Twenty one years old.
It was half three in the morning when the phone rang. Tessa's birthday party had ended not short of an hour ago and Tessa's headache felt like her brain was being torn in two.
She went to shut it off, but one look at the caller ID and she was wide awake.
"Will!" She greeted. The two boys had been unable to make it to her birthday, they were away in Wales at the time. "I have a splitting headache, how are you able to drink that much and not feel like-?"
"Birthday surprise." Will said, his tone flat.
"What is it?" Tessa asked, wondering if Will was as tired as she was.
"We're in London." Will said, his tone still flat.
"Really?" Tessa said, excited, before realising that Will wouldn't call her just for this information. "...And?"
"Birthday party. Me, you, two doctors and an unconscious Jem in London's fanciest hospital. Your hangover suddenly disappeared yet?" Will asked.
"You can't be-" Tessa whispered.
"Happy Birthday, Tess. I'll meet you in the lobby in half an hour." Will said. The line went dead.
Will didn't question how she'd get to The Institute hospital on the other side of London when drunk. He didn't question whether she was able to get there within half an hour. He didn't question whether Tessa was sober enough to be there.
Because when it came to Jem with Will, nothing was impossible.