A/N: Happy Holidays! So this is an early present for those of you who are following Thess' story as it is SO far from over. Probably will take a little long to update, hence the slightly longer chapter. Please don't feel shy, let me know what you think ;b
Valentine's Day
Thessia awoke to a headache as she got herself out of bed and into the shower. She dressed warmly in her dark brown leather jacket and skinny levi's. She gazed upon Graham's jacket, hanging on the door of her closet. Despite a promise she made to herself she smelled it… pines, dirt, and light cologne still lingered even after all these months. She could even smell a feint smell of the wolf she had come to know so well.
Thessia shut the closet door quickly, it was already going to be a miserable day and there was no need to inflict anymore pain. Graham had not shown up for days now, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. The truth was she didn't want to feel anything at all, but since their conversation she had noticed slight changes. For example like now, she missed Graham and it took every ounce of will power not to sit and cry. She thought of Regina, and how she was responsible for Graham's death. This made Thessia consumed with anger that made her whole body buzz with adrenaline. Her emotions, no matter which, was always consuming her. It was exhausting…
She slipped on her calf high country boots and threw on a dark beret and let her curls fall along the sides of her face. She went to the kitchen, undecided about what she wanted to eat... Without a seconds hesitation she made her way towards Granny's Diner.
When Thessia arrived there she was instantly greeted by Ruby and a pair of ocean blue eyes she recognized. She sat in his booth with a happy smile on her face as he put the book he was pretending to read down.
"Hi Mr. Nolan, what are you reading?" Thessia said with a cheerful smile as she glanced at the book. "Ahh, Anna Karenina, a classic. Though I think it's a much better read in its original form." Thessia said with a genuine smile.
"The name is David and wait… you read Russian?" David said with a surprised smile. Thessia beamed with shy pride but Mary Margaret's gaze did not go unnoticed through the corner of her eye.
"I do, languages were a thing of mine. Though in all honesty I'm barely considered proficient. It is a great book, David… though not one I imagine men volunteering to pick up, especially a man like you. Are you trying to impress Kathryn?" Thessia said as she titled her head and narrowed her eyes with a smile.
"Hey, wait a minute. What is that supposed to mean? What kind of a man do you think I am?" David said as he feigned indignation. Thessia raised her brow.
"Come on, you are like… a manly man. A man of action who gets their hands dirty and is fair, loyal, and kind, that's what you are. I can't imagine someone like you relating to any of the selfish elitists who can't keep their damn lives from falling apart when they see a pretty face." Thessia smiled genuinely as David stared at her a little embarrassed by her words.
"Did you know me… from before the accident?" David asked rather confused.
"No… not at all, I can just tell. You remind me of-" Thessia began as she shyly looked down now that David put the book down and focused on her. He was… overwhelming.
"Oh hi Thess! I did not see you there." Ashley Boyd hugged her heavily and then sat down in the table with Mary Margret and Emma.
"Hey, you look great." Thessia said with a genuine smile and Ashley looked back at her with a thankful, but unbelieving look. Again, Mary Margaret moved herself to see David, who smiled back at her. Thessia narrowed her brows and looked back at David's book, then looked at Mary Margarets… both were Barnes&Noble's classics editions. A coincidence? She thought not.
"Well he has to work." Mary Margaret said realistically as she looked towards the table when she caught Thessia's gaze.
"On Valentine's day? Yeah, he couldn't get out of it." Ashley said sadly.
"I'm sorry, that sucks." Emma was empathetic.
"It doesn't have to. Come out with me, let's have a girl's night! We can all go, Thess, Mary Margaret, Emma too if you leave the badge at home." Ruby was getting excited, everyone could tell. Ashley looked at Thess, nodded and shrugged her shoulders. Why not?
"I'm not really in the party mood, but you guys can all go and have fun." Emma said as she looked at Mary Margaret who had the most disapproving scowl on her face. Thessia looked at David, who seemed even gloomier than Mary Margaret. Emma's phone vibrated and it took Thessia's focus away from David who had just looked at her rather guilty.
"What's that?" Mary Margaret asked concerned.
"It's the station, something's up." Emma got up and left the diner as both Mary Margaret and David looked at each other again. Thessia leaned back on the booth as she put all the clues together.
"Maybe… that book is more up your alley than I thought." Thessia whispered as she got up from the booth.
"Thessia, I…"
"See you around Mr. Nolan. Ashley, what are you wearing for tonight? I think I may need some help." Thessia asked with feigned excitement as she took Emma's empty seat.
