"Goodnight, James." Will's voice called as the door rattled with the weight of a hand on the brass doorknob. The brunette turned and breathlessly ran to her room, shakily opening the sturdy door, she glanced around. Tessa slipped inside her own chambers and looked around the room. Littered everywhere were empty glass bottles, ripped paper packages, and remnants of the little food Charlotte demanded Tessa take. What have I done with my life? She'd thrown it all away for a chance with Will, and now that she'd lost him, she'd lost everything. She wasn't trying to drown her sorrows in the wine, she was trying to drown her life in the wine. Tears formed at the corner of her eyes, she leaned against the door, and slid her back to the ground. Streaks of water poured down her face, leaving Tessa to her thoughts. A knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Tessa sobbed, while trying to sound like she hadn't been sobbing.
"It's me, Tess. It's Will." Tessa stood, to sit on the corner of her bed.
"Go away." She sat, crossing her arms. What's the harm? He hurt me. He's why I threw my life away and now he expects me to just… to just…. "Fine, come in." If I could redo one thing in my life…
"Listen, Tessa. I—I didn't…" His voice faltered, his words trailing off.
"Just spit it out. I'm not expecting an apology, and I'm not accepting one, either. Say what you came to say, or get out. I have better things to do." Will sat on the bed beside her and considered his words carefully, elbows on knees, leaning over his legs.
"Tessa… I don't want to give you an excuse, but I don't know how else to tell my story." I can't. She doesn't need to know, and I don't want to burden her with the knowledge I've tried so hard to forget. "I know that you don't want an apology, and I wasn't intending on giving one. But I am truly, deeply—"
"Get out." A flash of shock passed on Will's face. "You heard me, you bastard. Leave, now."
"But—Tess, just…"
"No. Leave and never come back. I can't believe I ever loved you, William Herondale." Will left the room, left Tessa sitting alone on the bed, and ran to the stables and retrieved his stallion. "I gave you a chance, Will. And you wasted it on an excuse."