"You don't have to hang out with me if you don't want," Willow said as her and Tara walked around the NYU campus.
"You kidding me? Only other person I know going here is Craig and he's a junior. It's practically law that the only contact he can have with us this first week is to ridicule and make fun of us being freshman. Besides, I like hanging around with you," Tara replied, bumping the redhead's shoulder playfully.
It was the first day of school and both girls were walking around, getting used to the surroundings, signing up for some classes for the next semester and seeing what kind of clubs were available. Tara knew, that with her shifts at the café and the piano gig – that she had declined to tell anyone about for fear that they'd want to come and see her – she wouldn't have much time for extra stuff, but Willow seemed enthralled with all the options surrounding her, and seeing the redhead happy made Tara happy.
In the month and a half that had gone by since Willow had moved into the apartment, their feelings for each other had grown each day, but both were afraid to tell the other, the possibility of rejection looming large in both girls heads, as well as the potential awkwardness of having to live together if and when that rejection occurred.
Tara, as well, was adjusting to the depth of the feelings she had for the other girl.
She'd been going out partying since she was sixteen, never having any trouble sneaking past the bouncers, and definitely was not shy about getting up to dance with girls or making out with them in the dark corners of the clubs but she'd never felt an overwhelming urge to be around those girls again, or even any desire to sleep with them, had never wanted them.
She just liked having a good time, liked kissing, and that was all she ever felt. That had been enough. Until, of course, Willow stepped into her home and into her life and the concept of 'enough' had been swiftly redefined to mean 'want to spend time with, make smile, touch all over and belong completely to: Willow'.
"I like hanging out with you, too," Willow replied, smiling shyly. Her face lit up when she spotted a booth a few feet away, "Hey, look!"
She instinctively grabbed Tara's hand and dragged her over to the small table. The brunette closed her eyes and balled her hand into a fist when Willow dropped it, feeling a tingle go straight through her.
Not wanting to look suspicious, she composed herself and a broad grin broke out on her face when she saw the rainbow flag covering the table.
"Queer Alliance, huh? You joining?" she asked, smiling at the two guys sitting behind the table.
"I need to learn more about gay culture than what I know from the ongoing battle of Bette and Tina's relationship," Willow said in all seriousness, eliciting a chuckle from one of the guys.
"Take a leaflet," he said with a smile, "And come along to some of the meetings. We always need new members."
"Thanks," Willow replied and grabbed a leaflet, "I will."
She put the paper in her pocket and nodded her head to indicate they could keep going. They fell into step again and Tara was about to suggest they grab a coffee when she felt herself being lifted in the air and spun around in circles.
She heard a group of guy's chanting 'freshman' over and over again, recognising the loudest voice as that of her neighbour's.
"Craig, put me down! If you don't I'll tell everyone about that Bette Midler poster you have posted on your mirror so you can look in it and pretend that you're her!"
Craig swiftly put Tara back on the ground and pouted at her.
"Tara! That's not cool!"
The other two guys were snickering beside him and Willow was trying to stifle a giggle.
"Yeah well, you should know better than to harass someone who knows your secrets," Tara smiled sweetly.
Craig rolled his eyes and smiled back at her.
"How's everything going? You two getting used to everything?"
"I've been hanging around this campus since I was fourteen, it's kinda…normal to be coming here for class. Exciting though, too."
"Totally exciting," Willow agreed, nodding eagerly.
"Awesome! Oh, this is Kevin and Ben, by the way," Craig replied, pointing to the guys beside him.
The guys smiled and the girls smiled back, Willow giving a little wave.
"Wait, is this the Ben?" Tara asked after a second, smirking, remembering Craig talking about a new boy in his life recently.
Craig blushed and joined hands with the guy to the left of him, about an inch shorter than him with black curly hair.
"Yes, this is the Ben. And Ben, this is the Tara, the neighbour I told you about. And, the other neighbour, who lives with Tara. Willow."
Ben nodded and a small smile crept onto his face. His boyfriend had told him about Tara, who was basically his best friend, and how the new neighbour had moved in. He'd also told him about how they both totally had the hots for each other but were both also unwilling to admit it.
"It's nice to meet the two of you."
"You too," Tara smiled and Willow echoed her sentiment.
"So, Tara… Party at your place on Friday?" Craig asked hopefully.
"Uh, I don't know, Craig," Tara replied, shuffling her feet.
"What?! But you're always up for a party! You've been pretending to be a freshman for the past two years just so you could throw a freshers party!"
"I know, but things are kinda different this year," Tara responded and tried to subtly indicate her eyes towards Willow.
Her attempts were apparently unsuccessful, as Willow caught the eye motion and quickly started speaking.
