Queenphoenix08 – She is annoying. I think it's fair to say she has a bit of a superiority complex from being an accomplished student and as far as she's concerned the only thing standing between her and Tara is Willow – when actually it's Tara not wanting to be with her. As for the background check, Willow *wants* to, but she's told Tara she won't, so that's a sealed promise for her.
Curly Akemy – She'd never want to do something like that, would she? ;)
Dirty Tube Socks – It'll get through to her, but not the easy way…
I think Willow finds anything 'maternal' just wonderful, which, you're right, is funny and sad.
You know, I purposely left that vague. I don't think she's telling people that, but I don't think she's denying it either. She has to be careful, because she needs to keep Tara on-side.
Stephen PG – Ha! Sanity Fair, I love it. I think Mia views Tara saying things like that as just another example of Willow being the problem. If she can push Willow out, Tara will be hers for the taken. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, but as I said to someone above, she's definitely a narcissist, but one of those clever ones who know to portray herself well and manipulate situations - she's a rising star in the acting world don't forget!
"Do you have any idea what's happening?"
Willow was slumped in the little plastic seat at the ball park, bored out of her mind. Tara, on the other hand, was proudly wearing a baseball cap and seemed quite intrigued with whatever was going on, on the field. Becky was just continuously fanning herself and making lewd comments under her breath.
"That guy throws the ball to that guy and he hits it and then the other guys try to catch it," Tara explained, pointing out the different people as she spoke.
Willow knew the premise but was still at a loss how it managed to be so boring.
"For three hours?" she asked in a whine.
Tara nodded, smiling.
"Looks like it."
Willow huffed a breath of annoyance and stood up.
"I'm getting a hot dog. Do you guys want anything?"
Tara shook her head and Becky requested a hot dog as well. Willow shuffled through the people in the aisle to get out to the concession stand and take a break from the screaming fans and sloshing sound of beer.
She joined the longest queue on purpose and let a few people go ahead of her, before finally placing her order and bringing the two hot dogs back to their seats.
Becky took hers, her eyes twinkling.
"This'll keep me going 'til later and I can get my mouth around something better."
Willow shot Becky a dirty look, then threw her hot dog on the ground petulantly.
"Ruining everything for me."
Tara turned her attention away from the game and looked between them, as she was sitting in the middle.
"Hmm?"
"You don't want to know," Willow muttered, arms crossed on her chest.
Tara sat back and took Willow's hand in her lap.
"Are you having a horrible time?"
Willow knew she was being a grump and gestured out towards the field.
"I just don't get it."
Tara shrugged one shoulder.
"Me either, really. Just that we cheer when the guys in white do something good," she replied with a soft, crooked smile, "It's fun to be in a crowd."
Willow couldn't help falling in love with that smile and sat up.
"Okay, explain to me one more time."
Tara pointed out to the guy pitching.
"Well that guy there is Becky's boyfriend."
"Yeah, I've definitely got that one figured," Willow replied, casting a look at Becky who was shouting down to him every few minutes, "Although they all just look like tiny little men with helmets – how are we supposed to tell who's who or what anyone looks like?"
"He's the guy throwing the ball..." Tara explained, "The guy with the bat hits it and tries to run around all the um, bases, I think, the little white things that the other guys are standing on. And he does that without getting disqualified or something. And that seems to be able to happen a lot of ways, I'm not really sure."
"Okay," Willow nodded, "What are innings?"
"No idea," Tara replied promptly.
Willow laughed, then looked over her to Becky.
"Becky, can you please explain it to us?"
Becky slowly detracted her oversized-sunglass-covered eyes away from her boyfriend's buttocks and tried to explain as quickly as she could so she could get back to it.
"Okay, one team is out and the other is in. The one that's in, sends players out one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count. When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out. When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out. The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in."
"Right," Willow replied, not understanding a word and looked back to Tara, "So we cheer when the guys in white do good?"
"Yes," Tara nodded diligently, "And we'll know when that is when all these other guys stand up and yell obscenities."
Willow looked around at the other spectators and nodded.
