"Can you shut up for once in your life?" for lia and tessa OR for teffie
we went for teffie because i had an Idea
"Can you shut up for once in your life?" It comes out way harsher than Tessa intends it to, and Effie stops rambling mid sentence. A blush crept up Tessa’s cheeks as she glared at the table, seemingly furious.
After a few moments of stewing in the awkward silence, Effie posed a hesitant question. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Yes. No. I don’t…” Tessa let out a frustrated sigh, tugging at her brain as she bit her lower lip. How was she supposed to explain how utterly infuriating the princess of Eldoris was to her? How was she supposed to explain that the way the girl was haloed in the setting sun was enough to leave anyone speechless, but it took the breath right out of her lungs? How was she supposed to explain the electricity that crackled under her skin, the fire that burned through her veins, the storm raging just inside her ribcage? Tessa was used ot kowing everything but this? This feeling was something she couldn't hope to decipher. Ophelia, Effie, was the school’s golden girl. She could be friends with anyone she wanted. Which is why it was so confusing for Tessa whenever the blonde would sit and joke as if they were friends. Obviously, Effie wanted something for her and was putting on some elaborate ruse to win her trust. “I...I don’t know what your angle is, but whatever it is isn’t going to work, okay?”
“My...what?” Effie blinked in confusion, seeming so genuine Tessa almost believed her. Almost.
“Your angle. The reason you’re being so...friendly. You want me to take the fall for you, or do your homework, or...or...I don’t know. Okay? I don’t know, but whatever it is I won’t fall for it.” The words fell out in a jumble, like they were poison Tessa was desperate to get rid of.
The palpable silence seemed to smother them both. “Is...that what you think?” There was an edge of concern in the girl’s eyes, and Tessa immediately focused on her shoes. “Is it really so unbelievable that I just want to be your friend?”
“Why?” Tessa bit out sharply. "Why would you care about that?"
“I just think you’re cool.”
Tessa snorted. “You don’t know anything about me.”
Effie’s eyes flashed. “You’re kind. You always let other people talk and you genuinely listen, even if you’re bored. You offer the other kids your class notes whenever they’re out, and spend hours after school running a study session before any tests. You speak honestly, even if it makes you unpopular. You don’t let other people’s opinions hold you down. You can be perfectly polite and still stand your ground.” She paused, her gaze dropping down to the ground. Her voice dropped with it, barely above a whisper. “You’re more genuine than pretty much anyone I’ve ever met. In a world full of people who will sink their knives into your back if it means they get ahead, a world full of princes and princesses and politeness and politics, honesty is hard to come by.”
The awe in her voice made Tessa swallow thickly. Oh. Had that been it this whole time? Had she really sat here and assumed the worst and cut off the one person who seemed to be interested in being her friend? Was she that socially inept? Her face was on fire, but her focus was so solidly focused on the ground that she didn’t seem to notice that Effie’s was too. “I-” She couldn’t find the words that she wanted. “I guess I’ve kind of been a jerk, haven’t I?”
“Only marginally.” Effie answered, risking a shoulder bump. The tension seemed to ebb away. “You can make it up to me by agreeing to be my friend. At least, giving me a genuine chance.”
Tessa bit her lip. She’d never had a friend before. (Well, except for Azalia. But that didn’t count, given that Az was like...contractually obligated to be her friend.) “That sounds…nice.”
Effie smiled, and Tessa couldn’t help but smile with her. After a few moments, Effie broke the silence. “I have a feeling this is going to be a forever kind of thing, me and you.”
"Do you always come on this strong?"
