So, instead of a Clace story, you're getting this. It started out as a narrative assessment for school...and then BAM! This wonderful Wessa story is born. I know, I know, its kind of boring right now, and a little choppy at the beginning, but in a couple chapters there will be DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA! And also, no one ever writes any AU Infernal Devices stories (OK, there's a few, but...not many). If you are confused on the setting, PM or review (cause its a little unclear in this chapter).

"Man the oars!" called Captain Lightwood.

"But Captain, we won't make it by midnight. The storm is far too rough," protested Will, the second in command aboard the ship.

"Do you want to make it home for Christmas?" growled Lightwood.

"Yes, Captain, but-"

"Then get rowing!"

Huffing, Will spun on his heal and ran beneath the deck to give the others the captain's command.

Tessa Gray gazed out the foggy window. The storm was at its worst: not only was it rough at sea, but the snow was blanketing the land. Judging from the amount of snow piled on the pine tree outside, Theresa guessed it was coming several inches by the hour. The Gray family ran their town's historic lighthouse. It had been in the family for generations. The light was barely visible through the fog. This had to be one of the worst storms that Christmas had ever seen.

"Mother, should I go shovel the front walkway out to the dock?"

Her mother hesitated, but said,

"Yes, Theresa, I suppose that would be helpful. Just be extremely careful, especially when you get near the dock. It's freezing, and the waves are big."

Theresa rolled her eyes.

"Alright, mother, but I am 16 years old. Old enough to shovel snow off the walkway."

Tessa slipped on her heavy winter coat and snow boots and opened the front door. Well, she tried to open it. It was stuck closed because of all the snow piled up. Fighting against the weight of the heavy powder, she pushed her way out of the house.

She grabbed a shovel from the shed. As she shoveled her way out to the dock, she noticed something in the distance. It looked like a ship. But why a ship would be sailing in this weather she didn't understand. As she watched it for a few minutes, she noticed it was getting closer. She ran back up her shoveled path to go tell her mother and father, her brown curls bouncing as she went.

"I don't understand why Lightwood is having us sail in this weather. He must be going crazy," Will complained to his best friend on the ship, James.

Well, we've got no choice but to follow his orders, or get thrown of the ship. I don't know about you Will, but I would not like to freeze in those icy cold waters, when it's already 20 degrees."

Will paused, staring into the distance.

"Do you see that, James?" He pointed to a faint yellow glow just above the horizon.

"See what?" James moved so he could see where Will was pointing.

"That light over there. Looks like a lighthouse."

As they approached, the light grew brighter. Will jumped up and raced to the Captain.

"Sir, there's a lighthouse, just over there. That means there's land, where we can dock."

Lightwood squinted, and then turned to Will.

"Looks that way," he sighed. "Prepare to anchor!"

"Mother! Father! Come look! There's a ship sailing, and its coming closer!"

"What are you talking about, Theresa? No ship would ever sail in this weather, unless the captain is a madman," Her mother scoffed at her.

"Daddy, do you believe me?"

"Well, I agree with your mother on this one. There won't be any ships sailing in this weather."

Tessa was getting impatient. "Come on, their getting closer!" She dragged her father to the dock.

When they arrived, the ship was already docking. The captain shouted, "Is it alright if we dock here until the storm passes?"

"Yes, it looks like your ship is in need of repair," Tessa's father replied. "Come; bring your crew, for it is Christmas Eve! Join us for dinner!"

As they sat down to dinner, Tessa looked around the table at the crew of the ship. Most of the crew looked to be in their twenties or thirties, with the exception of a few. Two boys stood out to her. One had eyes and hair that were silver, even though he had the face of a young teen. The other looked about the same age, but was not silver at all. He had silky hair black as night and cerulean blue eyes. He noticed her looking and met her stare evenly; his lips twitching up into a sly smirk.
Tessa quickly looked away, embarrassed. She shoveled peas into her mouth to divert attention, but she could feel his gaze still upon her. Annoyed she slowly looked up and glared at him; willing him to look away. But he still had that same smirk plastered on his face, and it just made her more infuriated.
"Why don't we all go around the table and introduce ourselves," suggested Tessa's mother. She nudged Tessa. "You can start, sweetie."
Tessa rolled her eyes at her mother's "get to know you" activity, but obeyed.