"For once, I prefer knowing less," she replied, then smiled over at Tara, "You look super cute in that cap."
Tara pointed out to the field where the mascots had taken over for a brief break.
"As cute as them?"
"Cuter!" Willow replied, smiling and laughing.
Tara laughed too and spent a moment with follow-up chuckles, until she noticed everyone around them seemed to be staring at them.
She wasn't sure what their sudden appeal was, until Becky nudged her and pointed to the Jumbotron where the Kiss Cam was on and focused on Willow and the man next to her.
The man in question had a baseball shirt stretched out over his generous beer gut and sweat patches in some inopportune places. He set off the look with a lecherous leer in Willow's direction and started to lean towards her.
"Yeuch!" Willow exclaimed, jumping right back in her seat then quickly turning to take Tara's lips instead.
There was a brief moment of complete silence around the stadium before Becky began whooping for them and the rest followed.
"Mwah," Willow pulled away from a quite surprised Tara.
The Kiss Cam had moved on to another unsuspecting couple.
"I-I thought that only happened on TV," Tara stammered, cheeks flushing bright red.
"It was on TV," Becky chuckled, "A big one."
"I'm sorry, Tara, did I embarrass you?" Willow asked, but Tara was smiling like a giddy school girl and shook her head, "Okay good."
She held Tara's hand between the seats and did her best to enjoy the rest of the game. She wasn't sure she'd ever be a fan but appreciated the play and Tara's cheerful reactions to being involved in the crowd.
Much to the delight of most of the stadium, and particularly Becky, the home team won in the final inning with a home run by her friend's boyfriend, or so Willow was told by the delighted shrieks of her ex-roommate.
Willow watched Tara happily clapping, caught up in the moment, and couldn't resist standing with her and hugging her from behind.
"You're so cute."
Tara blushed and leaned back against her.
"We won."
"Woo, go team!" Willow replied, pumping a fist in the air triumphantly, more for show than anything else.
The mascots were back on the empty field doing a dance of victory and Willow was watching in amusement before she noticed Becky was climbing over the seats in that direction.
"Becky, what are you doing?"
"Luke said we could meet the team," she called back over her shoulder, producing a plastic access card from under her shirt that was hanging around her neck, "You guys can come too."
Willow looked to Tara, who shrugged, so she took her girlfriend's hand and followed Becky down the more traditional route of steps and towards a separate tunnel route that some minor press outlets were gathered at.
She expected to wait with them, but Becky seemed keen on dragging them towards the locker room.
"Uh, shouldn't we just wait outside?" Willow asked cagily.
"Come on," Becky replied, indicating it was okay.
Willow cast a wary glance in Tara's direction and trailed behind Becky into the locker room, which was filled with whooping, hollering, and half-naked men.
Willow lasted about 10 seconds of trying to avert her eyes until towels started to come off and she made a hasty exit, Tara in tow.
Becky spotted her beau and walked right up, hands flat on his pronounced pecs.
"Hey, baby, you were so good out there."
She stood up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
"Well I knew I had my girl in the stands," he replied, running a hand through his slick hair.
Becky smiled coyly and pursed her lips.
"I brought my friends," she said, turning around only to see them gone, causing her to roll her eyes, "Guess the male nudity got too much for them."
Outside, Willow was grateful for a wall to slump against and let her head fall forward into her hands.
"Well if I wasn't sure I was gay…definitely confirmed it."
"You weren't sure?" Tara asked, arms crossed loosely over her chest.
Willow lifted her head, brow creased.
"No, of course I–" she started, then waved it off, "Silly joke."
They stood awkwardly around for a moment before Willow exhaled a slow breath.
"Wanna show me your boobs to get a better image in my head?"
Tara cheeks flushed lightly and she looked around.
"There's nowhere private."
Willow's eyebrow quirked in surprise and she cautiously nodded off to the side.
"…there's a bathroom."
Tara looked over, then gave a soft shrug. Willow's eyes went wide that her flippant remark was taken seriously but didn't waste a second in following Tara through a nearby door marked as the restroom.
Tara cast her eyes down on the ground as the door shut behind them, then back up at Willow.
