Thomas~2

Tess couldn't breathe.

The crowd swarmed around the girl, panic spreading like wildfire. Screams and cries cut through the pulsing music, but many kept dancing, oblivious to the reality unfolding before them. Tess didn't want to look. She couldn't—didn't want to see the aftermath of what had just happened.

Tess hadn't realised it but she had clung to Cook so fast neither of them questioned it. Cook's eyes locked onto the railing, and he pushed forward, climbing over it, searching frantically for answers.

Tess couldn't bear to look up, couldn't stomach the sight of it all.

"Fuck." Cook's voice broke through the chaos. The expression on his face when he returned from the railing told Tess everything she needed to know. But it was something else in his eyes—the way they darted desperately around the room, the tightness in his breath—that didn't sit right.

He moved forward, charging through the crowd, and Tess found herself following him without thinking. Her vision blurred as tears pricked her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. In the corner of her eye, she saw Pandora, crumpled in Thomas's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Freddie, Katie, JJ—they were all lost in their own world, staring at nothing, their faces frozen in disbelief. Freddie's hand was clenched into a fist, his usual calm demeanour completely gone. JJ was clinging to Katie, a silent sort of comfort. The sight of them, like they were still trying to process the same thing she was, hit her hard.

Everything seemed too loud and too quiet all at once.

"Tess," Cook said, pulling her attention back to him. His voice was tight, full of frustration. He was looking around like he was trying to figure out where to go.

"We should go," he said again, more urgently this time. His tone made it clear that he didn't want to hang around. The police would be here soon, and everyone would be questioned.

Tess didn't know what to say. She couldn't even form the words.

"She's dead Cook" Tess's voice was weak. Sophia's words from earlier replaying in her head. "She's... gone. Just like that. Just like... nothing."

Cook's expression hardened, his face twisting into something unrecognisable.

"Yeah. I know," he said, his voice colder than before. "I know. But we don't have time to think about it right now."

Tess could see the tension in his jaw, the way his fists were clenched. He was trying to hide it, but Tess knew he was just as shaken as she was.

The sirens got louder, and Cook glanced over his shoulder. He looked like he wanted to run but knew he couldn't. He took a deep breath and turned back to Tess.

"Look, Tess, it's better you go home," Cook said, his voice low, almost pleading. "Alright? Please?"

Before Tess could say anything, Katie came outside. She looked just as stricken, her face pale, her eyes wide. She didn't say a word, just stood there, shaking slightly.

Cook's gaze softened for a brief moment before he spoke again, voice hoarse. "Both of you, just go home, alright? It's better that way."

Tess didn't know what to say to Katie. She felt numb, like everything had been drained from her. They stood there for a moment in silence, the weight of the night sinking in.

Katie looked at Tess, her eyes full of confusion and shock, but there was nothing either of them could say. The words felt useless.

Without another word, they both turned, walking side by side back to Tess's house. It was silent. Not an ounce of energy left between them. The cold night air stung against Tess's skin, but it did nothing to numb the ache in her chest.

Nothing would.

-----

Tess sat at the kitchen table, pushing her cereal around the bowl with the spoon, watching as it turned soft and unappetising. She wasn't hungry. She hadn't been for the past three days. Every bite tasted like nothing.

Her mum was fussing again.

"It's just so awful," Anna muttered, hovering by the counter, still in her dressing gown. "That poor girl. And her parents—can you even imagine?"

Tess didn't answer. She didn't need to. Her mum wasn't actually looking for a response, just an outlet for her own unease.

"They said that the school's bringing in some counsellor or something," Anna went on, shaking her head as she poured herself more tea. "Not that it'll do much good. I mean, how do you even process something like that?"

Tess's grip tightened around her spoon.

She could feel her mum's eyes flicking over to her, checking for some kind of reaction, but Tess kept her gaze down, staring blankly at the soggy mess in her bowl.

It hadn't even been a week.

It was all anyone could talk about. Sophia's name was in every conversation, in the newspapers, on the telly. Even people who barely knew her were acting like they'd lost their best friend. It made Tess feel sick.

Not because they were talking about her. But because that was all that was left of her now—just whispers, headlines, and hushed voices in kitchens like this one.

Anna sighed, leaning against the counter. "You sure you're alright, love? You don't have to go in today if you don't feel up to it."

Tess finally looked up, that was a first. "No. I'll go."

