Don't Blame Me: Genius

Christian

UPDATE!!
~Tess Pov ~

Thursday Afternoon/Evening

"Welcome to Hot Topic," I dreaded greeting the first customer of the day.

"Wow Tess, so much emotion," Christian said sarcastically.

"Only the best for you," I quipped.

"Yeah I can tell, your ass looks great in those jeans,," Christian gave me a wink, carrying a box off to the back.

Christian is my coworker at Hot Topic. Besides annoying me with his terrible flirting, he was a gracious asshole with a huge amount of sass. Even though he hit on me all the time, I made a good friend out of him.

This summer I got a job at my favorite store. I love working here. I wanted to stack and save up extra money before senior year to have for college. It also distracted me from the thought that I had no idea of what schools I wanted to go to, let alone what I wanted to do.

My mom told me not to worry, that I still had another year. I know I don't have to go to college right away but Hope had her whole life planned out, and if I didn't I just know we weren't going to be together.

"Hey! Snap out of it, you're cute but not cute enough to stand around doing nothing," Christian snarked, and I rolled my eyes as I walked to the middle of the store.

"Don't forget, I'm leaving early. I don't want to be here with you all day," I narrowed my eyes on him.

He side eyed me with a grin, "aww I thought I was your oxygen, how will you live without me," he chuckled. Man, did he know how to get under your skin.

I gave a sarcastic gasp, "Oh, is that what you tell yourself? Well, I'm sorry for you,".

Christian replied with a lick of his lips.
"If you'd let me take you out, we wouldn't have all these sorrys," he came from behind the counter towards me. Here he goes again.

I titled my head, "My girlfriend wouldn't approve," I turned him down for the one thousandth time in eight weeks.

"Right. Girlfriend." Christian smirks, with an eyebrow raise.

Since the first day I met him, he swore up and down I wasn't a lesbian. He told me that I was definitely bisexual, that he could practically smell it on me. The audacity men have.

Later on I go in the back room to gather my things to leave. I was headed to Hope's home to help Ms. Starr set up decorations in Hope's room. I call Hope's mom to tell her that I am on my way to help her set up the surprise. I was excited. It feels like I haven't gotten to see Hope in forever. We are on different schedules so we don't get to see each other, let alone talk as much. Nevertheless, we make it work.
—
I eventually arrived. My mom has been letting me drive her shit brown station wagon but it isn't too reliable. I had to stop a few times on the way over. "Hi! It's so good to see you," I greeted Ms. Starr on the way into the door.

"Tess Hi! Oh my, you've gotten taller haven't you?," she laughed, pulling me into a hug. Ms. Starr was always one for jokes. It was never a dull moment with her. "Listen, I have balloons, letters, string and party blowers. We will light the cake when we hear her walk in," she speaks with excitement. "Okay, let's do it", I followed her upstairs.

Ms. Starr and I started with decorating Hope's bedroom door. She started in on a conversation, "So, have you guys talked recently?," she said curiously while blowing up a balloon. She knew.

"Yeah! Well, I mean we're so busy and our scheduling doesn't line up, we don't get to see each other. We still call sometimes, facetime is our new best friend currently," I lowered my head.

Ms. Starr paused with the decorations, "So what I'm hearing is that neither one of you are trying," she said with a heavily convictive tone. Enough to make my head snap up. I looked at her with wide eyes, I didn't want her to think I didn't love her daughter, I did. "Any small gesture will suffice within a relationship Tess, that goes for you and Hope. Her internship ended today, and your last day working is tomorrow, you guys have the whole weekend,".

Ms. Starr was right. She was always right. She never failed to give the best advice.

We waited for Hope to come home but as we waited, the thoughts in my mind were reckless. I turned to Ms. Starr to ask, "Do you think Hope has any doubts about choosing me?," with a concerned look. "No, I think Hope wants more of you, as you do her. I also think youre still treating your relationship like a friendship. Pour into it and it shall grow," Ms Starr spoke wisely.

Soon enough we heard the front door open and close, then creaking sounds forming up the stairs. Hope stopped at her closed bedroom door, we could hear the "Oh, wow," from inside the room. When she finally opened up her door, Ms Starr and I let out an exclamation, "SURPRISE SENIOR!,". Hope stood shocked, examining the room. Her eyes landed on me and she darted towards me. Hope lifted me and spun me around.

"I've missed you" she expressed with a kiss. I filled the kiss with an "I've missed you,"
—

We took our cake to eat down in the kitchen. We shared multiple laughs, smiles, and talked about how things were going with my job and Hopes training. I don't remember the last time I had this but I wanted it to stay like this. I wanted this every single day.

"You guys look extremely happy," Ms Starr smiled at us. We looked at each other but didn't say anything. I guess things didn't have to be said when you're happy, but I felt like Hope hesitated.

"We are," I stated. Hope chuckled, "Definitely,"

She then swiped cake icing on her finger onto my nose. "Mmm what a shame, I get you everytime," Hope says, licking the access icing off of her finger. "And you pay for it everytime," I gave her an evil grin, then started to chase her upstairs into her room. I almost had her until her phone rang.

"Wait wait hold on-hello?," she said to the other party.
"Hey Malia, what up?," Hope said with excitement.
"Seriously! Don't even! Omg, I am gagged right now!," she increased her excitement.
"Okay okay, i'll be there," she finished her conversation.

Hope ended the phone call with a smile on her face. She always had a smile on her face when she spoke about Malia. Malia. The beautiful brown eyed intern that played a part in Hope's journey. "What happened?," I asked eagerly. "Mr. Fallen wants me to come back tomorrow for the college fair!," Hope exclaimed, jumping up and down. "Wow, that's amazing. You deserve it," I hugged her.

"I'm taking you with me, I love you" Hope told me.
"I love you" I said back.

I still had no idea what I was going to do with my life. One thing for certain and two things for sure, I love Hope and I wanted her in it.

Thursday Night

"Hey I wasn't going to say anything but are you okay? You seemed so sad when you walked back into work," Christian asked me, as I was cleaning up the store for closing.

My eyes started to tear up, "Yeah I'm fine, thanks," I wiped a tear that snuck its way down my cheek. Christian tapped me on my shoulder as a way to make me face and look at him.

"Hey, you know we're friends and you can tell me anything," he breathed softly.
Christian's smile was bright. It was reassuring, comforting, convincing. He and I closed the store but sat in the back talking for a few more hours.

"So this Malia girl is really messing with your head," Christian said.

I breathed out, "Yeah. And I don't want it to be another situation like Ren but-," he interrupted.

"-do you trust Hope?," he asked me.
"I do," I nodded.
"And do you trust yourself," he questioned me again.
"I do," I nodded once more.
"Then you shouldn't be scared Tess. Go home, I'll see you tomorrow,"

I gave Christian a smile, he returned a brighter smile.

I had it all wrong though, I should've read the book from the beginning but I skipped to the plot.