Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the BTVS characters, (wish I did!) that privilege belongs to Joss and ME.
Angel451- Thank you so much! I am really glad you like it!!!
Slayerfan1 - Thanks!!! Glad you like my fic, hope you like the new chapter!
Kookycookie- Thanks so much, It's wonderful to know that you like it so much! Thanks for the feedback!
Ryu Sakana- Thanks!!! Really glad you liked the story! Hope you like the next chapter!
Buffy walked into the library and sat down on a chair, looking across the room at a deeply intrigued, reading, Giles. She waited for him to notice her and when he didn't, decided to make her presence known.
"Some book, huh?"
Giles jumped, "Buffy!" he exclaimed "I didn't see you there..."
Buffy laughed, "yeah, well, not really a wonder, you and that book, woah, I'm talking some serious fun! And you know... that worries me"
Giles shook his head, changing the topic "so what are your plans for this evening?"
Buffy looked up, "oh, you know, work, school homework, slaying evil vampires, just.. normal stuff... what else would I do on a Friday night? maybe I'll see if Xander and Willow want to get together, you know, little study session, my study buddies! Willow's into that sort of thing, I figured it might cheer her up if.."
Giles looked up from his already sparkling glasses, which he had been cleaning while Buffy talked, and interrupted her.
"Willow?"
Buffy stopped, "yeah, what about her?"
"I saw her yesterday Buffy"
Buffy looked at him, "did you talk to her? Do you see what I mean? Isn't it just the saddest thing? And she won't even tell me what's wrong!" Buffy rushed.
Giles looked perplexed, " actually Buffy, the reason I brought it up was because, no, no, I saw no sign whatsoever of what you are talking about, if anything Willow appeared to be the happiest I have ever seen her, which, as you can imagine, left me rather baffled"
Buffy looked confused, "ok, break out the books, something totally weird is going on here! I mean, are you sure that you saw Willow, our Willow, small, redhair, about yay high, you know the one.. Was it really her, Giles, cause you know, it's easy to make mistakes these days..."
Giles shook his head, "It was most definitely Willow, Buffy, no mistakes about that"
Buffy stood up, "but Giles, that's just SO wrong on SO many levels! Even this morning she was all, down with the gloomys. Why would she have gone from depressed girl, to happy girl, back to depressed girl? Not making sense Giles." Giles nodded, "I'm only telling you what I saw, and all I saw was a happy girl, who was having a good time showing her new friend around the school"
Buffy started to argue, "but Giles.. Huh?! New friend? Showing her around the school? Ok! Now I know I've entered the twighlight zone! You'd think that if Willow had a new friend then I would know about her, right? I mean, kinda hard to keep these things hidden.."
Giles shrugged, "Her name is Tara, a very nice looking girl" he told her, then added as an afterthought, " shy, slightly mysterious looking, but nice, I don't know anything else Buffy, why don't you go find her and see for yourself?"
Buffy nodded, "Ok, fine, I will then, I'll just leave you to your, uh, book. ..bye Giles" she said waving at him as she headed for the door.
"Goodbye Buffy" he called after her, watching her leave the library and then seeing her head peak around the door, back into the library.
"don't you and mister book there, get up to any mischief Giles", she said in a mock stern voice, "don't do anything I wouldn't do! No wait! Actually, don't do anything I would do!", she grinned and left the library once again, this time Willow-bound.
Giles shook his head in wonderment and picked up his book and began reading again.
***
Willow and Tara were sitting together on the grass outside Sunnydale High, basking in the sunlight while they ate their lunches.
"no! no! listen to the end though! So the lion says to the centipede, 'Where were you during the first half?' and the centipede answers 'I was putting on my shoes'!"
Willow was bent over laughing, "ha! Centipede, lots of shoes!" she said laughing more.
Tara grinned at the redhead, "yes, lots and lots of shoes.."
Willow grinned, "Ok! My turn.."
Tara watched Willow, listening as she told her joke, listening, but not really concentrating, she kept thinking about today and how great it had been, Willow had introduced her to a number of students, whom in front of, she miraculously had not embarrassed herself. It was kind of getting easier, the 'Hi, I'm Tara' thing, and Willow hadn't left her side, even for a second. Tara grinned, remembering Willow's promise of slavery, and then she began to think about what she would like to do with Willow as her slave. Tara shook herself, 'ok, no more naughty thoughts about Willow! Get a grip girl!! You've known her for what? A day? And already you have planned out at least three different scenarios, that all end the same way, a confession of undying love, and some seriously raunchy stuff...'.
