Song Listened To : Daisy by Zedd
*Chapter 105*
"You look worried," Zed gave her a concerned look before taking a sip of his drink, he watched as she barely fingered the rim of her elegant glass, as if she was lost in worried thought.
"No, I'm not worried," Tessa finally scoffed with a faltered giggle, though she largely looked away and swallowed before she finally gained eye contact with Zed; his eyebrows were raised in frozen, baited surprise, as if to express that waiting any longer, to say something, would ruin his life.
"Alright, then... What's up?" Zed gestured his hand nervously, "You're freaking me out."
"A-Alright, I'm sorry," Tessa smiled nervously and shook her head, "I-I guess... I have something to tell you."
"You're pregnant," Zed blurted, though he flinched once Tessa exhaled a hard, surprised laugh and gave him the most incredulous look.
"Yeah, I'm pregnant," Tessa joked, though not too loudly. Zed beamed bashfully and looked down, though he couldn't help but breath a small laugh and shake his head as Tessa continued, "I somehow found it within myself to multiply out of nothing but my own coding. I'm naming it Constantine."
"It?" Zed suddenly laughed, which cued Tessa's laughter to grow as well, though she tilted her head and squinted her eyes with an annoyed, flirty sort of vibe.
"Did I mention I'm a virgin?" Tessa bluntly asked, though she could tell her words stunned Zed to his core; he nearly flinched as his face immediately turned hot red.
"Y-You may have mentioned that," Zed choked as he quickly brought his glass to his lips to busy himself with something, anything.
"You know how we're supposed to run Sugar Rush for a night?" Tessa asked in a dull tone as she slumped her shoulders, Zed gave her an inquiring look.
"Yeah, when is that, anyways? Did you find out?" Zed kindly wondered, he held his interested attention wholly to her.
"Yeah, I found out, alright," Tessa mumbled as she looked away and rubbed her arm, though she darted her curious eyes back to Zed's figure.
"What," Zed droned as he tilted his head up, squinted his eyes, and looked at her down the bridge of his nose, "What's the catch."
"Welp," Tessa scoffed as she slapped her arms to her sides, "I hope you're alright with the title of King, cause... That's what you are, right now."
"...What!" Zed hissed as he bent over a little, though he suddenly jolted and looked over his shoulder. He walked in a circle before he finally came back to his spot on the bar and covered his mouth, messily, with his hand. He meeped a small noise and beamed Tessa curiously nervous smile, "...What!"
"Mom, dad, aunt Taffyta and Uncle Rancis are all in Westwind right now," Tessa crossed her arms and gave Zed a challenging look, "This is our first test... Leaving the game unattended."
"Wait a minute," Zed finally straightened his posture, held a stern tone in his voice and wagged a finger, lazily, at Tessa, "How long have you had this information..."
"Ohhh, it's not important," Tessa's face turned a very embarrassed shade of pink, she began to try and step away, "What matters is the game is safe, I made sure to leave it on autopilot for the time we're here."
"Hooo no, get back here," Zed barked quietly as he grappled for her hand. He was successful in reeling her back to him; his heart jumped at the sound of her small, bashful giggle. He softly scooped her into his chest and embrace, though he jolted, as if the two weren't expecting it. He shook his head with a wide smile, "You've had this information and didn't tell me?"
"Yeah," Tessa uttered as she slumped her shoulders and looked down at Zed's chest, "I'm sorry... I-I guess I just sort of forgot."
"If by forgot, you mean you wanted to drop a bomb on me and see how I handled it, as King," Zed gave her a stoic, knowing look, though he couldn't help but smile down at her; the faint freckles that lined her cheeks and nose gave her that kiss of innocence he desired.
"Guilty," Tessa meeped, though she felt instant relief as Zed chuckled and squeezed her tighter.
"Well, it is a shock, but," Zed shrugged and lightly looked away, "I'm sure we'll be just fine. I was going to invite you to stay with me, tonight, but... Looks like we'll be staying in Sugar Rush, then."
"... You were going to invite me to sleep over, tonight?" Tessa wondered with a cheeky smile, though Zed immediately became riddled with stuttering, innocent bashfulness.
"I-I mean, I guess I was just... Y'know," Zed squinted his eyes and shook his head, as if to suggest it wasn't a big deal.
"Hoping I'd delete all that additive in one go?" Tessa mumbled as she largely side-eyed Zed, though he continued to grow more flustered.
"That's n-not what I was trying to... Why does this always happen to me!" Zed uttered loudly through Tessa's hard, bashful laughing.
"It's okay," Tessa eased as she finally slid her arms around Zed's neck and gave him a much needed, loving hug. She was thrilled to feel his arms come around her quickly, as if it was just what he needed, "We'll be just fine. I'm excited to show you more of my game. It'll be great!"
