It was finally December. Tessa was in her tiny office as usual, doing some work. Charlotte had begun giving her much more responsibilities, and she rarely ever had free time anymore.
Tessa sighed and looked out the window. Even though a giant tree was blocking most of her view, it was still beautiful. The white snow glittered in the sun's reflection. It covered the thin branches of the tree and gathered on her windowsill. Past the bare tree, she could see buildings with frosted roofs. The sidewalk was also covered in a thin layer of snow, the gray concrete underneath just barely peeking through. There were footprints left here and there, and the road was shiny with melted snow.
Despite the beauty of it all, she couldn't wait to leave and go back to New York during the holiday. Since she was only an intern, she was allowed to have longer holidays than the other employees there.
She didn't just miss the feeling of spending Christmas in New York, but she also gravely missed Nate. Even though he was technically her cousin, it felt wrong to call him that. He was more like a brother to her. She lived with him for most of her life, and they grew up together.
She hated having to leave him in New York, especially so soon after Aunt Harriet's death, because had begun drinking and gambling. True, he had a high position in the New York branch of Mortmain & Co., a flourishing machinery factory, so he wouldn't run out of money. But she still worried for him, especially after he had called her a few days earlier.
"Tessie, I don't think you should come back for Christmas," Nate had said through the crackling phone line.
"What? Why?" she had asked, beginning to panic.
"I just- I don't think you should… waste your money coming here," he had replied unconvincingly. It was true that Tessa had to use nearly everything she had to visit, but she was working and she had enough to live.
"Nate, what's really going on?"
"Nothing! I swear. Just… don't come here."
"You know that you're just making me more worried right? I'm definitely coming over." A thought had risen to Tessa's mind. "Did Olivia take over my room? Did she move in with you? If that's the case, then I'm totally okay with staying in a hotel," Tessa had said.
"What- No! She- I- Umm..." Nate had sputtered, confirming Tessa's suspicions.
"It's fine, Nate. I'll book the hotel and-"
"We broke up," he had blurted out.
"Oh. Nate, I'm so sorry, I didn't-"
"It's okay, Tessie. But please, don't leave London."
Before Tessa had managed to protest, the line had gone dead.
Tessa frowned at the memory. Just 2 more weeks until she could leave to New York.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock. She whirled around and found Jem standing shyly in the doorway. Tessa smiled.
"Did you know that you're the only who ever actually knocks?"
Jem grinned and shook his head.
"So, what's up?" Tessa asked.
"I just wanted to formally invite you to our annual Christmas party. Here," he said, walking towards her with an invitation in his extended arm.
"Oh! That's great," Tessa bubbled, looking at the details on the card. Then her face fell.
"What is it?" Jem asked, noticing the change in her demenour immediately.
"I can't come," Tessa replied, looking up from the invitation. "I'll be in America at the time," she explained sadly.
"It's okay, that's perfectly understandable," Jem said with a warm smile. "I'm sorry you'll miss it, though," he said apologetically.
"Yeah, me too."
"Anyways, I better not interfere with your work anymore. I'll just be off, then. I'll see you at lunch," he said, before walking out through the doorway.
Tessa sighed and looked at the invitation. It was fine, she was going to be with Nate. That would be more than enough.
She continued with her work, emailing people, sorting out papers, and making phone calls.
Her phone buzzed, and she saw that it was the alarm for lunchtime. She got up hastily, already being famished, and went downstairs to the cafeteria.
The lunch at The Shadowhunters was free, and that was one of the perks of working there because the food was always really good.
The menu that day consisted of pasta and a slice of chocolate cake. Tessa took her meal and sat down at her usual table. Cecily and Jem were already there, talking and eating their food. Tessa sat down next to Cecily and joined in on their conversation, which was about the big Christmas party.
"I really wish I could come," Tessa said, swirling her pasta.
Cecily snapped her head towards her. "What? You're not coming?" she asked incredulously.
"I'll be in New York," Tessa shrugged.
"Then just postpone your flight!"
"I can't. I'd have to pay more and-"
"Then just pay and stay a bit longer!" Cecily exclaimed.
"I'm visiting my brothe- cousin, I mean. And I can't just pay," Tessa said. "I'd probably have to work afterhours for the next 2 weeks," she muttered.
But Cecily caught it and her eyes widened. "Oh! I didn't mean to- I'm sorry. I'll lend you some mon-"
"No," Tessa replied firmly, her cheeks coloring in embarrassment. She had managed to hide that fact for a long time now, and she slipped up over a stupid thing. Great.
Cecily looked at her worriedly now and was about to say something when Will thumped down next to Jem, across from Tessa. He began eating his pasta silently, ignoring them all.
