. The keys are sitting on the table in
front of the door.” He saw my slight expression and patted the cushion next to him. I
slugged over there and plopped down.
“If we’re looking forward to this for a long time, then what’s mine is yours. I
honestly don’t mind. Take whatever you want. Here.” He pulled his wallet out of his
pocket and placed a gold credit card on my knee.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked.
“I really don’t know, but I like you Chan. And you’re giving me company in
return. That’s all I need.”
I put the credit card on his knee and let him win. “Fine. You’re providing shelter
for me and I am so grateful for that. But I can take care of myself financially.”
“Deal.” He said, smiling a crooked grin. We shook hands and I laid my head back
on the couch.
“You want to take a nap and then go shopping for some clothes?” Teddy asked.
“You’d go shopping with me?” He chuckled and shrugged.
“I guess so.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Alright. I’ll be right back.” He jogged off and came back with a quilt and a
pillow. I stuffed the pillow under my head and he threw the quilt over me.
“Wake me up when you’re ready to go.” I mumbled sleepily.
“I’ll be ready when you are. Sleep as much as you want.” He murmured. I
watched him shut all the blinds and turn off the light. I dozed off.

My eyes popped open when I hit the ground.

“Woah!” Teddy chuckled, jogging to me.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I repeated. He kept laughing and rolled me up in my blanket.
 “What are you doing?” I asked. He picked me up and put me back on the couch. I
laughed and unraveled myself.
“So where do you shop?” He asked, sitting on the cushion closest to my feet.
“I’ll drive.” He tossed the keys to me and I took my purse to the bathroom to
brush out my bed head hair.
I tried to get into the drivers seat by myself, but the boot just wasn’t working out
for me.
“Chan, do you need help?” Teddy asked between his laughs. I rolled my eyes and
let him pick me up and place me in the drivers seat.
“Thanks.” I muttered. He smiled and shut the door. Teddy walked around the car
and got into the passenger seat.
“Are you sure you’re ready to drive again?” Teddy asked uncertainty and worry
filling his voice.
“I was barely looking at the road when it happened. I’m pretty sure I can drive.” I
assured him. He nodded accepting my answer. I put the car in reverse, but a question
popped into my mind.
“Why are you coming with me?”
“We’re going to dinner after you’re done.”
“And you were assuming I’d say yes?”
“I was hoping.” He said quietly. I laughed at my new friend and patted his
shoulder.
“Sure, I’ll go to dinner with you.” He smiled. I smiled back and backed out of the
driveway. We pulled up to a small shop and I slid out of the car, attempting to avoid the
ice. Teddy helped me step over it and we walked into the shop.
He sat in a chair by the dressing room and I hauled armfuls of clothes to the
dressing room. I stuck with loose pants to slide over my boot. I smiled at one of the
dresses I had accidentally grabbed. It was a little black dress. I slid it over my head and
stepped out.
I blushed as Teddy whistled. I laughed and pirouetted for him.
“Nice. We should go out tonight.” He suggested
“I thought we were going to dinner.”
“We are, but I mean we should go to a bar.”
I shook my head and laughed.
“Good one.” I commented.
“I’m not kidding.”
“I—don’t drink.” I lied.
“Liar. Why won’t you go to a bar?” He asked. I twirled my hair around my index
finger and tried to think of a lie, but I decided the truth was the best option. I was never a
good liar.
“The first time I drank, my twenty-first birthday, I ended up kissing quite a few
guys and I spent a lot of money on drinks and my friends and parents weren’t too happy.”
I shivered when I said parents.
Teddy laughed. “I’ll be here to watch you this time. I won’t let anything happen
to you.” He assured me.
“Maybe.” I mumbled, twirling in the mirror.
“You look beautiful.”
 I blushed. “Thanks.” I murmured. I scurried back into the room and put my
clothes back on; grabbing the ones I wanted to buy. I purchased the black dress just
incase.
I pulled myself up to the drivers seat and waited for Teddy to get in his seat.
“Where to?” I asked, putting the car in drive with my foot on the brake.
“You mind if I drive?” He asked. He put the car in park, laughing at my mistake. I
put my hand on the handle to get out but he stopped me. He picked me up by my waist
and put me on his lap. He then slid me over to the other side of him, putting him in the
driver’s seat and me in the passenger seat. I threw him a sarcastic smile and put on my
seatbelt. We drove for twenty minutes until we reached Sportsman’s Bar and Steakhouse.
I smiled at the masculine vibe of it and hopped out of the car without thinking.
My boot slid on the ice and I fell, landing on my butt. Teddy chortled and I
blushed with anger. I attempted to pull myself up, but there was so much ice.
“You need a little help?” Teddy asked. I rolled my eyes and placed my hand in
his. He pulled me up and I stomped into the restaurant.
“Table for two.” Teddy told the waitress. She led us to a booth in the back corner
of the busy restaurant.
“My name’s Rosie, what would you like to drink?”
“Coke.” Teddy mumbled while examining the menu.
“Water and coffee.” Even though I had slept through out the day, I was so tired.
The waitress ran off and was back in a flash with our drinks. We ordered and she
took out menus. I put two Splendas and one crème in my coffee and stirred it.
“Don’t be angry.” He murmured, fiddling with his straw.
“I’m not.” I took a sip of my coffee and quietly moaned as it burned my tongue.
Teddy laughed and looked away.
“So are we going drinking tonight, or what?” I asked, grinning.
