Hello my fellow Shadowhunters! I'm back again with yet another AU story, but this time set in modern times. Don't worry though... I'm still working on Eye of the Storm. I actually don't know how often I can update this one, but I put up the first chapter just to test it out. This idea has been nagging me for the past month, and I'm glad I finally wrote it out. I have a general outline, so I'm excited to see where this goes.
So, I'm gonna stop talking and let you guys read. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: No, I am not the fabulous Cassandra Clare and I own nothing but my imagination :)
Halloween day was the worst day ever for seven-year-old Theresa Gray. She had eagerly been awaiting her parent's arrival after coming home from school. They were supposed to take her trick-or-treating along with her best friend, William Herondale. Tessa and Will already had it all planned out; they were going to go together as Belle and Adam from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It was going to be perfect.
But instead, Tessa was met with tragedy. Instead of her parents walking through the front door, the police came knocking at her front door. They broke the news to little Tessa Gray, that her parents had died on impact in a tragic car accident just hours before.
Everything else was a blur to Tessa. She screamed and cried out for her parents in all her agony. And through all the tears she shed, she could remember a pair of dark blue eyes watching her intently from across the street.
After a week, authorities had arranged for what to do with Tessa next. Her mother, Elizabeth Gray, had a surviving sister, Harriet Moore, residing in the States in New York City. Aunt Harriet also had a boy, a few years older than Tessa, so Tessa would live with them. The plane tickets had been purchased, Tessa's belongings were packed, and whatever was left of her parents was sold away. That was everything except for her mother's clockwork angel necklace, which Tessa kept for herself.
"Tessa!" someone shouted as Tessa was escorted out of her London home for her entire life and to the airport. She glanced back to see her closest friend, Will, running up to her, his black curls bouncing up and down. Will's family lived across the street from Tessa and the two had known each other literally since they were born. Will was only just a couple months older than her, and together they attended the same school. Tessa could not remember a day she hadn't been with him. When he reached her, his cheeks flushed by the cold November air and blue eyes alight.
"Hello, Will," Tessa said cordially.
"Please, don't go," Will begged her, sounding out of breath. "I need you here."
"I have to," Tessa said dejectedly. "I want to stay with you, Will, but these people won't let me." She looked stubbornly over the people leading her out.
"But what am I going to do?" Will threw his hands in the air. "Who am I going to ride cycles with? Or play in the mud with? Or go to the library with? Or read books endlessly with?"
"You still have Cecily and Ella," Tessa pointed out. "You can do that with them."
"Yes, but they are not you," Will argued. "You're my best friend."
"And you're mine," Tessa said. "You'll always be."
Will fumbled for something in his pocket and held something out for Tessa. "I got this for you. A locket so you will always remember me."
Tessa took it gingerly. It was in the shape of a book, something both her and Will loved. When she opened it up, there was a beautiful picture of the both of them, smiling at the camera. There was a spark in Tessa's eyes, which was since gone since her parents had died.
"Will, I love it," Tessa said.
"I have one too, so we'll be together," Will said firmly. "Promise you'll keep in touch?"
"Of course," Tessa smiled. The people ushered her towards the car. Without thinking twice, Tessa threw her arms around Will, who returned the hug.
"Goodbye Tessa," Will whispered in her ear. "I will miss you."
"I will miss you too," Tessa said, pulling away from Will. She sadly walked towards the car, which then took her away from the place she had called home for the last seven years.
Ten Years Later…
Seventeen-year-old Tessa Gray squared her shoulders and walked through the arrival gate at Heathrow Airport. With a backpack slung across her back and pushing her roller suitcase, she made her way towards the exit.
"Tessie!" shouted a voice. She spotted him in the distance, waving at her frantically. He was tall with blonde hair and handsome features.
"Nate!" Tessa said, pulling her cousin into a hug.
"I've already grabbed your bag from the carousel," Nate told her.
"Thank you," Tessa said.
Nate grinned. "Let's get going. Your stuff already arrived at my place."
Nate chatted amicably the way to the car. They got in, and he shot off towards his apartment, which was in the heart of London. The whole time he talked, Tessa mulled over the events that had happened to rapidly.
