Tessa woke up, somehow finding the arms around her. Will's arms, and the smell of soap. Tessa tried moving his arm away from her. It was no use, his muscular arm was draped over her. He stirred, Tessa stiffening, she would need to go home, to go get changed for school. She turned around, and she saw violet-blue eyes staring back at her.
"You should get home, to get ready for school," he said, smiling. His smile made Tessa melt. She got up.
"Thanks." Tessa didn't know what else to say. She started to walk out.
"Um… Tessa you might need to change, if you don't won't question from your parents," He said.
"Right," She said. At that moment she thought about getting changed there, but she couldn't know that Will wasn't going to watch her. She walked back into the bathroom, got changed there. She went back to Will's room, giving his clothes back. Except someone was stopping Tessa from going into his room. Cecily.
"It was weird that there was nothing going on in Will's room," Cecily said. It was Tessa's turn to frown.
"What do you mean by that?" Tessa asked, feeling more frustrated.
"What do I mean? Haven't you seen the way Will's looked at you? Like you're the only one star in the sky," Cecily said, looking frustrated. "And you are toying with his feeling, knowing how he feels." Tessa gasped, she didn't know nothing of Will's feelings. She dropped Will's clothes and ran, ran back to her house. She was met by her mother, Elizabeth.
"Thank god, Sophie said, that you were leaving to come home a couple of minutes ago," Her mother said, chirpy. "You need to get ready, only day till the weekend!" She was so enthusiastic, Tessa couldn't always keep up with her happiness. Tessa walked towards her room, getting changed, and walking back downstairs.
"Oh honey, do you want me to pick you up today?" Her mother asked, just before she left for school. Tessa looked at her mother confused.
"Why? You know I always walk home," Tessa replied. Her mother looked as if she were hiding something.
"It's that your father's coming home from his business trip," Her mother said. But Tessa never went to see her father, especially when he came home from work. Her father detested her, knowing that she was not his child. She felt deeply guilty, because his only blood child was not living up to his expectations. It was Tessa, who helped Nate become successful, even though he never paid attention to her. She sighed.
"No mom, I'm quite alright. I can walk myself home," She said. But there was something in her mother eyes, she wanted to talk about last night.
"About last night…" Elizabeth started, but Tessa cut her off.
"Please, mom. I need to go," Tessa said, closing the door behind her. She saw the Herondale's getting out of there house. Will gave her and grin and waved, she also waved, but stopped smiling when she saw Cecily's glared. She decided to walk fast.
Will was struggling to catch up with Tessa. She knew Cecily had something to do with her, because she stopped smiling and practically ran away, leaving Cecily with a smug smile.
"Tessa, TESSA," Will called out for her, finally managing to catch up to her.
"What do you want?" She mumbled. Will frowned.
"Please tell what Cecily said to you," He pleaded. Tessa looked at him, with her grey eyes like storm clouds.
"She told me not to talk to you, because I didn't feel the same as you," Tessa said, softly. Will couldn't help but stifle a gasp. He felt a sharp stinging pain in his heart.
"Do you not love me?" He asked, his voice weakening. Tessa face fell apart, her eyes looking at him.
"That not what I meant." She sighed. "I can't be with you, without breaking Jem's heart. And the same goes vice versa." But you are already breaking my heart, he thought. But it was true. Last night was quite hectic for Tessa, and the matter between her and Jem needed to be unresolved.
"Of course, I understand." Will voice went cool as ice. She kept on looking in front of her saying something like 'I'm so sorry'. Will wanted to grab her and hug her and never let go. "I'm sorry too." We were fast approaching the school and Cecily came to Tessa and said something. Tessa took a glimpse of Will, and hurried away from him through the busy school. And there was that, Will was left standing by himself.
"Hey." A voice said on the left, it was Jem. He saw the pain between his smiles. "How was your night?" First Will was confused, but then realised he'd seen Will with some girl.
"It was that bad, I picked up Cecily from the block. She forgot her way around," Will said. "She isn't good with maps." Jem chuckled.
"Well I hope you never heard the fiasco of last night. Tessa rejected me, I shouldn't have expected anything, since we're best friends." Will didn't say anything, he knew he was a part of the problem. He knew Tessa wanted Jem to forgive her for leaving in such as rush.
"Just talk to her, I'm sure she'll forgive you," Will said. Jem gave a grin.
"Of course, you're her neighbour. She would tell you," Jem said, walking to the distance. Will checked his watch, the bell was going to ring. He had Jace and Sebastian in his class, which was fine but he really didn't want his cousin following him everywhere. Minutes went by, thankfully, and it was time to leave. Will realised that he had Ancient History with Tessa, he was hoping Tessa and Jem had already spoken. He walked towards the Ancient History classroom, where he saw Tessa and Jem approaching. Jem gave her a kiss on the cheek and hurried away, a wave of anger went through Will. But Jem was too good and sweet, he wouldn't able to ever get angry at him. Will saw Tessa nearing the door,he opened the door for Tessa.
"Ladies first," He said, bowing. Tessa gave a giggle before walking in with Will behind her.