Staying home wouldn't change anything.

But the idea of walking through those school gates, of facing everyone—seeing the looks, hearing the murmurs, it felt impossible.

Effy wasn't even back yet. No one had heard from her in months. And Cook and her were still...unresolved. It made everything feel even more unstable, like something was just... missing.

Nothing felt right.

She pushed her bowl away, appetite completely gone. "I'm gonna get ready."

Her mum watched her carefully, but Tess didn't give her the chance to say anything else. She just stood up and left, heading upstairs, trying to shake the heavy feeling pressing down on her chest.

----

The massive "Welcome Back!" banner hanging over the entrance made Tess want to turn around and go straight home. It was too bright, too cheery, like some forced attempt to pretend things weren't completely fucked.

As she walked through the corridors, the noise was almost unbearable. Laughter, chatter, the clatter of footsteps—it was like nothing had changed.

Tess exhaled, pushing open the doors to the common room.

It was only nine in the morning, yet somehow, everyone was way too energetic.

She spotted the others gathered around the couch—Freddie, Katie, Emily, and Panda—all focused on JJ, who was enthusiastically performing some kind of magic trick with a deck of cards.

Tess plunked down next to Freddie, sinking into the cushions with a tired sigh.

"Alright?" Freddie asked, glancing at her.

Tess just nodded. She wasn't in the mood to talk about it.

JJ flipped a card dramatically, revealing it to be the one Panda had picked earlier.

"Oh my god, JJ! How do you do that?!" Panda gasped, clapping excitedly.

JJ beamed. "A magician never reveals his secrets."

Tess half-smiled, but the whole scene felt distant. Normally, she'd be enjoying this—just the stupid, easy banter of their group. But today, it barely touched her.

Emily turned to her, nudging her knee with her own. "What classes have you actually picked up this year?"

Tess shrugged. "Psychology, English again, probably gonna fail media though."

"You won't fail," Emily said, rolling her eyes. "You just need to actually show up."

Freddie laughed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, showin' up's the real challenge, mate."

Tess smirked slightly but didn't bother arguing.

Before the conversation could go anywhere else, the door swung open.

Thomas walked in, his face tense, shoulders stiff. The usual light in his eyes was gone.

Tess glanced at the others—they were still caught up in whatever JJ was doing. She had enough of the forced fun.

Getting up, she crossed the room to Thomas, lowering her voice. "You alright?"

Thomas inhaled deeply, shaking his head. "I don't know, Tess."

Before she could respond, an arm slung around Thomas's shoulder, pulling him into a rough half-hug.

"Tommo! How the fuck are ya diddling, man?"

Tess's stomach clenched as she turned. Cook.

His usual grin was plastered across his face, but something about it felt off.

His eyes flickered to her. "Tess."

Thomas shoved Cook off him. "What do you want?"

Cook held his hands up, mock-offended. "Alright, man, just thought you might want a friend today, that's all. You know, all that shit with that girl-"

"It's Sophia" Tess cut in, sharper than she expected.

Cook waved it off, "Yeah well, She was fucked up beyond."

Tess shifted uncomfortably.

Cook's voice was casual, but the words felt wrong.

"I had to get royally munted to get that shit out of my head—"

"You're not my friend." Thomas sneered.

Cook blinked, but the smirk stayed, even if it wasn't quite reaching his eyes anymore. "Okay, I'm just saying."

There was a beat of silence. Then Thomas frowned. "How do you know she was fucked up?"

That got Tess's attention.

Cook hesitated—barely noticeable, but it was there.

"I don't," he said, too quickly. He shrugged, looking suddenly restless. "I mean, you just assume, don't you? Yeah? ...Yeah."

His confidence wavered on the last word. Then, without another glance, he walked off.

Thomas watched him go, shaking his head. "He is no good. He's hiding something."

Tess crossed her arms, watching Cook disappear into the crowd. She hated to admit it, but Thomas had a point. Something about Cook's reaction didn't sit right.

Still, she found herself defending him anyway.

"I mean, it's not a bad guess... that she was drugged up." Tess shook her head "He wouldn't..."

Thomas gave her a sharp look. "Why are you sticking up for him if you're not together anymore?"

Tess didn't know what to say. She didn't know the answer herself.

Before she could, a loud voice cut through the room.

"YOU!" the man barked, cutting through the low hum of conversation.

