Authors: MJ Fields
“
I did not fuck her Tessa…,” he started.
“
Okay Luke you fucked her mouth, the same mouth that spewed disgusting comments about her to the person you profess to love. Do you know how wrong that is,” she snapped, “Do you?”
“
I do,” he said looking down and his eyes began to fill.
Tessa
’s heart raced, she didn’t want to see him cry, “Please don’t,” she said. “Please don’t.”
“
What can I do Tessa? Just tell me what I can do,” tears started falling down his face. She wiped them away leaving her hand on his perfect lips and rubbing them gently.
He pulled her into him and hugged her,
“I have never cried over a girl,” he whispered in her ear, “I have never loved another, not truly loved them, I have never Tessa wanted someone the way I want you and didn’t take you when you offered it to me on a silver platter. You deserve a better me, and I will prove that I can be that person for you if it takes me forever. And I won’t fail once I have won you back. I Love you,” she wanted to believe him, to kiss him, she wanted him in every way but they were just words.
He could feel her hot breath on his face and he knew she wanted to believe him, he knew she loved him. He pulled her away and gently kissed her forehead.
She looked at him, “Do it for you Luke not for me.”
“
I will and then it’s you and me forever,” he said, “See you tonight.”
“
Luke I am going with someone,” Tessa said.
“
I know but I also know you will be okay, you’re not like me,” Luke said.
~
Jade pulled through again, she brought down a dark brown halter dress that was opened in the back, her hair was swept half up and she wore gold accessories. Jade helped her with her makeup. Jade wore red, of course and very high heels. She looked amazing and with her that was effortless. Tessa looked in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize herself. She smiled, “Good work Jade” she smiled at herself and turned to Jade, “you are stunning Jade Ross, as usual, Tommy is a lucky boy.”
Her phone chimed, she looked down to see his picture.
-I wish it was me taking you tonight, I wish I could let you see what I know is there, deep underneath the black in my heart, Day 1 without Tessa Ross breaks my heart….LYA Luke
She turned her phone off.
I need to change that picture
she thought.
~
She heard a knock on the door and she and Jade walked into the kitchen, it was Tommy and he looked amazing, the way he looked at Jade was absolutely priceless, he was in awe of her and she of him.
“
See you at the dance Tessa, text me when you pull in so I know to look for you,” Jade and Tommy left for dinner.
“
Tessa you look amazing,” Alex smiled.
“
And Phoebe is a lucky girl to have arm candy like you tonight,” Tessa smiled.
“
What did he do to you?” Alex frowned.
“
Nothing physical Alex, I will be fine, first crush that’s all,” she smiled weakly at him.
Alex hugged her and left to go pick up Phoebe. She stood looking out the window and thought of how awful her senior year has been so far. But it would be okay.
She saw Toby pull in in his Blue Jeep wrangler. She walked out the door and he met her, “Tessa you look stunning,” he said and his eyes lit up.
“
Well thank you, you look hot Green,” she said as she went for the door.
He beat her to it and opened it for her, she smiled and got in.
“Thank you sir,” Tessa said.
“
Where’s your Dad?” Toby asked jumping in the driver’s seat.
“
He is in the shop,” Tessa answered.
“
Can we go say hi?” he asked.
“
Of course,” she smiled.
They pulled out back and her father walked out of the shop.
“Hey Toby how are things,” John said wiping the grease off his hands before shaking his.
“
They are great I am off for the long weekend and then back to Annapolis,” he said, “I wanted you to know she is in great hands tonight, John.”
“
I have no worries with you Toby,” he smiled and patted his back.
“
Could you take a picture of us?” he asked and handed him his camera.
They stepped out and John took several shots. Toby opened the door for her again and they drove out.
“You are going to be okay Tessa,” he said squeezing her hand. “That boy is going to regret messing with my date. Are you ready to put on a show,” he asked smiling.
“
I am Toby,” Tessa said smiling.
~
They pulled into the school and she texted Jade. Toby jumped out and ran around the Jeep, he opened the door for her and took her hand helping her out. He held out his arm and she took it. A little red convertible parked a few feet away, a tall leggy brunette got out of the car, the passenger door opened and Luke got out. He had a black suit and sunglasses on. They started walking towards them, “That him?” Toby asked, “Show time.” He slide his hand around her and placed it very low on her bare back, he took her hand and shoved it in his back pocket, as they walked by he kissed her and held her close.
She smiled up at him,
“I think you chose the wrong profession Green, you should have been an actor.”
“
Are you kidding me and miss this? Half acting,” he winked “the rest is real, I am going to show you what it’s like to be treated like a princess, and someday when you’re older, hopefully we can try it out for real.”
Toby held the door open for her,
“After you Princess.”
Jade met them just inside the door and she saw Luke and the brunette walking in, her eyes narrowed.
“Don’t Jade,” Tessa quietly said.
“
Hello Tessa, hey Tommy,” Luke said as he walked in behind them. “Tommy you remember Marie?” he said.
“
Hello Marie,” Tommy said, he looked at him as if to ask why.
“
Tessa this is Marie,” Luke said.
Toby reached out his hand to Luke,
“Hey I am Toby Tessa’s date and future husband,” he said laughing. Tessa grinned.
“
Oh really?” Luke asked sarcastically.
“
Yep, I have known Tessa for years, she has grown into a stunning young women, don’t you think?” Toby asked.