"get it?" Willow asked with a grin.
Tara laughed, "yeah! Gosh that was funny!" she said, hoping she sounded convincing enough, because in actual fact she could not remember a word Willow had said, it appeared to have worked though, because Willow grinned again and took a bite of her sandwich.
Tara smiled at Willow and began to eat her lunch.
Willow watched her eat, not directly of course, but from the corner of her eye, so that Tara couldn't see. She was fascinated by every little thing Tara did, every little thing about her, even the way she chewed her food, running her tongue slowly over her bottom lip, checking that she hadn't dropped any stray crumbs. Willow found herself, more than anything, wanting to be that crumb, and that feeling scared her, 'what is going on with me!?' she thought, and then the realization hit her, like it always does, making the person wonder why the hell they hadn't seen it earlier, 'I like Tara! I mean I REALLY like Tara! In an 'oh-my-god-I-think-I'm-in-love-with-Tara sort of way!'. Willow turned to look at her, face-to-face, almost expecting Tara to back away in disgust, expecting Tara to have seen it on her face, felt it in the air. But Tara didn't react to it, all she did was smile at Willow, making the redheads lips curl into a smile, like it always did.
***
Buffy had checked all the usual Willow hang outs and was now in the process of heading outside to see if, perhaps, she was there. She walked down the hallway and turned to walk through the main doors, when someone came running up behind her.
"Buffy! Wait up" Xander called "I'm coming"
Buffy turned around to face Xander, "long time no see", she said grinning.
Xander nodded, "what can I say, the irresistible pull of Buffy Summer's unfinished lunch is always too strong, I have to succumb!"
Buffy laughed
Xander studied his friend closely, "where are you going with that resolve face, and more importantly", Xander gasped, "where is your lunch!?"
Buffy looked quickly at Xander, having been reminded of what she had been trying to do. The two of them walked out into the front of the school.
"Xander" she started "have you seen Willow?" when he shook his head no, she continued, "well, have you, y'know, seen her with someone, y'know, that you maybe didn't know?"
Xander looked confused, "someone I didn't know, um, not...so...much.. Should I have?"
Buffy shook her head, "Giles just told me that when he saw Willow in the library yesterday, she looked really happy, and to me, something about that just doesn't add up... and he also said that she was showing a new girl around. Xander, what new girl!? We haven't seen or heard anything about any new girl!"
Buffy turned to look at Xander and saw him staring at something, or someone, "that new girl..."
Buffy followed his gaze and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. True to Gile's word, Willow was indeed with a new girl and she was smiling from ear- to-ear.
Buffy looked at Xander and Xander looked at Buffy, not sure what to say to each other. Xander shrugged and Buffy shrugged, then the both of them began to walk in Willow's direction.
"Hey Will!", Xander called out
Willow heard him and froze, 'no!' she thought 'I'm not ready for this! I'm not ready to share her!'. She turned around slowly, knowing who she was going to see behind her.
"Hey Will" Buffy said smiling
Willow gave a small smile, "oh hey guys..." she said almost hesitantly.
Tara noticed her almost immediate change of demeanor and watched her confused, waiting for her to introduce these newcomers.
Buffy and Xander threw themselves onto the grass next to the girls and nobody said a word, after what felt like forever, Willow looked up from the tiny blade of grass she'd been studying and looked at Tara. Seeing the confusion on her face, she quickly introduced them
"Tara" she said "This is Buffy and that's Xander"
Tara nodded slowly, sensing the reluctance in Willow's voice, her entire, 'Hi, I'm Tara' plan going out the window.
"Buffy, Xander, this is Tara..."
Buffy smiled and Xander reached and shook her hand.
Buffy looked at Tara, "so you got Willow as a tour guide, huh? Showed you the computer room or the library yet?" she asked grinning " alas, in that simple question, lies the advantages and disadvantages of having a computer nerd for a best friend" Buffy smiled affectionately at Willow.
Xander nodded, "it's why we love her!"
Tara just nodded again, not trusting herself to speak.
Xander looked at Buffy, "you said you'd help me with that English homework, Buff"
Buffy nodded, "yeah, but Willow would be oh so much more suited for the job!"
Xander nodded solemnly, "true in everyway but Willow is busy and you aren't, Willow didn't promise and you did, so lets go Buff", he finished, grinning.
