Tess~2

It was the day before Christmas Eve, and the house already smelled like mulled wine, cinnamon, and impending doom. Tess stood in the middle of the living room holding a string of fairy lights, hopelessly trying to put them up. Her mum had decided to throw a Christmas party.

These things didn't happen often, thank God. But when they did, it was a full-scale operation: clean the house top to bottom, decorate like they were competing in some suburban Christmas showdown (Which her mum would probably consider), and smile like everything was perfectly normal. Which, in Tess's case, couldn't be further from the truth.

"Can you hand me the tinsel, love?" her mum called from across the room, already halfway through hanging some garish red and gold garland over the fireplace.

Tess passed it over without saying much, eyes trailing over the drinks table Paul was setting up. Of course he had a drinks table. With little labelled tags. And matching napkins. He was currently rearranging a plate of mince pies with all the intensity of someone performing heart surgery.

"This needs to be festive, but not too festive," he muttered, mostly to himself. "More maturely festive, y'know?"

Tess didn't respond. Mostly because she didn't care.

"Are you excited?" her mum asked suddenly, breaking Tess out of her miserable trance. "Your friends coming?"

"I didn't invite anyone." Tess mumbled, giving up and draping the lights half-heartedly along the bookshelf.

Her mum frowned. "You should've. We said you could."

"Yeah, and I didn't." Tess tugged on the string of lights a little harder than necessary. "Didn't think anyone should suffer through this voluntarily."

"Tess," her mum said warningly, but didn't push further. Just went back to humming some awful song under her breath as she rearranged a ceramic reindeer for the third time.

Tess took a step back, surveying her half-assed decorating job, then turned toward the kitchen. She could hear Paul muttering in there now too, stirring a pot of something. When she stepped in, he glanced up at her with an expression that might've been friendly or awkward or both—hard to tell with Paul.

"You alright, Tess?" he asked.

"Peachy," she said flatly, then grabbed a handful of gingerbread cookies and walked out.

By the time the living room was done, it looked like a middle-class Christmas catalogue had thrown up all over it. Candles flickered in every corner. There were at least five decorative nutcrackers, all standing in a neat little row like judgmental toy soldiers. Paul had even lit the fireplace.

Tess sat on the arm of the sofa, chewing absently on the cookies she'd nicked from the kitchen, watching as Michelle came downstairs dressed like she was going to an entirely different event. Tight skirt, glittery top, heels.

"You look thrilled," Michelle said, smirking.

"I am," Tess deadpanned. "Absolutely ecstatic."

"Jal and Chris are coming. Try not to be a total misery."

Michelle walked over, stealing a cookie from her hand, "You're not planning on wearing that are you?" Michelle said, through mouthfuls.

"Cheers."

The doorbell rang. Her mum called for them to help answer it. Michelle stood up with an exaggerated groan. Tess took this as her cue to retreat to her room, at least try to put on something nicer but every second of this party already felt like a countdown to some kind of disaster.

And it hadn't even started yet.

---

Tess came back downstairs about half an hour later, having swapped out her jumper for a red halter neck and a skirt. Her hair was still damp and curling awkwardly at the ends, but she didn't care.

The living room was now packed. Fairy lights blinked in every direction like they were trying to cause seizures. Her mum's friends that Tess hadn't seen or heard of in years were everywhere—laughing too loud, holding wine glasses, already red in the face.

Tess glanced toward the drinks table, briefly considering faking a sudden allergic reaction, but it was too late

"Tess!" her mum's voice rang out, cutting through the noise like a fire alarm. "Come say hello!"

Tess barely had time to turn before she was being dragged by the wrist toward a woman in a deep green velvet dress with a perfectly blow-dried bob and way too much perfume.

"This is Amy—remember Amy?" her mum said, overly bright. "And this is her son, Sam."

Amy smiled with full teeth. "Oh, Tess! It's been years! I used to babysit you when you were tiny—look at you now! Gorgeous."

Tess forced a polite smile, then glanced at Sam.

He was standing there with his hands in the pockets of his jacket, hair gelled and flopping slightly in the front. He had that confident-but-sullen look some boys wore like it was part of their uniform.

"Don't you remember Sam?" her mum asked.

"Barely," Tess replied, flatly.

"You two used to get along so well!" Amy added with a laugh.

"Yeah. When we were five," Tess said, raising an eyebrow.

The two women were called away by someone shouting from across the room, and without missing a beat, they left Tess alone with Sam in the thick of candlelight and nutcracker soldiers.

There was an awkward silence.

