"Do you really love him, Tess?"
I didn't hear him enter the room. Although I knew who it was, I turned to see Will in the doorway, staring at me with an icy gaze. I was speechless. Was he really asking me that? Why did Will, the same Will who tried so hard to be cruel to me on a daily basis, feel the need to question my feelings for Jem? My Jem, who loved me and asked me to marry him?
"That is completely inappropriate." I knew this wouldn't shut him up; Will decided to be inappropriate whenever he so pleased. But I didn't want to discuss this with him of all people.
"No, Tess, I don't think it is."
He was the only person who called me that. At one time, I liked that. Even now my heart skips a beat hearing my name come from his lips. Those lips. That kiss in the attic... no. I can't think about that anymore. He only wanted to hurt me. Jem is my future now. He loves me. He'd never hurt me, especially in the ways Will has managed to hurt me.
"Jem means so much to... he's my parabatai. We look out for each other. I'm just... looking out for him."
I search Will's eyes for answers. Jem is his best friend, but there is something more to the way Will is behaving. There is a tone in his voice... urgency perhaps? I am still not answering his question, but I allow my curiosity to get the better of me and ask, "Why exactly do you care, Mr. Herondale?"
He pauses for a moment. "I just... I wanted to make sure..."
"Yes?"
For a moment, I think he'll let his guard down and tell me why he is really here. Instead, he says coldly, "Jem doesn't need your pity."
I didn't expect this. Jem trusts Will so much and THIS is what Will thinks of him? "Is that it Will? Jem can't be loved, only pitied? I expect you to hurt everyone else William, but Jem? You are disgusting." I could say more, but the anger I feel clouds my mind. I am seeing red. I try to leave the room, but Will is blocking my exit. I can't do anything but stare at the ground, my eyes buring with tears. I was once told to look at a bright light to stop myself from crying; I didn't care now. I was furious and doing all I could to keep myself from hitting Will. I would hit him, but I didn't want to even think about touching him. I knew he hated me, but why did he want to torture me?
We stood there for what seemed like hours. I felt his gaze on me, but I wouldn't look at him. That's what he wanted. He wanted to find any point of weakness he could and use it against me. Use my weakness to hurt me. To hurt Jem. I need to get out of here. Before I could devise a plan of escape, I hear footsteps.
"Tessa! There you are. I've been meaning to..." Jem's voice trailed off as he took in the scene: my eyes red and wet with tears I won't let fall and Will blocking my exit. Confused, he asked, "Am I interrupting anything? I'm sorry if I-"
I cut him off. "No. In fact, I was just about to tell William here that I must be leaving." I hurried past Will to grab Jem's arm. Before anyone could say another word, I tugged Jem back into the hallway, less gently than I should have. I made no secret of the fact that I was glad to be leaving.
If I hadn't been in such a hurry, I could have heard what William said next. Quietly he murmered, "And I was just about to tell you... I love you Tess."
