𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒚, a google doc that features information and threads, in chronological order, following teddy duponts through his journey at northridge and more. credit.
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DEAR READER

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@dupnts
𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒚, a google doc that features information and threads, in chronological order, following teddy duponts through his journey at northridge and more. credit.
𝟎𝟎𝟒: theodore & céline.
she could kill him, céline really could. can already see herself reaching out and strangling theodore to death for embarrassing her like this in front of their professor. not only by leaving her standing by the chair like an idiot, but also with how he had responded to the older man. i prefer to stand, what a pompous answer. leave it to him to make a moment out of nothing. céline’s right eye twitches and it almost goes unnoticed by griswold but he catches it just in time. this right here is exactly why he had decided to reach out to the couple. there was more to them than meets the eye and he absolutely needed to know just who they really are. none of that royal nonsense that precedes their names. after finding out that kamile and theodore had spent an evening together, it sent the professor into a fit of jealous rage that led to him send out the email to them both. if duponts could meddle with what he has with kamile, what’s stopping him from doing the same? cél takes a seat after theodore leaves her hanging, crossing one ankle over the other and sitting properly just as she’s been taught to. keeps the delusion of killing her boyfriend with her two hands tucked away in the back of her mind, already knowing she was going to blow up on him about it when they were alone later on. attention is fully on the man as he sits and begins to explain why they were here. the princess knew from the jump that there was no reason for to be worried so she’s relieved to hear that she was correct in assuming so. there’s a polite smile on her face throughout it all . . . except for when it’s mentioned that theodore wasn’t doing so hot academically. this is a tremendous surprise to her, this whole time she’s been under the impression that he was doing exceptionally well. it is all he ever boasts about. bites down on the inside of her cheek to keep her face from revealing just how bothered she’s become by this tidbit of information. however, next words have all of that dissolving immediately. tied for the second spot, it fills her with gratification. “ that’s… wonderful. amazing news! ” lights up, finally turning her head to look over at her boyfriend. though the look behind her eyes doesn’t match the words nor tone she’s just displayed. it’s more of a you’re in such deep shit look. “ we’ve both worked so hard. especially teddy. i know how hard this semester has been on him. all this extra workload… he’s not used to it. baby, i’m so proud of you. ” hand reaches over to fall onto his knee, squeezing it gently.
teddy recognizes that look, he’s seen it plenty of times before. even as he’s grown accustomed to it, he’s unable to hold her gaze–––– a clear sign teddy is guilty. but, that doesn’t mean he misses her back handed compliment. all this extra workload, he’s not used to it echoes through his thoughts over and over and he has to stop himself from responding. he’s never had an issue keeping up with classes, perhaps this go around is twice as hard because he has an ungrateful girlfriend breathing down his neck. however, that isn’t a discussion to have in front of your creepy professor. or anyone, really. so, teddy focuses on the office’s floor, his freshly shined oxfords, textbooks stacked higher than griswold’s desk–––– avoiding the two sets of eyes currently on him. and when he feels céline’s grip on his knee, teddy can only assume she wishes it were his neck and it were a bit tighter. nonetheless, he does manage a small smirk to show he’s proud of his newfound standing as well: tied for second place. if they are second, then there is one more obstacle standing in their way. first place. and that would be… kamile, obviously. teddy adjusts his position in his seat, moving away from céline’s hand, as he begins to feel uncomfortable at just the idea of kamile. she’s the woman who was too good to spend a night out with teddy, though has no problem having a drug addict as her best friend. goes to show that no matter how friendly, funny, or charming teddy is–––– there are always going to be people in this world who won’t care unless he has a title. and he’ll need céline for that. therefore, before her hand can drop into her lap again, teddy grabs it and holds it in his own. griswold notices the sudden public display of affection and wonders what it is that’s changed for teddy to suddenly become such a doting boyfriend. he clearly has no clue what’s going on in his students’ head. if he did then he’d be aware of the nature of teddy and kamile’s relationship and wouldn’t have to worry–––– not that he didn’t find perverse pleasure in toying with the couple, because he most certainly does. he simply can’t help himself. i’m proud of you both, the professor leans forward in his chair, now theodore, i heard about your friday night with miss yener and if that is your plan to take the number one spot you may have to try harder. there is a big gap between first and second place. this is the moment teddy almost loses the composure he’s been desperately hanging on to. he clears his throat and turns to céline, intertwining their fingers while knowingly being caught in a lie by none other than the already hated man himself. but, i do believe in you two. yet, i also have my concerns. this competition won’t affect your relationship, will it? “ no, sir, ” he nervously adds, voice slightly breaking, “ no, it won’t. right, cél? ”
𝟎𝟎𝟒: theodore & céline.
