Author's note: I'm pretty new to the site so I'm basically a confuzzled mess but I'm gonna pretend like I know what I'm doing. Anyway, this is my first fanfic so please don't be too harsh, but constructive criticism would be helpful. Please tell me if I should continue or not, even though I'm probably gonna continue despite what people say. Anyway, this is a story mainly focusing on Tess, because I don't think there are enough stories of her on here, but all the ones that I have seen are really good. I can't help but feel bad for her with her mom and all, so I'm trying to provide a different view of her. Oh, and I'm also making Caitlyn a bit older than Tess in here since we don't know their real ages.
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, I don't own Camp Rock or any of the characters in here, even though I wish I did, whatever.
Flashback to Tess as a young girl, about 10 years old:
"There're five!" Tess suddenly exclaimed, startling her best friend Caitlyn.
"What?" Caitlyn asked curiously, a confused expression gracing her face as she stopped walking and studied her friend's careless smile and blue eyes, brilliant from the cheerfulness that sparkled in them. Tess glanced at Caitlyn and pointed at a small patch of wildflowers they had just passed on their carefree stroll.
"There are five," Tess repeated, like Caitlyn had trouble hearing her, not understanding her. "Five butterflies there. See, there are those two pretty orange ones and the three yellow ones."
"Oh," Caitlyn replied contentedly, resuming her walking. She was accustomed to Tess's happily random outbursts after being best friends with her for over three years now. Tess fell in step alongside of Caitlyn and the two friends continued there walk in comfortable silence before stopping in the shade of a tree in a grassy park. The girls sat down and smiled at each other, warm hazel eyes meeting crystal blue.
"I brought you a present," Caitlyn chirped proudly, pulling a cheap, faux gold, heart-shaped locket out from her pocket. The gold paint was chipping a little around the edges, the clasp was loose, and the swirling design across the surface of the locket was a bit faded, but Tess loved it anyway. She smiled gently, flashing her white, so-straight-that-I-never-needed-braces-and-never-will teeth, and opened the locket. A teeny-tiny picture of her and Caitlyn at age eight locked in a friendly embrace, stared back at her. Their young faces radiated lighthearted happiness, and their cheeks were mashed together as if symbolizing how close they were. Innocence shone in their eyes, the kind that came with being young and naïve, but could be shattered easily if any horrors from the outside world touched their lives. They looked so childish, so carefree... Tess sighed slightly and Caitlyn's face fell.
"You don't like it?" she asked quietly, disappointment creeping into her voice. Tess snapped out of her reminiscing and shook her head violently.
"No, no Caitlyn, I love it. Thank you," she assured her, allowing her face to spread into a genuine smile.
"Happy birthday," Caitlyn said, grinning back at her best friend. She lowered her head onto the grass, her long, chocolate-brown hair spreading out around her, and gazed up at the clear blue sky. Tess followed her example, paying little mind to the dirt and grass stains destined to soil her designer clothing. The two girls lay there for the next hour or so, speaking in hushed voices about their hopes and dreams, telling secrets that they could only trust the other with as their giggles and gasps filled the peaceful atmosphere. This was how they had spent their birthdays since three years ago, just the two of them for the entire morning, talking easily with each other. Afterwards, they would go to the birthday girl's house and spend the rest of the day with the girl's family.
"Let's go," Tess announced abruptly, getting to her feet. "I wanna see my mom. She hasn't been home since she left for her tour two months ago."
"It must be hard having your mom be TJ Tyler," Caitlyn said sympathetically, standing up as well. "You have to stay home all alone with your nannies all the time." She was careful not to mention Tess's father, because Tess was still very touchy about him. He had left Tess and Tess's mom a long time ago because Tess's mom had been sleeping with another man. He and Tess had been very close, but since he had left he had not contacted her once. A short while ago, Tess discovered he had remarried and had a new daughter. And just like that, daddy's little princess had been thrown aside and replaced. She had been hurt by that more than she had ever let on.
"I don't need your pity," Tess growled harshly, her eyes hardening. Caitlyn dropped her gaze and Tess could tell that she had hurt her friend.
"I'm sorry," she whispered quickly. "It's just..."
"I know, it's ok," Caitlyn assured her, knowing how much Tess hated to be weak, to let other people know she was vulnerable. She had gone through many traumatizing experiences, more than she had ever shared with Caitlyn, and after each one she put up another piece of the barrier that shielded her from other people, other people who as soon as she grew to trust them and let them into her heart would only break it and leave her empty and broken. She would only let down her barrier for a few people, one of those being Caitlyn, her best friend in the whole world.
The girls entered Tess's extravagant mansion still chattering away. Caitlyn had previously always stiffened with envy when coming to Tess's house, which put her own modest, two-story house to shame with its expensive vases, gleaming chandeliers, stunning marble statues, dazzling stained-glass windows, sculpted gardens, and eye-catching ceiling mural. Diamonds practically dripped off the painted walls the house, which were already peppered with gold-framed paintings and delicate figurines, so who could blame Caitlyn for the unwanted jealously that occasionally brushed over her. However, she had grown so accustomed to spending time with Tess and visiting her house that it had almost become like a second home to her. Tess also loved it when Caitlyn came over; it was almost like having a sister to share her house with. Caitlyn was the only person in the world who could come close to filling the vacant space left in Tess, the emptiness that resulted from never being able to see her mother and being deprived of the special bond that only a daughter and mother can have. Even with her luxurious mansion and celebrity status, Caitlyn pitied the lonely, hollow girl that was Tess Tyler, who never was able to have a healthy childhood like Caitlyn had.
"Mom?" Tess called. "Mom, I'm home!" Tess's voice echoed slightly, ringing throughout the entire house, but receiving no reply. "Mom, where are you?" No answer was heard, not even one from one of her various nannies. Tess had given them all the day off, figuring that it would be best if she, Caitlyn, and her mother would be allowed some private time.
