College Confidential (Prequel to HC/FC) [AU] (Complete)

[Missocki]

Loved this update. It's good to know I can read anything of yours and get both fluff and smut. All the things a woman needs!
I can't wait for the photography trip, I bet that guy that hit on Willow will die when he sees the hotness that is Tara

[taralicious]

“I’m sure your professor doesn’t want to wade through a bunch of photos of me with bedhead.”

Bedhead is what Amber gives me when we are alone together.

“You’re sweet but I still don’t think post-coital photos of me trying to cover my face are going to fly.”

Now I know what American Airlines meant by something special in the air.

“Do you maybe want to come?

Willow has to ask Tara now?

“Is…that guy going to be there?”

Superman flew around the Earth backwards and erased all memory of their brief encounter so that is of no consequence.
The rest of this lovely chapter is just so full of Willow and Tara smutty goodness and we learn just how flexible Tara is.

[Laragh]

BuffyFan4ever -

Exactly!

Who would pass up the opportunity to photograph Tara?

I listened to the Glee version yesterday so now I have the song stuck in my head again. Thanks a lot

.

A few people have mentioned this actually!

I agree with Willow.

It does seem to be a universally sexy attribute.

Yes you can. More importantly, you should.

Most definitely

Of course the fact that she suggested it in the first place has nothing to do with her willingness.

A Freudian misunderstanding?

:drool Words all gone...

Good response

:lol I'm only laughing because that's what would happen to me if I ever tried that.

Me too and I'd probably end up with a concussion

:) My fingers are double jointed. The top half of my left index finger automatically bends back about 45 degrees from the bottom half when I try to hold my hand straight and I can bend each finger back about 90 degrees. It's fun to gross people out.

Fun!

Lizard, Spock?

This is 2005, BBT isn't around yet

Thanks for commenting

Thanks for commenting!

zampsa19752001 -

I love their continuing mutual body exploration... Can't wait for the photographing trip...

Glad you're enjoying it!

Thanks for commenting

willowtaralover -

Willow does make a very good point here, after all how does one improve on perfection.

They don't!

Hmmm full frontal Tara

You and Willow both!

Hmmm Tara's wigglesome butt . Yes I know more drooling but it is Tara, can you expect any less from this kitten.

I would expect nothing less from any kitten.

Loved the conversation about Tara's bendiness, wish that had been included on the show.

That I would have paid to see

Why can't any of us have Tara naked 24/7? And not forgetting

Because she's Willow's!

I liked how they talke about about nothing in particular whilst actually talking about themselves and how Tara makes Willow feel. I find their openness endearing and sweet, especially as its the first really serious relationship for Tara at least.

For both!

Sure, because Willow would never want her gorgeous, incredibly sexy girlfriend to do a striptease just for her

Of course, she does but she hadn't thought to ask.

Possibly the most fun chapter so far with lots of great dialogue and visual images (Tara shaking her butt as she goes for a shower ). Can't wait till the girls go on the photography expedition.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks for your comment

Wills redemption -

Hi, I really have to go to bed now but still I want to say really quick that I absolutely loved this chapter, as all the ones before. I'm looking forward to the photo session and what beauty they will find in that alley apart from each other...

Thanks for letting me know, always super awesome to hear Hope you enjoy the shenanigans they get up to!

Thanks for your feedback

Missocki -

It's good to know I can read anything of yours and get both fluff and smut. All the things a woman needs!

My favourite combination!

I can't wait for the photography trip, I bet that guy that hit on Willow will die when he sees the hotness that is Tara

Pretty much!

Thanks for commenting!

taralicious –

Bedhead is what Amber gives me when we are alone together.

That happen often?

Now I know what American Airlines meant by something special in the air.

Ha!

Willow has to ask Tara now?

It's always polite

Superman flew around the Earth backwards and erased all memory of their brief encounter so that is of no consequence.

How considerate of him

The rest of this lovely chapter is just so full of Willow and Tara smutty goodness and we learn just how flexible Tara is.

Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for commenting!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

********

TITLE: College Confidential

AUTHOR: Laragh

CHAPTER RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: Willow, Tara and any other characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise belong to Joss Whedon, FOX, ME and a whole host of other entities, none of which are me.

SUMMARY: The first part of the prequel to Hacker Confidential and Family Confidential - the college years!

SPOILERS: Perhaps minor references to the show or stealage of dialogue, but nothing that would spoil the series.

FEEDBACK: Yes please

Chapter 29

********

“I can’t remember the last time I was on a bus.”


Tara turned her head towards Willow from where she'd been looking out the window.


“You don’t get the bus?”


Willow shrugged.


“I get the T around the city…why did we get the bus again?”


“Because it’s hot and the bus drops us closer,” Tara answered with a soft smile, “You don’t like it, do you?”


