Freddie~2

Tess slouched in her seat, wedged between Emily and JJ, trying not to let her eyes wander to where Cook sat on the other side of JJ, glancing at her every now and then — like he was waiting for her to crack first. She fiddled with her pen as Josie, their sweet but exasperated English teacher, looked out over the mostly silent class with a hopeful, if slightly strained, smile.

Tess actually liked English—usually. But Hamlet? She found herself zoning out as Josie started talking again, feeling more like she was enduring a punishment than reading one of the "greatest works of literature."

Emily leaned over, whispering, "What's the point of this play, anyway? It's just Hamlet talking to himself for hours. How is that supposed to be interesting?"

JJ joined in, his voice enthusiastic but nervous, "Oh, it's incredibly interesting, actually! See, Hamlet's like, uh, experiencing a lot of existential angst, right? He's questioning life, death, purpose... typical stuff for, you know, a Danish prince."

Tess rolled her eyes, smirking a little. "Yeah, great insight, JJ. So, we're meant to feel bad because he can't make up his mind?"

JJ blinked, genuinely considering. "I mean... kind of? Hamlet's paralysed by thought! He's grappling with moral dilemmas, duty, the weight of revenge..."

"Alright, alright," Emily chuckled softly. "Maybe he should have grappled with them faster."

On cue, Josie tried once again to draw the class into some kind of discussion. "Hamlet. What's it all about... dudes?" She looked around hopefully, but the silence stretched on. Sighing, she lifted up her hand using it as a puppet she called Gerald, who she only used when the class was particularly unresponsive.

"Anyone?" she tried again, waving Gerald's puppet face around as if he was scolding them. Switching to a mock voice, Josie continued, "Well, Josie, through the fog of his grief, Hamlet is struggling to choose between action or inaction, and through this struggle, he encounters existential forces, illuminating the path towards death, which is, in itself, life."

She wiggled her hand, deepening her voice even more, "My my, that is an illuminating thesis, Gerald."

"Well done," Josie said to herself, smiling gently. "Thank you. No, thank you. You're a delight to teach."

Just then, Freddie strolled into the classroom, looking mildly apologetic. "I got held up."

Josie, not missing a beat, grinned and shook her head. "Freddie's always late."

"Sorry..." Freddie mumbled, slipping into his usual cool nonchalance.

"Sit down, please," Josie replied, waving him toward the two open seats left in the classroom—one next to Cook, and the other beside Effy. Freddie's eyes flicked between the two before he headed over to the seat next to Effy, earning a snicker from Cook.

"Is Freddie gonna fail his A-levels?" Josie murmured in Gerald's voice, making the puppet's eyes bounce as if scolding him.

She replied to herself in her normal tone, "'Fraid so, Gerald."

Tess could barely keep herself from laughing as Josie raised her voice to the entire class, "You're all going to fail if you don't read the pucking book!"

"I read it!" piped up Pandora from across the room. Tess glanced toward Freddie and Effy, catching the subtle shift — their hands sliding closer together, fingers hovering just shy of a touch. She wondered if either of them even noticed how obvious they were being.

Pandora beamed, "It was great! I didn't really understand it though. Did the ghost do it after all, or was it Voldemort? He's a right beast, in't he?"

Emily snickered, leaning over, "I think you got your books mixed up again, Panda."

Josie, always patient, gave Pandora a sympathetic nod. "So! In summary, the predominant themes of William Shakespeare's Hamlet are... action, inaction, madness, madness, grief, death..."

She struck a dramatic pose. "Being, or not being. That is the question..."

Naomi, noticing Freddie and Effy hands almost touching on the desk, rolled her eyes and muttered, "Hamlet's basically a teenage boy. He's got these desires but he doesn't have the bottle to reach for them. So he goes mad and wanks off about Ophelia and ends up so boring that somebody has to kill him."

Josie blinked, clearly shocked, her mouth open in surprise. "I'm... I'm not sure that's right," she said with a soft laugh. "There's no wanking in Hamlet."

But Tess, leaning back with a sly smile, couldn't resist chiming in. "There is. Loads. Only they call it 'soliloquizing.'"

