TITLE: Give Her Ten
AUTHOR: mmmh-Hot-Sauce
RATING: R ... May become NC-17 later
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters, well, maybe one or two, but as for the rest of them, they are property of ME
SPOILERS: Completely AU
SUMMARY: Tara is the Captain of her College Crew Team and with the help of some friends, they look for new recruits.
FEEDBACK: I would be grateful for any and all comments.
CHAPTER 2
"Faith!" Tara shrieked, pushing the brunette away from her. "I can't say that to someone."
"Oh come one T, live a little," Faith smirked as she repositioned herself on the chair.
"Faith, I cannot say 'Hey sexy, I bet you look good in a uni. Wanna test my theory and give me something to stare at as I lead my boat to victory' to a complete stranger."
Faith tried hard to stifle her laugher, "Yeah, out of you that does sound weird. Maybe you should stick with just asking people to join the good old fashion way."
Tara was about to respond but Kate reentering the lobby interrupted her train of thought.
"Hey, Tara, I didn't know what kind of apple you wanted so I got you one of both," said Kate as she strolled back to the table, a Granny Smith apple in her right hand and an Akane apple in her left.
"Thanks Kate," Tara said with a smile as she reached out for the green apple.
"Sure, no problem." Kate replied, a soft smile gracing her lips. Noticing the look Faith was giving her, she reached behind her into her back pocket. "Here Faith, I got you a banana… I know how much you love the shape."
Letting out a snort of amusement, the dark haired brunette accepted the gift with a nod. "Thanks Kate, I can always count on you to supply me with penis shaped foods."
"You bet sweetheart," Kate shot back with a toothy grin as she retook her position besides Faith. "So, anyone else sign up?"
"No," Tara said through a bite of her apple.
"But I did get some hotties number," Faith said enthusiastically as she unpeeled her banana. "All seven numbers and everything."
"Congrats," Kate said absently. "Hey Tare, it's one o'clock, you wanna pack this in?"
Letting out a huff of disappointment, "Yea, I have a class in fifteen minutes and I need to bring this stuff back to my room. " She stood up, twirling her computer around and booting it down.
"You need help?" Kate asked as she shut down her own computer.
"Nah, I got it. See you at practice Kate."
"Alright, bye guys."
"Hey T, let me get this," Faith said as she folded up the trifold. "I have to head to the room anyhow. Completely forgot my book for Commitment and Choice."
"Thanks Faith," Tara smiled, slinging her computer under her arm as she bent down to pick up her book bag. "So how's that class going?"
"You know, when I signed up for this class I thought it would be pretty boring. I thought it would be all about family and being committed to someone what with the title and everything." Faith proclaimed as she removed her dorm key from her front pocket. Inserting the key and stepping inside their shared, dimly lit dorm room. "But I was completely wrong. Last week, we had an hour long discussion just on different types of sexual activity. On Friday, we had a full lecture designed around porn, and the pleasures and wronging it brings to others."
"Sounds like your type of class," Tara laughed out as she placed her laptop on her neatly made bed.
"Oh, I think this class was created just for me," Faith joked as she walked over to her desk, lifting up a heavy paperback book.
"Well I'm running late." Tara admitted as she collected her supplies for class. "Catch you back her after class for practice?"
"Of course," Faith replied as she packed her own books into her backpack.
Heading to the door, Tara shouted out to her roommate and fellow Crew member. "See you at two forty."
Rushing down the hallway, Tara made a quick left, pushing open the heavy stairwell door and bounding down the staircase. As she was about to exit the staircase on the second floor, leading her into Column B Lecture Hall, she ran head first into an unknown girl rounding the corner at the same time.
"Ah, Shit." Tara swore as she landed painfully on her ass, her school work scattered around the floor, mingled together with the other girls. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry, I didn't hurt you did I?" She asked without looking up as she started collecting some of her fallen items.
"I'm okay," the other girl said as she rubbed her nose, her body sitting in a similar position as the blonde. "I'm sorry also, I shouldn't have been running." She said as she pushed herself up onto her knees, her eyes red rimmed with unshed tears as her nose throbbed in pain from colliding painfully against the other woman's chin. Whipping at her eyes, she looked up to finally get a good look at who she literally ran face first into, only to be halted by the veil of blonde hair shrouding the other woman's face.
"Sorry again," the girl said as she hastily scooped her text books and open binder into a pile before rushing off.
"It's o-" Tara said as she looked up, barely catching the sight of the girls retreating form, as flaming red hair disappeared around the corner. "kay."
By the time she reached her designated classroom, the door was already shut, indicating that class was in progress. "Crap," Tara muttered under her breath as she grasped the brass doorknob. Turning the device slowly, she pushed the door open gently, trying her hardest to not draw to much attention.
