Escaping RiverCreek

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Unsettled Nerves

As she settles down to finish her homework, Tara's cellphone rings. The number on her caller ID indicates it's her best friend from Little Rock.

"Hey, Janet, what's up?" Tara asks with excitement, but out of nowhere, her best friend begins to rip into her.

"Well, I don't know. You never called me today to let me know what it's like up there or if you found out how long it'll be before you're coming back home."

Rolling her eyes, Tara turns over onto her back to explain what's happened. "Bad news. I ain't coming home. Mom said the factory is shutting down, for, like, ever, and she's taking over my grandmother's sto—"

She's cut off in the middle of her statement.

"What? Doesn't that fucking blow cow chunks on a hog's ass! I need you here. Stan is getting out soon, and I need you to be my maid of honor."

Her eyes clinched shut, Tara shakes her head.

"Girl, he's always gonna be nothin' but a jailbird. You can do so much better than him."

Janet huffs into the phone before she speaks again. "Uh, whatever, girl. It ain't your life, ya know. Speaking of which, Bobby said he wants to surprise you by coming up there to get you when you're eighteen and bring you home. I think he got a trailer for you guys that way you can finish school back here."

That's when the bombshell drops out of nowhere. "Um ... I kind've found someone else already. Bobby just wants me to stay home and have babies while he's out working for his uncle with a state job and forget about my dream of culinary school."

"Excuse me, honey, but what's wrong with that? What, you too Yankee for us now?"

"No, I just wanna manage or run my own place. I don't wanna be a stay at home, Mom, especially this young."

That's the final straw for Janet to lose her cool. "Let me tell you something, princess. I am not going to sit here and listen to you go on about some guy you just met when you got a real man back here who wants to take care of you. But fine, whatever, be that way. When you come back to your senses, call or text me. Until then, peace out, homegirl."

Tara scoffs at her best friend, giving her hell for wanting something more in life. She tosses her phone on the floor and gets comfy in the middle of her bed, cracking open her book to complete her assignment.

About an hour and a half later, Tara's temperament settles back down. A hot, steaming shower along with her favorite CD helps most of the relaxing. She's coming back into her room when her phone begins to ring.

"Uh, hello," she answers, unable to recognize the number.

"Hey, it's Cory, I just wanted to call and see if you needed a ride in the morning."

"Oh, oh, hey cutie pie, I need to save your number. Nah, my mom will drop me off, but I hope I get there early enough to see you before class."

Cory gives her details for the morning. "I'll meet you by the office then. I wanna talk and get to know you more. I'm sure you hear this all the time, but you are the most beautiful girl I've seen."

Even though Cory can't see her, he hopes she has the biggest smile on her face, hoping it'll improve his chances that no one will swoop in to steal her away.

"Aw, thank you. I don't think I'm that pretty, but you are pretty damn cute and sweet."

"Thanks! I'll let you go. I just wanted to check. I will see you tomorrow. Bye, baby."

Using her sweet and innocent tone, Tara replies with "bye" as she closes her phone and places it on the charger on her nightstand.

After yawning and stretching, Tara makes sure her door is locked and drops her towel into her hamper as she returns to her dresser, getting a pair of mini-shorts with a pink tank top, slipping them over her soft, silky skin. She stops when she tugs her shirt down to glance at herself in the mirror.