You just lost a girl you liked, but there were hundreds of girls after you anyways. So whatever right? You just move on and that's it.
Well no. Not for Will Herondale. Jem and Tessa were laughing as they walked, the blue obvious in Tessa's eyes. Will should have been happy for them. He knew that, of course. It was a no brainer.
So why did he feel sad? He scoffed at his own stupidity as he eyed his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Will had another urge to punch the glass, but quickly turned away before he could do so. His bandaged right hand was covered by a leather glove and he didn't want anyone to notice it. He already ditched his first class, and although he knew he wasn't going to be expelled – because his father was a huge donor to the school – he didn't want to risk double detention.
Sighing, he exited the bathroom and headed for his blow off class. Drama.
He was first into the auditorium. No surprise there. The bell didn't ring for another two minutes. Will settled into his chair and brought his dark hat over his eyes. And the world seemed to fade away... as Will slowly settled into a slumber and…
"Hey Will!" an annoyingly cheerful voice came. Will wanted to scream with annoyance. He looked up to see Jessamine, a smile that was painful to even look at, plastered on her face.
"Can you go away?" Will said, not bothering with formalities. Jessamine's smile didn't even falter.
"Can I sit here?" Jessamine asked, as if Will's question didn't say enough.
"No," Will said coldly.
"Thanks!" Jessamine said cheerfully, and dropped down to the seat next to him, leaning uncomfortably close to Will.
"My, my! Someone has no brain! He said no, you idiot!" Cecily said, coming to his rescue. Cecily loomed over the sitting Jessamine. But Jessamine didn't dare shout back at Cecily, who was Will's twin, so she settled for Tessa, who was almost invisible behind Cecily.
Jessamine sneered. "Dressed for a funeral again, Bookworm?" Tessa was wearing black jeans and a gray blouse, but Will personally thought she looked beautiful. Will frowned internally. Tessa hadn't worn colours since her mom died… Jessamine's joke hit a little closer to home than Will would have liked. Judging from Tessa's frown, he was right.
Her mom's death was on her mind and Tessa's eyes began turning stormy and a dark gray.
"At least she's not dressed like a prostitute," Cecily smirked, eying Jessamine's outfit. It was true though. Tessa's conservative clothing was miles away from Jessamine's borderline nudity. Jessamine had a blouse on that was tied together two inches over her belly button. A mini-skirt couldn't even cover her butt while she was sitting. Jessamine was lucky the school had no dress code.
Jessamine huffed, but stayed seated. Will was sort of excited. The first thing of the day that wasn't drab or boring. A girl catfight.
"Settle into your seats, children!" Mrs. Fairchild declared. Jessamine only sneered as Cecily and Tessa sighed and walked to sit closer to the stage. Will was sitting in the back row and Cecily and Tessa walked up to sit in the fourth row, closest to the stage. Will sighed, standing up and straightening his coat before walking out of the row he was in.
"Where are you going?" Jessamine asked.
"Somewhere where your perfume, face and voice irritates me," Will shot back and stomped away, settling in the seat right behind Tessa's.
He only saw the back of Tessa's head, but had a feeling Tessa was trying to hold back a laugh. Will smiled, glad he could bring a smile to her face.
"As you all know, winter is approaching! And it's your Christmas dance!" Mrs. Fairchild said, throwing her hands in the air for dramatic effect. The class began buzzing with excitement. "And the school has asked you all for music suggestions."
"Lucie Manette!" someone hooted from the audience.
Mrs. Fairchild sighed, as if she heard it before. In front of Will, Tessa stiffened. "Yes, yes, of course. Almost every student in our school voted for her. Since I am the one planning this dance, I'm in charge of the music. Miss Theresa Gray?" Mrs. Fairchild called.
Tessa seemed to be startled awake, though she was trying to hide herself as she sunk lower and lower into her seat. "She's right here, Mrs. Fairchild!" Will called. Tessa turned around to shoot Will a look of poison.
"Tessa, since you work at G.O.L.D. can you please get Lucie Manette for us?" Mrs. Fairchild asked. Tessa hesitated. Cecily immediately interrupted them.
"Lucie Manette is so busy though! I heard she was doing extra segments or something," Cecily called to Mrs. Fairchild, voice bordering anxiety. But why would Cecy be nervous?
"Please Tessa?" Mrs. Fairchild asked. Tessa shifted uneasily in her chair. Will couldn't help but be concerned about the girl that sat in front of him.
Then unfortunately, an annoying prick sat next to him. "Hi Will!" Jessamine said. Angel! Can't she leave me alone! Insulting thoughts about Jessamine swept around through Will's head as Mrs. Fairchild.
"Now, I wanted the drama students to perform a modern version of "A Tale Of Two Cities." Usually we do something like Romeo and Juliet, but of course, everybody loves Lucie Manette, so we're doing that," Mrs. Fairchild announced, over the buzz of the students. Tessa now looked as stiff as a board, and questions in Will's head kept on turning.
