The same…go on now, stop reading this and read the damn story.


Part Four

Wednesday came finally for Blair. She was waiting around hoping to see Tara. All morning she had been watching every person that came through the door waiting to find Tara. But she never came. Blair was starting to worry about what had happened to Tara.

She snuck around after dinner to call the number that Tara had given her. The line rang four times before somebody answered it. "Is Tara there?" Blair said into the phone.

"She's in the hospital. And she's going to be leaving for Peekskill tomorrow. I'm sorry."

"Thanks." Blair set the phone back done on the receiver in slight fear. What had happened to Tara? Why was she in the hospital?

It was bound to be another sleepless night for her. She worried all through the night. After finally getting some sleep, Blair woke up a little late for school. Not that she cared too much; her mind was still with Tara.

"You finally decided to grace us with your presence?" Jo questioned from her breakfast plate.

"Are you okay Blair? You haven't been acting like yourself lately." Natalie commented.

"I'm fine." Was her small statement back as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Touchy." Tootie added when the girl was gone.

"Good morning Blair." Mrs. Garrett said in her usually happy tone.

"What's so good about it?" Blair grumbled to herself, not meaning for Mrs. Garrett to hear her.

"Is something wrong? The girls are worried about you." She stopped what she was doing to ask the young blonde.

"No nothing is wrong, I'm just worried about a friend." Blair leaned on the table, munching on an apple. Mrs. Garrett gave her a look that said 'are you going to tell me about it?' "She was suppose to be back yesterday but she wasn't and I'm a little worried about her."

"Are you talking about Tara?" Blair nodded. "You two seem to be getting along lately." Her words were leading up to something. "I've noticed that you've got a spring in your step since you met her."

"What are you getting at Mrs. Garrett?"

"Just making an observation at how close you two girls are becoming. I think it's nice that you've made another friend."

"Mrs. G? I need an ice pack." Jo came in to interrupt them.

"What for Jo?" She handed a ready-made pack, that she always had for 'just in case' times, to Jo.

"Tara's knee is hurting her." She took the pack and left.

Blair's head turned up when she heard 'Tara.' She came following Jo out into the dining room. Tara was sitting in a chair with her left leg stretched out. Her left knee was bandaged up. Crutches sat leaning up against the table beside of her. She looked like she was in pain as Jo carefully sat the ice pack down.

"Tara, what happened?" Blair rushed to her side. She pulled up a chair beside Tara.

"Disgruntled stepmother." Her voice held pain as her eyes clenched shut. "She wasn't too happy about me showing up for the funeral."

"You should have knocked her on her butt." Jo said. The way she was acting, she must have met Tara before Blair did.

"Oh believe me, I did. That's the reason why I got sent to Eastland in the first place, she wanted to get rid of me. That, and every time we ever got in the same room together, we were fighting like we were in a boxing match."

"She has no right to treat you like she does though Tar." Jo said.

"That's true. But now I don't have to worry about her any more. Since my father is dead, I'm officially an orphan." She took in a painful breath; her knee must have been hurting her badly. "The only nice thing the man did for me was leave enough money for me to continue on at Eastland."

Blair looked to her friends "Guys, could you give me a minute alone with Tara?"

"Uh, sure Blair." Natalie answered, grabbed her two friends and leaving.

"Does Blair know?" Jo asked once they were out of earshot.

"I don't know, I wouldn't think that she would want to hang out with a lesbian." Natalie said.

Blair grabbed Tara's hand, interlacing their fingers. "I was so worried about you. I tried calling that number you gave me yesterday but whoever answered said that you were in the hospital." Her voice showed how upset she still was over the whole situation.

Tara squeezed her hand. "Its okay, I'm fine now. I'm glad that you cared enough to call me."

"I do care, very much."

Tara grinned. "I have to go see the dean." She struggled to get up, and with the help of Blair, managed to stand.


TBC-
--JadeUnicorn
tenryu@excite.com