A/N. Wow, I really didn't think I would actually write another chapter... But I felt like I kinda left you hanging with the last chapter's ending...
This is going to be pretty OOC at some parts, but I'll explain more as to why later. And also, it just seems fitting at certain given moments.
Will and Tessa walked down the long halls, preparing themselves. Will was never much of one for big announcements, let alone talking about himself. Tessa on the other hand, everyone here knew her better than herself; or so it seems sometimes... And she was in no way ready to say something so big. Tessa could feel her palms sweating as she and Will walked towards the drawing room. Nearly every morning for the past while, everyone would gather there, just for some company, and, to lure Tessa out of her room. She knew, she hadn't been herself since Jem left. Everyone knew. She thought about Jem, how they were to be married, how they she was going to be Tessa Carstairs, she could almost feel Jem there, with her and Will.
Abruptly, Tessa stopped. Will didn't notice until he felt a tug back, realizing she had ceased walking and was staring, a panicked stare, at the floor. He rushed back over to her, grabbing her face in his hands, making her look at him. "Tessa, what's wrong?" He could notice her eyes began to tear-up. She shut her eyes, turning away as a single tear was shed. Will realigned her face with his. "Tessa, what's wrong?" he repeated.
"I can't do this." she began shaking her head frantically, backing away from Will. Not again, Will thought, crossing his arms over his chest, over his parabatai rune.
"What can't you do? What ever it is, I'm sure you can. You are a capable young lady, Tess." said Will, taking a step towards her. Tessa shook her head again, her tears picking up.
"I can't marry you." she said softly, before she turned around, picking up her skirts, running back to her room. Will was astonished, out of all the things he would have imagined going wrong, he never thought he'd hear those words. Especially from Tessa.
"Tessa! Tess, please come back!" Will shouted, beginning to run after her. He heard footsteps behind him, he looked over his shoulder, surprised to see Cecily. "What do you want?" he asked, slowing his running, allowing her to catch up with him.
"What happened?" Cecily asked, confused as to why her brother was so flustered. Will stopped, taking a deep breath.
"Nothing. Nothing happened." he said remorsefully.
"Okay, well then what didn't happen?" She arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What are you talking about? Nothing 'didn't happen'." Will said, looking down the hall where Tessa was no longer in sight.
"Then why did she run away?" Cecily asked, tilting her head to the side. Will rolled his eyes.
"This is ridiculous. Go home Cecy." Will turned on his heels, but before he could go after Tessa, a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Are you really going to pull that card right now?" Cecily asked, annoyed. "You know Gwilym, you can't tell me to go home every time I bother you, right?"
"Look, Cecily, I have important things I need to do. Alone. So, if you wouldn't mind leaving me alone, that would be greatly appreciated." Will said, turning around, again, and running down the halls.
Cecily was about to run after him, before hearing a voice call her name. She turned to see the owner of the voice, only to see nothing. How odd, she thought, turning back around, to follow Will, who had disappeared. If only I knew where he ran off to... she thought as she met a two-way split in the hall. She heard footsteps emanating down the right hall, so she followed them. But the footsteps seemed to be getting louder as she walked, but not louder as in her approaching them, it was more the like they were coming to her. She stopped her movements, stepping to the side of the hall, hoping whoever it was wouldn't see her so she could go after Will, unnoticed. "Cecy?" the shape was beginning to appear, and it was the same voice she heard earlier, though this time it was clear; it was Gabriel. Cecily didn't want him to just walk by her, so she stepped into the middle of the hall.
"I'm right here." she said, smiling.
"Six." Gabriel said, nodding in approval.
"At what?" she asked as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Hiding. I could hardly notice you until you were right infront of me." He smiled. They had been seeing each other, rather openly, for quite awhile now, but Will had taken to ignoring Gabriel, so it was quite unlikely that he knew anything of it. Cecily leaned into Gabriel's embrace, inhaling his scent.
"I have to keep going." She sighed, looking up at his velvety green eyes.
"Why must you go? Why not stay here, with me?" Gabriel offered. Cecily shook her head.
"No. I cannot. However much I wish to, I have other things I must do." she stated firmly. Gabriel wasn't going to let her go so easily though. He held her by her waist, his grip tightening.
"You will stay. Here. With me." he whispered, leaning his head down, resting it on her shoulder. Cecily smiled, but knew she had no time for this.
"I want to but, I-"
"Then stay. You want to, so do what you want to do." He cut her off and began to gently kiss her neck. She gasped in surprise and leaned her head back.
"Stop." she said weakly, though she didn't want him to. "Stop." she repeated, this time, in full control of her words. He pulled away, looking down at her.
"What must you do that is so important?" he demanded, letting her go.
"I'll explain later!" Cecily threw over her shoulder, as she began to run down the halls. Gabriel shook his head and continued to aimlessly wander the halls.
