I know, I know, I said Jessa last chapter. We sort of got it, right? …Ok, it was mostly talking about Jems childhood and Tessa realising she loved Jem…
But meh.
Disclaimer: Meh. Owning nothing except the plot. That's why I'm 'mehing'
When Tessa awoke and sat up, light was already pouring in through the window, and Tessa noticed that everyone was asleep, except for a pair of amber eyes staring up at the ceiling.
"Hey." Tessa said, mid-yawn.
"Hey." Jace replied, not looking to see who had spoken.
"What time is it?" Tessa asked him, yawning again.
Jace brought his left arm in front of his face, where a thick black watch was on his wrist.
"6:20." He replied. "The breakfast hall isn't open 'til seven."
"6:20? I'm going back to sleep." Tessa said, laying down again, closing her eyes once more.
"K. Tell the others I'll be around, I'm leaving." Jace said.
Tessa mumbled a reply.
Tessa opened her eyes again, this time to see Cecily beaming down at her.
"Gah!" Tessa said, starting.
The sound of laughter was bright and cheerful in the room.
Tessa felt soft fabric as clothes were thrown into her face.
"Shower, don't bother washing your hair, and get dressed. The breakfast hall closes in about half an hour, we'd better be quick." Isabelle said, applying lip-stick perfectly without a mirror.
In the bathroom, Tessa examined the clothes Cecily had thrown at her. Light blue jeans, a white blouse and a cropped suede jacket. Tessa frowned, she knew the clothes were Isabelle's, but she had no idea she had clothes so…simple. Tessa much preferred Cecilys style to Isabelle's. Since Isabelle had been forcing her to wear short skirts and tight tops, she felt more at ease with jeans again.
Emerging from the steamy bathroom, Isabelle attacked her hair immediately attacked her hair with a brush, sweeping her hair into a braid like she'd seen Katniss have in the hunger games film. She then applied light mascara to Tessa and told her that she was lucky she didn't have spots. Although, Tessa thought, there isn't a single spot on Izzy, not even a freckle.
Gabriel, Alec, Gideon, Magnus, Clary, Cecily, Izzy and Tessa were the only ones in the room. Magnus was raking a hand through his glitter-less hair. Tessa remembered Magnus' dare to go the whole day without make-up and grinned.
"Jace came in about two minutes ago, he said he'd meet us in the breakfast hall." Gabriel informed Tessa.
Tessa gave him a thumbs up, unable to speak due to the lip-gloss Isabelle was applying to her lips. Once she was done, Tessa frowned. "I'm about to eat. Why apply lip-gloss?" She asked Isabelle.
Izzy shrugged. "Because people will see you on your way into the breakfast hall."
Tessa rolled her eyes as Cecily bounded to her feet. "Let's go!" She announced happily, bounding into the corridor.
Tessa chatted happily to everyone about how fun last night was, when the lake suddenly came into view and she fell silent. A wave of cold dread passed over her. How could she have forgotten? Jem had passed out (Tessa did not even consider the possibility he'd died) and Tessa had completely forgotten about it.
"Gabriel." She said suddenly. "Can I…talk to you for a second?"
Gabriel nodded. "We'll catch up." He told Gideon, before the rest of the group left.
"I have no idea why I picked you." Tessa admitted. "But come with me."
She began to speed walk to the lake. She was about to slow down, realising that she had long legs, when she saw Gabriel was matching her stride easily. He seemed to be the tallest of the group, with Jem not far behind and Isabelle if she was wearing her heels.
She stopped by the bank she and Jem had stood at last night, the concrete path worn and cracked.
"What is it?" Gabriel asked her curiously.
"I don't know what I'm looking for." Tessa admitted again. What was she thinking she'd find, Jem on the floor?
She turned to suggest they went back when she spotted it. A white handkerchief, stained brown with dried blood. Gabriel had turned around to leave with Tessa and Tessa quickly grabbed the handkerchief. Why, she did not know. But she felt as if she should pick it up.
"No matter." Tessa said. "I thought I saw something before, but it was probably the light."
Gabriel nodded and the two of them walked to the breakfast hall.
"Gabriel?" Tessa asked him.
"Yes?" He asked. He seemed glad she had not shortened his name.
"Are Alec and Isabelle your cousins? They look so much like Will and Cecily…" Tessa asked as they entered the main block.
Gabriel gave a sigh. "It's complicated, Father won't tell anyone, even me. I do know the reason, we Lightwoods are at a, for lack of a better word, feud with the Herondales. Any relationship we ever had with them would have been wiped off the cards and forgotten about, or just treated as if they were not to the certain family. Alexander and Isabelle look so much like them-" He said the word with venom. "-But we'll never know if they are of their blood."
As they entered the hall, Tessa noticed it was quite empty besides from the other shadowhunters at the table and a few stragglers elsewhere.