"Well you look pretty good in that leather jacket. I thought you were a pastel kinda girl." Ashley said happily surprised.
"I realized it's the pastel kind of girls you need to watch out for." Thessia said throwing a not so friendly look at Mary Margaret as she shifted in her chair. "But, I've never really been to a girls night out… I think I'm out of my depth." Thessia said with a charming smile.
"Really? Okay we will address that later. You're single, right? Okay, I know just the thing. You too Mary Margaret." Ashley said beaming as her thoughts fell on something other than her motherly responsibilities. Mary Margaret looked nervous as she smiled and Thessia almost felt bad for her.
Ruby and Ashley were both at her house looking through her wardrobe and were very disappointed. Thessia had put away Graham's jacket in her hall closet, away from any prying eyes… even her own. Thessia pulled out a white chiffon shirt that had a turtleneck scarf and both Ashley and Ruby laughed as they put it back.
"It's fine, we thought as much and don't worry… we brought backups." Ruby said as she saw Thessia's eyes look at her doe eyed. Ruby and Ashley brought out three big bags full of clothes… though in Thessia's opinion it was pieces of clothes that made up two or three outfits all together. Thessia sighed, completely overwhelmed by a girls night. Why did she ever agree to this? Oh that's right, it was Valentine's Day.
"Okay, girls… just do it. I don't wanna know… just hurry before I change my mind." Thessia said as she began to feel as if she were hyperventilating.
Mary Margaret arrived at Thessia's apartment nervous in a pretty blue dress and couldn't help but think about the last time she was here. She knocked lowly, hoping beyond hope they wouldn't hear her and she could go home with a clear conscious. Ruby answered with a smile and a sexy red dress and curlers in her hair. Ashley was tamer, in a pretty shirt violet shirt and skirt. Thessia stepped out in a strapless gray heart shaped dress that cinched at the waist with a black lace belt. She was putting on a pair of ankle high stiletto boots, it seemed she wasn't very practiced in wearing heels that high. Her curly blond hair was slicked over her left shoulder and also cascaded down her back. Ruby had obviously outdone herself with the makeup, Thessia's blue eyes were always noticeable but now they just sparkled with the dark shadow and eyeliner.
"Thessia… are you…umm." Mary Margaret frowned, knowing full well Thessia would never have chosen this. She gave herself a mental pat in the back for not agreeing to get ready here too.
"She looks gorgeous, you welcome. If you like we can do something with your makeup?" Ruby glowed at the idea of getting her hands on Mary Margaret's flawless skin. Thessia shook her head with genuine worry for Mary Margaret's safety as Ruby and Ashley both looked at her hopeful. Mary Margaret's eyes went wide as she mirrored Thessia and moved her head side to side.
"Oh, no, no I'm fine." Mary Margaret looked at Ruby thankful and let out a deep breath when the two girls left towards the bathroom to fix Ruby's hair.
"Do not ever give them the freedom to pick out your outfit… ever." Thessia said as she held on to Mary Margaret's arm to keep her balance.
"Well, you look beautiful… Different, more risqué of course… but still beautiful. I think you, more than all of us, needs this. I remember the last time I was here…" Mary Margaret squeezed her hand, she could never imagine loosing David, not now.
"Thank you Mary Margaret. I uh, I just want to forget… everything. Especially about what today is." Thessia said honestly, her eyes looked down at the floor which reminded her how heavy eye makeup felt.
"Oh… Valentine's Day. Did you two, make plans?" Mary Margaret asked cautiously.
"Graham wasn't the 'plan' kinda guy… he only made one plan with me, which was to come over that night and talk about… about us." Thessia said she felt a tear fall silently down her right eye. She panicked and grabbed a napkin to ensure the makeup Ruby took hours to apply did not smear. She looked up at Mary Margaret, laughing and Mary Margaret joined in as well.
The two other girls came out, satisfied with the way they looked and ready to have a girls night… which meant Ruby became designated dictator.
Thessia walked into one of the nicer looking bars in town feeling very self-conscious despite having gotten very used to the heels. It seemed she was quite a pro at walking on the tips of her toes. There were people talking, laughing, and a whole lot of them were flirting. Ruby quickly secured a table near the bar and waved over a waiter that had beautiful olive skin and brown eyes to die for.
"Hey there, can you get bring us four cosmos and four shots of wild turkey." Ruby ordered without asking.
