&& tessa time

Oh shit. That’s a hard one. I’m gonna exclude my dogs because technically they aren’t possessions - just furry friends that happen to live in my house. That being said, let the list commence:

My computer - because I’ve got some files that I haven’t backed up and it’d be a bitch to lose them

My first pair of boxing gloves - sentimental value 

A pair of sunshine earrings my mom bought me - again, sentimental value

A softball signed by Jennie Finch - my dad took me to meet her and I nearly crapped my pants while trying to explain how amazing she was to me

My friendship bracelet that my brothers made me when they didn’t wanna buy anything for my birthday. It’s ugly as hell, but I’d never lose it.

As much as Tessa tried her best to catch a few z’s before orientation started, more and more people began gathering at the quad interrupting her sleep. Hearing some people sounding alive and well made her both jealous and irritated at the same time. It made her wish she hadn’t gotten so ridiculously drunk. Upon hearing Mina happily chirp a greeting to Beau, Tessa opened her eyes and tilted her sunglasses ever so slightly to see that her crush was only a few feet away from her. She sucked in her breath and pushed her sunglasses back into place. “Maybe if I stay super quiet and don’t move at all, he won’t notice my hungover ass” she hoped to herself. And so she tried her best to keep to her plan as she shut her eyes. It wasn’t until she heard Artie’s voice that she opened her eyes once more. Good thing too as she spotted him gently tapping heads. “Touch me and I’ll smack you with a bat” she growled at him when he neared her. As much as she loved him, a hungover Tessa was not a fun Tessa. 

Right as she was about to close her eyes again, her phone let out a ‘ping!’ sound. Groaning softly, she checked to see that Josie texted her. She took a sip of her coffee before opening the text. It took her off guard as she finished reading it, causing her to spit out her coffee. She quickly set the cup aside and began furiously texting her friend back. Great - of course Josie would get lucky while she would get sand. And although Elliot may have freaked, there was no way the boy didn’t have a thing for her. She was pretty sure everyone could tell there was some sort of sexual tension between the pair. Hearing the exchange between Blake and Axel caused her to make a face. She wasn’t sure what was going on between the two of them, but it didn’t seem pretty. As her eyes scanned to see who else had witnessed that moment, she made eye contact with Elliot. Tessa subconsciously gave Elliot “I know” look and it wasn’t until he gave her a look back that she realized she probably shouldn’t have done that. Whoops. 

“Any of you guys pick up a stray shirt last night?“ she heard Beau ask the Huxley group. “Oh God.” she muttered. When she got out of bed that morning, she noticed a shirt poking out of her pillow case but didn’t think much of it. Even upon inspection and realizing it wasn’t hers, she had just thrown it on her bed and figured she would deal with it after practice. It was now sinking in that it might be his. It didn’t help that Josie had teased her with a text. There was no way she could confess that she might have his shirt. She’d go from blabbering idiot to idiotic nutcase to creepy stalker in less than two days. That was not happening. “Oh no! Missing shirt!” she yelled out, trying her best to sound concerned. She could hear herself sounding fake as ever. “Pull yourself together, Jacobson” she instructed herself. “I know I have not personally seen a shirt of your size. Where could it be?” she called out, face straining to show some sense of confusion. She threw her hand up in the air, giving a “no idea what happened” look. Hopefully he’d buy it. 

After seeing Parks and Rec, I usually hold a “Treat Yo Self” day with a couple good friends. We basically go all out - shopping, going to the spa, binging on sweets, and other fun “treat yo self” things. If we’re talking about just times where I treat myself for the hell of it, it’s usually just me buying myself something nice like new softball equipment or a cute dress.

After fleeing, Tessa spent most of the night either hopping from friend to friend or taking another shot that someone offered her way. At one point she was pretty sure she tried to convince others to make sand angels with her. Somehow she managed to find her way back to her room and flop onto her bed. As soon as her body hit the mattress, she went out like a light. 

“RISE AND SHINE, BITCHESSS!!!!”

Tessa groaned hearing her captain’s voice. She put her hands on her ears, wishing Bree wasn’t so loud this morning. Mustering up enough energy, she managed to open her eyes. Seeing Bree shake Blake, she groaned once more. “Oh, hell no” she thought to herself. The last thing she wanted was to be shaken while hungover.  Groggily, she tried her best to keep her eyes open while greeting Bree. It wasn’t super enthusiastic, but it was enough for Bree to skip out on touching her. 

