The alarm on her phone started ringing as Terressa switched it off. She got up and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. It was 4:00 a.m.Terressa has a habit of waking up early to study. She looked in the mirror. Her hair was a slight mess and she had slight dark circles under her eyes.
She washed her face and went to the kitchen to drink a glass of plain water like she normally drinks in the morning on an empty stomach. She gulped down the water and turned on the kettle to heat some water. She walked back to her room. The light in her room shined brightly.
Her aunt, uncle and cousins were all asleep and here she is up awake studying. She took out her books and turned on her laptop. The assignments that her teacher gave was saved in a folder to be checked. She clicked it and went through for a final check. After she was satisfied, she continued with other assignments that she has.
At a few points, she felt sleepy, so she went and made a cup of black coffee. She likes her coffee strong and with no sugar. She drank some of her hot black coffee before continuing her work.
Terressa is fifteen years old. She studies at one of the most prestigious schools in London. Her parents passed away when she was only two years old. Since then, she has been living with her aunt and uncle together with their two children. They had tried to have a third child but was unfortunate, so they raised Terressa as their own.
Terressa's uncle is a successful businessman. His name is Steven Ahernt. He is a quite hardworking man. Petunia, Terressa's aunt is a housewife. She is kind and loving. Her aunt and uncle are both forty-two. Her cousins were Mike and Alexa who are twenty and eighteen respectively. They are both studying in college.
It was 6:00 a.m. and Terressa's alarm rang again indicating it is time for her to start doing her exercise. Terressa kept her books and took off her spectacles. She started doing her morning workout routine that she usually does. After a good 45 minutes of working out, she went to take a shower.
She wore her black jeans and a black and white top. She tied her hair up in a ponytail. Terressa hates wearing makeup. She loves it natural. She wore her earrings, watch and necklace before going downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. It was 7:15 a.m and her classes start at 8:00 a.m.She puts her bag and file on the couch.
She smiles at the sight of her family members sitting at the dining table. "Good morning, Mum. Morning, Dad," she greeted them. "Good morning,darling.Sit and have some breakfast. I made your favourite pancakes," her aunt said, smiling at her delighted and happy face upon seeing the delicious pancakes."Yum!" Terressa sat down opposite her uncle."Where's Mike and Alexa?" "They have to go to classes a little early today," Terressa nodded at her aunt before devouring her pancakes.
She kissed her aunt and uncle on their cheeks before going out the front door. Her school was not too far so she walked there and reached at 7:45 a.m.Terressa walked to her locker to keep her file and take out some necessary papers and materials for her next class while waiting for her best friend to arrive. As she was keeping her things, she heard a loud roar of a motorcycle and all the students started whispering.
She rolled her eyes knowing all too well who that was. She was about to close her locker when someone suddenly slammed it shut and pinned her to her locker. "Well, well. If it's not Terressa Aldaine, the school's topper," a deep and husky voice said. Terressa looked up and what did she expect, of course, it's the school's typical bad boy."Move out of my way, Dracen," "Attitude, huh" Dracen said as he snatched Terressa's file.
She glared at him and pushed him out of her way. Dracen loves getting into trouble and likes to disturb Terressa. He is in the same class as her. Terressa doesn't understand why all the girls and some boys swoon over this guy. His parents are rich but Dracen rarely talks about his parents. He was a good student too.
Terressa turned on her heels to walk away but Dracen pulled her arms making her face him. "It's rude to walk away like that," Dracen said in a sweet voice, looking straight into the girl's eyes. She pulled her arm away and told him that she doesn't care before walking away to her class.
The bell rang indicating it's finally time to go for a break. All the students rushed to the cafeteria. Terressa bought some food and walked to the rooftop with her best friend, Lia. They had been best friends since Lia moved to the neighbourhood. "Tess, I need help with the Math question. It's too hard!!" Lia fake cried. Terressa chuckled at her best friend's childlike behaviour. "Which question?" "This one," Terressa taught Lia the question and the bell rang again.
The girls went back to their classes and sat at their places in the class as their Science teacher walked in. He had a small test for them. Everyone was studying peacefully when the door burst open and Dracen walked in. "You're late again Mr Amherst," the teacher said but the boy just rolled his dark brown eyes and just walked away to his place. "What a rude guy!" Terressa thought to herself.
Lia and Terressa walked back home together. Terressa waved goodbye to her best friend before heading home. She wore her headphones and listened to some songs. She drowned in the songs. "I'm home!" she said as she took off her shoes. "Hey, sister," someone said from the kitchen.
"Hello, my dear brother. Where's Mum?"
"She is out for some work,"
"Ohhhh,"
"Hey, you hungry? I made noodles,"
"Oh, yes! Let me go take a shower first,"
After eating her lunch, Terressa went to her room to do her homework. A few hours in, and she felt a little sleepy, so she decided to take a nap. She set her alarm and took a nap for a good one hour. When her alarm started ringing, she woke up and switched it off.
She washed her face, her hair tied up in a messy bun. She went down to the kitchen to make coffee. Only after making herself some coffee, did she realise no one was at home. She saw a small note on the kitchen counter.
