The days blurred into each other as time passed, within a month Tai had found herself in several scraps and was always in evasive maneuvers. She had become an expert in dodging personal questions and curiosities; she never said anything about herself and specially her life. She had noticed that she was treated in a way that struck her as strange, she found herself treated as if she was some kind of freak who at any given moment was going to do something outrageous. The girls kept asking her if she dated, how many they were and what they looked like. Always asking her over to their homes and hinting that they'd like to visit her. She always mumbled something about being busy. Though mostly everyone would ask her about her notebook, and that inquiry always was met with muteness. Till one day, Tai walked out of the classroom to get a bottle of water and when she returned she found two of the girls flipping through her notebook, as they giggled over some of the pictures. Tai felt betrayed, how dare they look through my stuff. She felt her face heat up with anger as she began to clench her fists in an effort to control her temper. Tai let out a long breath and walked up behind the girls, slamming her hand down on the notebook as she surprised the girls. Tai refused to speak, sure if she uttered one word she would lose all control over her temper. 1
"Hey Tai you scared us. What are you doing?"2
Tai couldn't believe their audacity, they were invading her privacy and they're upset. 'What a screwed up universe this is?' Tai thought to herself. The girls watched as Tai placed her stuff back into her backpack before she slung it over her shoulder. One of them smiled slyly as she asked.3
"Tai… Who's the guy in the picture with you?"4
Tai remained silent, completely ignoring them. She had noticed they were looking at one of the rehearsal pictures. She knew they were talking about Jeremy. 5
"Tai… come on tell us who is he? Was he your boyfriend? Tell us, we're your friends and friends don't have secrets."6
Tai had tried to fight the urge to answer back but had failed to hear them call themselves her friends, Tai let go.7
"Who he is, is none of your business"8
The girls were shocked as Tai barked at them to mind their own business, before she left. Tai turned around for her parting shot.9
"Oh by the way, you're kind of right. Friends don't usually have secrets from each other… but you're not my friends." 10
She walked around feeling much like an alien who had been stranded on another planet, she as always longing for her past. She walked into the library taking her seat she took out her notebook and began to pour her tortured soul. When suddenly a hand was placed on her shoulder; she turned to look upon her interrupted.11
"There aren't enough notebooks for these animals to fill"12
"I guess you're right"13
Tai smiled, thinking I guess I'm going to have a friend after all. Shane was beginning to grow on her.14
"So… How about coming out of your coffin tonight" 15
"What do you have in mind?"16
"The usual ceremonial blood letting and I don't know maybe… a movie?"17
"Are you asking out on a date?"18
"No I just thought you need a friend... say six -thirty?"19
"Ok..."20
Tai went home thinking about Shane and his words, for they seemed to be ringing in her head. She stepped out of the shower and walked into her room. He's right… I do need a friend, but what about my friends. She felt torn between her need for someone to talk to and a feeling of betrayal. It was as if she would betray her friends, her life and herself if she allowed anyone in. she almost reached the phone to try to back out of the movie, but it was her sense of boredom that was threatening to engulf her made her put the handset down, and continue to dress. She walked to the door and as she closed it she felt that she was closing the door on her past. Tears began to form but she fought them back, blocking her pain. 21
'It's one movie what can be the harm?'22
Tai hailed a cab and got in giving the driver directions to the movie theater. She went in and found Shane already waiting for her.23
"It's nice to see a guy who respects time."24
"Well I couldn't let a pretty thing like you waiting, now could I?"25
"Well which movie do you want to see?"26
Shane looked at the posters and pointed to a Romantic comedy, to which Tai snorted. 27
"Are you for real?"28
"Why you thought just because I'm a girl that immediately means I would like to see a chick flick."29
"No but girls tend to steer towards them"30
"Well I'm not that kind of girl."31
"Well you're my kind of girl."32
With that Shane went to buy the tickets leaving Tai completely dumbfounded. She kept staring at Shane's back, thinking did he just say that I'm his kind of girl. She thought of Jeremy and how he used to say that she was his kind of girl. She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts; Jeremy wasn't the one who was there with her it was someone else. Jeremy was gone and her life was no longer with him. Shane came back and Tai felt like she was going through the motions. The movie was entrancing but nothing registered with Tai, she just sat there staring at the screen munching on the popcorn. The movie ended and the credits were beginning to roll, Shane stood up but saw that Tai made no move to stand.33
"I see that you have a thing for ending credits." 34
"Huh… What…"35
"So tell me did you catch any part of the movie?"36
"Yeah… "37
Shane raised his brow as they shuffled their way out of the theater.38
"Okay…okay… I have no idea what happened."39
"Well… Tell you what, how about something to eat."40
"Sure thing… and Shane I'm sorry about the movie."41
"It's no problem Tai. It's just hard, you know, moving from one place to another."42
Tai stared at Shane.43
"You didn't think you were the only one who has trouble fitting in."44
"Well, no….no of course, it's just that I've lived there all my life. It's all I know."45
"Is it? I'm sorry but I don't think that. I think that you don't want to know." 46
She sat thinking about all he said completely unsure of herself, but the knot that formed in her throat made her stop, the pain was too much. She kept the conversation light trying very hard not to dwell on the things that had been said. 47
Later that night she found herself calling Shane, before she could hang up he had picked up.48
Adding your comment: