THIS IS IT!
Twenty-seven years old.
X
It'd been one of the best days of Tessa's life. Jem had been cured a while ago- a cure so expensive he'd had to except the job his uncle in America had offered him- a six year contract at a hospital. Not out of favouritism though, Jem had a degree in medicine and he was smart enough to take on the job.
And he'd returned today. No less different in his personality, though he was a lot less de-saturated. It was like life had exploded on him. His eyes were the most beautiful bronze-black (no less beautiful than Will's seemingly violet iris') his skin was tan and his hair was a deep ebony, brown when the light caught it.
So they of course decided to celebrate- a coffee in Starbucks in the morning before Tessa was to meet her five-years-and-counting boyfriend, who said he had to tell her something important.
She'd agreed to meet him by the clock tower in the small town (for Tessa had moved out of London to Yorkshire five years ago) and she had to set off before she was late.
Jem and Will instantly sported innocent grins. "Excellent." Will said. "We're heading down that way, we'll come with you, so you have something pretty to look at before you have to see him."
Jem hid his grin by drinking his coffee and Tessa shot them both a glare. "You both hate him." She whined, going for the guilt strategy that always worked on Jem. Even Will would fall to it sometimes.
Now was not one of those times. "We'll hate any man who'll date you." Will said simply.
Tessa's glare intensified. "Great. I have over-protective brothers for best friends."
Will wasn't effected by her glare, so he spoke. "Tessa, you told me you fell in love with him. Everything that falls gets broken."
Tessa didn't quite know how to respond, so she grabbed her bag and went to leave.
"Tessa." Jem said, turning to face her. "Be careful." He advised.
Tessa couldn't take her anger out on Jem, who was caring for her, like he always had done. He was calm, yes. But if Axel broke up with her and shattered her heart, Jem would not hesitate in hurting the man.
"Stay safe. Use protection." Will mumbled through his coffee cup, hiding his smirk, his words loud enough for Tessa to hear them, but faint enough she couldn't remark on it.
Tessa balled her hand into a fist. Will, on the other hand, was nothing like Jem.
Jem beat her to it and flicked Will on the head. Tessa smirked. Jem's fingers were long and thin, that would hurt.
"Mizpah." She told them, turning to hurry out of the door.
Jem and Will followed her movement with their eyes until she was out of the door.
"We follow her, don't we?" Said Jem.
Will leaned back in his chair. "James Carstairs. How dare you suggest something so despicable-?" He broke off, replacing the rest of his sentence with "Yes."
The boys were already out of the shop.
Tessa shot a glare at the two boys, who were currently pretending to study a map of Canada, even if they were currently in Yorkshire. They always had some sort of terrible disguise, used to great comedic effect (in their opinion) although admittedly, the Jem-standing-on-Will's-shoulders-both-under-a-very-long-coat-and-then-'accidentally'-walking-into-Axel disguise had been interesting, though they had left straight away. This time, they were appearing to stay. I am going to kill them… she thought, but was interrupted by Axel's voice.
"Miss Gray." He greeted her.
Tessa turned around, giving a light laugh. "Why so formal?" She asked.
His dark eyes were cool and uncaring. "It's the proper way to talk to acquaintances, is it not?"
Tessa felt the world freeze. Not today. Not on the best day of her life. Not while her two best friends, both wearing comical glasses and moustaches, were giving their coldest glares at an unseeing Axel.
"What are you saying?" She asked, though she already knew.
He didn't miss a second and there was no empathy in his voice when he spoke in a harsh monotone. "We're breaking up." He told her.
She knew she should look strong but the tears were already in her eyes. She could feel her posture drooping. She knew she looked pathetic.
Will and Jem were in front of Tessa in a millisecond, their map and facial wear discarded. Although in front of her, they were to her left and right, meaning she could she Axel's expression as he looked at the boys who were taller and stronger than he was. Not to mention there were two of them. Tessa left out the part where Jem and Will were a lot better looking than him. Tessa could sense the anger radiating off them and she shivered. She had never seen them this angry before. Jem had never been anything but mildly exasperated at worst, and Will, for all his coldness and cruelness, was now burning.
