Me: Imma abandon this story 'cuz I'm no longer interested

Me: *sees one review*

Me again: I'm gonna keep writing because I love this story!

Disclaimer: I didn't write before b/c I felt it was QUITE OBVIOUS that I own nothing but the plot, and barely that

Tessa stands there, stunned and angry at the boy who left her standing there. Nate steps out of the car to help her with her luggage. He whispers in her ear. "You're going to have to deal with him for the rest of the school year," His voice seems gleeful and exasperated at the same time. Tessa scowls.

Then the woman, who Tessa now sees has her brown hair tied back in a tight bun, strides over with the red-haired man, who Tessa can only imagine is her husband. "Hello, how are you doing? Ah, Henry can take this and I'll have Jem and Will show you around. I'm terribly sorry for Will's behavior, he's like this all the time."

Tessa is barely fazed by the woman's energetic disposition. Her Aunt Harriet was much the same way, though a lot older. "Er-thank you...Mrs. Branwell?" She guesses that this is the principal of the school.

She looks up to smile kindly at Tessa. "Call me Charlotte, dear." Tessa smiles back. Then Mrs. Branwell-Charlotte-turned to the red-haired man, who was apparently named Henry. "Could you please take these to Tessa's room? She's going to be shown around."

"Huh?" Henry glances up at Charlotte, looking puzzled.

Charlotte sighs. "Take these up, please. It's 247." Henry nods and takes the suitcase, waddling toward the Institute. Charlotte rubs her forehead and Tessa wonders whether something is going on between the two. It's not your business, she chides herself. Besides, she needs to go inside as fast as she can to tell off Will. She hopes Jem isn't as bad as him.

"Well, if that's it, then I'll be going now." Nate says from behind them. "Bye Tessie!" He steps back into the car and drives away.

Tessa waves until she can't see him anymore. Then she turns back to Charlotte, only to see the blond girl walking toward them. "It's awfully cold out here, don't you think? I'll be going inside now. No lady should have to stand out here, waiting for someone." Her voice is demanding and impatient, and Tessa decides immediately that she doesn't like her.

"Yes, Jessamine. But you go check where Will and Jem are, and tell them to come out here." Charlotte replies.

Jessamine huffs and stomps-gracefully?-away. Charlotte looks tired, then apologetic. "Oh, I'm so sorry. You must be freezing. Come in now." Charlotte bustles her into the Institute and Tessa starts staring again.

The inside of the building has a cozy, almost Victorian feel to it. Tessa is reminded of the castles in the books she's read. Charlotte continues walking past the grand entrance and makes a beeline towards a room that Tessa can only describe as beautiful. There are books and more books stacked on top of each other on enormous shelves, and little nooks with stained glass windows and wooden tables. It is bigger than some of the public libraries that Tessa has been to.

"Still gawping, are you?" Tessa hears the same voice, now not muffled by the rain. She can hear a slight Welsh accent underneath the British.

Tessa flushes angrily, but before she can open her mouth to speak, she hears another different voice. "Will," the voice chides.

She finally looks down at the boys slouching on chairs before her.

One is Will, his hair falling in his face like before, a scowl set on his features.

"What?" Will replies to the other boy in the same tone of voice. Tessa guesses he must be Jem. Tessa thinks the name is unusual, but that's not what makes her stare. The boy looks painfully thin, almost delicate, with silver colored hair and striking eyes in the same shade. He appears not to notice her staring, though.

"Be nice."

Tessa is surprised to see that-while scowling even deeper-Will nods his head and relents. Jem smiles and stands up. "I'm Jem," he says brightly. "And this is Will." he gestures at him, still sitting in the chair, scowling.
Tessa turns around to see that Charlotte has slipped away silently.

"I figured." she says, before realizing how utterly ridiculous that sounded. She blushes again. "I'm Tessa." she says quickly.

Jem smiles kindly at her. Suddenly, Will stands up out of his seat, making a loud sound with his chair scraping on the floor. Tessa glares at him. "We figured," he says, smirking. "Well, we're supposed to show you around, so...let's go," He seems to have completely forgotten their previous encounter.

Jem whacks him on the shoulder, hard. "What's your problem today?!" he exclaims loudly.

"I think you deserved it." Tessa says smugly. Jem grins.

Will looks from Tessa to Jem in disbelief. "So that's how it's going to be now, huh? I'll have to befriend Jessamine!"

Jem snickers. "Jessamine hates you."

Will nods and looks to Tessa accusingly. "And next you'll be saying you think Jem's violin playing is good. Humph!"

"I'm sure it probably is." Tessa replies. The tension in the air is gone, and Tessa smiles easily now.

"It is." Jem agrees.

They forget completely about showing Tessa around, and soon they are merrily talking with each other. None of them see Charlotte standing around the corner, smiling as she watches. Maybe they would get along after all...

Thanks for reading! Please review if you liked it or if you have any suggestions :). The more you review, the faster I'll post chapters. Bye!

-TheInfernalInstruments