Everything hurt. Her head. Her stomach. Her heart.
Her head from pulling on her hair as she sobbed. Her stomach from heaving as she struggled to breathe. And her heart from having it broken from the one person she loved. She felt stupid, honestly. She had let herself fall for her. She knew the pain was her fault. Taryn knew she wouldn't last. But she let herself fall in love anyway.
Taryn was glad she was home alone for the day. The only other person in the house was her stepbrother, who was downstairs with the TV loud. Usually, Taryn would run downstairs and tell him to turn it down but tonight she didn't care.
Taryn heard faint meowing outside of her door. She smiled very faintly and stood up. She opened the door to allow her cat, Mika, to come in. Once Mika was in her room, Taryn shut the door and walked over to her bed where Mika had made herself comfortable.
"Hey, Mika."
Mika acknowledged Taryn by looking up and meowing. Taryn smiled. She loved Mika. Her family hadn't adopted Mika from a shelter or anything. Taryns dad had been walking the dog out by this pond and some family had let Mika out of their car. My dad noticed and walked up to them and told them that their cat had jumped out of the car. They claimed that she "wasn't their cat." My dad just brought her home. I got to name her. I was reading this book at the time and the main characters name was Mika and i really liked that name so I decided to name her that.
We have this bond. I swear, whenever i'm sad, Mika just notices and just lays on my chest, staring at me with those big green eyes. She's looking at me in a way that says "I'm here.". I don't even have to be crying. She's the sweetest little thing.
Taryn stood on shaky legs, feeling dizzy, as she trailed to her desk. She stared at the sketch she drew of the girl she loved and snatched it up.
She started crying again. Her tears poured just as hard as the rain outside. Taryn listened to the pitter patter of the rain beating against the window just like her heart was beating on her chest. The thunder roared like the voices in her head, lightning flashing like the memories in Taryn's head.
"Never again," Taryn murmured, her voice cracking. "I'll never let myself fall again."
Suddenly she was crumpling the sheet and ripping it to shreds. She rose and walked over to the window, the paper shreds still in her fist. She opened to window, not caring about the rain that was now cascading into her room and hitting her face. She took a deep breath and threw the shreds of memories into the rain and wind. She closed the window and collapsed onto her bed.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"I hate you!"
Taryn jumped at the sudden yell, her hands still fumbling through her locker. She looks around to see who yelled. Sure enough, a small brunette is yelling at the school player, Christina.
The brown-eyed bisexual is known for her one-night stands and crude humor. Christina is a mess. A whirlwind of attitude and popularity, but nobody took shelter when she passed by in the halls. She is like a poisonous snake that some wanted and others despised.
Nobody dared speak about her ADHD or secret family problems,because Christina also had a bad reputation in school. She was constantly breaking the rules or ignoring them altogether.
"The feeling's mutual." She hears Christina reply smugly,unphased after the girl had shoved her off.
Taryn stayed quiet, but she never talked to Christina anyway. The girl is intimidating, and to make things worse, their parents are best friends. Taryns been forced to eat dinner with her numerous times and make small talk, but if Taryn had the chance to keep her mouth shut, she would.
She had fallen for Christina once, then one day she finally snapped and told her. The rejection was instant. Their parents decided to have dinner together that night, of course. Perfect fucking timing. I didn't join them. I stayed in my room with Mika and watched netflix.
Taryn stiffened up when she realized she was staring, but it was too late. Christina was already walking over to her, school supplies lazily in her grip. Taryn gulped, feeling herself begin to shake.
Christina leaned against the locker next to Taryns, shooting her a lopsided smirk.
"Hey Taryn. Still peeing your pants?"
It was only one time,Taryn wanted to shout, but words failed her. It was in elementary school when the teacher called her out for not listening, and Taryn had gotten so nervous that she ran out of the room with piss running down her shorts while screaming.
Taryn opened her mouth to speak,but sighed and turned back to her locker.
"Not talking? Alright." Christina said and walked away.
"Taryn Elizabeth Bookheart!!"
Taryn winced at the mention of her full name, spinning on her heel to be met with her best friend.
"H-hi Collin" she forced a sheepish, toothy grin.
"Did Christina just talk to you?" he raised an eyebrow .
"Yeah..." I replied.
"You know it's surprising she hasn't tried to hook up with you yet, right? Every willing sophomore has slept with her already."
Taryn had never told him about her previous crush on Christina. It's not that she didn't trust him, she just didn't want to admit it again.
"Yeah I know. Ive got three years left, well technically two because she's a sophomore and I'm a freshman, but I'll take top classes so I'll still be forced to see her which I don't really-"
"Taryn! you're babbling again."
"Sorry." Taryn said quietly, looking down at her shoes.
"I've gotta go. See you after school," Collin said hugging Taryn. "Oh and if Alex gives you any trouble-"
"I'll be fine."
Collin sighed before hurrying off. Taryn readjusted her things before rushing to her class. The bell rang before she got there. She shuffled in, avoiding the glare she felt from her teacher.
"Late again, Ms. Bookheart."
Taryn simply nodded, finding an empty seat in the back.
"It's not like she has any friends to talk to, she was probably blowing a senior." Alex spoke out and the class erupted with laughter.
Except one girl in the front.
That girl was Christina.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
