A/N: Hey everyone! This is my first fic i've published in a while, so I'm really excited!

Based loosely off the masterpiece film that is Kal Ho Naa Ho

And without further ado, let's begin!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters


Tessa walked along the river, her book held loosely in one hand, her pointer finger inside to mark out the page she was reading. But Tessa, at the moment, was not interested in the book. She was looking out at the river, studying the various ships and canoes along it, the dance of the waves, the rush of the water.

She sighed, drinking it all in. She appreciated time like this, time to herself out where she could enjoy the peacefulness of the natural world. Soon she would have to return home, it was her turn to prepare dinner.

A cool breeze swept through Tessa's hair, rustling it from the messy ponytail she had tied it up in.

A memory swept over her. It was one from years ago, back when her family had just moved to New York. Tessa was crying, still upset at the thought of leaving her old friends behind and adjusting to this unfamiliar place. In response, her father, Richard Grey, had taken her out to explore their new neighbourhood. They walked along the river in silence, looking out at the ships and feeling the cool breeze on their faces. Richard didn't speak to his daughter during the walk, but held her hand comfortingly, as if to say 'Everything will be alright'

Tessa missed her father, missed hearing his laughter and the way he always knew how to cheer her up.

The harsh shout of an arguing couple nearby snapped Tessa out of her reverie. It was nearly 6 in the evening, high time for her to be heading back home.

Tessa continued walking down the river path for a few more minutes until she turned left towards the main street, and headed back to her house.

She arrived at her doorstep, and taking a deep breath, entered her house.

The first image she was greeted with was her mother, who, as soon as she saw her daughter, put down the phone she was on. Her eyes were glistening, and worry lines were etched on her forehead.

"Are you alright, mum?" Tessa asked concernedly

"I'm fine, my dear" her mother replied, "Are you crying?"

Tessa brought her hand to her eyes, and found it wet. "I'm fine" she echoed

Both mother and daughter knew the other was lying, but decided not to call them out.

A shout rang through the house. Tessa recognised the abrasive tone of her grandmother yelling "Cecily, I told you to come downstairs! Don't you ever listen?"

Walking into the living room, Tessa sighed "Let me talk to her, grandma"

"Fine, but make sure to punish that brat. She's just as bad as my daughter-in-law" came the disgruntled reply from the sofa, her voice still raised to make sure Tessa's mother could hear

Book in hand, Tessa walked up the rickety stairs and into the bedroom she shared with her sister, who was currently lying on her bed with her headphones in

Cecily looked up at Tessa when she entered, raising her eyebrows

"What does that old hag want this time?" She asked

"Cecily! You heard her?" said Tessa exasperatedly

"Of course" she replied nonchalantly "Why do you think I had my headphones in? It was to drown out her incessant nagging"

"You're not making this any easier for everyone, you know," Tessa said, plopping herself down on her sister's bed.

"Yeah, but come on, Tess. She's always picking on me because I'm the adopted one"

"That's not true" Tessa dutifully said, but there was little conviction behind her words "Now come help me set the table. It's the least you can do seeing as I'm the one cooking"

"You go first, I'll come down in a bit" Cecily answered, throwing her head back against her pillows

Tessa sighed again, getting up and walking to the bedroom door "If the table isn't set by the time I'm done cooking, I'm going to steal your phone and text the guy you're talking to"

"You wouldn't dare" Cecily cheekily replied, but a faint blush tinted her cheeks

"Try me" said Tessa, as she closed the door behind her

The next hour passed by in a haze of steam and delicious aromas. Tessa had never been a stellar chef, but she had decent practice, given that she was often asked to cook meals for her family.


Tessa sat with the rest of her family at the large wooden dinner table. She looked over at her mum, who was sitting on her left. She was sitting wearily in her chair, spooning the soup into her mouth despondently. Tessa felt a pang of regret as she realised she had barely spoken more than a few words to her the whole day.

"So mum, how's the restaurant going?" she inquired

Her mum made an effort to smile, but Tessa could see through it right away "It's alright honey, it's just taking slightly longer than we expected to take off"

"Oh" Tessa replied, unsure how to respond

"Well maybe if it was run by someone more competent it wouldn't be in the state it's in now" Tessa's grandmother murmured, but loudly enough for everyone at the table to hear her

Tessa's mum just sighed, and continued to eat her food. The table lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. Tessa quickly finished her food and left the table, excusing herself to go upstairs and finish a piece of work for college.


It was late in the night and the house was quiet. Her room was dark and filled with the soft sounds of Cecily breathing while she slept, save for the computer screen that illuminated Tessa's face.

She checked her phone, 1.52am. A new text message popped up.

(from: Jem)

Hey Tess

Have you finished the history essay yet?

(from: Tessa)

Nope :( not even close

(from Jem)

Lmaooo have fun

Oh btw

One of my old friends is moving over from england next week

(from: Tessa)

oh really? I hope he's not even half the goody-two-shoes you are, then we'll get along just fine

(from: Jem)

You wound me

(from: Tessa)

:)

Tessa, yawned, putting her phone down. Alright, it was time to focus, this 5000 word essay was due later in the day and it wasn't going to write itself.

Tessa checked her current wordcount: 1067.

She wasn't going to get much sleep tonight.


A/N: And that's it for the first chapter! Hope you guys liked it!

If you did, please leave a review, it would really mean so much to me!