teddy’s tone has céline’s skin crawling and she has to bite back a major eye roll at the way he’s speaking to the griswold’s assistant. however, she’s satisfied with how the woman replies and doesn’t hide the smug smile that tugs at her lips as she speaks to theodore as if he is a child. he can act like a toddler throwing a tantrum sometimes, but he’s very good at hiding it. same way she’s good at hiding that unhinged side of hers. once griswold appears, the princess stands from her seat quickly and straightens her posture, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. tries not to feel intimidated by the man, but it’s hard not to with the way he speaks and maneuvers around the space. “ professor griswold. ” cél greets, that smug smile from before changing into her signature, friendly one. stands besides teddy, almost cringing as he refers to them as a lovely couple. “ i–– we didn’t expect this to be a joint meeting, but i’m sure you have your reasons. please, lead the way. ” the professor looks at both of them briefly before clasping his hands together and nodding. of course my office this way. and with that, he turns on his heel and begins to lead them both down the long corridor. they follow and céline thanks the woman at the front desk as they descend down the hall and into his office. it’s silent the whole way as she really doesn’t know what to expect from this meeting they’re about to have. stays optimistic, especially since theodore is here with her and she doubts griswold has ill intentions. once they’re in his office, the blonde can’t help but look around and admire all the paintings that hung on the walls and the tall ceiling. can definitely tell this building is old but in the most elegant way possible. please have a seat. motions for them sit in the two large chairs. waits for theodore to do the gentleman thing and pull out the chair for her, testing to see if he was going to play this perfect boyfriend role in front of their esteemed professor.
teddy turns to céline, expecting to be met with a correspondingly concerned look. but, she doesn’t even flinch. it’s as if he is the only one here who got the ‘your professor is a pretentious dick’ memo. it seemed so painfully obvious to teddy, and yet no other classmate happen to notice. what he doesn’t realize is that he picks up on griswold’s insincerity because it reflects his own. if anything, teddy is projecting his fears of being exposed on the man. he manages to bite his tongue all the way down the hallway to girswold’s office. however, teddy puts up a fight when he gives them instructions. “ i prefer to stand, thanks, ” he doesn’t appreciate being told what to do and he’s much too anxious about the subject of the meeting to sit down for its reveal. in the process, failing céline’s test. teddy stands in the back corner of the room, arms crossed over his chest as his eyes scan the pictures displayed on the shelves. memories of academic achievements, paper evidence of awards won, and a group of eight friends dressed in glamorous attire–––– perhaps, the first love club. he begins to wonder if twenty year old griswold would have won in a competition between his friends or if he would have experienced equal difficulties that teddy is. for so long, he admired the professor from afar–––– wanted to be exactly like him. yet that dream has slowly faded away. the two are similar, but the more he gets to know griswold, the more his mind changes. it started once he noticed the mask he wore is just that, a mask. it made teddy feel insecure, even vulnerable. he saw griswold putting on a show. were there people out there that see the same from him? he wishes to be respected, not tolerated. i’d really enjoy your full attention, mr. duponts. with his back still facing griswold, teddy rolls his eyes and then puts on his best, phony smile before finally turning around. “ right. my apologies, ” he says, walking towards a chair opposite of their professor. so, i know you both must be worrying why i asked you in today. don’t–––– it’s good news. teddy lets out a deep breath, a weight being lifted off his shoulders. mr. duponts, at our meeting last week, we spoke of needing to do better and i am pleased to tell you that you are… doing tremendously better. in the midst of griswold’s praises, teddy quickly glances at céline. he hadn’t mentioned doing poorly in class–––– this would come as a surprise to her. so much better, in fact, that you and ms. bouiette are now tied for the second spot in my class.
𝟎𝟎𝟐: theodore & kamile.
though she isn’t about to admit it, teddy’s words get her attention. while kamile had never disliked him, she had written him off as the jokester that uses his mom and girlfriend to get what he wants. but he already proved her wrong once tonight when he displayed flashes of intelligence she hadn’t known were there while they were studying. and maybe she’s wrong about him here, too. maybe he isn’t showboating in order to make up for a lack of interiority. and kamile isn’t one to pass up an opportunity to learn. she nods at him, ignoring the way her heart skips a beat with the nickname (she doesn’t remember the last time anyone other than her parents called her anything but kamile). “maybe there is.”
kamile raises an eyebrow in a silent challenge of his suggestion, but the smile that tugs at her lips shows she’s in on the joke. but all amusement drains out of her as teddy explains exactly what he would do if he found out about her relationship with griswold. she’s grateful for the dim lighting in the bar, almost certain he won’t notice how her cheeks burn with shame. kamile has always known that sleeping with her professor in part to win the competition is wrong, and that her victory could only be honorable if won with her brain and not her body. guilt has been eating her alive — just not enough to stop. however, after seeing her peers’ passion and ambition, she had started to let herself believe that the rest of the love club would understand why she did it, that they would understand her. teddy squashes that hope with the harsh reminder that before any of them are friends, they’re competitors; if he would do that to patrick, he wouldn’t hesitate to throw her under the bus.
