Chapter 14: Summertime Surprises

Summer vacation is in full swing by now, and Cory has forgotten all about trying to tell Tara about his upcoming trip to Miami of Ohio. His parents are excited to head out of town, so much so that they've planned what they will do while Cory is escorted around the university by the coach and the athletic director.

"Hey, Cory, are you packed up and ready to go?" his mother calls out from the living room.

"Almost, Mom. Just gotta zip my bag and I'm good."

She's getting more impatient, tapping her foot on the floor. "Hurry up or we're leaving without you!" she teases, feeling excited to leave town.

Knocking on the edge of the screen door, Tara catches the end of their exchange.

"Hi, Mrs. Dubois. Going on a weekend getaway?"

Waving her to come inside, the news is about to blow Tara away. "No, it's the trip to Oxford, Ohio, for Cory's official visit to the college for a scholarship offer. Didn't he tell you after he won the state title?"

She gasps quietly to herself. Tara tries to hide her shock.

"Oh, yeah. Guess I forgot, but hey have fun, and I'll see y'all when ya get back. Bring me a postcard!"

She spins around, heading out the door, barely missing Cory, who is finally coming out from his room.

"Someone here, Mom?"

"Just Tara forgetting about your visit. She said she'll see you when we get back. Now come on kid and let's go!" She motions him toward the door, locking it behind them.

Fueled by pure rage, Tara stands there with a sarcastic smile, waving as Cory and his parents fade away in the distance.

"Oh, you poor bastard, you're gonna pay for lying to me!" she grunts, nearly grinding her teeth.

Cruising to Kayla's to blow off some steam, Tara pulls up to see Kayla lying out in the sun.

"Hey, girl, what is up?" Kayla calls out, looking over to her.

"Oh, I'm pissed! Cory is going to visit a college he never told me about."

Confused, Kayla tips her sunglasses away from her eyes. "Say what? Where's he going?"

After slamming her car door, Tara mumbles, "Miami" as she leans against the door.

"What are you going to do when he gets back?"

Tara places her index finger to her lips. "I guess I'll have to deal with it. I'll tell you this: if he thinks he's going to lie and keep things from me, I'll beat his ass. My ex did that to me, and I will not go through that ever again."

Sitting up, Kayla gets to her feet to take her towel inside and throw on some clothes.

"Hey, come on inside. I'll get dressed, and we'll go see if Rick knew anything about this. If he did, I'll kick him in the balls."

Tara shoves off her Kia and struts into the house.

"I hate being lied to more than anything!" Tara reiterates, trying to keep herself fired up.

"Don't blame ya, girl."

After getting back into regular clothes, the girls head out to find Rick. On the way there, they both immediately notice the Man-Van sitting in the church parking lot.

"There he is. Pull in and I'll go get him. I won't cause a scene in the church," Kayla explains, cracking her knuckles, prepared for an all-out verbal assault if Rick admits to knowing about the trip.

"Go get 'em girl. I'll ask all the questions," Tara says, pissed, a scowl frozen on her face.

Taking her time inside, Kayla baits Rick, acting as if nothing is wrong in the slightest bit. Once she's able to convince him to come outside with her, he's ambushed when both ladies pounce on him.

"I want the truth, Rick. Did you know about Cory going to Ohio?" Tara begins.

"Yeah? How come you didn't tell either of us about the offer he has?" Kayla interjects.

"Is he giving up on Western Michigan? Is he going to throw me away like some piece of trash?" Tara badgers Rick at the same time.

Not able to get a word in edgewise, Rick's eyes tell the whole tale. His head goes back and forth as the girls continue their assault.

"Well, spill it! What's the damn deal with Cory keeping this from me?" Tara yells, almost ready to slap Cory's best friend.

Hearing Tara swear on holy ground forces him to put a halt to it all. "Woah, right there. Swear again on church grounds, and you're gone! You can badger me all you want, but don't you dare ever swear on my father's property!"

He places his finger directly in Tara's face.

"Get your hand out of her face!" Kayla yells, slapping his hand away.

"Don't ever hit me again. You're both lucky we're on holy ground, or else I'd tell you exactly what I think of both of you right about now. Now, stop acting like crazy lunatics and leave."

Both girls look at each before they haul off, slapping Rick across the face.

"Don't you ever insult us like that again," Tara scolds, putting her hands on her hips.

"Look, I thought Cory told you. If he didn't then he had his reasons, but leave me out of your all's drama. Other than that, I have to help my father. Later."

Rick turns around, walking away.