"So..." Tess tried, already regretting it. "You still live around here?"

Sam nodded once. "Mm."

She stared at him, waiting for literally anything else.

She looked away, arms crossed loosely, ready to bail entirely when he suddenly leaned in a little and said, way too casually, "So... want to blow me?"

"What do you think?" Tess scowled, a look of disgust on her face.

He gave her a confused look, like it was an actual question. "...Yes?"

She stared at him for a second longer, lips curling into a frown.

Then she turned and walked off without a word.

Tess wandered over to the front hall, still vaguely fuming from the Sam incident, only to find Michelle locked in a polite hostage situation with their elderly neighbour, Mrs. Penwright, who always wore a permanent sour expression.

"I'm just saying," the woman was ranting, voice shrill and nasal, "it's incredibly inconsiderate! That car is blocking a third of my drive. A third!"

Michelle's smile looked like it was physically hurting her face. "Right. Sorry, Mrs. Penwright. We'll see whose car it is and get it moved."

"It better be!" She screeched

Michelle shot her a glare but didn't break character. "I'll go grab my mum for you," she said sweetly, then slowly—so slowly it was almost graceful—closed the door in the woman's face and exhaled like she'd just defused a bomb.

"Don't think I've ever seen her smile," Tess muttered under her breath, leaning against the doorframe. "I mean she doesn't even drive anymore. Pretty sure that car's just full of old newspapers."

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

Michelle cracked the door open and peeked. Her face instantly lit up. "Oh my God!"

Jal and Chris stood on the doorstep, bundled up in coats, grinning.

Michelle threw the door open and squealed, practically launching into Jal's arms. "You're actually here!"

"I said I'd come, didn't I?" Jal said, laughing as they hugged.

Chris stepped in after. He looked like he hadn't changed much since Tess had seen him last. He had a scarf wrapped twice around his neck and was rugged up in a coat, bottle of something in his hand.

"Tess!" he grinned, holding out a fist. "Still alive, then?"

Tess raised an eyebrow at the offered fist bump but tapped hers to his anyway. "Hey Chris."

Michelle rolled her eyes. "Chris, she's not twelve anymore."

"What's wrong with a fist bump?" he said, hand dropping to his side like it was offended. "Fist bumps are timeless. Classic."

Jal laughed. "You're an idiot."

"Yeah, but I'm a festive idiot," he grinned, unzipping his coat revealing a tacky Christmas jumper.

Jal turned to Tess and gave her a warmer smile. "Hey. Long time."

Jal pulled her into a quick hug that felt nice, familiar. They hadn't seen each other in a few months. Chris, though... she hadn't seen him around in what, a year? More? They were obviously still together—if they weren't, Michelle would've mourned like it was a national tragedy. Last time Tess had checked they lived in London near Jal's school.

Chris glanced around the house, eyeing the flickering candles, decorative reindeer, and the meticulously curated drinks table. "This the party then?"

Michelle shot him a look. "Yup."

He made a face—somewhere between confused and deeply unimpressed.

Jal elbowed him. "Don't be rude."

"I'm not, I'm just—" he waved his hands vaguely at the nutcrackers, "observing."

"It looks..." Jal started, trying to be polite, "...great."

"You don't have to lie," Tess said.

Michelle shrugged. "It is pretty sad for a party, isn't it?"

Chris beamed. "Well, lucky for you lot—there's nothing that can't be fixed." He grabbed a random glass of wine off the hallway table and wandered into the living room, already saying hello to strangers like he lived there.

"He hasn't changed," Tess muttered, amused.

Suddenly, Anna appeared at her side, eyes lighting up.

"Jalander!" she practically sang, pulling her in for a warm hug. "You look gorgeous. Look at you—seriously."

"Hi Anna!"

Anna beamed. "How are you? Hows Chris, is he still... is he still doing the estate agent thing? I couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious last time we spoke."

"No, he's actually doing it," Jal said with a half-laugh. "He's good at it too."

"And your music—how's the fancy school? Still playing Clarinet? I always said, didn't I, Chelle?" Anna turned to Michelle who had clearly zoned out halfway through this monologue. "Jal was always the one with her head on straight. Not like you lot, sneaking out and kissing boys."

Michelle blinked. "What?"

Anna waved it off, clearly she'd already had a few drinks. "Anyway, I'll let you girls catch up. Don't mind me," she said breezily, disappearing with a glass of Prosecco in hand.

"Good to see you Anna!" Jal called out, but their mum was long gone

As soon as she was gone, Michelle groaned under her breath. "Mum needs to be studied."

