by Mj Fields
- I figured since you’re now my personal stylist I should ask��� LT
- DOWN, and wild��� LL
She laughed as she dried her hair and put on makeup.
He pulled in and she ran out. He smiled.
���I do good work,��� he hugged her.
���Maybe you���ve missed your calling,��� she giggled and kissed him.
* * *
They pulled into the driveway and got out. It was loud, and she was nervous.
���You alright?��� he asked.
���Are you?��� she held his hand tighter.
They walked through the gate to the pool. There was a ton of people. Jose walked up to them.
���Hey, man you made it,��� he said and grabbed Lucas���s shoulder, ���Who is this?��� he said and looked her up and down.
���Jose this is Tessa, Tessa this is Jose.���
���Oh yes, the monkey on your back��� he laughed referring to the tattoo.
���He���s on mine to Jose,��� she laughed.
She turned around and lifted her shirt a bit showing him.
He looked at Lucas and mouthed nice man.
Lucas smiled ���I know.���
Tessa noticed all the girls and immediately became insecure.
���I need to use the bathroom��� she whispered to him.
He took her hand, and they went to find it. He waited outside the door for her.
���You okay, Tessa?��� he asked when she came out.
���Yes I am fine.���
They walked outside and stood and listened to a bunch of them talk football. She listened and smiled politely. Lucas wasn���t a starter, the senior Miles was. He was pretty nice. He smiled at Lucas and Tessa often. Tessa knew Lucas should be rubbing elbows with the guys and went to grab a drink. She waited in line to get to the cooler. She heard a group of girls talking about the new hottie quarterback, and she looked down.
���Hey, you���re new, what���s your name?��� one of them said.
���Hi I am Tessa,��� she said and smiled, ���hottie new quarterback girlfriend.���
���So you���ll be around a lot then,��� the brunette smiled.
���Yes, I plan to be.���
���Well then we should all get to know each other, we are each here with our boyfriends��� she smiled. ���We hope you���re not upset about the hottie new boyfriend thing, we didn���t mean anything by it,��� she said, ���I���m Jenny, our hotty old quarterback’s girlfriend.���
���Thank you for the explanation,��� Tessa said.
���Did you get lost, baby?��� Lucas wrapped his arms around her waist and kissing her head.
���No ��� sorry Lucas, I just met a few people,��� she smiled. ���Lucas this is Jenny, Miles��� girlfriend, Jenny this is Lucas, hotty new quarterback.���
Lucas looked confused, Tessa and Jenny laughed.
���Things are good here?��� Lucas whispered in her ear.
Tessa turned around and kissed him, ���I think so.���
He held his forehead to hers, ���You sure baby?���
She smiled, ���Go have fun, I���ll be fine.���
He stared at her mouth and traced his finger on her lips. ���We can leave.���
���I can do that later��� she smiled.
���Do what?��� he said and grinned.
���You never mind,��� she pushed him back.
Music started, and Jenny dragged Tessa with her and the girls. They danced and laughed. Tessa liked Jenny, they had fun together. Jenny was from a small town in Ohio and was at SU on a full scholarship. She and Miles both grew up together.
���Can he dance?��� Tessa asked.
���What? Miles? I don���t know?��� she laughed.
���Let���s go get them and make them,��� Tessa said.
���Oh no, he wouldn’t,��� Jenny said.
���You go get Lucas, and I���ll get him,��� Tessa smiled.
Tessa asked Miles to dance, Lucas was a bit shocked.
Jenny grabbed Lucas, ���Let���s go��� and dragged him out.
Lucas looked at Tessa dancing with Miles, who looked uncomfortable at first.
���I don’t dance,��� Lucas said.
���Your girlfriend seems to think you can��� Jenny smiled. ���Miles doesn���t either.���
���Looks like he can,��� Lucas said as he saw him spin and dip Tessa.
���I guess he can,��� she smiled ���Do you mind if I go cut in?���
���No, send Tessa over here��� he smiled.
Tessa smiled as she walked up to Lucas and grabbed his hand dragging him out to dance.
���I don���t think so Tessa��� he laughed.
���Please��� she begged, ���I know you can move��� she smiled, ���I know it very well.���
He followed her to the center of the dance floor.
They drove home and laughed as he talked about his new teammates.
���I think you���re going to like it there,��� Tessa smiled.
���I think I���m going to be too exhausted to like it.���
���What do you mean?���
���School and as much of you as I can get,��� he kissed her hand. ���I feel like I should be ecstatic that I���m playing here, but all I can think of is December.���
���We���re going to be busy, and we���re going to be fine. God I hope we are fine.��� She whispered.
He pulled over at a rest stop.
���Tessa if you don’t want this, you need to tell me now,��� he said frustrated.
���Hey, where is this coming from?��� she asked.
���I just need you to promise me Tessa,��� he grabbed her face.