Buffy sighed and stood up, "it was great to meet you Tara" she said
"yeah, a real pleasure!" Xander added
"see ya later Will" they chorused
Buffy and Xander walked away.
Willow and Tara remained seated on the grass, an awkward silence between them.
"that... they... they were Buffy and Xander... just Buffy and Xander" Willow said, in an attempt to fill the silence.
Tara nodded, filling in the gaps that Willow had left in her head, 'they were Buffy and Xander' she thought, 'they were her best friends, the ones she didn't want to introduce me too... The ones she was probably too embarrassed to introduce me to'
Willow looked closely at Tara. "Tara.." she started
Tara looked up at her.
"I was wondering, today being a Friday and all, would.. do.. do you wanna do something together over the weekend cause I would love to, I mean if you don't have the time I would totally understand because sometimes I don't have times for things even though I really want to do them and somet.."
Tara smiled, "Oh yes.." she said, interrupting Willow's ramble, "do you.. would you like to maybe, come to my house and s-sleepover tomorrow night?" Tara asked, almost unable to believe her daring, so thankful that all she had had was one tiny little stutter. She looked at Willow, awaiting her answer, what was actually moments felt like hours, before the redhead's lips curled into a smile.
"I would love too!" Willow responded eagerly as the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
The two girls stood up quickly, brushing themselves off.
"Come on Tara, I can walk you to your next class, you know, just so that you don't get lost or anything..."
Tara smiled, knowing darn well that she knew her way around the hallways now, but not even considering telling her that.
Willow reached over, her hand reaching for Tara's face.
Tara's breath caught in her throat, 'she's gonna kiss me!' she thought, all rational thought leaving her head.
When Willow's hand reached right past her face, she felt confused, until Willow pulled away, a piece of straw in her hands, "you... uh... piece of straw... stuck in your hair"
Tara smiled "Oh...uh...thanks for getting it out then" she said.
Willow smiled, "anytime"
The two girl walked into the school, heading for their lockers.
Tara looked at Willow, excited, scared, nervous, and most of all happy. One thought running through her head over and over again, 'Willow Rosenberg is coming to my house tomorrow night, My. House.'
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the BTVS characters, (wish I did!) that privilege belongs to Joss and ME.
Angel451- Thank you so much! I am really glad you like it!!!
Slayerfan1 - Thanks!!! Glad you like my fic, hope you like the new chapter!
Kookycookie- Thanks so much, It's wonderful to know that you like it so much! Thanks for the feedback!
Ryu Sakana- Thanks!!! Really glad you liked the story! Hope you like the next chapter!
Buffy walked into the library and sat down on a chair, looking across the room at a deeply intrigued, reading, Giles. She waited for him to notice her and when he didn't, decided to make her presence known.
"Some book, huh?"
Giles jumped, "Buffy!" he exclaimed "I didn't see you there..."
Buffy laughed, "yeah, well, not really a wonder, you and that book, woah, I'm talking some serious fun! And you know... that worries me"
Giles shook his head, changing the topic "so what are your plans for this evening?"
Buffy looked up, "oh, you know, work, school homework, slaying evil vampires, just.. normal stuff... what else would I do on a Friday night? maybe I'll see if Xander and Willow want to get together, you know, little study session, my study buddies! Willow's into that sort of thing, I figured it might cheer her up if.."
Giles looked up from his already sparkling glasses, which he had been cleaning while Buffy talked, and interrupted her.
"Willow?"
Buffy stopped, "yeah, what about her?"
"I saw her yesterday Buffy"
Buffy looked at him, "did you talk to her? Do you see what I mean? Isn't it just the saddest thing? And she won't even tell me what's wrong!" Buffy rushed.
Giles looked perplexed, " actually Buffy, the reason I brought it up was because, no, no, I saw no sign whatsoever of what you are talking about, if anything Willow appeared to be the happiest I have ever seen her, which, as you can imagine, left me rather baffled"
Buffy looked confused, "ok, break out the books, something totally weird is going on here! I mean, are you sure that you saw Willow, our Willow, small, redhair, about yay high, you know the one.. Was it really her, Giles, cause you know, it's easy to make mistakes these days..."
