Not A Word

Chapter Six

Tara

He helped me...I stared after Niall as he walked away with Zayn. It didn't make sense. Niall has been one of my worst tormentors since I moved here. Why the sudden change of heart?

Shaking off my confusion I grabbed my books off the floor and walked to my first class. Before I got there I felt a hand wrap around my arm and pull me into a dark closet. I sucked in air to let out a scream for help but a hand quickly clamped down over my mouth.

"Tara calm down its only me." his voice whispered in my ear.

Why was he here? I told him not to do this. I told him to leave me alone. Why couldn't he be like all the others and just not care?

I wrenched his hand off my mouth, "What the hell are you doing here Greg?" I spat, venom coating my words.

"I'm here to do what I promised, protect you."

"I told you. I don't need or want your help. You may be helping me now but soon you'll turn into someone that's no better than your brother."

Greg looked honestly hurt by my words. "I would never hurt you Tara. Is it that hard for you to open yourself to people that you can't trust anymore? My brother and his friends have only been messing with your for two or three years. Is that really enough time to be hurt enough to make the decision to block everyone out?"

I looked down at my feet and scuffled then against the floor a bit. "It's not just from them." I quickly snapped my head up to look at him right in the eyes, "But it's none of your business anyways. I'm not some charity case for you to adopt for protection."

Greg crossed his arms over his chest and stared me down. "If you can talk back to me like that and fight me, why can't you do that to the people that harm you? You act like a helpless puppy as soon as they're around."

"Greg this isn't about my ability to stand up for myself. This is about your inability to follow directions. Why cant you just let me be?"

"Because I feel like it's my fault!" he shouted and I immediately cowered into the corner.

I may have acted tough when he was being nice and sweet but I can't act and as soon as someone tells I run. Greg's hand trailed down my cheek lightly in a gentle caress, "I'm sorry Tara. I didn't mean to scare you. Will you please just come out here and talk to me?"

I took in a deep breath a pushed away from the wall. "There's nothing to talk about Greg. You kidnapped me and stuffed me in a closet!"

"I pulled you out of the hallway. That is hardly kidnapping." he protested.

"Oh really? What do you call taking me from the school the one day and bringing me to your house? I would say that is a pretty good case for kidnapping. I didn't exactly go willingly." I crossed my arms over my chest and smirked.

"You have got to be kidding me right now." he muttered to himself, "Are you actually serious about this?"

I nodded, "You better be careful or I could add stalking to that list of personal infringements as well. We wouldn't want a court case now would we?" I teased.

His expressions hardened. Too far. Greg wrapped his hands around my forearms but his grip wasn't tight enough to hurt. "Stop playing Tara. This isn't a joking matter. It wouldn't be a joking matter if it happened once let alone everyday. Don't you dare try and keep me away from protecting you because it won't work." his face was hard and threatening but his voice was soft and caring.

I reached up and smoothed my hand over his cheek. "What if I don't want you to protect me?" I asked softly.

"Why? Why don't you wan't someone around that can help you Tara?"