Chapter 6 (Tessa)

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"I never noticed how bright the stars are," I say in amazement while staring up at the night sky from our favourite picnic spot at the park

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"I never noticed how bright the stars are," I say in amazement while staring up at the night sky from our favourite picnic spot at the park. When Hardin doesn't say anything, I bring my attention to him. "Hardin?"

"Hmm?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"I was just wondering what it would be like to kiss those perfect, full lips underneath the billion twinkling stars above us." He gives me a coy smile.

"Oh," I squeak.

I watch as he slowly leans into me and gently places his hand on my neck, while he rubs the pad of his thumb across my cheek. Within seconds I feel his warm lips collide with mine and all feels right in the world.

I'm jolted awake by the annoying beeping of my phone alarm. I take a second to shut it off and collect my thoughts before screaming, "He kissed me!"

"Huh? What? What's going on?" Emma asks, still half asleep and completely confused, before she quickly sits up in bed.

"He kissed me!" My smile beams from ear to ear as I continue to lie still in my bed, just staring up at the ceiling.

"What are you talking about?" Emma groans before lying back down and covering her face with her blanket.

"Hardin kissed me!"

"You dreamed about him again? That's the first time since your little tantrum about never wanting to dream about him again."

"I know." It's been a week since the frat party. It's also been a week since I dreamed about Hardin. "It just felt so real. His touch was so gentle," I explain as I carefully run my fingers over my cheek and neck. "And his kiss was... I don't know how to describe it, but it made me feel like everything was going to be okay... exactly the way it was supposed to be." I begin to run my thumb over my lip.

"Wow. If you get all that from a dream, just imagine kissing him for real."

"Yeah, right... I don't think that's ever going to happen. And I'm okay with that."

"You are?"

"Yes. Nothing Hardin does in real life could ever compare to my dreams. I know that. I'm okay just living with the fantasy of him. Eventually, I'll move on from my crush." I hope, I silently add.

Emma and I get ready for school. The day drags on, as it always seems to on a Friday.

We meet up after our last class and as we start to walk back to the dorm, I can tell Emma has some news to tell me. "Okay, out with it!"

"Nate invited me to the frat house tonight!" she squeals.

"Really? A frat party? How romantic!" I mock.

"Shut up. I'm excited. Guess what else!"

"Molly invited you over for a girls' night afterward?" I roll my eyes.

"Ha-ha. No... Hardin was asking about you!"

I immediately snap my neck to look at her. "What?" I ask in shock.

"He asked Nate if you were going to come to the party tonight, so Nate insisted I bring you."

"Are you insane?"

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know about you, but being laughed at by a bitchy pink haired bimbo and a group of her friends and then finding my best friend pinned against the wall by a horny, drunken frat boy doesn't sound like a good time to me."

"If you lay it out like that, it sounds bad."

"Tell it to me in a way that makes it sound good."

"You almost made out with Hardin. You had not one, but two moments with him." She smiles proudly.

"Emma..."

"Tessa..."

"Can't you just go alone?"

"I could. But I want you to come with me. Please."

"No."

"I'll give you a makeover. Hardin won't be able to stop himself from drooling over you."

"No."

"If Molly and her friends make fun of you, I'll purposely spill my drink all over her."

"No."

"Your dream of Hardin kissing you might come true."

"N—" I stop myself from finishing my sentence as I think of the possibility that Emma could be right.

"Yay! You're coming!" Emma claps excitedly.

"Fine..." I groan. "But no makeover! And you better spill two drinks on her."

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