Full Summary: A month after the opening of, The Sammy Lieberman Memorial Studio; Tara decided that she was depending way too much her friends and was holding them back. So she packed up her bags and moved to America with nothing, but notes to her friends…

Now three years later, she has been found. And suddenly, Tara finds herself back in Sydney, her world in utter chaos…But will coming back, be harder then leaving?

Life Goes On

It had started out like a normal day for twenty-year old, Tara Hunterson. Coffee and a bagel with cream cheese, for breakfast. Class. Then lunch with Cam, Ash, and, Ken. More class. A quick nap. Then it was to off to the bar for work. Normal enough right? That is until Ben Tickle walked in with a few friends (that Tara assumed was from the company) and sat down in her section of the bar.

"Kenzie, please! I can't take that table!" Tara pleaded with her gingered haired best friend. Kenzie sighed as she handed the cook her table's order. "Tara, I already have my hands full enough or you know I would. Why can't you take that table again?"

"Because he's one of my friends that I left back in Australia," Tara explained with tears beginning to seep through and show in her voice. "And if I go over there-"

"He won't recognize you. You've changed a lot in three years, including your looks." Kenzie reasoned with a roll of her charcoal brown eyes.

It was true. Tara had dyed her hair a much darker shade of brown to the point it looked almost black, but with a red tint to it. So she no longer looked like the Tara Webster that her friends from the academy knew three years ago. But rather someone else instead. Still Tara shook her head, "My voice. He'll recognize it."

Kenzie shook her head once more, making more of her ginger locks fall out of her messy ponytail. Grabbing a note pad and a pen, she pressed them into her panicking best friend's hands. Then she gripped Tara's shoulders and turned her so she was facing Ben's table.

"You've almost completely lost your accent. It only shows in certain words. Like you name. But just remember when you pronounce your name say, 'Tear-a' instead of 'Tar-a'." The ginger told her with a slight shove in the table's direction. After looking back at her best friend for a moment, the brunette released a deep breath as she made her way over to Ben and his friends...

Ben Tickle looked up at the waitress as she walked up to him and his friends. Giving the group what seemed like a forced smile, she introduced herself.

"Hi I'm Tara, and I'll be serving you tonight. What can I start you off to drink?" She asked her eyes it seemed; looking anywhere and everywhere, but at him. Why wouldn't she look at him?

"I'll have a beer." He spoke first so she'd have to look at him. When she did though, her eyes glanced hurriedly at his then looked back down. Why wouldn't she look at him?

After Tara had gotten all of their drinks, she walked off silently breathing a sigh of relief. Ben hadn't recognized her...yet. Shaking that thought from her head, Tara gripped the tray full of drinks. The former farm girl shook her head. She couldn't let herself think like that...

Ben watched his waitress fairly closely. There was just something about her. He felt as if he should know her. The young dancer felt it when she moved around. The waitress moved with a graceful ease. Ease that he hadn't seen since Tara... But it couldn't be Tara. It just couldn't. Although Ben didn't want to believe it, he knew in the very back of his mind, there was a possibility it could be her. Her name was Tara and she also walked like a ballerina would. The more and more the young dancer thought about it, the more he realized it could be his friend who disappeared three years ago...

But she looks nothing like Tara would. Ben thought to himself. Her hair was much too dark to be Tara and she would never wear that dark of makeup. Still, the young dancer couldn't shake the feeling that he should know her… When the mysterious waitress came back with their drinks and to take their orders, another strange thing occurred. Again she wouldn't look at him, but while was going over their order, she said his name. Then when she realized what she had done, a grimace came over her face. That's when Ben knew for sure that it was her. But still he asked anyway, "Do we know each other?"

She shook her head, "No. I don't think so."

But her voice cracked a little at the end. Before he could call her out on it though, she practically ran away from the table...

After her shift; Tara was waiting by the door for Ash or Cam to get done so she could go home, when a voice came from behind her. "Tara Webster?"

Tara flinched back at the use of her old last name; her eyes widened, before she snapped them shut, wishing for today to all be dream. But sadly, she knew it wasn't. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Ben standing there.

She sighed in a resigned fashion, and then Tara turned around to face him. "Hi Ben,"

"It was you," the dancer said staring at the brunette as if she was a ghost. Tara said nothing, but nodded. Swallowing rather hardly, Tara thought as she watched him, Ben sputtered out another sentence. "Wh-why didn't you say anything? Why wouldn't you look at me? Why did you feel the need to hide?" His voice dropped lower. "Why did you leave in the first place?"

The brunette sighed at his last question. Glancing around the room, Tara sighed. "Look, I don't want to talk about it here-out in the open like this."

"Then let's go somewhere else," Ben was quick to suggest. "You can explain to me then."

"It's not something I can just explain Ben!" She cried out in a snap. The dancer shook his head. He snapped back; his face now a mask of anger, "Well you're going to damn well try, because I want a good enough reason as to why you left."

