Chapter Text
Alone Against The Others
Chapter 1
“How long has it been?” Meagan asked, blending her eyeshadow.
“Thirteen days.” Tessa stared blankly at the table in front of her, fiddling with a makeup brush.
“Tess. Why do you know that?” Meagan paused and turned towards her friend.
Tessa looked down at her hands, twisted in her lap.
“I just... know. I don’t quite know what to do with all this time and energy now.”
“But what about last time?”
“Last time we were always entertaining the thought of coming back. We felt like we hadn’t said the goodbye we’d wanted to in Sochi. So we took time away; it didn’t seem like forever. But now it does.”
There were the beginnings of tears welling up in Tessa’s eyes.
The door to the room opened, and Eric walked in, followed by his equally tall brother, Richard. Tessa stood, hugging them and smoothing down Eric’s lapels.
“Happy Wedding Day! Hi, Rich!” Richard kissed her on the cheek.
“Are you ready?” She continued.
“So ready- I want to celebrate today, but also for everything to be done so that we can take our honeymoon and not think about work. This one,” he tucked a strand of Meagan’s hair behind her ear - “has been a life saver. I couldn’t have coordinated everything without her.”
“Of course, love.” Meagan smiled and reached over, picking her phone. “We’re an hour out- how did things go with the photographer?”
“Fine, he’s with Luis now. Time to wait. Tess, how are things with you? Settling into that retired life?” He sat, sipping on a bottle of water.
“I’m going to go check on Mom-good to see you, Tess.” Richard excused himself from the room, closing the door behind him.
“She’s not.” Meagan looked pointedly at Tessa.
“It doesn’t help that everyone and their mum asks if we’re dating and won’t believe us when we say that we’re not.”
Meagan and Eric exchanged glances.
“Don’t even start. You guys know that we’re not together.”
Eric put his hands up. “All I’m saying is that I’m glad I was never competing against you two.”
“Same.” His partner replied.
“Yes, and we couldn’t do the throws or axels like you two-“
“Tess, you can learn the acrobatics. You can practice jumps, but there’s not a shortcut to chemistry.”
“Of course not- it wasn’t a shortcut; we’ve been together for-“
“21 years. We know. But Tess, there are real, married couples out there who don’t have the connection you have. Be glad that Luis and I can’t compete together or we’d give you a run for your medals, but-“
“But he’s right. You two have a stronger bond than anyone I know. It’s no wonder people ask. On that note, be aware that a reporter from the Gazette will be in attendance today... I don’t think there will be any trouble, but don’t add fuel to the fire.”
“We’re not adding fuel on purpose- it just happens!”
Meagan looked at her point blank.
“Eric doesn’t stay over at my house. He goes to his own home. I don’t know what kind of underwear he wears, because I don’t care.”
Tessa looked at her, mouth open, feeling exposed. The room was quiet.
“Scott doesn’t sleep over that much, just when we’re working late. And... we just do a lot of laundry.”
“Scott sleeps over?” Eric looked up from his phone.
Tessa grimaces, a little sheepish. “A few nights a week. Uh... well, he used to.”
“TESSA. You HAVE to say something. You’ve been shutting each other into these little boxes but everything is spilling out. It’s not healthy to live that way..”
“Where does he sleep??” Eric couldn’t let it go.
Tessa sighed. “In my room. He used to crash on the couch, but it’s not the best for his back. Anyone’s back, really. Nothing happens, we just sleep.”
“Tessa, platonic people don’t just do that on the regular.”
“Oh, that’s been going on for years.” Meagan yawned. “That’s how he knows she’s restless. That’s how she knows what kind of underwear he wears. He’s her live-in not-boyfriend.”
“It’s normal for us. We have our habits, but they don’t mean anything. He sleeps over and we drive to the rink together. It saves gas.”
“Crazy train, party of two. By the way, who’s his plus one?”
“He’s not bringing anyone.” She looked up. Eric looked confused. “Megs, didn’t he RSVP for two?”
“I’m pretty sure. We thought you would know, Tessa.”
“We never mentioned bringing anyone... he just said “see you there,” and I assumed that was it.”
The silence in the room was deafening. The material on her dress felt thin and kind of exposing. She scratched at the layers of fabric with a fingernail, and one of her straps seemed to slide down her shoulder. She felt like she was going to cry.
Meagan walked over, and wiped the beginnings of tears from her eyes. “You’re going to be fine. Get through tonight and then have that conversation. You need to address it instead of skating around the issue.” Tessa laughed, begrudgingly.
“AND you don’t want to mess up your makeup-the ceremony is starting soon. Take a deep breath.”
Tessa breathed in, shakily.
“I’m not normally this much of a wreck. I just... am today?” She stood and straightened the strap on her dress, smoothing the fabric on her hips, and reaching for her beaded clutch.
“Enough about me-you’re getting married!”
Eric looked at his watch. “In about thirty minutes, yeah.” He grinned. “In fact, you better get out there-guests are arriving about now.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he rested his chin on the top of her head, rubbing her back.
“Congratulations,” she whispered.
“Good luck,” he replied.