Tara

3.

"Hey, are you alright?" Caroline asked, noticing Serena's facial expression as they ate lunch while Vicky went to the bathroom as their lunch period started.

"Why would you ask that?" Serena asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Caroline who sat across from her on their table.

"I noticed how you zoned out in history." Caroline answered, giving a quick shrug as her face relaxed.

"I just have some stuff on my mind." Serena mumbled softly.

"What kind of stuff?" Caroline asked, tilting her head.

"Why are you asking me--"

"Well, your boyfriend is now off to college," Caroline said, stopping Serena. "Do you miss him?"

"Of course," Serena sighed as she forced a small smile. "I miss Randy, but we will see him next year." Serena finished, slowly shaking her head.

"So... that is not the issue?" Caroline asked, furrowing her eyebrows as she tried to understand what was going on.

"Do you ever think we give Tara a hard time?" Serena asked, frowning.

"I say we don't do it enough," Caroline giggled. "She is a dork, not us."

"What did I miss?" Vicky asked, sitting next to Caroline.

"Serena wants to know if we give Tara a hard time." Caroline laughed, batting her bright blue eyes at Vicky as her long and curly blond hair bounced on her shoulders.

"Oh," Vicky responded as she blinked her dark brown eyes. "Well... hell no!" Vicky laughed loudly.

"We were once friends with her." Serena said as she looked at her friends.

"That was before she went geek." Caroline giggled.

"She stopped being cool." Vicky added, flipping her long dark brown hair dramatically.

"She has stayed of trouble though." Serena pointed out.

"She was fun in middle school." Vicky replied.

"Remember that time we snuck into a high school party when her sister went here?" Caroline asked.

"Oh," Vicky gasped as her eyes widened as she remembered. "Yeah, I remember." Vicky said.

"We were in seventh grade." Caroline added.

"She was fun back then." Vicky said and rolled her eyes.

"Not anymore." Caroline said.

"What made you think of her, anyways?" Vicky asked coldly, glaring at Serena.

"I'm not sure," Serena answered and looked down at her tray. "I was thinking about the time Tara got her period." Serena finished as she looked back up at her friends.

"Hey there, pretty lady." Kyle Grayson, Caroline's boyfriend greeted as he sat beside Caroline. Quickly his brother, Marcus sat beside Vicky who he dated. Marcus and Kyle Grayson were identical twins. They both had light tan skin, dirty blond hair and dark green eyes. It was always hard to tell them apart. They both had made it on the varsity football team while Vicky was head cheerleader. The only other person in the friend group that was on the cheer team was Caroline. Serena was in the drama club, and she could never get into sports.

"Hey." Marcus greeted Vicky with a wide smile and leaned in for a kiss as she quickly leaned towards him, giving him a quick kiss.

"Hey." Caroline said to Kyle as she leaned in, and she kissed him as he kissed back.

"Guys you are gross." Serena laughed, feeling awkward and like a third wheel.

"You are just jealous that Randy is not here." Vicky teased, letting out a soft laugh.

"I get to see him on weekends." Serena responded as she rolled her eyes playfully and let out a soft laugh.

"How is Randy?" Marcus asked, meeting Serena's gaze with his green eyes.

"He's great, I texted him last night." Serena answered.

"Guys, what do you think about Tara Smith?" Vicky asked.

"She is a freak." Marcus answered quickly.

"Serena is starting to feel bad for her." Caroline said, laughing.

"Why do you care?" Marcus asked, gawking.

"Forget her," Kyle said. "Are you three coming to our party next week?" Kyle asked as he looked at all three of the girls.

"Our parents will be out of town." Marcus added, grinning from ear to ear.

"You can invite Randy, Serena." Kyle said as he looked at Serena.

"You know I will go." Vicky answered.

"Me too, why not?" Caroline giggled softly.

"Sure, I'll go." Serena answered, trying to hide her dread.

"Look, it is the Bloody Mary," Vicky laughed as her eyes looked at Tara and Kelly walking past them with their trays in their hands.

"Hey dork!" Marcus called out, grabbing his milk and he quickly threw it at the back of her head, making everyone who noticed roar with laughter.