Chapter Three: Friends Are Such A Mixed Blessing

Tapping the eraser end of a pencil impatiently on her slightly tanned brow, Willow stared at her monitor screen for what seemed like a century. She'd gone over the same line of code eighteen times and had not managed to fix the bug in it once! "This is not cool, Wills. Get your head back into the game…" Her concentration was indeed severely lacking. Ghost images of that morning's dream were flitting about in her head, making even simple thoughts difficult to maintain. Groaning in frustration, Willow dropped her head to her desk, banging it repeatedly. Whump! Willow practically hit the ceiling as a huge stack of C++ programming books was dropped unceremoniously by her head.

"Well FINALLY! I thought I'd have to strip naked and do the Funky Chicken on your desk before I got your attention. I've only been calling your name for the past five minutes," Becca grumbled, ever so slightly annoyed.

"S-sorry, Bec. My mind is kinda somewhere else today," Willow quickly looked back at her monitor, knowing full well that she was blushing straight up to her scalp.

Becca cocked a curious eyebrow at this reaction. Leaning on the desk, her hazel eyes bored directly into Willow's green ones. "Awright, luv. Spill it. All of it. Leave nothing out. Who is she and is she good enough for you?"

Shifting uneasily under her unwavering stare, Willow knew she had no choice but to fess up. Becca was like a bulldog that way; once she latched onto something, she rarely let go until she had it. "Oh well…best get it all out now. Lord knows, she won't let it go until I do."

"Well, it's kinda like this…you know that coffee place down on South Street that I've been hanging out at after work?"

Becca shrugged noncommittally. "Sure. It's a cool place. Not that you've ever taken me there."

Willow ignored that last bit and pressed on. "Well, one day, I was just sitting there and this girl comes up and asks for the extra chair at my table. I swear to you, I never had a woman give me fever like that before in my life. Problem is, I can't seem to talk to her. I get near her and my face freezes up like the engine on my dad's old Mercury. You know me; I'm almost NEVER at a loss for words. She's in my dreams, she's in my head! 24/7!" She groaned and laid her head down sideways on her desk. "What am I gonna do?!"

Becca stared at Willow for a long moment and shook her head sadly. "Looks like you've got it bad, Red. You've gone and fell in love. Haven't I taught you anything?!"

Willow looked up long enough to give her the evil eye. "You are so NOT helpful here! I need answers, Oh Lesbian Love Goddess! What to do?"

Becca shrugged. "Dunno. Let me ponder on it for a while and see what I come up with. Meantime, we're still on for tonight, eh? I hear there's fun to be had at the Tin Angel after this lecture. All those intellectual types lookin' to let their hair down and such. Perfect for distracting you for a little bit until we can plan your next course of action."

"Oooohhhh noooo…I think I'd rather be dead."

"Hey now! That's what mates are for! To get you lovin' when you need it most!" Becca beamed happily after dispensing this nugget of wisdom. Willow could only hold her head in her hands and moan pitifully.

**************************************************************************

Later that evening, Willow found herself surrounded by people in the lobby of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Normally the lecture that Becca had dragged her to would have been held in Logan Hall, home of the College of Arts and Sciences, but a recent fire had rendered the lecture hall unsuitable. She was enthralled by how large the foyer of the Museum really was, as it easily housed the over five hundred students, faculty and guests that had turned out for the evening.

"Fabu, isn't it?" Becca remarked under her breath. Willow was constantly amazed at how she could carry on a conversation without moving her lips.

"Actually it's really cool," Willow replied. "I kinda regret not coming here before."

"No worries, luv. You can have all the time you need later on. Right now, I am in dire need of a whiskey and soda. Plus, we need to find our seats in all of this mayhem."

Willow nodded in agreement, allowing herself to be led by Becca into the Harrison Auditorium where the lecture would ultimately be held.

After several minutes and two minor mishaps, they finally found their seats about three rows from the podium. Willow sank gratefully into the maroon plush cushions, instantly regretting the decision to wear heels instead of more sturdy flats. She was glad they made it in time, as the lights dimmed a moment later and a rather dry, regal looking woman professor stepped up to the lectern.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and guests. Welcome to the University of Penn's Women of Greatness Lecture Series. Tonight, we have a treat in store for you. We were fortunate to be granted a special lecture from a visiting professor from University of California, Sunnydale. She's co-authored several books on women in literature, women in Wicca History and women who've changed helped change the face of history. She is also a practicing Wiccan. I am pleased to introduce, Dr. Tara Maclay."

Willow nearly sprayed her drink all over the guy seated in front of her when Tara's name was announced. Her mouth hung agape and her eyes were so wide, she almost lost a contact lens. She grabbed Becca's arm and began to shake her frantically.

"That's her! That's her! That's the woman from the coffee shop!" she hissed.

"Hey hey, luv! Watch the suit!" Becca managed to untangle Willow's fingers from her aching arm, removing the drink from Willow's hand in the process. "So that's the one, eh? Gotta say, Wills, you definitely have an eye for the ladies," she smirked.

Amid thunderous applause, Tara emerged from behind the curtains at the corner of the podium clad in an attractively tailored black silk Donna Karan pant suit. Her jacket lapels were cut low enough so that her lush cleavage showed through. Her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires in the illumination from the track lighting overhead. It was practically a given that she had the attention of almost everyone in the room.

Willow put her hands over her face, totally shocked at the events that had unfolded before her. Becca smirked evilly and elbowed her lightly. "Relax, babe. Just think, you wanted a chance to tell her how you feel, and now, your prayers may just have been answered!" Cackling wickedly, she sat back, totally unrepentant, as Willow downed her drink as well as Becca's in two gulps. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Four - She's Saving Me