A/N: So, maybe something will happen with Jessa? IDK yet. But this chapter is going to be short, sorry. I'm busy today and it was hard to write, so I'm sorry...
Ava: Haha thanks for all your reviews! I'm not sure how to pm either then lol. I agree about Jessa... its not an Infernal Devices story without a good love triangle:)
~~~o0o~~~
It was Tessa's second week at school. She had already gotten the hang of things, and even memorized her locker combination fully.
The bustle in London was huge, and learning to ride the tube had been something else.
But she was ready, as she stood in the hallway.
People rushed past her in all directions. She kept her eyes peeled for a certain shadow hunter.
Jem. She was looking for Jem. He had been so nice to her. Much nicer than Will.
Then she spotted him. Loping around the corner gracefully.
"Hey, Tessa," he waved. She smiled and waved back.
"Have you gotten into the whole swing of things yet?" He asked gamely.
"I think so, Jem," she replied. "Thanks to you." She flashed him a charming smile.
"Well, good. Hey, that party you guys threw for Maia was something else! Very fun!"
She smiled. The party had, indeed, been fun. Maia had even forgotten about Jordan at one point.
"Yeah. I tried, you know?" She practised flirting, feeling a bit bad, as she didn't know whether she had feelings for Jem or not.
He took the bait. "Yes, I know it was very good. Any party with Mr. I'll-have-another-drink-until-i-die Herondale is sure to be a good time." He rolled his eyes. "Sometimes my parabatai takes things too far.
Tessa nodded, but cocked her head at the strange word. "What's a parabatai?" She inquired, raising her eyebrows.
"Ah, your parabatai is your best friend and training partner here at the school. Will and I train together for football, karate, kickboxing, and tennis, soccer, basketball, and rowing."
She gaped at him. That was a lo of sports...
"Well Jem. That sounds interesting. Do you want to talk more today over lunch? I'm sure the library is free."
He grinned at her, the smile making his face even more beautiful. "Of course, Tessa," he said.
"Great. See you then, Jem!" She waved her hand and walked away, watching him toy with his letterman jacket as he watched her leave.
~~~o0o~~~
Lunch couldn't come soon enough. Tessa spent all class hurriedly doing her work and hoping that the clock would tic by faster.
She liked Jem. He was steady, and calm, and everything Will was not. Yet there was something about Will that was just so... right.
Tessa tried not to think about Will, but he was always there in her mind. Constantly wiling her to look a t him or daydream about him.
She tried to think of Jem, instead, picturing his silvery blac hair and eyes, but it just didn't work.
Maybe she and Jem could just be friends... not that she and Will could ever date or anything but...
Now she was preoccupied. Damn. She was thinking too much, she thought.
She looked down at her maths notes. The numbers swirled around in her head.
She furiously calculated things and turned her focus back to the subject on hand. She would have to think about the two boys later.
Much later. Like when she graduated high school in a couple of years.
She scribbled answers even more furiously. Her ideas were getting stupider and stupider by the minute.
She would be a bumbling ninny at no time, if she kept on thinking about Will Herondale.
He infuriated her, but he intrigued her. But Jem was so kind. To everyone. And cute, and shy and adorable. But Will was stormy, and deep, and sometimes was nice.
Tessa threw her pencil down in disgust.
Maths was not going well today.
~~~o0o~~~
The library door creaked open, and Tessa spotted Jem sitting by himself in a booth at the back.
She hurried over and sat down across from him.
He smiled, his beautiful almond shape eyes crinkling.
"Tessa. How are you?" He set his book down carefully on the counter of the table.
"I'm great, Jem," Tessa lied. She was not great. She couldn't stop thinking about him and Will.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" Jem looked curiously at her.
"Well, I was thinking we could just talk. About each other and whatever to get to know each other better." The words came right out of Tessa's mouth.
"Sure," Jem smiled again. He had an easy smile, and ever-present smile, really.
"Alright, then. What are your hobbies?"
"I play the violin. I am completely involved with music," Jem said, grinning now.
Music really made him happy. Tessa noted this.
"What about you, Tessa?"
She frowned, running her thumb over her eyebrow.
"I love books. They are like my friends," she said. "Reading is what gives me pleasure."
He nodded thoughtfully. "You know, that's Will's favourite pastime as well. You must have a lot in common."
Tessa shrugged her shoulders daintily. "Perhaps..."
He nodded again. Tessa realized he was looking at her strangely.
"Uh, Tessa," he started slowly, "do you mind if I kiss you?"
She smiled. "Not at all, Jem," she said, surprised at the jocks shyness.
He slowly tilted his head forward, and she tilted hers.
Their mouths met at the exact same time. Delicately, softly.
He tasted of peppermint, and she tasted of vanilla.
It was perfect.
The only problem?
Tessa wasn't thinking about Jem during the kiss.
She was thinking of Will.