Tess walks into watchtower with a scowl on her face that would make anyone cower away, except Chloe. "You look happy, don't you, Elmo?" The petite blond's knock at her red hair and furious scowl did not fog unnoticed by Tess. She turns to face her, "Not the day, Chloe.""Ok, then," she says,"Why are you in such a chipper mood?"

Tess had stayed up all night thinking about the latest development in the ever going drama of their lives. She thinks there should be a tv show of their lives. It would be a hit. And after thinking about it all night, she hadn't come up with anything, nothing. Which made her very crabby.

In every option, someone got hurt, mainly, her. Always, when has it ever been any other way. "The whole situation," she said as plopped onto the couch. Of anyone, Chloe was the last person she expected to be so bubbly. "How are you so cheery?" Chloe turned away from the screen, "Oliver and I were never meant to last. But I was upset because, now, I'm alone. I found the only true love I'm ever going to have, and I lost it." Tess ponders about telling her about the conversation from last night but decides against it. "Oliver," Tess asked more than stated. Which was very out of character and surprised Chloe. But she just shook her head. "Jimmy," she stated. Tess nodded, unsure how else to respond.

"Talk to me," Chloe demands. There goes not telling her. Chloe's too stubborn to let this go. Tess explains everything that happened after Chloe left. All the while, never portraying a hint of emotion. Which annoyed Chloe, because what she was looking for was those feelings and she completely left those out.

"Oh," she said, a little take back,"at least now we know I was right." She looks at Tess and smirks, getting a smile in return from the redhead. But, she still left out all of her opinions. So, Chloe was forced to investigate further.

"Why'd you say that then? Why'd you send him away?," Chloe interrogates. Tess stands up, probably because she couldn't contain her frustration. Not, that she'd ever admit that. "He doesn't love me! Not anymore. He's lonely, upset, not in love, at least...not with me," she blurts out. Chloe's not entirely sure whether or not she regretted saying that. But she can't help but feel good about herself. She got Tess Mercer to admit to something. She's sure it felt good to get it off her chest, but Tess never says things like that. And she liked seeing that side of her, though, she wished it wasn't in this circumstance.

"He's not going to give up. He's found what he's been looking for in a all of those girls, in you. He's not going to let you go, not that easily. And I know for a fact you care about him, too, so why are you pushing him away?," Chloe asks. And after a moment of silence she continues, "I'm not expecting an answer. I just want you to think about it." And with that she walks out. Leaving Tess alone. she sinks down into the couch.

How can he love her? After all she had done, Tess couldn't figure it out. She didn't understand that you can't control who you love. Nor, did she have time to ponder it, because Oliver walked in. "Hey," he interrupted her thoughts. Her head jerks up to look at him.

"Look, I know you're probably really confused. And that's understandable. But, you have to understand something, I'm in love with you, Tess Mercer. And those aren't words that I throw around. I can count on one hand the amount of times I have said that to anyone but you. If any part of you feels the same, please, give me a chance. Whether you're making you decisions based on fear, or not, it doesn't matter. I won't hurt you, I promise you, please," he falters,"believe me."

In that moment so many things ran through her mind. "If I do this I'll get hurt. Chloe'll get hurt. If I don't he'll get hurt. I'll get hurt," she thought. She couldn't see an option where she doesn't get hurt. But it'll hurt less if she just tries it, for her.

What felt like hours, for Oliver, past. But if he rushed her, she'd go back to her original instinct, which didn't work for him. But, if he didn't rush her, she'd think of all the ways this could end badly. Which also didn't work for him. So, he just stays silent, debating what to do.

"I can't think of an answer that will make everyone happy. In every situation, I get hurt," she voices her thoughts. He looks her dead in the eye with so much honesty, he would have made anyone believe him. But he'd had that look so many times that she had to ignore it, or she would crumble.

"I won't hurt you. Things with Chloe were never real. And she knows that. It won't hurt her. Please, believe me, trust me." She nods, bites her lip, and he pulls her close. Both breathe in the other, and dwell in the sense of tranquility they get when they're near each other.

All the while Chloe is watching in the door. Hurting, not that Oliver has found someone else, for that she's happy, but that she had love like that, and she lost it. And she guesses that she'll always feel that inevitable pang of jealousy.

The End.

A/N: Sorry if it wasn't as good as expected. It was supposed to be a one-shot, but it got so many reviews asking if that was it that I had to right more. I kind of wrote myself into a corner, not expecting to have to write myself out, and kind of backed myself out so I could finish it with a happy ending-ish. Thanks for reading! Please reveiw!