kamile crosses her arms over her chest, drink resting in the crook of her elbow, and shifts ever-so-slightly away from teddy. while he punctates the story with his self-congratulatory sentiment, kamile decides on a few things: first, that she isn’t going to finish her drink. she doesn’t know how much patrick spilled because of ‘teddy’s trustworthy face’ and how much was owed to alcohol, but she isn’t going to take that chance; second, she has to be extra careful around teddy. nothing she says can tip him off about her and griswold, especially if teddy already thinks there’s something off with him; and third, the night needs to end as soon as possible — fuck whatever else there is to know about teddy. her posture straightens and she tosses her hair over her shoulders. “you should’ve led with that story. then i could’ve just told you if you spent more time studying and less time scheming, you might not need my tutelage. and i wouldn’t have had to waste my evening reviewing content i already knew.”
teddy notices kamile’s energy shift almost immediately. he’s become quite intuitive with other people’s engagement in his discussions because if something were to go wrong, it’s imperative that teddy fix it as quickly as possible. he’d be damned if he were to lose the attention of anyone of importance. teddy turns, his whole body now facing kamile. the rest of those in the room disappearing from his view, tunnel vision with nothing but her in full focus. it’s clear she’s not having fun. she was, at one point, because teddy saw it written all over her face and because he felt it as well. he’s unsure what he did wrong. and it can’t be that she’s just finding out teddy is a smug jackass, since he’s been this way all night. he had to have said something he shouldn’t, blaming it on getting too comfortable with kamile and letting his guard down. he should’ve known better. there are only a few people in this world with who he can be himself around and for a second, maybe teddy believed he’d found another. and she shuts down that idea with great force. first, with her body language and then again, with her words. he’s uncertain why they cut like a knife, but they do. and he has no comeback for that. teddy’s gaze falls to the drink in his hand, unable to meet kamile’s. she saw a crack in his facade today and obviously didn’t appreciate who was underneath. how deeply embarrassing for mr. big deal.
he should have remembered who he was speaking to. kamile yener wouldn’t understand what friends do for eachother. patrick was a parasite, eating away at vera’s last chance at a college experience. it would have been different if the guy was innocent. however, teddy did vera and the majority of northridge a favor. it worked out nicely, in fact. but, he doesn’t plan on explaining. he’s aware it wouldn’t change her mind. the outcome and the insult would be the same. “ waste your evening? ” teddy repeats, a nod of his head as he soaks the phrase in. a humorless chuckle escapes his lips, realizing how familiar it is for him. he still avoids eye contact with kamile while trying to play off the mishap. it isn’t working as well as he’d like to believe. and he needs to separate himself from the situation before it can get any worse. “ i didn’t know you had more preferable offers to spend your friday nights with, ” he lifts a hand to signal gerard. that’s got to be the shortest tab teddy’s ever had here. “ let’s get you out of here, shall we? ”
𝟎𝟎𝟒: theodore & céline.
when céline had received the email from professor griswold asking her to meet, her heart plummeted straight into her stomach. immediately she began to reevaluate every single assignment turned in, exam taken, and interaction with the professor. has been working so hard to stay on top of everything with proficiency, so the idea of him wanting to meet with her one on one has her mind spiraling wondering if she had done something wrong or messed something up. is usually good at taking criticism, but it’s nerve wracking here at northridge when there’s so much at stake. then again, if she were the one to be accepted into the law firm at the end of the semester, she couldn’t possibly accept the offer. liroux was waiting for her. mind races a million miles per hour as she pushes open the large, wooden doors of the building his office is in, sauntering up the freshly waxed staircase until she’s at the second floor. is greeted by his assistant, who immediately recognizes her and kindly asks cél to sit in one of the three chairs that were pressed up against the wall. he’ll be with you two shortly. says the woman and this causes céline’s expression to turn into one of confusion. you two? own question is answered as she hears nearing footsteps, then suddenly theodore appears and it seems like he wasn’t expecting her to be here either. “ hey… what are you doing here? ” perhaps griswold accidentally scheduled them both for a meeting at the same, but he doesn’t seem like the type of person to make such a small mistake. any mistake, if she’s being honest.
