25" Hey, can I help?" a soft voice in my ear asked. I looked up and saw Tessa. Apparently she had lost her date too.
We eventually managed to get Jen off the dance floor, out of the hall and seated on a bench outside. After a few minutes, the cold air began to revive her.
"Where. wheresh my coatsh?" she asked groggily, attempting to stand up.
"woaw! Not so fast!" I rushed to catch her as she slumped unsteadily towards the ground. Tessa grabbed her arms and helped me pull her back up onto the seat.
"Aren't you really bored? This can't be much fun, go, do something better" I muttered in an aside to Tessa, half-wishing she wouldn't go, as I was beginning to really enjoy having her around.
"No, no, I'm fine. I don't mind helping." She had a slightly odd edge to her voice, almost wistful, slightly reproaching..
"Not that I wanted you to leave or anything" I backtracked hastily. "In fact."
"Yes?" She interjected, when he trailed away.
"Uh, nothing." he blushed slightly, thanking God for the cover of darkness.
It was three days after the dance before Scott got another chance to speak to Tessa. Latin was, as per usual, dull as ditchwater. Ditchwater that you had been staring at, non-stop, for the past two years. Unfortunately, Tessa had been off the day before; meaning Scott had had to suffer it all on his own. It also gave his pause for thought: namely, he really missed not having Tessa there. Revelations! When he saw her sitting in her normal seat, he nearly fainted with relief. Instead, he walked, as normally as possible, to his desk and sat down.
"Hey, Tessa, you alright? What was wrong yesterday? Do you need my uh... notes?" Scott got the sentence out in a bit of a rush. Tessa was flabbergasted. In all the time they'd been sitting together he was almost never the first to talk, he never mentioned her being off; didn't seem to notice in fact, and she had NEVER borrowed his notes before. She'd seen them, they were as good as, in some places better than, hers, but that was only from over his shoulder.
"Uh, hey, Scott... uh, I was ill yesterday. thanks for asking. and, yeah, I guess your notes would be good." Tessa paused, uncomfortable with having his chocolate brown orbs fixed intently on her face. She was unaccustomed to being the centre of any blokes attentions, much less Scott's.
"I wanted-"
"I thought I -" They both started speaking together, "You go-"
"No, you-" Scott eventually took the initiative and, motioning for her silence, said,
"Erm, I wanted to say thank you for Friday night... you didn't have to stay, and I liked it that you did, so er, thanks." he tailed off, blushing. " I know I was a complete fool over Jen, and you've been good to me through that, even though, I guess I was a bit of an idiot, and I made you listen to it all.. Sorry, I guess, uh, well, uh, I guess, I wanted to say that I am, uh, finally, over that, I think, and, uh, well, well, uh, I guess, I just wanted you to know that. " He was bright red by this time, so Tessa decided to take pity on him.
"Hey, no worries, it was, uh. fun? Listening to you. " I could do that for ever, she thought. "But, thanks and all, . I enjoyed the ball, in the main."
"Yeah, yeah, me too" Scott interrupted quickly.
Just then, the teacher walked in, and they descended into the hell that is dry Latin verbs on a warm summers day. At least, it was the last Latin lesson, ever.
After that lesson, Scott didn't know what to do with himself. If he didn't seize this opportunity, he might never see this fantastic, amazing, incredible girl again. The thought seized his heart and ripped out his lungs. He gathered what remained of his courage (and his runaway vocal cords) settled his stomach, and the butterflies that had descended upon it, and walked over to where she was sitting, rereading The Mayor of Casterbridge in preparation for English.
"Uh, Tessa?" he said, quietly, unwilling to disturb her peaceful, relaxed solitude.
"Huh?. oh, hi, Scott!"
"Uh, Tessa, I was just wondering, uh, could I uh, uh, get your emailaddressornumberorsomething?"
"Sorry, Scott?" Tessa's eyes were sparkling with laughter. How does she do that? He thought: entrance me with one look, and make me feel like the luckiest guy in the world all whilst laughing (gently) at me? "What were you saying?" she broke into his reverie.
"Uh, can I have youremail address. Or mobile. Uh, or whatever" he blushed.
She smiled, gently, astounding him with how radiant she looked; he was noticing things about her that he never had before, like that her nose crinkled a little when she really smiled. "Of course Scott, but only if I get yours?" she looked a little worried, like he might refuse. But how could he?
"Yeah. Sure." They scribbled down their respective contact information, swapped pieces of paper and stowed them safely away.
Less than a week later and Scott was about to make his move. He had been texting her daily, just little texts to remind her of his existence. Texts she had been more than happy to receive and reply to, each one sending her into little daydreams of ecstasy.
Fancy meeting up? Like... as more than just friends? He sent the message with some trepidation, but his fears were allayed, when, less than a minute later, he got a reply.
Sure. name the time and place. xxx