She turned just in time to see some man she'd never seen before shouting at Cook.

The entire common room fell silent.

The man stood near the doorway, his checkered shirt buttoned stiffly all the way to the top, a permanent frown carved into his face. His sharp gaze landed on Cook, who was mid lighting a spliff.

"Would you mind awfully not smoking?" His tone was controlled, but there was something firm beneath it, a weight that made it clear he wasn't asking.

Cook let out an irritated sigh, but after a pause, he put the spliff out, shoving it into his pocket.

The man nodded approvingly. "Thank you." His lips curled into something that might've been a smile, but it felt more like a warning. "Just thought I'd pop down and say hi. I'm David Blood, your new college director... and I'm saying hi."

A few exchanged glances. There was something oddly rehearsed about his introduction.

Freddie, sitting next to Tess, raised a hand lazily. "What happened to Harriet?"

Professor Blood barely hesitated. "Harriet has moved on."

Katie frowned. "Why?"

Blood clasped his hands together, rocking slightly on his heels, before grinning in a way that made Tess's stomach twist. "Because, because, because... this place is rubbish!" His voice lifted in an unexpected sing-song tone. "And so are you."

Silence.

Tess blinked. Had she misheard him?

Professor Blood's grin widened. "So now, we're all about change." He dragged out the word like it was something to be savoured. "Everything's going to change. We'll all do it together, yes? We can change." His eyes scanned the room, landing on a few unlucky students who shrank under his stare. "And if any of you find that difficult, I want you to know that I will find you. I will interrogate you. I will expel you. I will expunge you."

The room felt heavy, like the air itself had thickened.

Tess let out a small scoff before she even realised it.

Blood's head snapped in her direction. "Problem, young lady?"

Tess straightened slightly. "No."

Blood held her gaze for a second longer than necessary before smiling again. "Great." He clapped his hands together, breaking the unbearable tension. "Doug has an announcement. It's very important, so I know we'll all listen carefully. Otherwise, it's rude! Isn't it, Doug?"

Doug, standing awkwardly beside him, let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, it's—it's... yes, of course, David—"

"Professor Blood," the man corrected without missing a beat.

Doug swallowed. "Right. Professor Blood." He cleared his throat. "So, uh—welcome back, everyone! Oggy oggy oggy?"

Silence.

Doug looked around hopefully. No one responded.

"Great," he muttered under his breath before forcing a smile. "Lovely. And, uh... I'm afraid the police would like to interview you all!"

-----

They sat in silence, scattered around the gym—some perched on chair stacks, others leaning against the wall, waiting for something to happen.

Every so often, a name was called, and someone would disappear through the double doors. The interviews were taking ages, dragging on in a way that made everything feel even more suffocating. Tess could hear the faint murmur of voices beyond the hall, but inside, the air was thick with unspoken thoughts.

Then—

"Katie Fitch."

Katie rolled her eyes and stood, flipping her hair over one shoulder. She didn't say anything, just walked off, disappearing behind the doors.

Emily let out a frustrated sigh. "This is fucked up. I didn't even know the girl. Why are they treating us like criminals?"

JJ shifted uncomfortably. "Because she's dead. And we were there."

"So?" Emily snapped, arms crossed. "That doesn't make us responsible if some kid decides to off herself." She turned. "Right, Naoms?"

Naomi didn't respond. She was staring off at nothing, a crease between her brows.

"Naomi!"

Naomi blinked, finally hearing her. "Yeah... it's fucked up."

Tess shrugged. "They probably just wanna get everyone's story, you know? Figure out what really happened."

At that, Cook suddenly stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets. Without a word, he started toward the doors.

Freddie frowned. "Cook, we've gotta wait here."

"I've gotta have a slash, don't I?" Cook muttered, disappearing through the exit.

Emily exhaled sharply before turning to Freddie. "Hey, Freds."

He was still watching the door Cook had just left through. "Yeah?"

"Have you heard from her?"

Freddie hesitated, but only for a second. "Who?"

Emily gave him a deadpan look. "The Empress Cleopatra. Who do you think?"

His jaw tightened. "Nah."

JJ, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, fidgeted beside him.

Emily glanced at Tess. "Do you know? Isn't your sister with Effy's brother?"

Tess shook her head. "Yeah, but they've been away all summer. Too caught up with their own shit, I guess."