They got their food in silence and went to sit at the table, the first person Tessa noticed being Will, who was moodily attacking his food with his fork.
Tessa ate her toast, not really listening to the gossip at the table. The minute she'd finished her drink, Will stood up and motioned for her to follow as he walked back to where the food was being served.
"Is there a reason-" Tessa began.
"Yes." Will snapped, before he seemed to regret his tone. "I'm sorry, I'm in a bad mood." He apologised, looking weary.
"You always seem to be in a bad mood." Tessa pointed out.
"True." Will mused, looking thoughtful for a moment before he was brought back to earth. "Right, anyway. As marvellous as I am, I cannot carry a tray of food and two glasses back to the boy's dorm. You were the first person finished, besides Jace, though he needn't be involved in this."
Will poured a glass of orange juice and handed it to Tessa, along with the whole jug of water and an empty glass.
Tessa raised her eyebrows, but didn't comment.
He then walked over to the food, which was a buffet at breakfast, looking at everything inquisitively, before grabbing a plate and putting a piece of French toast, a piece of Toast, two Croissants, a Pain au Chocolat and a Danish pastry onto it. He then poured a bowl of cornflakes with milk and put that onto a tray. Finally, he poured a cup of tea calmly, giving it to Tessa, who was now thankful of the small café job she'd had in America. True, it was rubbish pay, but she learnt how to carry numerous items with only two hands. He lifted the tray with one hand, and they made their way out of the hall, Will pausing only to grab some cutlery.
Their trip wasn't in silence though. Will told Tessa a terrible joke about how stepping on cornflakes makes you a cereal killer and commented about the pointlessness of the dinner hall, asking about why they could not have room service. He also quoted poetry along the way, all of which Tessa recognised.
As Will opened the room to the boy's dorm with his free hand, he looked distracted.
"Why are you getting food?" Tessa asked him.
"I might get hungry." Will replied calmly, though giving her a look that told her to drop the subject.
Tessa sighed. He told more lies than Pinocchio.
"Really? Even after all the chocolate you ate last night?" She said. She was not dropping this subject.
Will looked defeated. "Tess…"
"Tessa." She corrected.
Will nodded, as they got into the lift and he pressed the button for floor F.
"Very well. But I was going to say, it isn't my secret to tell. I know secret is such a childish word, but I cannot word it any other way." He told her.
Tessa frowned. "You seem the type that would broadcast secrets to the entire world."
"Petty things, yes. But this…never. Every person has a life-threatening secret. I am no exception." He said, before looking stricken at his last sentence. He evidently hadn't meant to say that. Well done, you've made her pity you, he thought bitterly. He knew he'd have to make that pitying vanish. "So evidently, Tessa-" He continued, pronouncing the 'A' clearer than the rest. "-you do not know me at all." He said, watching Tessas jaw clench at his tone.
"I do know you." She said firmly. "I know you're Welsh. I know you like to read. I know that you are related to Jace, though refuse to admit it. I know you care for Jem and Jem only-" The look of sadness on Wills face did not go unnoticed at the mention of Jems name. "-And I know you love poetry."
Wills eyes narrowed as they stepped out of the lift. "I'm British. I do not like to read-" I love it, he thought sadly. "I am not related to that Lightworm" He spat the name. "And I happen to loath poetry." He was not letting Tessa get close to him. Never. Jem was a fine example of what would happen if she did.
Tessa shook her head slightly, but didn't push the conversation.
Will stopped at a door and slid a key-card from his pocket and inserted it into the door, making it open with a soft 'click'. He then used his free hand to take the jug, cup and glasses from Tessa.
"Thank-you, Tess." He said softly, his eyes meaningful. "I owe you."
This time, Tessa didn't correct him. He then stepped inside, and went to close the door. Tessa heard laughter.
"I said toast, not a banquet!" Jems voice came, weak, but clear.
Tessas heart stopped momentarily, her hand flying to the pocket where the blood-stained handkerchief was.
Will stopped attempting to close the door without hands and turned around. "I did get you toast."
"Of every single variety, plus pastries and cereal." Jem told him.
"To be honest, I didn't know what you like to eat." Will informed Jem, standing in front of Tessa so Tessa couldn't see into the room.
"Toast." Jem said simply.
"Well then, you should have said-" Will began, but at the sound of coughing, Will kicked the door suddenly, closing it in Tessa's face.
I saw him pass out in front of me and you do not let me ask him if he is ok, let alone see him? Tessa thought. Very well then, it is on.
As you can see, my attempts at making Will nice failed. Completely. Ok, I have the 'de-cursing of Will' chapter ready, but I need the right place to put it, because I have no idea where I want this story to go. Please, give me an idea of where to end it! I was thinking the end of Tessas first year? Please tell me, and apologies for making Will harsher than I intended!
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…Please?