A.N: Hey, I don't know where this idea came from, but it's been stuck in my head so I figured, what the heck, might as well write a short story. It's about Ian and an OC, like what would have happened if he met someone in college a couple of years after the Vesper incident. This is sort of from an author point of view, so that's how it's going to be. So please, enjoy! It's only going to be a couple of chapters.
Chapter 1: College
It started in New York, the 2nd year of their college experience.
Ever since Ian Kabra had taken over his parent's art business, he had been trying to get a Major in Art. He was in his 2nd year of college, and never had much time for anything besides studying. He lived in a dorm on the college grounds alone, his mother and sister dead, his dad gone. He had a mansion in London, but he never stayed there.
As a Lucian/Madrigal in the world of the Vespers, the cruel people who were the downfall of his family, and the 39 Clues, he tried to stay on top as the branch leader. It was a lonely existence. Ian didn't mind much.
Or so he told himself.
Tara Merril (A.N: This is the name Orange, my co-author, made up for me, so I decided to use it! This character's personality is based loosely on me so...) was trying to Major in Writing. She loved books, and English was her favourite subject. Music was a big part of her life. Tara didn't mind being heard, and tended to speak her mind. She lived in a small apartment across from the coffee shop she worked at. It was small pay, but she loved her job. Tara had many friends, but she always wondered about the handsome boy in the back of her class. She never made any attempt to speak to him however, because as soon as the class ended, he always disappeared.
As a Janus in the world of the 39 Clues, she was one of the top agents, using her charm and talent to get what she wanted.
Their first encounter was in the university library. They were both studying the same topic: Inspiration.
Tara had a basic idea. She was a Janus after all. She didn't want to just finish the paper and turn it in right away though, so she decided to look at where other people got their inspiration.
She grabbed a book off the shelve, loving the smell of old paper all around her.
Walking toward a table, she saw the handsome boy from her class sitting alone in the back of the room like he always was.
Tara abandoned her table and made her way towards the boy, asking out of courtesy, "Is it ok if I sit here?"
The boy looks up and Tara's breath is instantly taken away.
Beautiful honey eyes surrounded by cocoa skin, framed by dark, raven hair that fell across his face. A scowl lit his features, but Tara still thought he was one of the most gorgeous things she'd ever seen. Her own looks, wavy brown hair, gray eyes and small, square glasses, felt shameful compared even to his skin.
"Why would you want to sit with me?" Oh gosh, he was British. Tara had a weakness for anything European.
She managed to say, "Well, you're always alone. So I thought you might want some company."
If even possible, the boy's scowl managed to deepen. "No, I don't. Now go away." He puts his head back down into his book, shutting her out.
Tara was completely taken aback by his sour attitude. Her temper flared slightly. Who did this guy think he was? "Wow, who put jerk flakes in your breakfast this morning?"
Eyes blazing, the boy looks up hissing, "What did you say to me?"
Tara recoils, but she finds some strength in his anger. "Lord of all Lucians, what's your problem? All I wanted to do was sit here with you and study for English! I figured that you'd actually want some company, considering you're always such a loner! Great Gideon above, I guess I was wrong."
By now, the boy is frozen with what seems like shock. In a deadly quiet voice he asks her, "Did you say Lucians? And Gideon?" His eyes narrow. "You are a Cahill."
Tara's eyes are as wide as they can be as the boy gets up and walks away. "Wait! I never got your name!"
The boy turns slowly. "Maybe it's because I never gave it." And then he was gone.
In her apartment later that night, Tara searches every data base on the Cahill website available to her. Finally, after hours of searching, and some hacking, Tara finds it.
His name is Ian Kabra, son of Isabel Kabra, and now currently head of the Lucians.
Ian's behavior suddenly makes sense to Tara. She thinks about him for awhile longer, then goes to bed, determined to learn more about him.
The next day:
She finds him again in the library. This time, she wastes no courtesies on him and sits down. Without looking up from his textbook, he asks her, "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go away yesterday?"
Now that Tara knows who he is, his looks don't have much of an effect on her as they did. "Yes. And I chose not to listen to you."
Ian looks up and studies her for a minute. "Why are you so interested in me?"
She shrugs. "By isolating yourself, you kind of ask for the attention. And now that I know who you are, Mr. Ian Kabra, I want to know more about you."
The ghost of a smirk crosses Ian's face. He leans back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head. "Well, you are smarter than you look. What branch are you? Tomas?"
Tara laughs. "Ha! As if. I'm a Janus."
Ian gives a bark of laughter. "A Janus, eh? Hmm. Maybe you can help me then. We have a project for English, as I'm sure you're aware, and I need help. Normally, I would never ask. But being the Lucian I am, inspiration is not really something I excel at."
Rolling her eyes, Tara agrees to help him.
