"Hey baby." Luke said into my ears.
"What do you want,ass?""Theresa Octavia Harvey, didn't I ask you not to swear?" Ivy smacked me.
"Sorry Mom," I smiled at her.
"Your real name is Theresa?" Luke said to me."Shut up." I glared at him.
"You guys look cute together," Scott said, making goo- goo eyes at me."I know, right?" Luke agreed."Theresa, Luke, your ship name could be Thuke." Ivy opined.
"Sounds like puke," I grimaced."Or Leresa?" She said dreamily.
"In your dreams.""You're in my dreams," Luke said and I groaned."What do you want?" I faced him. He was really getting on my nerves by being around me.
"Great question,Theresa," he said, looking straight at me.
"Could you please not call me that?"
"Be my date to Lucas's pool party this saturday," he dropped.
I sat speechless and started into his eyes before regaining my consciousness.
"I have a boyfriend, remember?"
"So?" He raised an eyebrow at me. "That doesn't mean you can't hang with other men."
I squirmed in my seat uncomfortably and he looked at me.
"Wait a second, it's not because of Mendes, you don't want to go with me."
"Thanks a lot for noticing." I smiled at him.
"Rude!"he scoffed."Sorry darling, you can't force me to go with you."
"Oh really?" A smile tugged at his lips. "Let's make a deal."
My brown eyes lit up.
"I'm listening.""If you attend this party as my date, I'll stop bothering you. By bothering,I mean I'll stop following you around. I'll steer clear of you."
I pondered on that for a while before looking over at Ivy who nodded in agreement.
"Okay fine." I said to him as he let out a wide grin.
"Yes!" He screamed for the entire cafeteria to hear.He placed his lips near my ear and whispered,
"Make sure your bikini's see-through." I turned red as he left."Oh my gosh, you're blushing. What did he say?" Ivy asked and Scott also angled his neck towards us.
"Nothing.""Nothing means something."
Scott had a soccer game the next day. Ivy and I sat in the bleachers cheering him on. Then my phone vibrated. A message. From Julian.
I really didn't want to say this through text but I'm to ashamed to face you.
I'm gay.
I never realized it until now. Our meeting yesterday was supposed to be our last meeting until Luke ruined it. I know you're probably cursing at me right now but I don't care.I want you to be with someone who deserves you cause I don't. You were a sweet girlfriend and I'll never forget that. Bye Tess, I'll really miss you.
Tears stung my eyes as I blinked rapidly. Ivy turned and noticed my mood. I shoved the phone into her hand and sped off.
"Tess, come on. Open the door," Ivy said for the hundredth time. They were back from the game. They tried talking me into opening the door.
It was already 8.pm. I told them that I would see them the next day and they gave up even though I heard Ivy say,"I hope she doesn't do anything drastic to herself."
After I heard them leave, I locked the front door.
I sank deeper into my bed and sighed. I really loved Julian. Even though I've had a lot of relationships,this one seemed real.
He was always there for me whenever I needed him.
I noticed a car pull up in my driveway. It was actually a van. I wasn't expecting anyone and I don't know anyone who had a van.
A figure walked out of the van an approached my front door. Then,I heard the doorbell.
I was in a stage of fright, panic and confusion at the same time.
I used the little courage I had left in me and I walked downstairs slowly.
I went over to the storage room first to take any tool I laid my eyes on.
The storage was empty. I sighed in frustration as I tip toed to the kitchen.
I grabbed a fork and walked to the door as the doorbell rang again.
I stood at the entrance, ready to plunge at whoever stood there. At the count of three, I'll open it,I told myself.
One.
I mentally counted.
Two.
Three.
"Theresa! Took you long enough to open it." He brushed past me into the house.
I stood there, frozen like ice. I almost had a heart attack all because of this prick.
"What are you doing here and how did you even know where I lived?" I ranted.
"Slow down, Theresa." He put a finger to my lips. I felt a shiver run down my spine. "I heard about Mendes."
Ivy and Scott must've told him when I refused to open the door for them.
I sighed as I felt my eyes get teary again. I sat on the floor and leaned against the couch.
"You got any movies?" He asked. I was in no mood to argue with this guy. I pointed to a stack beside the flat screen TV.
"Your house is huge, I mean look at it. It's like a mansion." He stood with his hands on his hips.
I could feel an headache coming. I walked to the kitchen and tried to reach the first aid kit on the top cabinet.
I stood on my tiptoes but it was effortless.
"Need some help?" He asked, standing behind me.
I pointed to the kit and he brought it down. I took some pills and he handed me a glass of water.
I staggered to the living room and sprawled out on the couch. Luke sat in the spot I sat in before.
"You've got to understand Mendes. He can only be happy if he's with the one he loves. Theresa,he let you go because he cares for you."