"Catch up?" Jal said.

Michelle grabbed both their arms. "Absolutely."

They slipped out the back door again, Tess pulling it shut behind them. The garden was still mostly empty, a few stragglers smoking out by the fence, a couple of people supervising their screaming children.

Tess dropped onto the couch, looking between the two of them. She felt like she was 7 again, being bossed around by Michelle about how to play the game, and Jal having to re-explain every rule Michelle had messed up. .

"So how's your studies?" Jal asked, arms tucked into her coat as she leaned back in the chair.

"I'm getting through it," Michelle said, exhaling like it was both the best and worst thing ever. "Don't get me wrong, it's great, exhausting but great."

Jal replied. "Yeah? I've got a performance in January, I'm so scared."

"Why?" Tess asked, "Didn't you perform on national television?"

"You'll smash it," Michelle said. "You've always been the musical prodigy."

Jal grinned. "We'll see."

Then she looked at Tess. "What about you? School alright?"

Tess made a face. "It's shit."

"Still at Roundview?"

"Unfortunately."

"Is Doug still there?"

"Of course he is," Tess said. "That man's not leaving anytime soon. He's like... part of the building at this point."

Michelle nodded. "He probably sleeps in the janitor's closet. Keeps an emergency suit under the desk."

"You know one of my friends spotted him sleeping overnight in his office once," Tess added.

Jal snorted. "Sounds about right."

There was a little pause before Jal tilted her head, thoughtful. "I wonder what Chris is up to right now."

"Probably pissing off all of my mum's friends." Michelle chuckled

Tess raised her eyebrows. "I can't believe he's actually working in real estate"

Jal nodded. "Yeah. Shocked me he's kept it up."

"I know," Michelle said, "he's serious. He owns, like, a blazer now."

"It's crazy, my boyfriend is a professional at something." Jal said, beaming proudly

"I always thought it would be Tony first, with a proper job, you know? Making money and stuff." Michelle said thoughtfully, "Your lucky Jal."

Jal smiled, "Yeah"

Then she looked at Tess, tilting her head a little. "What about you, Tess? Anyone...?"

Tess hesitated. "Uh... no. I don't think so."

Jal looked confused. "You don't think so?"

"Oh, here we go," Michelle said, cutting in gleefully like she'd been waiting. "So, get this—Tess has been doing this weird undefined thing with this guy for... how long has it been Tess?"

Tess rolled her eyes but answered anyway, "I dunno maybe a year."

"A year!" Michelle said exasperated, "They hang out, they hook up, they act like a couple, but God forbid she calls it that."

Tess narrowed her eyes. "Michelle."

"I'm just saying!" Michelle said, grinning at Jal like she was filling in the gossip void. "His name is Cook."

"Cook?" Jal questioned, but Michelle kept going

"I mean," Michelle continued, like she'd waited all night to spill this, "it's not technically a relationship, it's complicated. Torture to watch sometimes. They're kind of obsessed with each other but also, like, allergic to basic communication."

Tess groaned. "You're acting like I'm not sitting here."

Michelle ignored her. "If I'm being honest... I don't hate him. He's funny. Pretty face. But also, I don't trust him. Like I think he'd be fine if he actually grew up, but he hasn't really, has he?"

"Hey-" Tess started

Jal interrupted. "Wait, so are you together or not?"

"Well we never were officially, but we kinda were and then we weren't and...I don't know anymore," She groaned, sinking her head deeper into the pillows.

"She won't call it anything," Michelle said. "And she keeps saying it's not serious, but then gets mad when he sleeps with other people."

"See! It's exhausting," Michelle flailed her hand. "They're not together, but also emotionally married. It doesn't help he's locked up and she's knocked up but-"

Tess's mouth dropped open. "Michelle!"

Michelle winced. "Shit. Sorry. I didn't mean—"

Tess smacked her lightly on the arm. "You're the reason I don't tell anyone anything."

Jal just stared at Tess for a second, eyebrows raised—but not in judgment. More like... absorbing.

Tess muttered, "Great. Brilliant. Cheers for that."

But Jal was already leaning forward. "Hey. Hey. It's alright. I'm not gonna go all dramatic on you."

Tess looked at her. "You're not shocked?"

Jal hesitated, then said, quietly, "It happened to me too."

Tess blinked. "What?"

"I didn't tell anyone for a long time," Jal said. "Didn't know how to. Was too scared to say it out loud. But you are. That's good. It's better out than in."

Tess's voice softened. "What did you do?"