Willow looked around their surroundings, less than impressed. The bus was only half-full, and of those people all seemed ‘normal’, though she wasn't sure what she was expecting, but still couldn’t quite feel comfortable.


“It’s bumpy.”


“So’s the T,” Tara’s reasoned.


Willow looked around again.


“Nice to get seats.”


“And you get to see more of the city,” Tara said, smiling out the window as the city passed by them.


Willow couldn’t help but smile at Tara’s smile.


“I’m being a transport snob, aren’t I?”


Tara pecked Willow’s cheek affectionately.


“Just a little.”


“I wish I had a car to drive you around in,” Willow replied with a sigh, remembering a few car shows she’d tagged along with her father to in her younger teen years, just to spend some time together, but had ended up fascinated by the machines, “Someday.”


“The bus isn’t that bad,” Tara replied with a playful roll of her eyes.


Willow rested her head on Tara’s shoulder, happier now.


“I get to be close to you.”


Tara leaned her head down gently on top of Willow’s and looked out the window with her.


“I think this is our stop,” Willow said a few minutes later when they pulled up on the curb and she recognised the area.


She grabbed her camera bag and offered her other hand to Tara, who took it and they quickly jumped from the bus to the sidewalk. The abandoned pier where Willow and the rest of her class were doing their assignment was right ahead of them, quite a few people already gathered.


It was even more derelict in person, with broken down cars with burnt out engines left to rot and litter scattered around the place.


“Well it’s definitely…interesting,” Tara said, trying to be positive.


Willow looked at the area in despair, having zero clues how she was supposed to find ‘beauty’ in such a place. The possibility of failing an assignment, for the first time ever, loomed large over her head.


“The sun isn’t even out. This is going to be impossible.”


“Nothing’s impossible, sweetie,” Tara replied with a comforting hand squeeze, “I’m sure you’ll find something.”


Willow wasn’t so convinced as the approached the rest of the group. She peered over the small wall either side of the walkway they were standing on, to the river 30 feet beneath, but didn’t think she’d get much help there – the water was as littered as the ground.


“Tara, this place is a lot worse than I thought…I don’t want you to step on a needle or something. Just sit here, okay? I’ll try and get this done as quickly as possible.”


Tara looked over her shoulder to the wall Willow was pointing to. She gingerly sat right at the edge, not wanting to accidentally catch sight of the height drop between the wall and the water.


She toyed with her hands somewhat awkwardly, unsure what to do, while Willow sidled up to two of her male classmates that didn’t appear to have even brought their cameras with them and were just bouncing a basketball back and forth.


“Hey guys,” she greeted warmly, hoping that they were only playing ball because they’d finished the assignment and found a secret area tucked away that was filled with pretty flowers just waiting to be photographed, “Any luck with…finding stuff?”


The two guys stopped and stared at her for a moment, like they were trying to figure out who she was.


“Uh, we’ve just been playing b-ball…”


Willow wasn’t overly familiar with the signs of someone being stoned, but she was pretty sure the bloodshot eyes were at least an indicator and the blank look on their faces another.


“Right, well…I’ll um, go looking!”


She scarpered off and walked the pier back and forth a few times; taking random shots and hoping something came from them.


On the wall, Tara noticed another guy who actually was attempting to take photographs kept stealing glances at her. She tried to keep her gaze away from him and find interest in the many dust particles on the ground, so was thankful when she recognised Willow’s shoes in front of her about a half hour later.


She looked up and had to smile when she saw Willow; the sun had started to peek out and was framing her hair brightly.


“Hey, baby. Sorry this is so boring for you.”


“It’s okay,” Tara replied, then gave a discreet nod in her ‘admirer’s’ direction, “Is that Lucas?”


Willow glanced over where Tara had indicated and quickly looked away when she and Lucas locked eyes for a moment.


“Yeah, why?”


Tara shuffled uncomfortably.


“He keeps looking over here.”


“Oh,” Willow replied, rolling her eyes, “Try to ignore him. I’ll just do one more lap and try and find something and if I can’t, we’ll just go, okay?”


Tara nodded and Willow went off in search again, intently keeping her eye out this time. Tara amused herself with watching a group of ants scurry around the place, until a distinctly non-Willow-shaped shadow loomed over her. She looked up and winced when she saw Lucas standing there.


“A-are you Willow’s girlfriend?”


She nodded once, worried what the man wanted, but he seemed even more uncomfortable than Tara.


“God, you're hot,” Lucas blurted, unable to stop certain images going through his head, “Uh, I mean, no, that's not what I meant.”


Tara glanced at Willow, trying to get her attention, but she was hunched over something with her back turned. Lucas ran a hand through his hair, more jittery than he'd ever been around a girl.


“I’m, uh, Luke, Lucas and uh, I just wanted to say how sorry I was, um, about, well, uh, I presume, Willow, um, well...”