"Five years." Jem began. Even though Tessa wasn't on the receiving end of the words, she flinched at the disgust and ice lacing his words. There was forced calmness in his words when he spoke again. "Do they mean nothing to you?"
Axel looked straight at Tessa, avoiding the boys' glares, as he opened his mouth to speak, panic in his eyes. "Tessa-" He began to plead.
"Don't talk to her." Will spat, the malice and fire as prominent in his voice as Jem's disgust and ice. "Don't even look at her. You tell her she is worth nothing to you and you dare come crawling to her for help?" His whole body was tense, as was Jem's. Tessa blinked. She knew them well, they were restraining themselves from hurting him. "It was your job to be there for her, to make sure she never felt anything more than happy."
Despite the circumstances, Axel snorted. "It was always your job. I'm doing her a favour." The boys took a step forwards, as eerily synchronised as always. "She would never shut up about you, always having a tale to tell. If it wasn't about you, it'd be about books. I can't stand them-"
"Then you should learn to." Jem cut in. "As the matter stands, I'm not fond of reading either. But I make an effort to read them. Tessa had no interest in technology, now she knows more about it than anyone I know in the few years she's known you."
Jem was right. Tessa remembered the casual, off-hand remark. Tessa, you know that book you always liked? A tale of two cities? I… I wanted you to know that I read it. And… it was pretty good.
He had blushed after saying it and Tessa had smiled. She felt sort of sorry for him then. Jem had been so pale, he was unable to hide the smallest blush.
"That was her choice. I don't see how it-" Axel said, still continuing to argue.
"Matters? To her? To you? To us?" Will said. "It matters. You can see the spark of intelligence in her eyes. She's beautiful, smart and she was yours."
"Why would you throw it away?" Jem continued.
"Are you gay?" Will asked innocently.
"Moving away?" Jem inquired.
"Or is it for someone else?" Will said, the fire and danger back in his voice.
"You're dead to her right now." Jem said, his voice cold again.
"But if it was for another girl?" Will continued, still with malice in his tone.
"Then you. Are dead." Will and Jem said together, taking a step forwards.
Tessa's eyes flicked between the two. As always, they were opposite. This time in their tone, Will with fire and Jem with ice. And, as always, it fit well.
Axel took a step back.
"Tessa?" Jem asked.
"Do you want us to kill him?" Will asked. "We can kill him if you want. We'll give a good burial service as well. A body bag, a river, petrol and a lighter. Excellent value."
Tessa knew they weren't entirely joking. They were about to beat Axel up, like they wanted to. But only if she said yes.
Axel made a panicked noise. "Tessa…" He pleaded.
Before Will and Jem could say anything, Tessa spoke. "What? Is there a problem? Should I take your side? I mean, these two are like brothers, no matter how over-protective. You're just an acquaintance."
"I-" Axel began.
"Jem. Will. I know you two have a plan for this moment. Let's hear it."
"We tear him into tiny pieces like he just did with your heart." Will said seriously.
"Jem?" Tessa asked.
Jem's cold bronze-black eyes gave Axel an icy look. "You have five seconds. I recommend you leave. Because if we ever see you again, if you even look at her, you'll lose the ability to walk."
Axel seemed frozen, his eyes glued on Jem.
"Five." Will began, taking another step forwards with Jem.
"Four." Jem continued. They took another step, just as Axel ran for it.
The boys were completely still until he vanished into a shop and they whirled around, their eyes warm and pitying when they say Tessa and their posture relaxed.
"Tessa…" Jem murmured, his arms wrapping around her instantly. Tessa let the tears fall, enough to immediately make Will also wrap his arms around her. "Is there not anything we could do?" Jem continued.
"…Besides killing him. He isn't worth me having a life sentence in prison." Will cut in.
