Chapter 2: SETTLING IN
One week later
"Tara! Where are you? We have to leave right now if you want to make it to the academy today!"
"I'm coming dad!" I yelled. I leaned down and gently picked Joey up. "Be good for Mom and Dad, okay? Make sure you drink your milk so you grow big and strong! That's my big guy! I'm going to miss you so much!" I kissed him on the forehead and set him upon the grass carefully. "I love you Joey!" I yelled running toward the yellow truck where my dad was waiting.
"Are you sure you have everything?" Mom asked anxiously standing beside the truck.
"Yes, I'm sure. I love you mom!" I said giving her a quick hug. I then climbed into the car.
"Ready?" Dad asked from the driver's side.
"All set," I said. My dad started the car and soon we were headed for the gate to leave.
"If you need anything call me! Don't forget your manners! Work hard, but have fun! I love you!" Mom shouted waving to me from the drive way as we passed through the gate. I waved back until my mom was nothing more than a small speck on the horizon. My dad turned to me and smiled. I smiled back at him and turned up the radio. We sang together the entire car ride there.
My dad unloaded my things from the trunk while he went on about how he was so proud of me and how happy he was for me. I hugged my dad goodbye and watched as he drove away blubbering like a baby. I walked up the sidewalk and into the third year dorm house. I then headed the room I had shared with Grace the previous year. The common room was packed with people trying to figure out where their rooms were and I spotted a few freaked out first years that were in the wrong dorm house. I shoved my way to the stairs and made my way up to my room, but before I opened the door an indifferent Abigail strutted down the hallway.
"Tara what are you doing?"
"I'm going into my room to unpack. Then I'm going too.."
"I didn't ask for your life story," Abigail said cutting me off, " Grace isn't sharing a room with anyone now that she has the International Scholarship thing. You won't be bunking with her anymore."
"Well then where am I going to stay?" I asked bewildered.
"I don't know, and frankly I don't care. I'm not a fairy god mother Tara." Abigail said hotly as she started to walk away.
"Abigail!" I yelled flustered.
"Fine," she said defeated, "I guess you can bunk in my room. Kat has to stay in the second year's house next door, so I have an extra bed. Here's the key. Now go bore someone else with your problems," she walked downstairs, but I could still hear yelling at poor, defenseless first years. "I said evaporate! If I see any of you in this house again I'll…."
I lugged my things down another hallway until I reached the room I would be sharing with Abigail. I unlocked the door and claimed the unoccupied bed that was once mine. I then continued to unpack until the room suddenly went dark as someone covered my eyes.
"Who is it?" The mystery person yelled in a fake male, British accent.
"Please, please, please be Prince Harry!" I begged.
"No poppet! It's me!"
"Kat!" "T!" I whipped around and hugged Kat fiercely.
"Whoa tiger, I need those ribs!" I instantly let go worried I had crushed her, but Kat just smiled rubbing her sides, "Someone ate their wheaties this morning!" We laughed and sat down on the bed so we could catch up on the last week of summer we spent alone.
"I've been here at the academy for the last week and it was so boring with out you! On the bright side, I met a guy." Kat said slyly knowing she had me hooked.
"Really?" I asked excited, "Who? Is he gorgeous? Are you in love? You are! C'mon dish!"
"Honestly, I don't really know who he is," she said sheepishly.
"What? How do you not know?" I asked puzzled.
" I first met him in the studio, but he was wearing a mask and costume. We met up everyday after that to dance, but he never took off the mask. It was almost like he didn't want me to know who he was. What I do know is that he's kind, gentle, and funny and he really, really likes me. I think I've fallen head over heels!" Kat exclaimed.
"That's fantastic! I'm so happy for you Kat! I want to meet him though, once you find out who he is of course."
"So how's your love life?" Kat asked interested.
I blanched. "I don't know anything. I have to talk to both of them, but I'm afraid I'll choose unwisely. I also don't want to hurt your feelings if it ends up as…"
"T! Don't even worry about it. I am seriously over him. I've got this new tall glass of water now. Besides, honestly, I think crushed on him in the beginning, but I really went out with him because I was jealous. I'm really sorry T; we didn't mean to hurt you. I wanted Christian because I wanted what you had together, and I took advantage of Christian because he was in a bad place. I promise you he loved the entire time, but he really didn't want to get involved in his messed up family life. He was just frustrated and ashamed. He loves you so much Tara, and you should know that. He would do anything for you, even patch it up with his neglectful father for you." Kat said earnestly.
I hugged her, "Thanks Kat. You do know I want you to be happy too right?"
"I would never doubt it T. You're special Tara. I wouldn't blame anyone for falling for you. I'm totally girl crushing on you!" she said jokingly. I pushed her playfully.
"Kat?"
"Yeah?"
"I hope you know that you're the best, and that you could have anyone you wanted. I think you forget how lovable you are. Ben was smitten with you as well as Miles, Petra, and I think a lot of other guys like you. Honestly, I think you intimidate them with your awesomeness, but you also push them away so you don't get hurt."
"You're right Tara, I need to work on that. I hope I don't screw things up with this one."
"You won't, you never mess anything up. Everything eventually turns out perfect, all because of you." She smiled and we talked a bit longer before we decided to hit the hay.
We got ready for bed and I opened up the window to let in a breeze. Abigail came in and slipped into bed as I turned off the light and closed the door. Kat and I crawled under the covers and slept curled up in my bed. Right before we fell asleep, we both said goodnight to Sammy and promised to visit his spot soon. In response, a warm, comforting breeze swept through the room and a heart shaped leaf settled between the two of us. Before unconsciousness encased me, I thought I heard the tinkling of Sammy's laughter dancing away in the night.
