Me, Me, Me and Tara

I just need these voices out of my head. What I’d give for one moment of silence! I need everyone to just shut up for a minute. Stop Tapping. Shhhhh. Who said that?! Be quiet! I snap back to reality, Gavin tapping my arm lightly. The Cafeteria. Long yellowing tables surrounded by unruly teenagers. The musk of mystery meat and cheap body sprays assault my nose but quiet the mutters in my head to low grumbles for the moment. “Huh?” I ask, blinking rapidly. So elegant, Kennedy. Real smooth. A snarky, unimpressed voice comments in my mind with a snicker. “You zoned out for a minute, cutie.” Gavin supplies with a wary glance. “You okay?” “Oh, huh, yeah. Sorry.” I smile awkwardly. I cringe inwardly as the chatter in my head picks up again, picking apart our behavior. I don’t know Gavin very well, but he had been so sweet in geometry these last few weeks and I had been so excited to spend lunch with him today. That was until I found out he likes to sit in the noisy, stressful cafeteria with his baseball team. Avoid things that stress you out - it could make it harder for you to hold one personality. Dr. Stringer’s advice echoes through my head in that same snarky tone from behind and my heart clenches. Sweat coats my palms and I swallow against my dry throat a few times before gathering my things. “I, uh, I’m going to f-find Harper, She -she um has something I need.” I explain, my words tripping over themselves in my rush to get away. “I’ll come with you.” He grins and turns to grab his own bag. My anxiety morphs into disgust in a rabbit’s heartbeat and, despite my best efforts to keep my grip on control over my body, I feel the switch. Like suddenly having the steering wheel of a car torn from your grip, someone else is in control. I try to push back, but it’s no use. “No.” My voice is hard, cold and confident. Why on Earth were we here having lunch with this nitwit anyway? All boys are the same - useless, violent, no good wastes of space. I don’t bother looking back at him as I stride away. Harper and Wendy are probably in the corner of the courtyard by C building, so I head there first. I catch sight of Harper from across the yard. Drinking in her long, tan legs that disappear under that cream skirt and let my eyes trail up her sweater where the majority of the swell of her breasts is drowned by the baggy style. She has gorgeous copper hair and freckles dance across her cheeks. Damn, I want to do so many things to her. She must feel my gaze because she looks over with a frown. A crease forms between her pretty eyebrows and she swallows making the front of her throat bob just a little. “Hey, Tara.” She greets me with a small smile and I grin back at her, preening under her recognition. Harper knows me best. I hold in a groan at her sweet voice - I just want to put that pretty mouth to good use. “Hey hot stuff, how’s your morning been?” I lean casually against the half wall she is sitting on, effectively sandwiching her between Wendy and me, as I set my backpack down. Yuck, why on earth did I ever pick this pale pink monstrosity? I really need a new bag, this one looks like a child’s. “Pretty boring, the usual.” She stares down at her shoes as a faint blush paints her cheeks. “Harper! You’ve got to be kidding!” Wendy laughs. “The usual? Seriously?” She taunts as Harper’s blush deepens and I clench my teeth. Faking a smile, I stare at Wendy while gesturing for her to spill the beans already. “Charlie sat next to Harper in physics today and is totally using their project as an excuse to see her outside of school.” Wendy supplies with a smirk and my blood boils. I can’t blame the guy - Harper is gorgeous. But she is mine whether she knows it yet or not. “Oh really?” I ask, annoyed that she obviously was trying to hide this bit of information from me. “It’s no big deal, Tara.” Harper insists as the bell rings, dismissing us from lunch all too soon. “Let’s catch up before cheerleading practice, okay?” She grasps my bicep gently and stares up at me with those huge baby blue eyes and my annoyance with her dissipates easily. “Yeah, okay.” I agree, pulling my backpack into place before heading off towards my locker. Unfortunately, I don’t see Harper a lot during the school day this year and haven’t been able to convince her that walking her to class is worth every tardy. I pick up the pace though because I do see old Charlie boy between lunch and fourth period. A dangerous smile plays on my lips as I swing the heavy building door open and prance up the stairs. Students fill the hall around me as I reach my locker - I’m not even sure if I actually need anything out of it but I open it regardless while my eyes sweep the sea of faces until they land on thick-framed glasses and ginger hair. Harper has terrible taste. “Hey, Charlie!” I call out in a mockingly sweet tone. His eyes find me easily as he towers over most of the students and he strides over with a tight smile. “Hu-” He barely gets the first sound out when I fist the front of his shirt collar and thrust his back into the lockers with all my might making a satisfying bang ring out. “Leave. Harper. Alone. Got it?” I make sure to enunciate each word slowly and clearly. He holds his hands up in surrender but gives me a crooked smile. “Look, Kennedy, I know you guys are best friends but I really like her. I’d be a great boyfriend.” I sneer as he pleads his case, rage rolling through me. I don’t think about it, I just c**k my arm back and slam my fist into his stupid nose as hard as I can. Blood spurts out with a crunching noise and I smile as he shoves me backwards hunching over to clutch at his face. Gripping his hair tightly, I yank his head up so he has to look at me. “I wasn’t asking.” I shove his head back down and let him go. I raise my hands as I back away as teachers and students alike get in between us. “Ms. Scott! My office now!” One of our campus deputies orders and I obey without protest. Licking Charlie’s blood from the back of my hand, I smirk as I walk past him with my oversized escort. Just another day in paradise.