Before He Lied

Tessa Chapter 15

Before I even knew what was happening Zach was bleeding, I cant believe Hardin punched him. I quickly help Zach stand and try to wipe the blood off his face. I grab his hand and use my other hand to gently touch his cut, he flinches.

"I'm sorry, are you okay?"

He lightly nods his head.

"I'm alright."

I look back and see Hardin in handcuffs, oh my god. I look back up at Zach and see that his lip is still bleeding.

"We have to get you cleaned up, come with me."

We walk to the dorm buildings holding hands while his face bleeds, I unlock my door and we walk inside.

"Sit on my bed, I'm gonna grab the first aid kit from the bathroom."

"Tessa you really don't need to do this, I'm fine."

I walk back into the room and see him sitting on my bed, I quickly sit down next to him.

"I want to help, I feel awful. This is all my fault, Hardin did this because of me."

I look down at the kit in my hands, he gently places his hand underneath my chin and lifts it up. I look into his eyes and he gives me a reassuring smile, he gently runs his thumb over my chin.

"None of this is your fault, he punched me but no one forced him to."

"No, I have to tell you something. I have to be honest, Hardin and I kissed a few times. It was before we started "hanging out", he was playing me so I told him to leave me alone. I think he sees you as a threat, if you stay with me he's not gonna leave you alone, I'm sorry. I understand if you don't wanna "stay" with me, I know nothings official."

I look back down but he lifts my chin again.

"What did we say about you apologizing? You're worth getting punched, I like you Tessa. I wont hide my feelings but I would push them, we are doing this on your terms. Ill be here for you no matter what, nothing will scare me away. Not even Hardin."

"Thank You."

I long into his eyes before I grab an alcohol pad from the kit, I get a flashback from when Hardin helped me but I quickly shake it away.

"I have to clean your cheek but its gonna burn."

"It's alright, I can take it."

I bring the pad to his cheek and he closes his eyes, he squeezes my hand. I apply a small bandage to his cheek, I grab a new pad and gently clean his lip.

"Ok, you're done. Are you sure you don't wanna go to the doctor?"

"Yes, I'm sure. It was just a punch, ill be fine. And plus I had a good nurse." He winks.

"I'm no nurse, I probably made you cuts worse." She laughs.

I look down at Zach's white shirt and see a few drops of blood, he follows my eyes and looks down at his shirt.

"Your shirt."

"Oh, its fine. Nothing some soap and water cant get out."

"No, let me. If we soak it now I cant probably get all the blood out."

"Tessa its fine."

"Please, its the least I can do."

"Fine."

He takes off his shirt, I examine his body. Wow, his body is toned but not as toned as Hardin's. Zach is muscular but not too muscular, his abs are sculpted nicely and his arms are veiny. His body looks as if it were sculpted from stone. His hands....he grips onto my bedsheets and his veins pop out.

"Is something wrong?" He asks with concern.

"No, sorry."

I grab his shirt and walk into the bathroom, I fill the sink with cold water and submerge his shirt. I walk back into the room and sit next to him on the bed.

"Thank you taking care of me, you're too kind." He says with a smirk.

"Its really no problem, I just feel awful that you got hurt."

"I said its fine Tessa, I really don't want you to worry." He says while he scoots closer to her.

He moves closer to me, I grab his hand and interlock my fingers with his. My heart beat starts to slowly quicken as he leans in and moves a strand away from my face.

"You're breathtaking." He whispers.

"Thank you."

I move in closer to him.

"Can I kiss you?" He asks.

I answer his question by leaning in and connecting my lips with his, he grabs my hips and pulls me onto his lap. I move my hands to his charcoal hair and brush it back with my fingers, his hands slowly graze up my thighs. He starts slowly lifting the white shirt I'm wearing.

"Tessa...." Hardin says in a broken voice.

I pull away from Zach and look towards the door, I see Hardin standing there with a broken expression. Zach's eyes move to the door, Zach quickly pulls my shirt back down before his hands gently rest on my hips. Hardin starts walking towards us, I quickly jump off Zach's lap and run up to Hardin.

"Hardin please....don't hurt him....I kissed him."

"What?" Hardin says in a quiet voice.

Zach stands up from the bed and steps in front on me.

"Lets not do this in front of her, it's me you're mad at. Not her." Zach says in a calm voice.

Hardin just looks back at me.

"You can have her." Hardin says with no emotion.

"Wait...Hardin." She says.

He grabs his car keys before he slams the door, I turn to Zach.

"What's wrong?" he questions.

"I....."

I don't even know what to say, the guilt that I feel is consuming me. I shouldn't feel guilty for kissing Zach, I wanted to kiss him but my heart breaks for Hardin. He looked so empty, he looked how I looked when I saw him kiss Sam. I didn't want to hurt him, I care for him so much. I want to chase after him but I can't, I cant show him how much power he has over me.

"Zach.....I need you to leave.....I'm..I need space."

".....ok."

He grabs puts on his jacket before he leaves, as soon as the door closes I fall to my knees and break into sobs. Why is this so painful, I want them both. I like Zach but I.....I.....want Hardin, I want him more than I've wanted anything. Hardin is so cruel, Zach is so sweet.