"I know. I'm just sad because I actually loved him."
"You know, when I started dating,I said to a girl,"If you were a booger, I'd pick you."
I stifled a laugh. "She actually fell for that?""Yeah, even I was surprised. She was literally swooning."
"Let me ask you some riddles. You're good at them, right?"
"A bit," I replied weakly."Which word in the dictionary is spelt incorrectly?""Come on, there's no such word in the dictionary." I replied swiftly.
"Did you even think about it?"
"No," I replied flatly."It's incorrectly. The word that is spelled incorrectly is incorrectly." He explained.I burst into a fit of laughter." I did not see that coming."
"How about this? What word begins and ends with E but has only one letter?"I cracked my brain in an attempt to answer his question. He looked at me with a questioning gaze and I shrugged.
"Envelope." He said.
"Well that was easy." I muttered."But you were unable to answer.""Don't blame me."††††
"Tess,you're getting worse."
"No, I'm not. Right Scott?" He raised his eyebrows at me and I groaned.
"Look,I understand that you're sad your parents abandoned you but that isn't a reason for you to act like this. You should be able to..."
I watched her as she rambled on."If you knew you weren't gonna behave, then you shouldn't have been born."
I stared at her unbelievably. Ivy said this to me?
With a sudden urge of power I felt in me, I lunged forward at Ivy, grabbing a knife from the basket of fruits.
"Tess!" Scott yelled as he pushed me over to the side .
Ivy stood up screaming and ran out of the house.
I dropped the knife as I returned to my normal self.
"I almost killed her."
A beast.
That's what I saw myself as when I was still dwelling in the past.I mean, who just tries to stab her friend? Obviously me.
I'm not normal.
That's when I thought about therapy.
My therapist, Miss Julie, interacts with me like I'm a child. She knows how to make me boil and how to cool me down.
She said I'm like a lake.
I woke up with the sunlight resting on my face. A pair of large arms was wrapped around my waist.It was very comforting and secure. I couldn't even remember when I fell asleep last night.Luke continued his riddles and I.... Wait, Luke? I tried to stand up but I was held back by his arms.I turned,still in his embrace, to look at him.He was sleeping peacefully and his brown hair covered his forehead.His lips suddenly curved into a smile."Enjoy it while it lasts." His brown eyes peeled into mine. "I know I'm hard to resist but you've been staring at me for a while." I scoffed at him as I pulled up."I'm gonna go take a shower." I told him."Lock the door when you leave.""I'm not leaving, we're going to school together."He walked into the kitchen and I walked after him."Aren't you gonna change your clothes?" "It's
That freaking day finally arrived.The day where I got to stand in front of Luke in a bikini.Actually, it's not a big deal because I've been in front of a lot of guys, half naked.But, it's not just any guy we're talking about here.It was Luke, asshole, playboy and dick of the century.I sighed for the hundredth time as I stood in front of my closet, scattered.I couldn't find a perfect bikini. They were either too flashy or too dull, too tight or too loose."Just choose one, woman!"Ivy yelled at me. She was already in a blue bikini.It has lines and made it look like it was tied to her body. She wore a shirt and shorts as cover up."The boys are ready." She announced.We were all getting dressed in my house. It was Luke's idea since my house was obviously the biggest. Then after dressing up, we would leave fo
I was about to come out of the water when Luke pushed me back in. I raised an eyebrow at him."We're not done yet." He chuckled. I watched as he slipped his shirt off his body.Great abs, I thought. This must be why he's so full of himself. He stood there in the sun, shining in his tanned glory."Checking me out?" He swirled around like a girl."You wish." I settled back in the pool.He jumped in with a splash that startled me. People cheered, most especially girls.I watched as he swam around in the pool, greeting people, fist bumping some and high fiving the others.The guy was really popular. He's not a bad guy afterall. He's just a teenager who likes to date multiple girls at the same time."Stop staring, you'll give him sunburn with your eyes ." That high-pitched voice chirped behind m
I just really miss Ryder. He's the only one that understands me apart from Ivy and Scott. He sympathizes with me when I'm sad, cheers me up and loves me even with my issues.There's also someone who loved me the way he does."Wow, you've got your own gym. You're really surprising me."Luke remarked as he walked backwards into the gym with the friendship manual.I activated the treadmill and started running.He sat down on a rocking chair that grandma left in there and started reading the manual.I really didn't expect him to be serious about that stuff. After running for a bit, I sprawled out on the floor and drank hurriedly from the bottle of water.I sniffed my hair and it smelt really bad. Shower time, Tess. Tatiana Manaois' Helplessly blared out of the speakers of my phone.I brought my phone out and Ryder was on the screen. I smiled to my
