Previously...

She sighed in contentment, and whispered, "Good night, Will."

Tessa woke up to the sound of Cecily laughing.

Will was still asleep and her head was on his chest. She widened her eyes and inched away until she got off the bed and stood up, rubbing her eyes.

She ignored Cecily as she attempted to stifle her laughter but failed immensely. Tessa walked out of the room and found a mirror, but her eyes were still blurry from sleep, so she waited for them to focus, and then groaned. Her hair wasn't all that messy as it was earlier, but still was a little bit.

"Cecily," Tessa tried saying in a not too loud voice. "Do you have a hairbrush with you?"

Cecily came into the room and nodded, reaching in a bag and pulling one out, and she handed it to Tessa who took it. She quickly brushed her hair through the infuriating tangles until her hair was somewhat acceptable.

"I think I'm just going to go home," Tessa told her as she splashed some water on her face.

When she looked up, Cecily was standing right before with an incredulous look on her face. "I don't think so! Not with your crazy brother."

Tessa frowned. "Well, I can't stay here forever. And I need a new change of clothes." And it was true. If she did, then Nate would probably end up calling the police. He doesn't even know of her staying here.

"Sure you can!" Cecily insisted. "And I can always buy you something."

Tessa shook her head. "Thank you, really, but I'd rather you don't."

"Nonsense." She waved a hand. "We would rather have you safe."

"I don't need protecting," Tessa said and walked back into the room where they slept. Will and Jem were still sleeping and Will's head was covered by a pillow. She walked over to him and lifted it up so he wouldn't suffocate.

She made a protesting noise. "But—"

Tessa held up a finger. "Shh. You don't want to wake up the boys." She knew she was kind of being a jerk, but it was necessary. She was fine on her own.

Tessa's phone, which was right next to the bed, started ringing and Tessa tried to reach for it and answer before it could wake up both Will and Jem, but they were already rising and yawning. She mentally cursed herself.

As Will started waking up, he reached out for Tessa's side of the bed with a muffled, "Tess." When he found nothing, he stared at the bed blankly until they locked eyes. He looked relieved.

"Good morning, Will," Tessa said, her eyes shifting between him and his outstretched hand. He pulled it back.

"Good morning," he said back in a low voice. He looked around with a puzzled look. "What time is it?"

"Eight o'clock," Cecily piped up, and with a hint of a smirk on her lips. Jem looked up curiously and raised his eyebrows.

"What's going on?" he asked. He stood up from the air mattress, pushing the bright purple blanket away with a grimace.

"Nothing," said Tessa automatically.

Cecily gave her a look. "Tessa said she should go home."

Will looked up. "Absolutely not!"

Tessa crossed her arms. "Why not? I'm my own person. I can do what I like." She stuck her chin up defiantly.

"And risk getting murdered?" said Will, his voice cracking just slightly.

Jem looked over at him. "Well, he never said murder. Just drugging and shipping her to the States." He shrugged.

Will faked a smile. "Thanks, Jem. You're a big help."

"Well, I don't think he'll do it early. He had this specifically planned for the party," Jem told him. Tessa sighed. She just wished she could go home. She didn't want for this to happen.

Cecily ran and jumped on the middle of the bed with a grin on her face. "I have an idea!" she exclaimed.

Will stared at her. "That was impressive."

"Thanks." She smiled smugly. She put her hands on her hips. "Tessa could stay with us."

"What do you mean?" Tessa asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"I mean that you can stay at our house," Cecily said. "We have plenty of room. A bit too much, if you ask me."

Will rolled his eyes. "You're not serious, are you?"

"Why not?" Cecily shrugged. "Our parents probably wouldn't mind, and she can share my room." It was a good idea, but Tessa couldn't have that happen.

"Or the guest room," Will muttered. "Or the other guest room."

Tessa shook her head. "I couldn't do that. It wouldn't be fair to either of you." She didn't want to live in their house because they'd have to pay for her stuff, food, and things and she didn't want them to do that for her. "I just want to go home." She frowned, sitting on the couch. "And my brother's 'working' right now anyway, so I'm fine."

No one said anything for a while. She sat on the edge of the bed looking down and Cecily just sat down on her sleeping bag with a frustrated look on her face.