a week ago, when teddy met with professor griswold for his one on one meeting, he was warned to pick up the pace or he’d be falling behind his classmates soon. thus, led to his bright idea of asking kamile for help. their time together didn’t quite help their budding alliance ( if you can call it that ) since teddy found even the most impossible way to ruin their night. although, it did have an affect on his grades. he’s been speaking more in class, joining in with relevant points during heated discussions, and aced the last quiz. so, when he’s invited back in for another meeting, teddy can only assume it’s good news. why else would the man personally request his presence at his office after class? but, as he walks in to see céline and catches the end of the ongoing conversation already happening, teddy is quickly knocked off his very high horse. “ i have a meeting–––– sorry, did she say you two? ” his eyes stay on céline, hoping she’ll crack a devilish smirk and expose this for the joke that it is. she, of course, does not. therefore, teddy, who is clearly irritated, looks to the secretary. “ excuse me, could you clarify what is happening here? ” handling an arrogant, rich kid is nothing new to the woman. she flashes a fake, polite smile as she explains the situation, like she is speaking to two toddlers. you, mister duponts and miss bouiette have a meeting with professor griswold. to-geth-er. the three syllables are dragged out for good measure. here he is now. “ what? ” griswold walks into the room and immediately captivates it, every head turning in his direction. the waiting area feels much smaller with him and his big ego. there’s the lovely couple. you both must be confused, but all will be revealed. care to join me?
𝟎𝟎𝟑: theodore & céline.
stares up at him with glossed over eyes, not because she’s sad but because of how frustrated she feels with the entire thing. hopes teddy understands that she’s only acting out because she’s afraid to lose what they have. gloved hand comes up to rest atop of his as she hangs on to every word he utters. i love you céline. the statement causes a warmth to spread in her chest and the petty argument is seemingly forgotten. he loves her, and the proclamation makes her realize how foolish she was for lashing out on him over something so small. cél knows that the feeling is mutual, how could it not be? he’s the first real boyfriend she’s ever had. the princess spends most of her time daydreaming and counting down the minutes before they’re reunited. writing about him in her diary or even talking the château staff’s ear off about their most recent date. it’s sappy, but she loves sappy. it makes her feel as if she’s living an actual fairytale instead of the calculated life that she lives. can’t help but lean in to kiss him, letting her actions show him exactly how she feels. “ i love you, teddy. ” she repeats his words back to him, “ and i’m sorry for overreacting. ” is all céline says, not wanting to ruin their moment.
his confession changes céline’s mood, a complete one eighty. teddy won’t forget this. a moment he’ll always remember, but not for the reasons he should. he now can keep this information in the back of his mind for when he needs it. if his girlfriend is angry with him, teddy will simply tell her he loves her and it’ll make everything better. it did wonders this time around. and despite how the declaration came to be, this is still a dream come true. yet another reason why this time of year is so magical. it’s the season he and céline fell in love. teddy takes her hand that is resting on his and intertwines their fingers, kissing her back like it’s the first time–––– savoring the sense of calm washing over them, a great contrast from the stress of only a few moments before. and he knows. she loves him, too. céline doesn’t have to say it for teddy to see it. he can feel it. however, when he does hear those four words, it’s just as satisfying. teddy’s smile is as wide as ever, his teeth probably sparkling as bright as the christmas lights scattered above them as he says, “ no need to apologize. you’ve already made me the happiest guy in all of liroux, céline bouiette. ”
𝟎𝟎𝟐: theodore & kamile.
kamile stiffens slightly at his good person comment; she’s unable to tell if he thinks she’s a bad person because she doesn’t listen. even though that’s not technically true; she’s often found herself seeming too invested in conversations, weirding out strangers and acquaintances with her blunt nature and strong opinions. so what if she’s been shot down enough times to learn that faking casual indifferences is more appealing than unabashed enthusiasm? and so what if she’s more interested in protecting her own self-esteem than entertaining strangers. that doesn’t make her a bad listener. and it certainly doesn’t make her a bad person. then again, she supposes good people don’t sleep with their professors to try to guarantee a post-grad job. her thumb traces circles in the condensation that’s formed on her glass as she ignores her creeping anxieties. “they talk, you listen?” kamile repeats, her eyebrows raised in mock surprise, determined to keep up their teasing tone. “that doesn’t sound like you. here i thought the only thing you truly listened to was the sound of your own voice.”
she rolls her eyes, making a show out of his challenge to figure his acquaintances out herself, but the competitor in her has taken some interest, if only so she could find reasons to write them off and never interact with them again: kamile’s m.o. but even if teddy has piqued her interest in proving him wrong, she doesn’t intend to actually attempt to talk to any of them unless he forces her. which, doesn’t seem to be in his plans, much to her relief, as he points out someone else across the bar. her eyes narrow in confusion. “patrick?” she remembers him from the social and political philosophy class they had together back in undergrad. his impassioned arguments against individualism backed up by examples of the effects of austerity measures in his home country. belvan. kamile’s lips press together for a moment before she speaks, hoping the beat helps to quell the judgment that’s already brewing inside her. she’s ready to throw the blame on vera, for no reason other than their shared history; plus, how else would teddy know? “why? what happened? and how did you come to know it?”
