It was complete and utterly awkward.
Will sat there stiffly, watching his oldest friend and most eccentric friend converse with a girl that he was interested in. Magnus had said he had wanted to introduce Will to some
friends and Will, with nothing better to do, had accepted.
He sat there as everyone else talked, Magnus beside him and Tessa so close, yet so far – across from him.
He did not eat the too salty fries, nor did he order the cool ice cream. Will simply stayed silent and still, much like a statue.
And Tessa? She was licking her spoon, her pink tongue sticking out and laughing. Stupid Oreo McFlurry. It was pissing Will off. It made him want to kiss her. Right then. Right there.
"So Will," Magnus said, a grin on his face. He knew how mad Will was. "How was your Halloween dance?"
"Absolutely great," Will said, trying to adopt a cheerful smile. Magnus winked at Will, knowing the answer was the polar opposite. "Met several girls there too."
His answer did not seem to affect Tessa. "You know what?" Will said, having enough. "I'm going to go get drunk and then go home. And don't worry Jem, I'll call a taxi. Bye," he
said stiffly.
"But you're not old enough," came Tessa's reply. Will turned around midwalk and looked at her. "No one cares enough to stop me," Will said coldly, letting a flash of pain appear in
his eyes before heading to the Pandemonium.
Will curtly left, bracing the night wind of London. He heard the doors to McDonald open, and there Tessa was, holding two hot chocolate in her hands and a bag of fries clamped
under her arm.
"Let's go somewhere else shall we?" Tessa said. Will nodded. "I decided to come with you. You have a car right?" Tessa asked as they walked down the block back to the Institute.
"I need a ride. So you can't get drunk. I don't fancy a car crash."
"Did you just say fancy?" Will asked, amused slightly. His mood was in renewed spirits, happy to be alone with Tessa and so comfortable.
"Why, Mr. Herondale," Tessa said, mocking a British accent. "I believe I did. Now tell me, truly how was the Halloween ball held in the ballroom? Was your evening splendid?"
Then the two teenagers laughed for Tessa's accent was simply horrid. "Well, Tessa," Will said, claiming an American accent. Will's accent wasn't any better really. "My evening was
truly horrible," Will said, tone more melancholy. He reverted back to his regular accent – a British one, laced with the familiar Welsh. "Because you weren't there."
Tessa froze, but Will continued. "You probably think you're just some challenge for me. Like that I'm going to dump you once I get you to like me, but that's not true. The whole
night I was scanning the ballroom for you until Cecily told me you were at another party. Admittedly, I drank a bit," Will said sheepishly. Will led them to a wooden bench facing the
Institute and took one cup of hot chocolate from Tessa. He warmed his cold hands with it, covering the familiar McDonald logo.
"Will," Tessa started but Will stuffed a fry into her mouth before she could continue.
"I've wondered what it would be like to kiss you so many times. Not like the first time," Will smiled wryly. Entranced by her lips, Will swiped a finger over them, wiping the salt
away. Tessa was frozen. Will brought his finger to his lips, tasting salt, McDonald fries and the sweet taste of Tessa. "I wanted you to kiss me back."
"You know," Will continued. "I don't really know why I like you. I mean, you're awfully stubborn, you're a nerd for literature and compared to a lot of others, you're fairly plain."
Tessa looked slightly offended but Will only smiled, bringing Tessa closer and resting his lips on her head. His left arm was around her shoulders. Tessa did not complain. "But I like
your stubbornness. It matches my own. Your love for literature mirrors mine and to me, you're absolutely beautiful."
"You have this effect on me, Tess," Will continued. "At first, I hated you. I mean, I thought: Who's this new chick? Why is she not…" Will tried to grasp for words to say. "Submitting
to me?" Will did not know the right words. "I'm so used to getting what I want. Ever since… Whatever. That's a story for another day," Will said, avoiding the subject of his sister.
"Will…" Tessa started.
"Don't reject me tonight, Tessa," Will sighed, resting his cheek on her head. "Just let me have this moment."
"I wasn't going to."
Will thought he heard wrong. "What?" he asked.
Tessa turned to face him. "I'll let you have one chance, Herondale," Tessa sighed. "Prove to me that you aren't a bad person."
