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Tara Monroe was used to bad dates.
She’s been going on dates with various older boys since her freshman year of high school, because of Bonnie’s ongoing obsession with the “Food Chain”, which stemmed from her older sisters, Connie and Lonnie, who were Middleton High’s golden girls back in their high school days.
First it was Ryan Hansworth during her sophomore year, then it was Josh Mankey during her junior year, who she dumped for Jason Morgan, because of the pressure from Bonnie about dating jocks.
Jason wasn’t so bad at first, and they had a pretty stable relationship when it lasted…until one day, when he sat Tara down for a chat and told her they had to break up. She asked why, and he admitted he cheated on her with another girl on the cheer squad who he didn’t name.
Then, from that day forward, it all went downhill.
The next day after that night, Tara woke up from her not-so peaceful slumber, and yawned, slowly motivating herself to get out of bed, and start getting ready for school. Thankfully, she was motivated pretty quickly.
Not like Jason Morgan is her biggest concern. The boy’s a fucking joke now. So last year. She only dated him because of her best friend, not because she actually wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Ugh! As if she would grow old with that sleezebag!
At the very thought of Jason Morgan, Tara’s blood boiled. She growled, clutching the tube of eyeliner she was holding and throwing it to the ground. The platinum blonde cheerleader took a picture she took with Jason a while back off her wide mirror and ripped it into shreds, throwing the remains in the trash can.
“Screw yourself, Jason.” Tara scowled at her mirror, aggressively grabbing her bag and exiting her room.
“Okay, girls, the girls basketball team reached out to us this morning asking if we would like to put together a routine for them. So, I took some time last night after homework to come up with some ideas. If you feel like your parts are too hard for you, then let me know, and we’ll talk it out. Sound good?” Kim Possible announced, earning a few nods from her squad mates.
Before Kim could go on and start their usual warm up routine, she noticed that Tara wasn’t present. She was usually on time, where was she? Did something happen? Did her car break down on the way to school? What happened?
Kim got her answer when she and the other girls heard the double doors to the gym suddenly slam open, revealing a seemingly tweaked Tara walking into the large room through the doorway.
“Sorry I’m late.” Tara said flatly, putting her stuff down with a huff and taking her place next to Emily, who was a freshman.
“Uh..Tara, are you okay-“
“IM FINE! Mind your own business, Emily!” Tara snapped at the younger cheerleader, surprising the senior cheerleaders in the room.
“Tara…!” Kim chastised, looking at Emily in concern. She was told that the girl can sometimes be very emotional, and easily bothered by anyone.
“Tar, whats going on with you?” Marcella asked her friend, crossing her arms over her chest. “You back-talked Mr. Barkin and got yourself detention after school, and now you’re being mean to a freshman?” Honestly, she couldn’t believe Tara.
“YOU BACK-TALKED MR. BARKIN?” Another freshman, Amanda, shrieked in genuine fear. “He’s the LAST person you want to get on the bad side of!”
Kim sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Alright, we need to start practice, so let’s just do a quick 2-minute warm up, and start our routine. Any questions or concerns?” When she was met with no protests, or raised hands, Kim nodded.
“Alright, then. Let’s get started.”
It wasn’t until a few days later that Tara seemed to only start to revert back to her old self, but even if things were better for her now, Kim still felt like she should check in with her anyway.
It was after practice that day that Kim pulled Tara aside after the other girls left, and sat them both down on the bleachers.
“Before you ask, you’re not in trouble. I just wanna check in with you, not just as your captain but also as your friend.” Kim took a deep breath, and let it out, gently taking Tara’s hand in hers.
“Tara…is everything okay? Emily was really shaken up by you yelling at her, and the others told me how you’ve been snappy all week. Is something going on at school? Home?”
Tara snorted, but squeezed Kim’s hand. She refused to meet Kim’s caring gaze, and sorted out what she was going to say to her.
“I’m fine, Kim. It’s just been a rough few days, that’s all.” Tara tried to give Kim the most convincing smile she could, but Kim didn’t seem to buy it.