"Yeah, especially if it's really green, in Stonecrest," Zed assured kindly as he squeezed Tessa, "I'll feel right at home."
"There's this really awesome ice cream shop, in Stonecrest's northernmost part of the city," Tessa said, though she began to feel the excitement of the night finally hit her skin; she felt completely on cloud nine.
"I could go for some ice cream," Zed nodded with an eager smile as the two pulled apart.
"Ice cream?" Oliver uttered as he largely perked up and looked over his shoulder, to Tessa and Zed, who eagerly turned their attention over to Oliver.
"Yeah," Tessa chuckled as she glanced at Zed, the two softly pulled apart, though she gave him a questioning look, as if to somehow hope what she was about to say would be alright with him, "Zed and I are going to Stonecrest, for our 'test-rule' over Sugar Rush, for today and tomorrow... We were going to get ice cream tonight. Did you want to come with?"
"I-I mean, sure," Oliver smiled as Emery scoot into their bubble of conversation, as shyly as possible, though Oliver gave her a questioning glance, as if they were already on the verge of making their own bashful, intimate plans for the night, though they'd never tell. Oliver began to stumble on a few words, to attempt to invite Emery to come with, though Tessa noticed his struggle and kindly helped him out.
"Ems, you should come with, Oliver and I will show you and Zed around," Tessa encouraged happily as Zed kindly nodded in agreement, as if to understand Tessa's notions to get Emery and Oliver on the same wavelength. Tessa merely glanced at Zed and Oliver before she landed her eyes on Emery, yet again, in hopeful kindness, "It'll be fun, like a double-date. A night on the town. What do you guys say?"
"Post-prom celebration," Zed included deeply, with a kind smile and a small nod; Oliver peered to Emery in a hopeful way as the two kindly shared a few bashful chuckles and shrugs.
"Sounds like fun to me," Emery's smile widened, though Tessa could tell she was having a hard time containing her excitement; her and Oliver shared a few seconds of eye contact, longer than a brief, friendly glance; Tessa smiled a scheming smile towards Zed.
"Awesome! So it's settled," Tessa said excitedly.
"I get to hang out with royalty, for the night," Emery scrunched her shoulders and glanced between the three.
"Prince Oliver, and princess Emery," Zed said kindly, his and Tessa's new titles for the night needed inclusions, a right hand man and woman.
"I could get used to that," Oliver dared, though in the gentlest voice possible; Emery looked down in a bashful way, caught her breath and gave Tessa a knowing, almost grateful smile.
"But in the meantime," Zed stiffened his arms, put his hands in his pockets, and peered to the dance floor, in an antsy way, "Who wants to dance?"
"Me," Tessa urged in a dull tone as she grabbed Zed's wrist, in growing excitement; Zed beamed.
"I can't dance," Both Emery and Oliver uttered at the same time, though they quickly peered to each other in growing, surprised delight.
"Did I hear something about dancing?" Tammy uttered softly as she budged into their conversation bubble, though Tessa and Zed had already began to inch their way to their destination.
"Now that Tammy has alcohol in her, she's ready for anything," Penny said loudly as she waved her hand and pushed past Oliver and Emery.
"That's not true, I'd be down for dancing any time!" Tammy argued as Otto pushed past Oliver and Emery as well; Tessa and Zed began to fall out of ear shot.
"Y'guys comin'?" Otto kindly wondered as the five began to slowly mosey away from the beautifully, dimly lit bar area. Oliver raised his eyebrows softly and peered down at Emery in contemplation, though he felt reassured as she ever so softly shook her head and gave him a weak smile. Oliver gave Otto and Penny an apologetic smile in return and softly waved them off.
"We'll catch up with you guys later, you have fun," Oliver eased as the five slowly left the vicinity.
Oliver raised his eyebrows in sudden surprise as he was hit with dry realization, that he was finally left all alone with Emery; something that doesn't happen as often as he would like. He slowly looked back into Emery's dark green eyes, though she tore them away with a bashful curl of a smile and looked about, as if she desperately began to search for something to say. Oliver almost felt a lump gather in his throat, as if he was suddenly hit with worry, at the fact that he probably should have sucked it up and asked her to dance. He assessed her demeanor as carefully as he could, and finally came to the conclusion that she probably genuinely didn't want to go out in the crowd. He felt his heart softly dip with appreciation; he had to have known she was likely the most beautiful wall flower in this whole universe.
"I-I have two left feet," Oliver uttered, he felt his chest practically cave in on itself with nervousness, though he tried his hardest to wiggle his fingers discreetly, to keep his palms from sweating.
"Oh, you haven't seen anything," Emery chuckled as she tucked some of her glorious, emerald green hair behind her ear, "Pretty sure I look like a green blob on the dance floor."
Oliver uttered a chuckle, though he cleared his throat, as if to wonder if he was maybe laughing at a genuine insecurity of hers; he softened once she finally exhaled an assuring giggle as well, though she shot him a look as if to playfully beg for him not to make fun of her.
