Tara's hands flew to her mouth as her brain registered what was before her.
Julian and Cassandra were kissing.
Tara just stood there and hopelessly watched.Cassandra broke out of the kiss to gasp for air.She caught a glimpse of Tara and smirked before capturing Julian's lips.
"No" Tara said teary eyed.She rushed out of the hall with her eyes focused on the ground as she didn't want anyone to see her crying.
She mistakenly bumped into a boy ,but instead of saying sorry,she kissed the guy.
His lips were soft but he was wearing glasses which made it hard to engage deeper.
"Two can play that game,Julian.I hope you see this" Tara thought.
The guy abruptly withdrew his lips and said."Tara"
"I know that voice" Tara thought.She glanced up meekly and saw Daniel.
"You've got to be kidding me! How does my situation go from bad to worse" Tara said,looking at Daniel's embarrassed face.
On the other hand,Daniel didn't know whether to be happy or sad.His first kiss was just taken from him by the one he loved,but he doubted she did it out of love.
"Are you okay?" Daniel asked,seeing the tears on her cheeks.
"Yeah,I'm fine" Tara said, walking past him.
Daniel wanted to let her go.He wanted to tell himself that it wasn't any of his business,but that simply wasn't true
He turned and grabbed her hand."It's obvious you're not"
"I don't wanna talk about it.Please let me go" Tara said,bowing her head.
Daniel's heart broke as Tara bowed her head.He had never seen her lower her head.
"No! Talk to me about it.I'm here"Daniel said.
Tara raised her head.She couldn't believe the confidence Daniel was showing.
"Fine" Tara grunted,walking away.
"Where are you going?" Daniel called out ,but Tara didn't reply.
They walked for minutes before she found a public bench and sat.
"Why are you staring at me? Sit" Tara said
"Okay" Daniel said, sitting next to her."Talk to me,I'm here"
Tara sighed then told Daniel everything.She told him how her and Julian started,and their breakup.
"Wow,I didn't know that" Daniel said after Tara finished.
"Yeah,so you've heard now.It's time for me to head home" Tara rose.
"No" Daniel rose and faced her."You are not going home"
"Why?"
"Cos you're just going home to cry and wallow in despair" Daniel said confidently.
"Harsh but true" Tara said truthfully."So what do you want me to do?"
Daniel thought long and hard.He needed an activity that would bring Tara out of her shell.
"Let's swim" Daniel offered.
"Swim?"
"Yeah,I know a really cool pool"
"How do you know it?"
"I'll tell you later.Are you in or not?" Daniel asked
Tara couldn't believe how bold he was ,but she somehow liked it.
"Sure" Tara said.
Daniel led the way as he manuevered through a couple of dimly lit alleyways.
"You know your way around here?"
"Yeah,I've been here a couple of times"
"Why?"
"Well,when school's the only thing that keeps me occupied,I kind of look for other interests ,and I stumbled on this place on one of those days"
"What? Like an abandoned swimming pool?"
"Not exactly" Daniel smirked.
Tara didn't notice when they left the city.All she could see now was dense vegetation
"Wow,I haven't been here" Tara muttered
"Are you ready?" Daniel said as he stood in front of a huge tree with broad leaves.
The leaves blocked the entrance to whatever Daniel wanted to show Tara.
"Sure" Tara said, partly excited
"Voila!" Daniel said as he moved the leaves.
Tara had no words to describe the scenery before her.
It wasn't a swimming pool ,but way better than that.
A small lake stretched before her with beautiful flowers and plants growing next to the shore.
The moon was up in the sky and reflected on the water.
"Wow" Tara muttered."How can you just stumble on this place?"
"No idea" Daniel said,removing his shoes."Come on" He beckoned to Tara who was still at the entrance.
Tara put on a small smile as she removed her shoes and joined him at the shore.
"Wow! This is the third surprise today" Tara said,staring at the water.
"You can stay here as long as you want.i'm not going anywhere"
"You sound like you recently watched a romance movie" Tara chuckled.
"Nah, someone told me something very important"
"Okay" Tara said, returning her gaze to the water.
"Are you okay?" Daniel asked
"Yeah,I think I'm alright" Tara said."Thank you for this"
"You're welcome" Daniel said."Uhm,you wanna talk about what happened earlier?" Daniel said with his cheeks flushed red
"No,uhm let's just forget that happened for now" Tara said awkwardly.
"Ok" Daniel rose and extended his hand to Tara."Let's go"
"Sure" Tara replied,grasping his hand.
Daniel's heart went into overdrive for the second time but this time it was more controlled.He was freaking holding Tara Wilson's hand.
"Do you wanna go back to the party?" Tara asked
"No,I'm gonna go home"
"Would you like to come over?" Tara asked meekly.
Daniel's entire face turned red as he heard Tara's words.
"Oh my God! What does she mean? Does she mean what I think she means?" Daniel thought.
Tara's wild laughter broke his thoughts."You should have seen your face.You went red like a tomato"
"You really shouldn't be teasing me" Daniel said embarassedly.
"Or what?" Tara chuckled.She loved the confused look on his face as it made him cuter.
Daniel didn't reply as they walked to Tara's house in silence
"Home sweet home" Tara said as her house came into view.She walked to the doorstep and turned to look at Daniel.
"Thank you for everything today.Without you,I'd probably be crying my eyeballs out" Tara said
"You're welcome" Daniel smiled and was about to turn before Tara called him.
"Wait" Tara said.She rushed at him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek then raced inside.
For a few seconds,Daniel didn't know what happened.
His hand slowly went to his cheek and lay there.He could somehow still feel the warmth of her lips on his cheek.
He turned awkwardly and started the walk to his house.
"I'm hopelessly in love" He muttered