"We have every role filled except for Sydney Carton and Lucie Manette. Many girls have signed up for Lucie but…" Mrs. Fairchild shuddered. "Weren't all that great. So! We're holding auditions, right here, right now! Because I really need a Lucie! Several people offered to write a script and change the play into a more modern one. And it's coming really great!" Mrs. Fairchild said excitedly. The dark-haired woman was practically jumping up and down.
"Anyone who wants to be Lucie, stand up!" Jessamine, on Will's right side, immediately stood up. So did the rest of the girls in the class, excluding Cecily, of course. Cecily already bragged to Will that she was one of the script writers.
And Tessa stayed down. Then miraculously, Tessa stood up, but Will realized it was only Cecily shoving Tessa's butt off the seat. Cecily kept Tessa standing, and Tessa shot a glare at Will's sister, but it was too late.
"Miss Gray, come up as well please!" Mrs. Fairchild called.
"Wait… I don't want to…" Tessa started.
"Now!" Mrs. Fairchild shrieked. Stunned, Tessa ran up to the stage, where Jessamine sneered at her.
Will looked on with interest now. Ten girls went up, and it was finally Tessa's turn. Personally, Will thought the first ten girls were… absolutely horrid. Two girls smiled during the scene – and it was the scene where Lucie was crying because Sydney had to leave. In "A Tale Of Two Cities," Sydney Carton died, but in this modern case, Sydney had to go to juvenile for something he didn't do. But he was taking the place of Charles Darnay, who was also wrongly accused.
One girl winked at her boyfriend in the scene and couldn't stop giggling. Another girl was too dramatic, overplaying the scene. Several girls were monotone with no emotion. And there was this blond girl that ran off the stage because she was just too shy.
Jessamine was the overdramatic girl. She had filled the auditorium with her wailing and sobbing, slamming her fists into the ground for good measure. Through her blubbering, Will couldn't even hear her lines. Cecily and Will both booed loudly at that and Mrs. Fairchild pretended not to notice their booing – because Mrs. Fairchild hated it too, of course.
Finally, at last, it was Tessa. Tessa was always different when she pretended to be a different person. When she took on a role, it was like she transformed into something. A beautiful creature. A saddened woman.
Will was always amazed by Tessa, and this was just one of those moments.
"Sydney…" Tessa said, looking out into the auditorium. Her voice was thick with sorrow and Will could almost sense that Tessa… wasn't entirely faking. "I am so sorry… I'm so sorry…" Tessa repeated, shaking her head. A tear quietly leaked out on her cheek. "It's all my fault… Know that there will always be a part of me," Tessa put a hand against her heart as she said the last lines, "There will always be a part of me that belongs to you. You, who is my best friend."
To Will, the lines were absolutely cheesy. But Tessa said it with such conviction, that Will stood up.
"Mr. Herondale?" Mrs. Fairchild asked.
Will strode up to the stage, standing next to Tessa. "Lucie, you fool," Will said gently. Tessa played on, as if it was another scene in improvisation. Will tenderly wiped a teardrop off Tessa's cheek. "And you'll always be my Lucie. I want you to be happy. And it's not right if you're with me. Go have fun. Go to parties. Go love Charles. But don't dwell on the past. It's not your fault."
"But Sydney…" Tessa said weakly. Her eyes were a dark shade of gray. Will frowned at that, knowing that Tessa wasn't completely happy. Not for the first time, Will wished he could read Tessa's mind. "I ruined your life."
Will chuckled darkly. "Lucie. I'll sit in jail for the rest of my life, for something I didn't even do." Tessa choked, her gaze firmly on Will. "But I'll do that for the rest of eternity… if I just get to see you smile once."
Then of course, Jessamine had to ruin the moment. "Sydney! Why spend eternity waiting for her?" Jessamine spat. She shoved Tessa out of the way.
"Jessamine!" Will shouted sharply, beating Mrs. Fairchild to the chase. "I don't really care if you're jealous, or if you have an obsessive crush on me. For once in your life can you let someone have something?" Will yelled. Jessamine backed away slowly and ran out of the auditorium.
"Well… That was beautiful!" Mrs. Fairchild said slowly, as if unsure. "You both get the part for Lucie and Sydney! Oh, I forgot! Charles Darnay will be played by James Carstairs."
Will laughed darkly. Oh, the irony.
Then, Tessa ran off the stage, in the direction where Jessamine had left. Will stared, open-mouthed, at her. As did the rest of the class.
…
When Will stood up, Tessa immediately wanted to run off the stage. But of course, she had a role to play, so she didn't. Will had a hard armor on. A shell. And he had broken down that wall for Tessa. She had slept in his arms yesterday, comforting him from the loss of his sister. Cecily still didn't know. Tessa loved the spicy scent of Will, his comfortable arms enveloping her and simply the presence of him.
But Tessa was scared. Would Will revert to his old self? Would he push Tessa away again? Tessa certainly understood. Tessa herself was hesitant to reveal anything to anyone. The way Will found out about the true story of Jessamine and her real feelings was a coincidence.