Terressa,
Sorry. We had some work to do, so we left without telling you. You were asleep and we didn't want to disturb you. We might come home late, so don't wait for us. Make sure to have your dinner.
Love,
Petunia.
Terressa went back to her room to complete her assignments. Her 5:30 p.m. alarm rang letting her know that it's time for her to do her exercise. After some intense workout, Terressa went to take a nice cold bath. She wore shorts and a tee. It was 8:00 p.m. "Time for dinner," she told herself as she made her way to the kitchen. She made herself some noodles before sitting down in the living room to watch a movie while eating.
Terressa went back to complete her assignments. It was already 10:30 p.m. She felt sleepy, so she kept her books and went to sleep. Her family members were not back home still yet.
The next morning went by as usual for Terressa. She walked to her first class with Lia. Her best friend seemed to be in a really happy mood that day. Lia told her that it was because she had received a late birthday present from her cousin. It was a necklace that Lia wanted for a long time. She even wore that to school.
During break time, Terressa was in the library. She wanted to borrow some novels to read. Lia had to go and meet their Maths teacher. As Terressa was about to enter her classroom, an announcement was made that she should go to the principal's office. She got slightly nervous, thinking what she had done wrong that she was needed there.
She knocked on the door of Mr Crouch's office. "Come in," said a man's voice. Terressa entered and saw Mr Crouch, a man in his early 50s sitting on a chair typing something seriously on his computer. She noticed that there was a boy seated across from him. She will know the silhouette anywhere because he was the only one who wears different from most students. She walks towards the principal's desk and greeted him.
"Hi, Mr Crouch,"
"Hello to you too, Terressa.Have a seat,"
"Uhmm...Why did you call me here, Mr Crouch?"
"I have an offer for you Ms Aldaine. As you see, you are the topper of the school and I thought that only you can do this work properly,"
Terressa looked at the old man sitting in front of her and back to the male sitting beside her, a confused look plastered on her face. "What do you mean, Sir?" she asked him.
"I have a job for you. As you see, Mr Amherst here is lacking in his studies and it's worsening each day. I guess he needs some guidance. If you are pleased, I want you to tutor him,"
Terressa's eyes widened as she looked at the principal. "Tutor him?" she pressed the last word.
"Look, Terressa, by tutoring him, you are not only helping him but also you will get extra points for voluntary activity outside classes which helps you a lot in the future. You are a top student, so you know the benefits,"
"I-I will have to--" her sentence was cut short by the principal asking Dracen to stay outside for a while.
"Terressa, I guessed you have noticed how Dracen have changed these few months. He was also a top student. He was a good student. He was kind towards everyone but these few months, he has turned rebellious. He became the typical bad boy of the school and wouldn't listen to anything,"
Terressa listened to every single word the principal said. She too has noticed the changes in Dracen but didn't think much about it.
"I guess something is bothering him and only you can help him. He agreed to this offer only after I told him that you'll be tutoring him,"
Terressa kept silent."So, what do you say? You agree to tutor him and help him out in whatever problem he has?" Terressa thought hard and agreed to the offer. "Okay, then.Thank you so much for understanding Ms Aldaine," "No problem, Mr Crouch,"
Terressa walked out of the principal's office. She saw Dracen standing in the corner, talking to one of his friends. She walked up to him. "I'll meet you in the library today, after classes. Don't take too much time cause unlike you, I have a lot of work to do. And yeah, also remember that I only agreed to the offer because I want that extra points,"
Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked away. She told Lia about the offer and apologised to her best friend for not walking her home. Fortunately, Lia is understanding. Terressa kept some of her things in her locker and went to grab something to drink before heading to the school library. She might as well not tutor on an empty stomach.
Terressa took a novel to read in the past time as she waited for Dracen to come. Half an hour passed but he was nowhere to be seen. She was getting a little annoyed. About forty-five minute later, she saw Dracen walking towards the library with his friends. He waved goodbye to them before entering. She wanted to give him a mindful but held it in.
"Hi, Terressa," Dracen said but only received silence.
"Okay. Look, I know you're annoyed or angry but to be honest, I don't really care. You want the extra points but I don't wanna study. So, you can do your work and I'll do mine. You don't have to help me or teach me any subjects,"
Terressa looked at Dracen who was now playing games on his phone and rolled her eyes. She felt like slapping him but she just took her things and walked near the guy sitting in front of her. She tapped him on the shoulder. "Our next session will be here at the same time tomorrow. Make sure you come on time. Don't you dare be late," she told him in a cold, threatening voice before walking away.
Sitting in her English class, Terressa was writing down everything her teacher was telling. He was teaching about supernatural things that particular day. He asked them to write an essay about at least the supernatural creatures, he taught about that day.
"Not an essay," Lia complained as they walked to the rooftop.
"Too busy to write?"
"I don't have problems with writing. I just hate doing researches,"
"We have about two whole weeks to do the research and write the essay, Lia,"
"But, Tess---"
"Don't give reasons,"
"Ok, fine. So, how did the tutoring session go with the bad boy of the school," Lia wiggled her eyebrows.