Tessa swallowed, stopping her sob. "Promise me you won't ever do that to me." She felt the cool air hit her again as the boys broke from the hug.
Tessa looked to Will, who was looking at her, his violet eyes sincere. Slowly, he got down on one knee.
"Tessa Gray." Came a voice from the other side of her. She blinked. Jem too was on one knee.
This isn't happening, Tessa thought.
"You're smart." Will began.
"Beautiful." Jem added.
"Funny." Will continued.
"Honest." Jem said.
"Talented." Will noted.
"Caring." Jem told her.
"And overall, an absolute klutz." Will pointed out, giving the smallest of smirks.
"But the best of all?" Jem asked. "You're yourself. Individual. Perfect. And if Mortmain couldn't see that," There was bitterness in his tone as he forced out Axel's surname, ", then he is an idiot."
"You became part of our lives, Tess." Will said, using his nickname for her that no one, not even Jem, used. "Ever since you blocked the goal and were knocked to the ground by my excellent ball-skills."
"A walk to reception." Jem said softly.
"An English assignment and a hospital visit." Will said in the same tone Jem had used.
"A sports day." Said Jem.
"A cough." Will said.
"A friendship." Jem finished.
"You were there for us." Will started.
"And we were there for you." Jem continued.
"Together." Will began again.
"Inseparable." Jem continued once more.
"One." They said together.
"Tessa, we have loved you since we first laid eyes on you." Will confessed.
This is happening, Tessa confirmed.
"But that isn't why we are kneeling." Jem told her, his eyes bright with amusement. "After all, if you did love us, how could you choose one?"
"Even if I am much more attractive." Will cut in. Tessa gave a smile. Jem had simply rolled his eyes at his brother. "And we love you in a protective way, as you do a sister. So, Tess, why do you think we're kneeling?" Will asked.
Tessa blinked. "I don't know. I… I thought you were going to ask me to become Tessa… Heronstairs or Cardale."
"I prefer Heronstairs." Jem said at the same time Will said "I prefer Cardale."
Tessa smiled at the brothers. They were opposites but the same. They were living Yin and Yang.
"I remember telling you I don't believe a marriage is what other people think it is." Jem told her. "I told you that I think it is a promise, a stronger bond of friendship."
"And that is like our friendship." Will said. "Only fools call me and Jem friends, when we are more than that."
Parabatai, Tessa remembered, thinking about a conversation with Jem.
"HOW DO YOU PUT UP WITH HIM?!" Tessa burst out, Jem not even blinking at her outburst, stroking his evil little cat carefully behind the ears. "YOU DESERVE SO MUCH MORE! WILL TREATS EVERYONE LIKE SHIT, INCULDING YOU MOST OF THE TIME. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN FRIENDS FOR THIS LONG?" She had yelled this at him before Tessa had become friends with Will. When it was just her and Jem and they were at his house. Which, by the way, was a beautiful white stone house. Elegant and breath-taking, like Jem himself.
Jem had looked up at the final sentence. "Will isn't my friend." He said, his voice as calm as always.
Tessa gave a snort. "Jem-"
"No. He's not a friend, Tessa. He's a brother I never had, a Parabatai."
"A what?"
"Another who is with you to the death, who is beside you no matter what. It's complicated and incredibly serious. It's almost supernatural, using forces you shouldn't really be dealing with, to become one with the other." Jem gave a shrug. "It has its benefits."
"How can that-" Tessa began again.
"Oh no, believe me, it does. If Will were in this room right now and there was a knife speeding towards me, Will is bound by oath to step in front of me."
"I bet he wouldn't." Tessa muttered quietly.
She always forgot Jem had bat-like hearing. "You'd be surprised by the amount he cares, Tessa. He's not as harsh as he likes to make out."
"And only a fool would call us friends. Friendship is a strong bond, but marriage is a closer bond to describe us." Jem continued.
"So then." Will said. "To the serious part." He took a breath. "Theresa Gray. You asked us to promise we would never break your heart, yet we no longer possess them since you took them long ago. But we don't want them back. We no longer need them, as long as yours is still beating."