kamile has been spot on about teddy multiple times now, whether he’d like to accept it or not. this, however, isn’t one of those times. see, he doesn’t mind his own voice. but, every so often when he hears the words coming out of his mouth, teddy cringes. lie after lie or honesty so blatant it hurts. never in between. he’ll say anything to get what he wants–––– to drown out the silence, even if he goes on to regret it two seconds later. and clearly this mask he’s putting on for the general public is flawless, if that’s what kamile really thinks of him. with the realization, come the nagging thoughts. as he stands next to this brilliant, ambitious woman who he has no reason to lie to, teddy wonders is this how you truly wish to be perceived by someone like her? while theodore dupont attempts to be the type of person who is fit to be king, the rest of the world has no idea who the real teddy is. “ there’s a lot you still have to learn about me, kam, ” he adds, suggestively hoping she’ll stick around long enough to change her mind.
“ i didn’t orchestrate it, if that’s what you’re implying. ” for instance, he could have called in céline’s father for a favor. teddy often believes his girlfriend’s father appreciates him more than his girlfriend. rarely has he denied his future son-in-law assistance when he was in desperate need. instead of bothering the very busy man, teddy settled on using his irresistible charm for good–––– knowing vera would be less pissed off with this scenario. it’s not as if vera asked him to do this, she didn’t have to. it’s simply what an asshole like patrick deserves. “ we just went for a few drinks, got to know each other. he owed me. didn’t take much for him to start spilling his secrets–––– i have one of those trustworthy looking faces–––– you’re well aware of that, obviously, ” he teasingly nudges kamile with his elbow, alluding to the false narrative that it’s also what is happening here with the two of them. an amused smile displayed on teddy’s face because it couldn’t be further from reality. “ he told me all about how well he’s doing this semester compared to his last. apparently, our friend, patrick, had difficulties in the spring. for lack of better words, he cheated his way to the top. and i would be going against the honor code if i didn’t report it to the dean, so i did. they reviewed his case, saw that without the added help, he failed the courses. gpa goes down, along with his dreams of staying at northridge on an academic scholarship. ” if only teddy put in half the amount of effort into his school work as he did on a revenge plan, he wouldn’t have had to request kamile’s help. “ but, i’m no hero. i did what any good student would do. ”
We deny so much that we can’t recognize the truth, right in front of our faces.
–––– sandra cisneros.
𝟎𝟎𝟑: theodore & céline.
“ don’t mess with me, theodore. ” céline hisses at him, stepping in much closer than before, her chest almost up against his. she can feel her vision blurring but instead she blinks away the tears. “ you know what you did and you’re trying to spin it on me. as if… as if i’m the crazy one for worrying about some bi––– ” céline cuts the insult off by turning away from him as she tries to collect herself before things escalated past the point of no return. she has no interest in knowing what that entailed to. the temperature outside causes those few tears of frustration that leaked to feel like icicles against her skin. cél takes a moment and lets out a deep breath to bring herself back to reality. you’re overreacting. thinks to herself. but she can’t get her feelings under control at the moment. the idea of someone taking theodore from her. it hurts. céline doesn’t want to lose him. he’s the first thing that has felt right to her in a long, long time. maybe even for the first time. she can’t let anything jeopardize what they’re building together. not even victoria. her names causes the princess to cringe. “ you tell her to back off or i will. ” is what she says once they’re facing each other again, feeling a little less teary but a whole lot more determined to make it clear that she wasn’t going to tolerate something like this again.
teddy is truly shocked to hear the princess of liroux almost curse, his mouth hanging slightly open. silence fills the space between the couple as she attempts to compose herself, and though he’s still figuring out céline and her mannerisms, he’s receptive to how she struggles through it. can’t she see how much he loves her? she need not worry. perhaps teddy should confirm his feelings, instead of letting her suffer. céline, in her own way, just showed him she cares. so, it’s the least he can do to settle their first, real argument. “ i know you will, ” he places a hand on either side of her face, looking down at his girlfriend with wide eyes, “ but, victoria isn’t a threat for us… because... i love you, céline. ” he has never said those words to her, or anyone ( outside of his family ) . this is a big deal for them both. and as he nervously awaits his response, heart hammering in his chest, teddy contemplates the next discussion he’ll have with his mother. mom, we’re in love. she’ll be the proudest she’s ever been. her son in a serious relationship with the future queen.