"Don't worry Tess, she's probably just running a little late," Caitlyn said soothingly to her friend, trying to push away the clouds of despair and hurt already fogging up her sapphire orbs.
"Yeah, she probably is," Tess replied uncertainly, but quickly pushed away her doubts. Caitlyn had told her that her mom was coming, so she was coming. Tess trusted Caitlyn and she trusted her mom. Sure, her mother had missed a few events in her life before, but never something big, never anything important. And especially never her birthday.
"Come on Tess, let's play a game to pass the time while we're waiting for your mother," Caitlyn pressed, trying to keep Tess preoccupied. Tess reluctantly agreed, so she and Caitlyn settled down in her sunroom to play a quick game of cards.
The house was dark and quiet. The only light and sounds came from a movie blaring on a plasma-screen television set in an otherwise dark sunroom, and the soft breaths of the two sleeping girls in front of it. Tess awoke with a start and, after scanning the dim room, shook Caitlyn awake.
"Is it morning?" Caitlyn asked groggily, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. Tess walked towards the light switch and snapped on the lights before glancing at the clock. It was 11:56. The girls stared at each other, an awkward silence settling over them.
"She's not coming," Tess whispered in anguish, her gaze dropping to the carpeted floor. "She's not coming! My mom missed my tenth birthday!" She crumpled to the floor, ragged breaths wracking her entire body as Caitlyn scrambled over to her friend. "I don't understand. She promised she'd be here, she promised! She said that I was more important to her than her career, she said that would never miss my birthday! She said she loved me!" Stinging tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening to spill and expose her weakness to the world, share with everybody that Tess Tyler was not the flawless goddess she appeared to be, but a regular, common person, imperfections and all. But she let them fall anyway. The droplets splattered onto the floor below, splitting into millions of different pieces, resembling her shattered heart. She didn't care about being strong anymore, didn't bother putting up her brave front, because who really gives a damn about being strong when their mom has just proved that her job comes before her child? The tears fell faster and harder, streaming down her face in salty rivers, and uncontrollable sobs shook her body. She pulled her knees to her chin, gathering her legs into her arms and rocking back and forth silently, trying to push away the unbearable pain bombarding her.
Caitlyn looked at her broken friend helplessly, her mind going numb. She didn't know what to do seeing as Tess had never cried in front of her before. Yes, Tess's mother had been absent for many of Tess's activities before and Tess of course had been hurt, but she had never cried. Tess Tyler never had let tears fall from her perfect eyes, never allowed anybody to see that she was insecure and weak. Caitlyn sunk down to her knees and, not knowing what else to do, wrapped her arms around Tess's frail body. Tess melted into the comforting embrace and buried her head beneath Caitlyn's chin, her body heaving from her unending sobs.
"She promised- she said I was more important- she said- she said she loved me- she- she promised!" Tess stammered weakly. "Why can't she love me? Why am I- why am I not good enough for her? Why am I so ugly, what did I do wrong? Caitlyn- please Caitlyn, please- please make it stop!" Tess's cracking, heartbroken voice nearly brought Caitlyn to tears herself. "Why- why am I so horrible? What did I do? Make the pain stop, please!"
"Tess, no, you're beautiful," Caitlyn pleaded, rubbing Tess's back. "You're sweet, you're kind, you're unselfish, you're smart, you're pretty, you're a wonderful person, please don't cry Tess, you're amazing."
"No, no I'm not," Tess cried, shaking her head. "If I was, my mom would love me, she would freaking love me! But she doesn't, I'm not good enough for her, I was never good enough for her, why am I not ok as I am? Why am I so unlovable? Why am I so insignificant that she would miss my birthday?!" Caitlyn said nothing; she only tightened her arms around Tess, trying to let actions do the comforting for her. If she could do anything to relieve her friend from the suffering she was going through, anything at all, she would, but Tess seemed inconsolable. It broke Caitlyn's heart to see her in so much pain. Caitlyn had always been her protector, the person that would stand up for her no matter what, someone who could always ease her pain. But here she was, facing a situation where no amount of kind words would bandage Tess's broken heart, where not all the comfort in the world would heal Tess's internal wounds. Caitlyn sighed and pulled Tess closer.
A number of hours later, Tess had calmed down enough to control her tears and was now simply lying against Caitlyn, breathing normally. The clock now read 3:36, but Caitlyn and Tess remained wide awake, comfortable with each other's presence.
"You ok?" Caitlyn inquired softly, stroking Tess's beautiful, flowing blonde hair that was currently in a tangled mess. Tess looked up at Caitlyn, her eyes painfully red and swollen from her hours of crying. However, they no longer were a vortex of hurt and rejection, no longer exuded helplessness and pain. Looking up towards Caitlyn, they only shimmered with quiet gratitude, dependence, and the tiniest bit of fortitude that Caitlyn could take just a little credit for.
"I think so," she whispered, her voice raspy. Caitlyn nodded and they resumed their silence until Tess spoke up again.
"Thank you," she sighed, once again staring into Caitlyn's eyes. Caitlyn looked back at her, a bit confused.
"For what?" she questioned curiously.
"You know... just for being there," Tess murmured. A quiet peacefulness descended upon them once again.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," Tess stated, seriously, sincerely, with the kind of honest, unconditional love and trust that only two best friends can share.
"You just can't keep quiet for two seconds, can you?" Caitlyn teased gently before Tess's words sank in. "Oh... well... right back atcha kiddo."
Author's note: Soooooo how was it? I know Tess seems way too nice here, but that's just because she's a lot younger and her mom hasn't hurt her too much before, so she hasn't become a big jerk that always is trying to be the star yet. Please review!!