Note from the author: Again, if you are eighteen, leave. Please enjoy.
The video store was practically empty when Tally walked in later that evening, the only other person a clerk at the computer check out desk. She shook her hair, skattering the light drizzle that had fallen on her head as she walked over from her house.
The store was fairly large, with each section (comedy, drama, horror) labeled with a sign above the long racks of videos. Tally headed immediately for the comedy. She could use a good laugh tonight, especially after her father had had to cancel on their veg out night. It had been his superior officer on the phone, telling him he needed to come in for more shifts or something like that. All Tally knew was that he was pulling in another all-nighter his tired body couldn't afford.
Just then a bell sounded, signaling the entrance of another customer. Tally looked up, only to feel her heart sink. Baily.
She had on a long leather jacket, with blue jeans that clung to her legs in all the right places. Her shirt was red, both casual and dressy at the same time. Her hair was up in a messy bun, wisps of her bangs falling over her smooth face.
Then Tally saw it. Baily's face was red and blotchy, her mascara running down her lashes and cheeks. Her eyes were red from where they had been rubbed, cast downward in an effort to shield them from whomever might see her. Before Tally could do or say anything, Baily ducked behind the horror section at the front of the building.
All the shame and guilt Tally had been feeling ever since Home Ec. class came rushing back to her. Never being one to leave things unfinished, Tally walked slowly over to the horror section. And, though she didn't want to admit it, she was curious as hell as to why Baily was crying.
Baily's sobs could clearly be heard over the pounding of the rain, which had gotten much stronger since the time Tally had left home, when Tally walked over to her. Head held in her hands, Baily was the picture of beautiful agony.
"Hi," Tally said softly, bringing attention to herself.
"What are you doin here?" Baily asked harshly, her deep brown eyes resting on Tally's sharp blue ones.
"I was about to ask you the same thing," Tally replied. Baily looked away, putting her head back in her hands. She was sitting with her back to a rack of videos, her legs crossed Indian style with her elbows on her knees.
Tally sat down agains the wall, facing her.
"Well OBVIOUSLY," Baily spoke out after a few minutes of silence, "I'm here to get a video."
"Well OBVIOUSLY that's not the only reason why you're here." Tally gently said, putting her hand on Baily's shoulder. Baily pulled away, but not before she felt a bolt of awareness throughout her entire body. She looked at Tally, realizing how wonderful she appeared.
She was wearing a skirt, a few inches above knee length, her tan legs muscular and lean. She had a pink shirt on, clinging to her tight stomach and body even more than usual with the rain that had fallen on her. Her brown hair was down, damp but still nicely styled. Her eyes were absolutely the most beautiful color blue Baily had ever seen. Whatever it was she was feeling, she had never felt it before. Never wanted someone more.
Baily was terrified. She looked down yet again.
After a few more long minutes without an answer, Tally could take it no longer. "What's wrong?" she asked sincerely.
Baily looked up, her eyes shooting daggers.
"Nothing is wrong with me! You don't know me!" She exclaimed. "Oh wait, that's right, 'my reputation precedes me', I forgot. You know all about me, don't you?" Her sarcasm cut deep, but Tally knew she had this coming.
"Listen, I came over here to apologize," at Baily's incredulous look she went on, "No, really, I really am sorry. I didn't mean to be a jerk, I just have had a bad year, moving a lot, and I made too quick a judgement of you. Under normal circumstances, I never would have ever done that. I'm sorry." Tally ended her words with a hopeful look.
Baily didn't know what to think. This girl, though beautiful, had hurt her today, just like everyone else. Baily wanted to believe her words, wanted to finally have someone to confide in, but she just couldn't. She couldn't get past the pain she had felt for so many years. Even though when she looked into Tally's eyes her heart melted, she couldn't just forgive her...couldn't just trust her.
"Yeah, well, whatever. I'll see you tomorrow at school." Baily finally worded after a silence.
Tally didn't know what to say. What more could she say? She had apologized, but it hadn't been accepted. From anyone else, Tally might have been able to say, Oh well, if she can't forgive why should I care, but with Baily she couldn't get over it that easily. She wanted to know the girl...on a level more than friends? It embarrassed Tally to think about that, but that's exactly what she did...exactly how she felt.
She was terrified. Now it was Tally's turn to look away.
"Fine," She said sharply, leaving the other girl with even more tears in her eyes than when she had started.
To Baily's great unnease, she wasn't happier when Tally left. Far from it, she found herself wishing she were in her company yet again. She wanted someone to talk to, wanted someone to there for her...and she had just thrown it away. It's for the best, Baily thought yet again, she would have hurt me eventually anyway.
Baily had not cared about the movie she picked when she came in the store, nor did she now, so she just took a video off the rack nearest to her. Oh great, she thought, getting into line. Tally was checking out her movie as well.
They did not talk to each other while Tally checked out, didn't even look at each other, even though both were very aware of the other's presence. The other's heat.
When Tally had checked out, she went outside, and started walking. Doesn't she have a car? Baily wondered.
The rain outside had gotten significantly stronger, blowing the trees in the parking lot and whipping Tally's beautiful hair around her. The other girl was getting soaked. Baily couldn't let her walk home, no matter how much bad blood was between them, so when she got her movie she went outside, got in her car, and pulled up beside Tally.
"Hey, do you want a ride home?" She asked. Tally was soaked, but her pride still had control over her.
"No, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you," She answered, her annoyance and impatience said loudly enough to be heard over the roar of thunder. Less than a few seconds later lightening struck.
"Look, I don't care what you say, get in the car right now! You're gonna kill yourself!" Baily screamed, creeping her car beside Tally's quick pace.
Tally looked up. The rain was getting harder, and the lightening WAS pretty bad. Still, she didn't feel like compromising herself yet again to Baily, no matter how much she was intrigued by her.
"No, I'd rather not," She stated calmly, trying to run ahead of the car.
Fine, if that's how you want to play it...Baily thought. She pulled the car up fifteen feet in front of the running girl, got out of the car, and stood in Tally's path.
"Look, you had better get out of here, the rain is getting harder," Tally said, now concerned for this girl who seemed to only want to help her...even though she couldn't trust her.
"What about you? Am I supposed to let you just die out here? How far is your house?"
Before Tally could respond, Baily fell. Fell hard. The dirt underneathe her had long since turned to mud, and her feet slipped right from beneathe her. Tally ran to the other girl, hoping she was alright.
Tally dropped to her knees. Baily wasn't moving. Fear gripped Tally's heart. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to handle this? Questions she could not answer popped into her head, filling her with fear and doubt.
She decided no matter what she had to do, she needed to move Baily out of the rain...so she did, into the passenger side of her own vehicle. Tally got in the driver's seat, and headed for her own house.
Note from the author: I always appreciate feedback...helps me get things typed faster (wink wink). Also, thanks again for the replies I have already gotten.