𝟎𝟎𝟐: theodore & kamile.
while kamile is happy to poke fun at nicolás being uncooperative or over-the-top, the dig at his addiction leaves her feeling defensive of him. she might be frustrated by his self-destructive tendencies, but it still hurts to see someone she cares about behave with such little care for his own wellbeing. kamile holds teddy’s gaze, one eyebrow raised in challenge of his mock concern. “no, i don’t think so. he’s the blonde — cute, with the dimples.” she presses a finger to her cheek where nic’s dimples are. “the winner of our mock trial. there’s no way i’d mix up you two.” for what it’s worth, kamile thinks teddy is cuter than nic, and they had come up with their team’s winning strategy together, but she’s willing to make a few concessions in the name of sticking up for her friend. she gives teddy a pointed look, “maybe you’re just more alike than you’d care to admit.”
her eyes follow teddy’s hand as he takes them on a who’s who of the abbotsford. despite knowing teddy had a reputation for being social, she’s still surprised by how many people he knows by name. it makes her a little bit nervous about how the rest of the night is going to go; he knows everyone and she’s never been good with people. she’s grateful for the drink she snatches eagerly from the bartender — gerard — if only so she has something to do with her hands. “well, aren’t you gregarious? though, i guess it’s exactly the kind of networking you’d expect from a politician’s son. next you’re going to tell me you’re getting up early tomorrow to spend your saturday shaking hands and kissing babies.” kamile takes a sip of her gin and tonic. “if you think that is like reading a book, it’s no wonder you need me to help you study; that was the most sparknotes character description i’ve ever heard. c’mon, give me something more than surface level. tell me something juicy about one of them.” though it’s because she’s impressed by his social circle that she pushes him further; the longer he’s distracted by her task, the less likely he is to abandon her.
first, teddy insults their beloved professor. now, he’s offended the president of the nicolás bouiette fan club, apparently. to stop him from putting his foot in his mouth any further, he brings the beer bottle to his lips and takes a long, slow sip. savoring the drink as she goes on and on and on about how captivating and successful the prince of liroux is. it stings, more than he’d like to confess— kamile rubbing in their win, a wound still very fresh for teddy. but, he has to keep quiet on the subject. as amusing as it would be to expose nicolás to one of his closest friends in the love club, he’s saving the reveal for a later date. it’ll be a hundred times more rewarding to let everyone know nicolás’s stint at rehab did not last and he was caught snorting adderall in a public bathroom ( classy as always ) which is largely the reason why they won the mock trial, at the perfect moment. this definitely isn’t the perfect moment. even if it would serve her right to be corrected for once in her life, teddy would rather not ruin the surprisingly good night he’s sharing with kamile. although, he can’t help himself from adding, “ maybe not, ” before dropping the topic all together.
“ i’m not shaking babies and kissing hands, ” purposely swapping the words, “ i’m only being a decent human being. they talk and i listen, i pay attention. ” teddy doesn’t love the comparison to a politician, fully aware they have ulterior motives when engaging in conversation. and while some discussions, particularly those with an arrogant fraternity brother or a nosy gossip who is interested in his relationship with céline, tend to agitate him, he does graciously recall a lot about the people worth remembering. “ but, i’m no tattletale. i didn’t say i’d read you the whole book, page by page. you actually have to go out there and do it yourself. ” just as he concludes, the bell over the door rings announcing a new arrival. a familiar face, too. patrick. teddy observes the man as he strolls over to his friends— tessa, charles, and a couple others— the same group who harassed vera weeks earlier. the guy has been bothering her for a while, so teddy made the executive decision to take matters into his own hands. “ or, on second thought, i have one, ” finger goes in patrick’s direction, “ see him? he doesn’t know it yet, but his scholarship is getting revoked tomorrow. since he doesn’t have the means to pay for northridge out of pocket, he’ll either have to transfer or drop out by the end of the week. ”
𝟎𝟎𝟑: theodore & céline.
half expected for his reply to ease her nerves, however it does the exact opposite. céline scrunches her nose in anger and frustration, “ what do you mean you don’t know? it’s not that hard to remember a conversation you just had. ” only listens to that specific part of the entire answer, since her boyfriend seems like he’s not being completely truthful. really doesn’t like how this small interaction between the two has her behaving, but it is not the first time she’s acted like this. to theodore, yes this is the first instance of the small blonde losing her shit over something so trivial. growing up is a different story, since there were plenty of times where the princess would lash out irrationally if things did not go her way. if attention wasn’t her at all times. a nasty habit she slowly overcame as she got older, but never truly got rid of. there’s a few glimpses of this selfish trait here and there, though cél has learned how to maintain it better. for the sake of her image and keeping the family name as clean as possible. nic is already doing enough damage on his own, last thing they need is the other bouiette monarch to be exposed as a pampered brat. she blinks quickly, staring up at theodore. “ with the way you were hugging up on her what else was i supposed to think? ”
“ forgive me i can’t distinguish a specific conversation amongst the two hundred i’ve had tonight, ” teddy finds her argument so insane that he can not take it seriously. céline must be pulling a fast one on him. this isn’t real. why would she be hurt over a hug? a hug he doesn’t recall even transpired. he lets out a dry laugh before humoring the madness with a sarcastic response, “ okay, right, got it— hugging is off limits. now, i’d like to understand the rules here… does that go for my mom and theresa, too? because i did hug them earlier when they arrived. my sincerest apologies. ” this could all be solved with teddy expressing genuine remorse. he did something that bothered his girlfriend and in the future, he could make a promise to never do it again. problem solved. but, there’s a little part of teddy that enjoys this. it’s the first time since they’ve become official that céline has shown more than the simple, royal relationship standards. this is different from the motions they go through for the cameras, or for their parents during an aristocratic dinner. she’s displaying emotions— passion. she watched the interaction with victoria. she’s worried of another woman stealing him back, of losing him. it’s being demonstrated in the wrong way, and yet teddy is just delighted it is. therefore, if he provokes céline, it’s only because he savors these moments where those he loves most reveal their inner appreciation for him.