Before Jal could answer, Michelle piped in again. "Well, obviously she didn't keep it, dumbass."

Tess shot her a look. "I swear to God, Chelle—"

"What?" Michelle held up her hands. "I'm being supportive!"

Jal smiled faintly. "I had an abortion. It was... hard. Chris was really sick at the time too. Everything felt like a blur."

Tess nodded slowly. "I didn't know."

"I didn't want people to," Jal said. "But you're telling people. That's brave."

There was a pause, and then Michelle suddenly leaned forward. "Okay but if you were gonna keep it—have you thought of names?"

Tess groaned. "Oh my God."

"I'm just saying!" Michelle held up her hands. "I like Eloise. Or Indigo. Something different but not too different, not celebrity different."

"Chris wants a Daisy," Jal added, laughing.

"That's actually kinda sweet," Tess admitted.

Michelle groaned, "Oh god it's not after that stupid movie is it?"

"Of course it was," Jal laughed. "He said if I kept it, and he didn't die that had to be the name, girl or boy"'

"Looks like you're gonna have a Daisy eventually Jal," Michelle snickered.

Tess smiled, but her thoughts were racing. As nice as it was seeing Jal, Tess couldn't bear to think about baby names at a time like this.

She stood abruptly, brushing imaginary crumbs off her skirt. "I'm gonna... get more food or something."

Michelle smirked. "We've officially entered freak-her-out mode."

Tess flipped her off half-heartedly over her shoulder as she walked back inside.

---

Tess stepped into the kitchen and froze when she saw Chris sitting at the counter, eating crisps from a bowl. He didn't seem to notice her at first, too focused on the snacks. She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe.

"What are you hiding in here for?" Tess asked, her voice teasing but with a hint of curiosity.

Chris glanced up, chewing slowly. "Not sure your mum's friends like me very much," he said, looking back down at his bowl. 

Tess shrugged, a wry smile forming. "They don't like me either."

Chris grinned, clearly unfazed. "Ah, it's good to be back here though."

Tess raised an eyebrow. "In Bristol?"

Chris waved a hand dismissively. "What? No, no, this house. There were some real great parties here. It was wild."

Tess muttered under her breath, not intending for him to hear. "It was horrible."

But Chris didn't catch it. "Your mum always had the good stuff hidden away somewhere... I wonder if I can still find it?"

Tess shook her head, a small laugh escaping her. "Uh, I don't think so."

Chris didn't seem to mind and continued, his voice growing animated as he recalled the past. "Actually, there was one party here that turned into a massive food fight. Spaghetti and shit everywhere. Crazy, man."

Tess winced at the memory. "Yeah, I remember."

Chris smirked, looking over at her. "What, were you there? Bit young, eh?"

Tess sighed, her voice flat. "No, I was locked up in my room, too scared to see what was going on downstairs. Couldn't sleep because of the fucking music and screaming. At least I think it was screaming."

Chris seemed to pause for a moment, guilt flashing in his eyes. "Yeah, that was probably my bad." The silence stretched between them for a second.

Tess bit her lip, her thoughts turning inward before she spoke again. "Hey, Chris?"

He looked up, still munching on crisps. "Yeah?"

Tess hesitated, then asked quietly, "How do you always stay so positive about, like, everything. Even when things go to shit?"

Chris chewed for a moment, then shrugged, flashing her a grin. "Well, it's simple. Good things are always happening, right?"

Tess stared at him, feeling the weight of her own thoughts. "Doesn't feel like it."

Chris leaned back, unfazed. "So you just gotta think about the good stuff, not the other stuff. The other stuff can wait."

Tess gave a soft sigh, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I guess so... but you'll have to face it eventually."

Chris paused, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Well, then just face it head-on. Nothing to lose, right?" He turned as if to leave but then stopped, the chip bowl still in his hands. He glanced back at her, a small smile on his face. "Oh, congrats, by the way— or maybe not, maybe my... regrets? I don't really know your situation."

Tess frowned, completely thrown off. "What are you talking about?"

Chris gave a casual shrug, the grin never leaving his face. "The baby." He shrugged again, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Tess stood there, stunned. "Wait, what? How—how did you—"

Chris smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "The windows open. You girls talk very loudly." He gave her a wink and walked out of the room, leaving Tess standing there, her heart racing and her mind reeling. Everyone was slowly finding out and thats what scared her the most

---

It was Christmas Eve, and the cold bit at Tess's cheeks as she and Michelle walked side by side towards their dad's front door. They were both wrapped up in thick coats, scarves, and gloves, the weight of the evening making them both feel like they were trudging through more than just the winter chill. 

