Tessa went home after Cecily showed up, knowing here parents would be home not long after. Cecily helped Will pick up the popcorn mess (well in Will's case, eat the popcorn mess) that him and Tessa made, telling Will about everything that happened while he was gone-including the Dessa breakup.

"She what?!" Will's jaw dropped, his mouthful of popcorn falling to the ground.

Cecily shook her head at him. "Will, how many times have Mam and I told you? Chew before you speak." Cecily scooped up the damp popcorn with a dustpan and carried it to the trash.

Will followed her, running up to her side and bouncing up and down like a little girl on Christmas.

"She broke up with him! Why? How?" Will pressed eagerly.

"Geez, Will, calm yourself. I'll tell you when you stop acting like a teenage girl," Cecily sighed.

Will, realizing he just was acting like a girl, sat down on the bed and pressed his lips together to keep himself from talking.

"Ok, thank you. Tessa broke up with Daniel because of the fight you and him had this morning."

Will suddenly felt guilty. Tessa was happy with Daniel, and she broke it off just because Will had a thick head.

Cecily went on. "She started screaming at him saying that he was the reason you were gone. It was intense."

As much as Will wanted to see the moment for himself, and has been dreaming of the day that Tessa was single, he felt the guilt gnawing at his heart.

"It's my fault," Will muttered. "She'll never go out with me now."

Cecily's smile faltered. She knew about Will's crush and tried to help him through the bad stuff whenever she could. "Maybe it is."

Will glared at her. "Thanks for the pep talk."

Cecily shook her head. "But this is good news! Tessa broke up with Daniel for you! You should just grow a pair and ask her."

Will sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She'd never go out with a guy like me. A player. She needs someone who she can rely on."

Cecily threw her hands up in exasperation. Did she really have to explain everything to him? "Will, your her best friend. She relies on you more than anyone else!"

It was Will's turn to shake his head. "I don't know, Cecily."

"What don't you know?! Just hike up your skirt and talk to her!"

Will was slowly growing confidence from her words. But not enough. "Can't I just text her or something?"

Cecily put her hands on her hips. "No! Girls hate it when guys do that! Seriously, Will, she's right next door!"

Will scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I don't know. I think I should give her some time to get over her breakup. I don't want to be her rebound."

Cecily finally relented, accepting his excuse. "Fine. But tomorrow, you need to ask her."

"But Cecily," Will whined. "Tomorrow is the kickoff game for the season! Would if she says no? It will affect my playing!" Will knew he was chickening out, but he didn't care.

Cecily groaned. "I can't believe you!" She walked to the door, looking back only once. "Just don't come crying to me when she has a new boyfriend. You had your opportunity."

She left, leaving Will alone with his thoughts and a room full of popcorn.

Tessa laid in her room, thinking about the events of this afternoon. Will was fine.

Will. Something felt different now when she thought about him. She used to get this feeling about him BD (before Danny), but now that he's out of the picture, the feeling was back.

Tessa knew what the feeling was, but she wished she didn't. She wished that she wasn't in love with her best friend and school player. She wished that she could prevent him from breaking her heart. She used to have Danny to distract her from her feelings, but laying in bed now, single, the old emotions hit her like a brick (A/N Brason any PJO or HoO fans?).

Tessa sighed in frustration. Why did she have to be a girl? Boys don't have to deal with complications like these. Take Will, for instance. He has probably made out with almost every girl in school, taken millions of phone numbers and never called a single one, and never thought twice about a girl. Tessa got the shit end of the stick-not only being a girl, but along with that being in love with the boy who doesn't love.

Tessa was snapped out of her thoughts when her bedroom door opened. Elizabeth Gray walked in, the soft expression on her face that mothers get when their children are sick.

"Oh, my poor baby," she said, walking over to Tessa and sitting next to her on the bed. She put her hands to her face to check for a fever like Will did earlier.

Will. Tessa shook her head to rid herself of her thoughts and to show her mother she was ok.

"Mom, I'm fine. I just got a little nauseous, that's all." Tessa smiled a little to make herself seem more convincing.

Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows. "Your not running a fever, but you don't look or sound ok. And I don't mean in a sick way. What happened at school today?"

Tessa cursed silently to herself. Being a therapist, her mother knew all of the signs of teenage depression. Tessa tried to stall. "How did you know I was sick?"

Tessa's mother glanced at her in a weird way, noticing the sudden change of topic. That was another sign of depression. "The school nurse called. She said that you were sick and Will volunteered to drive you home during lunch and make it back in time for 5th period." Elizabeth stared at Tessa with the look she uses to get clients talk to her. "Now what happened today at school?"

Tessa tried to come up with an explanation that didn't involve her being in love with Will. But she couldn't lie to her mom, especially not when she was looking at her the way she was. After racking her brain in the dark, a lightbulb lit up.

"I broke up with Daniel," Tessa sighed, pretending to be depressed about it. It wasn't a lie. Elizabeth bought it, her face softening and her arms reaching out to hug Tessa.

Tessa welcomed the embrace, feeling like she needed a hug. Even if the hug wasn't for the purpose she needed it for.

"It's ok sweetie," Elizabeth cooed, smoothing down Tessa's hair. "It will get better, I promise."

Tessa gave a fake sniffle, imitating a sad smile. "Mom, do you think I can have some alone time for awhile? You know, to sort out my feelings?"

Elizabeth nodded, smiling at her. "Yes, of course. Take all of the time you need."

Mrs. Gray kissed Tessa's forehead and then walked to the door. "You are taking your first heart break very well. You're so strong," she said softly before she left. "I am so proud of you."

Tessa sat in silence, feeling bad for not telling her the real truth. Tessa thought it might feel better, to admit her feelings to someone, but that someone was certainly not her mother.

So instead, she grabbed her phone and texted a certain black haired, blue-eyed person.

Hey, can we talk?