Afterwards: An "After" Fanfiction

Chapter 29: Save You Tonight

When the doctor finally allowed visitors in Tessa's room, Steph bolted down the hallway with tears still in her eyes. Still fully expecting to see her friend unconscious in a hospital bed hooked up to several tubes, she was greeted by a much different sight.

Tessa sat upright, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while intently watching a reality show on television. She wasn't even in a hospital gown, and sported the same clothes she wore at the party. "Hey Steph." She mumbled nonchalantly, holding out some bread. "Want some?"

Steph ignored the gesture, instead rushing over to embrace the other in a tight hug. "Thank God you're alright!"

Somewhat confused--and a little upset that the forceful hug had knocked the last of her sandwich to the floor--Tessa furrowed her brows. "What's all the fuss about? I had an allergic reaction, that's all. They just jabbed me with a needle full of epinephrine and I was fine in a few minutes. The doctor said I can leave once they process my paperwork."

Pulling back, Steph scoffed. "We all thought you were dead! They wouldn't tell us anything or let anyone see you. Even Hardin--" She stopped, covering her mouth with her hands. "Oops...I mean..."

Tessa's eyes widened. "What about him?"

It was too late to lie. Steph bit her lip, preparing for the worst. "He's back." She saw the pain etched on her friend's features. "But there's good news. He didn't sleep with Molly!" When the other's expression didn't change, she continued on. "Also, he told me tell you that he loves you. Exactly what you wanted, right?"

Still, Tessa didn't respond. "That's it." She said to herself as she shook her head. "I definitely died at that party."

Embracing the other girl once again, Steph giggled. "No. You're definitely alive. I guess he was on his way back to the states anyway, but once he heard what happened to you he came to the hospital. He was absolutely broken, Tess. We both were. We weren't sure if you were going to make it. Yeah, he admitted to doing drugs. But Hardin never cheated on you...and he's still in love with you."

After letting the news set in, Tessa couldn't help but grin no matter how hard she tried to stop herself. "Are you sure?" Those were the exact words she was hoping to hear ever since New Year's Eve. She had hoped to hear them from Hardin himself, but nonetheless, she was overjoyed that her worst fears were proven false.

"Mhm. One hundred percent."

"I still don't know if I can forgive him." Tessa's brain was overflowing with emotions. Relief, happiness, and fear. "My father's drug abuse pretty much destroyed my childhood. The last thing I wanted was to fall for someone just like him."

Steph squeezed Tessa's hand. "As I'm sure you know, it's not an easy habit to break. You helped me get clean, and I think if you give Hardin the chance, you could help him too."

Tessa thought back to her conversation with Noah in Malibu. 'As much as you want to try and change everyone for the better, you have to know that you can't.' But here Steph was, holding her hand and saying that Tessa had changed her.

"Just give him another chance." Steph suggested. "He might surprise you."

"I'll think about it." Tessa wanted to forgive and forget. She desperately wanted things to go back to the way they were before New Year's. Yet, even though Steph had confirmed that Hardin hadn't cheated, something still seemed wrong. She had given Hardin a chance to stop doing drugs when he had almost overdosed. She had asked him to stop spending time with Zed, and she had practically ignored his drug dealing past. So why did the issue still persist?

As several thoughts raced through her mind, her phone rang and brought her back to the present.

Thinking it was Hardin, Steph winked and stood to leave. "I'll let you take this on your own."

The number was unlisted. "He must have realized I blocked his cell." She reasoned before picking up. Perhaps he had gone to a payphone. Closing her eyes, she mentally prepared herself to hear his voice again.

"Hello Theresa Young." It wasn't him.

Her eyes fluttered open and disappointment sat heavy in her chest. "Who is this?" The person on the other line adjusted the phone. Tessa heard another noise in the background; was that someone screaming? "Who's calling?" She looked towards the door, seeing Steph standing just on the other side of the wall.

"You don't know me." The male voice began. "But some people refer to me as Big Shot."

Tessa's blood ran cold. She was sure she could hear screaming in the background.

The drug dealer continued: "Your boyfriend fucked me over big time. I don't give second chances. If you want to make sure he and Christian make it out of here alive, get into the car out front and bring me the money they owe. I'll know if you get the cops involved, so I'd refrain from doing so. Tell no one, and say nothing." He paused, leaving just enough time for Tessa to hear Hardin's horrified voice begging her not to come. "I'd say he's about...eight thousand dollars in debt to me. You have one hour. And remember, we're watching."

The line went dead.

Before Tessa could react, Steph came waltzing back into the room. "What did he say?  Did he apologize? Wait, why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

They, whoever they were, would be watching her every move. Her eyes darted around the hospital room and she saw no one except Steph. Still, she felt eyes on her. Tessa resolved to keep the frightening phone call to herself for the moment. "Oh, nothing. It wasn't him." Her voice shook as she lied.

Steph frowned. "Hm. Well, hopefully you hear from him soon."

Tessa barely heard the words her friend said. Everything sounded far away, as if she were in a tunnel. Tessa was furious with Hardin for getting involved with drug dealers in the first place, and for letting Zed pull him back towards that lifestyle. However, his life was now in danger, and her anger could wait.

"The nurse said you're all good to go, by the way." Steph added, helping Tessa put on her boots. "Did you want me to give you a ride back to your place? I can drop off your suitcase later."

Tessa couldn't possibly get Steph involved. "No, I scheduled an Uber." She muttered as they walked out of the building. A black Mercedes with tinted windows was stalling by the front entrance.

There was no possible way she could get so much money in an hour. As she glanced at Steph's smiling face, she racked her brain for some way she could save both Hardin and Vance. If she couldn't figure anything out, she knew it would be the last time she'd see her best friend.

As Tessa's hopeless mind flipped through the good times she and Steph had shared, something in particular stood out.

"The modeling contract!" She blurted, confusing the other girl.

"What now?"

"N-nothing!" Tessa stammered. "I just remembered I have to respond to a really important email." She frantically scanned through weeks of unread messages until she found what she was looking for. Praying for the first time since childhood, she sent a reply and hoped for the best.

'Hi Luke, I'd like to formally accept the modeling position for your sunglasses campaign. What would you say if I asked for the money upfront?'

When the black Benz inched closer to where she stood, her crippling fear returned. Her body told her to resist. To run. To scream. To call the cops. But she knew that once she did any of those things, Hardin would be killed. Against her better judgment, she hugged Steph goodbye and stepped into the car.