Previously…
Tessa held up her menu and looked at the options. Her eyes settled on the Japanese portion and she decided on miso soup and California rolls. Kaelie came by with water and Tessa didn't even want to look at her because of said conversation in the locker rooms.
"You know, Kaelie," Will said, "I think we're all ready to order."
"Alright, then," she said, pulling out of her small notepad and a pen.
"We'll take the tempura—" he started.
Kaelie interrupted, "The shrimp or vegetable?"
"Both. Like, three orders of miso soup—"
"And I," Tessa said.
Will glanced over at her, and then blinked. "Um, right. Four orders, then. Then we'll have one order of edamame and…" He looked at Tessa.
"Oh! Um, I'll have an order of California rolls." She scratched her arm anxiously. She hated talking to waitresses and stuff. She was too shy, and had to ask everyone else to do it for her.
"I'll take a bento box," Cecily said, "with the teriyaki chicken."
"I'll have what she's having," said Jem, nodding his head at Cecily.
Will spoke, "Mm, I'll take an order of California rolls." Kaelie nodded with a smile and walked off. Tessa let out a breath.
Then it became awkward. Tessa was really hoping that it wouldn't come to this, and now was the moment she had been dreading. She hated awkward silences. It was bad enough that she couldn't talk to anyone anymore. At her old school, she knew more people then, of course, but now at this new school—well, let's just say that Tessa isn't exactly a social butterfly.
Jem coughed for a moment, and Will actually looked…concerned? Will…concerned… Do those words even go together?
Jem raised up his hand briefly and shook his head, and Will bit his lip, inching away.
Tessa wondered what that was about. Being the person that's curious about everything, she was going to soon enough.
Cecily cleared her throat, and Tessa was grateful knowing that she was about to speak. "So, you guys. How is life?"
There were murmurs of 'good, good' around the table, except Will who said flatly, "I don't care."
Tessa couldn't help herself. "Sheesh, Will, what has gotten into you? One moment, you're normal, and now you're just all grumpy. What's your problem?"
Was it just Tessa, or did everyone besides Will look suddenly entertained?
He was silent for a moment, and she had begun to think that he wasn't going to answer, although the moment she turned her head, he said, "What's my problem? What's your problem? Actually, don't answer that, because I'd be glad to tell you, if you'd like."
"You know what? Why don't you just go right on ahead! Be my guest!" she exclaimed, trying to be quiet. Why does this always end up happening to the both of them?
Will scowled, and he looked like he was about to pound his fist against the table. "Well, first of all, you let your curiosity get the best of you. Second, you don't mind getting in everyone's business because clearly that isn't an issue for you. You don't think that maybe some people just want to be left alone. Lastly, you're so bloody persistent! Like, what if I just want to be quiet for a second? Oh, no, that can't happen because Tessa thinks that there's something going on with them, and she just absolutely has to know. Dear God, Tessa. You just met us. Don't expect us to tell you everything about ourselves the moment we first meet you."
Tessa's mouth had dropped mid-sentence, and her face was red from anger. How dare he. That was no way to speak to a lady. That was for sure. She stood up and stormed off to the bathroom silently, although still fuming. She had so many words that she could've said then, but remained silent. She didn't want to speak. At all. She was really considering not talking for the rest of her life.
Once in the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror, and she had loose strands hanging in the front from her ponytail. She pushed them back and turned on the faucet. Tessa splashed water on her face to cool her down. Then she froze.
Tessa had a sudden realization.
If this is how Will and Tessa were always going to act…
How would they be at the dinner on Friday?
Surely, he'd be a bit more polite, considering his parents would be there. But then again…
Tessa sighed, and her face's color was restored to normal. She leaned against the wall, shutting her eyes, searching for some sort of peace. She ran her fingers through the loose strands of her hair, and just waited for a few moments.
She took a sharp breath, and opened the door, where Cecily Herondale already was. She froze and her eyes were wide. "I am so, so sorry for Will. I didn't mean for him to—"
"Relax, Cecy," Tessa interrupted. "It's cool. I just…needed someone to tell me that."
Cecily still looked concerned. "Are you sure?" she questioned. "Because I can kill him if I need to."
"Don't kill him," Tessa told her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Just wait until the dinner." Cecily laughed, and they walked back together to the booths. "Thanks for coming, by the way. It would've been kind of embarrassing if I just came back here by myself." She smiled in reply, and gave a shrug that said 'that's what friends are for'.
And for that, Tessa was grateful.
"Hey," Cecily said to Jem and Will. He was eyes were half-lidded, looking careless. It made Tessa want to slap him. Jem looked at Tessa and gave her an apologetic look, and she waved it off.
Kaelie had already delivered the food, and Tessa got her soy sauce ready so she could dip her California rolls into it. The food was amazing, Tessa thought. She almost moaned because of the heavenly taste, but Will and Jem and Cecily were there, so that would've been slightly embarrassing. She had some edamame, took a shrimp tempura and a vegetable of some sort.
In the end, Tessa offered to pay for her portion which none of them accepted. Cecily and Jem's eyes were wild as they shook their heads and nearly shouted, "NO, NO!"
"The guest shall never pay for the meal," Cecily said. "It's like, law."
"Respect the law, Tess," Will joked. Where did that come from? Oh, never mind. He clearly just wanted to get on her nerves, and she wouldn't let him. She just rolled her gray eyes and carried on.
Jem asked for the bill when Kaelie came by to check on them, and so she went and then gave it to him. Meanwhile, Tessa reached for her phone, suddenly realizing that she never told her brother that she was going out. Uh-oh, she thought with her eyes squeezed shut. She opened them and began to type out her text.
'Nate, I'm so so sorry! I went out for sushi with my friends. Sorry I didn't tell you. –Tessa'
He replied moments later:
'It's fine.'
Tessa breathed out a sigh of relief.
'That doesn't excuse you from getting yelled at though.'
She groaned.
Then she typed out another text.
'Sorry. I'm coming home though. I'll see you soon.'
'See you soon, then.'
And that was the end of her texting days with her brother.
"Who're you texting?" A voice asked. Tessa jumped, and turned around to see that it was Jem. His hands were in his pockets, probably because of the cold weather. She didn't think she'd ever get used to it.
Her hair was blowing all over the place, and she was struggling to keep it down. "Just my brother," she said simply. He then gave a half-nod.
After a few moments of silence, he said, "I'm really sorry for Will. He can just be…well, moody."
Tessa bit her lip. "I don't see why you guys keep apologizing for him, though. Don't you think that he should be the one to do it?"
"Of course. But he never does it."
That quieted her.
They all got in the car, and drove home.
A/N: Bit of a short chapter for you all. Hope you all have a lovely day...
Review for the next chapter! Can we get to forty? :)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Infernal Devices or anything else mentioned in this chapter. I own nothing.
