A/N: Hey guys, I know there are a couple of you that are really enjoying the story and are constantly wanting more. I'm really glad to hear that! However, I'm really busy juggling school and all my activities so I know I definitely won't be updating regularly. Just know that I don't plan to abandon the story! Hope you enjoy this new chapter! :D

Chapter Five

If Tara thought she had been distracted in school the previous day because of the fight she and Willow had, that was nothing compared to how distracted she was now that they had kissed. She couldn't stop replaying their kiss in her head during each of her class. Even in English class, which was usually her favorite, was not able to hold her attention today. Math was her final class of the day and she highly doubted she would be able to focus on it. She had never been very good at math or very interested it. She still tried her best though.

"What are you so smiley about today?" Francine, the most popular and coincidentally the bitchiest girl in school, asked snarkily while they were waiting for class to begin.

Tara was suddenly pulled out of her daydream, startled when she noticed everyone's eyes on her. She wasn't used to being addressed at school. Or ever really. Usually she was able to simply blend into the background without a problem.

"O-oh, were you talking to m-m-me?" Tara asked meekly.

"Are you slow?" The girl retorted with a cruel cackle. "I said, what are you so smiley about today?"

Tara's face was flaming red at this point because she was so embarrassed. She didn't understand what she had done that made this girl want to be so mean to her.

"N-n-nothing really. I'm just in a good mood," the blonde answered with a shaky voice.

"I bet you'd be even happier if you got rid of that ridiculous stutter."

Tara felt her bottom lip start to quiver. She could hear the laughter of all of her classmates ringing in her ears. More than anything she wanted to burst into tears, but she wasn't going to do that in front of the entire class and give them even more reason to laugh at her. She tried her best to hold it in and luckily her math teacher walked in a few moments later to begin class, taking the attention off of her.

The blonde tried to return to her pleasant thoughts of the kisses she and Willow had shared less than 24 hours ago, but it was hard when all she wanted to do was let her tears out. She definitely didn't hear a single word her math teacher said the entire class period and as soon as the final bell rang she darted out of that room before anyone had a chance to taunt her even more.

Once she was a few yards away from the school, she finally allowed her tears to fall. She was used to being treated that way at home, but she couldn't handle it at school as well. It was too much. She cried her entire walk home but made sure to wipe her eyes dry before going inside her house. If her father saw her crying he would just yell at her and tell her to stop being so weak.

She breathed a sigh of relief when it was her mother who greeted her rather than her father. She was in the kitchen starting dinner.

"Hi sweetheart. How was school?" Julie Maclay asked with a smile.

"It was fine," Tara responded softly, hoping to avoid any further questions. She really didn't want to get into the whole thing about her classmates teasing her. "Would it be okay if I went to my friend Willow's house until it's time for dinner?"

"Of course. Just make sure you're at the table at 6:30 sharp, honey. You know how your father gets sometimes."

Tara nodded and leaned forward to give her mother a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks, Mom. See you for dinner."

The blonde threw her bag over her shoulder and began on the familiar path to Willow's house. Before she knew it she was at the redhead's doorstep. She absolutely couldn't wait to see her again, especially after the day she'd had.

Ingrid, the babysitter, answered the door as usual and gave Tara a friendly smile before letting her in.

"Willow's up in her room as usual. Go ahead up."

Tara quickly scurried up the steps, rapping lightly on her girlfriend's bedroom door.

"Come in," Willow called out, her face brightening when Tara walked into the room. She immediately hopped off her bed and skipped over to Tara. "Hey you," she said before she pulled the girl into her arms, hugging her close. "I didn't know you were coming over. It's a nice surprise though."

"I just really needed to see you," Tara said almost in a whisper, gently pulling back from the hug to look into Willow's emerald green eyes.

Willow frowned once she got the chance to really look at her girlfriend. She could sense that something was wrong. Her eyes were a tad bit puffy and red-rimmed. The eyes that were usually sparkling were filled with sadness.

"Is everything okay? What happened?" She asked, reaching her hand up to stroke the soft skin on Tara's cheek.

Tara just closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying Willow's touch, but when she opened her eyes she was prepared to tell the redhead all about how her day had taken a turn for the worse.

"I'm just upset about something that happened at school today. I was sort of daydreaming and I guess I was smiling about it. So this really popular girl in my class, Francine, started teasing me. Then my stutter started coming out and everyone was watching and laughing at me. It was horrible, Will. I wanted to burst into tears right then and there but I made myself hold it in until the bell rang. I was so embarrassed."

Willow gave Tara a sympathetic look before pulling her into another embrace. She soothingly ran her fingers through the girl's blonde hair, wanting to make all of her pain go away.

"It's okay, Tare-bear. That girl's stupid. Just think, in 10 years most of the popular girls in high school will be unhappy with their lives and you're going to be wildly successful. You'll come out on top."

Tara shook her head.

"You don't know that. Francine could become a millionaire and be completely happy. Besides, I'm not even going to be successful. My father certainly doesn't think so…"

Willow stepped out of the embrace before cupping Tara's face between her hands.

"Listen to me, I don't care what Francine says or what your father says. You're wonderful. You're beautiful inside and out, Tara. Once high school is over I know that you'll be successful and happy," Willow assured her. "You just have to get through high school. We both do. We've only got to get through the next week or so before summer vacation and then we'll be seniors! One more year of dealing with those bitchy, popular girls."

Tara's frown had evolved into a smile by the end of Willow's speech. She knew her girlfriend would be able to cheer her up. Not only was she sufficiently cheered up, but there were also butterflies swarming her stomach after hearing all those compliments.

"You just made me feel about a million times better in only a few minutes," Tara told Willow before allowing her head to rest on her shoulder. "How do you do that?"

"Magic," Willow answered simply. "So, what were you day dreaming about anyway?"

Tara's cheeks flushed a bright pink, not wanting to admit to having Willow on the brain all day long.

"N-n-nothing…." She stuttered, her pink cheeks only getting pinker.

The redhead smiled knowingly and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on the center of her girlfriend's forehead before hugging her and placing her lips against Tara's ear.

"It's okay. I know you couldn't stop thinking about me," she whispered flirtatiously. "I couldn't stop thinking about you either."

A lopsided grin formed on the blonde's face when she heard that.

"Oh really? What were you thinking about exactly?"

"Well, let me just show you," Willow replied with a smirk, crashing their lips together.