Will finally arrived, out of breath, at Tessa's door. It was locked, but he could still hear her inside. "Tessa. Tessa, please open the door." His voice was soft as he spoke. He waited for an answer, but all he got in return was a loud bang against the door. She had most likely thrown something, Will thought, as he tried the handle once more. "Tessa, tell me what I did wrong! Tell me why you're so upset, what have I done?" he called at her, through the door. He heard an intake of breath, and footsteps.
Tessa opened the door, just a crack, but it was enough for Will to see her face. She had tears running down it and her face was red and blotchy. She was looking him in the eyes, before saying: "You did nothing. It's all my fault. All my fault I couldn't fix this." she said in the softest voice. "Go away Will. Please, leave me be." She turned, shutting the door. Will felt so helpless, more-so than he had in years. I have to fix whatever I have done, he thought. "Will, leave!" Tessa's voice broke as she shouted at him and began sobbing, once again.
"Tessa, what happened? You were fine an hour ago, and now you aren't! What's wrong?" Will demanded through the door.
Tessa was inside, pacing around her room as Will shouted at her. She was a mess. Tears ran down her face, her hair was now tangled from running her hands through it so much, and she didn't plan on fixing herself. "Tessa, I swear on the Angel if you do not open this door, I will kick it in!" Will shouted from the other side.
"Stop it! Just stop!" she shrieked, pounding her fist against a wall so hard it sent a rippling pain through her arm. It hurt, but it felt good.
"I will give you until the count of three." shouted Will, as Tessa shook her head furiously, even though he couldn't see it. She went and sat on the edge of her bed, gabbing a pillow to scream into. By the time she did, Will had begun his count down. "3..."
"Leave!" Her voice broke, again. Tessa buried her face into her pillow, laying down and curling herself around it.
"2..." She shook from her tears, ripping through her like a tidal wave. "1!" Then the door was opened, but not broken off in any way. Tessa remained on her bed, crying into the pillow as Will rushed over to her, sitting down beside her. "Oh, Tessa. You're okay, you're going to be fine." Will reached out, Tessa recoiled from his touch.
"Get away from me." she whimpered. Will felt hurt, he didn't know what to do, or what he had done. It was heartbreaking to see the person he loved so hurt.
"What's going on?" A voice asked from the door. Will turned to see Cecily, a look of confusion meets concern washed up on her face.
"Cecy, you need to leave." Will turned his attention back to Tessa, who shook her head.
"Cecily comes here. You leave." Tessa whispered, looking up slightly. The young girl entered the room, and Will stood.
"Sorry, but it looks like this is a job for a girl, not you." Cecily shrugged. "Now, out you get." Cecily pointed to the door. Will was in disbelief. He walked out of the room, shutting the door behind himself.
"Cecily?" Tessa asked, a trembling wreck on the bed. Cecily sat on the edge of Tessa's bed, and waited for the older girl to open up to talk.
"What's wrong, Tessa?" she asked, looking to Tessa who was laying on her bed still, but looking up at Cecily.
"Everything." Tessa's voice was quivering. Cecily looked at Tessa, she had never really had friends, and never really knew how to console her.
"Okay, let's start with this, what in god's name is Will's problem?" Cecily asked, earing the slightest ghost of a grin from Tessa.
"I don't know." Tessa shook her head, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
"Why are you pushing him away again?" Cecily asked as Tessa sat up, putting the pillow on her lap, and shrugged.
"I can't explain. You won't get it, you're too-"
"Don't you even consider telling me that I'm too young to understand. I am fifteen, and very smart for my age." Cecily stated proudly, Tessa let out a choked laugh.
"I'm sure you are. But, it is rather hard to explain to you, I was going to say you're too inexperienced to understand what I'm talking about." Tessa tried a smile, but Cecily knew, it was forced.
"How am I 'inexperienced' at something?" the young girl asked.
"Your heart isn't split in two." Tessa looked to the pillow picking at the seam, as she spoke.
"But it's still understanding. Tell me what has happened, please?" Cecily moved so she and Tessa were sitting face to face.
"Will proposed." said Tessa softly.
A/N. Okay, so I guess this isn't a one-shot anymore... Well, I will (or have, depending on when you're reading this) change the description soon. I would love some ideas, but really, I do have another story on the go right now, so I'll probably only be updating this story once every 2 weeks. Possibly more, but don't get your hopes up. This probably won't really be too long of a story either, I'm not quite sure, maybe like, ten chapters at most? That actually sounds like a long story, but it's really not... at least not for me to write... I would love input on my story!
Anyways, I want to quickly add, I know that in the books it never really said much about Tessa and Cecily's friendship, but personally, I like to imagine them as if they are the best of friends, I just think it's fitting... And Tessa needs more girl friends. I mean, yeah she's got Sophie, and Charlotte but they're like four and seven years older than Tessa... With Cecily it's kinda like a big/little sister relation and I just find it nice to have.
Thanks for reading, reviews are always appreciated!