"Miss Maclay, you are late," admonished the middle aged professor as Tara stepped into the classroom, his hand poised near the chalkboard where he had been writing.
"Sorry, Professor Torres," Tara said with embarrassment as she made a b-line for the closest available desk, placing down her jumbled stack of papers.
"Now, if you are ready to join us Miss Maclay," Professor Torres huffed out as he watched the blonde fumble around with papers on her desk. "I would like to get back to explaining the components of 'The Dusky Standards'."
Stilling her hands that were positioning the papers back into order, she looked up at her ill-tempered teacher, giving him a slight nod and a forced smile.
"Good." Turning his back towards the classroom, Professor Torres resumed his lecture on Forensic Psychology and the competency levels to stand trial.
Once she was sure the teacher wasn't paying attention to her anymore, Tara went back to re-arranging the papers she had dropped on the floor. Halfway through the stack of papers, she came across an unfamiliar enrolment sheet and a thin paperback book, immediately concluding that the items belonged to the girl she ran into earlier. Pulling the single sheet of paper out of the stack, Tara examined the six upper level courses printed out in multiple colors before scanning the paper for a name. In tiny, type eight font on the top left hand side of the paper, she found the culprits name. "Willow Rosenberg?"
Placing the paper back on her desk, Tara looked up at her Professor who was still droning on about 'The Dusky Standard', before discreetly sliding her phone out of her pocket. Scrolling down through her contacts until she arrived at the Faith's name, she sent her a quick text. "Do you know of a Willow Rosenberg?"
"Who?" Faith sent back a few minutes later.
"Guess not, never mind." Tara quickly texted back before putting her phone back into her pocket.
For the remainder of class, Tara sat wondering who this mystery girl was and how she could find her in order to return her stuff. As soon as the clock hit 2:35, Tara gathered her items and started to head for the door.
"Miss. Maclay, a word please." Professor Torres called from his position near the chalkboard, halting Tara's exit and motioning for her to come over. Picking up an eraser, he started to wipe clean the board as he waited for the classroom to empty before returning his attention to Tara. "I do not give special privileges to athletes." He declared as he turned around to stare into the blondes deep blue eyes. "Crew or not, you will be in my class on time, or not at all." Placing the eraser back onto the lip of the board, he walked away from the blonde, leaving her speechless.
"Yo, T, you're running late." Faith hollered from her bed as Tara entered their shared dorm room.
"Yea I know," Tara said gruffly as she dropped everything in her hands onto her desk. "Torres completely chewed me out today."
"Damn, that sucks." Faith replied as she looked up from tying her shoes. "What about?"
"Being late," Tara said back as she walked over to her dresser. Pulling open the bottom drawer which housed all her sports clothing, Tara removed a pair of black spandex, blue jogging shorts, and a worn out yellow tee, along with a sports bra. "I mean I was barely late." Tara said as she placed her bundle of clothing on her bed. "Maybe two minutes! And he had to call me after class to tell me athletes don't receive special privileges from him. It was not like I was asking for anything, I was just late."
"Woe," was Faith's only response as she watched her friend stomp around the room in anger. "Tara chill. Brad Torres is a super dick and everyone knows it. Don't let him get to you."
"But he did, Faith!" Tara growled as she pulled her long sleeve shirt off. Throwing the garment onto her bed, she reached behind herself to unclip her bra.
"Wait, I got a question." Faith asked as she pushed herself off of her unkempt bed.
"No Faith, you cannot unclip my bra for me!" Tara half yelled, anger still seeping out of her.
"Not what I was going to ask," Faith said with a slight chuckle as she walked over to their fridge. "Although, I haven't asked you that in quite a while…. so I might tomorrow. Never the less," Faith said as she removed two chilled water bottles, "how were you late for class? You left before I did and I made it to my class on time."
Pulling her sports bra over her head and adjusting it to fit her chest, Tara then turned around to look at her best friend. "I ran into someone, literally. We collided and all my stuff fell on the floor, there in, making me late to class."
"Is that why you wanted to know who Rasenberry was? You want me to beat them up for you?" Faith asked only half-jokingly.
"Rosenberg, and no." Tara corrected as she slipped on her spandex. "I accidently picked up some of her stuff and want to give it back but I have no clue who she is."
"Dude, ask Tim." Faith said flippantly. "He's the head R.A. of Hedsor Hall. Plus, he knows everybody on this crappy campus."
"Why didn't I think of that," Tara said absently as she slid on a pair of socks followed by her shoes. "Thanks Faith."
"No problem T." Faith said as she waited by the door for the blonde to finish getting dressed. "You good to go?"
"All set." Tara said with a smile as she pushed off of her bed, briskly walking to the door. "Let's go row!"
"Hell yeah!" Faith replied equally excited as she closed the door behind them.
