Chapter 5: Can't Not Tell You

Hello Jillessa lovers!

First off, I want to thank Jillessa, my beta. I love you ;) See what I did there? Anyways, look her up as Jillessa Heronstairs. Her stories are awesome, especially real-life movie. I don't remember the actual title.

Second …never mind I forgot...

Third, I have officially decided if this will be Jem/Will/Tessa, Jem/Will, Will/Tessa, or Jem/Tessa! I mean, you can probably guess it by now, but when I wrote this I wasn't sure.

Fourth, REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO READ! Do you want fluff? Hot steamy make-outs? What? A flashback? A future scene? Try to get it to me ASAP and if you come up with anything, PM me!

Disclaimer: Don't be stupid. You know what I did and didn't write.

"I think Tessa was watching." Will said hesitantly, moving away from me quickly and going over to the window, where a movement had caught his attention.

"What!?" I exclaimed, shocked at the thought of the possibility. "Well, don't embarrass the poor girl!" I grabbed his wrist when he tried to look out of the window beyond me. "Pretend you didn't know." I continued. There was no way I was going to let Will humiliate her.

Suddenly, I was aware of the situation. It was light out and almost seven, so there is no chance that if she was in fact looking out the window she would miss the scene. I was kissing another man in only my underwear. How embarrassing.

"Here, kiss me and then I'll get dressed." I said, rapidly, scared of what may happen next, had Tessa seen. He nodded and pressed his lips to mine before magically grabbing a shirt from his closet and throwing it at me, which I then caught.

"I'll be in the living room. Love you." He waved and left without pausing for my response. Instead, I pulled on my clothes and belt. I peeked in the mirror, not surprised to see my face was flushed and my lips were a swollen red, definitely from all the kissing we had previously done minutes before.

Before I could convince myself not to, I peeked out the window. There was a tallish girl with curling, light brown hair and pale skin, wearing white dress right at the window, her back to it. I'd bet she was watching, I thought in a daze, but I couldn't bring myself to be mad, angry, or even disappointed. Not at her.

I brushed it off as flattery, hoping she liked what she saw, and wandered down the hall, running into a very full living room. Gabe and Cecy were kissing in the corner, though no one seemed to notice. Alec and Magnus were chatting idly while Ella sat on the couch next to Will with a book. Max was next to Jace, whom appeared to be telling a story to him and a set of two even younger kids with red hair and blue eyes. Isabelle and Maia were chatting idly next to Will, who had his face stuck in a huge hard-cover book. Clary and Jonathan were on the other side of the room, still looking uncomfortable. Tessa was next to him, though I couldn't see her face through her bangs. I could, however, tell it was a bright red as Clary's hair.

"When are we going?" I asked, entering the room and standing in the doorway.

"Now!" Will popped up, throwing his book off to the side carelessly. He seemed not to notice the little 'oof' Maia gave when the book hit he, hard in the stomach. "Let's go!" He shouted, and then, just to be clear, "Letsgoletsgoletsgoletsgo!" Everyone stood slowly, just to aggravate Will, and grabbed their backpacks. I heard a chime from Ella's room that meant it was seven. Just in time.

Side by side, we all left the house to walk to school. It was literally a walk through the park to get there as we crossed through the ball field and into the parking lot of the High School. Max left with the two kids, running and joking as he went, to go to his elementary school.

Twelve schedules later, I found that Will and I had almost every class together, also shared with Alec and Magnus. Ella was now not the only senior and seemed to enjoy that, walking with the blonde Jonathan to their first class. Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Cecy, and Tessa all basically had the same classes too, and were joking that the teachers were making up their destiny. Gabe was watching, a little ruefully, his girlfriend and I could practically hear his thoughts. He wished he were in her grade, but at least he doesn't have the same schedule as Will and I. Will despises him, though I don't really mind the guy.

Sympathetically, I smiled at him and left, hauling Will by the elbow with me. Alec and Magnus followed, chatting lightly. Class after uneventful class passed, thoughts of Will filling my head instead of the rules that the teachers were practically shoving in our faces. And nothing really happened.

It was just like the older days, before the new kids. Before I saw Tessa move into the house next to my boyfriend's. Before I convinced my boyfriend to play truth or dare just so I could see her. Before I watched Tessa kiss my boyfriend, her hand on my shoulder, and was disappointed when it ended. Before I knew that Tessa was watching and liked it. Before I started looking for Tessa everywhere I went. Before Tessa got my attention at all. I had something I needed to tell somebody. Will or Tessa. Whoever I got to first.

Will's P.O.V.