"Sure thing, but I am going to need to see some I.D." The waiter said as he jotted down the order on his notepad. Thessia looked at Ashley, knowing they were both the youngest ones in this place.
"Sure, you know, I don't think I've seen you around here before. You new?" Ruby said narrowing her eyes like a predator reeling in a kill.
"No shot for me, please." Mary Margaret said as she handed him her I.D.
"Yeah, my name is John by the way. You work at Grany's, right?" John said as he absently handed back the ID to Thessia.
"My name is Ruby and yeah, that's right. You should stop by, I can hook you up… I make a mean grilled cheese." Ruby said as she leaned in to whisper that last part and grabbed his hand to shake. John smiled slyly, obviously not used to anyone being as direct as Ruby. Flustered he walked away to put in their order and Ashley laughed while Mary Margaret exhaled nervously.
"And that is how it is done." Ruby said with a very pleased smile. Thessia turned to look at the waiter who's eyes fell upon Ruby every three seconds. It was impressive. The waiter came with their drinks quickly, focusing hard on setting them down without spilling them.
"Thank you, John." Ruby said as she batted her eyelashes. Thessia couldn't help but join in the laughter when he left. Everyone was having a good time, and it made Thessia relax.
"Okay ladies, take the shot." Ruby lifted her shot glass as she waited for Ashley and Thessia to follow suit. "Cheers." Ruby said and all three of them let the bourbon whisky burn its way down their throat. The three girls chased it with their cosmos and Thessia found it hard not to gag.
"John, three more shots!" Ruby called over to John who immediately moved at her request. Thessia took two more shots after that, following Ruby's instruction.
"Are you single Thess?" Ruby asked forwardly.
"Ruby!" Mary Margaret scowled.
"No it's okay. I am, single. Why? You better not be trying to set me up." Thessia looked at Ruby with a raised brow.
"I need another shot." Ashley said giggly and Ruby called over John.
"Three more. Oh, and a martini" Ashley said energetically as she saw Ruby nod.
"Make that two, ladies I bow out." Thessia said with a smile, her drinking was usually limited to red wine, she was out of her league.
"Giving up already? I pegged you for the go hard or go home type." John said with a teasing smile and Ruby looked at Thessia with wide, encouraging eyes as she nodded her head towards John.
"I never said anything about going home, and believe me I don't need another shot to go hard." Thessia said as she smiled ever so wickedly.
"I believe that." John said as he noticed her biting her lower pouty lip. Not a smudge of her red lipstick came off.
"Our shots, John. Three, two for me." Ashley looked at Thessia and stuck her tongue out. Her voice shook John from his frozen state and once he left, they all laughed again.
"That was excellent!" Ruby said as she squeezed her hand, it seemed to her she had just found a new partner in crime.
John came back with the shots for Ashley and Ruby and leaving quickly, he didn't want to make a fool of himself- again. Ruby took a big gulp of her martini and looked at Ashley for agreement. Ashley and Ruby took their shots together, and slamming the empty glasses on the table.
"Pace yourself, Ashley." Mary Margaret said with a concerned smile as she sipped on her cosmopolitan.
"I am! This is my first night out since I've had the baby, I am making up for lost time." Ashley said letting loose as she took the other shot.
"Mmm, Ash, check out those guys." Ruby saud teasingly as she pointed to a group standing by the bar. All three girls turned around, including Thessia who noticed the tall guy with pretty dimples wearing a long sleeved sweater and drinking a beer. She looked down right away, and Mary Margaret gave her hand a squeeze. Thessia smiled, it wasn't because of Graham… though she couldn't help but wonder how things might have been like had he been here. She didn't even know how he felt about Valentine's Day though part of her thought he might have been more romantic than he led on… if he only had his heart…
"Hunny, I'm still with Sean." Ashley said rather glumly.
"You're not married, and he's not here." Ruby said as if somehow, that made a difference.
"He's working." Ashley defended herself weakly. Thessia scowled, the boy was working for his family and somehow that was a bad thing? Maybe it was the liquor but she wanted to slap both girls right then and there.
"He's always working. Have fun moping, you however, are coming with me." Ruby said as she hopped off her chair and pulled Thessia with her before she could object. Thessia barley had time to grab her drink.
"I don't know Ruby, what do we say?" Thessia said as her anxiety level began to rise.
"We say hi, and let them talk." Ruby said confidently without breaking her step to turn around.
"Hi, I'm Ruby and this is my friend Thessia." Ruby said as she pulled Thessia forward forcefully.
