Thirteen years old.
"Tessa Gray and Will Herondale." The teacher read out in a bored voice.
Tessa glared at the boy across the class from her, who was sitting next to the once again empty chair that was usually occupied by Jem. Or more unusually, for it was a rare occasion that Jem was in.
She was always partnered with Will, for he was after her in the register.
"Now, I want you and your partner to deliver a three minute presentation on the book the Castle of Otranto, which I will be assigning you to read for next Monday."
Will looked to Tessa, his eyes twinkling with amusement. They were both thinking about that time, then.
The teacher was currently handing out the books, explaining there was only enough for one between two.
Will slid the book to her. "Get it finished for Monday." He said in a bored voice.
Tessa gave a splutter. "Why? So I can write and deliver the whole presentation and then you can take the credit?"
His answer was unexpected. Tessa was expecting a 'yes'.
"You really think I would risk my grades with someone like you responsible?" He asked, his perfectly sculpted eyebrows raised, the same bored arrogance in his tone.
"Yes." Tessa said, surprised. Did Will care about his grades? He was very well known for not actually paying attention in class.
He grinned. Not a smirk, a grin, Tessa noticed. It suited him. "You're wrong." He said simply.
Tessa blinked. His arrogance had almost completely disappeared, as if a mask he was wearing had slipped. It didn't happen often, but every time it did Tessa hated it. Why? Because it reminded her that the grinning, small ego-ed boy in front of her was the real Will Herondale, and that made it harder for her to hate him.
"Then why are you telling me to read it without you studying it?"
"Because," Will said, his grin now a bored smirk with an expression to match, "I have read the book numerous times and can quote it from page one to the end if you desire."
"I do desire." Tessa said simply with a shrug.
Will got through the first three pages, word for word, before the bell rang, signalling the end of the day. Will was out of the door before the class was dismissed.
Tessa got on the bus and took the only available seat, freezing when she saw the familiar black hair in front of her.
Great, Tess thought, taking 'Otranto' from her bag. Will's on this bus too.
Will had gotten off the bus at the hospital, as had Tessa. He was now in the gift shop, as was Tessa.
He had only just noticed her in the shop now, as he'd turned around, Tessa seeing the tight set to his jaw and the glistening eyes before he focused on Tessa and it all disappeared, replaced by a look of indifference.
"It appears I have a stalker." Will said simply as they queued for the till.
"Keep thinking that." Tessa told him coolly. "I'm here to visit my aunt."
Will nodded but didn't reply, as, for another moment, a look of remembrance flashed in his eyes and his stance drooped slightly.
Tessa looked at him carefully. "You're here for an aunt too?" She asked, noticing the way everything about him had drooped.
Will looked at his hands, not meeting Tessa's gaze. "No, a friend. A brother, really." Will said, his voice with the slightest of tremors, before he swallowed and gave a small smile. "He's hopefully going to be discharged today."
"Isn't it a good thing?" Tessa said.
Will gave a hollow laugh. "Only because it's pointless him staying here. His condition hasn't lessened at all." Will said. Tessa could see fear in his eyes. His eyes were shining again and he'd paled considerably.
Tessa quickly changed the subject. "I started Otranto on the bus. It's-"
"Genius, a literal work of art, thrilling, gripping, heart pounding, head spinning-" Will said, cracking a smile, pulling up his mask immediately.
"Dry." Tessa finished.
Will sighed. "No appreciation for the classics."
"I love classics!" Tessa argued.
Will rolled his eyes. "I can already guess the genre. List your favourites."
"Well, Romeo and Juliet is a must, Pride and prejudice, Little Women, Anne of green gables, What Katy did, oh and there's The Secret Garden as well!" Tessa gushed. "But my favourite has to be a tale of two cities."
Will snorted. "Love stories, happy endings-"
"Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy." Tessa corrected.
Will waved it off. "So is a tale of two cities."
"No, it has a wonderful ending!" Tessa argued. "The-"
"Sydney kills himself so Lucie has her happy ending. At the end, Lucie gets her happy ending and because of this people forget about Sydney. Did he have a wonderful ending?" Will asked.
Tessa bit her lip. Will did have a point.
Will quickly paid for his item and went to leave.
"See you tomorrow, Will!" Tessa called.
Will shook his head. "I don't think I'll be in tomorrow."
"Monday?" Tessa asked. "The presentation-"
Will mumbled a "We'll see." And left quickly.
Tessa paid for the dying flowers and also left, thoughts of only her aunt on her mind.