| Chapter 3 Nick rolled over and reached for Tara, she wasn't there. He opened his eyes, it had to be mid morning because he could see the sun behind the blinds in the window. He got up and went downstairs. As Nick passed by the couch he could tell that Tara had slept there because the afghan was balled up on the end of it. He looked in the kitchen, still no Tara. Nick finally went to the back of the house, to the exercise room. Tara was kick boxing with headphones on. Nick stood in the door for a minute watching her, she must have been working out for a while, she was covered in sweat and was out of breath, but still she kept on. And Nick could hear the music coming from her headphones across the room. Yep, something is really bothering her, he thought. Nick walked up behind Tara and tapped her on the shoulder. Tara swung around and punched Nick right in the mouth. "Oh God Nick I'm sorry, are you OK?" Tara asked. Nick was holding his mouth, he pulled his hand away, blood was dripping from his lip. Tara pulled her gloves off and led Nick to the kitchen sink. "Sorry, I shouldn't have snuck up behind you like that," Nick said. "No, it's my fault, I was in my own world there and I didn't hear you come in," Tara said as she rinsed a wash clothe in cold water and held it up to Nick's lip. "That better?" she asked. Nick nodded his head. Tara pulled the clothe away and looked at Nick's lip, "Well, I don't think you need stitches," she said with a grimace on her face, "But it's gonna look nasty for a few days." "It'll be OK," Nick said. Tara went to the freezer and got some ice, wrapped it in the clothe and handed it to Nick. "So what has you so upset?" Nick asked as he placed the ice pack on his mouth. Tara leaned against the counter, "Nick, I had a dream last night." "And?" he asked. "Well, do you remember last year when everything was happening, and Brian and I told you that we shared dreams?" she asked. "Yeah, but you guys haven't done that since you came back," Nick said. "Yeah, I know, but the dream I had was like those," Tara said. Nick looked at her with concern, "Did you talk to Brian, did he have the same dream?" "Well when I woke up, I came downstairs, and I was sitting on the couch wondering if I should call him or not when the phone rang. It was Brian, he said that he and Leighanne had gotten into a huge fight when they got home," Tara said. "Really? About him making the album?" Nick asked. "Yeah, and well, he said he really didn't know why he called, but then I told him about the dream I had. He sounded a little I don't know, scared maybe after I told him about it," Tara answered. "Well, can you blame him, after all he went through last year, and now strange things are starting to happen," Nick said. "Yeah, true. I just wish I could get a handle on what it meant, I've been thinking about it all morning, and nothing is coming to me," Tara said. Nick pulled her close, "Maybe if you relax for a while, and don't think about it, then it will come to you." Tara smiled at him, "Yeah, maybe you're right. I'm gonna go take a shower, you gonna be OK?" "Yeah, me and my ice will go watch some TV," Nick said laughing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian woke up and looked around. He didn't remember falling asleep on the couch. Tyke got up and stretched. "Hey, you sleep with me all night boy?" Brian asked. Tyke looked at him, then jumped off the couch and headed for the doggie door. Brian got up and headed upstairs. When he got to his bedroom, Leighanne was gone. He walked around the house looking for her. When he reached the kitchen there was a note on the table. Brian, I've gone to run some errands. I'll be back this afternoon. Sorry about last night, I'll make it up to you. Love, L Brian set the note down and looked at the clock, it was 9:30. Wonder what she's up to, he thought to himself. He walked over to the cabinet, grabbed the dog food, and fed Litty and Tyke, much to their enjoyment, then headed upstairs to get a shower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne pulled into Gary's drive and made her way to the house. She had decided to take his offer of working on a small film, and since she was out this way, she just decided to drop in and tell him. She got out of her car and walked up to the door. Just as she was about to knock, Gary opened the door. "Hey Anne, what brings you here?" he asked with a charming smile. "Well I was in the neighborhood and decided to come by and tell you that I will have time to work on the project after all," Leighanne said. Gary's smile grew even larger, "Great, would you like to come in?" "Oh, no thanks, I'm in the middle of running errands," Leighanne said as she turned to walk back to her car. "OK then, I'll see you next week," Gary called after her. "All right, see you then," Leighanne said as she got in her car. Gary stood in the door, watching as Leighanne drove away. He started plotting what his next move would be. "Soon my dear Anne, soon," he said as he turned and walked back into the house. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian had gotten his shower, got dressed, and pittled around the house for a while. He looked at the clock, 10:45. Brian took a deep breath and picked up the phone. He dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up. "Hello," Nick said. "Hey Nick, it's Bri, are you guys busy?" he asked. "No, I'm watching TV and Tara is in the shower, why?" "Well, do you mind if I come over, I need to talk to Tara," Brian asked. "Oh, so what am I? Chopped liver?" Nick asked jokingly, "Of course man, just come on over." Brian laughed, "All right, see you in a few." He hung up the phone and headed out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick opened the door to see Brian standing there looking very nervous. "Hey, come on in," Nick said. "Good lord what happened to you?" Brian asked seeing Nick's face. "A little friendly fire," he answered. Brian looked at him confused. "Tara was kick boxing this morning, and I made the mistake of walking up behind her," Nick explained. Brian burst out laughing, "Did she knock you out?" Nick faked a hurt look, "No, why do I look that weak?" Brian held his hands up in defense, "Hey, all I'm saying is the girl cleaned Kevin's clock last year, she's tough. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if she did knock you out." They both laughed as they rounded the corner into the living room. Tara was sitting on the couch looking at a magazine when they came in. She looked up with a smile, "OK, what's so funny?" she asked. "Oh nothing," Nick said, "I'm just getting teased about my little love pat." Tara laughed, "So that's what you're calling it now?" Nick smiled, "Yeah, I just thought that up." Brian and Tara both rolled their eyes. "OK, since neither of you find me witty, I'll just retreat to the kitchen. Want anything while I'm there?" Nick said. "No thanks," Brian said. "No baby," Tara answered. Nick shrugged his shoulders, turned and left the room. Brian walked over and sat down on the couch facing Tara. "So what's buggin you?" she asked. "I'm not sure. When I got up, Lee was already gone. She left a note and said she'd be back this afternoon." Brian said. "Oh, where'd she go?" Tara asked. "Don't know," Brian said looking down at the magazine laying between them. "So, have you figured out what your dream was about?" he asked. "No, it's been bugging me all morning," Tara answered. "Yeah, I can see that," Brian said laughing. "Hey, he's lucky I didn't knock him out," Tara said. Brian laughed even harder. "I can hear you!" Nick yelled from the kitchen, "That better not be about me!" Tara and Brian looked at each other and just rolled. A few hours later, Brian, Nick and Tara where in the middle of a Monopoly game when Brian's cell phone rang. "Hello," Brian said. "Hey, where are you?" Leighanne asked. "I'm at Nick's," Brian answered. "Oh, well when are you going to be home?" Leighanne asked. "Whenever you want me to be," he answered. "Well come home soon, I've got a surprise for you," Leighanne said. Brian looked at Tara with concern. "OK, be there in a few," he said as he hung up. "What was that look for?" Tara asked. "She said she had a surprise for me," Brian answered as he got up. "Hum, bet I know what it is," Nick said nudging Brian. "Nick!" Tara said, "You see what I have to live with here?" Brian laughed, "Yeah, I still don't know how you do it." "HaHa, very funny guys," Nick said. Tara followed Brian to the door, "Hey, remember what I said about being careful." "I will," Brian said as he left. Tara watched as he drove down the drive until she couldn't see him anymore. "Are things gonna be OK with those two?" Nick asked walking up behind Tara. Tara turned around, "I hope to God it will be." Chapter 4 |