Will was immediately overjoyed. He swooped Tessa into his arms, swinging her around. He kept Tessa in firm embrace. "I've never been one for sharing my feelings," he whispered
into her ear. "And I can't believe the one time I did it, it worked."
Tessa only laughed.
…
Tessa sat on her white bedspread, watching as the sun began to rise. She had been unable to sleep the entire night, thoughts of Will imprinted on her mind. Why did she say yes?
What compelled her to tell Will that she would give him a chance. What about Jem?
But thoughts of Jem was already disappearing, replaced by black hair and blue eyes.
"Theresa!" she heard her mother call. "Someone here's to see you," Elizabeth shouted from downstairs. It was seven in the morning – on Saturday. Who would wake up at this
ungodly hour to see her?
Tessa trudged downstairs, hair a mess, dark circles hanging under her eyes and wearing nothing but her pajamas – which had cute little ducks on them.
Tessa rubbed her eyes and at her door was Will Herondale, dressed in a fashionable pea coat, watching Tessa amusedly. Then Tessa screamed, dashing back upstairs. She quickly
brushed her teeth, giving up on her bed hair and tying it up into a ponytail and threw a blanket over her shoulders before walking back down.
"I like seeing you in pajamas," Will said, still waiting at the door. "Though I hated the ducks. Why do you even like ducks? They're horrid."
Tessa was taken aback. "Second date, and you want to go out in pajamas?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought you meant Saturday afternoon," Tessa complained.
"I did," Will smiled. "But I also meant morning, afternoon and evening. Whole day with me, Tessa!" he said cheerily. "Dress in something that you aren't afraid to sweat in. For
working out."
Tessa knew there was no way of getting Will off her porch until she came down. Sighing, she walked back upstairs and changed quickly, wearing a jumper, the colour of Will's eyes
over a plain, white tank top and gray basketball shorts.. It was the colour of Will's eyes, and Tessa was surprised she found the colour in her closet. She eyed herself in the mirror
as she pulled back her hair into a high ponytail.
Will found her beautiful? Perhaps he was just joking.
"Nice," Will approved when Tessa came downstairs. Tessa was glad he didn't call her gorgeous or hot. It would have felt too fake. She was wearing work out clothes. Guys who
called girls gorgeous in work out clothes would just be too false.
"Where are we going?" Tessa asked, taking Will's offered arm with a slight blush.
"That is a surprise, love," Will smirked as he led her out of the doorway and into his car.
All that Tessa could think about was: Did he just call me love?
And once again, Will drove Tessa to the Institute. Tessa thought wryly to herself: Everything happened at the Institute.
…
Jem was on his balcony in the Institute, silently gazing out into London. This was his thinking spot. A quiet spot where he liked to think. The cool breeze blew through his silver locks
of hair. His hair fell into his eyes. Sighing, he touched a lock with his fingers. It was time for a hair cut.
"Don't even think about it, William Herondale!" came a sharp voice. A sharp and very familiar voice. Jem looked down. There was Tessa, dressed like she was about to play a sport
and ponytail high.
"I wasn't going to go there, Tessa!" Will complained. They both were so loud that Jem could hear them from the third floor. Will. Will. Will.
Jem's best friend, Will. Will was dressed the same as he always was. A pea coat, jeans and some expensive shoes. Why were they together?
They began to speak quieter and Jem could hear them no more but he could see that Tessa was obviously giggling. Then Will slipped his hand into Tessa's. Jem stared at them. What was going on?
They were so close and…
Jem's heart ached. They were together. Probably on a date and together.
Jem was too late… He did not want to admit it. That he liked Tessa. That her gray eyes entranced him. That Tessa had him wrapped around her pinky finger. He did not want to
admit it, but he knew it was true.
"I was first…" Jem whispered softly. "I was first." But that wasn't going to help him now. It did not help that Jem liked Tessa first. Because he was too much of a coward to do
anything. It was too late.
For every class, he was never tardy. Jem had never received a late slip before. But when it finally counted…
Jem began to laugh. A cold, heartless laugh. One that was very unlike him. Jem did not know what else to do. It was either laugh or cry and Jem chose the former alternative.
There were no words to describe Jem's conflicted emotions. He did not want to hurt Tessa and he did not want to hurt his best friend. But Jem himself was feeling pain. And Jem
could not be selfish.
Jem shut his eyes. It was just too late.