Riptide

chapter 2 - oh glory

oh glory - panic! at the disco

"D'you think this could be interpreted as death? I mean-" Miles stopped, looking up at Tara. "Tara!"
She flicked her eyes from her phone to Miles for a half a second, then continued scrolling. "Death, yeah, yeah, listen - I'm pretty preoccupied with this uh, maths sum so-"
Miles snatched the phone out of her hand. "You're literally just looking at clothes," he said, holding up the phone incriminatingly.
"No, I'm calculating how much this coat plus these shoes would cost," she said, swiping for her phone - missing.
Miles held the phone away from her, gingerly, like it was a grenade of sorts. "Nope. You are not getting this phone back until we at least another half hour of revision."
Tara scoffed. "You sound like my dad."
"Good. Maybe that'll teach you to do some work instead of slacking off and chasing after girls all the time."
The week before summer Tara's dad had told her, made her promise that if she didn't raise her grades then he would take away her allowance, which Miles thought would definitely be beneficial - at least for him. She was always complaining about her dad's nagging, or crying over some girl that had broken up with her after one week. This would keep her out of trouble, for a few weeks at least. Tara was always managing to break her promises one way or another.

"For once I agree with your dad, and that's a rare delicacy."
"Okay, this isn't a resturant, Miles," Tara said, rolling her eyes. "And anyway, I'd say I'm actually pretty focused on my studies! I'm not that bad!"
Miles laughed - a stifled laugh, like he couldn't help it. "Tara, when you couldn't get the question in class you literally got up and walked out."
"Okay, that was only because I hadn't eaten that day and I needed food." She took her phone off Miles' side of table and got up. "Speaking of which..." She shouldered her bag. "Greg's?"
Mikes looked at her. "We've been here for five minutes and we've literally made no progress."
"Yes but I'm hungry." She nudged him. "C'mon."
"Tara-"
"C'mon! I swear we'll get to your death thing soon, I just want to eat. You know I can't study on an empty stomach."
Miles sighed and stood up - a clear sign of defeat. "Fine, but promise that next time you'll actually get some work done."
"Yeah, whatever."
"Tara."
She stopped walking. "Fine. I promise that I will focus on my work, okay?"
"Good."
They left the library.

And walked straight into trouble. There, standing in Starbucks, was the girl from the beach they'd seen just days before. No way. Tara stopped in her tracks, a mad grin taking over the entirety of her face.
"Miles-"
"No. No, no, no, no! Nope! I forbid it!" He grabbed Tara's arm. "I forbid it!"
"Hey!" She yelled, but she was already being dragged away.
"Nooooo! Tara listen to me-"
"Miles-"
"No, listen. Please just promise me you won't spend this summer obsessing over some girl you saw on the beach for like two seconds! You-you don't even know her name!"
Tara sighed. "I- look. Just - let's make a deal. I focus on my work - completely - and you accompany me to the coffee shop whenever I go." She held out her hand. "'Kay?"
Miles stayed staring at her. "You promise not to break the deal?"
"I promise."
They shook hands.

As they were walking away, Tara said, "Don't mention this to my dad please?"
"No chance. I wouldn't be able to deal with all your whining."