Man of My Dreams

Chapter 5 (Tessa)

After Emma and I get back to the dorm, I finally break the silence between us. "Emma, are you okay?"

"Yeah..." she says sadly. "Thanks to Hardin."

"Well, I'm glad he was there," I say and then get into bed, pull the covers over myself and turn to face the wall.

"Tessa... I can't go to sleep knowing you're mad at me."

"Well, stay up all night then."

"Tessa! Let's talk about this."

"What's to talk about? You humiliated me."

"I didn't mean to. I thought I was helping."

I turn to face Emma and sit up on my bed. "Helping?"

"Yeah. I knew you were too shy to make the first move, so I did it for you."

"I didn't want your help! I didn't want my first kiss with Hardin to be in front of all those people who were only making fun of me."

"I'm really sorry. Please forgive me."

"I..."

"Please, Tessa!" she begs.

"Do you promise to never interfere again?"

"Of course! Okay, well... maybe not never..."

"Emma!"

"But I promise I won't do anything to embarrass you again."

I take a moment before answering, "Fine... I forgive you." I roll my eyes.

"Friends again?" She smiles.

"Only if we're the best." I smile back.

"Of course!" Emma screams and runs to leap onto my bed before hugging me. "So, did you and Hardin fool around?" She smirks.

"What?! Why would you think that?"

"Well, he went upstairs to find you and then you both came out of his room."

"Wait. He came upstairs to find me?"

"Yeah. You didn't know? That bitchy Molly was so furious. It was hilarious!"

"No, I didn't," I say quietly. "I wandered into his room by accident. And we..."

"You...?" Emma's face lights up with curiosity.

"We had a moment."

"A moment? That's all you're going to say?"

"That's all it was. At first, we weren't getting along and I was about to leave, but he stopped me. His touch was so gentle and his voice became so soft and vulnerable. It was almost like he had become the man from my dreams. I-I went to kiss him, but..."

"But?"

"We heard you scream and ran to find you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Tessa."

"It's fine. I'm just glad you're safe. What happened?"

"I was leaving the bathroom and that drunk guy came onto me. I tried to leave and he pushed me up against the wall. I'm so thankful to Hardin. He seems like a good guy, Tessa."

"I don't know... I did learn he likes classic novels, but... he has a giant ego, he's a womanizer and worst of all... he's also hooking up with Molly!"

"Gross! But I got the feeling that he doesn't really care about her, Tessa."

"So? It's better that he uses women to get what he wants? It's a good thing we didn't kiss. I think I dodged a bullet."

"You really believe that?"

"Yes. Or at least I thought so, until..."

"Until what?"

"Before I got out of the car, we had another moment. He touched my wrist and it was like my whole body came to life. Then he gently brushed my hair behind my ear and told me he hopes he sees me again soon. And... he called me Tess! I've never heard my name sound as beautiful as it did coming from his lips."

"Oh, wow. You can't give up on him! Maybe that frat boy act is just for his friends. Maybe the real him is the man you see in your dreams and you're meant to help bring it out."

"Do you know how ridiculous this whole conversation is? The boy I met tonight is nothing like the one from my dreams. We had a moment. That's all. If I ever see him again, I'm sure he won't be anything like he was when we were alone in his room, or his car... And even if the womanizing frat boy isn't the real him and the real him is waiting for me to help find him, it's not up to me to save him."

"Well, I think we should go back there next Friday!"

"Are you insane?"

"I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to Nate. Maybe you're not willing to take a chance on love, but I am."

"Love? You just met him."

"So? You technically just met Hardin, but you already sound head over heels in love with him."

"What?! Did you not hear all the horrible things I pointed out about him?"

"Yes... But when you said all those nice things about the 'moment' you had with him, your eyes began to sparkle. You're in love."

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are!"

"I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. And I hope I never dream about Hardin Scott again!"