"Hey, don't say no 'cause of me, Tara. I'm cool with a party. Totally cool with a party. Completely cool with a party."
"So you're saying you're cool?" Craig smirked. Willow blushed and Tara glared at him, rolling her eyes when he gave an apologetic look, "Party's on, then?"
"Sure," Tara nodded, eliciting a 'whoop' and a punch in the air from Craig,
"Thanks, doll. Alright, we gotta keep moving, see you guys later!"
The guys departed with an over-exaggerated blowing of a kiss from Craig, leaving both girls giggling.
"So was that Craig's boyfriend?"
"Yeah. One of them, anyway. His nickname is the snake charmer," Tara replied, pulling a face, "But this guy seems different, I think he really likes him."
Willow nodded with a smile and they continued walking in silence.
"Wanna get some coffee?" Willow asked after a moment.
"I was gonna suggest that before we got interrupted. Anywhere in mind?"
"Oh, Joe! We haveta go to Joe."
"The guy on our corner?"
"Yeah. He does a great French roast. And he always says I look pretty whenever I stop by," Willow replied, blushing at the last part.
"Well, you do look pretty everyday," Tara responded, then cleared her throat when she realised what she said, "So, Joe's?"
"Joe's," Willow confirmed, her heart beating furiously.
She said I look pretty. Everyday! And she's seen me first thing in the morning!
They walked out of the campus and towards their own block, the short walk filled with talk of classes and schedules, until they arrived at the vendor. The big, burly man got a broad grin on his face when he saw who was approaching.
He'd had his coffee stand set up on that particular street corner for ten years, but the redhead had been one of the few to actually ask him how he was when he made her coffee the first time.
They'd built up a rapport since then and he looked forward to her daily caffeine fix.
"Hey there. French roast mocha, right?"
"Thanks, Joe. But make it two. That okay with you?" Willow asked, turning to Tara.
"Of course. Hey Joe."
Having lived in the neighbourhood her whole life, Tara knew all of the establishments around quite well, and was happy Willow seemed to be settling into knowing the people as well.
"Hey, Tara. You keeping well?"
"Trying to," Tara said with a smile, "But I probably shouldn't be drinking your delicious coffee if I wanted to keep too well."
"Government propaganda," Joe replied with a laugh, as he poured dark liquid into two cups, "Nothing finer for you in the world."
"Nothing tastes better, that's for sure," Willow interjected as she took the steaming cup, "Thanks, Joe."
"You got it, girls. Enjoy your beverages."
He handed Tara her cup with a wink and the girls departed with a small wave.
"Um…do you wanna maybe go sit in the park?" Willow asked, "I feel too jittery to go home yet. Heh, guess the coffee won't help that. But, um, I can go by myself, its cool."
"Hey, I love the park, I'd love to go sit there. I can show you my secret spot."
Tara inwardly kicked herself for her Freudian slip, but was relieved when Willow didn't seem to notice, instead giving her a beaming smile.
"Really? That'd be great!" the redhead replied, walking towards the entrance of the park.
They walked into the park a few moments later and Tara steered them to the left, walking in silence for a couple of minutes, until the brunette grabbed Willow's arm, pulling her through a small opening between two hedges.
The smaller girl spun around a couple of times, shocked by the quick movement and Tara laughed at the display.
"Sorry," she said through the laughter, "Should've warned you I was about to do that. But, um, this is my secret spot."
Willow composed herself and looked around the area, completely sealed off from the rest of the park by the row of hedges, large trees lining the opposite side, with smooth green grass filling the area in between.
"I know it's not much…but most people don't venture in between the hedges, so I always came here when I wanted some alone time…it can be hard to get in the city, y'know?"
"Yeah…" Willow replied, still a little dazed, "It's pretty, though. Oh, hey, I promise I won't show anyone else or anything. Can't be secret if people know about it."
"Thanks," Tara smirked, sitting down on an area of grass that the sun happened to be shining down on and patted the spot beside her. Willow sat as well and continued drinking her coffee, "Hey, listen, about the party, I'm sorry it was sprung like that, I promise in future I'll give you more than three days notice, or ask you, make sure it's okay."
"Don't even worry. I'm actually kind of excited. I've, um, never been to a party or anything before."
"Really? Jeez, talk about pressure, I have to make sure it's great for you now! And hey, once school settles down, you are coming out with myself and Craig, you have to, okay?"
"I will," Willow promised, still scared at the thought, but knew if Tara was with her she'd have a good time, "So do you need me to do anything for Friday?"
Tara smiled and shook her head.
"Nah. Just be your adorable self and I'll take care of the rest."