All belongs to Joss and co. Sorry about the delay in updates but work has
been killer, but I'm on vacation and hopefully the creative juices will
begin to flow. Reviews would be greatly appreciated.
Classes had been good, a little long, but Tara had figured that had been because of her lack of sleep. Her shoulders ached some and she was careful not to hang her bag across her sore back. She was making her way to the library, there were a couple of books she needed for her biology class, when she ran into a solid form before her.
"Ow."
Looking up at what had collided with her se was shocked to see a large male towering before her.
"I.I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention."
She was blushing furiously and avoided making eye contact. She knew who he was, not personally of course, but he looked familiar.
"No harm done, I was a bit distracted myself."
He noticed her blushing and he couldn't help but smile.
They stood there in awkward silence until Tara dared to look up at him again, stunned to see him smiling at her, his bright grey eyes studying her intently. He had long black hair which he let hang loose and was wearing a long grey Henley.
"My name is Quinn. Nice to meet you."
He didn't know why he was still talking to her or what could have possibly driven him to introduce himself but he found himself wanting to know her name. Know who she was.
"I.I'm Tara."
Slowly she extended her hand and grasped his hand. His hand was rough and fingers were calloused, but he held her hand firmly and shook her hand with confidence. When she tried to pull her hand away he would not let go.
"Quinn my name, what have you got there?"
They were both startled at the loud voice behind him. A hand clasped his shoulder and she quickly jerked her hand away, once again looking away.
"Found yourself a book rat I see."
Laughter erupted and Tara felt tears form behind her eyes.
"SO not your type, but a little flavor now and then wouldn't hurt I guess."
He was mad, first his "Friend" interrupts their meeting and now they were insulting her. He turned to say something back, when Jones slipped around him and draped an arm about her shoulders and squeezed rather roughly in a mock gesture of friendship.
Her shoulders erupted in pain and she couldn't help the gasp that slipped from her lips. Trying to pull away all she managed to do was drop her bag and further hurt her sore back.
He saw her pain, and stared at her in confusion, but he didn't know what to do. Jones and rest of his group were watching him with interest daring him to do or say something. He paused afraid to intervene, worried about what they might think.
She looked up at him hoping, for some reason unknown to her, that he would say something. Step in and defend her. Why it mattered to her was unclear, they had just met, but there had been something in the way he had held her hand. When she saw him frown, she knew he would do nothing, and it hurt. Finally managing to pull away from the laughing lugs arm she scooped u her bag and nearly ran away from them. Her head down and tears falling, hidden by her hair.
He saw her bolt and wanted to reach out and grab her arm, but his arms felt like lead. Tearing his eye from her he looked at his now nearly hysterical friends, laughing at her pain and felt sick to his stomach. Storming away from him the noisy group he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit in anger. Why he was angry he didn't know. But something was wrong with him, with his life if he associated with those who would hurt such a beautiful creature.
Classes had been good, a little long, but Tara had figured that had been because of her lack of sleep. Her shoulders ached some and she was careful not to hang her bag across her sore back. She was making her way to the library, there were a couple of books she needed for her biology class, when she ran into a solid form before her.
"Ow."
Looking up at what had collided with her se was shocked to see a large male towering before her.
"I.I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention."
She was blushing furiously and avoided making eye contact. She knew who he was, not personally of course, but he looked familiar.
"No harm done, I was a bit distracted myself."
He noticed her blushing and he couldn't help but smile.
They stood there in awkward silence until Tara dared to look up at him again, stunned to see him smiling at her, his bright grey eyes studying her intently. He had long black hair which he let hang loose and was wearing a long grey Henley.
"My name is Quinn. Nice to meet you."
He didn't know why he was still talking to her or what could have possibly driven him to introduce himself but he found himself wanting to know her name. Know who she was.
"I.I'm Tara."
Slowly she extended her hand and grasped his hand. His hand was rough and fingers were calloused, but he held her hand firmly and shook her hand with confidence. When she tried to pull her hand away he would not let go.
"Quinn my name, what have you got there?"
They were both startled at the loud voice behind him. A hand clasped his shoulder and she quickly jerked her hand away, once again looking away.
"Found yourself a book rat I see."
Laughter erupted and Tara felt tears form behind her eyes.
"SO not your type, but a little flavor now and then wouldn't hurt I guess."
He was mad, first his "Friend" interrupts their meeting and now they were insulting her. He turned to say something back, when Jones slipped around him and draped an arm about her shoulders and squeezed rather roughly in a mock gesture of friendship.
Her shoulders erupted in pain and she couldn't help the gasp that slipped from her lips. Trying to pull away all she managed to do was drop her bag and further hurt her sore back.
He saw her pain, and stared at her in confusion, but he didn't know what to do. Jones and rest of his group were watching him with interest daring him to do or say something. He paused afraid to intervene, worried about what they might think.
She looked up at him hoping, for some reason unknown to her, that he would say something. Step in and defend her. Why it mattered to her was unclear, they had just met, but there had been something in the way he had held her hand. When she saw him frown, she knew he would do nothing, and it hurt. Finally managing to pull away from the laughing lugs arm she scooped u her bag and nearly ran away from them. Her head down and tears falling, hidden by her hair.
He saw her bolt and wanted to reach out and grab her arm, but his arms felt like lead. Tearing his eye from her he looked at his now nearly hysterical friends, laughing at her pain and felt sick to his stomach. Storming away from him the noisy group he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit in anger. Why he was angry he didn't know. But something was wrong with him, with his life if he associated with those who would hurt such a beautiful creature.