"It was hell. He came late and didn't bother apologising. He only said that I don't have to teach him and he doesn't bother studying,"
"Oohhh,"
"It was a waste of time!"
"Of course it's not. You got to spent some time with the hottest bad boy in the school,"
"I don't understand why you are all so crazy about him,"
"Admit it, Terressa. He is hot!"
Terressa scoffed and rolled her eyes before taking a bite from her sandwich. She thought about the essay her English teacher gave. What will she write about? She planned to borrow some books from the library after school. She went to the fiction section and looked through the stacks of book that were neatly arranged.
She looked at the books, going through each one of them. She saw a book titled "World of Demons".She wanted to take it but she couldn't reach it. She tried standing on her toes but still couldn't reach it. While she was struggling, she had not noticed the boy standing and watching her. He chuckled silently to himself before going near her. He reached for the book and took it with ease. Terressa turned to look who it was but hit her head on his chest. She heard a deep chuckle leave his mouth before he said "Looks like someone have started with her research being the nerd she is,".The girl looked up and saw none other than Dracen Amherst in front of her. He handed the book to her. "Thank you and you're quite early today,"
"I only came here to tell you that you shouldn't waste your time in tutoring me and yeah I don't have the mood to study,"
"You're lying," Terressa said with a slight smirk on her face.
"I'm not. Now, if you would excuse me, I have to go back home. I have a big game to play,"
"I'm not letting you off easily, Mr Amherst. Get your Maths book out,"
"You must be kidding me,"
"No, I'm not,"
Dracen rolled his eyes at took out his books, annoyed. Terressa started teaching him. At first, he didn't concentrate but after a glare given by the girl, he started studying properly. They didn't realise that the two hours had passed by quickly. They kept their books and went out of the library.
"Want me to drop you back home?"
"No, thanks. I can walk,"
"Come on, you wouldn't want to miss the opportunity of riding a bike with the school's hot bad boy,"
"Don't think too highly of yourself and yeah I hate bad boys,"
"You sure, Aldaine?"
"Yup,"
"You are playing hard to catch huh?" Dracen mumbled under his breath as he watched the blonde walked away.
Terressa was listening to her favourite song and hummed to it while she was reading the book she had borrowed. She loved listening to the song.
Eyes meet in that short instant,
The moment all the senses stopped,
Little tremors spread inside me,
For the first time,
I am swallowed by the feeling,
That I became who I am,
Terressa stood up from her bed and walked towards her study table.
I feel like dreaming a dream,
I've never seen in any dreams,
It's too vivid,
To conclude it as just a dream,
I draw and draw,
It's clear to the ends of the shadow line,
I long only for the day,
That one day I'll see you again.
She put down the book that she was reading and wanted to start reading "World of Demons".Just as she was about to pick up the book, her phone started ringing. She looked at the caller id: Bestie. Terressa wondered why Lia would call her now.
"Hello,"
"Heya, Tess,"
"Why did you call?"
"Oh, ya. So, there's a party tonight and....."
"And?"
"I just wanted to ask if you would like to come?"
"I'm sorry, Lia,"
"Please?"
"But I have to do the assignments,"
"Tomorrow is a holiday, Terressa. Just this once. Please,"
"Let me ask Aunt Petunia first. I'll text you,"
"Okay. The party is at 8:00 p.m.Bye,"
"Bye,"
Terressa went downstairs to the living room where her aunt and uncle were sitting.
"Hi, Mum.Hello, Dad,"
"Hi, dear," they said together.
"Uhm...I wanna ask you guys something,"
"We're listening," her aunt said.
"Uhm....So...Lia just called at told me there is a party tonight at eight and pleaded with me to go with her. So, I wanted to ask your permission,"
"Are you kidding? Finally, you're living like a normal girl your age,"
"You always sit with your books and rarely enjoy yourself. Make sure to wear something cute though," her uncle said.
Terressa smiled and thanked them before running to her room to get ready. It was 6:30 p.m.She texted Lia and told her she will be coming to the party and Lia responded that she will pick Terressa up at 7:30.
Terressa looked through her wardrobe to find a perfect outfit. She found a short off-shoulder lapel bodycon dress that was black in colour. She let her hair loose, curls falling off her shoulders. She wore black heels, a black choker, a black shiny bracelet and a pair of black teardrop earrings. She took her shiny, black purse and went downstairs to wait for Lia.
"Wow! My daughter looks great!" her aunt said.
"You aren't wearing makeup?"
"No, Mum. I only wore light makeup. I like it natural,"
"You are beautiful either way. Make sure you don't stay up too late,"
"Sure, Mum,"
Just as she told that she heard a car honking. She waved goodbye to her aunt and kissed her cheek before going out. The moment the girls reached the place the party was being held. They heard loud music blasting. The girls entered and went to the bar set nearby.
After a few minutes, Lia left Terressa to go and dance. She invited Terressa but she refused. As the girl sat down, looking at the dance floor while drinking her coke, someone asked from beside her.
"I didn't expect you to be here,"