On Thursday and Friday,Daniel got to school late and left very early.He wanted to spend all his time with Tara before she left.
As she knew how much of a nerd he was,Tara really appreciated the gesture.
The thought that he got to school late for her warmed her heart a little.
"Hey" Tara greeted when he showed up on her doorstep on Friday afternoon.
"Hey" Daniel said sadly as he walked into the house."Where's Your mum?"
"Out with friends" Tara replied,climbing the stairs to her room."Aren't you coming?" She asked
"I'll be there in a bit" Daniel said.
"Okay" Tara replied,heading up the stairs.
"Damn" Daniel muttered,sitting on the couch."This is the last day" He thought,raking his hand through his hair."What can I do? Surely,I can't just sit here and watch her leave"
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Tara, someone's at the door" Daniel called,walking to the door."Who is it?"
"Oh it's Joyce" She said
"Hello ma'am" Daniel greeted,politely taking her bag.
"Oh! what a sweet boy" Joyce chuckled as she entered the house."Where's Tara?"
"Upstairs" He said,dropping the bag on the couch
"How are you feeling?" Joyce asked.
"Very useless" Daniel said truthfully.A muscle jerked in his jaw as he felt rage rising up in him.
"That's great" Joyce chuckled.
"Why is that great?"
"Because the uncomfortability of your situation will spur you to do something about it" Joyce said.
"I just hate the way I'm feeling" He said ,bowing his head.
"It's okay, Dear" Joyce reassured him as she enveloped him in a hug.
Daniel felt the burden on his heart lift a little.
"Thank you" He whispered,trying to hold back his tears.This was hurting him way more than he imagined.
"Daniel!" Tara shouted from upstairs.
"You better go meet her" Joyce chuckled,lightly pushing him up the stairs.
"You called?" Daniel said.On his way up the stairs,he decided to seal his emotions and just support Tara emotionally.He couldn't do anything to stop it ,so he would at least be by her side.
"Yeah,lie next to me" Tara said,lying on her side with her eyes focused on Daniel.
"Uhm,that's rather far.Don't you think?" Daniel said meekly
"Why!" Tara shouted.She rose from the bed and stood in front of him."Tell me why? Do you think I want this?"
"No"
"Of course not.I have friends here too.You needed to hear how much Leyla cried when I told her about it.I can't do anything because I would be ruining my dad's dream"
"I know that,Tara.It's just that—"
"Just what?!" Tara snapped.She felt like Daniel didn't understand what she was going through.The two people she considered very close were Leyla and Daniel.Leyla was dealing with Maxim's departure and having her deal with her own problems would be insensitive.Hence,the only close friend was Daniel.
"I really don't want you to leave" Daniel said truthfully."You are the only person that cares about me.I had a lot of firsts with you,and" Daniel took a huge breath before continuing."I really like you" He murmured.
"Thank you.I really needed that" Tara said softly as she embraced him.
"You're welcome but I mean it" Daniel said,releasing himself from the hug.That took a lot of courage ,but he was glad he did it.At least,he reminded her of his feelings even though they weren't reciprocated.
"Thank you" Tara said again.She didn't know what caused it ,but in recent days,she had begun to look at Daniel in a new light.Something entirely different from what she expected.
"Uhm,I'll leave you to finish packing" Daniel said awkwardly as he left the room.
He halted at the staircase to stabilize his heartbeat."Well,at least she knows" He muttered before leaving the house.He wanted to get home and take a sleeping pill.
He would look for one capable of inducing sleep for more than twenty four hours.That way,he would miss Tara's departure.
Tara heard a ring from her phone while packing.
"What?" She said to Julian after answering the call
"Is it true?" Julian asked.
"Yes,it is"
"Why?"
"The guys told you, right?" Tara guessed.
"That's not the point.You can't leave,Tara"
"Not that it's any of your business,but I can do whatever the hell I want" Tara snapped. "What's it to you anyway? We're done which means I don't care about you nor should you care about me" She said,ending the call.
"He just made me mad for no reason" Tara muttered,trying to calm herself down.She didn't want to remember what he did."Think positive,Tara" She said.
Julian laughed softly as Tara ended the call."She's really serious.I didn't expect that"
Julian was surprised when Tara spoke to him that way.He really hurt her,and he doubted he could ever fix that.
He wanted to find out if he could do something about the situation.
"Hey" He said when Joey answered the call.
"Yo, what's going on brother" Joey replied.
"Uhm, remind me the reason why Tara has to leave"
"She said something about her dad getting a new job or something like that"
"Well,can't she refuse?"
"I don't know man.She said it's like a family thing ,and if she refuses,it'll crush her dad's heart"
"Oh,you wouldn't happen to know the name of this organization?"
"Sorry bro,can't help you there"
"No worries,thanks" Julian said before ending the call.
He hastily rose from the bed and rushed to his father's room.
"Father?" He knocked."I have something to discuss"
"Come in" His father replied.
"Okay" Julian walked in and found his father reading a book.
"Typical" He thought
"What is it,son?"
"Uhm can I borrow one of your spies?"
"First of all,how do you know about them,and secondly,why?"
"Uhm I remember one tailing me on my way to a friend's house and I need him for a search"
"What search?"
Julian quickly told his dad what happened.It was a very brief summary full of holes,but his father accepted it.
"Alright" His father said before raising his right hand and closing it really slowly.
"Three,at your service" A voice came from behind Julian.
When he turned,he saw a man with his face covered kneeling in front of him.
"Now we're talking"