"Hi, my name is Dean, this is my friend Steve."
"Hmm, Dean with the dimples." Thessia extended her hand gracefully to the guy with the nice smile.
"You seem about done with that drink. Can I buy you another?" Dean asked as his eyes looked at her from head to toe.
"Actually, someone already did that." John the waiter came in with a frozen strawberry margarita. "I can't point him out because he gave me a big tip, but he said this is a sweet drink, like you." John passed her the drink as he smiled and nodded to the guys.
"Okay, that was weird." Steve with the blazer and cotton vest said as Dean raised his brow.
"Seems like my friend here is in high demand, but if you boys wanna buy a girl a drink… well." Ruby said as she looked down to her glass and back up with a smile. Steve instantly turned around to grab the bartender's attention and Ruby leaned next to him to place her order. Thessia tasted her drink, it was very sweet and she had to admit that she loved it.
"Don't tell me that someone as sexy as you is single? No no, I am not that lucky." Dean said as he smirked.
"Well you seem like a handsome guy, yet here you are. Single?" Thessia said as she tilted her head to one side and sipped her margarita.
"Yeah, the last girl didn't work out. But you don't get to hear that story because you haven't answered me." Dean said showing off his dimples and a smile.
"Well, I'm technically single but… I am married… to my work." Thessia said with a slight giggle as she saw Dean's face begin to gloom.
"Oh, so you have jokes huh? Funny… you're a funny girl." Dean said nodding his head as he gazed at her pouty red lips and licked his.
"Oh my God! Thessia." Ruby grabbed her hand and Thessia turned to see what Ruby was looking at. It was Sean there in front of a belated Ashley holding red long stem roses. Ruby and Thessia made their way to Mary Margaret and gasped when Sean got on one knee to propose. When she said yes a round of applause exploded throughout the bar and Thessia was really happy for them. Ashley turned around before she left with Sean and Thessia mouthed the words congratulations as she was whisked away.
It was there, as she saw Sean and Ash leaving that a tall man, with saddened eyes looked at her from across the room. Her heart fell to the floor and her heart began to race as he looked down and took a shot. Just then a group of girls passed and she lost sight of him. Thessia kept looking around the bar, but Graham was gone.
John came to the table with four shots of turkey and placed one in front of Ruby, Mary Margaret, Thessia, and himself. They all looked up at him puzzled.
"Well, I'm off work and I thought you ladies deserved a round on the house." John said as he lifted his glass. Thessia smiled, influenced by the electric energy that surrounded the bar. She looked over at Mary Margaret, who despite being the cautious one of their group, picked up her glass and drank it down with the rest of them. Ruby went back to talk with Steve and Dean while Mary Margaret had a funny look on her face. Without hesitation, Thessia hugged her tightly… "Someone infinitely wiser than I once told me we deserve someone who will ignore the rest for us". Thessia whispered and Mary Margaret took in a deep breath as she gathered her purple coat and made her way out the bar.
"Is she okay?" John asked as she saw Mary Margaret all but run out of the bar.
"It's Valentine's Day, no girl is ever okay, not today." Thessia said as she took another shot.
"That is a very accurate assessment… not one girls are known to share." John said laughing and Thessia couldn't help but join in. "I have a confession to make, I was the one who bought you that margarita." John confessed looking down at his shoes.
"You mean… it wasn't some rich, buffed guy with long blonde hair!" Thessia said as she feigned disappointment by widening her eyes and putting her hand over her mouth.
"No, I'm sorry. I punched him out before he got the chance. Besides, he wasn't that buff." John said as if he insincerely apologized.
"Eh… blondes are overrated." Thessia said with a shrug and they both laughed loudly.
"See, that's what I've been saying!" John said with a playful smack on the table.
"Well, thank you John. I've had a good night, and I think a lot of that is due to you." Thessia said as she looked into John's brown eyes. His hair was jet black and his lips were delightfully full.
"I aim to please. You know, you never gave me your name." John said slyly.
"It's Thessia. It was nice to meet you John." Thessia grabbed her black clutch and began to walk towards the door.
"Wait, that's all I get?" John said as he went after her, grabbing her hand and spinning her to face him.
"Well you might have gotten my last name had you not been so flustered by Ruby. But hey, no worries… there is a lot you can do with such an uncommon name. Oh and… you never checked our ID's. I'll be honest, most of us aren't 21." Thessia confessed as she leaned in closer and gave John a kiss on the cheek after she whispered in his ear. "Have a good night John."
