A/N: Thank you all for your submissions in the one shot contest so far! Please enter if you haven't already! An idea from this chapter was submitted to me by the very amazing ClarissaArrowton - check her profile out!

Thanks, ClarissaArrowton.

~~~o0o~~~

Tessa cried and cried and cried.

She had succumbed to weakness and hurt as she rested her head down on her pillow.

In the room across the hall, Sophie layed, her phone nestled in her palm, blissfully unaware of her dorm mates intense breakdown.

She was texting none other than Gideon Lightwood, who by some mysterious twist of fate had asked her for her number. She was still stunned, as he was a golden shadow hunter and she was a girl who worked at a fast food joint. Homely, she knew, but it appeared as though her actually seemed interested in her.

Back across the hall, Tessa's tears continued to leave salty stains on her pillow, and she didn't bother to fetch a tissue to dry her eyes.

Will's lofty attitude and non-committal glare was enough to make her feel as though she'd been to hell and back, regardless of whether or not Jem was still an option. Her heart pulled her towards Will, eve now. Even when he had stomped all over her heart and left her feeling like Sydney Carton.

~~~o0o~~~

Will grabbed a bottle of red wine and threw himself onto his dark sofa with a crash.

He had had just arrived home from a terrible encounter with a member of the Night Children, a wild, Vampire-esque gang, that though sounded like a bunch of kids, were actually quite agressive.

It was the the night after he had chosen to kiss Jessamine and toy with her, and broken Tessa's heart all at once. He had been walking alone in the street, playing with his knife, watching it glint in the moonlight, when a member of the Night Children had jumped him, demanding cash for his trespassing on private property.

The two gangs, the Night Children and Full Moon were very particular about territorial agreements, and the burly gang member who jumped him had most likely assumed he was a wolf: a member of Full Moon, out to spill some blood.

Furthermore, he had engaged in a full out punching session with the poor Vampire, and had managed to knock him out cold after a few hard hits. Immediately after, he had retired to his home, rushed past Cecy, who clearly had something to say to him, and had grabbed the nearest drink he could find.

He was now comfortably seated, had popped the cork of the fancy bottle, and had begun sipping like his life depended on alcohol. Sure, it couldn't solve his problems, but he'd be damned if he didn't think it would help him a little,

The look on Tessa's face had been enough to tear his heart apart, and that scared him badly. He ached for her, yet knew he was the source of her anguish.

The run run in with the stupid Vampire had worsened his darkening mood and he was now at an all time low. Taking another gulp from the bottle, he felt his vision getting foggy and knew that in no time he would be completely, utterly wasted.

~~~o0o~~~

Tessa had just fallen asleep when she heard a massive crash from the front foyer of her dorm.

"Sophie?" She called, hoping her dorm mate had returned from her late night study session at the local coffee shop, Demon Brew, but when she got no reply, she assumed it wasn't her friend.

"Who's there?" She pressed, climbing out of her bed and taking her tennis racket with her to venture out into the dark hallway.

"Tessie, it's me," she heard. The distinct, yet slurred voice of a certain Will Heronsale.

And there he was, standing in her foyer precariously, his clothing unkempt and his hair a disheveled mess of charcoal.

"Give it back to me," he demanded, a look of hurt and pain etched onto his handsome face. Tessa could tell he was drunk, but didn't understand what he wanted from her.

"Give what back to you?" She asked, her heart aching from the pain still fresh from the previous night.

"My heart," Will answered, his gaze mysteriously trained on her even though he was under the influence. Tessa gasped. Did this mean he liked her as well? She was about to say something when-

"You know that you're killing me a little bit mor every day by occupying my heart constantly, even when I know I am not in yours," he said, passion and vehemence behind his words, slurs and all.

Tessa reached out to say something again, but couldn't seem to find the words. She knew she should be angry, but couldn't bring herself to slap him, talk to him, or even reach a hand out.

She didnt have time to, because a moment later, Will passed out on the cold tile floor.