Something Special

Chapter 20

Tara crept into the flat silent as a mouse, her shoes in her hand. Her dad should be at work. He worked Saturdays. The tv was still on, along with most of the lights in the front room. In the kitchen, the evidence of the most recent argument was still strewn along the linoleum. The microwave was open with a microwaveable meal container next to it, it's contents most likely covering her fathers wife beater.

Upon realising that Tara was alone, she straightens up and grimaces. This was gonna take hours to clean up. And she'd run out of fairy liquid.

2 hours later.

Ring ring. Ring ring. Tara pauses, wiping her face with the patch of bare skin on her arm. Marigolds took up the rest of the skin. Ring ring. It was her phone. Glancing down at herself she groans slightly. She was on her hands and knees with a bucket of bleach and a sponge.

"Hello?" She says, her voice sounding strained. "Tara. Jesus. Where are you?"
"Oh hey Reg. I went home. I needed to grab a couple clothes. But then I realised that the place was a complete tip so I just started cleaning. Sorry, I lost track of time."
"Fucking hell. I didn't know where you were."
"Aw. Did wickle weggie get a wickle bit scared?"
"How can you joke at a time like this?" Reggie hisses down the phone. "Look Reggie. I don't deal with trauma well. I just needed to get away, ok. I'll be back soon. Tell Alex to get well soon."
"But Ta-". Tara hangs up before he could finish.

In silence, she finishes her cleaning. And then she takes the bottles of booze on the counter and empties them down the sink. Beer, whiskey, brandy, vodka, even some cooking sherry. All gone. With a slight smile, she fills a black bin bag with the empty bottles.

The small kitchen was spotless. Everything put away in its rightful place. But Tara knew that within minutes of her fathers arrival, the place would be a state of crisis. She leaves the bin bag by the front door and makes her way to her bedroom. The painted wall comfort her, peeled and faded as they were.

She showers quickly, not looking at her new marks along her back. She could feel them contacting as she reaches for we shampoo. And she's starving. The cold pizza from last night felt ages ago and she'd thrown her McDonalds up after Alex.

Alex.

Her hands pause as she rinses out her shampoo. Alex. That boy would be the death of her. She was so confused. He didn't like her. Not in that way and not as a friend either. Just a smart girl with a ready supply of biology notes. Disposable.

'And also,' Tara thinks as the hot water begins to run out. 'he has Andie.'
Andie and Alex were perfect for each other. Both happy, rich, beautiful people. Perfect. They were great together. So Alex didn't need another girl in his life. Andie and his mother were a formidable pair.

But now, apart from him and with his life hanging in the balance, all she could think of was the little things he did. The way his eyes crinkle when he laughs. And how half his mouth smiled before the rest of his mouth did. And how- 'Stop this Tara. It's getting out of hand.'

With a sigh, she returns to her bedroom and pulls a pair of blue jeans on and a long sleeved white top on. She'd just finished lacing her Doc Martins when her phone rang again. Expecting it to be Reggie, she was already forming her argument. "Listen Reg, I'll be-"
"It's me." Alex's voice was quiet and soft "Oh, hey Alex. How are you?" "Concussed and bleary. Can we talk?"
"We are taking?"
"Don't be feceasious. Please. Come to the hospital. Just a quick chat face to face." Tara pauses. Time drags.
"Come on. Even black and blue I'm still gorgeous. Come see me. Please."

Tara barked a laugh. "Fine. Which hospital?"
"St Andrews. It's the private one by the statue of some old guy."
"Kay. I'll be there soon."
"Tara." His voice held longing. "I'm sorry. Really sorry."
Tara hangs up.
................................................................

"Alex! Oh my baby!" Andie's voice was like a bucket of ice water. "Hey babe." She rushes at him, her hand covering her mouth. "I was so worried. You have no idea." She tries to hug him but he bates her away. "Broken collar bone. Sorry babe." her eyes flicker for a moment. "How did you wrap your car around a tree?"
"Well I wondering how fast I'd have to go to land in the ditch-'' he breaks off seeing his girlfriends aghast face. "I was drunk." He admits quietly.
"But security! Your driver."
"I was alone."
"Oh. Alex, your face is all broken." He heaves a sigh and winces.

"Andie. I could of died. I could not be sitting her right now and your worried about my face. Don't be so shallow."
"I'm not shallow Alex. It's just, you've got that movie coming up and-" Alex stops listening, the colour draining out of his face, his mouth drying. He'd forgotten about the movie.

"Earth to Alex. Anyway, I told Buster that obviously you weren't going to be in school and to wind his neck in. But apparently, Becky St. Louis was screwing Buster at this point and- Alex, are you even listening to me?"
"Yea. Sure. Buster and Becky are screwing. What's new? She's banged most of the rugby team."

Andie rolls her eyes and links hands with Alex. "I wish you were more carful Alex. I lo-like you a lot and can't stand seeing you hurt.". Woah, did Andie Walker nearly tell a guy she loved him. The Andie Walker. Wow. "Sweetheart. You know I'd never do anything intentional. I'm sorry if I scared you. I just drunk too much." Andie sits on the end of his bed and smiled luxuriously. "Ok Alex. Please, just think." And the. They were kissing and thinking seemed almost impossible.

Then Tara walked in.

"Alex, I- oh. Sorry I should've knock." Alex and Andie spring apart. "Um sorry, I'll go. Um. Sorry, again." She backed out of the room. Andie rolled her eyes. "Is she that girl from the restaurant? I though her at that Reggie guy were together."
"Kind of. I promised her we'd do biology work together."
"Alex. You can barely move, never mind work."
"Look Andie." Seeing the look on Alex's face Andie put up her hands. "Are you kicking me out so you can do biology work! That is suck a dick move Alex."

And with that, Andie storms out of his private room. "Urghhhh." Alex groans, his head pounding. "Claire. Claire! CLA-"
"Yes Mr Cross."
"Did you see the girl that just ran out? Brown hair, slim, probably had Doc Martins on, nose pierced."
"Yes Mr Cross. But your mother said no-"
"Please Claire." The young nurse looks slightly flustered but nods. "Ok. I think she went to the bathroom. I'll go see if I can find her." And she leaves too.

Alex presses the button for more pain relief. He was going to need a lot of morphine for this conversation.