"Someone might come in."
"Stall?" Willow suggested, sure she was past pushing her luck at this stage.
Tara shrugged again and moved towards the end stall. Willow shot a look up of thanks to whichever deity was granting her this and followed, squeezing into the small cubicle with her girlfriend.
Tara toyed with the end of her shirt for a moment.
"You won't tell anyone about this, will you?"
Willow shook her head.
"You don't have to do anything."
Tara turned her hands around themselves once, then started to unbutton her shirt upwards.
Willow's eyes fell down to watch and she gently bit her bottom lip as she watched Tara's skin come into view under the blinking, florescent lights. She looked up for permission to touch and her hands came up, once granted.
Tara felt a bit silly having such an encounter in the cramped and grimy space, but let Willow squeeze and mould to her heart's content. She had to admit enjoying it more as passing seconds went by, especially when Willow started to kiss into her neck.
She had almost forgotten where they were when Willow's hand dropped and started to fumble with her pants button.
"Hey," she said, grabbing her wrist to stop her.
Willow pouted.
"I can feel you up in a bathroom but we can't have sex?"
Tara secured her pants button again.
"Maybe if it was a nice bathroom."
"This isn't a nice bathroom?" Willow asked with playful sarcasm.
Tara looked around once, then shook her head.
"I don't like the tile."
Willow could only smile and leaned in for a kiss, but was disturbed right as she was about to close by her cell phone buzzing in her pocket. She sighed and plucked it out to answer it.
"Hello. Uh, no. In the bathroom. No, not throwing up, but it was close. Um…do you want us to? Uh, alright. Okay, we'll be right out," she spoke into the phone, then hung up, "The team all go for drinks after the game…Becky wants us to come and meet Luke."
Tara nodded once.
"Oh. Okay."
"I know, bar = yucky. We don't have to stay long," Willow reassured, then couldn't resist looking down, "Thanks for the, uh, view."
Tara blushed and started to button herself up to decency again, pushing out of the stall to check her appearance in the mirror.
Willow leaned against the wall and waited patiently, then opened the door for them to head out. She spotted Becky a few feet away with a tall man, gym bag at his feet, and made her way over, but stopped dead in her tracks when she recognised the face as it came into view.
"Lucas."
Lucas was holding a baseball bat behind his neck and was using it to stretch from side to side, but stilled immediately upon the same realisation.
"Willow," he said, in as much shock, then looked to Tara, "Willow's girlfriend."
"Lucas?" Becky asked, smiling fondly, "I didn't know Luke was short for…wait, how the hell did you know? You guys know each other?"
Lucas looked completely panic-stricken and Willow wasn't faring much better.
"Uh…we…did photography class together," she eventually answered, "In the summer."
"Oh, cool," Becky replied, smiling, "Well then I don't need to do some big introduction. The team bus is waiting for us, we better go."
Willow watched as Becky dragged Lucas off and had no choice but to follow.
"Are you gonna tell–" Tara tried to ask in a whisper as they loaded onto the bus but Willow began wildly shaking her head before she could finish.
"Ssshh!"
Tara felt herself shoved into a seat in the minibus before she could respond, face up against the window as everyone tried to squeeze on.
Willow got pushed a few seats down in the next row but was instantly contrite at how dismissive she'd been.
"Tara," she tried to garner her girlfriend's attention, "Tara…"
She dodged some muscled arms and bags being tossed around, before finally meeting Tara's eye and mouthed 'I'm sorry'.
Tara considered it for a moment, then nodded to indicate she accepted it and tried to reach her hand out to squeeze Willow's.
They couldn't quite make the reach, so Willow fixed her gaze on the burly guy sitting beside Tara.
"Wanna swap seats?"
The guy looked her, or at least what he could see, up and down, then grinned.
"Wanna go out? Get some food?"
Tara shook her head to herself and rolled her eyes, but Willow stayed calm.
"How about I take your seat and you keep your dinner and we'll call it even?"
"Sounds good to me," he replied, smirking as they swapped seats, before realising too late he'd been played and spun back around in the seat, "Hey…"
Willow was too busy cradling Tara's hand in her lap to pay him any attention.
