Tessa

Tessa gripped the hem of her silver gown uneasily, crumpling its silky material that fell in waves at her knees. She was nervous. Annual high school masquerade balls did that to you, especially when it would be the school you would be attending in a week's time. She glanced at the matching mask. It was simple, a subtle, muted shade of silver, and it was the only thing that kept Tessa from hiding herself in her cupboard. Someone knocked on the door of her bedroom, and Tessa whirled around. Nate poked his head inside, wearing a cheeky grin that Tessa rarely saw. Not since her parents died in the fire to save them a decade ago. Not since that girl shattered his heart for another around a year ago. And certainly not since their Aunt Harriet died of lung cancer not even two weeks ago, forcing them to sell the apartment in New York and live here in her other home. Seeing that smile again made Tessa's heart swell with joy. She looked at him. He was dressed in a tuxedo, with a baby blue tie to match his eyes. He looks handsome, Tessa thought to herself. He raised an eyebrow at her. She realised she was staring, and cleared her throat.

"Sorry what?"

"What?" he asked, amused.

"What did you say? I didn't hear you," Tessa replied, sighing.

Nate chuckled.

"I didn't say anything."

"Then what do you want?" Tessa asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Can't I come see my sister and compliment her on how dazzling she looks?" Tessa continued staring. "Fine, fine. I wanted to tell you to go eat something. Be ready in ten minutes, or I will drive off without you."

Tessa poked her tongue out at him. He smiled again and slipped out of her room, shutting the door behind him. She took a comb out of her pocket and started brushing her wavy hair. Gathering it, she tied a loose bun hanging at the bottom of her head, held together by a black ribbon with small white beads. She walked over to her mirror. Despite Nate's words, Tessa was not dazzling. Not even remotely pretty. Her skin was too pale, almost ghostly. Her eyes were a dull grey, an odd combination with her dark brown hair. Tessa was about an average height. A height perfect for blending in and going unnoticed. She was merely a 16 year old girl, tolerable to the eyes. She smiled, and put on her mask, and her mother's necklace sitting by the dresser. Now she was an unidentifiable 16 year old girl, tolerable to the eyes. She slipped into her flats and headed downstairs.

"What did I tell you," Nate smirked at her. "Girls take way more time getting ready than boys do."

"Hey," Tessa warned. "You definitely took longer than me."

"I was downstairs for about 15 minutes!" He exclaimed.

"Who said I was getting ready the whole time?" Tessa asked.

"What else would you be…" Nate stopped abruptly and sighed. "You were reading weren't you? Found a new book?"

"No," Tessa stated.

"You found an old book? One that you've probably read a thousand times? Oliver Twist?"

Tessa smirked and hopped onto the kitchen counter, grabbing a biscuit from the basket their new neighbours had given them. Tessa's eyes fluttered closed. These biscuits were insanely good.

"Delicious aren't they?" Nate raised his eyebrows. "They've invited us over for dinner next week on Tuesday. Keep that day free. I've already said yes."

Tessa noticed how Nate had started acting like her parent over the past week. She felt sad for her brother. He was too young to have to accept that kind of responsibility. But the other option was separation, and both Tessa and Nate couldn't have lived with it. Especially not now.

"Tessa?" he asked again. She looked over at him.

"Alright," Tessa said, grabbing another cookie. "Are we good to go?"

Nate and Tessa walked into the gym of Islington Secondary College. Oh my, Tessa thought. This place is huge. Her grip on Nate's hand went tighter. When they opened the door, Tessa immediately became self-conscious. The school was filled with bright, flashy colours and revealing clothes. Not like her pastel silver dress. She would definitely stand out. She dreaded it. Nate looked at her.

"Are you good?" He asked.

"Yeah," she replied. "Meet you at the car? Midnight?"

"Ok. Have fun Tessa."

Tessa watched him as he disappeared into the crowd. Not knowing what to do, Tessa headed over to the drinks table, and grabbed a glass of water. She leaned against the wall, sipping at it. To her relief, no one paid any attention to her. She listened to the music that the band was playing. Orchestral music, with a melancholy violin standing out, played by a boy with silver hair. Beautiful, but depressing. She wondered what Nate was doing right now.

"Care to dance?" A smooth, masculine voice said from beside her. She gasped and whirled around. A boy, about a head taller than her was smirking, holding his hand out to her. She stared at him. He had hair as black as night, bangs swept to the side, and startling electric blue eyes, surrounded by a black mask. Tessa almost choked on her tongue.

"Sure," she squeaked. The boy grinned and Tessa took his outstretched hand. He had long fingers, hard from callouses, and yet he handled her with surprising gentleness as he guided her to the dance floor. Still holding Tessa's hand, he turned her to face him, and grazed her hips with his free hand. Tessa's breath hitched as it rested on her hipbone, and brought her hand up to his shoulder. Slowly, they began to take small cautious steps in time with the music. Soon enough, they were staring into each other's eyes, and gliding effortlessly across the smooth surface. Tessa was engulfed in blue. Clear, bright, electric blue. She stared at the boy as if he were a dream. He seemed to be doing the same. He had chiselled features. A distinguished jawbone, a long nose, and thin lips. He was definitely a looker, whom Tessa couldn't believe had chosen her to dance with. The song ended, and the boy released her hip. Still holding her hand thought, he dragged her outside. He held the door open to her, and led her outside. Tessa was hit by the cold night air, and shivered. Seeing this, the boy brought Tessa to a bench, hidden in the shadow of willow trees to shield her from the wind.

"You're quite a dancer," he said to her. She looked at him.

"I could say the same thing," she barely whispered. The boy dipped his head lower to hear her, and his bangs tickled her cheeks.

"You're very shy," he noted. "If you don't mind me asking, would you allow me the pleasure of knowing your name?"

Tessa nodded her head.

"My name is Theresa."

"I haven't seen you around, Theresa. Are you new?" he asked. Tessa loved the way he pronounced her name.

"I am. And your name?"

"I think I'll tell you later. Are you from America Theresa?"

"Yes," she answered. "New York. How did you know?"

The boy laughed.

"Your accent," he chuckled. "You sound almost… like a cowboy, but sweet and feminine."

"I do not!" she squealed indignantly. "And I still don't know your name."

"Patience, Theresa." He said. "I… I must say, your looks are very distracting. I can hardly form a sentence."

"My looks?" Tessa inquired. "Sorry?"

"You look beautiful. Absolutely breathtaking," she said. "Straight out of a book."

"I… I do?" she breathed.

"You do, and you don't even know it. Theresa, you look like a princess."

Tessa blushed.

"Thank you, but I… I don't…"

"You do," the boy said firmly as he cupped his hand behind her neck and pulled her closer. Tessa knew what was happening. He's going to kiss me, she thought giddily. My first kiss… Tessa shakily breathed in the same air he was. Their lips barely touched when the clock struck twelve, and chimed. Not a grandfather clock. Not like in Cinderella. The chime came from the alarm on her watch. She pulled away. The boy looked confused.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. My brother…"

The boy smiled.

"Goodbye Theresa."

Tessa smiled back and ran. She ran to the car, where her brother was waiting. She got inside and the engine started. It was only when Tessa opened the door to her house that she realised she forgot something.

She still didn't know his name.