Tosser~ a James Cook fanfic~

Freddie~1

Tess lay sprawled across her bed, flipping through a magazine and savouring the rare peace of a lazy Saturday. She'd planned for a day of zero effort—no parties, no drama, no running into people she wanted to avoid. That peace, however, was cut short as her mum knocked and then opened her door without waiting for a response, hands on her hips.

"Tess, you're coming with me for lunch," her mum announced, not even offering a choice.

Tess groaned, rolling her eyes. "What, no warning? Can't I have one day without any plans?"

"Which is exactly why we're going. We never do anything together anymore," her mum said firmly. "And you look like you need some fresh air."

After a lot of complaining and reluctant effort, Tess managed to get herself out the door and into her mum's car, the silent resignation hanging between them. They drove through town, her mum rattling on about her job, the weather, and the general "lack of effort" she felt Tess was putting into her life lately. Tess mostly tuned out, only nodding at the parts she figured required some kind of response.

On the way, her mum casually mentioned they'd be making a quick stop.

"Quick stop where?" Tess asked suspiciously, squinting as her mum turned into a quiet residential street.

"Oh, just at a co-worker's. Got to drop something off."

"Wait–you didn't mention we'd be doing your errands." Tess sighed dramatically.

"Consider it part of our quality time," her mum said, her tone too chipper to argue with.

As the car rolled to a stop outside a modest,  double story house, Tess barely had time to unbuckle her seatbelt before her mum was out, leaving her there.

"Wait here love! And don't do anything stupid" her mum called over her shoulder before heading up the front steps with a cheery wave.

"Yeah, yeah," Tess muttered, rolling her eyes. She climbed out of the car, stretching as she glanced around, walking up the driveway. She barely had time to make it to the front door when something hurtled toward her from the side, just missing her by inches.

She staggered back as a skater—tall, with messy dark hair and a beanie—came to an abrupt stop, nearly losing his balance.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Tess spat out, annoyed and still a bit startled.

The guy turned, raising an eyebrow as he brushed off his hoodie. "Uh, it's my house. The fuck are you doing here?"

Tess blinked, taking a closer look. Freddie. "Wait, this is your place?"

Freddie smirked, crossing his arms as he looked her over. "Yeah. Wasn't aware I needed permission to skate up my own driveway."

"Oh, shut up," Tess shot back, trying to regain her composure. She suddenly felt way out of her element, standing here on Freddie's turf. "My mum had to drop something off, that's all."

Freddie snorted. "So, what, you're here as moral support?"

Tess huffed, crossing her own arms. "Look, I didn't ask to be dragged along on her errands, alright?"

Freddie's smirk softened slightly, his tone less teasing. "S'all good. Didn't expect to see you here either."

They stood in silence for a moment, Tess feeling weirdly exposed standing there in his driveway.

Tess looked around the property awkwardly trying to find something to talk about, and for some reason she settled on the shed

"Cool shed" she said dryly