Tessa's eyes were set on the road even after she parked. No words were shared after she spoke, and the air in the car suddenly became thick. My breaths were beginning to still in my chest. Son of a fucker, I had ruined everything, hadn't I?

"I'm so sorry," Tessa's hands kept steady as she pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket. "I have the pictures somewhere."

"What pictures?" I felt my voice come out only in a whisper. Nothing was stopping me from screaming out in the car, only my dignity, and evidently it was running itself thin.

"These," Tessa's voice felt lyrical even while delivering the harsh news that Caleb had been over other girls while I was asleep. Somehow, despite my entire body growing hot from Caleb, my anger was directed towards Tessa. Something about her perfection was irking me.

"When?" I let my fingertip graze the screen, the cool material singeing my skin. I was damn close to breaking the phone. But I wasn't surprised. I looked back up at Tessa, seeing the light wrinkles on her forehead and the slight twitch of her defined nose said it all. It was recent enough. "Don't tell me."

I slumped back in the seat, defeated as I knew there was nothing I could do. Leave Caleb and be hunted down by his feral friends? Bring it up to him and get chewed out for being nosey? There was nothing I could do.

"Hey, let's go clear your mind," Tessa's tune was soft and charismatic, and before I could process it, I was out of her car and following her down the street.

"What's going on?" My hand was in hers as she pulled me along the street. The streetlights were blinding and the store windows were bright, but something about it drew me in. I was fuming, but at the same time, I was calm. I knew I should be upset but I couldn't force the emotions out. Everything in me was conflicting and I felt lighter than I had in months.

"We're getting a drink. This is the beginning of the end, enjoy it!" Her hand squeezed mine and she tugged me into a small shop by an alley.

The strong scent of coffee fled my senses as I adjusted to the low lighting. My legs were shaking, barely holding me up and my heart was skipping beats at a time, causing me to stumble to the counter. Tessa reached out to help me, and my eyes met hers again for the second or third time that day.

She still looked impossibly perfect, and I hated it.

Her curled hair was styled half-up, allowing me to see her clear skin, perfect roundish-almond eyes, and long, dark lashes. Her glossy lips were full and perfect and—

—and I could never be like her.

"Is something wrong?" Her voice was perfect, and it was pissing me off. "This one's on me."

"Yeah, I'm alright. I think I just need to sit down. I'm sorry," I moved to a table in the back with Tessa trailing behind me. She promised to be right back and walked up to the counter to order something. Alec, the barista, was a boy from my stats class and I spoke to him only when I needed help with the homework. He never struck me as one to need a job.

Even as I watched the two interact, my eyes still landed on Tessa.

Her small waist was accentuated in her tiny top, and her confidence was intimidating me. She turned and glanced my way, smiling when she noticed my staring. Her mouth rose lopsided, but it was still beautiful, and it never dropped. She was still smiling by the time she made it over to the table.

"I got you a latte. I got up there and realized that I didn't know—" She paused when I brought the hot drink up to my lips. I wasn't surprised when the drink burned me, but I drank it to quiet Tessa. "Everything building up, darling?" She reached her hand out and I took it. She rubbed her thumb against my hand and suddenly my head was empty again.

"I'm just frustrated. And to be honest? Completely honest, I think I hate you." I sighed out and rested my head against the wall. Who says that to somebody?

"You hate me?" Her eyebrows quirked up and her eyes glistened. There was genuine shock drawn over her face that I hadn't expected, which was a reasonable reaction considering I had just admitted my deep disliking of her, but it took my breath away regardless.

"Yeah, you're just so perfect! You're beautiful." The words weren't supposed to come out of my mouth but there was nothing I could do but sit in them and wait for a response. Why did I have to tell her that?

"Well, I think if we work together, we can get your confidence through the roof."

"How?"

"We can figure it out." Her hand left mine and brushed against my arm. My blood ran warm through my body. "My dear, a lack of confidence in yourself only leads you down a life of hate." She then took a quick glance back at a preoccupied Alec. "I'm here for you."

The girl was beautiful and I screamed charity case. Her face was probably sponsored by Fenty and mine was begging to be washed properly. We weren't the same.

"I think you need to take a break from boys and I could use a friend too."

And yet she was reading me like a book.

Something about her smile brought me in, and she knew she had me right where she wanted me. "We could start with a sleepover."