december & september –––– no, you are not my property. you do what you want and i trust you, entirely.
𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. céline & theodore. new years eve.
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𝟎𝟎𝟐: theodore & kamile.
kamile has gotten relatively comfortable around teddy — geeking out about their assignments and laughing until she shorted at a joke he made about nicolas — but her posture stiffens as they enter the pub full of strangers. gone is the girl who blushed at the idea that teddy was excited to spend time with her and was sent into a tizzy by the mere implication that her paramour wasn’t exactly what she thought he was, in her place an aloof it girl that’s mastered the art of a condescending smile. but kamile isn’t the only one that’s changed since they got to the pub; teddy seems so much… bigger in the midst of a crowd. charming and energetic, he looks like a completely different person than the one kamile had ambled through the streets next to. while kamile’s chin is raised, looking down her nose at any of teddy’s admirers that look her way (the message is clear: i may be with your friend, but don’t bother. i’m out of your league), they seem to be looking up at him. briefly, kamile wonders if teddy feeds off this energy or if he’ll be as exhausted as she will after a night of performing. selfishly, she hopes it’s the latter.
she doesn’t fight the tug on her hand, more than happy to stay close to the one person here that she might be able to get away with calling a friend. and despite the way her eyes roll at his sarcasm, there’s a hint of amusement on her features at the very same. she likes his biting sarcasm much better than the the impersonal friendliness he directs at the pub-goers.
kamile doesn’t miss a beat when they get to the bar, “gin and tonic, please. two limes.” if teddy thought she wouldn’t have a plan just because she’s out of her element, he’s got another thing coming. of course she has a go to drink for when she finds herself needing an order. and apparently teddy has one just at this bar. “please tell me you don’t know all these people just from how often you come here.” she starts as the bartender wanders away to make their drinks. “i’ll be forced take you directly to an aa meeting.”
teddy doesn’t flinch when kamile puts in her personalized gin and tonic. he anticipated she’d have a drink and didn’t want to speak on her behalf. he always found it annoying when men ordered for other people, especially ones who can clearly hold their own. not at all worried she’d stumble through the process. and he’s right. perhaps she doesn’t socialize as much as the rest of the love club, but teddy is under the impression that kamile has a small circle of friends by choice. just deducting her belief is : i’m too good for everyone else. and while some may find it insulting, he respected it. if he had the option, teddy wouldn’t be out doing this either— putting on such a damn good show to benefit his future. unfortunately, he didn’t have the luxury of his brain alone to help him get to the top. connections are also needed— which explains his relationship.
“ ha, ” turning his back to the counter, teddy then rests both elbows against it, “ hi, theodore duponts. i think you might have confused me with one nicolás bouiette? ” head tilts to the side, feigning concern for kamile’s mental processes. obviously she is not confused, and she could have a point when it comes to teddy’s party life. however, it never led to any serious mistakes. he’d only drink if he wished to forget the day behind him and stayed away from the harder drugs. most of his outings were to simply fill silent voids. nonsensical chatter from a stranger feels better than the intrusive thoughts. if she were to worry, it’d shouldn’t be about what he’s running to— instead, what he’s running from.
“ all jokes aside, i do know him from my public speaking class, ” teddy points to a guy who is leaning into another girl’s ear, who doesn’t look too interested in whatever he has to say. “ she works at the campus café, ” he motions to a second student nearby, and then an additional on the opposite side, “ with dallas. who also works at the café. oh, and gerard is my drug dealer… ” a nod towards the barkeep who places their drinks beside them, “ kidding— thanks, man. ” teddy grabs the glass and holds it up— a quiet cheers. “ hard pill to swallow for you, but the abbotsford is cool. it’s like… reading a book… in real life, ” an eyebrow raises, hoping he’s intriguing her even for a fleeting moment.
