Chapter One: First Day (Part 1)

It was the first day of eighth grade and Willow Rosenberg was as excited as always to be back in school. And it's eighth grade, the best year of middle school. She walked around Hughes Middle School looking for her friends, Buffy and Xander. I wonder where they are, I told them to be here at eight, it's almost 8:15 . After walking around a few more minutes she spotted them sitting at a bench. "Hi guys!" She greeted as she half walked, half ran to them.

"Willow!," Buffy got up excitingly to meet Willow and wrapped her arms around her, "I missed you! So, spill, how was Georgia? Any cuties?"

"Yeah Wills, meet anyone interesting?" Asked Xander as he hugged her.

"Well I did make a new friend…sorta."

"Ooooh a new friend or a new friend" Buffy asked teasingly.

"Buffy! Just a friend. Her name's Tara…Tara Maclay." Willow couldn't help but smile as she mentioned her new friend. "She has blond hair and blue eyes." the most amazing blue eyes I've ever seen she thought, "We hung out a lot but when I asked her for her address so I could write to her she said she was gunna move." Willow said with a slight frown.

"Aww sorry Wills. Did she tell you where she was gunna move?" Asked Xander as he put a comforting arm around his friend.

"Well, no…but I gave her my address and she said she'd write as soon as she was settled in!" Willow was excited at the thought of going home and finding a letter from her .

"Well that's good,"

Buffy quietly observed Willow, I wonder what's so special about Tara that's got Willow so hyped up. I'll have to ask about that later. "Hey bell's gunna ring soon, why don't we go see what homeroom we're stuck in?"

"Sure" says Willow, I wonder where Tara moved to, I wish she would move here.

The trio walk over to one of the many lists posted around the school and looked up their names.

"Aww, man, I have Mr. Thomas." Xander whined, "The one teacher that assigns homework for homeroom!"

"Yes! I have Miss. Russo. She's so cool, she let's us do practically anything in her class and she likes to sing to the class sometimes!" Buffy did a little dance

"So who do have Will?" Xander asked . "Earth to Willow." Xander waved his hand in front of Willow's face.

No way. It can't be, WIllow stared at the list of names in front of her, It can't be the same Tara, can it? Tara Maclay, 8th Grade. "Ow!" Willow glared at Buffy who had pinched her. "What the frilly heck was that for?" she asked, pouting as she rubbed her arm.

Buffy shrugged, "you went all spacey on us. What gives?"

"Sorry, It's just, I think Tara moved here…" Maybe I should wish for a million dollars.

"What makes you think that?" asked Xander.

"Well, for one thing, her name'son the list," she turned to Buffy, "She has Miss. Russo for homeroom too."

"Oooh, so I may be able to meet the girl that's got my friend all spacey" Buffy grinned.

"Heh, what are you talking about? She hasn't got me all spacey." Willow laughed nervously, who am I kidding, she is SO making me spacey…but why? We're just friends.

"Uh-huh. Sure. Whatever you say Will." Buffy knew her friend had the occasional crush on a girl, she just didn't know it herself. Looks like Tara can be the one to help Willow realize she's at least Bi.

"Why do I feel like I'm missing something here?" Asked Xander, who hadn't been paying much attention due to the fact that Cordelia Chase was standing not too far from the group.

"Yeah, well, anyways, I have Mrs. Ventura, the Spanish teacher. Que bueno." Willow said, ignoring Xander's question.

Rrrrrrrrring!

"Well I guess we better get to class now, I'll see you guys at lunch at our spot." Willow walked away from the group, hoping to have class with Tara that day. Wait a minute, why didn't she write to me? And why does that hurt more than it should?

It was Tara's first day of eighth grade, at a new school, with no friends, Tara sighed. Well I guess I'll have to make some, that is if my stuttering doesn't get in my way. I wonder if Willow goes to this school? She did say she lived in Long Beach, but there must be tons of middle schools in the district, what're the chances she comes to this one. Even if she does, she probably won't remember me.

She walked slowly towards her homeroom, lost in her thoughts, when she bumped into a slightly shorter blonde.

"Whoa, there. Watch where…" the petite blond stopped as she looked a little closer at Tara.

"I'm s-sorry." Tara apologized as she looked down, "I d-didn't see you"

"No it's cool. I'm sorry I snapped." the girl extended her hand towards Tara, "I'm Buffy by the way, haven't seen you around. Are you new?" I wonder if this is her…

Tara looked up at Buffy curiously as she shook her hand, weird, she was upset just a second ago. "I'm T-Tara. I just moved here from Georgia."

Buffy smiled. Bingo. "Well it's nice to meet you Tara. Why don't you sit next to me for the year?"

Tara smiled and nodded. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

They walked into class and took a seat towards the middle of the room. Buffy looked at the clock to see they still had about 5 minutes left before school officially started. She turned to study Tara while the girl looked over her schedule. I can see why she's got Willow all worked up. She's definitely beautiful and seems like a good-hearted person. You can tell she's a gentle soul. She's got my approval. Buffy smiled, knowing she had to get Willow to see how much Tara actually meant to her. And then maybe she herself could finally tell her friends about her own recent attraction to girls.

