| Chapter 18 As Tara walked into the hall, she could see the guys in the waiting area outside Brian's room. They were in a deep discussion that immediately ceased when she walked up. "Hi guys, can I get you anything?" she asked. "No, we're fine, thanks," Howie said with a smile. "Tara, can we ask you some questions?" Kevin asked. "Um, sure." Tara replied a little uneasy. "Well, we noticed that you and Brian seem to be pretty close," Kevin said, "and we were wondering if there's something going on between you two?" Tara's mouth dropped wide open, "Absolutely not!!" "Kevin!! How could you ask her that?!" Nick said. Kevin looked at Nick, "Hey we were all thinking it, better to just get it in the open and deal." A.J. took Tara by the hand and lead her to a chair, "I apologize for my friend being an asshole, and by the way I was not thinking that." Tara sat down and let out a small laugh, "It's OK, if I were you guys I'd probably be thinking the same thing. Brian and I are close, but not like that. We both helped each other through a difficult time. You can't do that and not come away with some sort of a bond." Nick stared at Tara, I wonder if she knows how beautiful she is? he thought. "Nick?" Tara asked pulling him back to reality. "Huh?" he said blushing a bit. Tara smiled at him, "I was asking you what you were looking at?" Howie, A.J. and Kevin started to snicker, "Umm, nothing. Will you guys shut up!!" Nick said thoroughly embarrassed. Then all three burst out in laughter. Nick threw his hands up in defeat, "That's it, I'm going to the cafeteria!" he said as he turned to leave. "Nick wait!" Tara called, "I'll go with you, I haven't had breakfast yet." As Tara walked past Nick, he turned in the direction of the guys and flashed them a huge smile. This only added to their laugher. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick and Tara didn't say anything to each other on the way to the cafeteria, although they exchanged several glances and smiles. When they got there, they got their trays and sat down across from each other. "So, tell me a little about yourself," Nick said, "what do you do?" "Well, I used to do payroll and accounts payable at a major industry, but I'm kinda in between jobs right now," Tara answered. "Really? The person I had doing mine just quit," Nick said with a flicker of hope in his voice. Tara smiled at Nick, picking up on the hint, "Nick, I'm not sure what I want to do right now." "Oh, that's OK, I was just saying..." Nick said, feeling like she had just burst his bubble. "So," Nick said searching for something to talk about, "Are you seeing anyone?" Oh My God!!! I didn't just say that out loud! Tara looked at Nick as a smile crossed her face, but Nick could also see pain in her eyes. "No, I'm not." Tara answered. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Nick asked. "No Nick, It's a really long story that I'll tell you sometime, just not right now." Tara said, feeling the need change the subject before she broke down in tears. "Oh," Nick said looking down at his food, and mentally kicking himself for asking in the first place. "OK, my turn," Tara said with a smile. Nick looked up and right into those green eyes. "Tell me something about yourself that not many people know." she said. "Oh man," Nick said mentally searching for something, "I don't know, my life is pretty much an open book." "Aww come on, there has to be something?" Tara teased. Nick thought for a moment, "Well I recently got saved!" he said with excitement in his voice. "Really? That's great Nick!" Tara said truly happy for him. "I recently found my way back to God too," Tara said smiling. "Huh, small world isn't it?" Nick said. "Yeah it is." Tara replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin was standing outside Brian's room, watching him and Leighanne talk through the window. He was so glad that they had found Brian, but there was a part of him that was angry, he couldn't figure out why he was feeling that way. And that question he had asked Tara, I would never ask anyone that! he thought. God, it's like I'm watching myself do these things and I can't do anything to stop it! Please help me fight this! Kevin turned around, he couldn't watch them anymore. "Kev, is something wrong?" Howie asked, noticing that Kevin looked upset. "No, I'm fine," Kevin said. Howie gave him a �yeah right you are' look. Kevin let out a sigh, "I'm gonna go for a walk, I'll be back in a little while." Howie watched Kevin walk down the hall and disappear around the corner, he glanced over at A.J. A.J. shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, "Don't ask me man, I don't know what the hell is goin on!" Chapter 19 |