"But we do need something." Jem told her. "A promise back. A promise that you will never desert us like we shall never with you."
"Do you promise?" The boys said together.
Tessa nodded, speechless and a mixture of relived and disappointed they hadn't proposed. "Y- Yes. I promise."
The boys leapt to their feet. "Excellent." Will said. "Do you want coffee? I think we should get coffee."
"One question." Tessa said. "Why did you get down on one knee for that?"
The boys smiled. "Close your eyes." Jem told her lightly.
Tessa did as she was asked. She felt the weight of something being placed around her neck and a hand slipping something onto her wrist.
There was silence for a moment. "Ok." Will said. "Open."
She opened her eyes again and shook her head at the two of them, who were once again wearing the moustache and glasses combo.
Tessa looked immediately to her neck and to her wrist. She immediately knew who had given her what.
On her wrist was a bracelet. A beautiful, perfect, old-fashioned, traditional looking pearl bracelet. An incredibly expensive looking bracelet. A golden clasp with foreign, tiny writing on it. Will's gift.
Around her neck was a pendant. Hanging on a fine gold chain was a smooth circle of jade with Chinese characters around it. Old-fashioned, like the bracelet, but entirely un-traditional. Jem's gift.
Contrary to popular belief, it was Will who was one for traditions, Jem was the one to break them. Of course Will would get her something classically elegant. Of course Jem would get her something individual and cultural.
Tessa shook her head. She couldn't accept these. She's always known that Will and Jem had a lot more money than her, but she'd be fine with (in fact, she'd love) a £1 BBF bracelet.
"I can't-" She began.
"You can." Will said.
"You must have-" Tessa began again.
"Had my mother enter my room about half a month ago and tell me that I needed to give this to the most valuable girl in my life as if custom with my family and that it wouldn't hurt me to follow at least one tradition?" Jem guessed. "Yes, I did."
"Or Cecy and having this bracelet only for her to tell me it didn't fit her wrist and that could I give it to 'oh you know, that girl you always hang around with'?" Will guessed. "Yes, actually, I did. Honestly, Tess, you must be able to read minds!"
Tessa went to protest, but gave up. "What do they say?" She asked, looking at the bracelet closely.
"You have been the last dream of my soul." Will said. "In Welsh, of course."
Tessa narrowed her eyes at him. "So there just happened to be a bracelet in your sister's possession which just happened to quote my favourite line in a tale of two cities which just happened to be in your native language?"
Will gave a mischievous grin. "I never said I bought the clasp in the antique shop. I had it changed and engraved."
Tessa looked to Jem. "When two people are at their utmost hearts, they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze." He translated for her. "I didn't have it engraved, it was already there."
Tessa smiled, before it widened to a grin. "We should celebrate with a Venti." She said. A highly caffeined drink that went over the RDA of caffeine.
"Excellent idea." The boys said together, as they all walked off towards the coffee shop.
Tessa sighed. Will and Jem loved her. She loved them. Will and Jem loved each other as brothers. A real love-triangle. A real friend-zone.
Tessa gave a small smile at that. Someone should write a novel on the three of them. She bet it'd go far.
"Tessa." Will said suddenly.
"Hm?" Tessa asked.
"You do know me and Jem are gay, right?" He asked.
Tessa stopped dead in shock.
THE END!
I had to end it there, don't you just hate endings with cliff-hangers? Yes? EXACTLY!
MWAHAHAHA…. I'M EVIL. Yes, I know. Sue me.
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO FAVED/FOLLOWED/REVIEWED! IT MEANS A LOT!
Challenge accepted and defeated! Here were the terms for the story Alex set me:
1 I must make it seven. Seven thousand words, seven chapters, seven days to upload.
2 I must base it around school.
3 Friendly Jillessa, something deeper between Jem and Will.
4 It has to end on a stupidly bold cliff-hanger.
Check out my other fics! Thank-y'all and good day/night!
