Escaping RiverCreek

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Summertime Surprises

Summer vacation is in full swing by now, and Cory has forgotten all about trying to tell Tara about his upcoming trip to Miami of Ohio. His parents are excited to head out of town, so much so that they've planned what they will do while Cory is escorted around the university by the coach and the athletic director.

"Hey, Cory, are you packed up and ready to go?" his mother calls out from the living room.

"Almost, Mom. Just gotta zip my bag and I'm good."

She's getting more impatient, tapping her foot on the floor. "Hurry up or we're leaving without you!" she teases, feeling excited to leave town.

Knocking on the edge of the screen door, Tara catches the end of their exchange.

"Hi, Mrs. Dubois. Going on a weekend getaway?"

Waving her to come inside, the news is about to blow Tara away. "No, it's the trip to Oxford, Ohio, for Cory's official visit to the college for a scholarship offer. Didn't he tell you after he won the state title?"

She gasps quietly to herself. Tara tries to hide her shock.

"Oh, yeah. Guess I forgot, but hey have fun, and I'll see y'all when ya get back. Bring me a postcard!"

She spins around, heading out the door, barely missing Cory, who is finally coming out from his room.

"Someone here, Mom?"

"Just Tara forgetting about your visit. She said she'll see you when we get back. Now come on kid and let's go!" She motions him toward the door, locking it behind them.

Fueled by pure rage, Tara stands there with a sarcastic smile, waving as Cory and his parents fade away in the distance.

"Oh, you poor bastard, you're gonna pay for lying to me!" she grunts, nearly grinding her teeth.

Cruising to Kayla's to blow off some steam, Tara pulls up to see Kayla lying out in the sun.

"Hey, girl, what is up?" Kayla calls out, looking over to her.

"Oh, I'm pissed! Cory is going to visit a college he never told me about."

Confused, Kayla tips her sunglasses away from her eyes. "Say what? Where's he going?"

After slamming her car door, Tara mumbles, "Miami" as she leans against the door.

"What are you going to do when he gets back?"

Tara places her index finger to her lips. "I guess I'll have to deal with it. I'll tell you this: if he thinks he's going to lie and keep things from me, I'll beat his ass. My ex did that to me, and I will not go through that ever again."

Sitting up, Kayla gets to her feet to take her towel inside and throw on some clothes.

"Hey, come on inside. I'll get dressed, and we'll go see if Rick knew anything about this. If he did, I'll kick him in the balls."

Tara shoves off her Kia and struts into the house.

"I hate being lied to more than anything!" Tara reiterates, trying to keep herself fired up.

"Don't blame ya, girl."

After getting back into regular clothes, the girls head out to find Rick. On the way there, they both immediately notice the Man-Van sitting in the church parking lot.

"There he is. Pull in and I'll go get him. I won't cause a scene in the church," Kayla explains, cracking her knuckles, prepared for an all-out verbal assault if Rick admits to knowing about the trip.