What is love?

Chapter 3

"Say Tessa, feeling nervous about tonight?" Taylor teased, her eyes dancing with mischief.

I scoffed, trying to play it cool. "No way," I replied, but my voice betrayed me.

Gabrielle chimed in with a laugh, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, right," she retorted, not buying my act for a second.

"I'm not nervous, I insisted, picking at my sandwich with nervous energy.

Tasha scooted closer, a mischievous glint in her eye."You look a bit on edge, if you ask me," she remarked.

"I'm not on edge," I retorted, but I could feel my cheeks heating up with embarrassment.

Renae jumped in with a teasing grin. "You look like a tomato," Tess, she teased, her laughter infectious.

I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "You guys are the ones making me blush," I muttered, trying to play it off.

Gabrielle seized the opportunity to tease me further. "So, when do we get to meet this mystery guy whos got you blushing so hard? she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

I groaned inwardly, regretting ever mentioning Andrew, my new neighbor to them. I'd spilled all the embarrassing details of our first encounter.

Their laughter filled the room, a chorus of amusement and camaraderie that made me feel both comforted and slightly mortified.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of our break, I reluctantly bid my friends goodbye, knowing I had a long evening ahead of me.

"_" *_* "_" *_*

The soothing sound of Sia's music filled the bathroom as I sang along, letting the music drown out the chaos of my thoughts.

"Tessa!" Jasons voice cut through the music, snapping me out of my reverie. "You've been in there forever! I can't go to dinner smelling like this!"

I rolled my eyes, ignoring his complaints. "No one asked you to come home smelling like a sweaty gym sock," I shot back, relishing the opportunity to annoy him.

"Get out now, or I'm calling Mom!" he threatened, his frustration evident in his voice.

"Relax, I'm coming," I replied, stepping out of the shower and wrapping myself in a robe.

An idea struck me, and I couldn't resist the urge to play a prank. Grabbing a cup of cold water, I waited for Jason to pass by before splashing him and darting back to my room, laughing all the way.

"Tess! You're dead!" Jason's angry voice echoed through the house, but I paid him no mind, reveling in my victory.

As I got ready for dinner, my nerves began to kick in, the looming prospect of the evening ahead filling me with dread. With each passing moment, my anxiety threatened to consume me, leaving me feeling helpless and overwhelmed.

But as I headed downstairs to greet our guests, I put on a brave face, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Little did I know, the evening had only just begun, and the surprises it held would test me in ways I never imagined.

*_* "_" *_* "_"

The doorbell chimed, signaling the arrival of our guests. "I'll get it!" I announced, steeling myself for the encounter.

As I approached the door, a wave of nerves washed over me, though I couldn't quite place why. I shook off the feeling, reminding myself that I had nothing to be anxious about. After all, my last interaction with them hadn't been disastrous.

Opening the door, I was greeted by Mrs. Watsons warm smile. "Hello, dear," she greeted, her voice friendly and inviting.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Watson. How are you guys?" I replied politely, offering a smile of my own.

"We're doing well, and you?" Mr. Watson asked, his demeanor kind and welcoming.

"I'm well, thank you. Please, come inside. Mom is in the kitchen, and Dad is in the backyard," I said, stepping aside to let them in.

Just as I was about to close the door, Andrew approached the house, and I couldn't suppress a flutter of nerves. I fought the urge to play a prank, deciding to be on my best behavior for once.

"Hey, Tessa," Andrew greeted, his smile bright and friendly.

"Hey, Andrew," I replied, managing a nervous smile.

"Can I come in?" he asked politely, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Of course, come inside," I replied, feeling a rush of relief as he walked past me.

As Andrew greeted the rest of my family, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the evening ahead.

At the dinner table, the conversation flowed easily, everyone engaged in lively discussions about vacation plans and favorite destinations.

When my mother turned the conversation to Andrews future plans, my heart skipped a beat. I held my breath, waiting anxiously for his response.

"So, Andrew," my mom inquired, her voice gentle yet probing, "which school are you planning on attending?"

The tension in my body seemed to heighten as I awaited Andrews answer. I tried to maintain a calm exterior, but my insides churned with nervous energy. Please dont say...

"St. Peters High," Andrew replied, his words sending shockwaves through me.

My head hung low for just a second, not long enough for it to look as if I was being impolite. My mind raced with panicked thoughts as I struggled to process what hed just said. Of all the schools in the area, hed chosen mine.

"That's where the kids go." She told him. "Isn't that great you guys?" She turned her attention to us.

"That's awesome man." Jason gave a muted excitement response.

"Mhmn." I smiled a very ingenuine pursed lip, scrunched nose smile at him as I reached for my water. My hands shook with nerves, causing me to knock over Jason's glass in a clumsy mishap.

Embarrassment flooded through me as I apologized profusely, my cheeks burning with humiliation. But as I glanced at Andrew, I couldn't help but notice the self-satisfied smirk on his face, and I cursed my anxiety for once again getting the better of me.

As Sharan and Austin bid their farewells, I found myself standing at the door with Andrew. There was a palpable tension between us, a strange mix of unease and anticipation.

"Thanks for coming," I said, trying to break the awkward silence.

Andrew nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. "Yeah, it was... interesting," he replied, a hint of amusement in his tone.

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, knowing all too well the reason behind his amusement. "Sorry about the... mishap," I muttered, gesturing vaguely towards the dining room where chaos had ensued earlier.

He chuckled softly. "No need to apologize. It's kind of your thing, isn't it? Always finding a way to make things interesting."

I couldnt help but feel a pang of annoyance at his comment, but I forced a smile nonetheless. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

We stood there for a moment; the awkwardness was beginning to choke me. Then, Andrew glanced at his watch and sighed. "Well, I should probably get going. See you next Monday, I suppose."

I nodded, watching as he walked away with his hands in his pockets, leaving me standing alone at the door. As much as I wanted to brush off his comment and pretend it didnt bother me, a part of me couldnt help but feel stung by his words.

Feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me, I closed the door and leaned against it, pressing my forehead against the cool wood.

"Man, Tess..." Jasons voice sounded from behind me, laced with amusement. "You really have a knack for making a scene."

Without lifting my head from the door, I shot him a glare and raised a hand, flipping him off in response. He chuckled as he ran up the stairs. Some things never change, and Jasons teasing will definitely be one of them.