Everything is the same as before…please continue.


Part Three

Sleep eluded her again that night. She worried about Tara for reasons that she didn't know why. Giving up, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Treading slowly downstairs, Blair saw the familiar light on. A smile crossed her face as she hoped that it was Tara. I really do want to see her. Blair thought.

She pushed open the door, looking for Tara. Not seeing her at the tables, Blair figured that she was at the couch. The sound of crying, actually sobbing, caught her attention. Hurrying her steps, Blair found Tara sitting on the couch sobbing.

"Tara, what's wrong?"

The girl looked up at Blair, showing her red eyes. "My Dad died yesterday." She managed to get out the words, slowing down her crying.

Blair came to sit next to Tara. She didn't know what to do so she wrapped her arm around Tara's shoulder. Tara turned into the embrace, holding onto Blair. "He had a heart attack. All he wanted was to tell me that he was sorry for how he treated me. And I wasn't there." She pulled back. "I'm sorry I shouldn't be bothering you with this."

"No, its okay." Blair held onto Tara's hand. She reached for a tissue and handed it to the girl. "I'm here for you. You can talk about it."

"You barely know me." Tara wiped her eyes.

"But I feel connected to you." Blair didn't know where the words were coming from. "You need someone to talk to and I'm willing to listen."

"Thanks. It's just that my father and I were never close. We were always at words and never really got along. I left home several times. Now he's gone, and I didn't even get to tell him that I was sorry and that I loved him."

"He knew that you loved him." Blair rubbed her back. "And he loved you. What are you going to do?"

"I've got to leave in the morning to fly back home for his funeral. So I'll be gone for a couple of days."

Blair already felt that she was missing Tara. She didn't want the girl to leave but she knew that this was much more important that trying to start a relationship or a friendship, however this turned out.

Tara looked up at Blair, their eyes connected. Time just slowed between them as they looked at each other. Blair let her hand glide up until she was cupping Tara's face. She didn't know what she was doing; she was just going by instinct. Her face came closer to Tara's and soon she could feel Tara's breath on her lips. She wanted to know what it felt like to taste those lips.

But Tara pulled away. I shouldn't have done that. She's going to hate me now. Blair thought as she pulled back also. "I can't. Not here, not like this." Tara whispered.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. Please don't hate me."

"No, that's not it. I just don't want our first kiss to be out of pity." Tara took Blair's hands into hers again. "I want it to be while I'm in a good mood, not sitting here crying over my father."

"So you're not mad?"

Tara laughed while wiping her eyes. "No, I've wanted to kiss you since the first day that I saw you. This is definitely something that I've wanted." Tara sighed. "I should go and finish my packing and get ready to leave in the morning. Thanks for listening to me." Tara hugged the girl. She stood up and started heading towards the dorms.

"When will you be back?" Blair asked.

"On Wednesday. The funeral services are on Tuesday. I'll make it up there in time to get a few hours sleep and the go to the funeral and then I'm on a plane and heading home. So, early Wednesday morning." Tara reached down and grabbed a piece of paper. She scribbled down a number and handed it to Blair. "You can call me at this number if you need to."

She took the paper. "I'll be counting down the hours." Blair smiled at the girl.


TBC
--JadeUnicorn