Kim sighed, wrapping an arm around Tara’s shoulders and brought her into her orbit. “Tara…I’m not going to force you to say anything, but…if you need me to do anything for you, just let me know.”
When she is offered a favor, Tara will gladly take it. And she knew exactly what she wanted to do to show how much of a fucking dick Jason Morgan is. She innocently grinned at Kim.
“Actually…there is something you can do for me.”
Kim had a feeling by that grin on Tara’s face, this was not going to be good.
“And now, ladies and gentleman, we’re happy to welcome Miss Tara Monroe, a part of our very own cheer squad, to the field for a very special intermission performance!” The school’s broadcast host, James Gren, announced, as Tara joined three other girls around her age down in the game field.
Tara held up the microphone to her lips, and opened her mouth. “Before we start this song, I wanted to dedicate it to my lovely boyfriend, Jason Morgan. Jason, if you’re watching this, then good.”
A few seconds later, a bass began playing, and then two of the girls added some backing vocals.
Well, good for you, I guess you moved on really easily
You found a new girl, and it only took a couple weeks
Remember when you said that you wanted to give me the world? (World?)
The drummer began playing her part, and everyone watching, including the cheer squad, all watched closely.
And good for you, I guess that you've been working on yourself
I guess that therapist I found for you, she really helped
Now you can be a better man for your brand-new girl (girl)
Tara flashed Jason a sickeningly sweet smile, as the beat suddenly dropped.
Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy
Not me, if you ever cared to ask
Good for you, you're doing great out there without me, baby
God, I wish that I could do that
I've lost my mind, I've spent the night crying on the floor of my bathroom
But you're so unaffected, I really don't get it
But I guess good for you
Tara nearly laughed when she saw just how surprised and horrified everyone was at her performance. When the guitar sang it’s tune, the whole crowd was on the edge of their seats at what’s to happen next.
Well, good for you, I guess you're getting everything you want (ah)
You bought a new car and your career's really taking off (ah)
It's like we never even happened
Baby, what the FUCK is up with that? (Ha)
Tara saw Jason glare at her from where he sat on the bleachers. Good. That means it’s getting to him.
And good for you, it's like you never even met me
Remember when you swore to God I was the only person who ever got you?
Well, screw that and screw you
You will never have to hurt the way you know that I do
As she sang that verse, Tara’s anger rose to the surface once again. She growled at how Jason just got rid of her just like that, how he pretended she wasn’t there hearing everything he says about her to his new girlfriend, how his popularity grew after they broke up..
But that anger motivated her even more to do this. She wasn’t doing it for him, she was doing this for herself. And damn, was she proud of how it’s going.
Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy
Not me, if you ever cared to ask
Good for you, you're doing great out there without me, baby
God, I wish that I could do that
I've lost my mind, I've spent the night crying on the floor of my bathroom
But you're so unaffected, I really don't get it
But I guess good for you
Tara took a deep breath to calm her nerves, looking up at the shocked expressions she earned from her cheer squad friends. However, while they were shocked, they were also looking at her with something Tara knew all too well.
Sympathy.
Like she needed that from them.
Ah- ah- ah- ah
Ah- ah- ah- ah
Everyone stayed silent, as they knew that shit was going to go down.
Maybe I'm too emotional
But your apathy is like a wound in salt
Maybe I'm too emotional
Or maybe you never cared at all
Finally. The time has come. She can properly express her anger at Jason for what he did to her, to himself. Even if it’s through a song.
Maybe I'm too emotional
Your apathy is like a wound in salt
Maybe I'm too emotional
Or maybe you never cared at all
All hell broke loose.
Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy
Not me, if you ever cared to ask
Good for you, you're doing great out there without me, baby…
LIKE A DAMN SOCIOPATH!
I've lost my mind, I've spent the night crying on the floor of my bathroom
But you're so unaffected, I really don't get it
But I guess good for you
With the final line coming, Tara turned back to Jason and gave him the most sarcastic, evil smirk that she was capable of.
Well, good for you, I guess you moved on really easily
‘Fuck you, Jason.’ Tara thought, as the song ended.