Tessa hiccuped, then started laughing heartily, falling backwards. She leaned against the railing on the roof of the Institute, her head lilting to the side as she blinked dreamily at Will. Her bright face split into a sloppy smile, and she waved her hand in his direction, beckoning him to come to her. Will smirked, much sturdier on his feet than she was after a bottle of champagne, and gracefully sat beside her. Tessa clumsily brushed a lock of hair out of her face and tried to tuck it behind her ear, but it fell freely anyways. She took another sip from her glass, still giggling. "William," she said on an exhale, and patted his cheek. Then she pointed at him in accusation. "Ah, William. Getting me intoxicated like this the night before my wedding. Naughty, naughty, sir." Her words slurred on her tongue, and she laughed like she knew how ridiculous she sounded.
Will looked up into the night sky, studying the stars. "Actually, Tessa," he said casually, not nearly as drunk as she, "it's technically today, now. Just before midnight." As if on cue, the cathedral bells rung, chiming out the twelfth hour. He looked at Tessa, then quickly took the wine glass from her shaky grasp, hiding it behind him. "That's enough for you. I want you to be able to walk down the aisle."
She sighed, and laid her head against Will's shoulder. He immediately tensed, not wanting to be so close to her - and yet he longed to be closer still. "You want me to walk down the aisle?" she repeated sleepily, and rubbed the base of her hand across her eyes. "To Jem?"
"Yes," he answered hesitantly, and knew his voice must have shook. She turned then, and their faces were inches from one another, only a hairsbreadth away, noses just barely touching. "Not to you, Will?" she asked, as if hurt. And he saw it there in her eyes, an unreadable emotion that he knew must be meant for him.
He sighed, and the movement brought them a tad bit closer. He felt her breath on his lips. "I wish it were me, Tess." Tenderly, Will raised his hand and he cupped her chin in his palm. Her skin burned. "Oh, God, I wish it were me."
"It could have been." Her answer was sure, she didn't waver. For the tiniest moment, he forgot about James. "This belongs to you," Tessa purred, and their lips brushed. "It always will belong to you, Will."