Tess's house

Tess's house
First appearance	Left Behind, page 1 October 20, 2006
Related characters	Tess, Mike, Lucy, Paulo, Daisy, Abbey, Sue, Amaya, Stacy, Katie, Rachel, Jessica, Jasmine

Nestled within walking distance of Mike and Lucy's neighborhood, Tess's lavish abode serves as the go-to spot for the gang's festive gatherings.

Appearance

Tess's house is the epitome of opulence, leaving visitors awestruck from the moment they lay eyes on its grand exterior.

• Exterior: The front of the house boasts two decorative pillars and several large windows, offering a tantalizing glimpse of the fancy chandelier hanging in the entryway.
• Interior: Inside, a sizable gathering hall with large windows and fancy supporting pillars serves as the perfect party space, complete with an outdoor patio area for those moments when you need a breath of fresh air (or a private chat). The floors are adorned with checkerboard tiles.
• Sitting Room: Though only partially revealed in the series, the home includes a sitting room (complete with a beanbag chair Mike once occupied) and hallways that offer quiet corners for private conversations away from the main festivities.

Key events

• Mike's Chilly Visit: In Left Behind, Tess brings a shivering Mike over to warm up and hear about Lucy's backstory. Though we don't get to see much of the house beyond a beanbag chair, this marks Mike's first visit to Tess's place – a fact he forgets by the time the Christmas party rolls around!
• Christmas Party Shenanigans: Feline Festivities sees the house transformed into a festive wonderland for Tess's Christmas party. As Mike, Lucy, and the pets arrive, they can't help but gawk at the house's grandeur before Tess ushers them inside.
• Abbey's Christmas Experience: During another Christmas celebration in Confrontation, the house becomes the backdrop for multiple emotional moments. Paulo and Jasmine's playful snowball ambush of Abbey outside contrasts with the more serious interactions inside, including Abbey sharing his sister's gift-making tradition with Daisy and Janet arriving to take Abbey to visit his mother's final resting place. Daisy also discovers Mike's plans to visit Sandy, revealing her lingering grudge about being overlooked.
• New Year's Eve Heart-to-Hearts: As the gang gathers to ring in the new year in Ten Seconds to Midnight, the house bears witness to some major relationship moments. Tess and Paulo discuss his love life woes , while Paulo and Jazz have a private heart-to-heart in the hallway, mutually agreeing to end their relationship. As the countdown to midnight begins, a bittersweet Paulo can't help but wish Lucy was there to join in the festivities.

Trivia & observations

• The house was designed by Lily (the creator of the Tess character) using Microsoft Paint at the request of Veronica.
• Despite its significance as a gathering hub, Tess' house appears in only three chapters throughout the series, always in connection with winter holiday celebrations.