Tara sat on the beach staring out at the waves. Four and a half months pregnant, the formation of her pregnant belly was already showing, a little larger than usual since she was carrying twins. Today was June 15th, which was the day of her 21st birthday.
She stood up in the sand and looked around her. Further down the beach, a happy couple walked along the shore, hand in hand, looking happy as ever. She turned her gaze over to the ice cream stand, where another couple were kissing while sharing an ice cream cone.
Tara sighed, then placed a hand upon her stomach. She rubbed her stomach softly, while looking down at the belly. What she would give to be with Nick right now.
She shook her head softly and turned around to head back to the parking lot, to drive back to Justins house where she was still staying.
"Hey" Tara said, dropping her purse on the bench in the front room.
"Hey.. welcome back!" Justin said, greeting her with a hug "Hows the Birthday Girl feeling?"
"Depressed" Tara replied. He wanted to know the truth, she was just being honest.
"Still thinking about Nick?" Justin asked. Tara took a seat on the couch.
"Yeah, I cant help it. Even though it happened a month ago, part of me still wants to be with him" Tara said.
Justin wrapped an arm around Tara.
"You know Im here for you, Tara.. oh by the way, I took the liberty of making sure that Nick will not be coming to your birthday party tonight" Justin said.
"What? why?" Tara asked. She looked up at Justin with sad eyes, a little anger.
"Only because I dont want him to ruin your birthday, Tara.. I was only thinking about you. I thought it would be best if he didnt show up.."
"Oh.." Tara said. She returned her gaze down to the floor at her feet. She knew he thought he was doing something good for her, so she didnt say anything.
"Well, Im going up to my room, I think I might take a nap" Tara said.
"Alright, be ready to go for 4pm though, we have to be at the party for 5!" Justin said. Tara gave Justin a wave, then headed up to her room.
She shut the door behind her and turned on her CD player.
Instinctively, she pressed the shuffle button, which shuffles the order of the songs on the CDs.
Show me the meaning of being lonely..
So many words for the broken heart
Its hard to see in a crimson love
So hard to breath, walk with me and maybe
Nights of light so soon become,
Wild and free I could feel the sun
Your every wish will be done.. they tell me..
Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this a feeling I need to walk with?
Tell me why I cant be there where you are
Theres something missing in my heart
Tara laid down on her bed and cried, staring at the picture she held in her hands of her and Nick together.
"God Nick! We used to be soo happy!!! How... How could you ever do this to me?" Tara cried at the picture. She let the picture fall to the ground, and she buried her head into her hands and cried.
"Brian.. where are you going?" Nick asked. He stood in the bathroom doorway and watched Brian comb his hair. He seemed to be prepping himself to go out.
"well.. uhm..." Brian mumbled "Im going to a party"
Nick gave him a look, noticing that Brian had a guilty look on his face.
"What party?" Nick asked. He knew perfectly well that it was Tara's birthday.
"Its for Tara.. its her birthday today" Brian said. He turned to face Nick. Nick looked down at his feet for a moment.
"Really? Where is it at?" Nick asked.
"I cant tell you, Frack. Im sorry, Bro! I would, I really wish I could, but I cant, she doesnt want you to come"
Nick turned around and walked down the hallway into his room. He still kept everything of Tara's in place in their room, the way that she had left it over a month ago.
Nick entered Brians bedroom a few moments later with a box.
"Uhm, I know I'm not allowed to come to the party tonight, but, I'd really appreciate it if you'd give this to Tara, please" Nick said. Brian looked up at Nick quietly, and looked at the box. Nick passed the neatly wrapped present to Brian, and turned to leave the room.
"Hey Frick?"
"Yeah?" Brian replied.
"Tell her I love her..." Nick said, his voice crackling a bit from tears he was hiding.
"I will... I'll do that.. " Brian said. Brian felt uncomfortable to see his best friend cry.
"Hey Frack?"
Nick stopped in his tracks. "what?"
"I dont know if it means anything to you right now, but, I believe you.." Brian said.
"About what?" Nick asked. He turned around. Brian stared at the tears on Nicks cheeks.
"about Tara.. for some reason right now, I just have this feeling that you would never cheat on Tara. I mean, it never really hit me till now, right after what you just did.."
"Thanks.." Nick said "have fun at the party" he turned around and retreated back to his room and shut the door.
"Ready to go into the party?" Justin asked. He opened up his Mercedes Benz passenger door for Tara, and grabbed her hand, helping her out of the car.
