A/N: Thanks for your review jakc! I've read your story with T n J undercover, and it's coming along great! Can't wait to see what you have next! Anyway, here's my next instalment. I will update again in a day or so. Hopefully I get a review or two before then which will make the process quicker hint hint Well here'schapter two:
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She took a quick breath before opening the door, hoping with all her will that it was anybody but Evan standing there on her doorstep. The last thing she needed was for him to see her in the state she was currently in. As always, fate was against her. Her heart plummeted as she saw him leaning against the wall casually. Why did he always have to look so damn good?
"Tess," he said softly, his eyes travelling the length of her body, "were you in bed already?"
Awkwardly, she crossed her arms and forced herself to look him in the eyes.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him sternly, trying with all her might to keep her composure, when inside she was really falling to pieces.
"I,
ahh.." he started, blushing a crimson red as he spoke, "could I come in?".
Now it was her turn to blush. "Why?" she asked bluntly, "you and Jackie seemed
to be getting along pretty well at the pub, I thought you'd be going back to her place!".
As soon as she said it, she regretted it. It wasn't like her to be jealous and act like a child. She bit her tongue and looked to the ground, avoiding his gaze. "Sorry, I.. I didn't mean..." she muttered awkwardly, trailing off mid-sentence.
If he was upset by her comment, he didn't show it. "Tess, can't you see? I'm here, not at Jackie's, aren't I?" he whispered, gently lifting her chin so he could talk to her face to face. "Please? I just want to talkā¦"
She tried to avert his gaze, but found she was bound to the spot, unable to move under his spell. She knew she couldn't say yes, but her heart was screaming otherwise. It would be a huge mistake to let him in, but something stronger than her will had taken control of her.
Stepping back into the hall, she opened the door wide for him to come in. Evan smiled and stepped into the hallway, brushing past her on the way. Slightly giddy, she quickly composed herself and followed him to the lounge room.
"What's this?" he asked, trying to hide a grin, "half eaten tub of ice cream, chick flick? Not quite what I expected".
Blushing deeply, she snatched the DVD case from his grasp and put it back on the shelf, purposely keeping her back to him. "It's not what you think," she muttered feebly. She would not let him think she was upset over him. Even if it were true, she'd never admit it to his face. "I was... just..."
"Yeah sleeping, I can see," he said mockingly, "You looked really tired at the pub. Why did you run off?"
His eyes bore into her like razor blades, making her feel uneasy. Her hands were beginning to get clammy and sweat was starting to appear on her brow. She knew her excuse at the pub wouldn't suffice with him. It must have been bloody obvious to him why she'd suddenly left just as he and Jackie arrived. He'd be thinking right now what a sad case was she was; married to the man she had chosen, yet acting jealous and hurt when the man she'd disregarded started dating another woman. He'd probably only have come over just to throw it all in her face and tell her what a hypocrite she was. Even if she tried denying it, she knew it was all true.
Nervously, she faced him again, quickly preparing her argument in those few short moments she had. "You think you know everything about me," she started cautiously, slowly letting feelings she'd buried for so long bubble to the surface. "You think that just because my husband's away, you can come in here and take his place? That if I'm miserable it must be about my feelings for you?" she snarled, as the words began to choke up in her throat, "I don't need you constantly prying into my life and harassing me every chance you get!" Furiously she blinked back a tear and whispered, "you know nothing about me or what I'm feeling"
Evan kept quiet, unshaken by a word she'd spoken. After a moment's pause, he replied softly, "I know more about you than you think Tess". "I know you left because of Jackie. That's why I came over, to explain. She's not my girlfriend, she's Chris' niece, and I only met her yesterday. I was just showing her around town..." he said.
Still in defensive mode, Tess raised her voice and replied, "You forget I'm happily married, so what do I care who you are or aren't seeing?"
"I don't know, why don't you tell me?" he yelled sharply at her, turning a darker shade of red, "maybe it has to do with the fact that you still have feelings for me!"
"Why do you assume it's always about you?" she shot back just as quickly, "as I said before, I'm happily married!"
"Oh 'happily married'?" he continued, "for crying out loud Tess! Everybody knows you don't love Josh!"
Tess fell silent. She knew all too well where this argument was heading...
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A/N: Yes, very abrupt stop, I know... please review!
