15 years
Tara didn't enjoy watching football just as much as she loved the after game parties. For the celebration, they always gathered at their favorite cafe for milkshakes or the boys would set up an anonymous venue for more unsupervised fun.
They gathered at Mitchell Sullivan's house that night. It was a full house at Sullivan's. The music blasted through the speakers in the house as people munched on chips and drowned themselves with cheap booze. How Sullivan had managed to attain the liquor, no one knew. All everyone cared about was the rush of the burning liquor in their bodies.
"Is James coming?" Tara asked a quiet Norah.
"I don't know." she shrugged.
Something was definitely going on between the two of them. Usually the two would be tied to hip at such events.
"What's going on?" Tara leaned against the kitchen island.
"We got into a fight." Norah confessed.
"It's pretty obvious with how you have been sulking the entire evening." She replies in a duh tone
"I think I might love James." she quivers.
"Flash news, it's been written allover your smitten face since forever."
"You're not helping."
"If James doesn't realise what he has, he is a fool."
"Hey girls." Dylan entered the kitchen.
"Hey Dylan." Tara replied
"We are all moving to the living room for spin the bottle. That's if you are interested." he announced.
"Of course we would love to. Who would like to miss an opportunity to share saliva with their crushes?
"Crushes?" Dylan raised a brow. Tara smirked.
"I don't want to play tonight." Norah muttered. Dylan and Tara shared a look.
"Norah." Tara huffed.
"I think I might just go..."
Norah's words were cut off when James entered the kitchen.
"Drama drama." Tara murmured under her voice before she pulled Dylan outside to give the love birds some privacy.
"You guys can join us when you're done with whatever or not." she added on second thought. Norah glared. She smirked.
Tara and Dylan joined the circle for the game. She was surprised Lyon had joined the game today. She was sure everyone was. But then again, Lyon had been outgoing since the year started. He joined the football team. In such a short time, he had earned himself the position of a starting quarterback since Aaron got an injury.
He wasn't as loud as the other players. Not even as outgoing but he was the most popular and liked. Tara was convinced it was his mysteriousness that pulled people his way. Who didn't like a pretty face with a bad attitude? She did.
Girls always commented about how beautiful his eyes were. How amazing his hair was. How great his body was. There was always something new to hear about the new golden quarterback. She totally avoided him.
It was hard since they shared some classes but she made it a point to pretend that he didn't exist.
Tara had thought she would be friends with Lyon since she was close with Dylan. It was the opposite. He had made it a point to ignore her existence. It was only fair she did the same.
"It's my turn." Clarissa announced dramatically.
"Who is it going to be?" Yuri asked.
Clarissa rose up with a smirk and walked over to Lyon.
"What do you say quarterback?" Clarissa questioned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. The room erupted into noise at her audacity.
Surprisingly, Lyon took his hand and she led him away from the eyes of the group. Everyone knew what happened behind closed doors.
When they returned after a few minutes, it was pretty obvious what had happened between them. Clarissa's face was flashed. Lyon looked rather nonchalant, his face unreadable.
Tara studied his hardened jaw when his fellow players threw catcalls and teased him. His hardened eyes had met hers at some point. She quickly averted her gaze away and excused herself from the circle.
She stood at the edge of the pool watching the water thoughtfully. She wondered where Norah was. She had a habit of disappearing with James. She was sure it was any different tonight.
Suddenly someone pushed her into the water. When her head bobbed out of the water, she glared at a laughing Dylan.
"You're such an asshole." she flipped him.
"It was fun where I am standing." Dylan chuckled.
"Piss off." she glared.
"Did I ruin your makeup?" he teased.
"Yes you asshole plus my clothes."
"Incoming!"
And then Dylan jumped into the water.
"We are even now." Dylan smiled
"I hate you." she hissed.
"You don't mean that."
When she looked up, there was someone at the balcony watching them. She would recognize him anywhere.
"I have a change of clothes if you want."
She hadn't noticed when Dylan had swam out of the water.
"You don't need to throw me in the pool to get me into your clothes Cornelius." Tara muttered.
"But I like the theatrics of getting you to do what I want."
"You could ask nicely." Tara accepted his hand to help her out of the pool.
She followed him back inside dripping wet on the floor. If Sullivan found them, he would kill them. When they were in the privacy of one of the guest rooms, Dylan pulled out a jersey and a pair of sweats from his bag.
Tara took them hesitantly. She didn't want to wear Dylan's clothes. She was not sure they would fit either.
Dylan was shirtless when she emerged out of the bathroom save for the pair of shorts. She stood by the door surprised by her discovery.
She had seen Dylan shirtless a number of times. She had never really taken her time to look closely and admire him.
"Are you done?" Dylan turned from the mirror to face her. She ignored the blush that crept up her face as she pushed off the door and into the room.
"You look amazing in my clothes." he complimented. She rolled her eyes.
Dylan walked closer to her an intense look in her eyes.
"What am I supposed to do with my wet clothes?" she asked. She needed a distraction from his torso.
"I am sure we can get a plastic bag somewhere." Dylan muttered.
"Where are your clothes?" she lifted her gaze to his.
"I gave them to you."
Dylan was inches from her. She sucked in a breath.
"You are beautiful Tara." Dylan flicked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. A shiver ran down her spine.
Dylan was handsome. Ink black hair, bright hazel eyes and full pink lips. Tara had known for some months that she felt a deeper liking for Dylan. She hadn't acted on it so far. They flirted and even spent time together but he never made any move. She didn't want to come on too strong until he was sure.
"Did you throw me in the pool on purpose?" Tara lifted a brow.
"Maybe." Dylan murmured pulling her closer by her waist. Her stomach clenched.
"I will not fall for your cheap seduction tricks." she glared. He didn't let her go despite her attempt to pull away.
Tara knew how Dylan worked. He had seen him with other girls.
"I am not trying to seduce you Tara."
"Good to know Dylan."
"I like you." he confessed. Another shiver ran down her spine.
"Don't you like me Tara?" he looked into her eyes. She was lost for the right words.
"It depends." she mumbled.
"Depends on what? On this?"
She felt Dylan's lips on his. It was no longer a dream of sorts. He was there, kissing her. His lips felt like a drug. She was lost in the feel of them against hers thet she didn't hear the intruder.
"I brought you clothes."
They quickly pulled apart. Or rather she did, Dylan was hesitant. Lyon stood at the entrance with a couple of clothes in his hands. He avoided her gaze. She flushed with embarrassment.
"Thanks Lyon." Dylan muttered.
Lyon quickly exited the room and she was alone with Dylan once again.
"You look like you have seen a ghost." Dylan teased.
"Don't worry about him telling the entire school, not that I care."
"I do."
"Are you embarrassed of me?"
"No. I don't want to be the school's gossip."
"Lyon won't tell anyone."
"Good."
"I need to find Norah." Tara said.
"See you later Tara."
"How about never Dylan." she retorted.
"There is the girl I know." he smirked.
Tara exited the room back downstairs. She hoped she could find Lyon but he was nowhere. She finally spotted Norah and released a sigh of release. It had been a long evening.