How You Get the Girl

As the summary says, I decided to do this series of Wessa one-shots all based off of songs on Taylor Swifts 1989 album. They'll all be set in different times, but this one is set in 1879. Obviously I can't do all of the songs because I don't really think I could fit Will and Tessa into a song like 'Shake it Off' or 'New Romantics' or 'Blank Space' but I'll do my best. This first one-shot is based off of the song How You Get the Girl.

PS: Also recommend (RECOMMEND. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT) to listen to each song for each one-shot to help you understand it better.

Will stood outside of Tessa's door like a ghost, shaking. He never thought himself, Will Herondale, would be shaking over a girl, but he was. He was, because it was Tessa.

He let his mind drift off to the past 7 months.

It had all started when Will's sister, Cecily arrived. Will didn't know the full story between Tessa and Jem, but he knew that Jem had become to grow feelings for Cecily. That was also at the time when Tessa had admitted to Jem her feelings for Will, and they decided to break off the engagement. Thus Will found it safe to be with Tessa, and Jem had found a cure, anyways. He was happy with Cecily.

It had been a fun, adventurous love. It had been a rollercoaster – full of ups and downs and twists and turns. That was until around 6 months ago.

He didn't know what he had been thinking, or perhaps it was because he had become highly intoxicated. But he had a rather disturbing one night stand with Jessamine. Yes. Now he was certain it was because he was too drunk to even walk, because he would never in his right mind betray Tessa like that.

Tessa had walked in on them, a pure look of shock and horror on her face. At that point he was very drunk, so he seemed totally unfazed when she covered her mouth with her hand and ran out of the room, sobbing. But in the morning when he had realised what he had done (he didn't remember much, just that) he didn't know what to think or do.

There was no explanation for what he had done to tell Tessa. That morning, she didn't show up for breakfast, or lunch, or dinner. When people started getting suspicions about their relationship she started showing up slowly, but never making eye contact with Will.

In the end they had to say something. She lied to them, for Will. She told them all that they had had a few rough fights and decided to break it off for a little while. Jem was the only one Tessa told the truth. How did Will know? A few nights later, Jem came barging in Will's room furious with him.

He told him he broke her heart, and that he should be sorry. He said many other things to Will – neither particularly kind or particularly mean – but he hadn't been happy with Will.

And now here Will was, like a ghost on the threshold of Tessa's room shaking as if he was a ninety year old man. He knew that she probably wouldn't forgive him, or even want to see him, but he had to do something. He was still in love with her, and yet she still hated him.

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he quietly knocked on her bedroom door.

She opened up the door, squinting from sleep, obviously – and when she made out that it was him, her eyes widened and she moved to shut the door, but he wouldn't let her. He stepped his foot in to stop the door from closing. He didn't even know why he was forcing this upon her, to talk to him, but he did it anyways. After a few seconds of struggling she decided it was pointless and sighed, looking up at him. He was shocked to find that her eyes were full of pure pain. He knew he had hurt her, but he didn't think he'd hurt her that bad. Stupid Will, he thought. Always messing up everything. Always messing up peoples lives. I deserved to die.

"Are you insane?" she hissed, eyes narrowing.

He moved to open his mouth, but found that the words wouldn't come out that easily.

"Just hear me out, Tess. Please."

She shook her head, but her eyes didn't leave his.

He took a breath. This was it.

"It's been a long six months. Not just for you, but for me."

He saw her swallow.

"But the thing is, Tess. I've been too afraid to tell you what I want."

"And what's that?" she asked, her voice never leaving that sharp tone that made him wince.

"I want you. Not for sex, Tess, or for kisses, or for pleasure, but I want you for the worse or the better. Trust me, I don't know what it is, being me. I'd wait forever and ever for you, Tessa Gray. I broke your heart, I know. And I hate myself for it. But what do I do now? I'm going to put it back together. Not just because it needs to be done, but because I love you."

Tessa's eyes softened just a bit. She seemed to be struggling to keep her wall up. She slowly nodded, inviting him to move on.

"Remember how it used to be?" he reminded her. "Pictures in frames, kisses on cheeks?"

He wasn't sure, but he thought he saw her blush slightly.

"I don't know what I was thinking, Tessa. I was honestly the most wasted I have ever been. But yet, I still must have lost my mind to leave you all alone, and never tell you why."

Will exhaled loudly. He had said it. He just hoped she would believe him.

Tessa looked up at him, and without realising it – she was crying. Tears were slowly slipping down her cheeks as her eyes kept filling up with more water.

"Tess," Will breathed, concerned. Even though he knew it was wrong, no – it was wrong – he reached up to stroke her cheek lightly. And this time, she didn't move to pull away.

"Tess. Tess, what's wrong?"

Tessa choked on a sob and finally realised that she was crying. "Oh god," she said, inbetween sobs. "I hate to cry." She self-consciously wiped the tears off of her cheeks, but that only made her face look worse.

"Why are you crying?" Will said, so soft that it was barely a whisper.

"I just – thankyou Will, for saying that."

He was bewildered. "Thankyou? But don't you hate me?"

She laughed, though it was more like a sob, and moved to place a hand on his cheek, and moved her other hand to lace fingers with his.

He decided to take a risk, to take a step forward, and tangled his fingers into her soft, brown, curly hair. The hair he loved.

"Oh, Will," she said. "Will, I never hated you. I loved you. I am in love with you."

Will's eyes widened. "You can't mean…? But you, you…." He seemed lost for words.

She smiled slightly, and her tears had ceased a bit. "I don't know why I pushed you away, Will. But I felt that I had too. But Will, trust me when I say that I believe you. Every word you said. Trust me when I say that I trust you. Everything you do."

"Tessa," he breathed. And that seemed to unlock something in Tessa. She moved to pull him closer and in a second (he didn't exactly know how it happened, but it did) they were kissing. It had been so long since their lips had touched, and only know did Will know how much he missed the taste of her mouth, the feel of her hands in his hair, the feelings only she could unlock within him.

When they pulled back from each other, finally, even though they hardly pulled back – there was less than an inch between them, Will looked relieved. Tessa did, too.

"Lovebirds!" they heard Cecily shout from across the hall, outside of Jem's room. Will turned around in shock to see his sister standing there watching them in amusement. He looked back at Tessa to see that she was blushing madly. He realised that they had had that encounter outside of her room, and that everybody who walked by could have seen it.

"Oh, by the angel!" Tessa exclaimed, as Cecily went into Jem's room, still smirking. "That was mortifying."

For once, Will couldn't help but agree.

I hope you enjoyed that! I'm kinda really bad at writing fluff, but oh well. Till next time! Hope you like it.

Also, I don't really write much Jessa (although I'm currently working on a fanfic with both Wessa and Jessa in it), I want to know your opinion on this: should I write a series of one-shots like this, but based on Ed Sheeran's X album for Jessa? I find Ed Sheeran more fitting for them. I don't know, so I'll only do it if people think it's a good idea. Thoughts?