When Will eventually made it back to their starting point, Tessa was there alone, looking highly concerned and blushed remarkably upon noticing him. He let his lips tug into a self-righteous smirk.
"Um" she said, "Jessamine just left. She told me Jem didn't feel very well and had to go home. He, Charlotte and Henry left" He was immediately on alert. Tessa, apparently noticing this, hastened to reassure him. "Apparently Jem wants you to know that he's okay and everyone was making too big a fuss. You're not to worry and he'll see you tomorrow.." She was gnawing on her lip intoxicatingly and now that he'd been assured Jem was alright, he was back to his thoughts of Tessa, only Tessa, and the way she made him feel – like he was drowning in the storm-gray of her eyes, but he didn't seem to mind it.
"Okay, I'll – uh, walk you home." He tried not to come off flustered. He was Will Herondale after all, and had a reputation to upkeep. And he needed to keep her at arm's length anyway; he had made his promise to Jem, and didn't want Tessa to get attached to him before he could get over these messed-up feelings of his. Not that she would with the inconsistent way he'd been treating set off in a rather awkward silence, both seemingly stunned at how heated things had got that night, and both unsure how much of it had all been in spirit of the game.
He was surprised that she didn't object even when they neared her house; the last time Tessa had been adamant that they leave her a few streets away from it. Will was sure she was embarrassed to live in such a run-down area while attending such a prestigious university. His heart went out to her; as if he would ever judge her based on something as superficial as wealth. As they trekked up the stairs to her apartment, Tessa deep in thought, he couldn't help feel pity over the ghastly living conditions. She was profound and intelligent and elegant and she deserved a palace to live in. Will wondered if her brother would be home and felt a surge of anger rise in him as he realised he had been distracted from his earlier inquisition but was now fairly sure her brother must be hitting her. He felt so helpless. Perhaps he could just confront the guy.
"Tess?" he attempted. She gave him a questioning little smile that made his heart melt and he had to shake his head a little before he recovered his train of thought. "What's your brother's name?" He couldn't be sure, but he thought he noticed her tense up a little; another clue that this was a delicate topic.
"Nathaniel." She replied in a small voice. "Nate." Will couldn't deny the love he heard in her voice and frowned at the puzzle that didn't seem to make any sense.
"What's he like?"She seemed taken aback for a moment, then her brow furrowed in thought.
"Selfless." She decided eventually, and then was quiet for such a time that Will thought that was all he was going to get. But then, "We've always... That is, since it's just been us on our own it's been really tough for money." She confessed. "But Nate always puts what he can towards treats for me, and he's usually really supportive of my dreams and aspirations." She was speaking more unevenly now, exhausted from the multiple flights of stairs. "It's been hard for him recently, because he's having to work his way up in this new job, but I think he's getting in with the big guys now, so things are looking up I guess." She fumbled with the key she'd drawn out of her pocket, jiggling it in the lock for a moment with shaky hands before Will managed it for her."Thanks." Another heart-wrenching smile. Will knew in that moment that he was gone, too far lost in her to see any conceivable way out. And then the door flew open. And a face full of rage stared at him, so like the one he obsessed over in every minute, waking or not, and yet so different; he felt sure that nothing, no matter how terrible, could ever force such an expression onto his Tess.
"Who. The fuck. Is this?" The boy; Will guessed Nate, hissed threateningly.
"Will Herondale. I'm a friend of Tessa's." Will supplied, noting her terrified stupor. "From English class."Nate's eyes widened. That seemed to snap something in Tessa, and she was suddenly moving towards him, calming gestures contradicting her horror-struck expression."He just wanted to get me home safely, Nate, but he's just leaving." She gave Will a meaningful look, and he was about to protest that he couldn't possibly abandon her here with her clearly drunk brother, when he was met with a face full of door. He leaned his ear against it, struggling to catch anything when an ear-splitting bellow caused him to jerk backwards in response.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE OUT?! WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY IS IT? IT WAS A FUCKING WORK PARTY TESSIE, I'M WORKING MY WAY UP IN THE COMPANY TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR FUCKING BOOK CLUB, AND THE FIRST THING THAT KEEPS ME IN AFTER HOURS YOU'RE OFF GALLAVANTING WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND?! YOU BITCH. YOU SLUT!"
Will felt the word like a slap, and decided now might be a good time to intervene, and finally giving in to the instinct he'd been pushing down, to rush in there and get Tessa away from that freak, he eased the door open, raising his hands in what he hoped was an amicable gesture.
"Okay, you now what? – this was my fault, I'm sorry. Don't take it out on Tess." He laid a hand on her shoulder, horrified when she actually flinched away from him for a moment, before her eyes filled with worry as she took in his intervention.
"TESS?!" Nate practically screeched. "HOW FUCKING FRIENDLY YOU TWO MUST HAVE BEEN GETTING AT YOUR OH-SO CIVILISED LITTLE SHITING TEA PARTIES. GET OFF MY SISTER, YOU CUNT!"He lunged at Tessa, knocking her aside, catching her shoulder, hard, as he did so. Too hard. Will lost it. He sprang at Nate who, not foreseeing the advance, took a huge swing of Will's fist to the face. Staggering backwards, he quickly recovered and launched himself forward with a counter-blow. The two engaged in fisticuffs, Will with the slight advantage of being sober. That, and he was determined to protect Tessa no matter what. Nate shoved him down to the floor and was about to deliver the knockout hit when Will glanced to the corner, searching for Tessa's tear-stained face, her sobbing, terrified form that he had failed to defend. But she wasn't there.
He looked up just as a deafening crack split the air as Nate collapsed to the floor in front of Will, presenting to Will the sight of a stunned Tessa, holding half a wooden chair. He leapt to his feet.
"Tess" He breathed, then cleared his throat, searching her face for a sign as to how she was faring. "Are you hurt?" He took her shoulders and she winced. He remembered too late the blow she had taken to her left and jerked back, anger rising up at the unconscious bastard."We have to get you out of here." He tried to take her hand, but she pulled away, still wearing an astonished expression.
"I can't" She whispered."You can." Will pleaded. "It isn't safe for you here, I'll help you. You have friends. We'll work it out."
She looked into him, clearly wanting to believe him."But he'll come looking for me..."
"And we'll deal with that. But for now we need to go." He insisted, and this time she let him draw her hand into his, interlocking their fingers. He gave it a squeeze and guided her towards the door, allowing her time to gaze anxiously at her brother before leading her outside and taking out his phone to call a cab.
