Hardin Scott has been madly in love with Tessa Young since the moment he first laid eyes on her, but there's no way she could ever see him as anything more than a friend. After all, he's a bad boy with a promiscuous past and she's a sweet and innoce...
Monday morning Tessa and I drive to school together, but things still feel awkward between us.
"So, are you ready to tell Emma what happened?" I ask.
"No. I feel so bad for her." Tessa frowns.
"It's not your fault, Tess. You're a good friend to her. She knows that."
"I hope so."
Once we arrive at school, Tessa and I go to Literature together, then part ways for the rest of the day.
"Hardin, I'm going to spend lunch time looking for Emma. I'll meet you after school, okay?"
"Okay, Tess. Good luck."
"Thank you. I'm so nervous about telling her. I hope she doesn't hate me." Tessa kisses me goodbye and leaves.
I spend the rest of the school day wondering what happened with Tessa and Emma, until it's finally the end of the day and Tessa meets me at my car.
"So, how did it go?" I ask as she climbs into the car.
"It didn't. She wasn't here today."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Tess."
"Do you think you could drop me off at her apartment? I really need to talk to her today."
"Sure."
I drive to Emma's apartment and drop Tessa off. "When should I pick you up?"
"I shouldn't be long. I can walk home."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'll be fine."
"Okay, I love you."
"Thanks for dropping me off. I love you, Hardin. I'll see you at home soon," Tessa says before she walks towards Emma's apartment building.
I drive home, hoping things go well for Tessa.
Once I'm at home, I find myself feeling sad. The apartment feels so lonely without Tessa, especially now with all the recent memories of our fighting. I'm not sure when Tessa will be home, so I decide to have a shower.
Just as I'm finishing in the bathroom, I hear a knock at the door. Tessa must have forgotten her keys, so I quickly wrap a towel around myself and go to let her in. I open the door, but it's not Tessa I'm greeted with.
"Well, well, well... I can't believe my eyes! If it isn't Hardin Scott."
It can't be... "Janine?!"
"In the flesh," she says as she barges into my apartment.
"What the fuck are you doing here? And how did you even find me?"
"Relax, Scott," she says as she runs her fingertips over some paper she's holding in her hand. "It's not like I'm stalking you," she cackles.
"Then what are you doing here?" I ask, quickly losing my patience with her.
"This is all just a big coincidence. I'm staying at my friend's apartment down the hall, and she asked me to return some of your mail she received by accident. It's for someone named... Tessa Young," she says as she passes me the mail.
"Okay, you returned it. Now you can go."
"Not so fast. We have a lot of... catching up to do." She walks toward me, until she's standing only inches from me.
"It's time for you to go, Janine," I command.
"Didn't you miss me?" she asks as she runs her finger along the top of my towel.
"Not one bit. Leave."
"What's the rush? Does it have anything to do with Tessa Young?"
"Don't you dare even say her name."
"What's wrong? Do you date now? Is she your... girlfriend?" she asks as she runs her finger slowly up my stomach, until she's resting her hand on my chest.
"Don't touch me," I say as I push her hand off me.
"Wow. You used to be a lot more fun. What did that Tessa do to you?"
"I mean it, Janine. You aren't welcome here. You need to leave. Now."
"Fine. If you're going to be such a prude, I will go."
"Good. And don't come back."
Janine turns to leave, but then walks back toward me. She leans into me and whispers into my ear, "If you ever want to have some fun, you know where to find me."
Right then I hear the door creak open. Tessa is standing in the doorway, glaring at me and Janine. "Hardin? Who is this woman hanging all over your half naked body?"
This is not going to end well.
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