Disclaimer: I don't own anyone other than Chloe, her parents, and the Taylor family. sob
Chapter 12
Bobby sped over. He grabbed the young man by the collar and shoved him against a shelf.
"Whoa, take it easy man!" he said, hands up in surrender.
"What the hell were you doing with my daughter?" he screamed in his face.
"Nothin' man! I swear! She just dropped a candy bar, I was just givin' it back to her!"
"Why the heck should I believe you?" Bobby didn't lower his voice, despite the attention they were attracting.
"Look man, I wasn't gonna take her! I swear on my mother's grave!"
Bobby didn't make any attempt to move until he felt a hand softly rest on his arm. "Bobby," Tara whispered, "let him go." Bobby waited for a second before releasing him. The guy fixed his collar with a huff.
He turned to Tara, "You have a mighty fine daughter, lady. Ya might wanna watch her, she could get hurt." He turned and walked away. Bobby lunged at the man but Tara grabbed his arm and struggled to hold him back.
Anger surged through her body like venom as she watched the punk walk away as if nothing had happened. Bobby used all the strength he possessed to resist the urge to grab his gun and shoot a few holes through the mans brain right then and there. He sighed and ran a hand down his face.
Tara rubbed his arm one last time before rushing over to Chloe who had stood there the whole time, watching the scene unfold while holding her chocolate bar. Tara picked up her small angel and held her close. Bobby watched the two of them, not sure whether to feel relived that Chloe was safe or angry that she hadn't been safe every second of the day.
Bobby paced the living room, Chloe sat on a chair, her legs swinging nervously above the floor. Tara walked in, carrying a cup of hot coffee for Bobby. He thanked her and took a sip.
"I'm really sorry," Chloe said in a quiet but desperate voice, "I promise I'll never talk to a stranger again. Please don't be mad at me."
Bobby knelt down in front of her and held Chloe's tiny hands in his. "I know, sheila, you just scared me and your mum."
"But he talked to me first, I didn't go to him! You know that, right?"
"We know, sugar," Tara stood beside Bobby, resting her hands on Bobby's shoulders.
"Can I go play in my room now, please?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah," Bobby said, hating how hoarse his voice sounded. He released Chloe's hands and she ran off. Bobby stood up, Tara's hand falling from his shoulder. He walked over to the large glass door and stared out, but he didn't see anything.
Tara examined his features with her hazel eyes. She couldn't help but notice how perfect it felt when she touched his shoulders, when Bobby held her, when he kissed her softly. Tara walked over to him; although she stood right in front of him, he didn't even notice her and it broke her heart. "Bobby…" she whispered. He didn't move. "Bobby, I can't help you if you won't let me."
"I don't need your help, Tara."
"Yes, you do Bobby." She said softly, touching his arm.
"I'm fine."
She dropped her hand and walked out of the room. She was nearly halfway through the Grand Room when she heard Bobby's angry voice. "How can you live like that, Tara?"
She turned around. Confused she asked, "What?"
"Do you even care that something could have happened to Chloe?"
"What! Are you accusing me of not caring!" she screamed.
"Yes, I am."
"I was scared, Bobby! I couldn't breathe until we were home! She's like a daughter to me! I love that child more than I've loved anything or anyone in my whole life!" she tried to breathe again, but the air didn't make it to her lungs. "My life has just been put through a blender, Bobby! I have nightmares every single time I close my eyes! I don't need you judging me. If you can't deal with things then don't you dare take it out on me! I'm sorry that I don't need to shove some guy against a wall to show my emotions, but that gives you no right to say that I don't care!" Tara turned around and stormed up the stairs. At the top she turned around and said, "The only thing I regret is that Chloe had to see you act the way you did!"
Bobby stood alone, staring at the empty room. You are such a jerk, Bobby, he sighed, But she's right, you know that she's right.
Tara dove into the pool in an effort to wash the dirt and grim away from her soul. She swam to the edge of the deep end and held onto the rim. Did I really have to scream so loud at Bobby? One voice said. Another answered, Yes, you can never let a man push you around, and Bobby's needed someone to tell it to him straight other than Myles for a long time already. The argument in her head continued until she felt that she would explode, instead, her body became limp as blackness took over her. Tara's hand slipped from the side and she sank to the bottom of the pool.
Black. The word had a new meaning to her now. It became something more; daunting; threatening to take the life within her soul. She forced her feet to obey her mind, they moved but she remained in the same atmosphere; a subtle breeze flirted with her hair. Suddenly, a dim glow lit up her surroundings, she spun around, trying to locate the source. But there was none. The light was just there, even though everything was as black as before, there was a radiance. Abruptly a new image appeared before her, a small child, reaching out for her, stretching. Her blonde curls fluttering around her as if she was floating. She held out her hand for the child to accept, their fingers were centimeters apart…millimeters… touching. So close, so very near. Her hand passed right through the girls. She tried again, but the child began drifting, farther and farther away, until she could no longer see her, just the light, mocking her. "No, please don't leave, please," she whispered, dropping to her knees on the floor that was not there. She began to sob, gut-wrenching pain tore her soul from within her chest. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see her comforter, but he was not there. She touched her shoulder. She sucked in a breath and yelled at the top of her lungs, "How loud do I have to scream to be heard?" Water whirled around in the air, wetting her hair, her clothes, twisting in circles around her fragile body, in the empty space, adding to the devastating feeling that she had been condemned to a lost life, a lost love. She raised her chin, breathing in the wet air. Music began to serenade her lost spirit.
Seems like just yesterday, you were a part of me
I used to stand so tall, I used to be so strong
Your arms around me tight, everything it felt so right
Unbreakable, like nothing could go wrong
Now I can't breathe, no I can't sleep
I'm barely hanging on
Here I am, once again
I'm torn into pieces, can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes
I told you everything, opened up and let you in
You made me feel alright, for once in my life
Now all that's left of me is what I pretend to be
So together, but so broken up inside
Cause I can't breathe, no I can't sleep
I'm barely hanging on
Here I am, once again
I'm torn into pieces, can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes
Swallow me, then spit me out
For hating you, I blame myself
Seeing you, it kills me now
No, I don't cry on the outside anymore
Anymore
Here I am, once again
I'm torn into pieces, can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes
Here I am, once again
I'm torn into pieces, can't deny it, can't pretend
Just thought you were the one
Broken up, deep inside
But you won't get to see the tears I cry
Behind these hazel eyes
She suddenly felt her body being lifted from the darkness.
A/N:Review if youlike it and want me to continue!
Disclaimer: Song: Behind these Hazel Eyes – Kelly Clarkson