���I promise Lucas,��� she said.
* * *
They pulled into her driveway, ���Can you come in?���
���Yes, who���s home?��� he asked.
���Doesn���t look like anyone is?��� she said and jumped out and ran inside. ���Come on Lucas.���
He smiled and followed her in. She dragged him upstairs.
���I have something for you��� he smiled and raised his eyebrow.
She grinned and pushed him down.
���You are amazing,��� he said after Tessa finished with him.
���Can you go downstairs? I���ll be there in a minute��� she smiled.
She came downstairs with a bag.
���I have a few things for you��� she smiled and sat next to him and handed him the bag. ���Open it.���
He opened the bag, inside was a quilt. She had gone through his closet and taken all the Tee shirts that he had from sports that he had participated in. She had bought a few SU ones and some from the Adirondacks so that it made up enough for a queen size blanket. She had made an album from Christmas until their trip last weekend. He took his time looking through it.
���I love them Tessa,��� he kissed her.
���There’s one more,��� she said.
He looked in the bag; he pulled out a black leather book. He opened it, his eyes widened, and he closed them for a few seconds. He looked through each picture swallowing hard and taking deep breaths.
���When did you do this?��� he asked.
���Jade and I worked on it a couple weeks a
go.���
���You look incredible.���
���They are in order from first to last one worn.��� She smiled.
���Oh, I remember��� he smiled, looking through it again. ���No pictures of your face, hardly anyone with even the back of your head.���
���If anyone saw this, I would die Lucas,��� she laughed. And I can remind you what the back of my head looks like anytime you want she thought, she yawned.
���You tired?���
���Please stay, we can sleep on the couch, I don���t want you to leave,��� she said sounding panicked.
���Okay Tessa��� he hugged her.
���Thank you,��� she said. They lie face to face and fell asleep.
* * *
The next day they got up and drove to Lucas,’ his Dad met them there, and they drove up together. Tessa sat quietly in the back as Landon and Lucas talked. He went in and registered, and Tessa sat back watching all the girls check him out, several said hello and he just nodded.
He finished and grabbed her hand. ���Let���s go check out my new place.���
They drove to south campus and walked into his building, she was relieved that it was not co- ed and that most if not all of the residents were from the football team. He had a private room. It was not as small as she���d thought it would be. She helped him make his bed, and he pulled out the quilt and threw it over the bed.
���That���s very interesting,��� Landon said.
���Tessa did it for me,��� he smiled.
A book fell out of the bag; Landon picked it up and opened it. It was a black leather book with photos of Tessa modeling each naughty outfit she had worn for Lucas. Tessa noticed he had it and shot Lucas a look. Lucas took it from him and smiled.
���Oh, Tessa make that too?��� Landon laughed.
She blushed, and Lucas smiled.
When they finished, they walked around campus and found his classes. They went to lunch and then hit the bookstore. Tessa was shocked to see how expensive books were, how could people afford this? How were my parents going to do this for two of us? She thought.
* * *
Landon and Tessa left after a quiet goodbye.
���Tessa how often do you plan to visit Lucas?���
���I���m not sure. I think he is going to be very busy,��� she said quietly.
���I think he���s going to want to see you whenever he can.���
���I feel the same way.���
���Good, this is important for him. I hope that you understand he���s going to need you.���
Tessa smiled.
His phone chimed
- I���m home. I hope you���re having fun��� LT
- Actually I am a bit overwhelmed, and I want to see you. Can you come back, baby?��� LL
- How about tomorrow after practice?... LT
- I have a thing��� LL
- Oh, okay. Well, why don���t we wait until like Thursday or Friday?... LT
- WHY?... LL
- I have practice every day and have to help around here I have slacked a bit this summer��� LT
- Whatever��� LL
- Please don���t be like that; this is hard for me to Lucas��� LT
- Well��� bend a bit��� LL
- Day one and this has already started, not cool Lucas, I miss you and actually don���t enjoy this either��� LT
- Okay, so why on Friday?��� LL
- situation would be rectified by then��� LT
- oh, well alright then��� LL
- all better now?... LT
- not really��� LL
- I love you Lucas��� LT
- see you Friday��� LL
- call me before you go to bed��� LT
- nope, see you Friday��� LL
Tessa did not respond. She needed to blow off some steam. She grabbed her shoes and went for a run. When she got back, she made dinner and helped Kendall go through her supply list. She put dinner in the oven and showered.
She went upstairs and saw her phone on her bed. There were three text messages and two missed calls from Lucas. Shit, she thought and called him.
���Hello,��� he said quietly.
���Hi- ��� sorry! I left the phone on my bed when I went running with Kendall. Are we okay?��� she asked softly.
���Did you read the texts?���
���No, not yet I was just excited you called,��� she said.
���Ok, don���t and then delete the messages too. I was being an ass sorry. I���m just not used to sitting on my ass, and I miss you,��� he said.
