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[indent][indent][color=darkgray]As the water lapped lazily at the sides of the pool, the sounds intertwined with the waves hitting the shore of the beach not to far from the waterside bar that was strangely unoccupied at this time of day. Save for the bartender diligently working at his post and the lone customer sitting on one of the stools, slowly and somberly sipping at the mojito that was proclaimed to be the specialty of the joint. They weren't lying, it was a damn fine mojito. The mint was fresh and it masked the aftertaste of the white rum that wasn't the customer's usual drink of choice, but for now would serve the purpose she needed it for.

As she sat at the bar, absent-mindedly twirling her hair, a habit she didn't even know she had until a year or so ago, Tara O'Leary was trying to find any distraction she could from what the schedule had in store for her today. The drinks were helping, and so was scrolling through her phone reading through the news. It was at least taking her mind off the cocktail party that was so far and away from her scene it might as well be on Cuba.

The schedule of events was one thing Tessa failed to mention when convincing Tara that coming to the 10-year reunion. After she said yes, then Tessa showed her the schedule. It screamed Amanda. It was all hoidy-toidy, a far cry from the parties of high school. That would have been a proper tribute. Having everyone cram into Tessa's parents' house with like two kegs, a smattering of coolers and ending with Gabe Kingery being chucked out on his face. He's just probably wearing better clothes now.

Anyway, she was here now. Tara was complicit in that. She was the one packed up all her things, including a couple dresses that were way above her paygrade. She was the one who drove her Corolla into Tessa's place in Orlando in the freaking dark, before sunrise, left it there and made the near-seven hour trip along the coast, past the old stomping grounds in Palm Beach, through the Everglades and along US-1, literally driving on the ocean, to get to this place that screamed ostentatious. 

That drive would probably end up being the highlight of the reunion weekend. If there was one person Tara wanted to be trapped in a car with for that amount of time, Tessa would top the list. There were copious amounts of caffeinated beverages consumed, from the Dunkin' coffee picked up in Kissimmee to the three bottles of Coke picked up at the gas station in Yeehaw Junction. Seriously. Yeehaw Junction. Anyway, it was necessary to keep Tara somewhat awake and coherent. At least Tessa was doing the driving. She did a good job controlling the radio and the two were able to keep the chatter going for a solid amount of time. It was nice. Honestly, it was something they should probably do more often. Not for seven hours though. And not starting at 4AM.

By the time they arrived at the staging point for this grand reunion, both women went to their assigned rooms to unpack. However, while Tessa was given a prime spot on the second floor near the queen bee and her cohorts, Tara, being near the bottom of the roster as she assumed, was assigned 107, one of the rooms buried in the corner of the first floor. It was fine really. Tara didn't want to be in the midst of everyone arriving and seeing her and it was fine. She could deal. Even if there was probably gonna be a bunch of noise from the banging above her. It was fine. Quiet even. For now.

But it was too quiet, which is why Tara stepped out and made her way to the bar where she had posted herself up for the last hour or so. Rudy the bartender was doing a great job at making sure the mojito supplies didn't get too low. If Tara was going to get through all of what this weekend had to offer, alcohol was going to be a necessary part of that formula. She just didn't want to get all the questions about what happened and why she wasn't off beating people up for a living. What happened to her looks. If Grayson was here, she didn't want to answer to that either. As far as she was concerned, most people here didn't need to know what had happened to her life. Aside from maybe Willow. Tara hoped Willow was here. The lack of contact after the wedding was a little concerning. But that was it. Everyone else could just be left in the dark with the image of T.K.O. as they knew her then. Not now.

Tara was content to just keep hiding out in the bar until she required to go do something. However, people started coming into the area. It seemed to be a crew following behind some red-headed woman who reminded Tara a bit of her youngest sister. However, it was clear she was a lot more... demanding than Shannon was.

[color=white][b]"And so we'll need to move the tables out of this area to make room for mingling and... Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here?"[/b][/color]

The O'Leary woman pointed to herself, as if surprised that the only customer here would be the one being addressed. [color=217633]"Me? I'm patronizing this bar, and I'm doing it pretty well I think. Why shouldn't I be doing that?"[/color]

The other woman looked perturbed. [color=white][b]"Because this is the site of the cocktail party that is going to be happening today, and I need time to make sure everything looks proper for all the guests! Besides, it's going to be an open bar and we need to prepare the area for a steady stream of traffic to the serving area!"[/b][/color]

The phrase "open bar" perked up Tara's ears. [color=217633]"All right, all right. I'm moving."[/color] She slipped a final five to Rudy. [color=217633]"I'll be back when these drinks are on you, OK?"[/color] She picked up the glass containing the rest of her mojito and headed to the door. [color=217633]"Don't worry. I'll bring the glass back,"[/color] Tara told the still scowling red-head as she departed. With her hangout now cordoned off, there wasn't much else Tara could think to do. [color=217633]"Guess I can go take a nap or something."[/color] She yawned. [color=217633]"Maybe I'll get lucky and sleep through this shindig."[/color] 

She headed back to her room. Luckily there weren't many stairs involved on the way. As soon as she entered the doorway, Tara placed her drink on the end table and collapsed into her spacious bed within seconds, barely remembering to kick her flip flops off in the process before catching some needed rest.[/color][/indent][/indent]