"I'm Theresa Gray, but you may call me Tessa."
They all went around the table. She learned that the Captain's name was Gabriel Lightwood, and that the silver haired boy was named James Carstairs; Jem for short. But who she really was curious about was the smirking boy that hadn't taken her eyes off of her yet. She was starting to feel uncomfortable with him staring at her for so long.

"I'm Will, Will Herondale," The boy said, finally breaking his gaze from Tessa. Will, Tessa thought. The name suits him.
Her mother rambled on and on, about where the sailors could stay, if their ship needed to be repaired or not. Tessa finished her dinner quickly, not really hungry anymore. When she asked to be excused, he mother scoffed.

"Theresa, you're being rude to our guests-"

"But Mother, I really don't feel well. I'll talk to everyone tomorrow at breakfast."

"Theresa-"
But without her mother's consent, she stood up from the table and walked out, leaving all heads turned in her direction.

Tessa didn't go to her room. Instead, she went to the lighthouse. She climbed all 285 steps to the top and went and sat on the floor by the light. Often times she would come here for peace and quiet so she could think. Closing her eyes, she let her thoughts drift.

"Ah, fancy seeing you here," came a voice. Her eyes flew open only to meet a pair of dazzling blue ones.

"I thought you felt ill. Or at least that's what you told your mother. But I didn't take you for a liar, Tess."

"Don't call me that. And no, I'm not a liar, William," she put special emphasis on his name.

"Why not? Don't you like to be called Tess? It's short for Tessa."

Tessa sighed. "Never mind."
Will moved to sit beside her. "So, Tessa, tell me about yourself."
"There's not much to know. For a 16 year old I have a pretty boring life. Not much of a future, either. Arranged marriage, have kids, run the lighthouse-"
"Arranged marriage?"
"Yeah. It's kind of a thing here. Everyone knows everyone, so when we are born, practically, our mothers are already trying to find us our perfect match. My brother's already betrothed to Jessamine Lovelace, one of our neighbors."
"And who are you betrothed to?"
Tessa rolled her eyes. "Henry Branwell."
"You say that as if it were a bad thing," Will inquired.
"It's not, he's a sweet boy, it's just...he likes to invent things. We couldn't be more different. I can never see myself being married to him, let alone raising a family together," Tessa shuddered. "But, I really don't have a choice. If I don't marry him, my family will pretty much disown me."
"Oh, Tessa-"
"Don't feel bad. I just had the unfortunate luck to be born in one of the worst towns in America. Everyone has to go through with it here, because at our age, if you are disowned, you really have nowhere to go. Plus, you leave your match to have to find someone else. Anyway, enough about me. What's your life like? I suppose it's always exciting, being a sailor."
"Well yes," Will agreed. "But it also can be pretty lonely, even with a big crew."
"What about your parents?"
"They died when I was 12."
"Oh. I'm so sorry, Will-"
"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault."
They were silent for a minute.
"So how long will you be staying, then?" Tessa finally said.
"Oh, whenever Captain Lightwood decides to get his act together and repair the ship. May be a few weeks, or a few months."
Tessa internally cheered and groaned at the same time. Months with the crew living here, but on the other hand, months with Will...
Stop it! She thought to herself.
"Oh," was all she said in reply.
"You don't seem too happy about that, Tessa. What's wrong, don't want to spend a few months with me?" He grinned.
Tessa huffed. "Don't get the wrong idea, Will."
There was silence again, and this time Will broke it.
"Don't you ever want to change your future? Be free to live your own life, make your own choices?"
Tessa sighed, both in disappointment and longing. "Every day."
"Well, why don't you?"
"I told you, Will. I would leave in a heartbeat, if my family wouldn't disown me."
"Would that be the worst thing?"
Tessa thought for a moment. "Well, is that really a fair question?"
Will grinned mischievously. "I don't know."
Tessa yawned. "All I know is that for me to run away from my marriage would cause a huge scandal and would publicly humiliate my family. Much more than any other family in town."
"Why?"
"Because my father is the mayor."

DAH DAH DAH! Small cliffy there, to keep you interested. So anyway, PLEASE tell me what you think of this and if there is anything I should fix. I love everyone who reviews!

P.S. This is early, but MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! I'm soooo excited!