The two of them stopped in front of the door, and Tess's heart hammered in her chest. She took a deep breath, hoping it might steady her nerves, but it didn't help much.

Michelle gave her a reassuring smile, squeezing her shoulder. "Hey, we'll survive this. It's just dinner, right?"

Tess didn't answer, staring at the door, waiting for someone to answer. The seconds felt like hours, and as the door finally creaked open, and there he was—Their dad, standing in the doorway with a big grin plastered across his face. He was wearing an old, slightly crumpled Christmas sweater that had a reindeer on it, and the scent of whatever was cooking in the kitchen wafted toward her.

"Michelle! Merry Christmas!" He pulled Michelle into a tight hug.

Tess stood awkwardly to the side, shifting on her feet. When her dad's eyes finally landed on her, his smile faltered just slightly, but he still stepped forward and opened his arms. "Tess," he said, with an almost exaggerated tone, "long time no see."

Tess hesitated, then gave in, letting him pull her into a quick, awkward hug. She wasn't sure why, but she felt so out of place here. "Yeah, sorry," she muttered, giving him a half-hearted smile. "Been busy, y'know?" The words felt empty the moment they left her mouth. She knew she hadn't been busy enough to forget to call. But it wasn't like he had bothered either, so why did it matter?

Her dad patted her back in that awkward, stiff way that always made her uncomfortable. "Well, it's good to have you both here," he said, stepping back and gesturing for them to come inside. "Come on in,"

As they entered the house, the atmosphere felt more alive than Tess had expected, considering the tension she was already feeling. The living room was decked out with every tacky Christmas decoration imaginable. It had the usual festive chaos of her mum's house, something she never thought she would see at her dads.

The living room wasn't much better. Holly and Jamie were sitting on the couch, the former looking rather unimpressed by the entire holiday spectacle, while Jamie was practically bouncing up and down with excitement as he saw them.

Jamie grinned widely, waving enthusiastically. "Merry Christmas!" His voice was full of energy as he jumped up to hug them both. Tess stiffened, but Jamie didn't seem to notice. At least he was happy to see them, unlike the rest of the household.

"Thanks, Jamie. Merry Christmas to you too," Tess muttered, offering a faint smile. She looked at Holly, who barely lifted her gaze from the TV.

Still, Michelle tried to interact, "Hi Holly!"

"Hi" Holly said dryly back

Michelle exchanged pleasantries with Jamie while Tess took in the room more closely. There was a wreath on the door, stockings hanging from the fireplace, and way too many reindeer figurines for her liking.

But then, her gaze landed on something that made her stomach turn. A tacky family Christmas card, sitting on the mantle like it was the highlight of their decorations. It was a photo of her dad, Louise, Holly and Jamie—smiling and posed with forced holiday cheer. The kind of photo people send out to friends, their lives looking perfect for just a moment. Her heart sank.

Her dad, the one she used to know, the one who'd always mocked those kinds of photos, would have laughed at this. He would've made some joke about how ridiculous it was, but now, it was like he had fully embraced the perfect, suburban family life. Her stomach twisted. That version of her dad felt further and further away with every passing moment.

"Louise is just finishing up in the kitchen," her dad said, motioning toward the hall. Tess nodded stiffly, but her eyes stayed glued to that stupid Christmas card.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and Louise appeared from the kitchen, wearing a festive red apron with a picture of Santa on it. 

"Oh, hey!" Louise said, bright and chirpy as ever. "Merry Christmas!" She stepped forward and gave Michelle a warm hug, before turning to Tess, her smile faltering just slightly when she noticed Tess's expression. "Tess, glad you could make it. Everything's... okay?"

Tess forced a smile, not wanting to make a scene, not today. "Yeah, everything's fine. Merry Christmas."

Louise seemed to buy it, though Tess could see the flicker of concern in her eyes. The smile returned. "Good, good. Why don't you both come sit down? Dinner's almost ready."

Tess tried to shake off the feeling that she didn't belong here as they all gathered around the table. This was supposed to be a family holiday, but it felt more like a performance.

---

The dinner table was silent except for the clinking of glasses and the soft hum of the holiday music playing in the background. The tension was thick, as everyone sat around awkwardly, either staring at their plates or pretending to study the glittery tablecloth.

Michelle broke the silence, her voice a little too bright. "Are we going to start?"

"We're just waiting, hon," Louise replied, her smile strained.

Tess, still fidgeting in her seat, shot a glance at her dad. "For who?"