“
Yes she is,” Luke said. “Young being the operative word, Toby was it? And this is Marie I have known her for years,” he leaned towards Tessa and whispered into her ear, “Number one,” she could smell alcohol on his breath.
She glared at him and whispered,
“Very cool we both brought our number one, yours already used up, mine will be soon enough.”
“
You two need a minute?” Toby asked.
“
Nope we are done here,” Tessa said and took his hand.
“
Good because I don’t like to share,” Toby said as they walked away, he caressed her back and it rested on her rear. “You okay with this?” he whispered.
She reached around and squeezed his ass,
“You better plan on stepping it up Green.”
He smiled
“My pleasure,” they turned the corner he turned her around and kissed her and she held his face and kissed him back sweetly.
Luke turned the corner and stopped and glared,
“Get a fucking room!”
Tessa smiled at Toby and said,
“That was nice”.
“
Keep walking Links,” Tommy said gently pushing Luke towards the gym.
“
Yes it was,” Toby said.
She stood and looked at him after they were out of ear shot.
“I am sorry, this must be weird for you,” she said blushing.
“
I asked you to the dance before I knew all this Tessa, you’re hurting and I am here, and don’t think for a second that I am not enjoying myself. I have watched you for years grow into what you are today. I will be damned if I will let some punk screw with that perfect heart of yours. And that future husband stuff, file that under things to do after college,” he winked at her, “You kiss like an angel,” he kissed her head and took her arm and they walked down the hall into the gymnasium together.
Jade and Tommy sat with Marie and Luke. Alex, Phoebe, Becca, and Joshua sat at the table diagonal from Jade and crew.
“Let’s sit with Alex,” Tessa smiled.
Tessa hugged Toby
’s arm and they walked together. He pulled out her chair for her and she sat, he pulled a chair next to hers and pulled her into him. They all looked stunning, Phoebe was in a hot pink sleeveless dress that came to just above her knees. Becca wore a pale pink A-line dress. They all decided to go take pictures together.
They stood in line for pictures
, Tommy and Jade followed and so did Luke and Marie. The girls went together first. They did a Charlie’s Angels type pose and laughed. They did one arm and arm and one as they all jumped in the air.
Luke watched her laugh and smile with them and noticed immediately when they jumped that Tessa wasn
’t wearing a bra.
Dead puppies
he thought. As they walked off Tessa made eye contact with him, he looked crushed, he grabbed her arm “We need to talk”.
“
Let go of my arm,” Tessa sneered.
“
What do we need to talk about?” Tessa asked crossly.
“
You okay Tessa?” Toby asked, she smiled and shook her head.
“
Tessa you’re not wearing a bra,” Luke said looking angry.
“
I know it’s very freeing,” Tessa said smugly.
“
Do you have a coat?” he asked.
“
Luke, what do you want?” she asked.
“
You to forgive me,” he said matter of factly.
She glared at him,
“I have, let it be.”
“
If you had not left me for them this wouldn’t be happening,” he spewed.
She was so pissed she leaned into him and whispered in his ear,
“I got a bikini wax when I was there too.” She stepped back and looked at him trying to control his breathing, “That was for you,” she said raising her eyebrow. His mouth opened slightly as he breathed. “That pain, won’t be wasted tonight, have fun with Marie,” she said and walked away.
Jade met her,
“You okay?”
Tessa smirked,
“Never been better,” she grinned.
She looked at Luke as he watched Tessa walk away,
“I told him I wasn’t wasting the wax, where’s my date?” Jade pointed to the stage.
~
All the parents were let in for the crowning of king and queen. Tessa’s mother and father took lots of pictures of Alex and Tessa, Alex and Phoebe, and Tessa and Toby. Luke watched as her mother hugged Toby as they all were smiling and laughing. Luke’s mother would not be there tonight, she had fallen back into the black hole. He was following her, as he always did, into the darkness. Tessa was beautiful and full of hate and it was his fault, and he hated himself for it.
“
Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, last year’s queen is unavailable to help me with this year’s crowning, she is currently in the Peace Corp or some silly thing like that,” Toby said as everyone laughed, “So tonight it will be just me.”
Tessa, waited in line for court to be called. Phoebe, Jade and Becca took the
ir flowers and Sadi stood next to Tessa waiting expectantly to be named queen. Sadi was called as first runner up and gasped and gave Tessa a dirty look. Tessa looked down trying not to appear rude holding back the childish desire to stick her tongue out at her.
“
And your Queen, my date,” Toby laughed, “Come up here angel.” Toby crowned her and gave her a quick kiss on the nose, “Stay up here and help me crown king,” he winked.
It was down to Alex and Luke for king. Tessa was praying it was Alex she had to put the crown on. It wasn
’t.
Tessa placed the crown on his head and he looked at her with his sad eyes.
“Congratulations Luke, now smile so your Mom can take your picture,” she said. He turned and flashed is dazzling smile pulling her into his side. “Luke please let go,” Tessa whispered as she smiled for the cameras.
“
Never,” Luke said as he turned and looked at her, his eyes burning through hers and then slowly released her.
“
Will the king, queen and court please step to the floor for their dance,” Toby asked.
Luke took Tessa
’s hand and led her to the dance floor. He stopped and whispered to the DJ and the DJ smiled and nodded. In Your Eyes started and Tessa looked down. Luke pulled her close, “This isn’t over Tessa, I love you and I know you feel the same?”