Something Special

Chapter 10

Alex and Andie had got onto the daily mail! There was a photo of them leaving Ruccardis, he had his arm wrapped around her waist and his head buried in her neck as he whispered to her. The headline was "Cross's mystery girl!'. It was always unusual for a celeb to go out with someone who wasn't famous so there wasn't a lot of information about her, only that she went to school with him and her dad was a business man. She was ecstatic. "I'm famous." She would declare. Dancing around her kitchen in his shirt. "And that means I should have my own chef." Of course, Alex ended making pancakes with lemon and sugar. He burnt them but it didn't matter because Andie wasn't eating. "I can't have the press thinking I'm fat now can I!" he told her she was the furthest thing from fat but she was adamant. And stubborn.

"I think you should throw a party." she says. "At my house. I mean it's big enough." They were at his house as he didn't have any clothes. "Sure. My sister and mum would be at my house anyway so yeh. At yours." She makes an exited squeal.

"I have the perfect outfit. OMG, tomorrow after the Hockey game. It'll be fab!" she spoke quickly and disjointedly. Her excitement bubbling over the top.

"Tomorrow, really. Don't you think it's a bit unexpected?" he says, not thinking that anyone would come. "Not at all. Once they here you'll be there it'll be amazing. Everyone'll wanna come!" he sighs.

"Ok. But I get to bring Reggie." He thinks, knowing that he'd get pissed if he wasn't invited to it.

"Is he the one with dreadlocks?" she asks, scrolling on her phone. He nods. "Oh shit. My French test!" she screeches.

"When?"

She glances at her Gucci watch. "5 minutes ago..." she look at him and grimaces. "It before lunch not after!" she runs down the stairs like a bat out of hell, pulling on her coat as she goes. She kisses him on the cheek. "I'll take my car."

And then she was gone. He heaves a sigh of relief. He really liked Andie but she was very full on. And she could have conversation with a wall if she thought it might listen. It was only 11:00 so he walks back upstairs and plays play station for a bit. It wasn't as much fun playing on his own though so at 12 he wanders downstairs, looking for food. He settled on beans on toast and smiles. 'All this money and I eat beans on toast.' oh if his chef could see him now.

Tara. His mind clouds over of thoughts about her. She'd be in lunch now. Probably sitting on her own... again. He didn't know why she had friends. She was smart, beautiful and, in his eyes, perfect. But he still didn't understand why she was so scared of him. Every time he accidentally touches her, she stiffens or cringes away. The only real type of contact he'd had with her was last night. A hug.

As he grabs his coat from the cupboard he groans. He had a girlfriend. Why couldn't he get Tara out of his head?

................................................................

He was having a party. And she was invited. 'Of course,' Tara thinks 'I won't be able to go.' But a girl could dream. She'd never gone to a party before. In fact she'd never socialised before. In a way she didn't mind because she didn't know what she was missing. But sometimes she was tempted to sneak out. Then she would remember her dad and think otherwise. If he caught her she dreaded to think of what he would do to her.

"You at the back. Yes you! Would you remind repeating what Kim just said?" Tara glances up at the teacher and realises he was talking to her. Not having a clue what she'd said, Tara just shakes her head. The English teacher makes a noise in the back of his throat. "It wouldn't hurt to listen Miss. Lincoln. Even someone like you can get things wrong."

'People like me!' what does that even mean. Her face burning, she bows her head forward. That was one of the first times she'd ever been called out in school. And it sucked. Ignoring the snickers coming from the front of the class room she silently plots her revenge against the teacher. Of course she wouldn't actually do anything. But it was fun to think about.

When the bell sounds, she shoots out of the classroom, only to be stopped by the teacher. "Tara? A word please."

'I'll give you two!' she thinks silently but she just walks over to his desk and stares at her feet. "Tara. It's about your grades." The teacher says solemnly. Instantly she looks up, her face pale.

"Why? What's wrong with them? the last two papers I handed in were both A's." She says worriedly. If her grades slipped she would get kicked off her scholarship. And there was no way she would be able to pay the funds by herself. The school bills were atrociously high.

"No, no. Your grades are fine." Relief floods through her. "In fact. They're some of the best the school's ever seen. No, what we're worried about is you class input. You can't afford to keep on falling under the radar like that. Class input goes towards 15% of your end grade so your really need to be putting more in." She was puzzled.

"So, what you're saying is that I need to talk more in class?"

"No Tara. You just need to talk. This is the first conversation we've had since the beginning of last term. University's are looking for people who put their ideas forward. If in your reference it has nothing mentioning your input towards class discussion then they'll instantly be put off. Vocalise your points more Tara. It'll do you good."

When Tara exited the class she was a little confused. Mechanically she out her beret on before braving the harsh weather outside. Never, in all her life had she been called to the teachers desk. She was still feeling slightly surreal about the whole experience. And slightly sick. She was so out of it she didn't notice the person stood right in front of her. "Oh sorry." She mumbles as she walks into someone's back.

She had only taken a couple of steps though when someone was calling her name. "Tara?" Looking up she see's Alex looking down at her. "Hey." She says before continuing out of the school campus. It was Friday night so of course it was mad busy. "Wait up." He calls out, running towards her. He had on a thick jacket and a pair of expensive jeans. And he looked amazing.

When he got to her there was a second of awkward silence. "So," she says. "You alright?"

"What? Yeah, I'm good. How about you?" she nods.

"Tired, I guess. It's been a pretty hectic week. And there is still the hockey match."

"Yeh. I was just wondering if you were coming to the party tonight at Andies? I mean, everyone's invited." He says. Almost fumbling over his words. Slowly she shakes her head.

"I can't. I'm sorry. I'm working tonight."

"Oh. Right." There was an awkward pause. "Well maybe after work then. I don't know how long you work till but maybe you could come after.'' His voice sounded uncertain but he looked at her expectantly so she nods.

"Umm. I'll try." And spinning on her heel she walks off.

"Tara!" he calls out. "You don't know the address."

She mumbles something undetectable. "Come here." He says and takes her gloved hand. Pulling a pen from his pocket he smiles at her making her heart stop.

"May I?" he says, gesturing towards her hand. When she nods he pulls of her glove and writes the address in black biro. When he was done he doesn't let go of her hand.

She plucks the glove from his hand. "Goodbye Alex." She whispers before walking off. Her hand was burning and she couldn't get rid of that feeling in her stomach.

Wow, that boy made her heart race.