Entanglement of Time

Chapter 11: Dependent Wreck

Summary: Tara is a bit dependent on Amber, much to Amber's dismay at times, and she tends to eyefuck Amber a lot. And the group has arrived in New York. 

⚠: Mentions of murder and eyefucking. 

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The rhythmic hum of the truck's engine blended with the faint whoosh of passing cars, their headlights streaking through the dark like fleeting ghosts. Tara sat in the very back, her head resting against the cool glass of the window. She stared out, watching the steady stream of lights and shadows, each vehicle a silent reminder of the countless lives moving forward. Her thoughts wandered as they often did during long drives, cycling back to how much had changed since September.

Richie. His name alone felt like a weight in her chest. He was arrested for attempted murder and conspiracy, and while justice seemed to be in motion, life had other plans. He was killed in prison before his trial could even begin. Tara still remembered the officer who came to deliver the news.

Apparently, Richie had been kept separate from the general population for his safety, but his mouth had gotten the better of him. He taunted the wrong gang member from the relative security of his cell, and the gang retaliated with brutal efficiency.

The officer's words echoed in her mind: "He got a taste of what he planned for all of you."

Tara wasn't sure how to feel about his death. Relief? Satisfaction? Maybe even pity? It was too much to unpack, so she sighed softly and turned her gaze from the window, trying to shake the thoughts away.

The tiredness etched on her face mirrored the emotional exhaustion she carried. She glanced around the backseat. Next to her, Amber was fast asleep, her features softened by the quiet vulnerability of slumber. In the front, Kirby was at the wheel, her hands steady as she guided them through the night. Jill dozed in the passenger seat, her head tilted to one side, her breathing slow and even.

Behind their truck, Sam was following in Amber's vehicle, no doubt just as tired as Tara felt. The twins, Wes, and Liv were riding with her, probably asleep by now. The group had insisted that "the lesbian couples"—Kirby and Jill, plus Tara and Amber, as they teasingly called them—stick together in the same vehicle.

Tara couldn't quite figure out what they meant by lumping her and Amber into that label. Sure, the others were just joking, but the idea stirred something inside her. She glanced at Amber again, her heart doing a small, inexplicable flip.

It's just a silly crush, Tara told herself. It'll fade eventually. Still, the warmth in her chest didn't feel so fleeting.

Amber shifted slightly in her sleep, and Tara took the opportunity to scoot closer. Tentatively, she leaned her head against Amber's shoulder, seeking comfort in the proximity. Her eyelids grew heavy as she nestled in, the soft rise and fall of Amber's breathing lulling her into her slumber.

Kirby, ever vigilant, caught the movement in her peripheral vision. Her eyes flicked briefly to the rearview mirror, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She nudged Jill lightly.

"Hmm?" Jill stirred, her voice groggy as she blinked herself awake.

Kirby didn't answer right away, simply gesturing toward the backseat with a tilt of her head. Jill glanced over her shoulder, her gaze softening as she took in the sight of Tara and Amber curled up together. A grin played on her lips.

"They're adorable," Kirby murmured, her voice warm with affection.

"Yeah," Jill agreed quietly, her tone carrying a note of nostalgia. "Remind you of anyone?"