Theresa's Choice

Part 5

"James asked me out on a date," said Tessa. It was a Tuesday afternoon and Nicolas invited Tessa over to help him with homework for that day. There was a particularly hard Math problem Nicolas can't understand.

"When did he ask you?" said Nicolas, looking intensely at his paper while gripping his pencil tightly.

"After Literature, he walked up to me," said Tessa, "I said yes, and he said he'll pick me up at seven."

"Oh," was Nicolas's only reply, still struggling with his work.

"No, you have to add it on both sides to retain the equality of the equation," said Tessa looking at Nicolas's paper, "and complete the perfect square trinomial using the b over two squared formula."

Nicolas made no reply but heeded Tessa's instructions. He finished the problem two minutes later, but his face still had the look of extreme annoyance.

"What do you like about him exactly?" said Nicolas, setting his papers aside.

"He's very-"

"I find him very conceited and self-absorbed"

"Well, you're not the one dating him, why should you have a problem with him?"

Nicolas was silent.

"What happens if a person doesn't get chosen, and there's no one left to choose?" he asked after a while.

"None of us are really sure," said Tessa, "they usually just disappear. No one sees them again."

"Has this happened before?" asked Nicolas.

"Yes, my mom told me stories about when she was seventeen," said Tessa remembering her mother's sadness, "Her best friend, a girl named Rosaline, wasn't picked by anyone nor had the chance to pick someone. She stood there alone on stage on the verge of tears. My mom then was with my dad watching her from the wings of the stage. Suddenly, two of the police walked onstage and escorted her out. Rosaline was never seen again. Rumour has it she was locked up to die in the Council's building, but the Council members denied this. In truth, they never gave us a reasonable explanation for her disappearance; all was left to speculation"

"That is very cruel, to be left outcast and alone then to be sent off to nowhere," said Nicolas.

An alarm rang, and it came from Tessa's phone.

"It's five thirty already, I better go home and get ready," said Tessa, "you know, for the date."

"Have fun," said Nicolas indifferently who remained lying on the bed face down as Tessa got up and went home.

Tessa was in her room and rummaging through her giant wooden closet looking for a dress. In the end, however, when the night had already made itself known, she settled for a simple, tight, black dress which goes to only her knees. She chose black four-inch stilettos that weave its way up to her legs to match the dress. She wore light make up, adding to her usual routine a darker lipstick than usual and less amounts of blush. Her hair was just about finished when she thought about her situation with James. She can't help but wonder if James had asked her out only because the Choosing Ceremony was near. If he truly did like Tessa, he surely would have asked her out before. But he did not. She wanted to share her problems with Nicolas earlier, but she decided against it. She checked the clock and found out that it was already a quarter to seven. She decided therefore to give James the benefit of the doubt and not second-guess his intentions. She was getting an opportunity after all to go on a date with someone she liked.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were waiting downstairs in the drawing room. They had wanted to meet the young man who will take their daughter out on a date.

"He is Painterly, you say," said Mr. Johnson, "I know his father, William Painterly, a most handsome fellow. He works in the cultivating business. I daresay; does his young man inherit his looks?"

"Where is he, darling," said Mrs. Johnson, "it's nearly seven."

The doorbell rang and Mr. Johnson immediately went to the door and opened it. There was James Painterly in a sleek, dark blue suit with his sandy hair styled like a renaissance prince.

"Good evening, Mr. Johnson," said James. After the formalities have been made, Mr. Johnson and James walked into the drawing room where Mrs. Johnson and Tessa waited. When they walked in the room, Tessa felt her mind blank and could only see the figure of James striding toward her. This was a moment she lived only in her mind, and now it had come true. The scene was immaculate, her parents were smiling at their daughter's happiness, and James was divine perfection with a bouquet of large red roses in his arms. He gave her the flowers and made his greetings.

"Young man," said Mr. Johnson, "I trust you only have the best intentions for Tessa."

"Of course, sir," said James.

"She has to be home by eleven," said Mrs. Johnson whose smile cannot be contained, "it is a school night."

"She will be home by eleven safe and sound, ma'am," said James.

"Off you go, both of you, and have fun," said Mrs. Johnson, giving Tessa a slight push. James offered Tessa his hand and the two walked out the door.