Taryn sat on her bed in only a towel and leaned back lying on her bed. She closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.
At school the following day it seemed that Taylor was upset about something. Probably her nail broke, Taryn assumed, but as she drew closer to her (on her way to the cafeteria) she got pieces of their conversation.
"...I paid him and he said he'd get the job done! He said she wouldn't be back!"
"Calm down... he'll hurt her bad enough that she won't want to be alive anymore."
"That bastard lied to me!" Taylor sounded pissed. "I mean, he didn't kill her when he hit her damn car! That effing truck should have crushed her!"
Taryn didn't say a thing as she went by Taylor and her group of friends invisibly. Nick was the one who hit her car. He tried to kill her, and now according to new information he was going to kill her... or try to break her. Taryn was livid, yet no matter what she did, a small voice was nagging in the back of her mind telling her that she should just leave it alone. He could really hurt her. Did she listen to said voice? Oh, no.
During all school day Taryn was distant. She didn't speak; there was no loud music, no threats. Make-up she used covered her ugly bruises, so nothing seemed different. Except the silence... and the fact that Gaara was constantly with Taryn. It was like he was protecting her. A buzz, like always, went through the school. Rumors went around that Taryn was a drug-dealer and the reason she was quiet was that she was in trouble with her "gang" and she had to keep quiet or she'd die.
Another reason, hit closer to home, saying that she was abused by some foster care parent. That one was shot down immediately when people confirmed that she lived with Gaara, and his family. Gaara seemed so protective of her no one would dare even think that she was abused. It made Taryn laugh, almost. She thought they were so close, yet so naïve. So ignorant.
"So, Taryn," Taylor began approaching the Punk.
"What?" Taryn raised her eyebrow at the Slut.
"I heard you had some Family problems." She sneered.
"No, of course I don't. Why would you even make that suggestion?" Taryn was toying with her, and Taylor was playing back.
"Oh, no reason... hey, do you want some water?" Taylor asked looking at the drinking fountain.
"No, I'm goo—"
Taryn growled when Taylor grabbed a handful of water and tossed it on Taryn. The make-up she was wearing wasn't water-proof and it faded away slowly revealing dark ugly bruises on her face. Taylor stared at Taryn first in mockery, but when she really looked at her she widened her eyes in horror. Taryn took a deep breath and straightened her spine, squaring her shoulders.
"Are you happy now?" Taryn asked gesturing towards the crowded hallway with her right hand. Everyone, almost, was gaping at Taryn's bruised face. "Look at the scene you caused. Looks like you got what you wanted. You wanted to show people what I was like. Do you know what it's like living like me?" she asked hotly stepping towards the Slut.
"N-no..." Taylor stuttered, still not believing all of the bruises were real.
"Are you blind? Or deaf? Do you not watch news? Homeless, jobless... abused?" Taryn smirked circling Taylor looking at everyone. "Life isn't pretty." She scoffed, then shrugged and laughed. It was a cruel, evil, dark laugh. Naruto and Gaara broke through the circle and grabbed Taryn's shoulder. She stopped laughing immediately and glared at Taylor. "You're sick." She spat walking off.