Underneath that cold exterior was a barely beating heart. A very vulnerable heart.
And Tessa was scared she would break it. One slip, and… boom.
Tessa was angry with herself. She knew she loved Will, but why couldn't she confess? So many problems to deal with!
The fragility of Will's heart… wanting to help him, but scared her feelings would get in the way… and Jem. Not to mention her alter ego. Tessa didn't want to reveal her secret, because she knew everybody would laugh.
Tessa Gray the Bookworm is Lucie Manette? They would jeer at her, despite the truth. No one would like Lucie Manette anymore.
As the thoughts rolled around her head, as she ran after Jessamine into the girl's bathroom, Tessa wondered. Why do I want to help Jessamine again? The girl who single-handedly wrecked me?
But Tessa couldn't help but pity her ex-best friend, despite the horrible things she had done. Tessa was going to find out why. And this was the perfect opportunity.
Jessamine was crying, sitting on the counter. Her mascara was dripping down her face and she looked like an absolute mess. "Here to take pictures?" Jessamine sneered as she cried. "The great Jessamine Lovelace has fallen. I can see it now. Headlines of the school newspaper, right?" Jessamine shrieked.
A little too egotistical, Tessa thought. The great Jessamine Lovelace? Tessa giggled in her head.
"No. I'm just…" Tessa stopped. Why was she there?
Tessa sighed and wet some paper towels for Jessamine. She reached to wipe her face but Jessamine hissed, snatching the towels from her. "Don't touch me. I can do it myself."
"What happened to you?" Tessa finally asked. "I thought you were my friend. I thought you were my sister from another mister," Tessa smiled at their old joke.
"I was tired of being a bottom-feeder with you. Will, Cecily, Jem… they didn't care about me. They only cared about dear Tessie. And I was tired of it. I was unloved. Unimportant!" Jessamine yelled.
"Well what about me?" Tessa shouted, her voice echoing off the bathroom tiles. Jessamine was silenced. "I was there for you. I ditched everyone for you. I could have had so many friends and been popular – just like Will, Cecy and Jem. But I stayed with you! Look what good it's done me! You've destroyed me!" Tessa shouted. But she didn't let her tears fall. She wouldn't show weakness to anyone else. "Was I not enough for the great Jessamine Lovelace?" Tessa said, sarcasm dripping from her tone.
"No! You weren't enough!" Jessamine shrieked.
"Well look who's talking now! Would you have taken a friend who loved you or groupies who don't even care about you! Just because you're popular now! And now, you probably won't be popular! You may have been the most popular girl at the Institute – but no. Not now. Everybody knows what you are. A horrible, back-stabbing witch. And I've had enough!" Tessa said, crossing her arms. Jessamine remained silent, so Tessa continued.
"I was here to comfort you. To ask you why you left me for Aline and her lackeys. You left me for a girl who didn't even like you. She just wanted to get back at me for hanging out with Will and Jem. Congratulations Jessie," Tessa sneered. "You've gotten yourself fake friends, a nasty wardrobe and what is it for? To be popular?"
Jessamine winced at her words. "The Jessie I know wouldn't have worn that blouse that revealed her freaking chest! Nor would she have worn that skirt who doesn't even cover her butt! It's November, for crying out loud! Who wears skirts in London weather?"
Tessa threw her hands up. "So that's it. That's all I have to say. I was this weak, broken girl when you left me, Jessie. But now, I've had enough. I have real friends now. Friends who won't abandon me, especially in my time of weakness."
Tessa stormed out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind her with a bang. She will play Lucie Manette in the show. She will decide who she wanted to be. The shy Tessa Gray was gone.
The Tessa Gray that Elizabeth Gray knew and love had returned. No more hiding away. Tessa was going to be her old self again and she knew her mom would have been proud. Change was coming, but Tessa accepted it with open arms.
As she heard the wailing through the bathroom door, she walked with a confident step through the empty hallway back to the auditorium.
Will was still on the stage, raising an eyebrow at Tessa when she strode in. Tessa walked with her head held high, eyes shining, and shot a smile at Will. Will was surprised but smiled back.
It's done.
WOO. NEW TESSA IS HERE! OR BACK! OR WHATEVER.
I didn't reveal too much evidence on Tessa's shyness and stuff... So I might post a one shot about that. If you guys want I mean. Tessa being shy, Jessamine bullying and WILL COMING TO THE RESCUE! WOOO.
If you want, I can make that one-shot. I feel kinda bad cuz i didn't show too much of Tessa's shy side so yeah.
Personally, this chapter was more like me forcing out words - which i really hate. D: SO EXCUSE THE UGLINESS!
REVIEW FOR... NEW TESSA!
REVIEW FOR... Practicing the play next chap ;)
REVIEW FOR... jealousy
REVIEW FOR...
OH WAIT. THAT REMINDS ME. I have no idea how jealousy reminded me of this but:
MY POLL IS STILL OPEN... i think. YEAH IT IS. VOOOOOTEEE. WOOO. I'm taking it down tmr. Last chance!