mistymidnight
Author's Notes: I don't really feel like updating, but there have been too many requests for me to keep going. I have an ending planned, and if there's interest I'll continue to the end…maybe even post some spoilers on my site (which has been repaired, if you couldn't view it properly in your browser before). Stay tuned.
I'm taking a break from updating "Haven't Changed A Bit". If you haven't read it yet, go on over and do so. I like it, and, if nothing else, it will tide you over until my next update here.
I'm feeling down in the dumps, so this chapter may lean toward the angst-y. Then again, it might not. Maybe I'm just grouchy 'cause I'm hungry. Maybe I should go eat something…I thought the veggie burger would hold me over 'til dinner, but I guess not.
And sorry to disappoint you, but this chapter isn't as long as it might appear. (It's actually, in terms of plot, one of the shortest so far.) At the end, I address my readers (the ones that have the courtesy—ahem—to review, anyway.)
At the end of the chapter, I have some messages for my reviewers, so—read on!
Chapter SeventeenAfter the spontaneously-combusting cigarettes incident, Daddy left Tara alone. And smoked out on the back porch.
Tara tried her best to get through her days. School, which had once been a welcome escape from home, was now a hindrance keeping her from spending time with her mother.
They were working on new spells. Tara could make a ball of light float above her hand. "It's important that you know these things," Mom said. "Because I won't be here forever."
Tara wondered sadly how she could say those words with a smile on her face.
Tara sat in her seventh-period chemistry class. She liked chemistry; it was so similar to magic in some ways.
The PA system crackled to life and rasped out, "Tara Maclay to the main office, please. Tara Maclay."
Tara stood up and her teacher nodded to her, giving her permission to leave. Tara's classmates barely even looked up. When other students got called to the office, there was almost always a chorus of, "Ooooh, now you've done it!" and "Busted!" It just served as another reminder to Tara that she wasn't important.
She walked down the quiet and empty hallways, her feet occasionally stepping on piece of paper or an abandoned, broken pencil, snapped in half.
She pulled open the office door and was hit with a blast of cool air from the AC. The office was one of the only rooms in the building privileged with air conditioning.
Tara glanced around and saw her father sitting quietly in one of the chairs. Tara knew what was coming. "No," she breathed, as if she could reverse what had happened. "No! She isn't dead! She can't be!" The office secretary looked up sympathetically.
"Be quiet, girl," her father said, grabbing her wrist. With a curt nod to the secretary, he took Tara outside with him.
Tara was sobbing. "Look at me, girl," he father commanded. Tara looked up. "She isn't dead. She's in the hospital."
Tara didn't stop sobbing. "How bad?"
Her father was tugging her towards the car. "Pretty bad, or I wouldn't've pulled you out of school. She wants to see you."
Tara felt a pang of…something…in her heart. As much as she hated her father, at least he was going to let her see her mother.
One last time.
Yeah, cliffhanger. Yeah, I'm evil. Get over it. The faster the reviews come in, the faster the new chapter gets written.
Messages to reviewers: (don't read just yours, if you can. Try to read a few, because I answer some questions that you may have and I respond to comments you may have agreed with.)
Strawberries'n'Sugar— Yeah, 95 review really isn't a lack of interest, is it? =) What I mean is I'm not getting the same amount of interest I used to. Less reviews come in per chapter, and many aren't as helpful as they used to be. I appreciate any and all reviews, though. (I don't count flames as reviews, FYI.)
The Sovereign of Selenity— Thanks for the offer, but you don't have to review under several different pseudonyms. I get the message. =) It's good to know you enjoy it so much. Warms my little Grinchy heart. .:tear:.
Jenn— I hate the father, too. But I kinda feel bad for him. Life would be way easier (not to mention less magic-filled) for him if he'd just treat his wife and Tara like human beings.
Little Lab Rabbit— The father is a horrible man. Down with Daddy! Thanks for the reviews—a flood is better than none. =) In fact, a flood is good no matter what. And you're right—for all his cruelty, Tara's father is a complex character.
