Free New Love by Mj Fields Page A

by The Cranberries . Tessa sang it while she danced with Ben. The crowd went wild and he kissed her. He took her hand and placed it on his butt, she laughed and he kissed her again.
    “Hey Tess, have you looked at it yet?” Ben asked.
    She shook her head no and grinned. He undid his pants to a slow drum beat. Tessa laughed. He turned around and slide them down a bit, his white boxer briefs showed and she laughed.
    “See it now?” she shook her head yes and grinned. “Nice hu h?” he said and she fanned herself dramatically. The crowd cheered. “You want to come over here and fix them for me girl?” She laughed and shook her head no, “I think she likes them off” he said to the crowd. The crowd whistled and cheered. He pulled them up and zipped them, leaving them unbuttoned. “Alright everyone… one last song and we’re out!”
    Ben sang STP’s Interstate Love Song and he danced with Tessa as he sang.
    They walk ed off stage and Ben followed Tessa.  Cassidy and the crew came over and she introduced them to Ben, she told them that they already knew each other. Jade stood impatiently waiting.
    “Okay , so when can I see you again Tess?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “We play again in two weeks here but on Saturday,” Ben smiled, “Can you make it?”
    “Yes….b ut what about before then?”
    “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m pretty sure I can work something out,” Ben kissed her. “See you soon Tessa Ross, the rock Goddess.”
    Tessa turned around and Jade and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”
    “I rode with them, and I’ m leaving with them,” Tessa yelled.
    “Fine I’ ll call Uncle John,” Jade glared at Tessa.
    “Serio usly!”
    Sh e said goodbye to Cassidy. “I’ll call you when my mother isn’t around,” she laughed and tossed her head towards Jade.
    Tessa followed Jade out to Lucas’s car and Jade opened the front door.
    “Get in,” Jade said.
    Tessa sat down and turned on the music.
    Lucas looked at her, “What!”
    Lucas reached in front of her and grabbed the seatbelt and buckled it. She gave him a dirty look.
    “There are four of us Tessa, don’t be difficult,” he said softly.
    Jade asked Lucas to turn down the radio, “What the hell was that Tessa?”
    “That was me having fun, Jade… and YOU screwing it up!”
    “Really Tessa, ME screwing it up? You need to slow it down. Your friends, Tessa, your real friends want to help you through this.”
    “I don’t need your he lp Jade, I’m good,” Tessa threw herself back against the seat.
    “No you’re not! Toby has been dead for two weeks. Your Aunt died when you were there alone and you haven’t even talked to me about it, Tessa.”
    “What is there to say Jade ? They died, and seriously… why now?”
    “What’s that suppos ed to mean Tessa?”
    Tessa turned on the radio, Lucas looked at her and she was looking out the window.
    “Lucas turn off the radio. Tessa-- I asked you a question, what is that supposed to mean?” Jade snapped.
    “Figure it out,” Tessa yawned .
    “No freaki ng games Tessa, tell me!”
    “Okay I’ ve been dealing with a lot of shit lately, and I have dealt with it. Now you want to step in? I don’t think so!”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “I really don’t want t o,” Tessa said in a snippy tone.
    “I really don’t care Tessa!”
    “Okay,” she spun around. “I go to school and hide from all of you, because I don’t want to deal with this. I eat lunch in the fucking library everyday while you all sit together. I come home after school and I’m alone. I go to rehearsal and come home…alone. I’ve talked to Toby about everything that I used to talk to you about and then he dies Jade, he was my support. Not you. Now I need to fill that fucking empty black feeling and now you want to step in? I’m dealing with this by myself, the way I need to, and you just keep rubbing my fresh wounds with old SHIT! Now don’t get me wrong—I’m happy for you. I love Tommy,