CHAPTER 2: TESSIE'S POV

"Did you get the pages for the maths homework?" I asked Ava as soon as I got back to class from a bathroom break only that Ava's mind was elsewhere. "Ava!" I shouted snapping her out of her daydreams.

"I'm sorry, what?" she asked suddenly gathering her books. I sighed and sat down heavily. "What? Don't look at me like that, I'm heartbroken."

"Or you are fantasizing about a certain hottie who isn't even in your class and is obviously worse than Tim."

"Don't be so mean. How could you even compare him to my ugly ass ex? I also sat behind him in AP History. Apparently juniors and seniors are going to have it together this semester so joke's on you." I shook my head. Whenever Ava got like this, getting her back was next to impossible. I didn't blame her though. Any girl who set her eyes on the mysterious new student was prone to acquire that fever and even I had found myself thinking about him in one occasion or two and I didn't like that he was distracting me during my classes. What I knew however was that he wasn't the kind of guy who looked twice at girls like me. Even Ava would be lucky if he at least said hi to her because hanging out with me made her like me. The friend of the unwanted nerd who didn't fit in any group.

"Did he notice you?" I challenged and Ava blew raspberries. "That should tell you something so stop dreaming and tell me what we have for our maths homework today."

"I didn't get it."

"Ava!"

"What? It's not my fault that they decided to put a maths class after lunch. I was dozing off."

"No, you weren't. You were just thinking about a guy who is never going to consider dating you!" I blurted out only realizing after what I had done. I had gone too far even though we could both agree it was true and hurting my best friend's feelings hadn't been nice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."

"You are right. Mean but right. How could he choose someone like me while the cheerleading team has like the hottest and most popular girls who I'm sure are more his type."

Even though I sometimes found the obsession with boys a bit stupid, I felt bad for Ava. I could see the hurt in her eyes as she spoke and even though I couldn't understand the pain of a heartbreak, I knew that I didn't want to see her like that.

"You are hot," I stated.

"Coming from you doesn't count, Tess," Ava pouted. Sometimes the constant validation that girls needed from boys irritated me but mentioning that out loud was likely to bring more backlash towards me. Ava would say that it was because I had no experience in love and maybe she was right. Or something was terribly wrong with me. "Can we hang out before going home? My mom is making me bus tables at the coffee shop but if I'm with you she won't. Please say yes. I need a distraction."

"Ava, I can't," I stated already feeling bad for turning her down. I could tell that the real reason she didn't want to go there was because Tim and his new girlfriend were regulars at the shop but I didn't say anything. "My dad wants me home early. Something to do with some guests."

"Don't you have guests regularly and you don't even need to be there?" Ava asked with a frown.

"I don't know, it feels different this time. My dad seemed off about it and I have to go find out what it was all about." Ava dropped back on her desk and groaned loudly. Normally I would have reconsidered my decision and turned down my dad's request to meet his guests but this time, it just didn't feel right. I had to go. "I will call you later. Love you," I stated and gathered my books before leaving a disappointed Ava behind.

I knew that something was seriously off the moment I stepped inside the house half an hour later. I was welcomed by a strong fragrance of a recently cleaned house combined with freshly baked dough. The air was crisp and inviting and the tidy living room wasn't just because my dad's work partners were coming over. I frowned but stepped inside hoping to get an explanation of whatever was going on. The dining table had already been set for four people but my dad was nowhere in sight.

I went up to my room, dropped my bag and then went back downstairs only to encounter another shock of the day. There he was, adjusting his favorite shirt's collar and sleeves. He hadn't worn that shirt for years but it still fitted him perfectly.

"What do you think, Tessie?" he asked, adorning a perfect smile.

I leaned against the doorframe and stared at him questioningly.

"Are you having a date over?"

"What? No!" he responded forcing a laugh. He was nervous about something.

"You are wearing your favorite shirt, you cleaned up, you shaved and I can smell your cologne from here. You also baked, let alone cooking." He chuckled softly. "What's the special occasion?"

My dad paused and sighed deeply but the smile remained. He motioned for me to sit on the couch and being the obedient daughter he had brought up, I did so without question but my heart was sending unsettling ripples through my blood.

"Tessaiah," he started, referring to me by my full name. "I think you are now old enough to handle these kind of conversations like an adult," he added.

"Dad, just spill. You are making me nervous."

"I um... Remember when your mom left us?"

"I was five. I don't remember much."

"Right. But you remember the letter she left you. The one that I gave you on your fifteenth birthday?"

"Yes, I do. What does it have to do with all this."

"She told me to give it to you once I was ready to... move on and you were old enough to understand that I needed that." I stared at him blankly. A part of me knew where this was going and maybe because I wasn't ready to believe it was true, I didn't know how to act or what to say. He went on. "Well, I think I have found the right woman and -"

The doorbell rang, interrupting his speech. As if he had been waiting for it to save him, he turned quickly heading there. I stood up and followed him quickly, his words reverberating in my head and suddenly it was like I was hearing them for the first time.

"Wait, what?" My expression was a combination of surprise and shock but it had come a little too late.

I was standing a few steps away when he opened the door ushering a tall woman, pretty with long black hair and a smile that lit up her face almost the same as my dad's did when their eyes met. My jaw dropped as they shared a kiss right in front of me but luckily, it was brief.

"Welcome to our home," my dad stated and took her hand as they turned to me. "This is my daughter Tessaiah and Tessie, meet Diane. My fiance."

"It's nice to meet you, Tessaiah," Diane stated with a warm smile. "I have heard so much about you."

My heart jumped to my mouth. The word 'what' had formulated on my tongue but the moment I tried to utter it, only my lips moved silently. I looked at the two, smiling ear to ear like two teenagers in love. I hadn't even been in love to know how that felt like but I could see it in them. How could he do that to me? After eleven years of just being the two of us, no secrets between us only for him to spring up on me with such a surprise. I wasn't sure how long I stood there in silence until he spoke again.

"Tessie?" he chuckled awkwardly.

I knew what he was asking for so with my best smile, I stepped forward and shook the woman's hand.

"It's nice to meet you too," I stated and pulled my hand away after a brief shake then turned to my dad. "Can we talk?"

"Tess, we have a guest. Can it wait at least until after dinner?"

"No, it has to be now!"