Me2— Thanks! I liked the bird grave part, too. (It was fun to write a one-way conversation.)
Pixie Child— .:does best Elvis impersonation:. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Kristen— You don't have to apologize, really. It's your review and you can say what you want. That's the beauty of reviewing. As long as it's not flames, I welcome any and all reviews. And yes, Alzheimer's is a scary disease. I watched both my grandfathers die from it. I'm sorry about yours and I hope the medication is working out for them. And I haven't read the DaVinci Code, but I've heard great things about it. I'll have to pick up a copy.
Turtlecrghblue—Thank you for the compliment. I think I'll finish this, but not do a sequel. When I'm done with this, I'll have said everything there is to be said, you know? Thanks for your support.
Freezyboncoolipants— Thank you! And don't worry about Tara's jump from five or so to seventeen. I'll probably do some flashbacks, if I can fit them in.
Donna— Remind me to thank gidgetgirl (again!) for reccing me on her page. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.
BlackCat200— Thank you for the support! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Yeah, I remembered when Tara's mom died…I'm just trying to put off writing it. Ah! The suspense! =
La Trom Mi— Lack of feedback is the worst! Yeah, I hated the lack of Tara stories, too, so I decided to write one myself and then…this happened.
Slayer87— Sorry about your problem with a lack of reviews. Hey, people, go read Slayer87's fic! (There. Maybe that will help.)
Faeries Twilight— Yeah, she did go all "UN-Tara" I like to write characters out of character every once in awhile. And I will never tire of your reviews or any reviews, no matter what! =)
Alias-Boss Lady— Thank you for the feedback you've given. And I feel special (you're letting Tara's birth date slide just for my sake…). I should have remembered to check her tombstone, but alas, I had a brain blip. Oh well. We can pretend that Joss was wrong, not me. =D
Pay-day1999— There will be references to Scooby activity, but I'm not gonna get in-depth with it. A lot of the fic is centered on Tara's Mom and Tara herself, so I'm not gonna carry it too far into the canon.
Bunyip-baby— Update I shall!
gidgetgirl—Thanks. I actually liked my characters young (kidfic takes its toll…), but I'm glad you like them older. Not that I dislike them older or anything…
Love the idea for the Bethie fic. Advance rec to all my readers: when GG comes out with a Bethie fic, read it!
About our stories running along similar veins…I noticed that, too. I'm glad you're not accusing me of plagiarism…lol. I had the idea for the bird in my head for a while, and I considered not posting it after reading your fic, because they were so similar. Well, the side of my brain that was screaming, "Post it! Post it!" won out. =) And that "Cheape" POV fic was so incredibly cute! Makes me want to cuddle with my kitty-cat right now (even though she'd shred me to bits before I got within a foot of her…)
Paula— Thanks for the awesome ideas. I wanted to work them in so badly. I couldn't exactly work your specific ideas in, but I did pout in details derived from them, like Tara going to the woods to visit the bird. =)
Watcher's Pet— Thank you! Sorry that one of my characters reminds your dad until your parents divorced…but I'm glad you like the story.
Solar Jebus— Thanks! You wanna live in the house, huh? (I do, too…) The house it's based on is up for sale, you know…=P (It really is.)
Dawn-Roberts—Thank you! (Sorry I can't think of more to write. I hope people don't accuse me of playing favorites to reviewers…) I appreciate all the feedback I get from you. (PS—"The Laundry" get me laughing every time I read it, which is relatively often.)
Sarah S. — You and Donna (see above) are gonna both have to remid me to thank gidgetgirl for the awesome "fic pimping". =)
Lia Star— Thank you. (Off subject, here, but I love "Curiosity". It reminds me a little bit of a fic I never posted at I'm not quite sure why it reminds me of it…the plots are nothing alike…I guess it's just my crazy brain.)
Just a girl—Thank you. Glad you like!
MBB— =) Thanks!
That's all. Do you realize the "Reviewers" section of this chapter took up more room than the actual story? Yeah, you probably did notice, because you're feeling gypped. I guess I'll update again, sooner than I did this time…
Thanks to all!
mistymidnight