Roman led Tara into the house, his expression unreadable. Tara tried to stay calm, though her heart was pounding. She glanced around his home, impressed despite herself by its elegance. She had never been in a place like this before, and the sheer size made her feel small.
Roman broke the silence. "You collapsed in the rain," he said simply. "You're lucky I found you when I did."
Tara shifted uncomfortably, brushing her damp hair back. "I don't know why you helped me, but... thank you," she said, trying to sound indifferent. But deep down, she couldn't hide the gratitude bubbling up inside her. Being alive was no small thing—life was precious, and she knew it.
Roman tilted his head slightly, as if amused by her tone. "You're welcome," he replied softly.
Tara, suddenly aware of the time, gasped. "Oh no," she muttered, checking the clock. It was already 7 PM. I'm late—so late! She panicked internally. "I have to get home," she said aloud, her voice tight.
She grabbed her bag, rummaging through it frantically. Her phone was still off, the battery completely drained. She plugged it into a charger Roman handed her without a word and waited impatiently. As soon as it powered on, she called her sister.
The phone barely rang before Kara picked up. "Tara, where have you been?!" Kara's voice was sharp with concern.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Tara said quickly. "I'm still at school—or rather, I just left... sort of."
"Sort of?" Kara's voice dropped, suspicious. "What's going on? You sound weird."
Tara sighed. "Look, it's nothing serious. I'll explain everything when I get home. Just tell me—are Mom and Dad home?"
Kara hesitated. "No, they're at Grandma's place for the night. But you know how unpredictable they are. They could decide to come back anytime. Tara, you have a lot of explaining to do."
Relief washed over Tara. "Okay, fine, fine. I'll explain later. Thanks, Kara. Bye." She hung up before her sister could ask more questions.
Tara turned to Roman. "Thanks for everything, but I really have to go now. If my parents find out I'm here..." She shuddered dramatically. "I'll be dead meat."
Roman leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with an amused expression. "You're worried about your parents finding out, but not about collapsing in the rain?"
"Exactly!" Tara exclaimed, grabbing her things. "You don't know my parents. They'll flip if they think I've been somewhere I shouldn't be. So stop smiling like that!"
Roman's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Why? Does it bother you?"
Tara glared at him, but her face was growing red. "Yes, it does. It's creepy."
He chuckled softly. "Creepy, huh? Coming from the girl who climbed on me and tried to fight me earlier? Your fierce behavior was... unexpected."
Tara flushed, crossing her arms defensively. "I had a good reason for that."
Roman's smirk widened. "Sure you did."
"Stop smiling," she snapped, but her voice lacked its usual bite. "Seriously, you're annoying."
He shrugged, stepping aside to let her pass. "Be careful on your way home, Tara."
She paused for a moment, taken aback by the sincerity in his tone. But instead of saying anything, she hurried out the door, her heart still racing—not just from the time, but from the strange warmth that lingered after his words.
As Tara stepped out the door, Roman suddenly appeared behind her, jogging to catch up. "Wait, Tara!" he called out, a teasing smile on his face.
She turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "What now?"
"I'm taking you to the bus stop," he said firmly. "Who knows? You might fall again, and this time, there might be no Prince Charming to save you." He gave a mock bow, grinning. "Besides, I'm the only Prince Charming you've got, right?"
Tara rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "You're impossible."
"Just joking. Now let's go," he said, falling into step beside her.
The walk to the bus stop was surprisingly comfortable, with Roman occasionally throwing in light jokes that made Tara laugh despite herself. When they reached the stop, he stood beside her, waiting until her bus arrived.
"Get home safe," he said as she boarded.
Tara gave him a small wave, something she hadn't planned to do. It was just instinctive. As the bus drove off, she couldn't help but think about how strange Roman was—cold one minute, kind the next.
When she reached her street and stepped off the bus, she froze in her tracks. Kara was standing at the front door, arms crossed and glaring at her.
"Tara!" Kara yelled, running up to her. "Where have you been? What happened? Are you alright?"
Tara raised her hands in surrender. "I'm okay, Kara. Really. Let's just go inside, and I'll explain everything."
Kara gave her a skeptical look but stepped aside to let her through. Once they were inside, Tara sat on the couch, recounting everything—from the bullies to the rain, collapsing, and Roman's unexpected kindness. By the time she finished, she felt drained but strangely relieved.
Kara had been silent the entire time, her face unreadable. Tara braced herself, expecting an outburst or some form of scolding. But instead, Kara's hand reached out.
Tara flinched slightly, expecting a slap. But instead, Kara gently patted her cheek, her touch soft and comforting.
"Tara," Kara said, her voice filled with emotion, "you know you can always tell me everything, right? You don't have to hide things from me. We're sisters. When you keep things to yourself, it makes me feel... like I'm nothing to you." Her voice cracked slightly. "We're supposed to share both the good and bad times. That's what family does. Whatever it is, we'll find a solution together, okay?"
Tara's eyes stung with tears. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay. I'm sorry, Kara."
Kara pulled her into a tight hug, and Tara leaned into her, feeling the weight of the day finally lift.
After a while, Kara said with a small smile, "Come on. Let's make something to eat. You must be starving."
The sisters moved to the kitchen, cooking a simple but comforting meal together. They laughed over small things, the earlier tension forgotten. Later, as they lay in bed side by side, Tara felt a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.
Whatever challenges came next, she knew she wouldn't have to face them alone.