Song: Check Yes Juliet- We the Kings
Requested by: charmed4eva112
Dedication:
Pairing: Shane x Tess (Shess)
"Theresa Emily Tyler!"
It was a cold, rainy, winter's day in Los Angeles. Tess decided to spend the day talking to her friends, and watching MTV's latest reality shows. It wasn't the best way to spend her time, she should've been doing her homework, but it was entertaining.
Tess' mom was the infamous TJ Tyler. Tess always kind of wished that her mom was normal, but she loved her all the same. Unfortunately, she was never around, and Tess since Tess had no brothers or sisters, Tess got to be very lonely.
And when her mom was around…well Tess had never been the daughter her mom wanted her to be. Meaning…Tess usually got into trouble from her grades or from her bad boy boyfriends.
"Coming!" Tess yelled back to her mom.
Tess ran down the stairs and stood in front of her mother, who had a disgusted look on her face. She held out a cordless phone and spat, "It's that boy."
'That boy' is what TJ Tyler referred to Shane Gray as. It wasn't the most endearing name to call someone, but the fact that Tess got to talk to him at all was a plus.
Not that Tess was extremely interested in dating Shane Gray. In fact, he wouldn't even have her phone number if it wasn't for her English teacher Ms. Wilde. She partnered them up for a book project, and ever since Shane had not left Tess alone.
"What?"
"Just calling to say hi."
"Don't you have a life?" Tess wasn't really being mean, because this banter was common between the two of them. Tess needed to keep things interesting, and felt that if she had a real conversation with Shane that her popularity level would go down. She wasn't supposed to be talking to anyone with grades higher than C's.
"Well, you're home on a Saturday, so what kind of life is that?"
Tess groaned, but smiled. In all honesty, Shane wasn't that bad of a guy, but she couldn't let anyone else know that, "Mom's making me do homework."
"Oh…you mean that angry lady who answered the phone?"
"That's the one."
"Hey, wanna come and do something with me tonight?"
Tess considered her options. She could go and have a fun time with Shane, or she could stay at home and continue to watch MTV. She could go, and risk being seen with her friends from school. Or, she could stay at home, read a book, and keep her popularity status, "Sorry, it's a no go."
"Come onnnn!!" Shane whined.
"Nope."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No."
"I won't stop bothering you until you say yes."
Tess smiled. That was another thing she liked about Shane. He was always incredibly determined, "Goodbye Shane." She clicked 'end call' and put the phone back on the receiver.
--
It was about two weeks later until Shane finally started talking to Tess again.
It wasn't that big of a deal that Tess abruptly stopped their conversation, right? Well, that's what Tess had thought anyways. But Shane, being, well, Shane, thought that it meant she hated him. He stopped communicating with her altogether. It was the worst two weeks of Tess' life.
But now, at nearly midnight on Friday night, Tess heard something hit her window. She was a light sleeper, and much as she tried to drown out the noise, she couldn't. Finally, she kicked off the covers and walked to her window. She opened it, and saw Shane standing below her, with a few pebbles in his hand, "What are you doing?"
"I wanted to see you."
"So you couldn't have waited until later today?"
Shane grinned, "Well, here I thought I'd do something romantic for you, and you're turning me away."
Tess rolled her eyes, "I'm flattered, but if my mom catches you out here, we'll both be dead."
"True. Can I come up then?"
Tess' jaw dropped, "No!"
"Aw. C'mon!"
"No, Shane. I'll see you at school!"
"No you won't. You never do. You never talk to me at school. Never!"
Tess suddenly felt guilty. It was true, whenever she saw him she'd turn in the other direction, or ignore whatever he was saying. She felt bad, but she had a reputation to protect, and as cute as Shane was, he was still a big dork.
Wait…cute? Tess shook the thought from her mind and said, "Sorry. Look, I need some sleep. I promise to talk to you tomorrow!"
Shane winked, "I'll be counting on that!"
--
School the next day was horrible.
"Hi Tess!" Shane said, nearly jumping up and down. It was a normal greeting from him, but Tess was surrounded by a bunch of her friends.
"Who's this loser?" Ella asked.
Tess looked at Ella with a glare and then back at Shane, who was grinning from ear to ear, "He's not a loser."
Jason, Ella's boyfriend, raised an eyebrow, "Right. Funny, Tess. You really had me going there. Now, loser, get out of the way."
Shane looked at Tess, his smile falling. His eyes were full of confusion. Tess looked at her friends, who were now laughing at his shoes. Shane looked down at the ground and started walking away.
"Wait! Shane!" Tess called. Everyone looked at her, "Stay."
"Tess, are you sick?" Ella asked.
Tess took a deep breath, "I'm sick of you guys putting Shane down. He's…he's my friend." She took a step towards him and squeezed his hand, "Whether you guys like it or not."
Tess didn't know what she was thinking. She thought maybe if she stood up to her friends, that they would accept Shane, and they'd all live happily ever after. Unfortunately, all they did was walk away without another word.