"For Jules!" Nathan said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, his voice filled with a little too much enthusiasm.

"Aunt Julia?" Michelle asked, her tone tinged with confusion.

"Why is she coming?" Tess couldn't help but blurt out, her voice dripping with suspicion.

"Don't be rude, Tess," Nathan scolded, shaking his head. "We're her only family left, and it's Christmas!"

Tess rolled her eyes, her mind snapping, she's not really family but she kept the thought to herself.

Jamie, who had been bouncing in his seat like a child on too much sugar, grinned. "I really like Julia, she's funny."

Just as the words left his mouth, the doorbell rang, cutting through the already awkward silence like a knife.

Within moments, Julia appeared in the doorway, her presence immediately filling the room.

She looked... loud, to say the least, probably going all out for dinner.

"Well, well, well!" Julia chirped, her voice as bright as her outfit. She strutted into the dining room with a smug smile, and placed a massive bag of presents on the table, "Merry Christmas, my darlings!"

Her hug for Michelle was a little too long, her perfume overpowering. "Michelle! Looking fabulous, as always."

Michelle tried to keep up a polite smile, though it was clear Julia's presence was already a lot to handle. "Hi Jules."

Julia's gaze landed on Tess next, and she greeted her with a big, exaggerated air kiss to each cheek. "Tess, sweetie, How's life treating you?" Her words were dripping with fake sweetness, but Tess could see right through it.

Before Tess could respond, Julia was already moving to the next person. "Nate, look what I got for the kids." She proudly held up some matching Christmas PJs.

"Cool!" Jamie beamed, but Holly stayed silent.

Julia didn't waste any time, pulling out more wrapped gifts, "Come here, I've got more for you lucky kids!"

"Um Julia we should probably wait till- till after dinner" Louis interjected cautiously

Julia suddenly stopped, dropping the gifts, "Oh. Course, yeah, no problem."

She settled herself in the seat next to Jamie. "Well anyway, who wants to hear about my new amazing business venture? You wouldn't believe the clients I've been landing." She grinned, "It's all about self-care, you know, feeling your best, looking your best... and I've got the perfect new skincare line in the works."

Jamie, who had no idea what she was on about, suddenly piped up, trying to make conversation like the child he was. "I'm learning about Ancient Egypt in school. We got to make pyramids out of sand at recess."

Julia raised an eyebrow at him. "Ancient Egypt, huh? Mummies, pharaohs, curses... sounds so glamorous. Ever thought of becoming a history buff, Jamie? Or maybe you can get into self-care with me instead. You're growing up, you need to start thinking about skincare early—trust me!"

There was a brief pause as Jamie blinked at her, not really sure how to respond. "Uh, I don't know... I like the mummies."

"Oh, mummies, darling," Julia said with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "Mummies are all about the beauty sleep. You just need the right products. Trust me, your skin will thank you later." She waggled her fingers, as though casting some sort of magical spell, and then turned to Tess. "What about you, sweetie? How's life? You look like you could use a little bit of... relaxation, huh? A spa day, maybe? Just don't go putting all your stress on your poor face."

Tess just stared at her, not sure if she was supposed to laugh or run for the hills.

Louise, meanwhile, tried to chime in, attempting to steer the conversation back to more comfortable territory. "Anyone want some mash?" she said, her voice tight.

Nathan nodded enthusiastically, knowing his sister well enough to know she was going on another awful tangent. The awkward chatter continued, with Jamie talking about his pyramid struggles, stupid small talk about school and all about Jules recent adventures. It was all a bit too much for Tess, but at least no one was mentioning the thing she dreaded most.

For now, anyway.

----

Dinner had wrapped up, and the living room was a mix of holiday chaos. Holly was bouncing on the floor, shaking every gift under the tree. Michelle was sitting cross-legged on the couch, patiently showing Jamie how to play the new game they'd gotten him, while he pressed the buttons with enthusiasm, completely lost in the thrill of it all.

Tess, however, found herself stuck with Julia, who had clearly had a little too much to drink. Julia was slouched into the armchair beside Tess, her bleached blonde hair messy, and her jumpsuit now looking slightly less glamorous as she swayed a bit in her seat. Her voice was louder than usual as she rambled on about her latest boyfriend—well, ex-boyfriend now, but that was only a technicality.

Tess glanced over at her dad, sitting next to Louise on the couch, another drink in hand. The sight made warning alarms go off in her head, but she pushed them aside. He was better now, right? He hadn't been this bad for a while. And it was Christmas... a couple drinks wouldn't hurt, right?