"Yeah, go ahead and run off. You're just like every other guy in this shitty-ass town!" Kayla screams, angry at Rick for not being on their side.

"I said don't cuss. Now leave before I call the cops for trespassing. Last warning—I mean it," Rick says, shaking his head as he walks back into the church.

"Jerk face!" Kayla screeches, kicking a rock across the parking lot.

Tara takes out her keys and motions Kayla to get into the car. "That's fine. If that's how they wanna play it, then we can do it better. They wanna ignore and keep things from us; then we can ignore them and make them come crawling back to us."

Over the next two days, Cory is blown away with his visit to Miami University. From the weight room to the feel of practicing with some of the team out on the ice, he feels completely at home. Meanwhile, his parents are out enjoying the Miami Valley with the sights and attractions. None of them are aware of the events building pressure back home. The entire trip, they forget about RiverCreek as they enjoy Ohio. Their final night, they even try a local delicacy—a pizza place called LaRosa's Pizza.

When they arrive home and unpack, Cory can't wait to find Tara and explain every detail of the trip. Snatching the cordless phone, he dials her house but only gets the answering machine.

"Well, shoot. Maybe she's at work," Cory says, hanging up. He then dials her cell phone number. It rings twice before she picks up.

"Fuck off, liar!" she barks into the phone, then hangs up, leaving Cory confused.

"What did I do?"

Concerned over her attitude, Cory quickly grabs his car keys. Heading out the door, he forgets to tell his parents goodbye.

"Hey, be home by dark. I mean it!" his father yells to get his son's attention.

In his car, Cory speeds around town, trying to find Tara. He checks by her house, her mother's store, and even by the point where everyone from school has gathered. Cory doesn't see Tara anywhere.

Now, his own frustration building, he struggles to put together what he's done wrong. Cory doesn't regard the speed limits around town. He's down by Lloyd's place when he finally notices Tara and Lloyd heading in the opposite direction.

"About damn time!" he says over the turbo blowing off when he downshifts, swinging his Celica around in the middle of the road, nearly colliding with another oncoming car.

Power shifting to catch up, Cory doesn't hesitate to pass Tara and Lloyd, cutting them off, nearly causing them to crash into his car. With a renewed sense of anger, Tara gets out, slamming her door shut.

"Are you really that stupid? You nearly hit us, you stupid idiot!"

Cory stands there with a scowl, accompanied with heavy breathing.

"Really, you wanna yell at me again when I've done nothing wrong. I'm starting to think you've done gone off the deep end!"

Tara's eyes grow wide under her sunglasses.

"That's the second time this week I've been called crazy. I'd rather be crazy than be a secretive lying asshole like you."

When the pieces come together, Cory's expression doesn't change at all.

"You're mad because I tried to tell you before about going to check out a college? Every time I tried, you changed the subject. Then you are nuts, you crazy bitch."

"I'll show you crazy if you wanna see crazy!"

She reaches into her Kia Sportage and pulls out a tire iron, ready to fuck up Cory's car. This forces Lloyd to become the peacekeeper.

"Stop it! Both of you are saying things you don't mean. You two are supposed to love each other, and this isn't the way to fix things."

Lloyd gets between them, extending his arms to keep them apart.

"No, I'm done being treated this way. I'm through with you Cory and every other guy treating me like this. Don't ever bother me again, ya selfish prick."

Cory's mouth gets the best of him before he realizes it. "Up yours, ho bag! You're no better than that tramp Vanessa—just another pretty face trying to fuck your way to a better life."

Tara's mouth dips open with crocodile tears forming in her eyes.

"Cory, that's enough! Take it back right now. You love her, and you damn well know it. She's a wonderful woman to have. Now you both need to cool it before you say anything else you will regret."

Hearing enough, Cory waits until Lloyd looks back to Tara as she sniffles, trying to keep her tears from free flowing down her cheeks.

Turning his back proves costly, as Cory places his hands on Lloyd, shoving him directly into Tara and sending them both onto the blacktop.

"Go have her make you a real man, Lloyd."

Cory gets back into his car, dashing around the corner.

"Son of a bitch. What the hell is wrong with you two?" Lloyd says, helping Tara back to her feet.

"He ain't getting away with this!"

Getting into her car, Tara doesn't wait for Lloyd to climb back into the passenger's seat. She tries to chase Cory to continue their scuffle.

"Hey, at least take me home!" Lloyd screams, standing in the street.

"God, this place blows," he says, flopping his hands down to his side as he walks to meet his mother at the diner.