Except for Peggy. She turned back and said, "You just kissed your ticket to popularity goodbye."
Tess nearly crumbled, watching her friends walk away, but Shane gave her a side hug and said, "Don't worry. Just you wait, everything will be fine."
--
Soon enough, Shane and Tess were basically conjoined at the hip. Tess knew that her popularity status was officially gone, but it was better than she had thought. In fact, it was kind of fun. She had never been happier.
And her grades had never been better.
"Tess…" her mother said to her one day.
"Yes, mom?" Tess squeaked.
"I got your grades in the mail today." TJ raised an eyebrow, making Tess squirm. She suddenly broke out into a smile, "Why didn't you tell me you were passing all your classes with A's?"
Tess choked. She had been studying with Shane, although her mom didn't believe her, and noted that she was doing better. She just hadn't realized how well she was actually doing.
"Mom…I told you…I've been studying with Shane. He's really smart, and really helpful."
TJ Tyler smiled at her daughter, "Tess…I think you have finally found a boyfriend that I like."
Tess twisted her face, "Boyfriend?! Mom! Shane is just my best friend!"
Tess was suddenly reminded about earlier that day in gym class.
--
"Alright! Everybody partner up!" Coach Bryan said to the class.
Tess and Shane immediately looked at each other and gave a quick nod. They were partners for everything now, especially since neither of them had any other real friends.
In gym, they were doing tumbling, and in tumbling you have to be able to trust your partner. So, they were doing one of those trust exercises where you fall and the other person is supposed to catch you.
"What if I don't trust you?" Tess asked playfully.
Shane stuck his tongue out, "Maybe for that I'll let you fall."
Tess gasped and pretended to look hurt, "And here I thought that you were my best friend."
Shane gave a wink, when Coach Bryan came up to the two of them, "Alright you two! Enough flirting!"
Tess and Shane's jaws dropped, "We're JUST FRIENDS!" They both screamed, causing Coach Bryan to chuckle. They looked at each other and blushed.
--
Tess remembered how red her cheeks were, "Just friends." She repeated, more for herself then for her mom.
"Whatever you say sweetheart."
--
The school year was coming to a close.
"Tess! We haven't DONE anything all year! I mean, nothing that we'll be able to tell stories about when we're like…eighty! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!"
Tess rolled her eyes, "What? Me leaving popularity isn't big enough for you."
Shane gave an eye roll in return, "But I knew you were going to do that anyways. C'mon Tess! Can't we do something FUN!?"
Tess sighed, "What exactly did you have in mind?"
Shane's eyes lit up, "I say that we go fly out to LA!"
"Shane, we live in Dallas! We cannot fly out to LA!"
Shane put on his puppy dog face, "I have tons of flyer miles thanks to my parents! And your mom I'm sure has a lot too! Come on Tess! We'll just leave for a weekend!"
"You're crazy."
"But that's why you love me." Shane said with a smirk.
Tess opened her mouth to retort, but couldn't think of anything. She DID love Shane (more than she knew) so instead she said, "Let's pack."
--
So, one week later Shane and Tess boarded a plane to LA. They told their parents what they were doing, and that they were paying for it.
Tess looked out the window of the plane. It was pitch black outside. She hit her head against the head rest and looked over at Shane, who was staring at her, "What?"
"Just thinking."
"About?"
"Stuff."
"Want to elaborate?"
"I can't believe you agreed to go with me."
"Why wouldn't I? Shane, you are my best friend. I need to look out for you. If I ever lost you…"
"What?"
"I don't know, forget it."
"No, what?"
"Just…I wouldn't be the same without you."
Shane smiled and squeezed Tess' hand, "I wouldn't be the same without you either."
Tess gave a shy smile and squeezed his hand back. Neither let go for the rest of the plane ride.
--
LA was truly…a mad house.
Apparently, Shane was super popular because girls stared at him wherever Tess and Shane went. Shane laughed it off, saying how he must lead a double life and maybe should come to live in LA.
Tess didn't think it was as funny. She'd shoot daggers at anyone who gave Shane a second glance. He was hers.
He was hers.
Tess thought about this. She wondered why she was so insanely protective of him, because it wasn't as though they were actually dating.
But they could've.
And Shane was so sweet…and so kind, and thoughtful. He protected Tess and was her friend, even when she was mean.
Tess couldn't believe it.
She was in love with her best friend.
--
Before the two went home, Tess wanted to tell him. It just seemed that LA would be the perfect place to say something. She didn't know why really, but it felt…right to her.
So, while the two were waiting in the terminal, Tess finally said, "Shane, I need to tell you something."
"Shoot."
So Tess started from the beginning, back to when she first thought of Shane as a friend. Back to that English project. Shane listened patiently while Tess told her long story.
When she finally finished, Shane broke out into a grin, "I knew you'd come around."
He leaned in and kissed her, just as the loudspeakers rang, "Flight to Dallas, now boarding."
End
Chapter 53 of 100