Thessia walked out of the bar as she zipped up her jacket, regretting the short dress instantly as her skin broke in goose bumps. She resisted the temptation of walking back into the warmness of the bar by moving her legs in the direction where she lived. She felt dizzy, like her feet were stepping onto rolling grounds. She kept her eyes on the sidewalk, focusing on each step as it came. With a violent jerk she fell on the floor, sure that she had broken in half. She looked up, her vision reeling from being so disoriented, yet she knew who was standing over her chuckling.
"Mr. Nolan? What…" Thessia said as she smiled feeling incredibly ridiculous.
"Here, Thessia you okay?" David said as he helped the girl up to her feet. It was then that he noticed her heels and wondered how she had managed to walk in the first place.
"Yeah, I am so sorry. I don't know, maybe the fresh air…" Thessia said attempting to fix her hair and wishing her dress wasn't so damn short.
"No, that usually makes things worse if you haven't given yourself time to sober up." David said trying to stifle his laugh and failing.
"I… I'm kinda new at this. What are you doing walking around so late? On Valentine's Day? Ooh." Thessia said curiously and then remembered the diner. She looked at David as her smiled was cleanly wiped from her face and began to stumble forward, away from him.
"Wait, it's not what you think." David said catching her as she was about to fall.
"That is none of my business but it is most certainly what I think David." Thessia said as she pushed his hands away and continued to walk, or at least attempted.
"Okay, it's not what you think, anymore." David said lowly and Thessia stopped to turn around and saw a miserable man on Valentine's Day. Her eyes softened as he chanced a look at her face. "Please let me walk you home, you don't look like you can make it a block by yourself." When Thessia didn't react he slowly took her arm in his and let her lean on him. She did that for a few steps and then stopped to take off her shoes.
"I know, it isn't classy but there you have it." Thessia said as she held her shoes on one hand and kept her other arm neatly tucked into David's.
"Well I haven't exactly been too classy myself." David said with a heavy sigh.
"No, you most definitely have not." Thessia said giving David a sideways look.
"Have you ever had something just… just take hold and take you so far from what…?" David started but lost his words.
"No. Never." Thessia answered confidently as she stuck her chin out.
"Good thing you don't sugar coat." David whispered and Thessia laughed out loud. She looked over at David, his eyes drawn… regretful.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't judge. I've never been married… Its just… growing up you have such clear vision of what is right and wrong, what is real… Please, its none of my business I'm just really drunk and I'm sure you know exactly what you are doing." Thessia said as she stopped and looked at his spinning face.
"I don't, actually. I'm kinda… lost." David said as his face cast down. Thessia was reminded of Henry for some reason.
"Then stop. Look around, someone once told me something so wise I remember their words long after I forgot their face. 'If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there.' I think you are in that very situation. So pick a road, but the key is that you must pick." Thessia said with a smile as she held his arm to keep herself steady. David reflected on her words as they continued towards her apartment. He did not realize they were already there until Thessia cleared her throat as he continued to inadvertently pulled her.
"This is me. Thank you Mr. Nolan, you are more of a gentleman than you lead on." Thessia said with a teasing smile as she stuck out her tongue.
"I may not have had to show my true colors if the ladies of this town didn't act so unlady like. Getting drunk doesn't suit anyone." David teased back as he raised his brow.
"Well, hey now normally I would never do this, but today calls for very special circumstances." Thessia said as she looked shyly towards the ground. It was then that she saw Graham boots, standing right next to David with a wild look of sadness on his face.
"Because it's Valentines." David said with a knowing nod, remembering how he had ruined it for Mary Margaret. Thessia had trouble focusing on David when Graham was there, silent and sorry and miserable. She couldn't say anything if she wanted to, but that was for the better because she wasn't sure she had anything to say at all. Thessia made herself focus on David, and what he had said.
"No… because it's my birthday. Goodnight, love." Thessia said sadly as she looked at Graham and then David before casting her gaze down to the floor. She couldn't spend another second on either man, or their problems.
David stood there, stunned by the effect her words had on him, it was by far the most heartbreaking thing he had ever heard anyone say in his life. All he could do was watch Thessia smile as her blue eyes watered and walked into her building with a small wave as he stood there with his mouth open. It wasn't until she had left that he felt a tear of his own run down his cheek.
A/N: Thank you to Marie. AureliaPhoenixAnastasia, and Remka for your encouraging reviews!