"I'm sorry I was such a jerky-jerk. But big, mega panic, you know? What the hell do I do now?"
Tara lifted her other hand to brush some hair from Willow's brow.
"Talk to Lucas…Luke?"
"Where? How? Say what?" Willow asked in a panic, keeping her voice low.
"I don't know," Tara replied, at as much at a loss about the situation they found themselves in.
Willow dropped her head into her hands.
"This is a nightmare."
Tara rubbed Willow's back to offer some comfort and noticed Lucas was staring at them from across the bus while trying to keep up with whatever animated conversation Becky was trying to have with him.
She kept her focus on Willow so as not to arouse any more suspicion and make the situation worse.
The bus was bouncing under the weight of all the players, as well as some of the accompanying girlfriends, only making Willow's nausea worsen. She was one of the first out when it finally pulled up along a row of bars and the last to follow the cheering crowd into the nearest, seediest one.
"Great," Willow said as she and Tara slowly followed, "Look at this place, it's disgusting."
Tara wasn't any more enthused by the place than Willow and kept close to her to avoid bumping into anything.
"I-I don't want to spend the night here."
Willow's concern instantly went from the situation at hand to Tara's discomfort and she took her hand to assure her.
"I know, baby, we won't. I'll get us out of this, okay?"
She started to look around to find Becky, but they were found first.
"Guys, come sit."
"Um, Becky, we're not sure–" Willow started but was all but dragged into a booth in the corner.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Water," Willow answered for both of them, "No, wait, we–"
Becky went off to tell Lucas their orders, then returned with a big grin on her face.
"He's so hot, right?"
"Not really, our, um, field of expertise, Beck," Willow answered with a nervous chuckle.
"He's so dreamy," Becky replied, completely smitten, "And arty too! Was he a good photographer? I bet he was great."
"I, um, I'm not sure I ever saw any of his," Willow replied neutrally, before tacking on quickly, "Photos, I mean!"
"Alright, jumpy," Becky replied with a laugh, "So it's cool you guys know each other. Did you meet him too, Tara?"
Tara opened and closed her mouth.
"Um…once," she said eventually, toying with her fingers in front of her.
"Did you know he played baseball?" Becky asked, casting a look behind to catch another glimpse of her boyfriend.
Willow shook her head.
"No…we, uh…no."
Lucas hesitantly approached them and put the tray of drinks down on the table.
"They're telling me about meeting you," Becky said, her teasing tone instantly making Lucas pale.
"Aw shit, you told her?"
Tara closed her eyes and Willow dropped her head against the table, while Becky looked between the three of them in confusion.
"Told me…what?" she asked, her eyebrow lifting as she picked up the vibe between them, "What the hell is going on between you guys?"
Lucas swore under his breath and hung his head.
"We, uh…had a misunderstanding."
"What, you guys had a fight?" Becky asked, utterly confused and annoyed as she watched more looks pass between them, "Somebody needs to tell me what's going on right now."
Lucas slumped and Willow exhaled a slow breath.
"Well, um…he kinda tried to, um…make a move on me. Naked."
Becky's brow creased for a moment, before her head suddenly flew towards Lucas.
"You used The Naked Man on her?!"
"The what?" Tara asked, as perplexed as Willow seemed to be.
"It's a move he uses to try and get girls into bed," Becky replied with a scoff, "I knew I wasn't the first but god, my best friend?!"
"My cousin Barney taught me. Works two out of three times," Lucas said in an attempt of defence, before adding on meekly as he looked to Willow, "You were the third."
Willow's face contorted in disgust, while Becky's had turned to rage.
"I cannot believe you've seen my boyfriend's junk."
"It wasn't willingly!" Willow protested, not a fan of the look she was being given.
Becky threw her hands out in front of her.
"It's still NOT okay!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Willow shot back, "You had no problem with us being in the locker rooms!"
"Yeah, well!" Becky came back with, lamely but with just as much gusto.
"It was a stupid misunderstanding," Lucas tried to intervene.
"Y-yeah, let's not fight," Tara added on.
