Just some Tessa-Will Romance. Probably gonna be 2 chapters so let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: No ownership, that's all CC.

Tessa sat lost in thought on the floral-print sheets of Jessamine's bed as Sophie ever patiently arranged and rearranged Jessamine's hair. Jessamine had jumped at the prospect of a ball in celebration of the success of the vampire mission, and had dragged Tessa back to her room to primp and preen at the crack of dawn the day of. Tessa had not left the room for more than 8 hours since Jessamine had instructed Sophie to have their lunch delivered. There seemed to be a rule about not being seen by the opposite gender the day of a ball. Tessa couldn't have cared less.

As Jessamine's voice, commanding Sophie to place the curls just so, faded out, Tessa's mind couldn't help but wonder to the boy with the black hair and midnight blue eyes. His face in the attic, dripping with holy water, that night on the roof. Even delivering heart-shattering news, he had the face of an angel. There was no doubt that Tessa was irrevocably-No! Tessa could not allow herself to think that way. Will had made his feelings for Tessa perfectly clear that night. He just saw her as a conquest and a downworlder, nothing more. Still, his lips had the most beautiful curves…

"Tessa, are you even listening to me?" Jessamine's bratty voice interrupted Tessa's thoughts and for once, Tessa was okay with it. Tessa looked up to see the other girl standing in the most extravagant dress Tessa had ever encountered. Its soft rose pink matched the color of the walls in the room and the corset was so tight that Tessa was surprised Jessamine could breath, much less talk. Right where the corset ended the dress bunched and bundled into layer upon layer of fabric, making Jessamine's waist look even tinier. "I mean really, I'm trying to give you a compliment and there you are all spaced out. I was telling you that a navy blue dress with grey accents would really bring out the color of your eyes, and you are lucky enough that I found just that while I was shopping the other day."

Tessa's eyes caught on the garment bag that was hanging on Jessamine's wardrobe. Tessa had just dismissed it as another one of Jessamine's new garments but when Sophie went to unzip it, Tessa caught the navy blue Jessamine had spoke of; the exact blue of Will's eyes.

Stop! Tessa mentally chided herself. Will and she had not spoken for two weeks aside from the occasional 'pass me the pepper' (Will never said please), and the awkward hello whenever Will walked in on Tessa reading in the library. Will hadn't even spared Tessa more than a half-a-second glance. But Tessa still could not help her thoughts from sliding to him like soap through wet hands.

"TESSA!" Jessamine hollered loud enough for all of London to hear her say it. "Would you please move to the vanity so Sophie can make you presentable? It will take quite a bit of time so if you wouldn't mind" Sarcasm dripped from Jessamine's words and Tessa didn't miss the insult, but with as much patience as she could muster, she moved from the bed to the white vanity on one side of the room. Sophie quickly set to work curling Tessa's brown hair into loose waves since it was too heavy to hold a real curl. Tessa lightly dosed for a minute letting the feel of fingers through her hair lull her to sleep.

"Miss Tessa?" Tessa jerked up from her sleep to Sophie's quiet voice, aware that Jessamine was glaring daggers at her. "Miss Tessa, it's time to put on your makeup." Sophie kindly started patting on powder here, and some colored stuff there. Tessa wasn't sure what any of it was, but Sophie seemed to know what she was doing. "There you are miss, let me just help you into your dress."

Tessa stepped into the pile of navy blue fabric and Sophie laced it here, and hooked it there. Finally after about fifteen minutes of that, Sophie stepped back just as there was a knock at the door.

"Sophie, please go and find out who that is." Jessamine was fixing up her already perfect makeup in the vanity. Tessa turned to peek at herself in the full length mirror that only Jessamine had. What she saw made her gasp. Her long brown hair usually pinned back, or down and knotty was swept into a cascade of elegant curls down her back. Her pale cheeks were now a rosy pink and her eyes stood out a shocking but soft grey. Then her eyes wondered down to her dress and she gasped again. Jessamine had picked out the most stunning gown. It stopped just above her bust and the sleeves hung off the shoulders. Tessa would have never picked out anything with such a low cut, but it looked good. The corset somehow made her look tiny and fragile with swirls of grey twining around it. The skirt flared out dramatically and reached all the way to the floor covering the flats Jessamine had given her saying that a lady should never be taller than her dance partner.

Tessa was vaguely aware of Jessamine leaving with whoever was escorting her into the ball, but Tessa was still dumbstruck by my appearance. As Sophie turned to leave, Tessa finally tore her gaze away from the mirror and looked at Sophie.

"Thank you Sophie, I...I," She couldn't seem to express her thanks enough.

"Miss, it's no problem at all." And with that Sophie left, most likely to help Charlotte with whatever needed done. Tessa, again, sat down on the floral print sheets, not knowing what to do with herself.

Her thoughts again slipped to Will and how he would look tonight. What would he wear? Would he ask her to dance? Get a grip Tessa. She really needed to stop thinking about the boy who had hurt her so badly.

A knock at the door broke Tessa out of her reverie. She fiddled with the knob a minute, then opened the door just a crack to see who it was. On the other side, Jem peered at her through the crack. He had his usual friendly smile, but as soon as Tessa opened the door all the way he momentarily let himself gape. Tessa blushed slightly. She knew Jem had been making advances for the last week, though he kept it subtle realizing that Tessa had been hurting. Tessa also knew that her feelings for Will were not something that a few cruel words could easily severe. And so she had subtly refused Jem's advances as subtly as he put them forth.

"Jem, what are you doing here?" Tessa was confused, but comforted by his presence. Though she was not attracted to him, she did find solace in being his friend.

"Tessa, you look beautiful." His voice was a little breathy, but he looked healthy tonight, Tessa decided. "I'm here to escort you down to the ball." And with that he offered his arm and with one final glance back to the mirror, Tessa took it and the two headed down the long institute corridor.

So let me know what you think since this is my first fan-fiction.