New Love (9 page)

They decided to
go to the club in Syracuse. It just so happened that Ben’s band was there playing; she saw it on facebook and wanted to surprise him.

Tessa smoked on the way there. She was happy and she was going to see Ben tonight, almost two weeks after Toby died
.
I’m not going to let it tear me apart. Lucas has already done that, and Toby would want me to be happy, although probably not the way I’m doing it, but hey it works,
she
thought.

Jade texted Tessa and she told her she was with her fellow cast members on her way to Syracuse to a teen dance club and she would be back late. She shut off her
phone; she didn’t want to deal with the drama.

Tessa walked in and saw Ben singing and playing guitar, he looked so hot. He wore faded jeans that sat on his hips, a white long sleeve cotton shirt and a navy knit cap. His brown hair was peeking out from under his cap and his full pink lips looked
divine.  She danced and laughed and had fun. Cassidy kept talking about how hot he was, and Tessa laughed.

~

“I bet I can get him to make out with me,” Tessa laughed.

The band went on break and she saw Ben walk into the bathroom.

“Come with me,” Tessa dragged Cassidy behind her.

They walked into the men’s bathroom and Ben was at the urinal.

Tessa peeked over his shoulder, “That’ll work.”

Ben didn’t respond. He finished going to the bathroom and turned around and saw Tessa. Ben smiled and winked at her.

“Well then-- take it home with you,” he slowly walking towards her.

She grabbed his face and kissed him. Cassidy was in shock and laughed as she walked out.

“Tess what are you doing here?”

“Sort of stalking you
, I guess.”

“You’re fucked up?”

“A little.”

She told him about her bet with Cassidy and that she had no idea they knew one another.

“Cool. This is going to be fun! By the way… what’s up with you and Lucas?”

“He moved home and we’
re done.”

“Perfect,” Ben winked, “Stand in the front Tess, I want to watch you dance.”

The band took the stage and Ben sang directly to her. She smiled the whole time.

“How’s everyone doing tonight?” Ben asked and the crowd cheered.

“I am having a great time tonight too, I just met a hot little number in the men’s bathroom,” the crowd cheered again.

“I think I’
m going home with her tonight.” They crowd went wild. “Tess, come on up here.”

Tessa shook her head no, “Hey hot stuff unless you want me to tell them about the bathroom
, you’d better get that fine ass up here.”

Cassidy pushed her up toward the stage. Ben put his arm around her and kissed her.

“Do you all think she could sing? I mean could something this hot possibly get any hotter?” he asked.

He whispered in her ear, “What do y
ou want to sing girl?”

Tessa whispered in his ear and he talked to the band. They started
playing; the song was
Fade Into You
by
Mazzy Star
. Ben played guitar as she sang. At the end of the song he grabbed the back of her head and they kissed deeply, passionately, she didn’t care who was there, it felt good.

The crowd went crazy and they both stood nose to nose and laughed at each other.

“Let’s hear it for the very talented Tess” Ben said. “You can take it home with you anytime you want to, girl.”

She grabbed him by the waist band and kissed him again. The crowd cheered and she walked off the stage. 

Cassidy hugged her and laughed, “No way!”

“This one’s for you hot stuff,” he started singing and Tessa felt a tap on her shoulder. She
turned around and it was Jade and she was pissed.

“What the hell do you
think you’re doing?”

Tessa looked over Jade’s shoulder and saw Tommy and
Lucas standing there.

“Dancing and singing, Ben’s here
… did you see him?” Tessa laughed.

The set ended and Ben walked down.

“Hey Jade, how are you?” Ben asked.

“I’m fine Ben.
Tessa however is going home, and not with you.”

Tessa grabbed Ben’s hand and walked out the door.

Jade followed and yelled, “Tessa, you need to stop this shit. NOW.”

They walke
d outside, she hugged Ben. He laughed and hugged her back. Tommy and Lucas walked out behind them.

“Jade
, I have a ride home,” she glared at Lucas, “Pizza Boy is perfectly capable of driving me home, and if not…” she stopped and looked up at Ben, “Ben-- where are you staying tonight?”

He laughed, “Where do you want me to stay?”

Tessa laughed at him and he looked at Jade, who was livid.

“We
’re staying at the Marriot,” Ben smiled at Jade.

“Okay Jade, I’ll ride with Pizza boy or I’
ll be at the Marriot,” Tessa laughed.

There was music playing and she started dancing with Ben, he was very amused by her and
Lucas didn’t enjoy it at all, neither did Jade.

“Like hell you will,” Jade said. “Tessa you just buried…”

“Watch it, Jade,” she snapped.

“Then you better cut it out,” Jade warned.

“Ben, BABY,” she said exaggerating baby, “I’m going to finish listening to you and then I may consider going home, I’ll be riding with the PIZZA BOY.”

~

“Anyone see Ben out there,” the bass player yelled.

Ben ran on stage “I’m here, sorry. A little busy in the parking lot.”

They all cheered.

“Everyone give it up again for
, Tess.”

They all clapped.
Lucas clenched his jaw and sat at a table near the stage.

“Alright let’s get this place hopping.”

The band played
Wonderwall
by
Oasis
, Tessa and Cassidy danced and laughed. Ben sang
Everlong
by the
Foo Fighters:
Cassidy and Tessa watched Ben and smiled. 

“Sorry man,” Tommy said to
Lucas.

Lucas
shook his head and looked at Tessa, “Not your problem.”

