#ch: tamsin chen

[broodparasitism]

#fridaykiss Tag Game

I was tagged by @aninkwellofnectar - thank you! I went with the first on page kiss in Wormwood, which is (mostly) platonic. It is from the earlier scenes so I winced about because...it does read like an early draft to me. CW for discussion of suicide.

I guide a gently singing Tamsin towards Mary Magdalene house, her switching to a new song every few seconds. At the doorway, she takes a deep breath and puts her hands on my shoulders. “I have to tell you.” She says. “Tell me what?” “I saw [REDACTED].” That she slurs through her words just makes it all the more chilling. “When?” “The night before we got the ship home, I saw someone on the cliffs, walk over the edge. I needed to tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else.” “Tamsin, what do you…” “I saw her from the woods. You just can’t let people know I was in the woods, okay? I was…I had been with a boy. I don’t want Elinor…looking down on me for it.” “You went with a boy in the woods?” “He’s called Brian. An island local.” She smirks. “No, I mean…in the woods? Does he not have a house?” “His car in the woods, I was walking back, when I…” Tamsin says. “But that doesn’t matter, because I don’t think you’re the type to judge me, Noel. And I had to tell you, because I know what you must be thinking.” “I don’t know what I must be thinking.” “I saw her walk off…nobody pushed her.” Tamsin looks at me earnestly. “I didn’t know her name at the time, and I was running to pull her back, but I saw her too late. She was gone. And. I know what Portia and Janine did last term. I don’t blame you for whatever you might think, because I’d think so too. If you think Portia Fitzroy is a monster, you’d be right. But she didn’t push [REDACTED]. She’s not guilty this time.” Tamsin gives me a kiss on the cheek and staggers through the doors.