Life's What You Make It: Love's Great Adventure Book 1

by Troutman, Theresa

  “That was a good day,” Sebastian announced, walking back to Tess’ car. “You worked hard today—I’ll drive.”

  “Are you sure? It’s doesn’t ride like a Jaguar,” Tess reminded him.

  “Yes,” he reassured her, opening the passenger door for Tess. “Let me take you to dinner. Your mother won’t be home until eight. You should have a decent meal. We can get her some takeaway so she won’t have to cook when she gets home.”

  “Where did you have in mind?”

  “There are several restaurants I’ve read about here in the city that I’d like to try. What are you in the mood for?”

  “McDonald’s.”

  Sebastian laughed until he realized she was serious. “I’ve never eaten at McDonald’s,” he admitted.

  “Never?” she asked in disbelief. “They must have McDonald’s in England.”

  “Oh, they do. I’ve just never been to one.”

  “Well, that’s where I would like to go, please.”

  Sebastian leaned in to touch a few loose strands of hair on her head. Tess instinctively pulled away from him. “You have some dried paint in your hair,” he said, trying to explain his sudden action.

  She laughed nervously. “See, I’m an absolute disaster. McDonald’s is the only place I’m dressed for.”

  They walked into the restaurant and looked at the lighted menu board above the cashier. Sebastian was not enthused. Tess turned to him. “It’s only a hamburger. It won’t kill you. It’s one of the simple pleasures in life.”

  “A simple pleasure is a fifteen-year-old single malt scotch,” he shot back instantly, without thinking.

  “I said simple pleasure, not expensive pleasure,” Tess chided before stepping up to the teenaged cashier and ordering. “We’ll have two number three meals with Diet Cokes.” She didn’t give Sebastian a choice. He was in her territory now.

  The cashier pushed a few buttons. “That will be seven fifty.”

  Sebastian reached around and handed the bored employee a twenty dollar bill. He had the change in his pocket before she could complain. “You’re a cheap date,” he joked as their drinks were poured and their cheeseburgers and fries placed on a small plastic tray and slid across the counter to them.

  “I’m not your date,” she reminded him, picking up the tray of food before Sebastian had a chance.

  They grabbed some napkins and packets of ketchup from the condiment counter and sat in a corner booth. “So why don’t you want a boyfriend?” He was curious in general, not just for personal reasons.

  “Who said that?” Tess asked.

  “You did at the lunch table with your friends the other day,” he reminded her.

  “You were eavesdropping!”

  “Yes, I was,” he admitted without shame. “I was sitting alone. What did you expect I do?”

  “So what do you think about the cheeseburger?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “It’s nice.”

  “Nice?”

  “Well, it’s not a filet mignon. I suppose it’s okay for a simple pleasure,” he reasoned.

  Now she would have to answer his question. “I don’t have time for a boyfriend. Studying and getting into NYU is my priority right now.”

  He pondered this for a moment. If her father had passed away when she was only fourteen, she must have missed out on so many things a normal teenage girl experiences. “So you’ve never been on a date, never had a first kiss, never had your heart broken—what a tragedy.” He looked upon her with concern in his eyes. He had experienced so much in his short life. He was cultured and well-traveled. He had partied, had many lovers, yet somehow he had never managed to fall in love. Given time, he could have fallen in love with Penny. Even so, it hurt like hell when he had to leave her. For some reason he could not explain, he was attracted to Tess Hamilton. It made no sense. They were from completely different backgrounds and upbringings. Sebastian only knew he wanted to learn more about the girl sitting across from him, who had paint in her hair and a dot of ketchup on her upper lip.

  “I don’t need your pity,” she lashed back. “It’s my choice.” She dabbed the ketchup away with a napkin.

  “I don’t have time for love, either,” he told her, trying to defuse the situation. “I have to graduate with honors and I can only do that with the help of my serious and motivated tutor.”

  Chapter 8 - Come Dancing

  Monday at lunch period, Sebastian made his way to the table where Tess Hamilton and her friends were seated. “May I sit with you?” he inquired.