Tessa was met with yet another death in the family. This time, it was Aunt Harriet. After living with her for ten years, Aunt Harriet contracted some sort of illness that the doctors wouldn't even explain to Tessa. Tessa had just finished her junior year of high school, and her summer was filled with trips to the hospital. Finally, after two months of battling the sickness, Aunt Harriet died. And Tessa was left with almost nothing.
Nate contacted her immediately, and urged her to come back to London. Nate had just graduated from Columbia University and had taken a prestigious job at Mortmain and Company, where he was working arduous hours but receiving a grand pay. He was even given a flat in the nice part of town. Tessa, knowing there was nothing for her in New York, agreed with her cousin. It was hard saying goodbye to the few friends she had in New York, but she would keep in contact. So here she was, back in London.
"Here we are," Nate announced, pulling up to the sidewalk. A chauffeur stepped by the car as Tessa and Nate shuffled out of it.
"You know what to do, Cyril," Nate said, handing the man, Cyril, his car keys. Cyril nodded and drove Nate's car ahead.
"Well don't just stop there Tessie," Nate said. "Come inside."
He pushed her forward with her suitcase, as Tessa lugged her other bag behind her. They walked through a grand lobby and headed straight to the elevators to the fifth floor. Nate sauntered down the hallway and unlocked the door to the far left.
"Welcome home," Nate smiled, and pushed open the door. Tessa gasped. It was a beautiful contemporary apartment, filled with all black and white furniture and equipped with state of the art technology. There were even her boxes from New York, lined neatly against one of the walls. Opposite the wall was an expansive window, which had a full view of the London skyline.
"I love this," Tessa breathed in amazement.
Nate chuckled. "You're room is the first one on the left. Take your time to unpack. And don't forget, your first day at the Institute is next Monday."
The Institute. That was where she would wrap up her senior year studies. It was also where Will Herondale, and his sister Cecily went to school. Will was in her year, and yes, she had not forgotten him. Though sadly, the two had drifted since her abrupt departure from London.
They had kept in contact. At first, it was frequent phone calls almost every day. Then slowly it became every weekend. Eventually, the age of Internet took over and they would email each other. Even those became infrequent, and they really only talked on special occasions like birthdays and Christmases. Though never on Halloween.
Tessa sighed to herself. It would be very interesting seeing what had become of her once best friend in just a few short days.
And those few short days arrived quicker than expected. Tessa had spent the days unpacking her boxes, which mainly comprised of her numerous books, and rearranging her room. She hadn't even gotten the chance to explore London, the city in which she barely remembered.
It was Monday, and Tessa rolled out of bed reluctantly. She knew she had to, for it was her first day and her stomach was full of butterflies flying about. She strolled over to her mirror and glanced at her bedraggled appearance, then popped into the shower.
After a quick rinse, she dried her hair out and put on the outfit she planned the day before: a white shirt tucked into a dark blue skirt that fell slightly above her knees with a navy blue scarf to accessorize it all. She tied her hair into a bun behind her and added a gray headband to compliment it, allowing some of her chocolate brown strands to fall around her face. She put minimal makeup and tucked in her mother's clockwork angel necklace.
She grabbed her backpack and headed to the kitchen. Nate was there, getting ready for work and drinking tea at the dining table, while reading the morning paper. He glanced up at Tessa as he saw her grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl.
"All ready for school?" Nate said, eyeing her.
"Mhmm," Tessa said, biting into the crispy apple.
"And you're sure you're fine taking the Tube?" Nate inquired. "I can drive you if you like."
"That's alright," Tessa waved him off. "I need to become familiar with this city."
"Suit yourself," Nate shrugged. "See you later today, Tessie. Have a great day at school."
Tessa said her farewell, and made her way out of the apartment complex to the Tube station, that was just down the street. She bought an Oyster card with ease and caught the appropriate line towards Temple, which was where the Institute was. She hadn't told Will, nor Cecily for that matter, that she was returning to London. She wanted to add an element of surprise to it all and couldn't wait to see their reactions. Though, she was very anxious at the same time.
She arrived at the station and made her way up the steps and back out into the London air. Grabbing a map from her bag, she directed herself towards the way to the Institute. There was no way she could have missed it.
The Institute was looming straight in front of her. It was a huge, designed like a Gothic church on the exterior with an even taller steeple pointing up to the overcast skies ahead. Students were bustling about, and were not in uniform like most other schools. The Institute did not require uniforms, which Tessa much appreciated.
