Crescendo

Chapter 7

Rain pelted the glass panes and stirred me out of my sleep. I pried my eyes open, already dreading the day, and ignored the stale taste in my mouth.

I reached for my cell phone on the edge of the bed. A tangled mess of sheets followed me like a wedding train as I moved.

Five missed calls from Tessa.

Typical.

I pinched my eyes shut and sighed. At least she got the manuscript.

Before I could pull the blankets over my head and hibernate, thunder shook the condo.

I took it as my official wake-up call and stumbled out of bed. My once-messy bun dangled sloppily off the side of my head as I made my way to the bathroom.

After ridding myself of my morning breath, I traipsed into the kitchen for breakfast–technically lunch. My phone vibrated on the counter as I grabbed a bowl out of the cabinet.

I knew Tessa would keep texting until I addressed the massive plot holes in the manuscript. If only I had the answers she was looking for. I sighed and started pouring milk into my cereal.

"So you're not going to answer?" Tessa's voice startled me into spilling milk onto the counter and down the front of my shirt.

"Fuck," I swore and turned to see her waiting across the counter, "Boundaries?" Milk dripped off of my shirt and into a small puddle at my feet.

I snatched a dishtowel off the oven handle and started damage control.

"I didn't have another choice," she rolled her eyes and sat down at the breakfast bar.

"That key is only for emergencies." I dabbed away the excess milk and wiped the floor clean.

"It's two in the afternoon," Tessa grabbed an apple off the top of the fruit bowl, "I was afraid you had a stroke."

"I overslept," I said before peeling off my wet t-shirt. Tessa whistled at the sight of my lime-green sports bra.

"Warn a girl before you start stripping," she laughed, "I can at least bring some ones next time."

I reclaimed my cereal and joined her at the breakfast bar, "You wish."

"That store downtown is always hiring," Tessa swiveled on the barstool, "The one with the live shows."

Pink Cherry? Ha.

I glanced up from my cereal, "Not a chance in hell." The lights flickered above us as the thunder roared outside.

Tessa raised an eyebrow, "What happened to you last night?"

"Besides rewriting my essay for Mr. Kane? I drove Jay home."

"What?" her eyes widened, "Did you see-"

"They separated," I answered before shoveling another spoonful of Frosted Flakes into my mouth.

"That's good news, isn't it? After all, the bitch did forbid you two from seeing each other."

I pinched my lips together at the memory. "Yeah, but he went along with it." Six years of friendship down the drain.

Tessa nodded and stared past me. We ate in silence for a moment before she brought up the topic I dreaded most.

"Not to kick you when you're down but," she produced a printed copy of the outline and slid it over the counter, "What the hell is this?"

I took another bite before responding, "Pirates."

She stared at me. "Blair, this isn't an outline. It's an essay on-"