"Shut up, Tara," Becky spat out.
Though had the decency to look instantly apologetic, Willow was already incensed and on her feet.
"You've done a lot of stupid stuff since I've known you but you don't get to EVER disrespect my girlfriend!" she all but yelled, causing the whole bar to still into silence as she grabbed Tara's hand, "Come on."
She marched them out and slammed the door for effect.
"I swear, if she ever even looks at you again…!"
Tara stayed quiet, opting not to engage when Willow was so mad. They walked in silence for a while, Willow clearly having an internal conversation with herself.
"Like, what, is she insinuating something happened?" she asked, calmer but still mad, "Because that's just insulting on so many levels."
"I-I think it just surprised her, Willow," Tara replied cautiously, "I-It sort of looked like we were trying to cover it up."
"Because we agreed to forget it happened!" Willow replied, throwing her hands in the air.
"Okay, but…" Tara started, unsure whether she should continue the conversation at all, "What if Becky had walked in on me naked? Would you be very happy?"
Willow crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed.
"She already did!"
Tara shifted uncomfortably and pulled at the ends of her sleeves.
"You promised she didn't see anything."
"She certainly did not, I covered–" Willow started to retort, before realising what Tara was saying, "Okay, I get it. Different."
"And it must be worrying…shocking maybe," Tara tried to reason, hating her girlfriend being so angry at anyone, especially her best friend, "Lucas clearly had a thing for you, at least at first. I-I would have been…I mean, I would have had questions when we were first dating and I found out you'd had a thing with Becky."
"There was no thing!" Willow replied, exasperated.
Tara moved behind Willow as they walked, gently massaging her shoulders.
"I know, baby. But just…think about it for a second."
Willow couldn't help but feel calmed both by the touch and pet name. She closed her eyes and after a few moments let out a sigh.
"Stop making me feel like I'm the one who acted wrong here," she said, though her tone was already resigned, "I am, aren't I?"
"I don't think anyone did too well," Tara replied softly and felt Willow slouch with a sigh, "It's okay. We'll just let things settle. Go home and have a nice evening and sort things out in the morning when everyone's had a chance to calm down."
Willow nodded once and took Tara's hand, giving it a squeeze.
"Yeah. Okay. You're right. Things will be better in the morning."
Willow lay on her stomach on the bed and flicked through her chemistry notes, her assortment of different coloured pens ready to highlight as necessary.
"Okay, I'm going," Tara said, coming from the bathroom as she hooked an earring through her ear and smiled when she saw what Willow was doing, "You're so cute."
Willow looked up from the bed.
"Does cute mean insane?"
Tara just smiled.
"Let's go with quirky."
Willow watched her girlfriend move around the room and gather some things into her satchel.
"You look happy."
"Yeah, it's cool learning the play," Tara replied with a little hum, "Mia's funny."
Willow felt that settle oddly over her but shook it off.
"Well, have fun."
"I will," Tara replied, then blew a kiss as she headed towards the door, "Bye. Love you."
Willow gave a weak wave and stared at the closed door for a couple of moments before shaking her head and concentrating back on her notes. A while passed before she heard a knock on the door and jumped up, expecting it to be Tara.
She had a smile ready to offer her girlfriend, secretly thankful she was back, but it faltered when she saw Becky standing there instead.
"Hi," she greeted in a shaky tone, unsure what was to come.
"Hey," Becky replied, hands shoved in her pockets, "Can I come in?"
Willow thought about it for a moment, then stood aside to let her in. Becky walked inside and there was a few moments lull of awkward silence before she spoke.
"So…I know nothing went on," she said, still shaking her head at the absurdity of the situation, "Just, wow."
Willow could agree with that.
"Yeah, well…for me too."
"Can't really blame Luke…Lucas. You are pretty hot," Becky continued, her form of an apology, "And he's really nice."
"Um, well…" Willow replied, leaving out any additional sounds of hesitation, "You've dated worse guys."
"I know, he has an ego," Becky replied, though truth be told that was something that attracted him to her, "But he can be really sweet."
Willow thought about that, then nodded.