Emily sighed. "I thought she might just show up, you know? First day back—"

"Well, she didn't," Freddie cut her off. His voice was clipped, and before Emily could push further, he stood and walked off.

Emily watched him go, raising an eyebrow. "Touched a nerve..."

The air in the gym shifted again as Thomas, who had been silent this whole time, abruptly got up and left too.

Tess didn't know what was going through his head, but something about it felt off, something about today was off, everyone was on edge.

Then—

"Teresa Richardson?"

Tess looked up. A man stood by the door, clipboard in hand.

She exhaled, dragging her hands down her jeans, then stood.

Here we go.

----

Tess sat uncomfortably in the chair, the silence of the room pressing in on her. The detective's gaze never wavered, as though she were waiting for Tess to crack. The younger guy beside her clicked away on his keyboard, his presence a quiet reminder that this was all very real.

The woman leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable. "So, did you know Sophia well?"

Tess swallowed, shifting in her chair. "Not really."

The woman arched an eyebrow. "Not really?"

Tess hesitated. "I mean, I'd seen her around. I knew her name, but we weren't friends or anything."

The detective leaned back. "Did you see her before that night? Maybe at school?"

Tess exhaled, feeling like this was going nowhere. "Like I said I saw her around. She seemed, I don't know... quiet?"

The woman tapped her pen against the desk. "You say she seemed quiet. Did she ever seem upset to you? Distressed?"

Tess felt like she was walking a tightrope. "I didn't know her," she repeated. "She could've been, I guess."

The detective nodded, glancing down at a few notes. "And at the party, did you speak to her at all?"

Tess hesitated. "Yeah, I did. In the bathrooms." She rubbed her palms against her thighs, trying to settle her nerves. "That was the first time we really talked."

The detective's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. "What did you talk about?"

Tess paused, thinking back. "It wasn't much. Just... something was off. She seemed upset or distracted, but I can't really remember exactly what she said."

The assistant, who hadn't spoken until now, looked up. "Were you under the influence that night?"

Tess shook her head quickly. "What? No, no. I wasn't. It was just... it was an intense night. I don't remember what she said, it was all kind of blurry."

The detective studied her for a moment before continuing. "So, that was the last time you saw her?"

Tess bit her lip, feeling the weight of the question. "Well, no, not exactly." She hesitated, unsure how to explain without making it sound strange. "I saw her again outside, but I was pretty far away. She was only out there for a bit, then she went back inside."

The detective leaned forward, her voice sharp. "What were you doing outside?"

Tess shifted uncomfortably. "Nothing. Just... I got a call. That's all."

"And that's it?" the detective pressed. "You didn't speak to her again after that?"

Tess shook her head. "No. That's it."

The detective gave a curt nod, glancing at her assistant. Then, she stood up, signalling the end of the interview. "Alright, Teresa. We'll be in touch if we need anything else."

Tess stood, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly, but the weight of the entire conversation hung heavy on her mind as she left the room. 

----

The lunchroom was loud, as usual. The clatter of trays, the hum of conversations—everything felt distant to Tess, like she was watching from the outside in. She picked at her sandwich, barely noticing the taste, her eyes drifting across the room without really focusing on anything.

Pandora was babbling away beside her, her voice a constant hum of energy. "I don't know, it's just been weird with Thomas lately," she was saying, her hands gesturing animatedly. "He keeps to himself a lot more, and he's been snappy whenever someone brings up—well, you know... everything. I don't get it. He's never like that. What do you think?"

Tess barely heard the question. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in a fog of thoughts she couldn't quite sort through. She nodded absently, making the occasional sound to indicate she was listening, but the words didn't really register.

Pandora stopped mid-sentence, noticing Tess's lack of response. She tilted her head, studying her friend. "Are you listening?"

"Not really," Tess muttered, not looking up from her half-eaten lunch.

Pandora's face softened, a mixture of concern and frustration flickering across her features. "Come on, Tess. You need some cheering up too. Everyone does." She nudged her gently, a playful attempt to lighten the mood, but Tess didn't bite.

"I'm fine," Tess said, shrugging it off, though the words felt hollow.

Panda wasn't having it, though. She leaned closer, her voice softer but persistent. "No, you're not. And you know I'm right." She paused for a moment, as if considering something, then added, "How about we meet up later? Just hang out. Do something fun, yeah?"