Tessa laid in bed, trying to convince herself to get up before she finally moved. Although she originally planned on taking a shower once she got something in her stomach, sand falling from her hair convinced her otherwise. After a long and much needed shower, she changed into a pair of shorts and a short sleeved shirt. Before heading to the mess hall, she threw on a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap. Anything to help shield the sun, the better. At the mess hall she helped herself to a generous amount of food, slid into a booth, and began eating. Her whole “don’t sit next to me - or else” vibe allowed her to eat in peace. While munching on a piece of bacon, she swore under her breath as the memories of the night before flooded in. Welp, she definitely needed to avoid Beau more than ever. She had probably gone from a babbling idiot to a crazy nutcase in his eyes. Great. 

She shuffled her way to the quad with a cup of coffee in one hand. If she was going to make it through the day, she was going to need all the help she could get. Sure, it was her third cup but it’s not like anyone besides her knew. Spotting her fellow teammates and James, she dragged her feet over to the group. She stood in front of James where Aubree’s head resided in his lap. Tessa cleared her throat to catch the girl’s attention. “I’m here, I’m semi-alive, and I’m ready to be the best ass-cap that I can be despite death knocking at my bed last night” she told Aubree before taking another sip of her drink. And with that she got down on the grass next to her captain and laid down on her back while waiting for orientation to begin. 

Upon hearing that Josie and Elliot were going to have a drinking contest, Tessa’s face lit up and clapped happily. “Yes, Josie! Kick his ass!” she called out as beers got distributed. “Chug, chug, chug!” she chanted as she pounded her fists in the air. The girl had been so distracted that she didn’t notice a certain someone walk up behind her. “Hey guys. Just get here?” She jumped, startled by the familiar voice. And when she turned around, she wasn’t prepared for what she saw. A shirtless, wet Beau standing - well, towering - in front of her. “I’m wet.” Shit! Not what she wanted to say at all!  “You’re wet.” Not any better. She opened her mouth to say something better - anything  better at all - but nothing was coming out. Instead, she proceeded to make different emotional faces as her hands flailed about. To make matters worse, Luca walked by catching her attention. Seeing her wink at her and slap his own ass, her face flushed. Of course he’d do something completely stupid and still get her blushing. “Why are you and Luca both naked?” she yelled out loud as she pointed at him and the raven haired boy. Her thoughts were screaming for her to change the subject to anything besides referring to his shirtless self. “Do you want a drink or something? Or a shirt? I can give you my shirt?” Wait, did that sound dirty? “I’ve got a swimsuit underneath so I’m not gonna be topless or anything” she babbled. 

She firmly placed her hand on Josie’s shoulder and whispered into her friend’s ear “Tessa’s gotta get the hell outta here.You can handle your man’s balls. I cannot.” And with that, Tessa attempted to do a spy roll on the group and run away. Except to the public it looked like a child attempting a gymnastics tumble for the first time. She stumbled to get up, brushing the sand out of her hair before darting off as quickly as her drunk behind could carry her. “I’ve got sand in my underwear” she said her thoughts aloud to no one in particular as she tried to find another friend with guys who wouldn’t get her hot and bothered.

I know it’s not technically part of the dream date, but I’d like it if the guy I like asks me out in a cute little way that shows he’s been paying attention to me. (Not serial killer style, more like “noticed that you liked daisies” vibe.) I’d think it’d be nice if we went on a date in the mid-afternoon to a carnival or theme park so that way we could talk to one another but still have fun on the rides. If they have any games that’d be even better because I’d like to know if he can handle competition. Because it’s my dream date, I’d say it’d be nice if my date and I got on a ferris wheel and stop at the very top when the sun’s setting. We’d go to a semi-casual place to eat after (like some place that’s chill but not McDonald’s because it’s my damn dream date). And we’d walk around a park or beach or something while eating ice cream and just getting to know each other better.  At the end of the night, he’d drive me back to my place and walk me up my steps. I’d jingle my keys in my hands as I tell him I had a great time. And then look up at him when he agrees. And then he’d lean in like ninety percent to kiss me but give me that last ten to connect the kiss. And that kiss would literally be magic. Like fireworks wouldn’t come close. And when it’s finally over, he’d smile and tell me he’d love to see me again. And I’d nod and get in my house and spend a ridiculous amount of time smiling and thinking about the date before telling Tiffany and Josie. And he’d legitimately message me about wanting to see me again.