Tessa stood in front of her mirror longer than she needed to.
She knew that.
And yet
She didn't move.
She adjusted her top slightly.
Then her hair.
Then stepped back.
Then forward again.
"It's just tutoring," she muttered under her breath.
That didn't stop her from fixing it one more time.
A car horn sounded outside.
Her heart jumped.
"Teresa!" her mom called. "Someone's here!"
Tessa grabbed her bag quickly, taking one last look at herself before heading out.
Her mom was already at the door.
Looking.
Watching.
Tessa slowed slightly.
"…Hi."
Her mom didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes moved past Tessa
To the car outside.
Then back to her.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"T-Tutoring," Tessa said, adjusting her bag slightly.
Her mom raised a brow.
"With him?"
Tessa hesitated.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
Then
"Is he your boyfriend?"
Tessa's eyes widened. "No.....!"
Too fast.
Her mom smiled slightly.
"Mhm."
"I'm serious," Tessa added quickly. "I'm just helping him with school."
Her mom didn't look convinced.
She glanced outside again.
Then back at her daughter.
"Be careful," she said.
Tessa nodded. "I will."
"Okay. Go."
Tessa stepped outside quickly before anything else could be said.
She got into the car.
"Hi," she said softly.
"Hey."
The car pulled off.
It was quiet for a moment.
"You okay?" Adrian asked.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"…I didn't know you were picking me up."
"Easier," he said simply.
She nodded.
The drive didn't take long.
But the closer they got
The more unfamiliar everything felt.
Then the car slowed.
Tessa looked up.
And froze.
She knew he was rich.
That part wasn't new.
But this
This was something else.
"…Oh."
The house was huge.
Not just big
But overwhelming in a way she didn't expect.
Adrian stepped out, then came around to her side.
"You coming?" he asked.
She nodded quickly, stepping out.
But her eyes stayed on the house.
"I didn't know it was like this," she said quietly.
"It's just a house."
She didn't respond.
Because it wasn't.
Inside felt even bigger.
Quieter.
"Well… this is new."
Tessa turned.
A girl stood there, already smiling slightly.
A younger boy leaned nearby, watching curiously.
Adrian sighed. "Ignore them."
"Hi," the girl said, stepping forward. "I'm Rosalie."
She paused, then added with a small smile, "You can call me Rose."
"Chase," the boy said, giving a small nod.
"Tessa," she replied softly.
Rose's smile widened just a little, like she already liked her.
Before anything else could be said
"Adrian."
Tessa turned again.
A man stood a few steps away.
Calm. Observing.
"My dad," Adrian said.
Tessa straightened slightly. "Nice to meet you, sir."
A small pause.
Then
"No need for the formalities you can call me Rowan," he said.
That caught her off guard.
"…Okay."
He gave a small nod, then looked at Adrian.
"Don't keep her too long."
"We won't," Adrian said.
"Come on," he added, nodding toward the stairs.
Tessa followed.
Still taking everything in.
His room felt quieter.
Still expensive.
Just… less overwhelming.
"Sit," he said.
She did, placing her notebook down.
Trying to focus.
"You're distracted."
"I'm not."
"You are."
She exhaled softly. "Can we just start?"
A pause.
Then
"Okay."
He leaned closer.
"Show me."
She pointed at the page, explaining carefully.
Trying not to notice how close he was.
Then
Her hand shifted.
His brushed against it.
Soft.
Quick.
But this time
Neither of them ignored it.
"Teresa."
Her name came out quieter.
She looked up.
Too close.
Her heart started racing again.
She should've moved.
But she didn't.
A second passed.
Then
She pulled her hand back.
"We should keep going," she said quickly.
Adrian leaned back slightly.
But his eyes stayed on her.
"Yeah."
But it didn't sound like that was what he meant.