Warning(s): Swearing, underage drinking and mentions of intoxication
-----------
It was Tara's first day and of course she was already running late for her first class. She had turned down the maps that were offered at the entrance..goodness did she regret that now. About seven minutes left until the start of her class and she was ninety nine percent sure she was walking in a circle. Tara decided to make one more attempt before asking for help when she bumped into somebody. Just as she was about to apologize she stopped herself when she realized who she had bumped into.
"Sorr- oh it's you." You rolled your eyes as Tara responded with a scoff. "What the hell are you doing here?" She asked as she picked up her things and you did the same with your fallen belongings.
"Attending college. What does it look like, princess?" Tara roughly shoved one of your books to your chest. "We've been over this, don't call me that." You've had the same nickname for Tara since highschool and every time it pissed her off. Oh, how you loved getting a reaction out of her.
"What I mean is, what the hell are you doing in New York? It's one hell of a coincidence." You let out a dry chuckle before answering. "Decided to go to a college near my family. What's it to you?" Tara rolled her eyes. Gosh, she despised you. Just when she thought she finally got away from everything that she left behind, you show up.
Just as she's about to let out another remark she realizes the time. Tara still has no idea where she is, meaning she'll have to swallow her pride and ask you, of all people, for help. "Listen, I don't have time to go back and forth right now. I'm gonna be late for my film class and I have no idea where I am right now."
You grinned and looked at the girl,"Lucky for you we're headed in the same direction, my class is right by your destination."
"Great, show me?" Tara asked, causing you to wear a smug smirk. Oh how she wanted to slap it right off your-
"Of course, princess" you winked at her and started walking, Tara let out a small groan but followed. It didn't take long for you both to arrive at her destination. "Are you serious, it was right here?" Tara scoffed.
"Yeah, you never were good at direction" you remarked, which earned you a shove to the shoulder. "And you're still as infuriating as ever." You tsked and shook your head at her. "That's no way to thank somebody, Tara. Where have your manners gone?"
"I need to get to class before I'm even late." She shoved passed you and entered the classroom. As you walked the short distance to your class, the younger Carpenter sat down next to Mindy with a huff.
"Uh oh, I know that look. Who pissed you off this time?" Mindy asked as Tara settled in her seat. "The same pain in my ass from highschool." Mindy raised her eyebrows, knowing exactly who her friend was referring to.
"Shit, really? Never thought I'd get to see you two at it again. But never say never I guess" Mindy sighed as Tara groaned and put her head down.
—
You opened the door to your shared apartment, throwing your bag on the floor and dramatically plopping down on the coach. You leaned your head back and closed your eyes as the door to your roommate's room opened.
"Y/N, you up?" She asked, you opened your eyes and nodded at her. "Okay good, I need your opinion." She held up two tops. "Which should I go with? This one or this one?"
"Uhhh, left one for sure" you answered, pointing to the left top. "Right?" She has been talking to this girl and tonight would be their second date. "So, when do I get to meet the girl that has my roommate so smitten?"
"And then you embarrass me? Yeah, gonna hold off on that for a bit." You jokingly scoff at her comment. "Come on, Anika. I'm not gonna embarrass you or anything." Anika let out a small laugh, "Yeah that was super convincing."
Later that night, you're left alone in the apartment with nothing to do while Anika is out on her date. You try to pass the time by re-watching Abbott Elementary before getting a message from one of your friends asking if you were free.
Henry (8:32 pm) you free? I'm so fucking bored rn 😩
Y/N (8:33 pm) what do you have in mind?
Henry (8:33 pm) heard about a frat party goin on tn
Y/N (8:34 pm) Idk, you know how I am with parties
Henry (8:34 pm) ohhh come onnn my little wallflower pleaseee
Y/N (8:35 pm) I don't feel like being around people rn
Henry (8:35 pm) you NEVER feel like being around people. besides..there'll be alcohol and you can stay in your little corner if you want
Y/N (8:36 pm) Fine. You win, asshole.
Henry (8:36 pm) YAYY pick you up in fifteen?
Y/N (8:37 pm) Alright
Read at 8:37 pm
When the two of you arrived at the party you immediately wanted to curl up into a ball. Henry stayed by your side for a while but then ventured off to do his own things. You sat down on a couch, beer in hand as your right leg bounced.
—
"What about her? She's cute" Ethan pointed to the couch and Chad looked over to find you. "Holy crap-" Ethan furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What's wrong with her?"
"Uh, you know that girl that Tara was ranting about earlier?"
"Yeah, but what does that hav- oh. Oh. It's her?" Chad nodded, looking back at you then back to the curly haired boy.
Henry walked over and sat down beside you, "What's up, buddy?" You took another sip of your beer before responding. "I feel like eyes are on me but I don't know where and it's really starting to tick me off."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you're not being stalked if that's what you're worried about." You went for another sip of your beer but noticed you're all out. "Can you come with me to get another one?" Henry hummed and you both got up to where the drinks were.
Henry was talking to somebody else, you were beside him and it was when you grabbed another beer that you heard, "Oh you have got to be kidding me." You rolled your eyes and turned towards the voice. Revealing it to be Tara Carpenter.
