I didn't know what to say. My hand immediately went to my eye, where I had just been hit. That's definitely gonna leave a mark.
"What did you..." I breathed.
"Tara."
"You..."
"Tara!"
"No! I'm done!" I snapped back.
"You aren't done with shit." Gabe put his hands in his pockets and laughed.
"I am."
"Okay. Go. Have some much fun with your little man whore. But when it comes down to it, Tara, he won't do a thing for you."
"You aren't doing much for me either." I held back my tears.
"Okay," he laughed, "no. Say what you want. You aren't breaking up with me. You can say you did and you can say we're through but we never will be. Now get out."
I gave up on fighting it and let the tear roll down my cheek. Without saying anything, I pushed the door open and swung it shut with full force. Fuck.
I sat in my car, crying and scream-singing Making the Bed by Olivia Rodrigo. How did I get myself in this position? A few months ago I was having the time of my life and making friends, but now I'm in the world's most toxic relationship, and there's no way to get out. I pulled down the little mirror on the roof of my car and touched my eye, immediately wincing in pain. I need ice. And vodka. This sounds like a problem Elaine can help me with.
.
.
."Fuck!" I complained after messing up my eyeliner.
"Here, let me." I handed Elaine the pencil and closed my eyes so she could apply it.
"Thank you."
"Ready to go?"
"Yep. Where is it again?"
"All I know is it's a bunch of trust fund babies living together. I'm pretty sure they're juniors."
We went outside and got in the car.
"Can you at least try not to completely abandon me tonight? I don't know anyone else going."
"Carter will be there," Elaine attempted to make me feel better.
Well, it was bound to happen at some point. I can't spend my entire college career avoiding someone who did nothing wrong.
We sat in silence for the rest of the car ride.
The driveway was really long and wooded, hiding the house in the trees. Once it came into view, it was definitely a party house. There were blue lights on inside and the pool was lit up in multiple colors. Elaine immediately went to find her friends and I followed her like a lost puppy.
"Here!" She handed me a shot glass.
I immediately drank it, cringing a bit at the taste.
"Want to dance?" I yelled to Elaine.
"You're so much more fun when you aren't sober!"
We danced for a while and drank too much. My thoughts felt fuzzy but still not fuzzy enough to make me forget my problems. I noticed Carter talking to a girl, the same girl I tried to help him get away from.
"Give me that," I declared, taking the bottle from Elaine's hands and drinking directly from it.
"I have a great idea Tara!" She shouted in my ear.
"Yeah?!"
"Let's go swimming!"
"I didn't bring a bathing suit!"
"So?!"
"You're so right!" I forehead palmed. "Who cares if I have a bathing suit on!"
Elaine grabbed my wrist and pulled me outside to meet a larger group of people also swimming in their underwear. I unzipped my dress and pulled it over my head. People glanced at me, but nobody seemed too surprised. I dived into the water, running my hands over my head to flatten my hair back.
"This was such a good idea Elaine."
"I know. I have good ideas. I like your bra!"
"Thanks girl! Gah- my eye hurts," I complained, rubbing it.
"Woah."
"What's wrong?"
"Did you have concealer on it?"
"I don't remember..." Yes. Yes I did. And now my bruise is right out in the open.
"It's totally black and blue! Did you fall?"
"Yeah, I think I did."
"Ice that when you get home."
.
.
."Oooh!" I squeezed my face after downing my seventh shot of the night. "I feel funny!" I had completely lost my dress at this point, yet I was still dressed more modestly than some of the girls there in complete thongs.
"Let's play a game." Elaine clapped her hands.
"Like what?"
"Whoever gets a trivia question wrong has to dance on the kitchen counter!"
"Okay!"
"Excuse me, can you ask us a trivia question?" Elaine grabbed the shoulder of a nearby boy.
"Uh, sure. Who was the first president?"
"George Washington." I replied.
"Obama!" Elaine countered.
"Yeah man I think the brunette got that one right."
"Yes!" She celebrated.
"Dang it!"
"Now you have to dance on the counter!"
"Fine," I climbed onto the counter. The fact I was half naked definitely drew some attention to me. People were cheering and pointing at me from all over. I wasn't sure why though, everyone else was dancing. Just as I was starting to get into it, a super familiar looking boy came from across the room.
"Get down from there Tara."
"How do you know my name?" I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"Alright that's enough," he threw me over his shoulder.
"Hey! Put me down!" I ordered.
"You're wasted."
"No, I was dancing!" I whined. "Let me go! I don't even know you!"
"I'm taking you home."
a/n: Spiderman NWH came out exactly two years ago today and I miss being that happy.
Written: December 17th 2023
Published: The same day ;)
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Bad Habits
Teen FictionWhen 18 year old Tara Williams leaves her hometown for college, she knows she has to break up with her boyfriend. Her mental health is affected and forms a habit of pushing people away, until she meets someone who changes that. TW- abusive themes Pl...