Center Stage

t e n

•9:54 pm•

      We'd arrived at Taryn's townhouse, but something felt off. The feeling I was receiving from Josh and Taylor was that of eminent danger, uncertainty, and mainly fear.

      I hated fear. To be completely honest, I've always hated fear. From being taunted as a small child on the playground, or going on an intense roller coaster for the first time. Fear was something I hated most. I'd seen both Taylor and Josh frightened, but this was something more.

       I remembered the first time I'd seen Josh cry and break down out of fear. His mother had been checked into the hospital after she'd been in a car wreck. He rarely left the hospital until she was nursed back to health and came home.

      Taylor's was worse. I recalled witnessing her emotional breakdown for the first time, and it was my best friend.

     
       Josh dropped to his knees, embracing a sniffling Taylor and bringing her to his chest. Mascara streamed down her cheeks, tears as reflective as the moon shined brightly as they fell off her pink cheeks and onto her torn gray skirt. Josh cradled her head in the crook of his neck, rocking her gently, as I just stood there in shock.
     I had just turned fourteen, this was so much to take in. My two best friends, one of them shaking and wheezing, the other whispering little sentences in her ear. I stumbled to the floor, sitting opposite to Josh. I began rubbing Taylor's arm as her deep blue eyes turned towards me. My breath hitched in my throat when they locked with mine.
       Fear was spread throughout her eyes. It tainted the heavy tears that stained her cheeks, danced across her irises, then augmented her pupils to match the size of pain in her heart.
      Josh whispered calmly in her ear, though I could sense the worry taking over his mind. "It'll be okay." He assured, her cries of panic making us all upset. Tears slid down my face as Josh repeated his statement.

     If I ever found that repulsive man who groped at her, there would be Hell to pay. Josh would surely say the same. I'm certain he wasn't content with old men fondling young girls, especially his girlfriend.

     Lifting my head, I regarded Taylor and Josh embracing while standing in front of the car. They promptly released one another, taking the others hand instead. Together, they hustled to the townhouse's sizable black door. Hastily, I climbed out of the car and jogged up to them as Taylor whipped out a slender brass key.

     As I reached them, we hurriedly crowded into the home. The entry hall was empty, along with the living room. "Tarrie?" Josh called out. "Tarrie, where are you?" He took off in a bolt down a side corridor, as Taylor began opening different doors downstairs. I stood there, puzzled as to what to do. Taylor shouted for Tarrie before turning to me, "Help me find her, Matt." She pleaded.

      The sense of worry and panic in her voice was a reasonable enough explanation. I wondered about what was wrong. Where was Tarrie? Why wasn't she responding? Was she hurt? If so, who hurt her?

     I caught sight of the staircase, running towards them with great haste. I bounded up the stairs, skipping every two. Alarms blared in my mind, I had to find her. "Tarrie?" I yelled. "Tarrie, are you okay?"

      A soft, muffled whimper sounded to my left. I went off in that direction, finding myself with another large door. Uneasiness overtook my body as I took the cool handle into my hand, shaking nervously as I pushed it open.

      Tarrie was sitting on the floor, knees tucked against her chest, her hair disorderly and unkempt. "Taryn," I muttered, rushing to her. Large, luminous tears rolled down her pale cheeks, dripping down onto the soft carpet.

      Panic flooded my mind, and I pulled her to me. I strived to imitate Josh's movements with Taylor that night. She threw her arms around me as I held her close.

      What had happened? Is she alright? Will she be okay? Questions swam through my mind as I heard familiar footsteps appear behind me, whispered exclamations soon to follow.

       Taryn took in a shaky, unsteady breath. Her eyes began to open, and the all-to-familiar sight sunk into my body.

It tainted her falling tears, it danced about her irises in malicious delight. It was fear.