  Courtney looked up with a wide smile. “Have a seat,” she said before Tess could reply.

  “I’m Courtney Summers.”

  Sebastian shook her hand and took the empty seat next to Courtney. “It’s a little awkward sitting alone. Thank you for letting me join you.”

  “So how is St. Alexander’s treating you?” Jordan started the inquisition.

  “Fine. I’m still getting used to it.”

  “Where did you go to school before this? It’s unusual to start your senior year in a new school.”

  “Eton,” he replied.

  “Where’s that?” Courtney jumped in.

  “England.”

  “Like the country?”

  He looked to Tess for help, but she sat across from him with an amused grin on her face. She wasn’t about to come to his rescue. “That would be the one,” he whispered in his English accent.

  “Why the fake American accent?” Jordan asked.

  “Trying to stay under the radar, as you say. I’d appreciate if you kept my secret.”

  “Do you have a girlfriend?” Courtney asked, leaning into him.

  “Courtney!” Tess was mortified.

  “What? You’re not interested, Tess.”

  Sebastian simply chuckled. “No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  “I’m very available,” Courtney flirted. “What do you say we go out sometime?”

  Sebastian glanced at Tess, who looked as if she wanted to strangle Courtney. He thought very carefully before answering. “I’m afraid I don’t have time for dating right now. I’m very busy with all the tutoring and I really need to improve my grades if I have any chance of getting into a good university.”

  “God, you sound just like Tess. You two are perfect for each other,” Jordan deadpanned. Then she changed the subject. “Do you guys want to go to Jersey on Friday night? Adam and the Ants are playing at The Jug Handle Inn.”

  “I love Adam!” Courtney replied. “I’m in.”

  “Tess?”

  “You know I don’t drink and I don’t have a fake ID.”

  “Party pooper.” Jordan turned to Sebastian. “What about you?”

  “I’d like to go, but I don’t have a fake ID either,” he admitted.

  “How old are you?”

  “Eighteen.”

  “Well, then you don’t need one. Are you in?” Jordan asked again.

  “I thought you had to be twenty-one to legally drink,” Sebastian said in confusion.

  “You do in Pennsylvania. But in New Jersey, you only have to be eighteen,” Tess explained.

  “I’m in,” Sebastian agreed. He was curious to see how American teenagers partied. Would it really resemble a John Hughes movie? “Come on, Tess. You don’t have to drink. Just come to see the band,” Sebastian prodded her.

  “I don’t want to spend any money.”

  “I’ll pay, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t want to go.” Tess was adamant and Sebastian wasn’t sure he could change her mind, but he was going to do his best to convince her. He really wanted to see her in a social setting—one where she wasn’t tutoring or doing charity work.

  After school, chemistry books spread out over the library table, Tess tutored Sebastian. He wasn’t paying much attention, however, and Tess gave him an annoyed look. “If you aren’t going to take this seriously, I really do have better things to do with my time.”

>   “I’ve been a model student.”

  “I’ve only been tutoring you for a week!”

  “Why don’t you want to go out on Friday?”

  “I told you I’m not interesting in dating.”

  “I’m not asking you on a date. It’s a group of your friends going out together,” he explained. “I just want to see you have some fun, Tess.”

  “I know how to have fun,” she defended.

  “Then come dancing with Courtney, Jordan, and me on Friday night.”

  “I’ll tell you what: you get a perfect score on your chemistry quiz tomorrow and I’ll go with you guys on Friday.”

  Sebastian held out his hand for Tess to shake. “Deal!”

  “Okay, back to work,” Tess instructed.

  “Can I ask you one more thing?”

  “What?” she asked in exasperation.

  “How much is my mother paying you to tutor me?”

  “I really don’t think that’s any of your business.”

  “Of course it is. I’m the reason you got this job.”

  “The standard pay rate is seven fifty an hour. Your mother offered fifteen, so I jumped at it,” she explained.

  “You should have held out. I’m worth at least twenty,” he admonished.

  Tess laughed. “Well, I took the fifteen before I knew what I was getting myself into.”

