Dedicated to SweetSmile16, to whom wrote her own one-shot of Tess/Nate. I loved it. You should totally cheek it out! And everyone was asking for Preston, who wasn't going to be in the story for a while. But I was hit with inspiration and he will be in this chapter! So, no worries!
And this one is a longy, so I hope I get some good reviews for this. Lots to review.
I also feel really bad for Nate...first everyone was telling me how much they love him; now everyone's telling me they hate him! Don't hate Nate, it'll all make sense later on, I promise!

The rain gracefully hit the window, making little pitter-patter sounds. Tess watched through red eyes, curled up in a soft blanket, and a cup of hot chocolate in her right hand. She took a deep breath and felt her nerves calm. It sucks having your heart broken. She decided, taking another long sip of the hot drink. She would allow herself only ten more minutes to sulk, before rejoining the world.

She was meeting her older sister, Lily, for an afternoon of shopping and dessert tasting for Christmas dinner. Just the thought of being with her sister brought a thin smile to her dull face.

A loud beeping noise drew her out of her thoughts. Taking a deep breath she stood up from the chair, letting the blanket fall down around her ankles, resembling her depressed feelings. She was going to take a nice hot shower, and wash away any thoughts of Nate and Alexis. After that she was going to put on her new sweater and a pair of fabulous jeans, and she was going to walk out of the hotel like she owned the place. Just like her mother had taught her to do.

Just like Mom did when Dad left. She reminded herself, as the scalding hot water hit her bare skin.

When her shower was over with, Tess combed and blow-dried her hair to perfection, pulled the cashmere sweater on over a thin tank-top, and slipped into her dark jeans. The last thing she needed was a great pair of shoe's to complete the outfit. As Tess looked into the full length mirror, and her reflection started back at her, she couldn't help but be proud. Just like her mother, she had pushed all thoughts of Nate into the deep recesses of her mind. After applying the last coat of lip gloss, she was finally ready to leave.

--

"So she just broke down crying in front of you? Like, the second you got into the room?" A short man with unruly red hair asked, his blue eyes wide with wonder. The taller one of the two, a gangly boy with long blond hair that covered his eyes, and ears that stuck out of his hair, nodded. "Hm, who know Tess Tyler actually had feelings?"

Shane sat up a little straighter at the mention of her name. Tess was here? And she was crying? About what?

"It was so weird. That guy from that band, Connect Three, just started talking to her, and she like freaked out at him." The short guy shook his head sadly.

"She must think herself to good to even talk to him." The taller guy shrugged and they both went their separate ways. They didn't know that another guy from that band was sitting there, a frown upon his gorgeous features, as he took in these words.

Meanwhile, in the room reserved for Connect 3, the remaining members sat trying to pass the time. The eldest one, Jason, was currently staring at himself in the mirror and playing with his long, straight locks. The other one, Nate, was messing around with one of the many guitars around the room.

"Do you think I'd look good with blond hair?" Jason asked out of nowhere. Nate stopped strumming to spare a confused look at Jason. But just as he was about to open his mouth to retort, the last member of the band come storming into the room.

"What's your problem?" Nate asked, altering his attention to Shane instead.

"Which one of you made Tess Tyler cry?" He demanded. Both the other two stared back at him, and an uncomfortable silence followed these words.

"Tess is here? Where? I wanna say hi!" Jason suddenly shouted, causing the other two to jump at his outburst.

"Why did I even ask?" Shane muttered, turning on Nate. "Why didn't you tell us you knew her? Is she this mystery girl you've been talking with?" Nate lowered his eyes as he slowly nodded. "Unbelievable." He mumbled before turning and walking out the room. Nate bit his lower lip as he threw himself onto the couch.

"Why is that unbelievable? I knew you were talking to her." Jason said, staring at the spot where Shane had been previously occupying.

"I'm not even going to ask how you knew that."

--

"Preston, must you follow me around. I'm meeting Lily here, so it's not like I'll be alone." Currently, the annoying assistant was sitting next to Tess in the car her mother had rented for Tess to get around in.

"Your mother's orders. You wanna complain, bring it up with the queen." He answered, flipping through his copy of Cosmo. "Hm mm. J. Lo lime green does nothing for you." He mumbled showing the dress to Tess. She rolled her eyes and grabbed the magazine from his hands. Rolling down the window she threw the thing out and watched as a large Pepsi truck ran over it.

"Oops." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"You meant to do that." Preston whined folding his arms and sinking into the seat.

"Your point?"

"You owe me 16.75."

"If I give you the money, will you shut the heck up?" She hissed. Preston shrugged like he didn't care, but she could tell he was watching her out the corner of his eye. She pulled out a 50 dollar bill and placed it in his palm. He smiled at Tess, and she huffed, clearly annoyed.

"What's got your Victoria's Secret panties in a bunch?" Preston asked, examining the bill like it held some sort of deep secret.

"Unbelievable. You didn't even last five minutes." She exclaimed exasperatedly.

"Boy troubles?" He asked, wiggling his thin brows up and down. Tess kept quite and Preston nodded. "So, is it that cute boy-bandy one that I saw you practically making out with at the roller rink a while back?" When Tess still didn't say anything, he knew he'd gotten it right. "So, what's the problem? Was it a one-night stand and he never called you back?" Tess glared at him, her mouth hanging open in disgust.

"We're not all like you, Mr. I-Slept-With-Lance-Bass." She snarled.

"True, true. Besides, you're a little too 'innocent' to be able to pull that off." Preston retorted with a wave of his hand.

"What that's supposed to mean?" But Preston never got the chance to answer, because at that moment a beautiful blonde slipped carelessly into the car.

"What's what supposed to mean?" She asked, smiling her brilliantly white toothed smile at the two.

"Nothing." Tess said quickly, earning a suspicious look from the girl.

"Don't mind her. She's just upset because some boy won't talk to her,"

"That's not why I'm upset." She snapped, sending a chilling glare at Preston.

"Boy troubles?" She asked, her face once again lighting up with her smile. "Hey, Richard, change of plans. Take us to that little coffee house on third. I want to hear all about Tessie's boy." She called up to the driver.

"Of course Miss Lily." And like that, the three turned onto another street and were heading of to Lily's desired location.

"Great to see you again, sis." Tess grumbled sarcastically.

--

"What should I name my webkinz? I was thinking rainbow." Jason said, playfully petting his new horse webkinz. Shane and Nate both rolled their eyes as their best friend stared affectionately at it.

"So, are you going to tell us about Tess? Or are we going to have to drag it out of you?" Shane asked after a moment of silence. Nate sighed before starting in on the epic story of Tess and Nate. When he finished both Shane and Jason were quiet for sometime. Jason was the first to speak.

"Seriously guys. I don't know what to name it." That got all three of them laughing, but Jason was clueless as to what was so funny.

"Well, it sounds like there's only one thing left to do." Shane said when they finally stopped laughing.

"What's that?"

"You've got to get her to forgive you."

"And how do you suppose I do that?" Nate asked. Shane nodded the direction of Jason, who was currently playing with a straw wrapper. Nate gave him a bemused look in return.

"No one can say no to Jason."

"You guys, my pony's name is Rainbow." Jason announced proudly, beaming at his bandmates.

A/N: I promised you rainbows and ponies, so you got rainbows and ponies! Bet you're wondering what Jason's going to do, aren't cha? Well, if you want to find out, review! Because I hold the answer to that puzzling secret, and will only submit the next chapter when I get 10 reviews for his chapter! HAHA! I am evil.

Peace.Love.Jonas.