Cook, grinning wide, let out a loud laugh. "Nice one!" But he quickly stopped himself, forcing the laughter away with an awkward cough as if remembering their last argument. He glanced at her. She didn't flinch, just met his gaze with a sharp, unreadable stare.

A few more students chuckled under their breath as Josie tried to regain control, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Alright, everyone, let's... let's refocus."

As Josie continued her lecture, Tess felt Cook's eyes on her from across the table, a mixture of amusement and something else she couldn't quite place. She tried to ignore him, instead whispering to Emily about the essay they'd have to write over the weekend.

As Tess packed up her books and started to head out, Josie called her back, waving her over with a warm smile.

"Tess, a quick word?" Josie asked, her tone gentle and kind, clearly trying to avoid putting Tess on the spot. Tess nodded, shifting from foot to foot as Josie spoke, her voice soft yet encouraging.

"Now, Tess, you're a great student—really! I mean, you always have something to offer to the class, and you've got such a knack for English." She gave Tess a smile. "But I wanted to check in about the set work for this unit. I know Shakespeare can be a challenge, but have you had the chance to finish any of the assignments so far?"

Tess shrugged a little, trying to avoid Josie's eyes. "Uh... yeah, sort of," she mumbled, not entirely convincingly.

Josie nodded, understanding but undeterred. "Well, maybe you could try to get a bit more of it done? Along with the essay? I don't usually have these chats—most of my students are already failing," she joked softly, "but I really believe in you, Tess."

Tess gave a small, grateful smile. "Thanks Josie. I'll try."

With a quick nod, Tess headed out of the classroom and made her way to the green, where she spotted her friends already lounging on the grass, a mix of chatter and laughter rising from the group. Emily waved her over, and Tess joined them, plopping down between Emily and Naomi as JJ sat beside her. 

Nearby, Pandora was babbling to Katie and Effy, excitement bubbling in her voice as she recounted something from history. Off to the side, Cook sat a little apart from the group, shielding his lighter from the wind as he tried to light a cigarette.

Thomas soon wandered over with his usual laid-back smile, dropping down next to Pandora, who stiffened almost immediately. Tess noticed her sudden unease; Pandora's guilt around him had been palpable ever since the incident with Cook, and every time he joined them, it flickered to the surface again.

Thomas, oblivious to the tension, smiled warmly at Pandora. "Hey, Panda," he said, nudging her shoulder. "How was your afternoon?"

"Oh, um, we were just... you know, talking about..." Pandora's words trailed off, shifting uncomfortably.

Emily swooped in, quick as ever. "Hamlet," she said, deadpan. "Riveting stuff."

"Shakespeare. What a snooze." Naomi muttered.

"Hey, Hamlet's got some deep stuff going on," JJ piped up, launching into an analysis that had the others laughing.

Cook wandered over from where he'd been sprawled on the grass a little ways away, catching Tess's eye as he approached. She braced herself for another snarky comment, but he just gave her a hate filled stare, settling in with the group. 

Tess had expected him to do something or rather say something else stupid but he just completely ignored her. Somehow, that silence grated more than anything he could've said.

----

Tess slung her bag over her shoulder, stepping out of the school gates with Naomi and JJ trailing behind her. The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the sky. The streets were buzzing with the post-school rush, students spilling out of buses or loitering at corners, delaying the inevitable pull home.

"Where are we going?" Naomi asked, falling into step beside Tess.

"There's that little diner near the Green," Tess replied absently, still stewing over the day's events. "I'm starving."

"Same. School food's shit," Naomi muttered, lighting a cigarette. JJ gave her a sidelong glance, adjusting his satchel nervously as they walked.

They pushed through the diner's door. It wasn't anything special—a few worn leather booths, sticky tabletops, vibrant walls and a faint smell of grease hanging in the air, but the chips were the best in Bristol.

Sliding into a booth near the window, Tess slumped back, her arms crossed as she huffed out a breath. She didn't even realise she'd been stewing until Naomi raised an eyebrow at her.

"Alright, spill," Naomi said, smirking. "You've got that look on your face."

"What look?"