Giles shook his head, "It was most definitely Willow, Buffy, no mistakes about that"
Buffy stood up, "but Giles, that's just SO wrong on SO many levels! Even this morning she was all, down with the gloomys. Why would she have gone from depressed girl, to happy girl, back to depressed girl? Not making sense Giles." Giles nodded, "I'm only telling you what I saw, and all I saw was a happy girl, who was having a good time showing her new friend around the school"
Buffy started to argue, "but Giles.. Huh?! New friend? Showing her around the school? Ok! Now I know I've entered the twighlight zone! You'd think that if Willow had a new friend then I would know about her, right? I mean, kinda hard to keep these things hidden.."
Giles shrugged, "Her name is Tara, a very nice looking girl" he told her, then added as an afterthought, " shy, slightly mysterious looking, but nice, I don't know anything else Buffy, why don't you go find her and see for yourself?"
Buffy nodded, "Ok, fine, I will then, I'll just leave you to your, uh, book. ..bye Giles" she said waving at him as she headed for the door.
"Goodbye Buffy" he called after her, watching her leave the library and then seeing her head peak around the door, back into the library.
"don't you and mister book there, get up to any mischief Giles", she said in a mock stern voice, "don't do anything I wouldn't do! No wait! Actually, don't do anything I would do!", she grinned and left the library once again, this time Willow-bound.
Giles shook his head in wonderment and picked up his book and began reading again.
***
Willow and Tara were sitting together on the grass outside Sunnydale High, basking in the sunlight while they ate their lunches.
"no! no! listen to the end though! So the lion says to the centipede, 'Where were you during the first half?' and the centipede answers 'I was putting on my shoes'!"
Willow was bent over laughing, "ha! Centipede, lots of shoes!" she said laughing more.
Tara grinned at the redhead, "yes, lots and lots of shoes.."
Willow grinned, "Ok! My turn.."
Tara watched Willow, listening as she told her joke, listening, but not really concentrating, she kept thinking about today and how great it had been, Willow had introduced her to a number of students, whom in front of, she miraculously had not embarrassed herself. It was kind of getting easier, the 'Hi, I'm Tara' thing, and Willow hadn't left her side, even for a second. Tara grinned, remembering Willow's promise of slavery, and then she began to think about what she would like to do with Willow as her slave. Tara shook herself, 'ok, no more naughty thoughts about Willow! Get a grip girl!! You've known her for what? A day? And already you have planned out at least three different scenarios, that all end the same way, a confession of undying love, and some seriously raunchy stuff...'.
"get it?" Willow asked with a grin.
Tara laughed, "yeah! Gosh that was funny!" she said, hoping she sounded convincing enough, because in actual fact she could not remember a word Willow had said, it appeared to have worked though, because Willow grinned again and took a bite of her sandwich.
Tara smiled at Willow and began to eat her lunch.
Willow watched her eat, not directly of course, but from the corner of her eye, so that Tara couldn't see. She was fascinated by every little thing Tara did, every little thing about her, even the way she chewed her food, running her tongue slowly over her bottom lip, checking that she hadn't dropped any stray crumbs. Willow found herself, more than anything, wanting to be that crumb, and that feeling scared her, 'what is going on with me!?' she thought, and then the realization hit her, like it always does, making the person wonder why the hell they hadn't seen it earlier, 'I like Tara! I mean I REALLY like Tara! In an 'oh-my-god-I-think-I'm-in-love-with-Tara sort of way!'. Willow turned to look at her, face-to-face, almost expecting Tara to back away in disgust, expecting Tara to have seen it on her face, felt it in the air. But Tara didn't react to it, all she did was smile at Willow, making the redheads lips curl into a smile, like it always did.
***
Buffy had checked all the usual Willow hang outs and was now in the process of heading outside to see if, perhaps, she was there. She walked down the hallway and turned to walk through the main doors, when someone came running up behind her.
"Buffy! Wait up" Xander called "I'm coming"
Buffy turned around to face Xander, "long time no see", she said grinning.
Xander nodded, "what can I say, the irresistible pull of Buffy Summer's unfinished lunch is always too strong, I have to succumb!"
Buffy laughed
Xander studied his friend closely, "where are you going with that resolve face, and more importantly", Xander gasped, "where is your lunch!?"
Buffy looked quickly at Xander, having been reminded of what she had been trying to do. The two of them walked out into the front of the school.
"Xander" she started "have you seen Willow?" when he shook his head no, she continued, "well, have you, y'know, seen her with someone, y'know, that you maybe didn't know?"