𝟎𝟎𝟑: theodore & céline.
the nausea from earlier returns at his reaction and she almost gags. anger subsides and is replaced with so much embarrassment that cheeks heat up due to the emotion and not the frigid weather they are in. her attempt at justifying her reaction by putting him on the soot backfires, and oh does it scald her character. decides not to speak, instead scans his face in search of something, anything that could condemn him in her mind. it’s ridiculous that she’s even trying to find something to be mad about now. céline realizes that she’s reacted disproportionately, letting the princess veil slip and accidentally revealing her not so graceful nature that lies underneath. a few more beats of silence pass before cél finally speaks up. “ what did . . . what were you two talking about? ” question has been ringing in her ears since the interaction was spotted. if theodore doesn’t tell her exactly what was said, it’s going to eat at her until she finally lands on an unlikely scenario. painting it perfectly in her mind enough to where she’ll think it is true. he needs to be detailed about it now before it does more damage in the future.
it only now occurs to teddy that he may love céline more than she loves him. and it stings. he should’ve been smarter than to put all his feelings into one person. it gave her too much power. one wrong move and it’s over. that is, unless she had no idea he invested his whole heart into their relationship. which option is worse? teddy can’t accept either. but he hasn’t known céline very long, because if he did he’d see her insecurities have nothing to do with him. they were there long before he arrived. “ family… the law program… i don’t know, christmas? ” if he sounds unsure, it’s due to the fact that he is. teddy would rather not admit the reality of a conversation with his ex to his new girlfriend. there is a right answer, yet he’s having a hard time coming up with it. especially since he doesn’t want to come off more vulnerable than he needs to. céline already holds all control. a silent pause, and then he scratches the top of his head, “ sorry, i’m still stuck on how you think i’d do something so awful, like cheat on you. ”
𝟎𝟎𝟐: theodore & kamile.
it feels like an act. just one sentence sends her mind racing. what feels like an act? his intelligence? despite the praise he lauds at her, kamile always feels inadequate in conversation with griswold, so it can’t be that. also, he wouldn’t have the career he does if he was an idiot. and he certainly couldn’t fake his career. his charisma? panic seizes at kamile’s chest. griswold’s attention had changed her life; it had guaranteed her spot in law school and now would, hopefully, set up her career. and even more than that, for the first time she felt desirable — lovable. the idea that all his charm could be disingenuous, well… it’s too much for kamile to even consider. she pushes teddy’s words away before they can make her nauseous. “i can’t say i’ve noticed.” she’s aiming for breezy and casual, but kamile can hear just a hint of desperation in her tone. she can only hope teddy hasn’t known her long enough to pick up on it himself. “and honestly, i don’t care to much if he’s faking charm. he’s brilliant and well-connected, and that’s all i’m concerned with.” kamile takes a beat, composing herself before changing the subject. “where’d you say this bar you’re dragging me to was?”
kamile shuts him up pretty quickly. he shouldn’t be as surprised as he is. it’s teddy’s own fault for not recognizing the teacher's pet is the wrong audience for this topic. he’ll carry on keeping his suspicions for their professor to himself. “ like i said— must be my imagination, ” he shakes his head, not quite understanding that this skepticism could also be coming from a place of envy. the man has almost everything he wants in life. someone as deserving as teddy should have the reputation griswold has. he’s brilliant and well-connected, and that’s all i’m concerned with. there will come a day where this will be said about theodore duponts. he stares down at kamile, mouth hanging open. how she words the question catches him slightly by surprise. “ yeah, you seem to really be kicking and screaming, ” teddy chuckles under his breath and continues to keep the pace on the cobblestone sidewalk, “ relax, we’re almost there. ”
another moment passes and then they’re rounding the corner of main street, leading right to the abbotsford. he opens the door, holding it for kamile to walk through. before teddy can even enter the establishment, people are calling out for him. a couple stragglers standing outside making his presence known, those inside looking in their direction to see what the commotion is in reference to. hey, it’s duponts! a classmate rushing to his side to greet him. teddy wracks his brain for any hint of what his name is, eventually just drawing an absolute blank and giving up. and yet, it doesn’t matter. he meets all the hellos with a smile and matching energy. this is when he turns the charm on and doesn’t have to worry about a thing— not his grades, not his relationship— nothing. it’s refreshing. but he’s still too sober to engage in brainless conversation with these idiots. teddy takes kamile’s hand, pulling her towards the back of the bar where the bartender is preparing cocktails. “ by the way, that was dragging, ” he says sarcastically, once they reach the counter, over the loud voices and music coming from the live band playing in the corner. the bartender, who teddy knows by name, asks him if he’d prefer his usual, to which he replies of course. now both sets of eyes are on kamile to state what she’d like.