Chapter 2
(Sunnydale University)
Willow frowned as Jessica told her that Tara had already left ten minutes before she had arrived. She thanked the girl and wandered away. She had wanted to continue her discussion with Tara about transportation spells from last night, oh well she guessed she would have to wait for a bit until she bumped into Tara again. She wandered around knowing Buffy had spent the night at Angel's instead of the dorm they shared. She felt sad as she recalled her own former boyfriend Oz. He had left her two months ago after an incident with a fellow werewolf he had been forced to kill and she still felt the pain of their breakup even now.
As she neared the cafeteria she bumped into Amy and quickly fell into a discussion about magic with her. The best thing about Amy was she did not refuse to discuss some topics relating to magic as Tara did. That annoyed her because it made her feel like her friend did not trust her to use magic responsibly, like she did not have enough experience to control the more advanced types of magic. Amy would teach her whatever she wanted to know, her power was growing and soon she hoped to be able to match both Amy and Tara in the power stakes.
"So where is Tara?" Amy asked, her tone not hiding the dislike she felt for the other girl although Willow ignored it just as she usually did. Amy did not like Tara due to the fact the other girl knew she was into black magic and had tried to warn Giles. Of course a quick memory charm had stopped the watcher from bringing this up during their next Scooby meeting. That Giles had let his magic skills fall so easily that she could play with his mind annoyed her, she knew his history thanks to Buffy and Willow and kept wishing she could have seen him in his prime. What spells he might have taught her, to her magic was an addiction and one she gladly fell into and wanted more off.
The spell she had cast on Xander at Buffy's behest had changed her entire life and made her see the truth about magic. It was the best way to power and had begun her downward spiral into addiction. Buffy didn't care about her misuse of magic and neither did the others, bar Tara and Giles and thankfully she could alter Giles' memories so that he kept forgetting the problem. But Tara was another matter entirely. Her skills were above even her own as she had been practicing witchcraft since she was a child in secret with her mother. The only reason she put up with her was that she was useful during patrols.
"Her roommate said she went into town for some supplies and a quick breakfast," Willow's response broke her train of thoughts. "Is she planning a casting?" Amy asked, slightly interested to learn what Tara might have planned. "Not that I know of Amy," Willow responded with a shake of her head. "She usually tells me when she is so that I can watch," she added. "I guess she is just running low on some things," she suggested to which Amy nodded.
"Yeah like she'd show you any real magic," Amy muttered just loud enough to be heard by Willow, her tone full of contempt.
"What do you mean Amy?" Willow demanded to know, coming to a dead stop.
"Tara believes magic is dangerous and only uses very small light sided spells," Amy responded. "And that is all she will show you Willow, she will keep you weak and ignorant of the stronger stuff, because she thinks you can't control them," she explained, hoping this would be enough to break the friendship between the red head and the dark blond haired girl or at least weaken it.
Willow looked at Amy for a few moments as she thought over the other girl's words. She didn't like them and slowly she felt a buildup of anger well up, but not at Amy. It was directed at Tara for holding her back. She ignored an inner voice that said Tara was just taking her training slowly. She wanted to learn magic, all types of magic. The idea that Tara would not be teaching her the higher level spells annoyed her to no end, she began to walk to her destination again unaware of the smile that Amy wore as her words worked their poison.
(Sunnydale)
Tara sat with Xander in the local park still talking over various things. She had not been able to leave just yet having enjoyed her discussion with the young man. He was a friendly person and had made her laugh on a couple of occasions, she found herself enjoying his company. A quick glance at her watch showed she had been talking to him for close to an hour, which meant she only had a few minutes to get to class or she'd be late.
"I'm sorry Alex, but I'm going to have to cut this short as I have class in a few minutes," she finally told him, hating that fact and noting the slight frown that crossed his features.
"I understand Tara, however I would like to see you again sometime," Xander responded, knowing he would have to be patient and not try and rush his attempted seduction. "Maybe you would consent to go on a date with me tonight?" he inquired.
"I'd like that Xander, I could do with a nice night out," Tara answered, pleased by his request of a date. Usually she was a lot more wary when accepting dates even from other girls, but something about Xander put her at ease. She gave him the address to her dorm as well as her phone number before leaving as Xander did the same thing although the address he gave her was his old one. He watched her leave and actually felt a slight ache in his chest as her departure. This confused him as he was not exactly here for a good reason. He guessed the girl just had the ability to get under his skin and he would have to be more careful around her.
(Sunnydale University)
Tara entered the classroom fifteen minutes late much to her professor's annoyance, but he accepted her excuse and she sat down at the back, ignoring the looks Buffy and Willow sent her. She knew why they looked surprised as she was never late. She also knew they would question her as to why she had been late. She would not tell them about Xander. He would be her little secret or at least another little secret. She still feared her family would show up one day and try and take her back, but she wouldn't go. She did not believe their tales about being a demon. Anyway she knew Buffy and the others kept secrets from each other, so why should she not keep any? Hell with the way they ignored Amy's misuse of magic she wondered sometimes why she trusted them so much. Shaking her head she turned and concentrated on what the professor was saying. It did not take long for her mind to wander and thinking of what tonight would bring. This of cause got noticed by her professor who berates her for not paying attention. This again caused Buffy and Willow to look at here in surprise. Finally the bell rang and the class packed up. Tara quickly tried to get out before she could n be intercepted by Buffy and Willow, but they were already waiting for her at the door.
"So why where you late and what had you so distracted you got shouted at in class?" Buffy inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah that is so unlike you Tara," Willow put in, doing her best not to look to interested in the answer, which irked Tara and made her decision to keep quiet about Alex the best option. "I bumped into an old friend and we sat down for a talk and before I knew it class was about to begin," Tara lied, feeling only a little bad for doing so, but she did not want to know what either of the two in front of her would say once they learned she had a date tonight.
Buffy and Willow had a tendency to try and take charge of things like dates with others, hell she remembered once when Giles had an old lady friend visit and they had interrogated him on the subject before offering all types of suggestions for the evening. Giles had got quite fed up with them as she recalled and she did not want to deal with that.
"An old friend who just happened to be in Sunnydale?" Buffy said skeptically as she gazed at her friend with narrowed eyes. Something about what she had said sounded off.
"Yes, she was passing through to LA," Tara said, annoyed by Buffy's tone. "Is there a problem with me seeing an old friend, Buffy?" she asked letting a bit of her annoyance show in her voice.
"No, I just find it odd is all," Buffy shot back, realizing she was annoying Tara. "I guess I am just paranoid these days and seeing odd coincidences everywhere," she back peddled. "Sorry didn't mean to imply anything," she stated before moving off with Willow in tow.
Tara watched them leave before shaking her head in relief that they had bought her story, as she headed to her history class she wondered how her date would go.