"I already told you my reason. It was in that note I left," Tara said quietly looking down, at the hard wood floors of the bar.

"Something other than that pathetic excuse you call a reason, Tara!" Barked Ben. She flinched back at his tone. Her back hit the wall, which made the windows rattle a bit.

"Hey, get away from her!" A cold voice rang through the now quiet, almost deserted bar.

Tara turned her head. It was Ash- one of Tara's roommates. His six foot five built frame was tense, while his muscles were standing out in a rigid fashion. His naturally tan skin color, making his face look scary with the angry look on it.

Ash stood between the two with his back to Tara. Her body being hidden due to how much taller he was than her. Standing on her toes, the small brunette peered over her roommate's shoulder while she touched his arm gently. "Ash, it's okay. This is an old friend of mine from Australia."

As she said the word Australia, Ash looked back at her. Tara nodded.

"Ash, this is my friend Ben Tickle." She introduced. Though she couldn't be sure she should call Ben her friend anymore, but she did it anyway, "Ben, this is Ash Hunter, one of my roommates and best friends."

For a moment, they two men gazed at each other. As if they were measuring each other up, which they probably were, Tara realized.

It was Ben who broke the tense silence. The question that left his mouth was a bitter one as he locked eyes with hers. "So is that all he is Tara? Or is he also your boyfriend too? I wonder what Christian would say..."

The brunette flinched again at the sound of Christian's name. That was a low blow and by the smug look on her ex-boyfriend's face, he knew it.

"Is that any of your business? And don't talk to her like that." Ash said calmly, but Tara knew her roommate well enough to hear the dangerously angry undertone underneath the calm one.

"Ash," the brunette murmured softly, trying to stop this testosterone fight before it could get any worse...

The raven haired boy looked back at his roommate. His eyes softened visibly as he continued to gaze at her. Ash looked back at Ben, before sighing.

"Cam," he called to his other roommate. Though he didn't have to, Cam Kingston was watching the whole scene escalade from where he stood behind the counter. "Princess and I are going to head out and go home. We'll see you there."

Cam nodded in response. Ash glared once more at Ben, before he turned around and wrapped a protective arm around Tara's shoulders, directing her out of the bar. Once on the street, they got on his motorcycle and went back to their and Cam's shared apartment.

"Don't let him get to you okay?" Ash asked the brunette as he unlocked the front door to their apartment. Nodding numbly, Tara leaned her leaned her head against the wooden door panel.

"I had to leave," she said softly, "They were all moving on with their lives-making the transition of becoming an independent grown up, and I was stuck in the middle. Not quite grown up, but still a grown up. I knew that I had to leave or I would never have grown up because they have taken care of me for as long as possible with my back. I needed to learn how to take care of myself for once. I had to leave."

"Hey," her roommate wrapped his strong arms around her waist; pulling her closer to him, "You don't have to explain yourself to me, Kenzie, or to Cam. We support you, Princess."

Then he leaned in and kissed her. The brunette kissed back, but only half-heartily. Now that Ben had mentioned Christian-Tara couldn't help, but let her mind wander to him. A person that was always in her mind even when she wasn't thinking about him. If she just closed her eyes, she could imagine she was kissing her old boyfriend with his arms wrapped around her-with a sigh; she shut her eyes and melted into her roommate's arms...Imagining it was Christian, Tara melted away and let her Ash lead her to his bedroom…

Tara's relationship with Ashton Hunter was a very tricky and complicated one. One that the brunette just fell in to without knowing it; one that she never thought possible for a girl like her. Friends with Benefits. To put in simple terms-Ash was the American version of Christian with money. When Tara started to become aware of this fact, she pushed him away. The brunette didn't need any reminders of her life back in Australia. Especially one that brought back so many bittersweet memories that made her heart ache with longing. Until one day, something just shattered inside of Tara and she found herself kissing Ash. But they weren't dating no, Tara wasn't quite sure she'd ever be ready for another relationship after hers with Christian and Ash had made it perfectly clear that he wasn't looking for a relationship when this had all started. While Ash was a close second to the brunette's ex, nothing could ever truly compare to the real thing.

The next day, Tara stumbled out of Ash's bedroom in one of his t-shirts and a pair of boxers; her clothes from yesterday in her hands. Turning on the coffee maker, she laid her head in her hands. Last night's events still fresh in her mind. What would happen now that Ben knew where she had been hiding for the last three years? Would the others come and find her or would they continue on with their lives without her like they had been doing for the past three years? The brunette hoped for the latter...

A whistle broke through Tara's cluttered thoughts. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Cam with a wide grin on his face. He walked over then pulled the bagels out of the pantry and the cream cheese out of the fridge. After the blonde set them on the counter, he pulled the waffles out of the freezer.

"You had a very late night last night." His voice was suggestive and his blue eyes twinkled with laughter. Despite her mood, laughter bubbled out of Tara's mouth as she nudged the lanky blonde with slightly tan skin.