"I guess" Tara said, she slid her hand through Justin's arm, since handholding would make it look like they were a couple. Holding onto his arm would just look like something friends do.
The Maitre D opened the door for the two of them, leading them inside the building while the valet guy drove Justins Benz to the parking lot.
Justin and Tara walked into the crowded room together, greeting people as they walked along. Tara kept on a smile, meanwhile deep inside of her she was dying of depression. Once in awhile, Justin would try to make her cheer up, knowing that sadness isnt good for the babies.
Tara took her seat at a table, sitting with Laura, Brian, Karine, AJ, Kevin and Mar. Justin walked over to the table where his fellow bandmates were, and took a seat with them.
"Happy birthday!" Laura hugged Tara.
"Thanks!" Tara replied. She grabbed her glass of water and took a drink.
"I see you came with Justin. Whats going on with you two?" Marie asked.
"Nothing, we're just friends. I dont like him in that fashion. Dont get me wrong, hes a great guy and all, but we're only friends" Tara replied.
"He arranged this whole party for you, you know" Karine said.
"He did?" Tara asked. She knew that there was a party for her, but she thought that her other friends had arranged it.
"Seriously, he did. He sent us all the invitations and made sure we were all coming; This was all of his doing" Karine replied. AJ nodded his head in agreement with Karine.
"oh.. well.. that was sweet of him" Tara replied "so... how is, uhm, Nick doing?"
"You want the truth?" AJ asked. He stared straight at Tara.
"yeah"
"Hes dying without you. Hes completely whithering away. Hes like a hermit, he never leaves the house anymore. He wont go out anywhere" AJ replied "I've given up on him"
Tara frowned at AJ's reply. Brian cleared his throat and then stood up. He walked over to Tara and leaned down to her.
"Can I talk to you privately for a moment?"
"sure" She replied. "excuse me" she said to the table, then stood up and followed Brian.
Brian led Tara to the sitting room of the restaurant, and closed the sliding doors behind them.
"What is it, Brian?" Tara asked, a little worried.
"I have something for you" Brian said. He went over to the table of presents, and found the box that Nick had given him to give to her.
"Here, this is for you" Brian said. He passed her the box. She unwrapped the neatly wrapped present, and opened the box. A card lay on top. She grabbed the envelope and pulled out the card.
Dear Tara,
I really wish that I could be with you tonight on the night of your birthday, and every night forever as a matter of fact. I know you dont want to see me, and I respect that. However, since I love you with all my heart, I dont want to let your birthday go by without getting you something special. I love you, always and forever...
Love Nick
Tara wiped a tear from her eye, moving the card to the cushion beside her on the little couch.
She lifted up the tissue papers to look for the gift. She pulled out a cassette tape.
"whats this?" Tara asked, holding up the tape.
"I dont know... play it.." Brian suggested. Tara got up and walked over to the stereo that was in the waiting room, and placed the tape in. She turned the power on and pressed play.
Soft music filled the room, and Nick's voice sang the vocals. Tara and Brian sat through the four minute long song, listening to the words closely. The song was soo touching that even Brian was starting to get watery eyes. Tara sat on the couch silent and crying. The song was about Nick's love for Tara, and how an unfortunate accident had torn them apart. It was about a lost love, that wants to be refound, to be together once again. When the song finished, Brian pressed stop, and gave Tara a long hug.
"He loves you Tara.."
"I love him too, Brian!" Tara cried.
"He really misses you, and AJ was right, he is dying without you"
"But Brian I can't be with him... you know I cant.. after what he did to me" Tara said "How could I ever trust him?"
"Tara, I dont know, but, for some reason, I kinda believe Nick is telling the truth. And, I have also decided to devote my time to helping you, AND NICK, to find the truth of what really happened that night. Im going to find proof, to get the truth" Brian said. He gave Tara a kiss on her forehead.
"really? You'd do that for me?" Tara asked.
"Of course, if you found out Nick was innocent, would you go back to him?"
"Of course! I'd go back to him and never let him go!" Tara replied right away.
"Well, Im going to find it Tara.. I want you two back together" Brian said. Justin opened the door and interrupted Brian.
"Its time for supper.." Justin said. He walked over to Tara.
"Are you alright?" he asked. Tara looked over at Brian and remembered what he had just said.
"I'll be fine.." Tara replied. For the first time in a month, she had some hope.