After first bell, I told myself, when we are both leaving. Then, after second, when we cross in the hall. After third. After fourth. Before lunch. Before lunch was my final decision.

Silent like always, I wandered through the cafeteria, looking for my usual group of friends. A flurry of red passed in front of me, tripping both of us and sending us tumbling towards the ground.

"Ouch! Sorry! Alec, right?" Bright green eyes peered up at me, big and pleading, and a bit of apology in them.

"Ah. No it's my fault. I should have paid attention." I stand proudly and pull us both up like the gentleman I am. "And Alec wishes he were me. I'm Will. And you're Clary." I state, a slight smirk on my face.

"Sorry, Will. I'm just going to go sit down with Jace." She blushes and smiles before running off, just as fast as she had come. I guess love really does make you impolite.

"Oh! Wait! Do you know where they are sitting?" I ask, but she is already gone. "Fine then, I'll find them on my own." I muttered to myself, shaking her off like a pro. Just then, I notice her hair again, this time at the corner, mostly hidden from view. I shifted towards her, close enough to hear her but just behind the corner where she can't see me and I can't see her.

A sweet British accent filled my mind, bouncing and echoing. An overwhelming stillness filled my bones, freezing me to my spot.

"How can I help it?" The voice, Tessa, whimpered, the buttons of her jeans scraping against the wall loudly. "You have no idea how awful it is having a crush on two people."

"Really, Tessa. It's not that bad. You don't have to chose between them or anything. They are taken. They are together." Clary whispered in response. "Man up." My mind and body were frozen, unable to process what I am actually hearing.

"Ugh. I hate it when you're right. I'm your big sister. I should be the one teaching you." I could easily picture Tessa's face, her nose crinkling adorably as she smiled. "I just really needed to talk about it and you are my only girl friend I can talk to."

"Izzy." Clary suggested softly, earning a snort from Tessa.

"She would suggest a three-way. And I barely know her!" I heard her click her tongue. "I'm just a little worried. Is this a thing now? Do I only like gay guys or something? I mean, I really... um... you know... I didn't mind that show earlier today. With Jem and Will..."

No, no, no! Jem and Will! She has a crush on me and James! My familiar 'no' chorus went through my mind for the eighteenth million time that week, but a pang of jealousy filled my chest. She is my Tessa. No. no, no, no! No, he is my James! Tessa is just a girl next door! James is my boyfriend! What is wrong with me! Still, my mind was telling me I was jealous of James rather than Tessa. Stop! Wake up, Will! Snap out of it! Go find your friends!

"Will! Where are you?" Another British voice called from the other side of the cafeteria, behind the corner, too. Crap! I skid far away from the corner, glad that being quiet wasn't something I had to try to do.

"Coming James!" I shout back, the sounds of the cafeteria snapping into my ears. It was impossibly loud, my group of friends excelling extraordinarily at their part of being loudest in the cafeteria.

I started going my the corner, relieved to see Clary and Tessa had moved their conversation elsewhere. A cool hand gripped my elbow. pulling me into a bathroom as I passed it. I couldn't manage enough energy to be startled. Tessa likes us? No, no, no, no, no...

"William." A soft voice pleaded for attention ruefully, by my side, and a warm hand covered mine.

"James? What is going on?" I asked, gripping for his hand which he immediately pulled back. Sour rejection filled my throat, but I went on, swallowing my pride. "Are you well? Do you-" Jem pressed his lips to mine, effectively shutting me up. He pulled away just as fast, looking at me like it might be the last time, with those silver eyes of his.

"Oh, this is stupid!" He muttered, pulling himself away from me. "I need to grow up and say it." My heart weighed down in my chest. He couldn't end this... Could he?

"James. Please stop. You're scaring me." I whispered, wrapping my own arms around myself. I hated being weak, being afraid, but I hated feeling the painful suspense even more.

"I love you, William..." He started, not meeting my eyes. No! Please don't do this! I couldn't bring myself to open my mouth and speak. "I just... I have a crush on someone else, too and... I can't not tell you. I feel like I'm cheating when we see each other and I need you to know."

"Tessa." I said absent-mindedly, not even hearing my voice.

"Tessa." He breathed, close to tears.

"I'm not going to get mad or break up with you or something, James." I dropped my arms, my heart not even aching anymore. I'm relieved, and I feel a calmness settle over me.

"Just... Tonight at midnight we need to talk. The usual." I said, kissing him sweetly and pulling him to lunch, not even caring that he had a crush on someone else. Well, not not caring. I cared. I just wasn't upset in the slightest. In fact, it was a bit of a turn on...