Something Special

Chapter 17

Alex didn't mean to peek in whilst Tara was getting dressed. He just wanted to make sure she had found the room fine. And to tell her she was taking ages. He pushes the door open, words already forming on his mouth. "Oi, Tara..." he trails off, his breath stopping in his throat. She was facing away from the door, pulling on her tight black trousers. Her back was black and blue, a scar running just underneath her bra strap, the same length as a pencil. On her shoulder was a burn scar in the shape of a star. She yelps and pulls her trousers up, quick as a whip. She picks her top and covers her chest with in. Spinning round her eyes were wide with panic. "Alex." She hisses, colour racing to fill her cheeks. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I'm sorry. I just- well. Sorry. I just wanted to ask you- when you were ready. Sorry." He tears his eyes away from her bare, bruised body and turns to leave. "It's fine. I'm done." He looks back and Tara had her black blouse on. She keeps her eyes to the floor, her blush bright scarlett.
"What's that bruise from?" he asks quietly. "Oh. It's nothing. I fell down the stair at my flat yesterday."
"And your other scars. Are they other accident too?" he asks skeptically. She bites her bottom lip in a way that makes Alex's heat bleed. "I'm clumsy. I've already shown that. See," she shows him the long pink scar running across her palm. "I'm just a bit rubbish."

Alex didn't know what to think. How could this all be accidents? No one was that clumsy, no matter what they say. But- he rubs his forehead. Would she lie to him? "Tara-" He begins but at that moment his mother walks in. "Alex, Zara. I've been looking all over this house for you."
"Tara. My names Tara." Linda's eyes narrow but she carries on as if she'd said nothing. "Alex dear. Is your friend staying for dinner."
"Um." Alex rubs the back of neck. "I don't know. Tara?"
"No thank you Ms Cross. I'm staying at friends tonight after work. Thanks for asking." Tara's voice was light but it held an undertone of warning directed at Alex. "Ok. Alex, we're having duck. I trust she'll be gone by the time we eat." Alex inhales sharply. "Mother. Don't talk about Tara like she's not here."
"Sorry Alex. I just don't see the point in her being here." She rolls her eyes.
"Honestly, the tramps you bring home."

There was a second of stunned silence, Tara's gold eyes wide. Then she swallows deeply and gives the older women a tight smile. "Nice to know you think so highly of me." And then she storms out of the room, her shoulder bashing into Alex's. Linda rolls her eyes. "Really darling. I wish you would at least have standards." He takes a step back, as if to steady himself. "You are so out of line."
"Don't be such a drama queen. All that teenage angst is building up love."
"Mum. You have no idea what you are talking about."
"Yes, I'm talking about your career being more important then some slut from school."
"Tara." He starts but stops. "I don't even know why I'm wasting my breath on you. You're obviously so oblivious to how I am feeling that you ruin one of the best relationships I have."
"How about the relationship with your mother that you're ruining? Did you think about that?"
"What relationship! I sit here and take shit from you and then you expect me to love you back. That's not a relationship mum. That's an unconventional thing that isn't working." He ran out of words so just stormed out of the room.

"Tara." He calls out, his eyes scanning his bedroom. "Tara!" Her stuff was gone and she'd left no note. He races downstairs just in time to see the front door slam. Cursing he races out, leaving the door open. "Tara! Slow down." He runs to catch up with her. "Come on Tara. Talk to me." He catches her arm and she yanks it back with such aggression that Alex took a step back.
"Fuck off." She growls lowly.
"Tara. Just calm down a minute."
"Calm down. Calm down!" She shrieks, her voice shrill. "Don't fucking tell me to fucking calm down Alex fucking Cross!"
"Well," he says with a small smile. "Your language sure is colourful."
"Don't fucking mess with me Alex. I am not in the mood." He nods.
"Ok Tara. Don't calm down. I don't care. Just tell me what to do." His voice was strained.

"Leave me alone. I'll ask Mr Frewick to switch my lab partner. Then we can just forget this fiasco ever happened." Alex's heart hurt. "No Tara. We need to fix this. Now."
"I have work."
"Then after work. Come round mine."
"No. I'm not spending another minute with you in your bloody house ok, Alex."
"What? Where will you go?"
"Reggie's. I just asked."
"Please Tara. Just talk to me."
"No Alex. I'm so done with talking." She spins on her heel and stalks off, leaving Alex stood on the pavement outside his house, alone.

"Mum!" He yells, running back into the house and grabbing his keys. "I'm going out!" He races into the garage and hops into his Audi, it's powerful engine roaring. He drives out of the gates and onto the London roads. His eyes scan the pavements as he got onto the busier parts of the roads. Soon, people were taking pictures of him with his cars window rolled down, his head stuck out the window. Soon, girls were screaming his name and people were throwing bottles at his car. He rolls his window up haistily and groans. He tries calling her but her phones goes straight to voicemail.

He slams his hands down on his steering wheel angrily and lets out a flow of words that would of made Tara's language earlier seem preschool. Suddenly an idea strike him. He gets onto a different road and heads for Oxford Street. She had said she was going to work hadn't she.

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