He hadn't improved much during the month of November, but Tessa learned from Cecily and Jem to just give him space, and he would come around. According to Jem, he'd end up realizing he was stupid for ignoring them and then he'd start chatting like nothing happened. Oh, Will.
"Anyways," Jem finally said, breaking the awkward silence, "I'm sure you'll have fun with your brother, Tessa."
A smile crept onto her face. "Yeah, I will," she said, looking down at her food and smiling to herself.
She ate in silence as Jem and Cecily discussed more details for the party. Gideon and Gabriel eventually came and began talking about it, too.
"Well, I'm gonna go back now," Tessa finally said, finishing her lunch. She got up and waved to the others as she stacked her plate in the cleaning area. She left the cafeteria and decided to spend the rest of her lunchtime in the library, looking for a new book.
When she got there, she saw a familiar black-haired boy.
"Will!"
He whirled around.
"Wha- I thought you were still in the cafeteria. You were still eating when I left!" Tessa exclaimed in confusion.
Will just shrugged. "I walk fast."
Tessa raised her eyebrows.
"I also know some shortcuts."
She smiled faintly. "You know, for a second there I almost believed that you had superhuman walking skills."
He gave another small shrug and walked away into the depths of the library. Tessa sighed. What was it going to take for him to stop ignoring everyone?
She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket before it started ringing. She quickly fished it out, remembering that she was in a library, and pressed the "answer" button.
"Hello?" she said in a half-whisper.
"Yes? Hello? Is this Miss Theresa Gray?" asked an unfamiliar female voice.
"Yes, who am I speaking to?"
"My name is Nancy Cardew. I'm from the New York-Presbyterian Hospital."
Panic bubbled up inside Tessa. "What? What's wrong?"
"I have you as the emergency contact for Nathaniel Gray, your cousin," she explained.
She felt her head beginning to spin. Nate? What happened to Nate?
"Your brother was rushed in a few hours ago due to a small explosion in the Mortmain & Co. Factory, where he was working."
Tessa gasped and felt her knees begin to wobble. "Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay," she whispered, tears beginning to fall on her face.
"Miss Gray, we tried everything we could. But he passed away a few minutes ago."
Tessa stood for a moment, not quite believing her words.
"Miss Gray?" Nancy called out through the phone.
"What did you say?" Tessa whispered numbly.
"Your brother, Nathaniel Gray, couldn't be saved. I'm so sorry, Miss."
No. Tessa's knees gave out and her limbs went limp. Her phone crashed to the ground, but she couldn't care less. She expected to hit the cold marble floor of the library, but instead warm arms held her and gently eased her down to the floor.
"Tess, what is it? What's wrong, Tess?" a smooth voice inquired urgently.
Tessa tried to swallow her tears. Despite everything, she still didn't want to cry in front of other people. She felt her eyes stinging and her breaths becoming shorter.
"Nate… Nate's dead," she whispered. Finally, she couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They spilled out and she began sobbing. Her head fell on something firm yet soft, and she was enveloped in warmth. She sobbed, not really caring where she was and who was holding her.
Nate was gone. Her cousin, no, brother, who had taught her how to dance by letting her step on his feet. Who had taught her how to whistle when she was little, and never gave up on her even when she yelled in frustration. The person who had taken care of her when Aunt Harriet da gotten too old to do much. Her big brother was gone, and she was now all alone.
"I don't have anyone left. My family's all dead," she whispered between sobs.
A hand began to stroke her hair.
"You've got all of us here," the deep voice said. Then, hesitantly, he added, "You've got me."
Tessa finally looked up and found herself staring into the most gorgeous pair of dark blue eyes.
"Will?"
He smiled sadly at her. "Yes, Tess. I'm right here. I'm so sorry," he said quietly, actually sounding sincere. "I'll get someone," he added, getting up and gently putting her down from his lap.
Without thinking, she tightened her grip on his now wet shirt. She heard Will breathe in sharply. "Please…" she whispered. "Please don't leave me."
He sat back down and put his strong arms around her. She could feel his warm breaths on the top of her head.
"Don't worry, Tess. I'm always right here."
AHHHHHHHHH YES THAT REALLY DID HAPPEN
Okay, so I promise this will all contribute to what I have planned. Also, Wessa is back! MEHEHEHEH (okay that was weird)
I'm sorry for any spelling or grammatical mistakes, I didn't really re-read it. I only scanned through it for obvious mistakes. Sorry!
So now that I'm done with exams and NaNoWriMo, I'll hopefully update twice a week. Maybe Mondays and Thursdays.
Please tell me what you think of this chapter! And I'm always open to any suggestions you guys might have :)
(oh and... IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!)
