Escaping RiverCreek

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Tara's Arrival

Ever since the minute he leaves Tara at her class; Cory can't get that first image of her out of his mind as he sits through his next class.

Damn, she's really pretty, and she was flirty. Hey, wait, what if she's like that with other guys too? Ugh, great, now I'm back to another Vanessa situation. Lowering his head, he sees a note sitting on his desk.

Rotating his eyes over, he sees Rick motioning slightly to open the note he tossed. "Open it," he mouths, wanting Cory to hurry up while the teacher writes notes on the board.

Hey, so how bad is that girl you had to show around school? I've heard both sides—that she is smoking hot and that she's ugly as hell. So which is it? Also, you ain't stopped smiling since you got in here, so what's up?

After he flattens out the note to hide it from the teacher, Cory quickly jots down why he seems so chipper. She's beautiful, man. Long brown hair and tan. Funny. She seems smart, and just wow! I have her number on my hand, so when we get out of here, I plan on asking her out. He folds the note back up and heaves it through the air as Rick snatches it seconds before the teacher turns around.

Rick barely gets his hand down before the teacher sees him. Both boys sigh a bit of relief as they keep their eyes forward to avoid having their note read out loud for the entire class to hear, as the teacher imitates their voices mockingly for entertainment purposes.

When the chance to finally unfold the note to see his boy's response about the new girl. Rick is taken by surprise when he looks over to Cory, nodding his head just before they both close their books and binders, waiting for the bell to ring.

Once the sound of freedom dings, the fellas head to the lunchroom.

"So I have an idea, my brother of another mother. Let's find this girl, or hell use the school's payphone to call her and leave a message, giving her your number. Then ask her out on a double date with me and my girl."

Cory is about to take up Rick's idea when they enter the game room, where they see Tara getting hit on by a tall but kind of chubby male, brushing his ear-length long black hair back out of his eyes.

"Yo, Lloyd, back off. That's Cory's woman!" Rick yells to their friend. They both begin to laugh when Rick and Cory come strutting over.

"Hi, I'm Tara, and who might you be?" she asks, extending her hand out to Rick.

"I just might happen to be Rick, the eyes and ears of all that is RiverCreek. Wow, what an accent. But your beauty makes that Southern sweetness complete. My boy was right. You are a sight to behold."

Blushing and hunkering her head down, all Tara can manage to squeak out is "Thank you," enjoying the attention.

"Excuse me!" Rick hears coming up from behind him.

"Sorry, honey. I was just trying to be nice. You know how I am, and Cory's into her."

"He best be, or else you ain't walking out of here with your balls intact," a female voice calls out.

Rick goes wide-eyed, covering his genitals, turning around to face his girl. She's standing there with her hands on her wide hips and head cocked slightly sideways. She might be short, but everyone knows her attitude is nothing compared to her temper when it blows.

"It's true, Kayla. He's into her. In fact, it was my idea to see if you wanted to double date with them this weekend, if she's interested," Rick babbles to save his ass.

Cory immediately blushes a right shade of red when Tara looks over at him, hiding her playfulness.

"Really ... I'm the new girl in town, and you think you can get with me just like that?"