Chapter 1

Tara had never felt comfortable in her own skin. Maybe her family was partially to blame, but she blamed herself too after all it was her body, her mind that told her to hate herself, but her family did too.

To everyone else Tara was a shy girl, with bright blue eyes that she often hid behind her hair, she had a stutter when she spoke and people made fun of that some days. Today was one of those days.

"W-w-w-whats the the the matter M-m-maclay? Cat got your tongue?" One of the girls mocked her.

"I n-n-need to g-go" Tara regretted opening her mouth and stuttering. She tried to push her way through, but they weren't giving up.

One girl shoved her back against the lockers violently, another girl punched her on her left side in the jaw, another hit her in the stomach. Tara closed her eyes and silently prayed to Goddess that it would stop.

She opened her eyes when she heard skin hitting skin with a lot of force, she saw a blond girl hitting her assailants, and a pale hand being held out to her that belonged to someone else.

Tara looked up and saw the most beautiful girl she had ever seen, holding out a hand to help her up. When the red headed goddess pulled Tara up, she put too much strength behind it and Tara face planted right into the young woman. Tara stumbled backwards and looked at the ground, hiding behind her hair.

"I'm s-s-sorry. I-I didn't m-mean to" God, how she hated her stupid stutter. She hated that she was so drawn to this girl who just helped her out, she didn't even know the girls name. The girl reached out and brushed the hair that was covering Tara's flushed cheeks being her ears. A beautiful green met intense blue.

"Hey don't be sorry, I'm the one who pulled you straight into my chest with your face while trying to help, not that it was intentional or anything I was just trying to help you up but I pulled to hard cause I didn't know you'd be so light I mean I'm not saying you're fat, I'm saying you-you're tall and..."

"Will, babble talk, gettin out of hand" the blond appeared next to the redhead "I'm Buffy Summers, this one with a lot to say in one breath, is Willow Rosenberg." Willow, Tara like the way it sounded in her mind

"I'm Tara." Willow's green eyes lit up "M-M-Maclay" And then they dimmed at the mention of Maclay.

Willow looked at this beautiful shy girl as she said her name was Tara. Tara was a beautiful name. Then she said Maclay, she hated Donny Maclay, and Maclay not being a popular name, and knowing Donny had a sister, she knew Tara was Donny's sister.

"So your Juniors sister?" Buffy said "huh. Small world, right Will? Will?"

Willows mind was going back to a dark, dark place... Freshman year... Donald Maclay Jr. and his buddies decided it would be fun to spike drinks at a party, Willow had stopped by for a friend but didn't end up leaving until the next day, she'd had a small sip of spiked punch. It wasn't enough to knock her out, merely enough to disorientate her and leave her defenseless. Donald Maclay Jr decided to take advantage of this.

"Will!" Buffy's voice cut through the white noise in Willow's mind.

"Hmm?" Willow looked at the blond with tears in her eyes, obviously shaken up by her memories. They both forgot Tara was there.

"Where'd ya go Will?"

"Dark place" Willow replied softly. Willow remembered Tara was there. "Um, I guess we better get going... See ya around!" Willow started to run off but Buffy grabbed her and pulled her back.

"Will, we're gonna walk with Tara to her next class" the blonde had a look on her face that said and that's final.

"I-I-I'll be f-fine." Tara stumbled the words out of her mouth and forced a smile.

"Nope, not gonna take that as an answer, we are walking with you, we're your friends now." Tara looked at Buffy with wide blue eyes and Willow hung her head.

Tara didn't know what could shake up such a beautiful and strong person. She remembered Willow got shook up at Maclay and Buffy mentioned her brother. That was when Willow got sucked into fear. Tara stopped walking and grabbed Willow's arm. The redhead stopped dead in her tracks.

"W-willow?" Green met blue and melded together for a second before Tara ducked her head "I-I'm s-s-sorry... I-I-I..." Willow looked at the blonde inquisitively, this girl was nothing like her brother, if anything she was the opposite. Willow brushed Tara's hair back and brought the blondes head up so her green eyes met the gorgeous blue.

"Tara," Willow spoke the name softly, liking the way it felt in her mouth "why are you sorry? You haven't done anything." The redhead looked at Tara's lips and it took all self-control not to lean forward and kiss her... What had gotten a hold of her? She liked boys, so why was this girl having such an effect on her?

Tara licked her lips "I k-know but a-at the m-m-mention o-of m-my last n-name-" Willow leaned forward and kissed her, self control flew out the window. Both girls where shocked this happened at first but Tara deepened the kiss before breaking it off remembering they were at school and her brother and father would punish her if they found out.

Willow was so confused. "I-I'm sorry I don't know what came over me, I usually don't do that, I don't kiss girls I kiss guys well I kissed a guy but he left and now I don't know. Not that you aren't beautiful and I wouldn't want to kiss you again, I liked that, I think you're gorgeous, I mean if there was a fanclub, I'd have started it and oh god I'm babbling but I'm sorry and please dear god shut me the hell u-" Tara pressed a finger to Willows lips.

"It's f-fine. I-I liked k-kissing y-you t-too..." Tara spoke softly cursing her stutter, she took a deep breath calming herself before speaking again "Your babbling is c-cute b-but I was afraid you'd p-pass out"

Willow breathed in relief. "I broke off the k-kiss but if my f-f-f-family-" Willow touched Tara's lips to quiet her, the redhead saw the blond was afraid of her family and her hate against Donny Maclay grew stronger and Willow didn't think that was even possible.

"It's fine, I understand," They started walking again realizing they lost Buffy and the bell had rung "Hey, what about you come to my house sometime?"

"I d-d-don't k-know.. M-my family i-is p-pretty s-s-strict..." Willow looked at the pain in Tara's eyes as they walked up to a class room and spoke at the same time

"T-this is m-my c-class"

"This is my stop" both girls giggled and walked into history.

TBC….

A/N: I know that this is stereotypical fanfic where everything is like "I just met you, I love you, kiss me" but later things should be better and I will give some more depth to the characters as we go along. Please continue to read and follow this story to get updates as soon as I add to the story. I don't know who all I'm gonna pair together right now besides Tara and Willow. Xander, Anya, Buffy, Spike, Angel, and Faith will most definitely be in the story but sexualities and who will be with who has not been put together yet, it's too early. Please bear with the Rookie here and help me to better myself.