"I'm serious," Emery opened up, though quietly; she gave Oliver her full attention and body language, "I'm girly, and... dainty... Don't let me try to find rhythm in a song, because it is not pretty."
"C'mon," Oliver continued to chuckle, he began to feel more and more at ease, "N-Not even slow dancing?"
"What, you mean just swaying?" Emery gently shrugged and looked up in minor contemplation, "I'm sure I could manage that. I don't think I should risk it. I don't know how Tessa does it."
"Only reason she manages, is because Zed's taught her everything he knows," Oliver said in a nonchalant tone as the two slowly moseyed their way back to where they were standing, at the bar, previously, "If it weren't for Zed, trust me. She'd destroy the dance floor more than I probably could. And not in a good way!"
"Don't talk about your sister like that," Emery and Oliver crumpled into knowing laughter.
"She knows I mean nothing by it," Oliver beamed a cheesy smile and began to feel his insides melt with the sound of her soft, dainty laugh, "I'm not one to talk, anyways. She's lucky she didn't get the amount of wrecking traits I got. She'd be one terrifying girl, if she looked like me."
"They're great together," Emery laughed at his notions, though the two peered out to the dance floor and tried their hardest to spot Tessa and Zed, "Are you... Are you upset you're not in line to be future King of Sugar Rush?"
"Oh, I should be upset, huh," Oliver heaved through a raspy sigh as he relaxed his arm on the bar counter next to him, his posture eased closer to Emery as she did the same, "I'm not jealous, or upset... Any other younger sibling probably would be, but... I don't think I'm cut out for that massive amount of responsibility. Zed and Tessa have a ton on their shoulders, with courting each other and being next in line for the throne... Sure, if something were to ever happen to them, I'd be next in line, but..."
"Would you be prepared?" Emery softly wondered, for conversation's sake.
"I'm sure I'd find it within myself," Oliver gave Emery a kind smile, "I'm perfectly fine with being Prince Oliver... Right hand man to the future King, or Zed, rather."
"You think he'll ask her to marry him?" Emery scrunched her shoulders in delight and peered out to the crowd again.
"If he's planning on it, he better come talk to me about it, first," Oliver dared in a protective tone, though he noticed Emery peer up at him in his peripheral.
"You're protective of Tessa, huh," Emery inquired lovingly, "I remember Tessa when she was just a baby... She's come so far. It's really encouraging to see. She will make a fine Queen."
"Oh yes, she will," Oliver softly and humbly agreed, "She's smart to keep Zed on her team. He balances her. Without him, she'd likely go wild with all sorts of ideas and things for Sugar Rush."
"Nothing bad, though," Emery wondered.
"No," Oliver scoffed, "She's just got her head in the clouds. Zed is more grounded... Sure their relationship is, tricky... I just hope everything works out."
"Me too," Emery worried softly, "... I'm sure it must be hard, to sit back and watch."
"It is," Oliver's dark, honey brown eyes glossed over Emery's with the softest of attention, "I can't imagine being in Zed's position... Being involved with a woman who's coding doesn't line up with yours, and being on the verge of deleting someone you care so much about."
"I'm sure they've weighed the pros and cons," Emery eased as she looked down, though her sharp green eyes hooked into Oliver's with the gentlest inquisition.
Oliver just barely squinted his eyes, as if to peer harder into Emery's soul. He raised his eyebrows in soft surprise and could swear his heart was slowly climbing into his throat. He knew the two were likely the shyest people around, though Oliver knew he had to somehow come out of his shell. He was thankful to have Zed's painfully shy example; he had to wonder if Zed was up for playing a game of 'who would win', when it came to humbly giving away their coding.
"I'm just glad I don't have to worry about that," Oliver ever so softly dared, he knew he was flying as blind as he possibly could, though he also knew every shy and quiet woman had an ever so secretive bite, deep down. He prayed to User he was somehow gaining headway, and was delightfully floored to see Emery show her teeth past her bashful curl of a smile, "I'm sure any user-made gamer girl wouldn't be even close to interested in me, anyhow. So no pressure on me, I guess."
"I don't know," Emery said in a tone of sly, bashful delight as she looked down and swirled her finger on the beautiful counter underneath their arms, "If I was a user-made gamer, I'd take my chances."
Oliver felt as if he was sat in the twilight zone, with how well his small snip of confidence had worked in his favor. He cocked an eyebrow, just barely, and kept his whole entire attention on the terribly delicate situation before him. He swallowed hard and could swear the twinkling lights above him began to grow larger in size, to illuminate this dream he was blessed with.
"That'd be the luckiest day of my life," Oliver said in a tender, gentlemanly tone, though he gave Emery a kind look, as if to kindly wonder just where this was going.