Chapter 150

Tessa’s POV

“I mean it, Brian. This doesn’t mean we are getting back together. I just needed to get out of the school,” I said, folding my arms across my chest as I stared out the window.

We drove for about 15 minutes and the further I got from the school, the more I felt I could breathe. But knowing I was in the passenger seat of Brian’s car; I felt a sense of unease boiling in my stomach.

The inside of his car hadn’t changed at all; he still had that stupid stuffed turtle he kept on the dashboard that he always had for good luck. His car reeked of his friend's cigarettes and Amanda’s perfume. Just as it did when we were together.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized, I was never truly with Brian. He was always with Amanda, I was just the girl in the way.

I wondered where Amanda was right now and if she even knew that Brian was with me.

I somehow doubted it very much.

Part of me wanted to ask him, but then I figured that it really didn’t matter anyway. I was only here to get away from the school and Brian had a car. I couldn’t bother Ruby with this and it’s not like I could talk to Joseph. He was too busy with his new girlfriend, Emily.

That sickening feeling returned to my stomach and my breathing became rash.

“Hey, relax. I’m just trying to be a decent person. I’ve been shitty lately and I have a lot to make up,” he said, shrugging his shoulders casually.

I rolled my eyes, somehow not believing him for a second.

“Where are we going anyway?”

“I told you; to get ice cream,” he said, glancing in my direction. “There’s a really good place downtown.”

I sighed and rested my head against the window; I did love ice cream. Brian always knew that about me but rarely let me eat it. He didn’t let me eat a lot of things. Mainly dairy products and red meat. He said eating stuff like that would make me fat and because all his friends, including his best friend, Amanda, looked like thin modules and strong athletes, I felt a little out of place and tried my best to look my best for him.

I did a lot of things for him.

I hate that I did that for him even though he wouldn’t do any ounce of changing for me.

When we finally got downtown, he parked the car, and we walked the rest of the way to the ice cream shop. It was a quiet walk; neither of us really having much to say to another. Which was fine with me.

The ice cream place was oddly dead, but that was probably because it was fairly chilly on a mid-spring day.

“Do you still like pistachio?” He asked, stepping toward the counter.

I raised my brows at him.

“You remembered my favorite ice cream flavor?” I asked, surprised.

He gave me a coy grin.

“Of course,” he said, giving me a one-shoulder shrug. “I might have been a jerk, but I remember things about you, Tessa.”

He looked at the young lady behind the counter who looked intrigued by Brian. He was rather handsome; it was one of the things that drew me to him in the beginning. Other women took notice of his charming appearance and witty words.

But in this case, he didn’t seem to notice that she was checking him out. This was odd because back when we were together, he would point out all the girls who flirted with him and tell me how lucky I was that he chose me and not one of them. As if he was some grand prize or something.

He ordered a pistachio cone with two scoops and a berry blast cone with one scoop.

“You are getting ice cream?” I asked, oddly amused by this.

He paid the woman and turned to look at me.

“You didn’t expect that I’d let you have all the fun, did you?” He asked, amused.

I stifled a laugh and turned away from him.

It only took a minute for the girl to get the ice cream.

Brian came toward me and handed me the cone.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the cone from him. We went outside and sat on one of the outdoor benches.

“I know I’m not the one you want to vent to, but I’m here if you need to talk,” he said, peering over at me as he licked his cone.

He got ice cream on his nose.

He looked like a child and the imagery made me burst out laughing.

He frowned.

“I’m serious,” he said, furrowing his brows together.

“I know,” I laughed. “But you have ice cream on your nose, and you look stupid.”

His eyes widened, he grabbed one of the napkins off the table and wiped his nose, his face growing red.

At that moment, as I looked at him, I realized maybe there was potential with Brian. Maybe we could truly just be friends.

…..

Joseph's POV

Class ended and I felt hollow on the inside. Ruby quickly gathered her things and stood to her feet, shoving her things in her backpack before rushing toward the door.

“Ruby, wait,” I said urgently, making freeze and turn back to me.

She looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“Have you spoken to Tessa today? Is she well?” I asked, feeling my heart racing against my chest.

She looked hesitant to answer my question.

“No…” she said, gazing downward. “I was about to go find her. I haven’t seen her all day.”

My heart fell into my stomach.

Where could she have gone?

“She didn’t tell you she was missing class?” She asked.

“No,” I answered. “She didn’t.”

We both stayed silent for a moment. Ruby looked uncomfortable.

‘If you speak with her, can you report to me and tell me how she’s doing?”

Ruby looked up at me and then nodded.

“I’ll keep trying her. She hasn’t been responding to me.”

That made a knot form in my stomach; I didn’t like the fact that she wasn’t even responding to her best friend.

But I nodded anyway and thanked her. She left the classroom shortly after and I finished my work before leaving as well.

It’s been about 15 minutes since I last spoke to Ruby, but I froze as I walked near her locker and saw Ruby frowning at a phone with a worried expression.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her without a simple warning.

“Tessa left her phone in her locker,” she answered, furrowing her brows together. “She never leaves her phone in her locker.”

My heart nearly fell into my stomach; I worried that something was seriously wrong with her. I didn’t say anything more to her; I left the school almost immediately.

I had to remember to cover myself before being exposed to the sunlight. But once I was covered, I completely covered myself and went out to search for her. My heart was pounding in my chest as I spent time looking for her.

But she wasn’t anywhere to be found.

God damn it, Tessa. Where the hell are you?

I went to Tessa’s house, but she wasn’t there either. Her neighbors stated that she hadn’t been there all day.

I was incredibly worried about her, and the more time passed, the more worried I got. The sun had soon set, and darkness fell upon the town. I continued to drive around in circles, mindlessly. Ruby said she hadn’t seen Tessa either, which caused me to be even more worried.

“Tessa never disappears like this,” Ruby said with tears clear in her eyes. “She hasn’t even returned to school to grab her phone yet.”

“Does she hang out with any other people?” I asked her, trying not to sound as panicked as I felt.

Ruby thought about it for a moment before shaking her head.

“Not really,” she answered nervously. “At least, I don’t think so.”

After a pause, I sighed.

“You should get some rest. I’ll let you know if I hear anything,” I tell her, feeling drained.

Ruby looked uncertain for a moment and then she nodded. She turned and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I knew for certain I wasn’t going to be sleeping tonight; I needed to find Tessa if it was the last thing I did. I continued the streets on foot and wound up near Tessa’s apartment building again.

I felt the strength of the moonlight and my body grew energized as I walked across the empty streets. Tessa’s apartment came into view and a car drove by, pulling into the front lot. Both the doors opened, and I froze when I saw Brian getting out of the car.

Soon, after the passenger door opened and Tessa went out.

My entire body was frozen as I stared at the two of them together.

I was a distance away from them and hidden in the shadows, but I could see them as if it was daylight.

“Thank you for tonight,” she said to him, peering up at him.

He gave her a cocky smile which pissed me off.

“I’m glad I could help get your mind off stuff,” he said in return.

They remained silent for a moment longer and then she threw her arms around him and hugged him.