Tess stared at the table for a long moment, her finger tracing the edge of her plate. It felt like too much effort, too much energy, but for some reason, she found herself nodding. "Yeah, alright," she said, the words slipping out without thinking.

"Great!" Panda said, practically bouncing in her seat. "I'll text you later."

Tess nodded again, but her mind was already elsewhere. As the bell rang and the room began to empty, Tess was left with the same heavy feeling, the weight of everything she couldn't put into words.

----

Tess, Pandora, and JJ walked up to Thomas's flat. She felt a mix of confusion and exhaustion, unsure of what she was even doing here. "What exactly are we doing, Panda?" she asked, glancing at her friend as they reached the building.

Pandora smiled brightly, seemingly unbothered by Tess's lack of enthusiasm. "Well, you need some fun, and so does Tommo! So why not do it all together? And JJ, of course," she added with a wink.

Tess raised an eyebrow but didn't protest as they reached the door, where Thomas opened it, his face unchanging when he saw them. Pandora, already in her usual overzealous mood, skipped inside. "Something said to me, we need to cheer up. What we need is a Reese-athon!" She held up a stack of DVDs with a proud grin. "Oh, and I brought JJ and Tess too."

JJ walked in behind them, practically tripping over the threshold. "What I like about Reese is, she's a virgin you can believe in," he said, giving them a mock-serious look.

Tess couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Great," she muttered, already regretting agreeing to this.

—-

The living room was small but cozy. The couch was full of mismatched cushions. They were all squeezed onto the couch, with Tess and JJ awkwardly positioned in the middle. They were one movie in, and Tess leaned back, trying to get comfortable. But honestly, she'd rather be doing anything other than watching this ridiculous movie.

Pandora was the first to speak again. "What's this one called again?"

JJ didn't even look up from the screen. "Redneck Bride."

Tess sighed, resisting the urge to say something sarcastic. "God, I thought that was the last one," she muttered.

"No, that was 'That Darn Man,'" JJ replied, clearly excited to correct her.

Pandora laughed. "Oh, yeah! She was a beauty queen with a disabled horse, and she—"

"No, no," JJ interrupted. "That's 'Kentucky Bride Hitchin'."

Tess rubbed her temples. "How many of these do you have?"

Pandora reached across Tess and JJ, holding out a doughnut to Thomas. "Go on, have one. Go on!" she encouraged.

Thomas shook his head slowly, eyes distant. "I'm alright."

Pandora pouted. "I got your favourites."

"I'm not hungry," Thomas replied, his voice flat.

"What's wrong? Don't you like the film?" Pandora asked, her tone softening, sensing something was off.

"It doesn't make sense," Thomas said quietly, looking down.

Pandora looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean?"

JJ, oblivious as ever, continued to watch the screen. "You don't understand why Reese goes back to Matthew McConaughey after he slept with Rachel McAdams?" he asked, clearly baffled by Thomas's lack of understanding.

Tess couldn't help but chuckle. "He makes a fair point, J."

Thomas shook his head again, looking more agitated. "No, I don't mean that."

Pandora, ever the optimist, smiled knowingly. "Yes, but Reese forgave him. He made a mistake. That's what I love about it—when you make a mistake, you—"

"I slept with someone," Thomas interrupted, his voice calm but steady.

Tess froze, her stomach dropping at his words. She glanced at JJ, who was still engrossed in the movie, oblivious to what was happening behind him. Tess nudged him slightly, trying to get him to stop talking.

JJ looked up, clearly missing the tension in the room. "Go on, she hid the ring in her bra, you tit! You've gotta use the metal detector again, idiot!"

"JJ!" Tess hissed, nudging him harder.

Pandora's face twisted in confusion. "What?" she asked, clearly not understanding the shift in tone.

"I slept with someone who wasn't you," Thomas repeated, his voice suddenly breaking, raw with emotion.

Pandora's eyes widened. "You did what?"

Tess looked to JJ, who had finally realized what was happening. His expression faltered as he processed the weight of Thomas's words.

"I did it! I did it, okay?" Thomas snapped, standing up suddenly. "I wanted to."

Pandora stood up too, her face red with frustration. "You fucked it, Tommo," she spat, eyes tinged with tears, storming out of the apartment.

Tess looked between Thomas and JJ, but neither seemed to know what to say. Tess felt a knot tighten in her chest. Without a word, she followed Pandora out, leaving Thomas alone in the room, the weight of his confession hanging in the air.