Tessa spent the double lesson with Will, while he made her laugh there was something in the back of her mind about Jem before she went into class. And how Will's face broke, hurt spread across when Jem kissed her on the cheek. There was nothing going with her and Jem, Jem was always known as a best friend. He would always be the shoulder he'd cry on. She saw something in front of her eyes, she focused and saw a hand. Will's hand.
"Hey, I was wondering what ekklesia is?" He asked, she rolled her eyes. He was the new kid. Of course there would have been a different system in London, or wherever he came from. He had the accent.
"Ekklesia is the assembly, I think. It's governing body of Athens," Tessa said, deep in thought. Will looked at her before turning back to his work. It was strange, but she couldn't blame him acting odd. Tessa had been ignoring him for the whole day. Oh, by the Angel. This was going to be a long day.
The bell rang the final time for the day, Tessa speeded away out the school. She felt a hand on her back. Will.
"Come on, let me at least walk you home," Will said. Tessa turned back, to see Jem looking at both of them. Tessa turned away from Will. She went through the crowds trying to get away from Will and to Jem. She came to Jem, who looked bleak eyed.
"Yeah, I get it. Thank you should have told me. I'm your best friend," Jem said stiffly, his smile looked fake, cold and unwelcoming. Tessa heard her name being called, not turning back. She touched his arm, he recoiled. "We don't want to raise any suspicions to you 'boyfriend'". Tessa's heart shattered into a million pieces, it hurt to hear him say that.
"James, Will and I aren't anything," Tessa said, her throat throbbing. Jem looked through his eyelashes.
"Come on, his waiting for you. We'll meet up later," Jem said, walking away. It is one thing for your heart to break, but it's another thing when your soul shatters, Tessa remembered when Emma Carstairs friend, Cristina, told them that. But what would she tell Emma? Jem and Emma were second cousins and were really close. She saw Will, but couldn't come close to him, not while hurting Jem. With all the training for running in Phys Ed, she ran. She heard the footsteps of Will, but she pushed ahead.
She finally closed the door when she got home. The house was eerie quiet, her mother must have been on shift. She sighed, Tessa didn't want any of this drama. And yet it was partly Will's fault, for coming into this mess, for her to love him. She flopped on to her bed, not moving for a while. She heard a tap on the window. Must be a pigeon or something, Tessa thought, covering her head with the pillow. All she wanted to do was to be left with her own thoughts. But the tapping continued, she looked up and saw an unruly black hair floating outside. Oh, by the Angel, he's going to fall soon, Tessa thought opening the window. He climbed in, collapsing on the ground. Tessa tried help him up.
"I'm fine," he mumbled. Tessa sat back on her bed.
"Why are you here?" She said coldly, Will looked taken aback.
"Since you ran off away from me this afternoon, I was just wondering if you were alright." He asked, Tessa couldn't believe what he was saying. As if she knew the answer to that.
"Am I alright? Are you an idiot? Of course not, you clearly ruined my friendship with Jem and haven't said anything about it." Tessa breathed, shouting at Will was not pleasant. His face looked shocked and full of hurt.
"I'm sorry, if it changes the matter," He said with soft guilt. Of course I can forgive you, Tessa thought. She touched his face, Will grabbing her wrist and gave a kiss on her hand. His eyes looked into hers, she could never stare into his eyes without falling into them. Will's face neared, his soft lips brushing Tessa's. Electricity whipped through her, but she couldn't control herself. Tessa brought her arms around Will's neck, and pulled his face closer to hers. They kissed passionately, until a bleeping noise stopped them both. Tessa pulled out her phone, Jem had finally texted her.
J: Came around to apologise, but nobody was home. I hope I can catch you later :)
Tessa put her phone down, and flopped back on her bed. She felt warm energy next to her. Will, she had forgotten about him.
"Tessa… I wanted to tell you something," Will started but Tessa cut him off.
"No, save it. I don't need your pity," She said bitterly, trying not to crying in front of Will.
"But Tessa it wasn't about Jem, it was about us…" Tessa had finally lost it. A flood of tears came down her cheeks, as Will comforted her.
"Don't you see Will? I can't be with you without breaking Jem's heart, and vice versa. Can't you see this is tearing me apart," Tessa cried out. Will looked at her softly, brushing her hair around her ear.
"Tessa, tell me what to do to help you from this burden," Will said, murmuring in her ear. Tessa looked up at Will, looking at Will's vulnerable face looking at her. This would be the last time Tessa would at Will like this, the last time they spend time together. She knew she was going to break his her either way, but it was the only way to get her friend back.
"I want you to being as if we never met at the party," Tessa hissed through her teeth. Will looked as if he'd been slapped.
"But minus the kissing, can we still depart as friends?" Will said, he'd never looking this vulnerable or desperate. This is the only chance, Tessa thought.
"No. You asked to help me from my burden, and here is the answer," Tessa said, trying to keep her voice level. Will face became closed off, showing no signs of that vulnerability he'd shown earlier.
"Very well, Tessa Gray. I hope you made the right decision for yourself," Will said, his voice as cold as winter. He walked out her room, slamming the door behind him. It was after that incident, that she allowed herself to cry uncontrollably.
Sorry, I haven't had any time to post an update. But I assure you that the next chapter will be out with the week. And to the Anon reviewer, I changed it, I hope it's alright
-TheInfernalArtifices