Geek day, tomorrow.I screamed my head off and the pizza box dropped from my hand. "You just ruined our food!" Luke whined again."Geek emergency!" Scott burst through the door."Yeah, I saw the text," I raised my phone to him."I had no idea that it was tomorrow," he sprawled out on the couch cross-legged."You guys are still having this childish tradition?" Ryder said, pursing his lips."It's not childish," I snapped. "By the way, why did you come back?" I turned to Scott."My bike's here. I left it in your garage the last time I brought it. I'll get it and leave."I nodded and he walked out."So
I couldn't remember how I fell asleep last night but I opened my eyes to the smell of bacon.Stupid Theresa. Thinking about food when you injured someone.I wanted to get up but a pair of large arms prevented me from doing so.I turned around to face Scott who was still asleep. His bangs fell on his forehead. A tear slipped down my face and I wiped it off immediately.I struggled free and covered him with the duvet. I took a quick shower and helped myself to his clothes.I brought out a pair of black sweatpants and threw it on. I walked downstairs and saw Tanya making breakfast."Good morning," I walked to the kitchen. "Morning dear, how was your night?"I smiled at her. "Is Noah up?" "He went to school two hours ago."Two hours ago? How long did you sleep Theresa?"Can I get..""S
I woke up to find myself on the couch. I sat up and worried faces surrounded me. "Are you okay?" Scott asked, concern written all over his face.I nodded meekly."You're fainting too much these days." Ivy observed.I sat down on the front porch while Ivy and Scott did their business inside.I swear if they do it on the couch, I'm never sitting there again. I fiddled with strands of my hair.It was too long. Whenever I let I loose, it reached down to my hips.Ivy stormed out with anger, huffed and sat beside me."Scott is not responding."I quirked an eyebrow at her. "How?" "I kissed him and he just pushed me away. I tried to scoot closer to him and he went to his room.""That's unlike him. Try again?"She nodded and went inside.I logged in to my account. Seventy friend requests.Two new messages.Thirty five no
I whirled around and found Scott looking at me. He was not looking good. He had puffy eyes and he looked stressed."What?" "I'm sorry. I know I yelled and all this evening, I'm sorry.""Yeah, whatevs." I waved my hand.He walked away, brushing a hand swiftly through his hair. I gaped at his retreating back. I was actually pulling his legs, I didn't expect him to leave.I turned to the bartender."A cup, please.""Yes ma'am,"he winked.I grabbed the cup and sipped my vodka slowly.Different thoughts whirling in my head."Hey," I felt someone sit beside me. I turned on my seat and faced a really hot guy. When I say hot,I hope you get what I mean.He has big dark hazel eyes, a straight nose, perfect jawline and everything. You could see it through his face that he was a flirt."I've noticed you since I arrived. It seems you're a regu
The doctor pointed a little light into her eyes as she blinked."I'm really happy for you," he said to Jason who was full of smiles. Grandma, Barb, Alessia, Johnson and Lucas were all there."Can you walk?" He asked her.She tried to stand up as Jason helped her up. Her legs were a bit wobbly but she could stand."You'll need therapy," he advised. "I'll sign you up for our therapy class. It's just one week. It'll realign your muscles."After the doctor left, everyone expressed their happiness. How glad they were that she woke up. They filled her in on what she had missed. She was most especially glad to see Lucas. After hanging out for a while, they all left, leaving Tess and Jason alone."You know, you really scared me," Jason said as he stroked her hair. They were lying beside each other on the hospital bed. "Why didn't you wear a vest?""Because I never thought he would shoot me," she said weakly."He's a psycho, I'm glad he's
One month later..."You're here," Barb greeted Jason and his grandma as they walked in.It was Tess's hospital room. She laid on the bed with an oxygen mask covering her nose."Sorry I'm late,I had some issues to settle," he hugged her."Let's go," Jason's grandma called Barb."See you later," she took her bag and left with her.Jason took a seat beside her and brought out his papers.One month ago...The night of the incident..."Here's the cure," Lucas ran to Jason's hospital room."Who are you?" The doctor asked."Lucas Henderson, Tess sent me here," he gave the vial to him but the doctor looked at him weirdly with all the blood on him."It's safe, I made it," he persuaded him and he injected Jason."Doctor," Luke walked in but stopped when he saw Lucas."Luke," Lucas called slowly.Luke was confused for a while. He was trying to recognize him."It's me, Lucas." He hugged him fiercel
"Search them," one of the guards said to the other one who searched Tess and Tae-ho. They took away all their weapons."Follow me," he said and they did. They walked into a toilet and Tess saw that bird sculpture that was at his house. The man touched it and a wall opened."Why am I not surprised?" Tess said sarcastically and it earned her a glare from the guard. They went down through an elevator and the doors opened. Mr. Harvey was sitting on a chair with Jack and James beside him. Lucas and a woman were on their knees too.That must be Fei, Tess's subconsciousness filled in for her."Fei!" Tae-ho whisper-yelled. "Well look who finally showed up," He cackled."Hey Dad," Tess greeted."Theresa," he called gently. "Why do you keep interfering with my business?""You interfered with my business first,old man," she hissed. "You took Lucas, injected Jason and still have the audac