  “Did she contact you personally?” He wondered how much interaction the two women had so far.

  “No, she arranged it through the dean’s office. Are you afraid of me meeting her?”

  “You won’t have the chance, unless you happen upon her in Tokyo or London.”

  “Since I won’t be traveling to those places, you’re safe. Can we please go back to work?”

  “I’m ready,” he replied, pulling the chemistry book toward him.

  The next day, Sebastian joined the girls at lunch. He slipped a paper in front of Tess with a smug grin. Tess looked down to see 100% written in red ink across the top of Sebastian’s chemistry quiz. She stuck her tongue out at him.

  “Jordan, Tess is going to need a fake ID after all.”

  “How did you get her to agree?” Jordan asked, amazed.

  “Perfect score on my chemistry quiz.”

  Jordan rolled her eyes. “You two are weird.”

  Sebastian anxiously watched the clock in the library. Tess tapped the table to get his attention. “The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go.” It was finally Friday and he was looking forward to seeing Adam and the Ants. He hadn’t stepped foot in a bar since he’d left London.

  “Can you please explain when I will ever use the Pythagorean theorem in real life?”

  “You won’t,” she replied.

  He was gobsmacked at her simple, honest answer. “You don’t lie.”

  “No, I don’t need to.”

  “Tess, everyone lies.”

  “Well, I’m not everyone, Sebastian.”

  This was certainly true, he thought to himself, but remained silent. Instead he gave her a sad, pathetic grin until she giggled. “You’re unbelievable! Come on, I could use the extra time to go home and get changed before we head to Jersey.”

  He slammed his math book shut with great satisfaction. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  Sebastian selected the plainest items he had in his wardrobe: a pair of khakis and a long-sleeved navy polo shirt. He sensed a suit would not be appropriate apparel for The Jug Handle Inn. Taking a few drags on a cigarette before extinguishing it in the ashtray, he popped a couple Tic Tacs into his mouth. After dressing quickly with anticipation, he bounded down the stairs.

  “I’ll be home late,” Sebastian informed Henry.

  “Could you be a little more specific?”

  “The band goes on at nine o’clock. I’ll have to take Tess and Courtney back home after the show. I’ll probably be back around one o’clock. Henry, you don’t have to worry. I would never put the girls in danger by drinking and driving.”

  “I was just going to wish you goodnight. Have fun.”

  “Thanks, Henry.”

  Sebastian pulled up in front of Tess’ house at seven o’clock, sprinted to the front door, and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Hamilton opened the door and greeted him warmly. “Sebastian, come in. How are you?”

  “Fantastic, thank you for asking.”

  Tess walked into the room. She was dressed jeans that fit her perfectly, showing off the curve of her hips and her slim waist. She sported a black tank top and had covered it with a women’s cut denim jacket. Her hair was pulled back with a headband to show off her gold hoop earrings. She frowned when she saw Sebastian. “You’re overdressed.”

  “I’m wearing khakis,” he said defending himself. “I normally wear a suit. I feel extremely underdressed at the moment.”

  Tess’ mom pushed them both out the front door. “You kids have a goodnight.”

  Sebastian opened the passenger door of the car for Tess, who slid into the comfortable leather seat. They drove to Courtney’s house to pick her up on their way to New Jersey. Jordan and Jeff were meeting them at The Jug. They soon picked up the Schuylkill Expressway, exited at Roosevelt Boulevard, and headed through Northeast Philadelphia and over the Tacony Palmyra Bridge into New Jersey. Five miles down Route 73 into Pennsauken, they reached their destination.

  The bar was certainly unlike any club or pub Sebastian had experienced in England. He believed this was what the Americans called a ‘dive bar.’ The door person checked IDs as everyone entered the building. Sebastian took it all in. The place was cramped, with the bar situated in the center of the room. People were vying for the bartender’s attention to fill their drink orders. To the right was a small stage. To the left were a few scattered round tables and a bank of booths along the wall. The bar was dark and filled with the smell of cigarette smoke and stale beer. The place was crowded beyond capacity.