As she made her way through the gate and across the courtyard, she kept gawking at the beautiful structure. She didn't even realize that she ran straight into another student.
"Oops, sorry didn't see you there," Tessa mumbled, embarrassed with herself.
"No worries," said the person, a girl. As she turned to face Tessa, Tessa's jaw dropped. The girl was tall, though not as tall as Tessa. She was gorgeous, with black hair that fell well below her shoulder and deep blue eyes. Unmistakable dark blue eyes. Tessa knew immediately who this was.
"Cecily?" Tessa said.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" Cecily said in confusion. "You must be new here at the Institute."
"It's me! Tessa!" Tessa exclaimed.
Cecily shook her head, as if shaking her thoughts. "Tessa? But I thought you lived in New York!"
"Not anymore," Tessa said.
Cecily stared at her long and hard. And then she suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. "It is you! I've missed you so much Tessa!"
"Me too, but your choking me," Tessa strangled out.
"Sorry," Cecily said, her face flushed. "So why are you back?"
Quickly, Tessa recounted what had happened. Cecily listened intently, not interrupting at all.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Cecily said, and she meant it.
"Me too," Tessa said sadly. "But hey, at least I'm back here with you."
"That's true," said Cecily. "I've missed you, Tessa. It's been a long time."
"It sure has," Tessa nodded.
"So," Cecily said awkwardly. "Do you know your schedule." In all the chaos, Tessa hadn't even bothered to receive her schedule. That was very unlike herself, but she was busy.
"No," said Tessa dumbly.
"No worries!" Cecily said. "I can take you to the receptionist so you can grab a copy of it. Come with me."
Cecily led her from the courtyard to the great oak doors. She pushed them open, and revealed the interior of the Institute. Inside, there were great stone walls in combination with modern lockers and classroom. It was rather an odd clash of times, but it complimented each other.
"So how have you been?" Tessa said, as they pushed their way through the sea of students.
"Ugh this school. I don't understand why the reception room is in the back," grumbled Cecily. "Anyway, I'm doing fine. Nothing much has changed since you've left, rather than the fact that we've gotten older." She said this last part fast, as if she was hiding something. Tessa thought it best not to ask.
"And Will?" Tessa asked. She was dying to know of what had happened to her once best friend. She still kept the locket he gave to her ten years ago, and it was in her bag.
"He's… okay," Cecily said, fidgeting nervously as they continued walking.
Before Tessa could ask any more, they careened around a corner and stopped dead in their tracks. It was a narrow passageway and only had enough room for two to squeeze past. The only problem was it was currently occupied by two people. A boy and a girl who were in a tight embrace and passionately making out, oblivious to the world around them.
Tessa stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Cecily cleared her throat loudly, and they instantly sprung apart. The girl refused to look at them, but the boy did quite the opposite. And when Tessa met her eyes with her, her breath hitched in her throat.
The boy had to be the handsomest boy she had ever seen. He was three inches taller than Tessa with a strong looking body. On top of that, he had angular features with curling jet black hair and eyes as dark as midnight. The only other person who had those eyes was Cecily.
"What do you want Cecy?" he said irritably. "Can't you see I'm busy here?"
"We, unlike you, have places to go," Cecily snapped.
"Who is she," the boy said arrogantly, gesturing at Tessa.
"She happens to be an old friend who needs to get her class schedule," Cecily said pointedly.
The boy stared at Tessa long and hard. Tessa wanted to shrink back and crawl away, but refused to do so. After what seemed like ages, recognition crossed his features.
"Tessa Gray?" he stammered.
Tessa smiled self-consciously. "It's nice to see you too, Will Herondale."
Ta da! First chapter now complete!
So what do you all think? I'm actually thinking about possibly discontinuing my other modern day AU fic, A Year Abroad, and focusing on this. I hope y'all are okay with it!
Oh and be sure to check out my TDA fic. A number of you were asking about it on my other fic, and I finally got around to rewriting it. So it's up! Oh and if you haven't, read Eye of the Storm too!
Okay I think this is good for now, right? Could I get 5 reviews just to make sure people are interested? And any feedback is much appreciated!
So review, favorite, follow, or do all of those!
~The Pale Red Queen