After Chapter 56 – Time to rebrand.

Previously: Chancellor Ken abused his power for wedding thangs.
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Samantha: Hardin turns his music up too loud in the car. Tessa tries to tolerate it but finally can’t and turns it down. Hardin comments on her pissy mood, and Tessa tells him that he started it with his bad mood first!

Marines:

Samantha: He tells her that now that it’s settled that they aren’t going to the wedding he doesn’t have to be mad. Tessa tells him that it isn’t settled, she’s going to go and take baking lessons from Karen.

You guys. I truly hate to defend Hardin in any way but I feel the need to state again that this is just general shittiness by Tessa. If your SO has issues with their family you do not manipulate and try to force them to get over it or do what you think is right. Not all family dynamics are created equal and it’s not your place. She could state her piece about why she thinks it’s important that he goes or whatever, but ultimately should respect his decision. Of course, it’s Tessa and Hardin so respect isn’t really in the cards.

Mari: This is especially mind-blowing to me since they’ve known each for a hot minute. If Tessa knows Hardin’s birthday at this point, I would be surprised. If ever this is a time to step into your partner’s family business, THIS IS NOT THAT TIME, TESSA.

Samantha: Tessa tries to make out that this is her not letting Hardin tell her what to do so this all comes back to how horrible these two are at communicating in non-threatening or manipulative ways. Tessa also tells Hardin that she barely knows him.

They head inside and Tessa asks why Hardin is in a fraternity. He tells her that by the time he agreed to come to this school all the dorms were full and he didn’t want to live with his dad. He has stayed because he has the biggest room. Tessa asks to hang up her outfit for tomorrow and Hardin both has to consider allowing this to happen and make faces at her clothes.

She reminds him that she has to get up early the next day for her internship interview and Hardin is all “Say what??? Why didn’t you tell me that was tomorrow???”

“I did… you were too busy sulking to pay attention.”

Hardin says that he’ll drive her to the interview AND to the internship if she gets it. Tessa decides that she’d rather get her own car so that he doesn’t get arbitrarily mad at her one day and decide not to pick her up. Hardin objects that he wouldn’t do that but the real problem here is that she truly thinks you would, bud. You should probably rebrand. (M: A+.)

They both change, with Tessa wearing his shirt again and yoga pants. Hardin lurvs the yoga pants. He’s also worried about how she said that she doesn’t really know him because she knows him better than anyone! He flashes her Vulnerable Eyes because only she can understand his tortured soul.

She thinks about how connected they are and admits that he knows the real her. (M: Because! of  SOUL MAGIC CONNECTION, not because of using words or anything.) They then lay on the bed and fake me out by instead holding each other and talking about Hardin’s past. For fun, guess which 4 are real and which one I made up!

1. His mother faints at the sight of blood.
2. He got his first tattoo at 16 (in a friend’s basement cause he’s Edgy).
3. He eats macaroni and cheese with a spoon.
4. He hates birds (remember when Ana hated horses?????)
5. He loves classic cars.

Mari: Hardin would never eat macaroni and cheese! It is a food that is too pure and good for the likes of him.

Samantha: So true!

It’s riveting stuff. (I shouldn’t complain, at least their clothes are on.) Tessa is overwhelmed by all this new info and starts thinking about what she’d like Hardin to know about her someday. They fall asleep but Tess is awakened by Hardin screaming and thrashing on the floor. She tries to comfort and wake and thinks about how she didn’t ask him about the nightmares because she didn’t want to be greedy? Strange word choice and also if you’re sleeping next to him, I think it’s okay to ask.

Mari: Especially if you have to be nightmare remedy girl.

Samantha: Hardin asks Tessa to never leave him.

Mari: On the bright side, we now get to leave this chapter.

 

 

Next time on After: An internship interview in Chapter 57.