"At this point you're stalking me. You have to be" Tara said with scoff as you rolled your eyes again. "Someone's full of it. Actually, I was dragged here by a friend. Not everything pertains to you, princess."
"I'm supposed to believe you actually have a friend?" Tara questioned with a look that said 'really?'
"Now you know how I felt when I discovered there was more than one person that supposedly tolerates you" you shot back, tilting your head slightly.
"All I'm hearing is that you can't comprehend what it's like to be tolerated." Tara lifted one of the bottles of Vodka, inspecting it before tucking it to her side.
You noticed this but didn't say anything. Maybe you just never thought you'd see the day when princess Tara would be drinking and going to frat parties.
Tara walked away before you could respond to her comment. You were pulled out of your train of thought by a tap on your shoulder. You turned to see Henry. "You alright?" He asked you, the person he was previously talking to had left.
"Yeah. Yeah I'm good. I'm gonna go back to the couch."
"Want me to join you?" You shook your head,"Nah, it's okay. You can go, you know where to find me."
"Alright but let me know when you wanna leave," he said, patting your shoulder. You nodded and he left, already talking to somebody new.
You sat back down on the couch, cracking the beer open and taking a sip. It was disgusting but it was something to do. You took out your phone and scrolled through your notifications. Some from Tumblr, tiktok and two messages from your older brother. You clicked on one of the messages.
Dickhead (9:01 pm) mom wants to know if you're coming over for Lily's birthday
Y/N (9:43 pm) as far as I know, yeah
Dickhead (9:45 pm) took you long enough
Y/N (9:46 pm) relax, it was only 42 mins
Dickhead (9:46 pm) how do I know you didn't get kidnapped in those 42 mins????
Y/N (9:47 pm) you're so fucking dramatic
Dickhead (9:47 pm) am I?? Or are you not dramatic enough?
Dickhead (9:48 pm) where even are you rn
Y/N (9:48 pm) some stupid party. Why's it your business??
Dickhead (9:49 pm) whatever, idc
Y/N (9:49 pm) kindaaaa seem like ya do
Dickhead (9:50 pm) if that's what helps you sleep at night
Before you could text back you hear something smack against the wall. You look up to find an extremely drunk looking Tara being held up by Chad. "Alright, it's time to go home." You recognized him from Woodsboro as one of Tara's friends. "No I'm fineee" Tara slurred, still struggling to stand.
Chad waves over Ethan, leaving with him and the intoxicated girl. They finally get back to the Carpenter-Bailey residence with Sam waiting for them in the living room.
"Where were you guys? I was worried sick- Is she drunk?" Sam questioned, with a raised voice which caused Tara to groan from the volume. "Tooo loud."
Sam sighed, "Tara, I'm gonna wash you up and then in the morning we'll talk about this when you're sober." Chad mumbled a 'sorry' as Sam walked Tara to the bathroom. Ethan and Chad said their goodbyes to the older Carpenter before leaving.
—
It was the next day and you had history.
Ten minutes had passed and as you were taking notes you heard the door slam open. Everybody turned their heads and you saw Tara was the one who had opened them. She was wearing sunglasses, a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. No doubt, she was suffering from a killer hangover after last night. The professor looked at her for a second before lazily saying, "Find a seat" and continuing the lesson.
Everybody else turned back to the professor but your eyes still followed the younger Carpenter. You noticed the only available seat was beside you. Which was just ridiculous to you. Of course today was the day people didn't feel like skipping out on learning.
As Tara painfully approached the seat beside you, you looked back towards your notes. Trying your absolute hardest to ignore the girl beside you. A few minutes pass before you speak up. "Ya know, you could've just skipped." You whispered to Tara without looking up from your notes.
"Sam made me go." She whispered back, slightly tilting her head to look at your notes. "You live with your sister?" You asked as you blocked your notebook from her view with your arm.
She rolled her eyes, painfully due to her headache. "And?" You shook your head. "Didn't mean anything by it. She seems nice."
"How do you know my sister?" Tara's voice had a hint of suspicion. "I met her briefly back in Woodsboro."
"Really?" Curiosity started to grow inside Tara. "When was that?" You sighed and turned to meet Tara's stare. "I just remember bumping into her at some point. It was a while ago though so I don't remember the specifics."
"Maybe if you spent as much time taking notes as you did interrogating me, you wouldn't have to try to copy my notes." Tara looked away from your notes and rubbed her temples.
"Whatever, Y/L/N. You think I wanna be here? Only reason I am is because it's a mandatory class." You mumbled something before throwing a pencil at Tara. "At least look like you're doing something."
After what felt like forever, the class was finally over. You and Tara had enough of each other and were ready to get out of there. Anika met you outside the classroom, Tara shoving passed you and not sparing a single glance to you.
But Anika immediately noticed the tension in those couple seconds. "Y/N, please don't tell me that's the girl you rant about." You furrowed your eyebrows at her. "She is.."
"Of course she is," Anika sighed. "You know that girl I've been seeing?" You hummed. "She's friends with her."
"You're serious? That's..great." You said trying to sport a supporting smile for your friend.
Of all the things that could be consistent in your life, why did it have to be Tara?