Tara could feel Buffy watching her, why is she looking at me? Is there something wrong? She finally looked up and was about to ask Buffy why she was staring at her when the bell rang and the teacher got up from her seat.

"Welcome back to school, I hope you all had a great summer because now it's time for you to get back to work." She smiled as the class groaned in protest. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Miss. Russo, but you can all call me Alex, just don't let the principal know" Alex walked around to the front of her desk and surveyed the group of students she had this year. "As I'm sure most of you know by now I'm a pretty lenient homeroom teacher, as long as you abide by the school rules you're free to do what you want, which includes read, as long as what you're reading is age appropriate, catch up on homework, or chat quietly with your friends. You are all more than welcome to pick up a brush and paint if you want. Can't let the room go to waste first period now can we? The one rule I will allow you to break is listening to your iPods." She picked up her roll sheet and placed her finger on a random name. "Buffy Summers?"

"Here" Buffy said as smiled and she raised her hand. I'd heard she was cool but somehow people neglected to mention how hot she was. Hello teacher crush of the year.

Alex smiled, "Would you please do me the favor of starting off introductions? I'd just like you all to let us know what you did this summer and what you're looking forward to this year"

"Ok." Buffy stood up to face the class as best as she could from her seat, "I spent the summer with my dad in LA, nothing too exciting really, but I did get to go to Hollywood a few times. I think I saw Drake Bell but I can't be too sure, could have been a look-alike." she shrugged, "Anyways, um, well this year I'm defiantly looking forward to the awesome holiday parties everyone says you have" she smiled as the class gave a shout of agreement, "And of course the promotional dance." Before taking her seat she took an apple out of her bag and walked over to Alex. "Here ya go, every year I give an apple to a, uh, special teacher. I think you deserve it this year." Buffy walked back to her seat, but not before winking at Selena, who just smiled and slightly blushed. Oh my god I cannot believe I just did that, everyone knows I always give the apple to the hottest teacher and until now it's always been a guy! As she sat down she avoided the class' curious gaze.

Alex set the apple on her desk. That was sweet, I've heard about Buffy and her apple. Too bad I'm already taken. Besides, she's a student, and ten years too young. " Thank you Buffy." She gave Buffy a warm smile, "Now let's see who's next." She looks down her list and calls out a name. This goes on for a while until she finally calls on Tara.

Oh great, thought Tara as she stood, I knew I was going to have to talk but I'm just not ready to, I'm way too nervous. She turned to face the class, Okay, Tara, breathe and you'll be okay, "H-hi. My name's T-tara Maclay. Over the summer I m-moved here f-from Georgia. I'm looking f-forward to meeting new people this year." She gave a shy smile as she sat down. That wasn't so bad.

Poor girl was scared out of her mind to speak to the class. "Well then, welcome to California Tara. I myself am from New York. Come talk to me after school, I'll tell you the places you need to see first" Alex had always hated being the new girl, whether it was at school or a job. She saw something in Tara that had great potential, and had already decided she would mentor her in anyway she could.

Rrrrring.

"Ok, we'll finish introductions tomorrow. I'd also like you all to think about your favorite hobby. I need ideas for activities throughout the year." Alex stood by her door as her students rushed out to their next class. She noticed Buffy and Tara were the last ones to finish gathering their things. "Come on girls, you don't want to be late to any of your classes on the first day of school."

"Geez Alex, you want us out that bad?" Buffy teased. She loved messing with her teachers, testing their limits in every way possible.

"Buffy," Alex warned, "get to class, and please, show Tara around the school"

"Yes ma'am." Buffy gave a mock salute made her way out the door. "C'mon Tara, we don't wanna make Miss. Russo mad."

Tara smiled shyly at Alex as she walked out, only to be stopped by a gentle hand on her shoulder. She look questioningly at her teacher.

"I meant what I said earlier. Stop by after school and I'll let you know what are some must see places. Better to get it from someone who's not a native Long Beachian, but I do suggest having one show you around." Alex gave Tara a smile as Tara nodded, then walked away to get ready for her next class. Can't wait to see what creative kids I have this year.

"So" Buffy said, slightly startling Tara who had been lost in her thoughts, "What'cha got next?"

"Huh? Oh…um" Tara looked down at the half sheet of paper in her hands. "P.E." Ms. Russo is nice. I don't think I can call her by her first name though, it's just too weird. Tara sighed, I don't want P.E. so early in the morning.

"Great! So do I. Now come one let's go. Mr. Clain is not someone you want to see upset." Buffy linked her arm through Tara's, trying to see how shy the girl really was, and lead the way.

Tara just smiled shyly and let Buffy take them to P.E. Looks like I might have a new friend already.

Hey guys, so here's a new story. Well sort of new. I started writing it a while back and a younger version can be found on another site but I've decided to revise it quite a bit. My other story, "Charmed, I'm Sure" is on hiatus for the time being. Kind of really stuck on that one. Please review? I'd like to know what you all think of my sort-of cross-over. I promise there will be more WoWP characters for you fans out there, however this is mainly a Willow/Tara, Buffy/Faith story. Can you guess who I'll pair Alex up with? And what do you think should be Justin's role in this story?