Tara sat at her desk, studying. She shrugged, moving her head from side to side, rolling her shoulders. She smiled as she heard the door open, the smile growing wider as Willow entered.
"Hey Tara. What's up?"
"Hi Willow," the blonde witch said softly. She rubbed her neck.
"Hey, uh…what's wrong? Are you okay?" Willow walked up behind Tara, studying her reflection in the mirror. She watched closely as Tara rolled her shoulders, shrugging them up and down. "You got a stiff neck?"
"Yes." She laughed. "I-I think I've been studying to long."
"Why don't you take a break then?"
"Can't. I have a test tomorrow."
"Phooey." Willow flung her schoolbag onto the bed. She reclined on the bed, studying Tara. The blonde witch's hand was at her neck again, rubbing up and down. She got up off the bed, walking behind Tara again. "Hey, you-you want me to give you a neck rub? Might help you think better."
Tara smiled softly. "No, that's okay. I'm alright."
Willow put her arms around Tara's shoulders, resting her head on top of hers. "Aw, come on. Everybody deserves a nice neck rub now and again." Tara looked up, catching Willow smirking in the mirror. "Especially a neck rub from your girlfriend." Tara grinned, allowing Willow to take her hand and lead her to the bed. "Okay, now sit here." Tara did as she was instructed, sitting down cross legged on the bed. She heard Willow sit down behind her, lightly brushing her hair away from her neck. "I'm going to start; you just relax, okay?"
"Okay."
"Lean forward a little; I need to make sure I can get your whole neck."
Tara did as she was told, leaning forward, closing her eyes as Willow gently massaged her neck, working in rhythmic circles, starting at the middle of her neck and working downwards toward the nape.
As Willow's fingers continued to travel up and down her neck, Tara felt herself drifting. Not quite asleep, but not quite awake, she hung in the middle, enjoying the quietness of the room…and the feel of Willow's fingertips caressing her neck. It was so…"wonderful."
"What's that?"
Tara shook herself, as though she had been dreaming. "Did I say something?"
"I don't know. I thought you did." She pushed hard on Tara's neck, causing her to jump. Willow winced. "Sorry; it's just…you had a big knot there. I wanted to make sure I massaged it out."
"Oh. That's okay. It feels better now." Her hand traveled up to meet Willow's, feeling for the knot. She smiled. "I think it's gone."
Willow smiled. "Good. Then I have done my job." She moved her hands down Tara's neck, running them lightly over her back.
Tara started drifting again, then shook herself, remembering. "Willow?"
"Yeah?"
"I-I remember what I said earlier."
"Oh." The rubbing stopped. "What did you say?"
"I said 'wonderful.'"
"What's wonderful?"
Tara turned around so she was facing Willow. She smiled. "You."
Willow grinned. "That's funny; I think you're wonderful too." She leaned in, brushing her lips lightly against Tara's. The blonde witch giggled softly. Willow pulled away, studying Tara. "You-you wanna cuddle?"
Tara turned around, studying the textbook lying on her desk. She turned back to Willow. "Yes." Willow scooted back so she was leaning against the headboard of her bed. Tara scooted close to her, her body fitting perfectly into Willow's embrace. "I like your arms."
Willow smiled softly, kissing the top of Tara's head. "They like you too."
As the sun slowly set over Sunnydale, bathing the campus in a soft, warm glow, all that could be seen in the quiet dorm room was a single, solitary candle, its flame burning long into the night.