"You knew he was going to betray us?" Mitch asked as he pulled a blanket over Diana."Yes, Max came by earlier."'''"Let's talk," he called her over. "I'm sorry about what my team did when they were with you. I never knew they were under orders.""Whose orders?""Cap.""That old fart," she muttered."I know you tapped his office. He knows.""That's why we haven't been hearing anything lately," she wondered."He has someone on your team.""What? No, he doesn't have anyone on my team.""I'm sure of it. They were talking to each other this morning. I don't know what you're planning but someone is working for Cap." "Jack," Tess murmured."He is acquainted with your father too. I've seen him frequent him office recently.""You still recognise my dad?""Of course,I can't forget his face when Aunt Monica walked in on the wedding day.""Why are you helping me?" Tess aske
"Don't worry mom," Tess said on the phone. "I'll be back in two days. Alright, I won't skip my meals." They were all getting ready for the infiltration. "Where's the smoke bomb?" Caleb asked Tess. "Uh, it's right next to the darts," she answered as she typed a message. °im going somewhere, I'll see you when I arrive. Be healthy for me 🙂° She sent it to Jason and her phone was placed on vibration."All phones on vibration please," she said to everyone and they obeyed. "Alright," she called their attention. "You all know we may die right?" They nodded."And our bodies may never be found?" They nodded again."If you wanna opt out, this is the time to do so. I won't hold any hard feelings against you, I promise." "We're not leav
Tess was scooping down the soup her mother made before she left that morning. Everyone else was sprawled out on the living room floor. The couples were all cuddling except for Luke and Jack. Jason let out a yawn as he walked down the stairs."Good morning," Tess greeted and waved her hand. He scoffed. "I'm surprised to see you like this," he pecked her. "No hangover?""Nah, just a little headache," she smiled."Your recovery ability is great." Jack stood up hurriedly and ran outside."You better not puke in my compound!" She yelled after him."He's gonna be in a very bad shape," Jason chuckled. "What are you eating?""Chicken soup.""I want some," he bent down and she fed him."It's too early for all this," Luke walked into the kitchen, straight to the fridge."Good morning," Jason greeted and he nodded as he drank his water."I can't believe you're s
"You're a legend!" Mitch exclaimed."What do you mean?" Tess said. "Jason Gerard's mystery woman is the real deal. The clothes she wore on his latest Instagram update has been sold out," he read out."Really?" She exclaimed."You're on your way to becoming a celebrity," Eva snickered."Seriously guys, " Caleb called them together. "How are we gonna get the cure for Jason? The warrant's taking too long to be approved." "How about a sting operation?" Tess suggested."What's that?" Diana asked."A deceptive operation. We deceive him into revealing his crimes.""Sounds good." "No,it does not," Jack objected."You're still here?" David sighed."According to the report you gave me, he recognizes all of you. How will you carry out a sting operation? And by the way,I'm the boss here," he folded his arms across his chest. "Yeah and it annoys us so much!"
"I don't like him," Eva groaned."Me neither," Caleb stood up."Can't we just do something about it? Like can't we write to the headquarters and demand a new leader?" David inquired."Even if that's gonna happen, he has to spend two weeks training us before he leaves," Caleb told them."Well, that sucks," Mitch muttered. "It seemed like he has history with Boss.""I felt the tension too," David agreed. Tess drove in and walked into the house."Jason?" She called out as she entered."I'm right here!" He said from the couch."How are you feeling?" She sat beside him. "Any changes?""No," he sighed."Whatever you need, I'm here." He turned to her with a smile."There is something I want.""What?" She asked."A date," he replied. She kept looking at him."A date?" She repeated."Yeah, I mean, I might die anytime soon and I want to do what I've always w
"So,your request has been processed?" Diana said."Seems like it," Tess sighed."What are we going to do?" "First,we have to know who's coming," Tess said. "Let's go." They all stood outside the station, waiting for the new team leader."What's taking him so long?" Mitch complained."He should be here by now," Caleb said, wiping his sweat."I think he's here," Tess motioned to the car that drove in. They watched as he parked his car and got off."His back looks familiar," she muttered. He grabbed a bag from the backseat and walked towards them. As he approached, Tess swallowed hard. "Tess," he said out.There was something about the way he called her name."You're the new team leader?" She questioned."I guess I am," he chuckled. "I offered to fill in for you.""Why would you do that?" She asked."Because we have unfinished business."~~~