More little trinkets started showing up in the following weeks. All of them another tangible reminder for the red-haired woman that Tara was still out there somewhere close by.
A good thing too considering how Willow had been working herself into a frenzy trying to find her vampire cell mate anywhere on campus between attending her classes and helping out the rest of the Scoobies hunt down any more of the Initiative's still active labs.
She'd searched the student directory with no luck with any of the women bearing the name "Tara" listed on it. She'd even attempted to try the few varied spellings of the name the blonde gave her but again came up empty each time. So, the near-daily appearance of the little gifts continued to keep Willow's spirits up that her crush of a vampire was still thinking of her almost as much as Willow's thoughts were filled with her.
A small black kitten plush had been waiting for her on the desk Willow often chose to sit at during her drama class.
A small heart-shaped necklace left hanging on her and Buffy's door when Willow returned to the shared room between classes to change out her books. Instead of a more traditional sapphire stone, this 'heart of the ocean' as Willow considered it was a small bit of Aquamarine variety gemstone.
"Isn't Aqua supposed to be something with mermaids and sailors on the high seas? Like to give protection from bad storms or something like that?" Xander asks after spotting the new bit of jewelry hanging around Willow's neck the next time the pair shared a class together.
"That too but mostly it's supposed to promote peace and courage." Willow shrugs "and it is also my birthstone." She adds twisting the chain around her fingers as she tries yet again to listen to the lecture her professor was giving and not about the blonde-haired vampire that had so fully stolen her heart after knowing her less than a full week.
The one that had ended up amusing Xander the most was the Beanie Baby Scooby doll that besides its already sown on witch's hat had also been fitted with a small pair of black-framed glasses that turned up at the gang's usual table in the campus library.
"Merciful Zeus, Willow this loaded with more than enough for you to get that new computer you've been looking at." The dark-haired boy exclaimed in awe after tugging the gift card the doll had been holding free of the little envelope. "And this one is for that new magic shop in town you said you liked." He added flipping to the second card in the small stack "Dang mind of I kind of date this admirer of yours a little while?" he asks passing the cards over to Willow's waiting hand.
"Back off Xanman." Willow snapped but her playful wink cools the bite of her growl as she flips her hair back over one shoulder. "So is the topic Scooby stuff or school stuff today?" she questions turning to glance at a giggling Buffy for clarification after tucking the cards away into her wallet.
Later the same afternoon
Buffy was in a bind.
She'd been out on her regular patrol just as she did every other night until just after sundown and more than enough time for the night crowd Sunnydale attracted to feel safe enough to show up some newly turned vampire had gotten the drop on her.
A former jock she guessed given his added strength that even for a vampire was intimidatingly impressive.
She found herself wishing that odd cinnamon-colored cat that had been trailing after her until jock boy had appeared would come back and give her some means of a distraction. Maybe sink its claws into his back or something.
The cat had started showing up around the same time as Willow's gifts at times it seemed the cinnamon furred tabby was guarding them for her given how it would give the groups resident Wicca a happy greeting mew batting the present toward her then just as quickly disappearing before Willow or Xander or even Buffy could lay hands on it.
"One thing I can say," Willow whispered one afternoon when she, Buffy, and Xander were taking a break under the shade of a large birch tree growing beside the dining hall. The tabby sunning itself a little way away but would occasionally look over to keep an eye on the supposed to be studying trio "That's no ordinary cat."
"Hold your breath." A musically soft voice instructed the same time Buffy felt herself beginning to lose consciousness seconds before the hulking linebacker of a vampire exploded in an extra helping of dust.
"Are you alright?" her savior asks her pale hand already outstretched for Buffy to take so the blonde could help her up. The cinnamon tabby Buffy had been positive had been shadowing her since she'd left her dorm purring happily as it twisted itself around the strange blonde's leg.
"Yeah…thanks." Buffy coughed batting away the lingering haze of dust from around her face as she gulps in the chilly night air. She didn't know who she was addressing between them but offered it to both all the same. "How did you….?"
"My moth….erm I mean my cat Gena thought you were in a spot of trouble and came to get me so I could help…. sorry, it took me so long to get here." The blonde rambles following Buffy's gaze to the cat in question.
"No, No. although I owe you one for that." Buffy waved off rubbing a hand to her throat "…I meant how'd you know to dust him?" she clarified.
A shy smile spread over the other woman's lips as she holds up a handy artiest worthy number two pencil tapping away the new addition of dusted vampire. "When in Sunnydale at night it's always best to keep some kind of weapon handy." She laughs spinning the thing between her fingers before returning it to its tucked-away place behind her ear.
Something about her warned of possible danger. Nothing like when Buffy was standing in the presence of say another vampire but just a warry kind of on edge twisting in her stomach warning her not to cross the woman in front of her.
Not like the girl's more artsy hipster appearance gave away anything as Buffy gives her a closer inspection.
Her eyes were a curious mix of blue and golden, her hair a soft blonde she kept cropped short easier for her to hide behind if she wished to. A plain dark black shirt lay under a thick looking dark brown jacket the blonde had thought to pair with a pair of lighter cream-colored slacks and the teardrop style pendant around her neck was anything but menacing, but Buffy brushed it off as she too shook off the remains of another dead vampire from her clothes.
"Buffy Summers, Stevenson" She introduces jabbing her free hand back in the direction of her dorm.
"Amber-Amber Maclay. Specialized accommodation housing." The blonde returns with a dazzlingly shy smile as she takes Buffy's outstretched hand. "I—I just enrolled here a few days ago. I'm—erm I'm just taking a few night courses before I decide on a real major." She admits nervous when Buffy's eyebrows raise curiously but she seemed to breathe easier when Buffy didn't press for more "Nice to meet you."
It wouldn't be until she was back at her dorm after walking her kind of savior to her night class completely across campus from where they'd been that Buffy would find the two things her new acquaintance had covertly slipped into her jacket pocket during their walk.
A small workable Rubik's cube keychain Buffy guesses was intended for Willow and another folded bit of paper. This one ending in a note for Buffy herself.
Nice to finally meet a decent Slayer after all this time. Thanks for the save with the Initiative. I prey I never end up on your bad side if that is the alternative other than meeting the business end of a stake.