An hour later, Tara was walking down a crowded street on her way to class when a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Yelping, the brunette turned around and came face to face with Ben...

"We need to talk. Now," was all he said before he dragged her around the street corner so now they were in a deserted alley way. Once Ben had made sure no one was in ear shot, he turned to face Tara.

"We have nothing to talk about Ben," Tara said looking down at her shoes. Ben's laughter was a bitter bark.

"Oh, but I think we do. I want you to explain why you left. You said you couldn't explain it in the open. Well now," he gestured around the space around them, "We're all alone!"

"And you're also forgetting that I told you it's not something I can just explain Ben! Besides I already explained it to you in the note, I left!" Tara said in a quiet, but angry voice.

"But I told you that was a shitty reason! I want a better reason than 'I need to find myself without dancing in my life.' Only this time, your scary looking roommate isn't here to protect you."

"I gave you my reason." Was Tara's only response. Tears were starting to sting her eyes.

"Do you know how much you shattered everyone when you left? How much you shattered Christian-the guy who never shows his emotions to practically anyone. Do you even care?"

"Of course I care!" She shouted back. Her vision now clouded with blackened tears, "Do you honestly think it was that easy for me to just up and leave? Of course not!"

"Then why did you do it?" He asked.

"Because I had to!"

"Why? Why did you have to leave?"

Tara looked down, not willing to talk to him.

"Look," Ben said a moment later scarily calm, "I'm flying to Melbrone Sunday night for Kat's birthday. She wants us to stay in her family's beach house for the week leading up to the day so it can be like old times. You're coming with me."

"Excuse me?" The brunette looked up, an alarming look on her face.

"You heard me, Tara. Kat says she wants it to be like old times. And with you, it will be like old times, not just a fake Band-Aid on an old wound that you left behind when you left us!"

"You can't just force me to leave!" The brunette said with a gasp.

"You're right," her ex-boyfriend drawled, "I can't. But I can give you an ultimatum. Either you can come with me Sunday night or I can tell everyone where you've been hiding. Then they can come and find you themselves. Your choice."

"What the hell do you mean you're leaving?" It was their day off-Tara, Ash, Kenzie, and Cam. They had all just started eating dinner when the brunette told them her news. This was the question Ash had asked after.

"I have to," explained Tara as she pulled the top off of her take-out box; steam rose to her face, "You don't know my friends. They are just crazy enough that if Ben tells them I'm in New York, they'll come here to find me."

Later that night, Tara walked into Ash's room. Leaning against the door opening, she looked watched as he changed into his pajamas pants.

"So do you want to tell me why you were so mad earlier? Or maybe why you completely ignored me for the rest of the night?" She asked. Ash just shrugged, slipping his shirt off.

"So you're giving me the silent treatment when I haven't done anything wrong?"

"You are leaving Tara! What happens if you get there and then you don't want to leave-you don't want to come home?" Ash turned around and barked at her. Then he turned back around and began to fluff his pillow harshly.

"Ash," the brunette murmured. Was that what this was all about? That he was afraid of her not wanting to come back?

"Ash," she said walking over to the raven haired guy then placing her arms around his waist. Pressing her lips to his left bare lower shoulder blade, she started to speak. "That will never happen. New York is my home now. Not Australia. Besides I would miss Cam and Kenzie too much."

"And what about me? Would you miss me?"

Another feather kiss was placed against the skin, "You... Yes I would miss you and especially that thing you do with your tongue..."

Before Tara knew what was happening, her back was on the bed and Ash's lips were on hers…

Hi Guys! So what do you think? A little different right? But I hope you enjoyed it! This story has been buzzing in my head since Dance Academy actually ended. Now I have a few questions, I would love to hear your thoughts on!

One: What do you think about Tara leaving Sydney? Do you think she did the right thing?

Two: What do you think about Ash's and her's relationship?

Three: Why do you think Tara changed her last name? (Yes, there is a reason behind it! One I thought very hard over very carefully)

Four: I thought very long and hard about Tara's new last name. How did I come up with it? (There are clues in the chapter)

Five: Who wants to play a guess game? I based Ash, Cam, and, Kenzie off of three celebrities. My friends who have read this, said I described them really well. Who are they? (Your hint: Ash is movie actor that was in a very popular YA Adaptation of a widely known book series. Cam was on Disney Channel and is now a minor actor on the ABC family comedy, Melissa and Joey. He was also in one movie with Zac Efron. And lastly Kenzie, is the lead singer of a band who falls into the alternative rock/pop category.

I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm nervous about this story, just because its different from my other stories. Oh, and who doesn't like sneak peaks? I post excerpts from upcoming chapters to my Dance Academy blog on Tumblr. And little snippets on my twitter with the Hashtag: dalgo. If anyone is interested the links are on my profile. Enough with my rambling now! I'll see you next update

-Goodgirl21