So begins the friendship.
At first, Ian isn't very open. They only study for their project together for a couple of hours, and if Tara tries to bring anything up besides inspiration, she is shut out.
After a few weeks, the project is due, and the things Tara knows about Ian are things she has looked up.
She sits next to him in the classes they have together, and occasionally, he speaks to her.
Later, in History, they are assigned to do a paper together.
Tired of the library scene, Tara asks if he can come to her apartment to study. He recently agrees, and they exchange numbers so she can send him the address.
When he sees her apartment, his face is one of pure horror. He asks Tara, "How do you live in this...thing?" Tara is laughing so hard at his expression, she can't even answer.
Soon, they aren't meeting because of projects. On her day off, she asks Ian to meet her at the coffee shop across from her apartment.
As they drink their coffee and talk about school, other women in the coffee shop giggle whenever they look at Ian. Tara feels a pang of something she can't identify, and abruptly stands up, asking if they can leave.
Ian follows her gaze, sees the women, and laughs harder than she's ever seen him laugh.
Eyes twinkling, he asks her, "Are you jealous?"
Tara just lays a tip on the table and walks out, Ian trailing behind, still chuckling.
Months later, on a normal day for Tara, Ian doesn't show up to any of his classes. In the halls, Tara tries to call him, but it goes to voicemail every time.
When school ends, she makes her way straight to his dorm. She's only been there a couple of times before.
A double dorm, it's very elegant, with beautiful furniture and rich-coloured rugs.
Walking up to the door, Tara prepares to knock. She's stopped in her tracks by the sound of crying.
"Ian? Is that you?"
The crying goes silent. The door opens, revealing Ian. When he speaks, his voice is raw and full of venom. "Go away."
Tara stays still, not daring to move. She has never seen Ian like this. His eyes are the colour of obsidian, his hair disheveled, falling across his face.
Her heart nearly breaks at the sight.
"Ian... Who did this to you?"
Ian's resolve seems to crumble, and he breaks down.
Tara pushes her way inside, and holds him as he cries. She knew that whatever happened, it was beyond the worse thing that could happen to anyone. Ian was one of the strongest people she had ever met, and seeing him like this made Tara full of fury and sadness.
Ian seems to realize what he's doing and pushes her away. He sits on his couch, sniffing as his tears dry.
"It's the anniversary of my mother and sister's death."
The sentence is so unexpected, Tara is struck dumb.
She sits next to him on the couch, not sure what to say.
Finally, she says, "I don't know what to say to make you feel better. I don't think there's anything I CAN say. But I want you to know Ian. I'm here for you."
Giving him a kiss on the cheek, Tara leaves him alone to his thoughts.
Ian sits on the couch long after she leaves, a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach.
After that day, he looks at Tara in a different light.
Shortly after that, Tara moves into Ian's dorm, selling her apartment.
At first, neither is used to waking up in the morning and seeing one another with wild hair, or eating breakfast with anything besides air. Then, gradually, they get accustomed to sharing company with each other.
Ian's existence is less lonely now that he has Tara, though he would never admit it out loud. He finds that he enjoys having her around. Her dry humor, love for anything artistic, and her eyes, intrigue him.
He doesn't even understand how someone like her could even stand to be around someone like him. She puts up with everything he does, good or bad, and he respects her, maybe even admires her, for it.
The 3rd year of college:
In their third year of college, Tara gets a very unexpected letter from an art school in Upper Manhattan, offering her a job.
She packs up in a rush, grabbing everything she can fit, making sure to call a cab.
At the door, she turns, a beaming smile on her face. It starts to slide off when she sees Ian standing there in the dorm.
Ian rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "Er... How long will you be gone again?"
Tears fill her eyes as she runs at him, throwing her arms around his neck. "I'm going to miss you Ian."
He breathes in her familiar scent of vanilla and mint, never wanting her to leave.
Tara pulls away too soon for his liking, and gives him a watery smile. "Try not to get into trouble, okay?"
Ian gives her a grin, but inside, he doesn't feel like smiling. "No promises."
She gives him one last hug, and then the cab pulls up.
On that day, Tara Merril walked out of Ian Kabra's life.
A.N: Wow, that was really long. For me anyway. It didn't exactly come out like I thought it would. Oh well. I didn't have Orange look at this one, so if there are any problems, let me know. Did you like Tara? Like I said before, her personality is based loosely off of me, so if you didn't like her...Well, that's an eye-opener for me! Haha, just kidding.
I'm probably going to do another chapter or two on this one. It's just a little short story I thought of, and I didn't expect it to be this long. If you read my other story, A New Beginning, don't forget to review on that one.
Remember: Read, Review, Follow and Favourite.
Tara (I use this as an alias... Hehe..)