Xander looked confused, "someone I didn't know, um, not...so...much.. Should I have?"
Buffy shook her head, "Giles just told me that when he saw Willow in the library yesterday, she looked really happy, and to me, something about that just doesn't add up... and he also said that she was showing a new girl around. Xander, what new girl!? We haven't seen or heard anything about any new girl!"
Buffy turned to look at Xander and saw him staring at something, or someone, "that new girl..."
Buffy followed his gaze and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. True to Gile's word, Willow was indeed with a new girl and she was smiling from ear- to-ear.
Buffy looked at Xander and Xander looked at Buffy, not sure what to say to each other. Xander shrugged and Buffy shrugged, then the both of them began to walk in Willow's direction.
"Hey Will!", Xander called out
Willow heard him and froze, 'no!' she thought 'I'm not ready for this! I'm not ready to share her!'. She turned around slowly, knowing who she was going to see behind her.
"Hey Will" Buffy said smiling
Willow gave a small smile, "oh hey guys..." she said almost hesitantly.
Tara noticed her almost immediate change of demeanor and watched her confused, waiting for her to introduce these newcomers.
Buffy and Xander threw themselves onto the grass next to the girls and nobody said a word, after what felt like forever, Willow looked up from the tiny blade of grass she'd been studying and looked at Tara. Seeing the confusion on her face, she quickly introduced them
"Tara" she said "This is Buffy and that's Xander"
Tara nodded slowly, sensing the reluctance in Willow's voice, her entire, 'Hi, I'm Tara' plan going out the window.
"Buffy, Xander, this is Tara..."
Buffy smiled and Xander reached and shook her hand.
Buffy looked at Tara, "so you got Willow as a tour guide, huh? Showed you the computer room or the library yet?" she asked grinning " alas, in that simple question, lies the advantages and disadvantages of having a computer nerd for a best friend" Buffy smiled affectionately at Willow.
Xander nodded, "it's why we love her!"
Tara just nodded again, not trusting herself to speak.
Xander looked at Buffy, "you said you'd help me with that English homework, Buff"
Buffy nodded, "yeah, but Willow would be oh so much more suited for the job!"
Xander nodded solemnly, "true in everyway but Willow is busy and you aren't, Willow didn't promise and you did, so lets go Buff", he finished, grinning.
Buffy sighed and stood up, "it was great to meet you Tara" she said
"yeah, a real pleasure!" Xander added
"see ya later Will" they chorused
Buffy and Xander walked away.
Willow and Tara remained seated on the grass, an awkward silence between them.
"that... they... they were Buffy and Xander... just Buffy and Xander" Willow said, in an attempt to fill the silence.
Tara nodded, filling in the gaps that Willow had left in her head, 'they were Buffy and Xander' she thought, 'they were her best friends, the ones she didn't want to introduce me too... The ones she was probably too embarrassed to introduce me to'
Willow looked closely at Tara. "Tara.." she started
Tara looked up at her.
"I was wondering, today being a Friday and all, would.. do.. do you wanna do something together over the weekend cause I would love to, I mean if you don't have the time I would totally understand because sometimes I don't have times for things even though I really want to do them and somet.."
Tara smiled, "Oh yes.." she said, interrupting Willow's ramble, "do you.. would you like to maybe, come to my house and s-sleepover tomorrow night?" Tara asked, almost unable to believe her daring, so thankful that all she had had was one tiny little stutter. She looked at Willow, awaiting her answer, what was actually moments felt like hours, before the redhead's lips curled into a smile.
"I would love too!" Willow responded eagerly as the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
The two girls stood up quickly, brushing themselves off.
"Come on Tara, I can walk you to your next class, you know, just so that you don't get lost or anything..."
Tara smiled, knowing darn well that she knew her way around the hallways now, but not even considering telling her that.
Willow reached over, her hand reaching for Tara's face.
Tara's breath caught in her throat, 'she's gonna kiss me!' she thought, all rational thought leaving her head.
When Willow's hand reached right past her face, she felt confused, until Willow pulled away, a piece of straw in her hands, "you... uh... piece of straw... stuck in your hair"
Tara smiled "Oh...uh...thanks for getting it out then" she said.
Willow smiled, "anytime"
The two girl walked into the school, heading for their lockers.
Tara looked at Willow, excited, scared, nervous, and most of all happy. One thought running through her head over and over again, 'Willow Rosenberg is coming to my house tomorrow night, My. House.'