  Sebastian leaned toward the girls and asked, “What can I get you both to drink?”

  “Beer,” Courtney replied.

  “Diet Coke,” Tess chimed in.

  “Do you want a shot of vodka in that?” Sebastian questioned.

  “No, just a soda. Thank you.”

  He left the girls and fought his way to the bar. The piped-in music over the PA was loud. “Do you see Jordan and Jeff?” Tess shouted, scanning the room.

  “Over there!” Courtney responded, seeing Jordan waving her hand from a corner booth.

  Sebastian came back from the bar with drinks in hand, doing his best not to spill them as he navigated the current of people. The trio made their way to the corner booth. There were already several empty beer bottles on the round table.

  “How long have you guys been here?” Courtney questioned, sliding into the circular booth.

  “About an hour,” Jordan answered. “It was the only way to get a table and a little breathing room.”

  “Are you trying to get alcohol poisoning?” Tess muttered, pointing to the row of empty bottles.

  Jordan laughed. “Will you please slip her something to loosen her up, Sebastian?”

  Sebastian didn’t reply. He just sat back and enjoyed his mediocre scotch. There was at least an hour before the band went on, and there was probably some local band up first who would be boring and out of pitch. No matter, Sebastian thought; it was nice to be out somewhere—even it if was New Jersey. Jeff and Jordan set down their beers, backed into the relative darkness of the corner, and started kissing. Tess sipped her soda, looking as if she would rather be anywhere else. Courtney chugged her beer in a few gulps. Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax started thumping through the speakers.

  “Oh, I love this song! Somebody dance with me,” Courtney pleaded.

  Jeff and Jordan were paying no attention. Tess shook her head, dismissing the idea. Sebastian stood up, “I’ll dance with you, Courtney.” He took her hand and helped her onto the small dance floor. It was teeming with dancing couples crushed together in the slight space. Sebastian ended up a
little closer to Courtney than he wanted to be. Tess took notice and looked even more miserable, if that was possible. This made him happy. Was she jealous? Courtney began gyrating up against Sebastian, misconstruing his smile as sexual attraction. The quick beer didn’t help matters. Sebastian politely pushed her away by spinning her under his arm.

  “How about another drink?” Sebastian offered as the song came to an end.

  “Okay.” She leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

  Sebastian headed back to the bar while Courtney joined the others back in the booth. Tess grabbed one of the open Miller bottles and took a small sip. She grimaced at the awful taste. “Did you see us out there? He’s a great dancer!” Courtney exclaimed, plopping down next to Tess.

  Sebastian walked back with another round of drinks. He handed the Miller to Courtney and gave Tess another Diet Coke, while he switched to Guinness. Sebastian noticed the beer in Tess’ hand. “I thought you said you didn’t drink?”

  Tess, clearly angry with Sebastian, refused to look him in the eye, refused to speak to him. She took another swallow of beer, shaking her head as the alcohol slid down her throat. Jordan and Jeff stopped their make-out session long enough for Jeff to light up a joint. The smell of marijuana clouded the table but was lost to the smell of cigarette smoke permeating the room. Obviously no one paid attention to the signs posted throughout the bar stating USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED. Tess stood up and stormed outside.

  Sebastian quickly followed. “Tess, where are you going?” he shouted after her, trying hard to be heard over the sound of Bon Jovi playing on the juke box and the drunken patrons shouting at the top of their lungs as they sang along.

  She stepped outside and pushed past the line of people still waiting to get into the bar. “I’d like to go home, please,” she pleaded, still refusing to look him in the eye and on the verge of crying.

  “We can’t leave Courtney,” he explained.

  “Just drive me home and you can come back for her later.”

  She was in a great deal of distress and looked as if she were about to hyperventilate. He gently touched her forearms, and in a very soothing voice, kept repeating, “Just breathe, nice and slow.” He walked her to the car and placed her in the front seat. “I’m going back inside to tell Courtney we’re leaving. I’m sure Jordan can drive her home. Just keep breathing.”