But before she could settle her thoughts, Julia's voice cut through, pulling her attention back. "Love, I'm asking you if you're still with that—what was his name? The gorgeous one I met at that party?"

Tess blinked, her stomach twisting in discomfort. "Who? Cook?" she asked, not sure if she even wanted to acknowledge the name. "...no"

"That's the one!" Julia said, grinning like she'd just solved a puzzle. "Shame, he was a right laugh. Unlike Keith who was just a stone cold wanker that-"

Tess couldn't take it anymore. The thought of Cook, the uncomfortable reminder of everything that had happened between them, made her feel like she was suffocating. She stood up abruptly, cutting Julia off mid-rant. "I'm just going to grab another drink," Tess muttered, her voice clipped.

She didn't even wait for a response as she walked quickly into the kitchen, her footsteps echoing in the quiet space. 

Tess stood against the kitchen counter, her breath still shaky as she tried to centre herself. The sound of the party continued in the other room, but it felt miles away now.

But then the door creaked open, and Tess didn't have to look up to know who it was. The soft footsteps approached, and Louise's voice followed soon after.

"Hey," Louise said gently, her voice soft and tentative as she stood just behind Tess. "You okay?"

Tess straightened up, forcing a tight smile. "Yeah, just needed a minute," she replied, trying to sound more composed than she felt. She reached for a glass on the counter, her hand trembling slightly as she poured herself some water.

Louise hesitated for a moment, before stepping closer. "Julia... she's a lot, huh?" she said, attempting to ease the tension.

Tess huffed a laugh, but it was more out of frustration than humour. "Yeah, 'a lot' is an understatement," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "She's like a hurricane in human form."

Louise chuckled lightly, her voice carrying that soft maternal tone Tess usually found comforting. Tess kept her eyes on the glass in her hand, hoping to escape the conversation before it went where she knew it was headed.

But of course, Louise didn't let it slide.

"So," Louise started, cautiously. "Are you doing okay? I mean, with everything. The other day... we didn't really get a chance to talk."

Tess froze, her body stiffening as she braced herself. 

"I'm fine," Tess snapped a little too quickly, trying to brush it off. "Really."

Louise didn't seem convinced. She took a small step forward, her voice gentle. "Tess... I know it's not easy. And I'm not going to push, but I just want you to know I'm here, alright? Whatever you need, or if you just need to talk to someone about all this."

Tess swallowed hard, feeling the tightness in her chest return. She set the glass down a little too forcefully. "I don't need to talk," she said, trying to sound casual, but it came out defensive instead.

Louise didn't relent. "Okay," she said, her tone soft, but the weight of her words was still there. "Sweetie, do you know who the father is?"

Tess flinched, her stomach flipping over at the question. Her pulse quickened, and she suddenly felt like she was about to drown in the air around her. "I—I don't want to talk about it," she said, her voice cracking slightly. She looked at Louise, trying to ignore the tightness in her chest. "You don't need to know. It's not a big deal."

But Louise wasn't backing down. "You know you have options, right?" she asked, her voice still calm, but filled with that same quiet concern Tess had been trying to avoid. "I'm just saying, if you need help, if you need anything at all—"

Before Louise could continue, Tess snapped. "You haven't told my dad I'm pregnant, have you?" The words shot out before she could stop them, and they hit the air with a sharpness that made the space between them feel even more strained.

Louise's eyes softened immediately. "No, I haven't told him," she said gently. "I won't, Tess. That's your decision, not mine. I'm just here for you, if you need me."

Tess wanted to say something else, but just then, she heard a small, sharp clatter from the hallway. Her heart skipped a beat, and she whipped around, her stomach dropping as her eyes met her dad's.

He stood in the doorway, his hand still outstretched, holding the shattered remnants of a glass. His eyes were wide, his face pale.

Tess's heart slammed in her chest as she stared at her father.

The sound of the shattered glass still echoed in her ears, and for a moment, nobody moved.

Nathan's hand was frozen mid-air, fingers twitching, eyes wide as they darted between the broken glass and Tess's face. His breathing was shallow.

Then, without taking his eyes off her, he turned slowly toward Louise.

His face darkened further. He spun back to Louise. "You knew?" he demanded, his voice rising.

Louise held her ground, though her voice trembled. "I did. But like I said—it was her choice to say, not mine."

Nathan blinked like he hadn't heard her properly. Then he turned back to Tess, eyes glassy.

"You're fucking pregnant?" he said it like the words physically hurt to say. "You're pregnant?"