"The 'someone's pissed you off, and now we're all going to hear about it' look," Naomi replied, taking a drag of her cigarette before stubbing it out in the ashtray.

Tess rolled her eyes running a hand through her hair as the words spilled out of her in a heated rush. "It's Cook. He was such a complete prick today. Like, he's just walking around, acting like I've done something wrong, when all I did was have a conversation with a guy. One guy!" She blurted, "Not like the hundreds he's been with. But oh no, that's a crime in Cook's world."

"But you did shag him though, right?" Naomi questioned. 

"Well.... Yeah, but that's not the point" Tess started, 

Naomi leaned her chin on her hand, her expression amused. "Didn't realise you and Theo were a thing."

"We're not!" Tess snapped, throwing her hands up. "But try telling Cook that. He's stomping around school like I've betrayed him or something. Like, seriously? How come he gets to shag half the town, but I can't do shit without him having a meltdown?"

JJ, clearly uncomfortable, shifted in his seat. "Maybe he's just, uh... protective? Like, you know, in a friendly way?"

Tess shot him a look that could have turned him to stone. "Protective? Don't even start, JJ. He's not being protective—he's being a controlling, hypocritical asshole."

Naomi snorted, leaning back in her seat. "Cook is a hypocrite. Always has been. You're just figuring that out now?"

Tess groaned, burying her face in her hands. "It's just so... infuriating. He's the one who started the fight."

JJ cleared his throat nervously, glancing between the two girls. "Look, I know Cook can be... difficult sometimes. But he's not all bad, you know? He's one of my only friends."

Tess sighed, leaning back in her seat. "JJ, I get that he's your mate, but you've got to stop defending him every time he acts like a dick."

JJ hesitated, fiddling with a napkin. "It's just... he's been there for me. Back when we were kids, no one wanted to play with me. I was just the weird kid, you know? But Cook didn't care. One day, he came over and said we were playing pirates, and that was it."

Tess exchanged a glance with Naomi, her frustration softening slightly.

"JJ," Naomi said, her voice uncharacteristically gentle, "you know we're your friends too, right? You don't have to stick up for him all the time."

JJ looked up, his expression earnest. "Yeah, I know. But Cook's... Cook. He's just always been there."

Naomi shrugged, but Tess gave him a small, reassuring smile.

The conversation trailed off as their food arrived, the tension hanging heavy over the table. They ate in relative silence, the clatter of cutlery and the low hum of conversation from other diners filling the void.

As they finished up, JJ looked between them, his voice hesitant. "You think... you think Cook'll ever change?"

Naomi snorted, tossing a chip into her mouth. "Doubt it. But who knows? Maybe someone could change him" She said suggestively, glancing at Tess.

Tess didn't say anything, her mind drifting to Cook's infuriating smirk and the way he always seemed to worm his way back into her life but she snapped out of it when she heard Naomi's fork clatter onto her plate

"Is that Freddie?!" She exclaimed pointing to the weak TV playing in the corner.

Tess looked up to see Freddie on the screen next to his sister looking completely disinterested. He was wearing a suit but his hands were all bloodied up. Karen on the other hand was fully glammed up in a pink dress, the same shade as her bright lipstick.

"Is this that Sexxbomb show you were on about J?" Tess asked. 

"Precisely." He smiled

"Freddie's sisters on that crap?" Naomi scoffed, clearly amused. "No way!"

Tess was listening intently to the conversation. The interviewer- an overly tanned American leaned forward, his pearly-white smile so obnoxious it made Tess want to throw her fork at the screen.

"Tell us what it means to you to have Karen in the final for Search For A Sexxbomb?" the interviewer asked, his voice making Tess's skin crawl. 

Freddie shifted uncomfortably on the screen, fumbling for words. "It's like, you know... well, I mean... I can't quite put it into words." He drawled before Karen nudged him into an answer, "It's great." 

Karen beamed, her smile so wide it practically swallowed her face. "He is just the best brother in the world. We take every day as a blessing from God, because, you know, Mum isn't with us anymore. It really makes you think..."

Freddie turned to Karen, his expression blank. "Does it? About what?"

Tess frowned. She didn't know Freddie's mum had passed but she braced herself. She could feel where this was going.