Cory gains some distance from Tara, making his way back to the point with everyone else. He throws his car shifter in neutral and rips the e-brake. He power slides into the parking lot, squalling the tires until he comes to a complete stop.

"Yeah, Core, way to make those tires squall, buddy boy!" Joe calls out, cupping his hands around his mouth.

Minutes after getting out, he vanishes into the crowd. Tara pulls up, blocking the Celica from getting away.

"Cory, you motherfucker, where the hell are you?" she screams, looking around, trying to find him.

"I'm not finished with you yet."

She begins shoving people out of her way, knocking some of them to the ground in her heated search.

"He's over here!" she hears Kayla call out back toward the other side of the parking lot.

"Thanks, loud mouth. Like I need to hear them argue. It's bad enough I'm still pissed over how you disrespected my father's church."

Breaking away from his hand, Kayla reignites their feud.

"I'm still pissed at you too, asshole, so don't start with me."

Rick tries to walk away when Kayla runs up, shoving him in the small of his back.

"Come on, pussy, fight back!" she cries, pushing Rick's buttons.

"Stop it right now. I'm not doing this. I love you, but you need to calm down. Take that thing there with you while I talk Cory down." He points over to Tara, trying to defuse them.

"I'd rather get hit by a car than listen to you ever again."

Kayla walks away backward, flipping both Cory and Rick the bird, unaware of a race that's in progress. She slips on some loose gravel along the edge of the road. She panics when she and everyone else hear the blaring horn. Rick rushes to get to her when he realizes she's too scared to move out of the way.

She's almost back to her feet when she's suddenly struck by a blue Subaru WRX. She's tossed from bumper to bumper, landing hard on the pavement, rolling several feet and bouncing less with each roll.

"Kayla!" Tara shrieks in terror as Cory and Rick dash over to her.

"Don't move her yet. We need to support her head," Cory orders, rushing to help Rick roll her over since she's face down on the road.

"No, no, no, please be okay. Someone call 911 now!" Rick pleads. Everyone is in a total state of shock when the WRX doesn't even stop or turn around to check on Kayla.

"Whose car is that?" Cory cries after helping Rick roll Kayla onto her back.

"Rick, Rick!" he screams, holding onto her head.

"Go get help. Take Tara with you. Hurry!" Cory demands, knowing it's not looking good.

Cory looks down to see the damage inflicted by the car. Kayla is cut up from head to toe. Her face is busted open. She's barely moaning before she begins to gurgle, coughing up blood from her lips.

"Hey! Go get her help now!" Cory repeats, trying to keep Kayla from moving her head.

Realizing she's in bad shape, Cory stays behind when Rick and Tara go for help. It feels like time stands still as Cory talks to Kayla to keep her still.

"It's okay, Kayla. I got you. Just don't move. You're going to be okay." He knows better, though. She's already coughed up blood.

She's beginning to gag with each cough, trying to get her breath.

"Hold on, Kayla. Help is coming. You can't give up," Cory tries to soothe her, fighting back his own emotions to keep her from panicking.

Moments later, everyone can hear the echo of sirens approaching.

"Fuzz, everyone run!" Joe calls out, causing a stir of panic when reality enters the crowd again.

Not budging at all, Cory stays where he is with Kayla as Joe kneels beside him.

"That was Frankie's new car. I can't believe that he would hit her and keep going," Joe reveals, covering his mouth in shock.

Cory can't seem to wrap his mind around Frankie being that careless.

"Joe, get out of here. If she dies, you don't wanna be here to see that."

"No, I can't leave you here like this. What can I do to help?" Joe takes Kayla's hand, talking to her. "Hey, Kayla, don't leave us please. I never told you this, but I've had the biggest crush on you for a long time now." His eyes fill with tears as he pulls her wrist to his face, lightly kissing it.

"It's not good. Please leave, Joe. You don't want this burned into your mind forever."

Joe shakes his head, refusing to go. Kayla begins to go into convulsions for a when the paramedics pull up with Sherriff Dubois behind them.

"Cory, what happened?" she questions, seeing Kayla's blood covering his hands and shirt.

"She got hit during an argument with me and Rick and Tara. I think it was Frank's car that hit her. He didn't stop, Mom."

Looking down at Kayla, she knows it's only a matter of time. "Boys, leave now, both of you."

She slips on a pair of latex gloves to assist the paramedics.

"Fellas, you're going to have to rush it. She's fading fast," the sheriff advises, looking into Kayla's eyes.

