Chapter 1
Tessa lay on her bed with her head filled with thoughts she would never fully understand. Will loved her and look what that has gotten her. A fiancé who she may or may not love in "that way" and Will whom she also might not love "that way" and a burnt hand. She had cried so much she felt like she was dead. Like every time a tear fell from her eye it contained a piece of her soul she would never regain. She was broken…
A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts and as she turned her head to the door She saw a flash of silver hair and Jem's head was poking through the small crack in her door. She could see in his eyes that he was genuinely worried. The perfect gentleman.
"Are you alright Tessa? Dinner started nearly a half hour ago." He said in an anxious tone.
"I'm just not feeling well. I don't think I'll be coming down to dinner." She replied. She was lying because she truly didn't feel anything at all. Jem came the rest of the way into the doorway and sat by her on the bed. He raised his hand and put it gently on her forehead. It felt normal.
"Well. You don't have a fever but I would be happy to stay with you if you would like. I'm sure Charlotte wouldn't mind if I skipped dinner tonight." he said.
"Jem that's ridiculous! You should go eat. I think I'm just exhausted more than anything else. I just need some rest." She said.
Jem lifted himself off of her bed and walked back to the door. "Okay, but I'm sending Sophie to check on you every half hour." He said and he walked briskly out of the room before she could protest. Tessa sighed and closed her eyes, t
he thoughts once again invading her mind.
Will sat at the dinner table ready for Jem to return. Maybe she was held up reading a book or she fell asleep. He couldn't blame her though if she just didn't want to see him. He had taken her heart and smashed it and now he tells her he loves her and she's engaged, which they had announced at last night's dinner. He played with the end of his T-shirt.
Jem walked in at that moment with a worried expression on his face and sat down before he started to explain, "Tessa is not feeling well and will not be down for dinner this evening."
"Is everything alright?" Charlotte asked. Henry looked up, his eyes asking the same question, but Will kept his eyes down on his dinner plate.
"I think she just has a lot on her mind lately with her brother and the engagement, but the fact of the matter is she is utterly exhausted and needs rest." replied Jem.
Will laughed on the inside, but his laugh was humorless. They didn't even know the start of it.