Karen floundered, clearly caught off guard. "About, you know... life is precious and stuff."

The interviewer pounced on the moment, leaning in with that same smarmy grin. "Freddie why don't you tell me what it was like to lose your mother?"

Tess's stomach churned. She hated this kind of thing—the fake sympathy, the way these interviewers dug into people's grief for the sake of entertainment.

"I didn't lose her," Freddie said, his tone sharp enough to cut glass. "I'm not gonna find her down the back of the sofa or anything."

Naomi let out a low whistle. "Bloody hell, Freds."

The interviewer, undeterred, pressed on. "But, you know, like, how did it feel?"

"It felt great. It felt really great, Jordan." Freddie's face hardened, his irritation spilling over. "Let me ask you... how does it feel being a cocaine-snorting, low-budget, corporate puppet?"

JJ gasped, his hand flying to his mouth. "Oh my God. This is live!"

The trio in the diner sat in stunned silence for a moment, the noise of the TV fading into the background as they processed what they'd just seen.

"Jesus Christ," Naomi finally said, shaking her head. "That is exactly the type of person I can't fucking stand."

Tess crossed her arms,"Who even asks shit like that on live TV? 'How did it feel to lose your mum?'" she mimicked, her voice dripping with disdain. "What a wanker."

JJ tilted his head, his brow furrowed. "You think Freddie's okay? I mean... it must've been hard for him to talk about his mum like that."

Tess glanced at the screen again, her heart tugging in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with. "Freddie's tough," she said, her voice quieter now. "He'll be fine."

But even as she said it, she couldn't shake the image of his guarded expression, the way his words had come out sharper than he probably intended...

-----

Tess stepped out of the diner, the door slamming shut behind her as the bell jingled. The evening air was cool against her skin, a relief after the sticky warmth of the diner. She lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply as she made her way to the bus stop a few blocks away.

the streetlights were flickering on, casting orange halos over the pavement. She took a final drag of her cigarette and flicked it into the gutter, leaning against the shelter's glass.

"Tess," a voice drawled, low and teasing.

She looked up, startled. Theo was standing there, hands shoved in his pockets, a lazy grin on his face.

Her stomach twisted in fright, but she masked it with a scoff. "Jesus, you really know how to greet a girl."

"I thought I'd never see you again," he added, smirking.

"So did I." She said bluntly

Theo stepped closer, leaning casually against the shelter beside her. "So, uh... about that morning," he started, glancing at her sideways. "You know, when you bolted like the place was on fire? I was almost insulted."

Tess folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "What did you want a handwritten thank-you note?"

"Wouldn't have killed you to stick around for breakfast," he said, tone light but teasing. "Or at least a goodbye."

Tess rolled her eyes. "We had fun. I left. End of story."

Theo chuckled. "Fair enough. Just didn't peg you for the type to run off. Thought you might at least stick around to admire me sleeping."

Tess laughed "Trust me there was nothing admirable about your snoring."

The rumble of the approaching bus cut through the conversation. Tess straightened up, pulling her bag over her shoulder as the headlights came into view.

"You heading home?" Theo asked, tilting his head.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Guess we're on the same route," he said, stepping aside to let her board first.

"Great." She scoffed, rolling her eyes. 

Despite the annoyance they ended up sitting together on the bus, though Tess hesitated for a moment before dropping into the seat beside him. The bus jolted forward, and the city lights streaked past the window.

They surprisingly fell into an easy rhythm, the back-and-forth banter filling the space between them. Theo told her about his day, a mix of random anecdotes and sarcastic observations about people they both knew. Tess found herself laughing more than she expected, the tension between them fading into something more comfortable.

When the conversation lulled, Theo leaned his head back, looking at her. "So... what are you doing tomorrow?"

Tess shrugged. "Why? You planning another thrilling adventure?"

"Maybe," Theo said, smirking again. "Come out with me. We'll find something fun to do."

Tess hesitated. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea—or if she cared enough to stop herself. He was annoying, cocky, and a little too charming for his own good. But still... there was something about him.

"Fuck it," she said finally. "Why not?"