I will be posting the last chapter in parts because it is so long. Thanks to all of the readers/responders. I will do individual replies when I post the next section.
Part 20a
Tara opened her door to find Willow pitifully looking back at her. “I can’t find my happy face,” the redhead said, craning her head to see behind the blonde. “I think I may have left it in here.”
Smiling, Tara glanced back into her room. “You know, you’re more than welcome to come in and look for it.”
Willow slipped past her girlfriend and into the room, “So where should we start?” A smile lit up her face as she turned to face Tara.
Deciding to play coy, the older girl shrugged, “The ‘Lost and Found’ box?”
“Nope,” Willow shook her head, “I’ve already been there… they had a lot of socks.” She sighed, dramatically, and flopped back onto the bed. “It’s hopeless.”
Tara cocked her head to the side as she rested against a nearby coffee table. “You’re a goof, you know that?” She said with a crooked grin.
“Yep,” the redhead said, proudly.
“Have you seen the dining hall? They really went all out for this,” Tara said, remembering the layout of the small cafeteria.
“Yep, and I think they even removed the plastic from the snacks,” Willow replied, chuckling as she leaned back onto her elbows.
“What time are your parents coming?” The blonde asked. Earlier that morning, she had promised herself that she would treat the day as any other that had passed, no matter how much her mind protested.
“Never, they said I could go home with you,” Willow said, partly wishing her words were true.
“Oh, really?” Tara asked and raised an eyebrow, enjoying the feeling of just being with her girlfriend.
“Well, not really, but it could happen,” the redhead said, dodging the swat intended for her leg as Tara pushed forward from the table. “So how should we spend our last hour of freedom?”
“Barricade the door and play possum?” Tara said, joking even as she tested the table’s sturdiness with her hip. She shook off the creeping sense of dread and sat beside her girlfriend. “We could take a walk, have a picnic, you know, do something outdoorsy.”
“Hmm, I don’t know, playing possum sounds pretty tempting,” Willow said, smiling. “There’ll be snuggles,” in a sing-song voice, she wiggled her eyebrows.
“There can be snuggles outside too.” Tara faced her girlfriend, taking Willow’s hand within hers before continuing. “Just think about it. Trees, sunshine, yummy treats… seclusion. Nobody walking through the halls making noise-”
“Okay, I’m sold,” the redhead said, grinning as she shook her head, “I am so easy.” Willow chuckled and stood, bringing Tara with her. “I’ll be on food-duty; I have to get the good stuff before it’s all gone.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” the blonde said and lightly squeezed her girlfriend’s hand. “So, let’s say twenty-minutes, and I meet you in the courtyard?”
“It’s a date.” Pulling Tara closer, Willow stole a kiss and turned to leave when the blonde pulled her back. The kiss that followed was slow, savoring, and left both girls’ mouths feeling abandoned once it was over. Several tiny kisses followed closely behind before the girls departed.
Twenty-minutes later, the young women joined near the picnic tables in the courtyard.
“What’s in the bag?” Tara asked, raising an eyebrow. She cradled a folded blanket and a small bag in her arms as she smiled at her girlfriend.
Willow grinned, tightly holding the bag, “All kinds of bad things.” Tara formed an adorable, crooked smile but said nothing. They began to walk down the concrete path, following the walkway until it disappeared and became a narrow, worn dirt trail.
“This should be good,” Tara said, stopping, “besides, if we go any further, we might not find the way back.”
The redhead beside her, smiled, “I wouldn’t have any complaints.” Her girlfriend shook her head in amusement and began to spread the blanket out on the grass. “I’ve brought some sandwiches, water, and cookies.”
“Ooh, what kind of cookies?” Tara asked and motioned for Willow to sit down before doing so herself.
“The elf ones,” the redhead said and frowned a little, “they were out of animal crackers so these were my next choice,” she gave her girlfriend one of the small packets. “As for sammiches,” Willow paused as she reached into the bag.
Tara chuckled at her girlfriend’s slang use of the word sandwich and waited for the other girl to continue.
“Two turkey sammiches and I didn’t know what you wanted on it so I brought everything,” partially unwrapping a pouch of aluminum foil, Willow revealed the lettuce, tomato, and some packets of condiments.
“You’re so thoughtful,” the blonde said and stole a kiss from the willing young woman beside her.
“Did you bring your own bag of goodies?” Willow asked, motioning toward the sack beside Tara. With her hair pulled back, the blonde’s face glowed when she smiled.
“I did,” Tara said, continuing to smile as she grabbed the bag on her side, “although,” she added, “what I’ve brought isn’t as edible as what you’ve brought.” She paused, “In fact, I wouldn’t recommend eating it at all.”
Willow looked across to Tara as she removed a book from her bag. The blonde had suddenly grown nervous, “T-There weren’t any gift shops, so-,” she paused and stretched across the blanket, “I want you to keep this.” She let go when Willow’s fingers curled around the binder.
“Your journal?” Willow asked, uncertain.
“I want you to keep it,” Tara repeated, “And write in it. Whenever you want, whatever you want.”
Hesitant, Willow stared down at the notebook, “But it’s yours. Tara, I-,” she stopped talking, continuing to stare at the cover of the journal.
“Keep it,” the blonde said, insisting. “And when it’s full… I will read it.” Tara scooted across the blanket until she sat in front of her girlfriend. Legs folded, their knees touched as Tara went on. “Promise me that you’ll write in it. Even if it’s six o’clock in the morning and you feel like complaining about getting up for school.”
“I babble at six o’clock in the morning,” Willow’s lips formed a tiny, embarrassed smile.
“Then babble to me,” Tara said, smiling reassuringly. “Will you do that for me?”
Nodding, Willow kept her eyes on the journal. A simple book full of pages, some empty, some full. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the diary, but only that Tara’s gift made her realize that their impending separation was real. And even though the blonde had promised to read the book, there was no telling when that would happen. A week, a month, a year, and how many pages would she fill before she saw Tara again?
“I will,” the redhead promised and looked up after a short pause.
“Hey,” Tara tipped forward, coming within inches of Willow’s face, “Are you okay? I-If I said-,” as she began to speak, she was interrupted.
Willow shook her head, cutting off Tara’s unnecessary apology. “No, sorry, I was being pout-y, depressing girl,” she said before smiling earnestly. “Thank you.”
Tara sniffed quietly, “No poutiness, okay?” She clasped her hands over Willow’s and attempted to be the stronger one. Soothingly, they mesmerized each others mouths as the blonde closed the small gap between them.
TBC
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