Wessa what if

Welcome to the institute

Will POV

"I don't understand, how did you know who she was?" Cecily asks me. We haven't spoken for about an hour, we were both so engrossed in our novels that we didn't need to.

"There's no talking in the library Cecy" I hush her.

"Oh shut up Will", she slams her book closed and looks out the window towards the west wing where Tessa is now sleeping. "How did you know she was the one Starkweather was talking about?"

I sigh, this is Cecy, she'll keep asking until I tell her. "Fine, but you can't tell anyone" she nods quickly, "I had a dream about her, more than one actually. Anyway, then I ran into her the other day and she told me her name. It was weird but that's how I knew who she was"

Cecily doesn't say anything. The longer her silence gets the more I regret telling her.

"Okay"

"Okay? That's it?"

She shrugs "what do you want me to say? Honestly Will you're so dramatic sometimes"

I laugh and throw my book at her.

———
Tessa POV

My mind will not let me sleep, I keep thinking of what Mortmain will do when he finds that I have gone. I toss and turn in the bed. The walls are large and gold with red embellishments. There are candles dotted along the walls and on the large dresser. I touch my necklace and suddenly remember my grandfather. How could I have forgotten, he must be so worried.

I rush out my door and bump into something. No, someone.

"Oh dear, do excuse me" a red haired man rushes past me and I shake my head. This place is so odd.

I walk through large halls and down large staircases. Everything in this place is emphasised, dramatic.

"Tessa!" Cecily appears out of one of the rooms and waves me in.

I'm lost for words as soon as I step through the doors. There are books in place of walls, books piled on tables and chairs. My mouth is hanging open I'm awe but I couldn't care less. I don't even notice Will sitting there until he says, "do you read?"

I nod slowly, still looking at the books.

He laughs and I finally turn me head. His laugh is soft, kind. If his black wavy hair had a sound, it would be his laugh. I blush and turn away.

"I'm just going to-" Cecily disappears before she finishes her sentence. It's just Will and I now.

"May I?" I point towards the books.

Will nods "of course"

"Have you read many of them?"

"Some, there's not much time for reading around here"

I shake my head "there is always time to do the things you love"

Will smiles and my heart skips a beat "perhaps", he stands up and walks towards the shelf in front of me "and what is it that you love to do?"

I think for a second, "I love to read, sometimes I draw. I haven't really done that much" I look over at him to find that he's already looking at me, "what do you love?"

——
Will POV

"What do you love?"

You, I think. "I love to read, and I love my job"

Tessa nods, "it must be nice to know you have a purpose, to be born to do something so incredibly... beautiful I suppose"

I laugh, "I don't know if I would call it beautiful"

"Of course not, you're the one doing it. Heroes hardly ever think what they do is beautiful."

"Heroes?" I smile at the floor

She laughs, and my heart stops. It is the most wonderful sound in the world and I will never forget it.

A bell rings and I know immediately that it means dinner time. I hold out my arm to Tessa, "may I escort you to the dining hall"

She looks down at my arm and blushes, "You may"

I feel as though I have known her for years, that we are two old friends reconnecting after a short break.