Tess felt a jolt in her spine, her hands balling at her sides. She didn't answer. She didn't have to.

"I can't believe this. I—how? Don't tell me you're having—" He stopped himself mid-sentence, mouth still moving as though the words were too big to form. "You're actually...?"

Tess took a deep breath, her voice cold. "What did you expect, Dad? I'm not a little girl anymore."

He let out a bitter laugh, disbelieving. "No. No, apparently not."

There was silence for a beat. Then—

Nathan's voice turned hard. "How could you let this happen?"

Tess recoiled like she'd been slapped. Her voice rose, defensive and furious. "Why the fuck does everyone keep asking me that!?"

"You're seventeen, Tess! You're a kid!"

"No, I'm not," she snapped. "Not anymore. You made sure of that years ago."

Nathan looked like he'd been slapped. "You know what?" he spat, voice shaking, "If your mum wasn't such a fucking—"

"A what? Go on say it," Tess snapped, her eyes burning.

He stopped himself, just barely. But the rage didn't leave his face. "She should be keeping you in check!"

Tess scoffed. "What the fuck are you on about?"

"She lets you run around, doing whatever you want, with whoever you want, and look at you now!" Nathan shouted. "This is exactly what I was afraid of!"

"Well if you were so worried why did you leave us 'unsupervised' then?" Tess's voice cracked with rage. "And it's not her fault! Yeah, maybe she's a bit forgetful and preoccupied sometimes, but do you want to know why she's like that?"

Nathan stared at her, seething.

"It's because of you," she spat. "Because you fucked off and left her with everything. With me, with Michelle. You left us. You get that? So don't you dare come in here and act like you've got any right to say a single thing."

Nathan's hands were clenched now, his breathing fast. "Don't start—"

"You started it," Tess growled. "You walked away. You disappeared and I was begging Mum to get you to come back, even though I knew she couldn't do it anymore. Remember that?"

Nathan flinched.

"I used to wait for you. Wait for you to call. Wait for you to come back. And when you did, what? You gave me some shit about how things were gonna be different, and then vanished again. So no—you don't get to come back and pretend to be my dad just because I messed up."

"I didn't vanish," Nathan said, voice trembling. "I—I couldn't come back."

"Oh yeah?" she yelled. "Too busy to pop in with your fake little smiles and your new house and your shiny new stepkids who call you Dad—you don't give a fuck about me!"

"I came back for you, Tess," he shouted.

"No. You came back when it was convenient. You don't get to call that parenting."

Louise looked stunned. She'd never seen Nathan like this before, but Tess had. She'd seen it a hundred times.

Louise stepped forward, her voice soft but urgent. "Nathan, please—this isn't helping. You're scaring her."

Nathan turned to her, voice shaking with disbelief. "I'm scaring her?"

"Yes!" Tess shouted, her eyes wide now, a hint of something deeper creeping into her voice. "You always do. Every time you get like this—I remember. I remember you yelling. I remember you slamming doors and throwing things. I remember Mum crying in the kitchen and me pretending not to hear. Don't act like this is new."

"You don't understand," he growled. "I tried. I didn't leave because I wanted to. I—"

"You left because you were weak," Tess said coldly. "You didn't want to deal with us. So you bailed."

Nathan stepped toward her. "You think I'm gonna just stand by and watch you make the same mistakes?"

"What mistakes?" Tess screamed, on the verge of tears now. "Falling for someone? Letting myself believe that someone actually gives a shit about me? That someone might stay?"

"You think that Cook boys gonna stay?" Nathan laughed bitterly. "He's scum, Tess. He's reckless. Dangerous. I know what he's like—"

"You don't know him!"

"I do!" Nathan shouted, stepping forward. "I do know him. Because I was him. Angry. Lost. Messed up. And if you think that kid's gonna be any different, then you're dreaming."

Tess stared at him, chest heaving, she didn't want to believe it.

"No," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're not like him."

Nathan flinched. "I—"

"Because I know—" she continued, her voice growing louder and tighter with each word, "—that he would be a thousand times better than you ever were at being a fucking parent!"

The room went dead still.

Nathan froze, staring at her. His jaw worked, but no words came. Louise had tears in her eyes now, her hand halfway to her mouth.

Tess didn't wait for more. Her eyes were glassy, but her hands were steady as she grabbed her bag from the hook near the door.

No goodbye. No apology.

She walked out, slamming the door behind her. The sound echoed through the hallway like a gunshot.

Nathan didn't move. Louise stood beside him, stunned. The shards of glass still sat on the floor between them.

And outside, Tess was already gone.