"Okay, well," Jem spoke up, "if that's what you want to do, then okay. We can't force you to do anything, but you have to know that you're risking your safety when he does come home."

Tessa sighed and nodded. She wished they didn't have to baby her.

Will got up with a scowl. "Fine, let her do what she wants. But I still think she'd be better off here with us." She looked over at him and glared.

"I don't need protecting, Will," Tessa snapped.

He looked indignant. "You might think that, but you do."

She made a frustrated noise and he rolled his eyes at her, telling her to not be such a child. Cecily and Jem were quiet as they both continued arguing over the matter, until Tessa just stormed out of the room, grabbing onto her things and heading towards the door until a hand snatched her wrists without being very gentle.

She spun around. It wasn't Cecily or Jem. She knew they'd be more careful with her. But Will on the other hand…

And sure enough, it was.

"What do you want, Will?" she asked with a hint of annoyance.

He still held onto her wrists. She shifted around anxiously, just wanting to get this over with. "Why can't you understand that we just want to help you, but instead, you just push us away?"

"I told you, Will. I don't need protecting," she replied, keeping her voice strong and firm.

His eyes were blazing. "I just want you safe."

She furrowed her eyebrows. You? she thought in her head, but did not dare to ask aloud. "Why?"

Will seemed genuinely surprised by the question. "Why?" he repeated. "Why wouldn't I?"

She looked at him in disbelief. "What? You can't turn the question on me!"

"Sure I can." Will grinned, and his grip loosened a bit. She used it as her opportunity to free herself, but he tightened his grip once again. Tessa groaned inwardly. "But back to the point. At least stay with us."

"I don't want to have his conversation, Will," she said and she pulled her wrists back, but he pulled her forward. She blushed. "Um. Okay, fine. I'll stay."

A smug smile appeared on his lips. "Alright then."

"At least let me get clothes, though. He's working," she told him again.

Will sighed. "Fine. But I'm going with you."

"Okay, then." He let go of her wrists and they walked to the exit and to Tessa's car. "I took the car so one of his friends had to drive him to work. This wouldn't be the first time."

He nodded and later, they drove off.

After Tessa parked in her driveway, she and Will made her way to the door. Strangely, it was already a bit open, and Tessa exchanged a look with Will. She opened the door and it was absolutely quiet. The first thing she did was go to the kitchen, taking Will's hand in hers and dragging him there. Usually when this sort of stuff happens, he leaves a note. So Tessa searched the kitchen and then…

There was a note on the counter, just as she predicted, and it said:

Tessie:

Where are you? If you're reading this note, I'm at work. Please reply. I'm worried about you.

-Nate

"Bullshit," said Will, and she gave him a scolding look. She put the note back and searched for a large bag to put her stuff in. When she found one, she ran up the claustrophobic staircase until she reached her room with Will right behind her. She pushed her door open and her room was just as she left it. A good sign.

She grabbed one of her pillows and stuffed it in the bag; she grabbed her computer and put it in. Then she grabbed one of her old backpacks from a few years ago and grabbed some of her clothes with her and shoes. While she packed her stuff, Will was watching TV in her room. She rolled her eyes, and continued packing until she'd gotten most of her electronics and personal stuff.

"I think we're done," Tessa said. He stood up and nodded.

They left the room, but Will stopped as they walked past the guest room, and then went inside. Tessa, in silent inquiry, followed him and he smiled. "Isn't this the room we painted?"

Memories of a paint-soaked Will and Tessa flashed through her head quickly, and she nodded with a smile. "Yeah."

They stood there for a while with Tessa staring thoughtfully at the walls.

"It's a shame I have to leave the house," Tessa said quietly. "I worked really hard on it."

He looked over at her. "You'll get it back," he said, a promise in his voice.

"What are we going to do about Nate, though?" Tessa asked. She wasn't going to be able to go to Club Pandemonium, so what would they do when they got him? Call the police? Of course, she didn't like the idea of her brother getting arrested, but knew it would have to happen.

Will sighed. "We're not sure yet."

"You'll have to decide quickly," she told him.

"Yeah," he said. He looked up at the walls. "I know."

A/N: Eh, boring chapter, but whatever. I'm going to publish a few stories for you guys since I'll be gone tomorrow (San Francisco!) and a few days after that. Just to keep you all satisfied.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Infernal Devices or anything else mentioned in this story.