The Shadowhunters

Developing Relationship

Most of the dates Tessa's been with Will was training. Training, training and more training. The occasional coffee shop

and library date would come in, but it was mostly training. Tessa was immensely grateful for it too.

…

Tessa had just agreed to go on the date with Will. "I've never been one for sharing my feelings," he whispered into her ear. "And I can't believe the one time I did it, it worked."

Tessa laughed.

"What do you want to do, then?" Will asked, setting her back down onto the bench. "Strolling in Hyde Park? Going to our secret attic," Will winked heavily. "Throwing rocks at

ducks?"

Tessa was appalled at the last one.

"Ducks are monsters," Will stated plainly.

"Teaching me how to fight?" Tessa suggested.

"Why would you want to do that? Cecily said you hated training," Will said.

Tessa shrugged. "I was just exaggerating I guess. I do want to learn though," Tessa insisted. "I mean, I've always wanted to be those girls who were heroines in their stories. Like

Jane Eyre or…"

"Jane Eyre never learned how to fight," Will interrupted.

"But she knew what she wanted. In the end she won both dignity and freedom," Tessa protested.

"You live in the twenty­first century, Tess. I'm pretty sure you have both," Will said. Tessa narrowed her eyes at Will and Will immediately relented. "I understand," Will said,

immediately sobering. "No one likes feeling powerless."

Tessa raised an eyebrow but Will schooled his emotions too fast for Tessa to clearly read them. "Well, I'm not going to go easy on you though. Cecily has been teaching you but

you've been learning terribly slowly." Tessa bit her lip, biting back a retort. Will stifled a laughter at the obvious show of restraint.

"I wouldn't want you to go easy, anyways. I don't even think you're that good," Tessa said snootily.

"Oh, is that a challenge?" Will said, a lilt in his tone.

"Bring it," Tessa challenged.

…

Tessa sat on stone steps of the Institute, waiting for Will to arrive. People passed by – some Tessa recognized as Institute students – and they were all whispering and pointing at

Tessa. Tessa sighed. Will was absolutely reckless that day…

It was December 17 – on a Friday. Which made it exactly a month, fifteen days – Tessa checked her watch – one hour and two seconds (now, three) since Will had announced that

Tessa was "his girl" in the cafeteria.

…

Tessa was just eating – very innocently, mind you – and this was probably the first time no one has stared at her and gossiped – yet.

Tessa was feeling awfully pessimistic as she glared at her BLT.

"Don't worry, Tessa," Sophie whispered. "I'm sure no one will stare at you today." The previous times they had stared at her was because of the: 1. Rumours that Jessamine