Something Special

Chapter 4

After a while Tara's crying stopped and was replaced by a hiccuping, nervous wreck. Resting her burning head on the cool lid of the toilet she lets out an in audible sigh. She hadn't had an attack this bad since the time her dad mau- 'Stop that!' she tells herself. When she was in school she tried to be a different person. Forget about her dad and her mum and her shitty life. If all she did was wallow in self pity then she wouldn't get anywhere in life.

Sighing she flushes the toilet and makes her way to the sink. She looked crappy, her hair was stuck to her face, her eyes red and puffy and her black eye showing. After splashing cool water on her face to pulls out her concealer and applied a flesh coloured tone. It take longer then it would of as the skin around her eye was so tender. Suddenly she was glad that she had a fringe to hide behind. To her it formed a protective barrier between her and the rest of the world. She could always count on her hair to hide behind.

After brushing black mascara along her lashes she makes her way to her locker to deposit her books and grab her sports bag she had put in there this morning. PE was easily her least favourite lesson as it meant showing an extortionate amount of skin. Last year school council had decided to change the spotters jut so it showed even more skin then should be acceptable. Tara wasn't fat. In fact she was far from it, but her bruises were more visible on her body and she hated putting foundation on her legs. It made her sticky.

Walking to the changing rooms she groans. This day wasn't going the way it was supposed to. First she had to battle with hoards of girls, all vying for Alex's attention and then she had to sit next the big headed jerk as well. One of the reasons she hated him was because of what he did to girls. He would have one night stands with them after getting them so drunk they could barely stand up. Then the next day he'd walk in, all high and mighty with the poor girl believing she'd found true love. Sick.

When she got to the changing room she scrunched up her nose. The smell of cheap perfume and sweat was gross and made her want to vom... again. On the white board the words 'Cross Country' were written on the board in block letters. She smiles slightly. One of the reasons she liked cross country was because it wasn't a team event and she could wear long clothes and get away with it. She pulls on a black pair of running leggings and a sports bra before tugging a hoodie over the top of it. She was lacing up her nikes when the rest of the girls walked in.

"Are you kidding me?!" Says Andie, putting her hands on her hips and pouting. "It's netball season not cross country! What are the teachers thinking!? Bastards!" Tara flinches at Andies harsh words but doesn't say anything. That girl was a spoilt bitch. Her dad was the owner of 'Reds Oil Inc' and her mother was the manager of Harrods. They were minted and Andie like to tell everyone on a regular basis. "So did you hear. Millie Macintosh has invited me to her yacht party of Saturday. I mean I told her that I couldn't possibly but well she insisted. She is such a doll!"

Tara just rolls her eyes. She didn't have time for that bitch. Not today. After successfully dodging the onslaught on neon thongs and other types of racy lingerie she makes it to the mirror. Tying her hair up into a ponytail and wearing a fluffy headband that covered her ears as well she was ready. All of this new kit was a present from her grandmother who had given Tara £200 on the sly for Christmas. "Don't tell your father dear." She says, petting her on the head. "He'll just get angry."

Outside she see's that they were also running with the boys. Including Alex. Subconsciously she tries to hide behind her fringe but stops when she realised that she'd clipped it up. So instead she plays with the hoop in her nose. When her dad had seen it, he demanded she take it out before getting so trollied he fell out of bed. So she kept it in. She loved it. It was a sign that she was rebelling against her father. Even in the smallest way.

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Alex had so nearly skipped PE when he saw that it was cross country but his mates had convinced him that it would be good. They never ran the course with the teachers and one of them had brought a hip flask of whiskey. "A special kind of energy drink." he said with a wink before sliding it into his pocket. He had on some rugby shorts and a polo but had covered it with a hoodie because the wind was bitter. His expensive trainers laced up he headed out to where everyone else was gathering.

"What are we waiting for?" he asks on of the girls next to him.

"The teacher to give us the all clear." she says with a smile. He smiled back and the girls practically melted into a puddle. "Alright ya little shits. Are we all here?" Bagshit yelled, obviously in a pissy mood. Like usual. "Good. Once round the golf course then back here. You have an hour. Run!" and with that the crowd of kids starts to move. Alex keeps to the middle of the pack, wanting to stay as close as possible to the whiskey flask.

After about half a mile the crowns started to thin out and in Alex's little ground there were only 6 people. A bit in front of them was a lone girl runner but she had in headphones and was going faster then the boys, so they just let her get on with it. Another half a mile later and they reached the woody part of the course. "Here." says the boy with the flask and they flop onto the floor, they're chests heaving and faces shining with the effort of running a mile. Alex however was completely unfazed and reaches for the whiskey.

Taking 2 massive gulps he smiles. The booze was cheap crap and burnt his throat but if did the trick. He felt warm and fuzzy inside. "I'm gonna keep running." He says. The guys just nod, all reaching out for the flask. With a grin he throws it at them, before running off.

But he had barely gone 1/4 of a mile when he saw her. Tara. She was leaning against a tree with a small smile on her face, humming to her music. When she got to her favourite part she begins to sing to herself

"Let's watch this city burn.

From the skylights on top if the world

'Till there's nothing lest to burn

Let's watch this city burn away." Alex takes a step forward and Tara's eyes snap open. "What the hell are you doing?" she asks. Anger in her eyes for only a second before it was replaced with something even more intense. Fear. "Hey." he says putting his hands up "I was just running but then I heard you singing and thought I'd listen for a bit. And I'm not gonna lie some of it was very off key." She blushes furiously before she can help it.

She jams her headphones into her ears and starts running again. Alex catches up and starts running in sync with her, not saying anything. she frowns but doesn't say anything. When they get to the top of the hill, he stops to catch his breath but she just runs past him. Hoping to lose him but if doesn't work. With a sigh he starts running again and this time she does stop. "Can I help you?" she asks. Her eyes not meeting his.

"Um. No I don't think so. Why?"

"Because I am perfectly capable of running without you!"

"Oh I know that. I was just enjoying the view." That made her blush. Furiously.

"Don't tease." She says quietly." It's not nice." and without another word she starts running. He shakes his head before reaching out and grabbing her wrist. The material rises up and shows her wrist. The deep purple bruised skin jumps out at him and he drops her hand.

Quickly she covers her wrist with her sleeve. "What!" she snaps when he doesn't say anything.

"They looked like hand prints." he says mutely, gesturing towards her arm.

"Well they weren't ok! Just drop it." she runs away and this time he lets her. Why did she have handprint bruises? Why was she do cranky? And what wa so wrong with him?

Alex had only her for a day but he already felt like he needed to help her.