���Things will be different when you���re overwhelmed with class work, Lucas, I���m sorry you feel that way,��� she said, ���I love you.���
���I love you baby,��� Lucas said quietly, ���please delete the messages.���
���Hey, do you have any free time in the afternoon before practice?��� Tessa asked.
���I think I have from like two to four free why?��� he said.
���I was just wondering,��� she giggled. ���I love you, call me before bed?���
���I am in bed.���
���Lucky bed,��� she whispered.
He laughed, ���I love you, baby.���
They got off the phone, and she checked his messages.
- if this is how you���re going to be then maybe we should rethink this��� Lucas
- No reply? Silence speaks volumes Tessa��� Lucas
- Are you fucking kidding me right now Tessa, grow up!��� Lucas
Wow, she thought, that easy huh? She was pissed.
Her phone chimed it was him
- Did you delete the messages baby?��� LL
- Nope��� LT
- Are we okay?... LL
- I am, I wish I knew where your head was when you texted��� LT
- Sorry, forgive me?... LL
- Of course, goodnight Lucas��� LT
She decided she wouldn���t go up tomorrow. It was impossible to think that he could get so angry on day one. She hoped things were going to be alright, only three months she thought.
Over the next few weeks, Tessa went to see Lucas on Wednesdays. She went to all his home games and watched him miserably sit the bench most of the time. When he had away games, she stayed home and attended Alex���s games at Cornell. Sundays he came home about twice a month. The hunting crew still shot on Sundays and Tessa, and Lucas had lots of time to be alone, him being gone made each time that more intense.
Her phone chimed
- Hey, Tessa can we do Doe Camp for your birthday tonight?... Phoebe
- Sounds great!... Tessa
- Cool ��� how about six tonight?... Phoebe
- Sure I���ll pick you up��� Tessa
Her phone chimed again
- Hey, baby we won our game. I got to play for more than five minutes��� LL
- Awesome job Lucas! Will I see you tomorrow?... LT
- We will see, not sure when we���ll be in��� LL
She wondered if he remembered her birthday. She remembered his, pretty unforgettable. She thought about the 2 B���s in his bed and shook her head. Maybe birthdays aren���t that big of a deal she thought.
She picked up Phoebe. And they headed up. They pulled in, and there were several cars. She looked at Phoebe and frowned.
���You only turn nineteen once Tessa,��� Phoebe smiled.
Tessa got out, and everyone was there, her hockey team, her family, Cassidy, an
d Ben. Oh boy��� she thought wondering if Lucas knew about this. When she got out she saw a basket of flowers, yellow roses, and white daisies, she read the card.
Wish I could be there baby. Have fun.
Love,
Lucas
She talked with everyone and avoided a lot of interaction with Ben.
Molly and Cory were even there.
���Tessa can we steal you for a minute?��� Molly asked.
They walked away from the crowd.
���So Cory thinks I should wait, but it���s your birthday. I wanted to tell someone, well you and what a perfect day to share��� on your birthday. You just have to promise not to tell anyone for a while,��� she said grinning.
���Are you?��� Tessa asked.
���Yes,��� Molly said and hugged her. ���Honeymoon baby, I guess.���
���Oh, Molly I am so happy for you,��� she hugged her and then Cory.
He smiled, ���Thanks, Tessa, but we truly just found out yesterday, she still needs to have blood work so, please keep this to yourself okay?���
���Killjoy,��� Molly laughed.
The party was a blast, she danced with Kendall and her friends, and they ate and danced some more. The older family members started leaving, and Alex made a bonfire. The music was still going, and Tessa was still dancing.
She heard Ben on a microphone, ���Birthday girl.���
She shook her head no.
He dropped to his knees, ���Please Tess.���
���Just go sing Tessa,��� Jade pushed her.
She sang with Ben, and they laughed.
���You still have a band?��� she asked.
���A new one.���
���That���s cool ��� do you guys play anywhere?���
���Right now we���re just getting a playlist together and trying to figure it out. Want me to sing one I am working on?��� he asked and jumped up.
���Of course.���
Ben got up and sang Blurry a new song she hadn���t heard. It was a break up the song, and she wondered what he was thinking. He finished and stared at her for a few seconds and then played another. Jane Says, by Jane���s Addiction. He smiled and looked at the thirty kids standing around; he walked out and got everyone dancing. Everyone including Alex was dancing. He made Tessa sing It���s All Been Done by Barenaked Ladies with him alternating verses and singing the chorus together. A car pulled in, and a bunch of people got out. They were having too much fun singing and laughing to notice. He played the guitar solo on air guitar, she danced and laughed. They sang One Week next. He sang and took his shirt off at the part that called for it, and threw it, and it landed on Kendall. During the rap parts, she danced with Kendall and her girls. She sang with him for the chorus. Everyone cheered, and she bowed and laughed.