"He gave me and Tara a lift when we really needed one," she said, something she was still very grateful for, "Are you guys, uh…"
"Yeah, we're okay. It's not like you're a threat," Becky replied with a laugh, though seemed to realise quickly how that could sound, "I didn't mean that in a–"
"It's okay, I get it. I'm definitely not of the threatening," Willow cut her off, cracking a smile, "And there is total brain-blockage on…anything. Everything."
Becky felt the air of tension between them lift and grinned.
"You know it's only fair that I get to see Tara's boobs."
Willow's eyes widened, followed by her mouth dropping open and she spluttered over her words for a few moments before noting the laughs Becky wasn't able to contain.
"Okay, good one. You got me there."
"I thought steam was about to come out of your ears," Becky replied, almost bent over with laughter.
"Please don't say that to her," Willow pleaded, knowing how it would upset her girlfriend.
"I won't," Becky replied, serious again now, "Man, do I feel bad about telling her to shut up. She looked like she might start crying."
Willow gave a short nod.
"She's sensitive about that stuff."
"I'll say sorry," Becky replied, solemn, "Like, you know, and mean it. Where is she?"
Willow sunk down to sit on the bed.
"Running lines with one of her friends from theatre class."
Becky leaned back against the desk and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You don't seem too happy about that."
"Huh?" Willow asked, flushing that she'd been caught out, "No, it's fine…the friend is just a little weird."
Becky nodded for her to continue.
"Weird like how?"
Willow shrugged.
"Like doing an intro class as a junior when it's her major…like always sitting beside Tara in class…like trying to get rid of me when they're together, kinda weird."
Becky's eyebrow quirked.
"What does Tara say?"
"To stop prying," Willow answered, head down as if she'd been scolded.
Becky's second eyebrow joined her first.
"…are you sure they're just running lines?"
Willow looked like she'd been punched in the chest.
"Of course, of course they are!"
"How was she when she was leaving?" Becky asked, unconvinced.
"She was…excited," Willow replied, eyes darting around, "But it's her first real friend!"
"Apart from you," Becky countered.
Willow shook her head furiously.
"I'm her girlfriend."
Becky shrugged.
"Not at first you weren't."
Willow's bottom lip started to tremble.
"Tara wouldn't do that to me."
It only took Becky a second to really think about what she was saying. She blinked once, then laughed.
"Yeah, you're totally right," she said, shaking her head that she would even think that given how close she knew her two friends were, "Well, Luke is taking me down to Rhode Island for the day. I better go."
It took Willow a moment to register Becky had said something and she had to make a quick wipe for her eyes.
"Have a good day," she said, hollow.
"I will," Becky replied, too happy that they'd resolved their tiff to notice she'd initiated a whole new set of problems, "Later gator."
Willow offered a weak wave as Becky practically skipped out, eager for her romantic day now that things had been sorted out. She walked out the main door and shot a quick thanks to whoever was holding it for her, before realising that she knew that face.
"Tara," she said, skidding back, "Tara, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
Tara smiled easily.
"That's okay," she said, not one to hold a grudge, "Did you and Willow…?"
"All sorted," Becky smiled, "And me and Luke too, or, Lucas, I don't even know what to call him. Anyway, yeah…everything is good."
"Good," Tara replied, delighted Willow wouldn't have the anguish of the fight on her shoulders any longer, "Have a good day."
"You too!" Becky replied, cheerful and she waved and skipped off.
Tara turned down the hallway and came back into the room. Willow instantly jumped up, some of her papers flying to the floor in the process.
"Hey…um, how was it?"
"Good," Tara replied with a smile that looked a bit too big for Willow's liking.
She bent down to help gather the papers up and Willow did the same.
"Whatcha do?"
"Just read through lines and stuff," Tara replied, handing Willow the collection.
"Stuff?" Willow asked, her pitch rising.
"Uh huh," Tara replied, leaving her satchel down, then came over and pressed some kisses against Willow's cheek, "Hello, cutie. Or is it quirky now?"
Willow smiled and felt her heart lift a little as arms wrapped around her.
She loves me…she really does love me.
…doesn't she?