Hey everyone! I was so happy that you like this story. At first I was scared that no one would like it but I'm glad you like it! Well I was so happy with the reviews I couldn't stop writing so I will be posting a chapter today and another one tomorrow! Story on!
Disclaimers: I don't own them so don't sue me.
Chapter 4: Burn
It has been three days since the best friends have utter a word to each other. Taranee kept her distance from Will, and Will stared at Taranee desperately hoping that she would talk to her. The other girls took notice but when they questioned either of the two they both gave the same response,
"Ask her." The girls decided to put an end to the bickering by forcing them to sit beside one another at the lunch table. That turned into a disaster,
Will, Hay Lin, and Irma sat at the lunch table waiting on the other girls. Hay Lin looked to Irma before saying to Will,
"So Will, what's going on between you and Taranee?" She asked then quickly stuffed her mouth with chips. Will looked at Irma, who turned her head, back to Hay Lin.
"It's nothing alright. So just drop it." Just then Cornelia and Taranee walk up carrying their trays. Irma looked to Cornelia who nodded to her, then took the seat beside Hay Lin leaving the only vacant seat to Taranee beside Will. Taranee stood there for awhile before saying,
"Could somebody please trade seats with me?"
"What's wrong with that one?" Hay Lin asked innocently. Taranee gave her a real dirty look before saying,
"I don't seat by people who, supposes to be my friend, but truly aren't."
"Wait a minute Taranee I'm sitting right here. If you have a problem with me then tell me. Instead of acting childish!" She squinted her eyes the moment the words came out of her mouth. Shit! She thought as she looked up at Taranee.
"Childish huh! You want to know what my problem is Will! Your suppose to be my best friend and you out of everyone is suppose to be happy for me. How about this, when you see Rick and me at the movies you flip out and tell me I'm rushing things. What do you want me to do sit around and mope all night while you have fun with Matt! And on top of it all you are rude to Rick. You keep going back to; what about Nigel and you, getting back together. Why! Why Will? He dumped me!"
"Taranee keep your voice down." Cornelia warned
"No! Why can't you be happy for me Will! Instead of throwing Nigel in my face. It's like you got mad at me for being happy? Are you jealous that someone else found an interest in me or something, or are you jealous that Rick chose me?"
"That's ridiculous Taranee. I'm with Matt. How could you say that to me."
"The same way you did at the movies." Taranee snapped
"Look I'm not trying to hurt you! How dense can you possibly be!" Will rose out of the chair too quickly therefore knocked the tray from Taranee's hand into her chest. Taranee's mouth hung open as the tray slipped from her fingers. "Taranee. I swear I didn't try to do that. Taranee?" The Nubian guardian stood there for a few moments.
"Taranee?" Hay Lin said meekly
"Oh no there's going to be a boxing match and I believe Will is going down in the first round!" Irma whispered to Hay Lin. Taranee's began to tremble softly as her face of shock turned to rage. She stared into Will's amber orbs with heat and fire burning into the leader.
"Taranee? Honey calm down." Cornelia came to Taranee's side rubbing her back. Everyone in the cafeteria was silent as they stared at the two girls battling it out. They'd never seen these two fight, or Taranee ever express anger.
"I'm sorry Taranee, I didn't mean to. . ."
"Save it Will." Taranee said softly through clenched teeth, "I don't even want to know you right now." With that Taranee walked around Will and out of the lunch room.
"Taranee?"
"Taranee wait!" Cornelia and Hay Lin called as they ran behind her trying to catch up. Will turned to look at Irma who simply pulled her back down into her seat and held her hand.
"I think I just lost my best friend Irma." Will said with tears dancing on the brim of her eyes. Will laid her head down on her arms and began to cry. Irma rubbed her back and whispered words of encouragement in her ear.
Taranee burst through the school front entrance doors. She was so angry she didn't know what to do.
"AHHHHHAAHHH!" She screamed loudly as her hands caught on fire first then the flame traveled her entire body. "Who does she think she is! Humiliating me like that! I have never been this angry in my life!" Cornelia made it to the scene first and gasped at the awesome display before her.
"Oh my God!" Hay Lin gasped as she saw her friend literally on fire.
"Taranee, honey you've got to calm down."
"Yes before anyone sees you!" Hay Lin shouted when it appeared that Taranee wasn't going to put herself out Hay Lin blew out her flames. Taranee was so exhausted she fainted into Cornelia's arms.
"Oh honey. I've never seen you this mad. Hay Lin go get the others we are going have to take her to the Silver Dragon. Go!" Hay Lin ran as quickly as she could to get the others.
Now Taranee lies in a cot in the basement of the Silver Dragon restaurant. The girls wait patiently for her to come around. Grandma Lin sat on the edge of the cot to check Taranee's temperature.
