It was night, and the cold crept in through the cracks of the old house like a silent warning. Tara Carpenter stood by the stove, the faint hum of its burner filling the still air. A soft smile curled her lips as she bit into a crisp apple, the sweet juice coating her tongue. The hunger gnawed at her stomach, so she stirred the ramen simmering in a pot, waiting for the noodles to soften.
Her phone buzzed in her hand—her attention flickered between the bubbling pot and the message from Amber. A grin tugged at the corners of her mouth.
The landline rang, shrill and obnoxious, cutting through the quiet. Tara glanced at it and rolled her eyes before pressing the decline button with a little too much force. The ringing stopped, leaving the house eerily still for a moment.
She tossed the half-eaten apple into the trash, brushing her hands off on her pajama pants. Her attention fell back on her phone, the screen glowing in the dim kitchen light.
Amber: You should come over.
Tara: Oh really? And do what?
Amber: Fun... stuff. :)
Tara: Mom's out of town again. YOU should come over HERE. And do the aforementioned stuff.
Amber: Convince me?
Tara: No parents. Free dinner. Many binge-watch options.
Amber: Have to do better.
Tara huffed, her fingers flying across the screen, knowing exactly what would make Amber cave. A mischievous grin curled her lips as she typed her next message.
Tara: Unlocked liquor cabinet... with a side of this.
She tucked her phone under her shirt, snapping a quick picture of her chest, and sent it without hesitation. The seconds ticked by, and then the reply came in almost instantly.
Amber: SOLD!
A chuckle slipped from Tara's lips as she shook her head. Amber was impossible, but that was part of what made Tara love her more every day—Amber's teasing nature that always left Tara wanting more. The kind of frustrating, intoxicating energy that she could never get enough of.
She turned back to the stove, stirring the ramen absently, then reached for her inhaler sitting on the counter. She took a puff, the familiar rush of air soothing her lungs. Amber was a lot, but Tara thrived on that chaos.
The landline blared again, louder this time, as if it demanded her attention. She clenched her jaw.
Tara: Fucking landline won't stop ringing. Robocalls.
Amber: I hate how they clone numbers close to yours to make you pick up.
Tara: This is a blocked number.
Amber: Robocalls don't use blocked numbers anymore. Probs someone calling for your mom.
Tara sighed, muttering under her breath. With a groan, she grabbed the phone from the wall, answering it with an irritated, "Hello?"
"Hello," a smooth voice responded. "Is Cristina there?"
"No, she's not available," Tara replied flatly, shifting her weight. "May I take a message?"
As she spoke, she wandered from the kitchen into the dim living room, her socked feet silent against the hardwood floor.
"Oh, um, yeah," the voice stammered. "Yeah, sorry. I'm a friend of hers from group... Oh, shit."
Tara smirked, a flicker of amusement lighting her dark eyes. "From her shit?" she asked, biting back a laugh.
"Look, just tell her I'm from group," the voice—Charlie—explained, a bit more frustrated now. "I'm Charlie. She's got my number."
Tara stopped beside a wall and grabbed a stool tucked beneath a shelf, dragging it toward the TV. "She goes to your group?" she asked, climbing onto the stool with ease.
YOU ARE READING
ASSHOLES | scream au
FanfictionThe friend-group are assholes, literal assholes. Amber, she's a tease loves to pick and tease on people. Chad, he swears he's the strongest out of all of them which gets to the point of bragging. Mindy, she's an actual bitch. Tara, she may seem inno...