"I said leave. I mean it, Cory! You and Joe both get out of here."

Cory gets to his feet as she begins to shake again, darker blood spitting up with her coughing. The paramedics hurry to get her strapped to the backboard. After placing a brace around her neck and loading her onto the stretcher, they rush her to the back of the ambulance. Once they're about to pick up the stretcher, they hear Kayla give one final deep gasp as her chest stops moving.

"Bag her and begin compressions!"

The boys hear them as they stand there with Sheriff Dubois.

"No," she sighs, pulling the boys close to her body.

"Mom, no ... she's ..." Cory stutters, wiping his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, son."

Cory begins to break down in tears when he hears Rick and Tara pulling up behind them. Unable to move, they stand there facing the ambulance when the other two creep up and see the expressions on each of their faces.

"No ..." Tara whispers, seeing Cory and his mother crying.

Suddenly, one of the paramedics peeks around the edge of the ambulance. "Sherriff, we need to see you."

He looks at the ground when he calls for her.

"No!" Rick shouts, falling to his knees. "God, no, don't take her from me!"

Following the paramedic into the rear of the ambulance, Sheriff Dubois places her hand over Kayla's eyes, closing them for the last time.

"Go with an angel to face God, you sweet beautiful young woman. I guess it's my job to call it now. Time of death: five minutes after noon. She's singing with the angels now."

Sheriff Dubois places her other hand over her eyes, trying to control the pain. She's unaware that Cory has been secretly following her and listening on the other side of the rear door.

Turned back to his friends, Cory dips his head as he walks back, shaking it from side to side. Walking up, he puts his arms around Tara, pulling her in tightly, trying to comfort her. She grips him with all her might, unable to control her grief.

Joe is walking up to the ambulance when he sees the sheriff hop out of the back.

"Mrs. Dubois, I know who hit her. It was Frankie for sure, ma'am. I can't believe he would keep running."

With her hands on his shoulders, she locks eyes with him. "You'll be required to testify that in court. I'm going to arrest him now, so head down with Cory and the others to the station to make your statements."

Joe signals that he understands and walks away.

"Cory, Tara, Rick, all of you get down to the station now. There's nothing else you can do here. I mean it, get down there or else you'll be in serious trouble. I'm bringing in the driver of the car for charges."

They can't move, still stuck in a moment of shock.

"I said get moving!" she commands, pointing to their cars.

Heeding her warning, the kids climb into the Man-Van where, Cory reveals what he knows.

"Frankie's going to pay for this."

Rick can't accept that Kayla is gone. "She's alive, I know it. She can't be gone."

Tara places her hand on his arm. "I wish that were true, Rick, but Cory, what do you mean Frankie will pay. Did he hit her?"

Cory acknowledges with a simple head nod.

"He's dead," Rick grumbles, dropping the van into gear to head for the sheriff's station.

Nearly an hour goes by before Sheriff Dubois arrives with Frankie in handcuffs. Without thinking, Rick rushes him, spearing him with all his strength. Before he can begin a physical assault, two deputies get their hands on Rick, pulling him away.

"Get him in a cool-down cell, now!" the sheriff orders, picking Frank off the floor. "You're being formerly charged with manslaughter, reckless driving, and failure to control your vehicle, causing bodily damage," she informs him, tossing him into a cell after she uncuffs his wrists. "Did all of you get a report filled out?" All four eyewitnesses reply, "Yes" before she waves them away. "Go home. Cory go get your car and go home. I am sorry to say kids, she's gone. If you need anything, I am a phone call away."

Fighting back the tears, Rick stands there, walking out of the cell.

"I'm good. Let's go," he says in a shaky voice.

"Mrs. Dubois, can you please take me home?" Tara asks, not wanting to see Cory covered with Kayla's blood.

"Yeah, I'll have Deputy Lewis here run you home. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask or call, day or night."

She walks over to Tara, embracing her as the boys have left the station.

"She's in a much better place now, but if you'll excuse me, I need to be there when her parents identify her body."

Tara is unable to let go, burying her face into the sheriff's chest. "I don't wanna let go yet ..."

"Lewis, could you go to the hospital morgue for me please. I can't leave her like this. And someone needs to be there for the Spencer's for support.

"Yes, Sheriff, it'd be my honor to assist since you were close to everyone involved."

Closing her eyes Mrs. Dubois instantly goes from sheriff to comforting parent, holding Tara in her arms, letting her cry until she can't cry anymore.

The fallout from this event is only about to begin.