“Finally, something we can agree on!” He exclaimed.
“Vodka was made for me.” I commented.
“Really? You don’t seem like a vodka girl. I like beer.”
“Well you seem like a beer guy.” I laughed. He nodded and took a long sip from
his coke.
“So…what bar did you have in mind?” I questioned. He pointed to the bar across
the room.
“My friend Elmo loves it here.”
“Elmo?” Teddy chuckled.
“Elmer Alexander Willowman the second. You see why he chose Elmo?”
Teddy laughed and nodded. “Is he gay?”
“Why would you think that?” I asked, defending Elmo.
“I’m just kidding!”
“Oh, well he is.” I told him. Teddy’s eyes widened and he nodded.
The waitress came up and the delicious smell of steak overwhelmed me. She
placed a large steak in front of the both of us and smiled.
“Enjoy your meal.” She said. Teddy rubbed his hands together and picked up a
fork and a steak knife. I did the same and carefully cut my steak into ten little squares.
When I had finished my second piece, Teddy was already done.
“Delicious.” He shouted.
 “Shut up! People are looking.” I hissed. I hated attention more then anything in
the world. Teddy smiled and looked at my food.
“Take some.” I muttered, understanding his hint. He and I shared the rest of my
pieces and he left a fifty dollar bill on the table. He grabbed my hand and pulled me
across the room. He lifted me onto a bar stool and grinned.
“If you covered dinner then I’ll cover drinks.” I told him.
“Are you sure? From what I’ve heard you drink a lot.”
“I’m drinking? I thought I was the designated driver?” I asked in shock.
“Nope. It’s your turn to have some fun.” He smiled his tilted smile and turned to
the bartender.
“Can we have a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka and two shot glasses?” Teddy asked.
“ID’s please.” She asked. I could see her checking Teddy out. Something twisted
in my stomach, but I ignored it, pulling out my ID and credit card.
“Great thanks.” She smiled and took my credit card. She returned the vodka and
shot glasses.
“I love Smirnoff. You seem like a man with good taste,” She winked at Teddy,
“Just please be responsible.” She rolled her eyes as she said it and downed a shot glass of
Tequila that was left from empty seats beside us. Teddy smiled back at her and poured
Vodka in both glasses. She flicked her curly, unnaturally blonde hair and walked off.
“Go ahead.” Teddy prodded me. I eyed both shot glasses and shrugged. Ehh what
the heck?
I gulped down the first one and the second one directly after. I bit my lip as
Teddy’s eyes widened.
“Impressive. It shouldn’t be too easy to get you drunk. You’re so small.” He
commented. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head.
“Looks can be deceiving.” I grabbed the bottleneck and brought it to my lips. The
warmth of the liquid was sensational as it slid down my throat. I hadn’t realized I was
sucking the empty bottle until Teddy pulled it from my hand and set it on the bar.
“Careful, hon. We don’t want to hurt you.” He said, concerned. My vision was
already blurring.
“Don’t worry about me baby. I’ll be fine. A bottle of Corona and limes please!” I
shouted to our bartender. She was back in a flash with two bottles.
“The second one is on me.” She said, eyeing Teddy. I’m sure she was trying to
get me to black out so that Teddy would pay more attention to her, but I knew the
opposite would happen. I slipped her my credit card and squeezed lime into both bottles.
The warm feeling of the Vodka was still tingling in my stomach.
I downed the first bottle and my thoughts began to be jumbled. I swallowed down
the second bottle and I wooziness swept over me. I would have fallen out of my stool if it
weren’t for Teddy. He caught me and stood me up. He cradled me in his arms and
grabbed my credit card off the bar. He stuffed it in his pocket and I caught the
disappointed expression of the bartender. I smiled and wrapped my arms around Teddy’s
neck.
“We should do this every night!” I slurred. Teddy chuckled and shook his head.
“I don’t think so.” He lifted me into the passenger seat and buckled me.
“Wait! I want another bottle!”
“No.” Teddy said sternly.
 “Yes! Come on Teddy!” I shouted. He groaned and rolled his eyes. He shut my
door and ran inside. A minute later, he came out with a bottle of beer in his hand. He slid
in the driver’s seat and handed me the bottle. I closed my eyes and brought it to my lips.
The warm feeling in my stomach was pleasuring. I finished off the bottle and set it in his
cup holder.
“Thanks for tonight.” I whispered.
“Not a problem, but we gotta watch what you drink.” He laughed and pulled into
the driveway. He pulled me into his arms and I tucked my head into his chest. He
carefully opened the door to the house and kicked it shut with his foot. I closed my eyes,
but they jolted open when I landed on the couch. Teddy threw a black over me and
touched my face.
“Do you want to go to sleep?” He asked softly. The truth was, yes. I wanted to go
to sleep, but my mouth said something different.
“No, let’s talk.” I rubbed my temple as a head ache crept in.
“Hold that thought.” He jogged to the kitchen and came back with two Ibuprofens
and a bottle of water.
“You are officially God.” I muttered. He smiled at that. I swallowed the pills and
chugged the water bottle.
“What happened to your parents, Chan?” His question took me off guard. I tried
to fight the memory, but it washed through my mind, filling my heart with sadness. I
shook my head furiously and stuffed my face into the pillow.
“Another time.” He murmured. He petted my hair and I groaned as the head ache
got stronger.
“Thanks Teddy Bear. I love you. ‘Night” I slurred. Teddy murmured something,
but I too tired to comprehend it.