Chapter 5: Tess thoughts

Claire rode back from Wilgul and Meg and Tess wanted to ask her about the axe that she didn't brought with herself.

But, before, they could even opent their mouths, Claire raised her hand and shortly said:

„Don't", and with that, she wnet in the stable and rode off few seconds later, with Roy following her.

Tess still didn't get anything out from Meg and Jodi, and that made her sooo frustrated! However, she knew that she won't get out anything from Claire either.

Tess walked behind the house. 'Maybe talk with Alex would help?', Tess shook her head at that thought, imagining what would happen if Claire find out that she asked Alex what's wrong with her. 'Oh, she would definetely kill me!', thought Tess.

She walked down the field, her hands in her pockets. She hated to be so helpless. There must be something she could do, someone she could talk to about it.

Tess stood still for a moment and gazed to a fence that bordered Drovers Run and Wilgul. She blinked few times as thought came to her mind. 'Nick.'

Tess felt heat arise in her cheeks. There was something about Nick that made her heart goes baboom-baboom.

Tess shook her head. 'Concentrate, girl! This is not a time to think about Nick Ryan!', she paced by the fence, nervous as a hell. 'Claire is priority now. Alex would be a good choice for talk 'cause he knows Claire since childhood, they are best friends...', she groaned slightly as her mind worked up. 'Yeah, but the thing is that I think that Alex IS a problem! Hmmm...That leaves Nick as an option', Tess cursed under her breath. 'Damn it, Theresa Charlotte, stop thinking about him! Claire must have more friends...'

She looked up toward Wilgul.

'Aw, what a heck! It's for Claire's sake and peace in our house!'

With those words, Tess went over fence and started to walk toward the house.

Nick was taking empty beer bottles to the trash when he heard someone knocking at doors.

Alex just left 15 minutes ago, so Nick didn't had a clue who could it be. Claire won't be here for another week. 'She would rather send Roy with message than risk to bump to Alex again', he thought, smiling to himself as he opened the doors.

He watched her for a second, speechless and surprised.

„Tess", he breathed.

She nodded.

„Hi, Nick."

He opened doors.

„Come in".

„Thank you", she entered the house, feeling nervous. 'Calm down, girl. Remember, you're here for Claire!', she thought and turned to Nick.

„Wanna drink something?", Nick asked her.

„Yeah, juice would be nice."

He nodded, heading to the kitchen.

Tess knew that she has to work fast before she stays too long and says something she shouldn't.

„Nick, umm...I need to talk to you."

Nick gave her juice and asked:

„About what?"

Tess took glass from him, smiling nervously.

„Thanks...Well, you know Claire long, longer than me. Ever since she was born actually", rambled Tess.

„Well, not quite. She's two years older than me", he smiled.

That was the ice – breaker for Tess. She laughed:

„Yeah, you're right. Anyway, have ya noticed anything strange lately?"

Nick looked quizzically at her.

„What exactly are you asking me, Tess?"

Tess took a deep breath. 'All right, here it goes!', she thought and asked:

„Nick, is there something going on between her and Alex? And, please, don't tell her that I've asked ya this, she would kill me?

Nick nodded, smiling.

„No worries, I won't. But, you better sit down 'cause it will take a while. It's a long story."

Tess sat down on the couch and listened to Nick as he started to talk.