Tara

2.

"We are seniors now!" Caroline squealed as she, Serena and Vicky walked in the hallways in school together.

"Can you actually believe it?" Serena giggled loudly.

"After this school year ends," Vicky said, smiling from ear to ear. "The rest of our entire lives and no more stupid old, ugly high school teachers." Vicky giggled as she looked at her friends quickly, both beside her on each side.

"Then it is off to college to deal with old, ugly professors." Caroline laughed as the three headed towards their lockers and quickly opened them at the same time, who were right beside each other, requested by them and given thanks to the fact Serena's father was the principal of Beverly Hills High. 

"True!" Vicky and Serena said at the exact same time, and they all roared with laughter.

"Well, I'd want to spend time at the beach and work on my tan." Caroline said, smiling from ear to ear.

"You don't need it, you are tan enough." Vicky said.

"Maybe you and your freckled face doesn't but I do." Caroline responded.

"That is me assuming we were still all going to Berkeley together," Caroline began to say nervously as she grabbed her history book and closed her locker. "Are we?" Caroline asked.

"Don't worry, Care," Vicky replied as she did the same as Caroline and looked at her. "We will go to college together."

"That has been the game plan since eighth grade." Serena added, following suite and all three of the girls headed to their history class.

"Well, it was also always Serena and my plan." Caroline said, thinking about Tara and prayed the subject of her childhood ex-best friend does not come up.

"Right," Vicky sighed softly as she rolled her eyes. "With her." Vicky groaned with jealousy. She had always felt secretly jealous of the fact that she joined into a group of three childhood best friends. The move from Virginia to California was such a culture shock to her when she was in sixth grade. But the trio quickly made her feel comfortable and safe with them and it was if they were all childhood best friends even though that was never true, and she hated it. 

Damn, I should have never mentioned that small detail. Caroline thought to herself, cringing. 

"Don't remind us of that dork." Serena replied and she rolled her eyes and instantly regretted calling her that. 

"Speak of the devil herself." Vicky murmured" softly as Tara walked past them, clearly not paying them any notice.

"Wonder if she will bleed again?" Caroline giggled as they walked into history class.

"We will never be that lucky anymore." Vicky whispered, letting out a soft laugh as they sat next to each other in the classroom. 

"She is right, we are not fourteen anymore." Serena mumbled, remembering that fateful day from freshman year, cringing as her mind began to wonder.

"Tara Smith," Mr. Dallas, the chemistry teacher called out as she directly looked at Tara Smith. "Would you like to write out the table of elements on the board?" 

"Yes, Mr. Dallas, I would." Tara answered awkwardly and Serena could hear the nervousness in her voice as she watched Tara get up from her seat in the front row.

"Oh my gosh!" Serena gasped loudly, her eyes widened from seeing Tara's pants and seeing drops of blood on the back of her blue jeans.

"Is she bleeding?" Serena heard a girl she did not know beside her ask. 

"Oh my gosh, Tara!" Serena heard Caroline laugh loudly. 

"Tara Smith is on her period!" Serena heard a male voice from behind her laugh out as the entire class roared with laughter as Tara slowly turned around and looked straight towards the class with a blank emotion for a what felt like years before she teared up and she quickly ran out of the room, crying. 

Before anyone knew it, the entire school heard, and Tara became the shark. Deep down, Serena was horrified with what guys would say but especially the girls in school considering Tara had just gotten her period. She was especially even more angry at Caroline and Vicky. But she never said anything, wanting to fit in. 

"Serena, are you paying attention?" Mrs. Carter asked, snapping Serena out of her trance, making her wince. 

"Yes," Serena lied quickly as she blinked her hazel eyes as she saw the elderly woman glare at her with her dark blue eyes that his behind her thick glasses. "I am, Mrs. Carter."

"It looked like you were in another planet." Mrs. Carter responded, crossing her arms.

"I wasn't, I promise." Serena lied some more, shaking her head slowly.

"Eyes up here, Taylor." Mrs. Carter hissed out.