"Her fever has broken. But I fear that her powers may be growing at an alarming rate and she might not be able to control them. Fire is the most dangerous and hardest element to control. And like Taranee, fire is calm until others force it to become out of control. And if what you told me is true Hay Lin and Cornelia. What you two have witnessed is nothing compared to what she can really do if her powers get out of hand."
"It's all my fault. If only I had supported her, none of this would have happened."
"No Will. You mustn't blame your self. You were merely a catalyst for what was going to eventually happen." Everyone turned when they heard Taranee moan,
"Ugh. . .my head. I feel like my whole body is on fire."
"Well technically it was, doll." Irma cracked but no one was laughing.
"I feel awful like a part of me just died or something." She glanced around the room and saw Will standing in the corner holding herself staring at the ground. She rolled her eyes then looked at Grandma Lin.
"You two are the closest to each other. Why don't you try to work it out?"
"I just can't believe my best friend would want me to sit at home and cry over a guy who just dumped me. Instead of going out and enjoying myself with someone who appreciates my company. I have never been so hurt. I would never do that to her." Taranee said looking at the covers that surrounded her.
"It's not that I'm not happy for you Taranee. It's just that I thought you were moving to fast."
"Will it wasn't like I just jumped into a relationship with him. He just want to take me out to get my mind of Nigel. Someone you keep trying to put into my mind."
"I just think that you should talk to Nigel before you start going out with other guys is all."
"Will, I don't owe Nigel anything. And a best friend would know that!"
"Whoa their babe. Let's not get to fired up there." Irma commented
"Why do you keep suggesting I talk to him Will? What do you know that I don't?" Will was silent looking down at the floor.
"Oh my God you do know something don't you?" She looked around at everyone and they too looked ashamed. "No! No, no no no No! You all knew. And none of you told me anything!"
"Calm down Taran-"
"No! I won't calm down Cornelia! It's like you guys have been playing me for a fool! All of you, all of my friends!" Taranee's eyes had flames in them and smoke began to fill everyone's nostrils.
"Taranee, darling you must calm down. Okay?" Grandma Lin spoke softly rubbing a damp cloth on her cheek. Taraneeshook her head thentook a deep breath before getting off of the cot. The flames that were in her eyes faded and was replaced by tears. She looked at each of them in turn and shook her head.
"Tell me. Tell me everything." Everyone was silent not really knowing how to begin,
"Matt told me that, Nigel broke up with you because your mom found out and asked him to. He said that your mom said he could have another chance if he pulled himself together or something like that. Matt asked me not to say anything because he promised Nigel he wouldn't." Will said slowly and carefully. Taranee stood dumbfounded then the tears truly slid down her face. She nodded her head,
"That's all you had to say. That's all any of you had to say, but you didn't. You left me in the dark. Why, I don't know. But every single one of you knows if the shoe was on the other foot, and I knew the truth that I would tell you. For that reason you guys are not my friends. You cared more about protecting a guy's secret than your friend's feelings. I am no longer the T in W. I. T. C. H. I quit." With that she walked slowly out of the basement door.
"Oh my God." Cornelia said softly
"What just happened here?" Irma said looking at everyone.
"Taranee just left the team." Hay Lin restated the obvious.
"And it's all my fault." Will said braking down into full tears.
Taranee walked down the street she looked down at her watch that said 6:27 p.m. on it's face. I must have been out a long time. Lunch was at noon. She continued walking down the street and as if her body was on autopilot she was in front of the Hauffman Bookstore. She looked through the windows and saw Cedric checking some people out at the counter. He gave them a nod as they left. He looked up to see Taranee standing at the door. He smiled at her but quickly noticed her sadness. Cedric walked over to the door opening it for her to come inside,
"What don't you come in?" She obeyed and followed Cedric up the stairs and to that familiar sofa. "What's the matter?" She looked at him and sighed,
"I just lost my best friend and in fact I just lost all my friends." He looked at her for a moment then replied,
"Then maybe they weren't your friends to begin with?" He shrugged, "But I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason. Maybe what happen did so for a reason?"
"What reason could be good enough for me to loose almost everything?"
"You will know when it is time." They were quiet Taranee lost in her thoughts and Cedric studying her. She truly is beautiful. I know now that I must make her mine. But I'm about to start the Prince's plan and I really don't need any distractions. Not even distractions as lovely as her. But no way in hell am I going to let her get away. I can do both, I'm versatile. I can juggle being a knight and being a boyfriend.
"Rick?" Taranee pulled him from his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Where did you go for a minute there?"
"No where. Just thinking that the beautiful creature before me looks famished. Would you like to accompany me to dinner? I was going to the Westin Café."
"I'm not dressed for the occasion."
"You look lovely to me. Let's go."
So did you like it? Did Taranee appear out of character? Was it too over the top? Tell me in a review please? Your comments and thoughts really help. Enough of my babbling.
gracefulraven,
out!