The band sang a few more songs and he gestured
for Tessa to come back on stage. He whispered in her ear, she laughed and smiled shaking her head yes. The band played
Zombie
by
The Cranberries
. Tessa sang it while she danced with Ben. The crowd went wild and he kissed her. He took her hand and placed it on his butt, she laughed and he kissed her again.

“Hey Tess, have you looked at it yet?” Ben asked.

She shook her head no and grinned. He undid his pants to a slow drum beat. Tessa laughed. He turned around and slide them down a bit, his white boxer briefs showed and she laughed.

“See it now?” she shook her head yes and grinned. “Nice hu
h?” he said and she fanned herself dramatically. The crowd cheered. “You want to come over here and fix them for me girl?” She laughed and shook her head no, “I think she likes them off” he said to the crowd. The crowd whistled and cheered. He pulled them up and zipped them, leaving them unbuttoned. “Alright everyone… one last song and we’re out!”

Ben sang STP’s
Interstate Love Song
and he danced with Tessa as he sang.

They walk
ed off stage and Ben followed Tessa.  Cassidy and the crew came over and she introduced them to Ben, she told them that they already knew each other. Jade stood impatiently waiting.

“Okay
, so when can I see you again Tess?”

“I don’t know.”

“We play again in two weeks here but on Saturday,” Ben smiled, “Can you make it?”

“Yes….b
ut what about before then?”

“I’ll call you tomorrow.
I’m pretty sure I can work something out,” Ben kissed her. “See you soon Tessa Ross, the rock Goddess.”

Tessa turned around and Jade
and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

“I rode with them, and I’
m leaving with them,” Tessa yelled.

“Fine I’
ll call Uncle John,” Jade glared at Tessa.

“Serio
usly!”

Sh
e said goodbye to Cassidy. “I’ll call you when my mother isn’t around,” she laughed and tossed her head towards Jade.

Tessa
followed Jade out to Lucas’s car and Jade opened the front door.

“Get in,” Jade said.

Tessa sat down and turned on the music.

Lucas looked at her, “What!”

Lucas
reached in front of her and grabbed the seatbelt and buckled it. She gave him a dirty look.

“There are four of us Tessa, don’t be difficult,” he said softly.

Jade asked Lucas to turn down the radio, “What the hell was that Tessa?”

“That was
me having fun, Jade… and YOU screwing it up!”

“Really Tessa,
ME screwing it up? You need to slow it down. Your friends, Tessa, your real friends want to help you through this.”

“I don’t need your he
lp Jade, I’m good,” Tessa threw herself back against the seat.

“No you’re not!
Toby has been dead for two weeks. Your Aunt died when you were there alone and you haven’t even talked to me about it, Tessa.”

“What is there to say Jade
? They died, and seriously… why now?”

“What’s that suppos
ed to mean Tessa?”

Tessa turned on the radio,
Lucas looked at her and she was looking out the window.

“Lucas turn off the radio. Tessa-- I asked you a question, what is that supposed to mean?” Jade snapped.

“Figure it out,” Tessa yawned
.

“No freaki
ng games Tessa, tell me!”

“Okay I’
ve been dealing with a lot of shit lately, and I have dealt with it. Now you want to step in? I don’t think so!”

“What the hell are
you talking about?”

“I really don’t want t
o,” Tessa said in a snippy tone.

“I
really
don’t care Tessa!”

“Okay,” she
spun around. “I go to school and hide from all of you, because I don’t want to deal with this. I eat lunch in the fucking library everyday while you all sit together. I come home after school and I’m alone. I go to rehearsal and come home…alone. I’ve talked to Toby about everything that I used to talk to you about and then he dies Jade, he was my support. Not you. Now I need to fill that fucking empty black feeling and now you want to step in? I’m dealing with this by myself, the way I need to, and you just keep rubbing my fresh wounds with old SHIT! Now don’t get me wrong—I’m happy for you. I love Tommy, but I have been on a fucking emotional rollercoaster over the past few months and I’ve done it alone. That’s the way it is and that’s the way I want it to be. Is that enough for you Jade? Was it necessary to do this in front of an audience?”

“You’re the one who has cho
sen not to be around us, Tessa! We’re all friends, and this is your doing.”

“Jade that’s enough,” Tommy said softly.

“No it’s not, Tommy,” she said trying not to cry.

“Yes, it is
. I’m fucking done with this conversation,” Tessa sneered.

“Is this about
Lucas?” Jade asked pissed off, “You two ended it nicely.”

Tessa laughed, “Yeah
we did, didn’t we Lucas?”

He
looked over at her, “Tessa, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what buddy?” she asked. “Sorry for wanting to share with your friend
s?”

“What does that mean?” Jade asked.

“Not now Jade,” Tommy said, “We can talk later—please?”

Lucas
pulled off and stopped at a fast food restaurant, he ordered food for everyone and handed Tessa the bag.

“I’m not hungr
y,” Tessa snapped.

He rolled his eyes
, “You will be.”

Tessa turned the other way. A few minutes later she grabbed French fr
ies and started to eat them. Lucas smirked at her and she smacked him.

Lucas
dropped Jade and Tommy off at their houses.  The radio was playing as he pulled into Tessa’s driveway. Lucas parked and turned off the lights. He sat and watched her sleep. He slowly reached out and touched her curls. He hated watching her tonight, but knew what it felt like to need to just lose reality for awhile. He still loved her and he knew he would forever.  But the reality was he would not let her settle for what he had to offer. She deserved better than him. She deserved better than the band boy too.
Fuck. That hurt tonight, he thought
. He leaned his seat back and put his arm over her seat and played with her hair.