“She told me,” Tara replied nervously.


Lucas started to gesture wildly with his hands.


“I, uh, just wanted to say…um, well, that was me picking up all these wrong signals and trying this move…” he trailed off lamely and shook his head to himself for a moment then muttered, “Worked before. She really threw me off my mojo you know? I haven't even tried to pick up a chick in a month!”


Tara raised an eyebrow, which Lucas noticed and quickly got back on track.


“Uh, I mean, um, I’m just really sorry. I know if it was my girlfriend I would’ve been really mad, so…sorry. I went full-douche that day, and I think I'm getting there now too.”


Tara considered Lucas for a few moments before giving a soft nod.


“Well thanks for saying that,” she said eventually, going so far as to offer a smile, and got one back, “You have a nice smile, you know. You don't need to hide it behind a lot of bravado.”


There was an instant flash in Lucas's eyes, like an automatic signal had gone off in his brain.


“You like my smile huh-”


“Lucas,” Tara warned gently.


“Full douche, got it!” Lucas said quickly, even slapping his own forehead for being so stupid, “I think that's actually really good advice. I'll leave you alone now. Um, thanks. Bye.”


He gave an awkward wave and went back to the people he was with before.


Willow was beside Tara again barely a second later, having turned around at the last second.


“What did he want?” she asked, wary.


Tara considered her answer carefully.


“To say sorry,” she answered, deciding it was the crux and most genuine part of the conversation.


“Oh,” Willow replied, thinking that over and deciding that was okay, “Did he bother you? Do I have to get large with the butch?”


Tara shook her head so Willow smiled.


“Well good. Hey, I think I got my shot!”


“You did?” Tara asked, showing a lot more enthusiasm that one might for such a task.


Willow left her camera down on the ground and sat next to Tara, excited she’d managed to find her assignment in less than an hour – not least of which because it meant they could leave.


“Uh huh, I found this little patch of leaves, or weeds maybe, but green, growing in a little crack in the ground, and there was this ladybug just sitting all there, content and whatnot…I dunno, just the idea that there’s still life here when everything else is so dead…”


Tara rubbed Willow’s shoulder and gave her a proud squeeze.


“That’s great, sweetie, can I see?”


Willow nodded keenly.


“Sure!”


She went to reach for her camera, but was distracted as one of the two stoners called out to her.


“Yo, red, think fast!”


She saw the ball coming towards her, but didn’t quite ‘think fast’ enough to catch it. It didn’t help that the boy’s aim was off by about half a foot, sending the basketball directly into Tara’s stomach, the force of which knocked her right back and over the wall, spiralling into the river beneath.


Willow saw her going, but couldn’t catch her in time.


“Tara!”


Everyone had rushed over in just in time to hear the splash.


“Hey, don’t worry, it’s, like, shallow,” the guy who’d thrown the ball reassured, but Willow was already whipping her shoes off.


“She can’t swim!”


Without wasting a second, she promptly stepped up on the ledge of the wall and dived down into the water. She felt the cold hit her and engulf her for a second, but quickly got her head above water and searched for Tara, seeing her head bob up a moment later, a few feet away from her.


“Tara! Tara, I’m coming!”


She swam as fast as she could, her jeans and blouse sticking to her skin and slowing her down, but finally got to Tara. She threw her arms around her to keep her up and started to furiously tread water to keep them afloat.


“It’s okay, I’m here, I’ve got you, it’s okay!”


Tara’s heart was pounding from shock but she tried to take in some slow breaths.


“Willow–”


Willow was doing her best to kick her legs as fast as she could, but was starting to struggle.


“Hold on tight, I won’t let go.”


“Willow–” Tara tried again, only for Willow to pull her tighter.


“You’re okay, I’ve got you, I’ve got you, baby.”


Tara, feet firmly planted on the floor of the river, let go of Willow to show she was okay.


“Willow, I can stand.”


Willow’s feet slowly stopped and she chanced putting them down. They met ground just a second later. The two of them had floated towards the bank enough that the water lapped at their chins, but gave enough room to breathe, though they still needed to hold firm against the fast flow.


“Oh.”


Tara was starting to shiver but was too busy looking at Willow in awe to notice.


“You came after me.”


“Of course I did,” Willow replied, cupping Tara’s cheeks gently for a moment, then searched her head for bumps, “Did you hit your head, are you okay?”


“I’m not hurt,” Tara answered, her voice starting to tremble.


The impact had been a shock, but mostly because of the cold. She figured she might have a bruise on her belly the next day, but the only thing really hurt was her pride. Willow took her hand under the water to lead her out safely.


“Come on, let’s get out of this water, it can’t be good for us. You didn’t swallow any, did you?” she asked and Tara shook her head, “You sure? I should take you to a doctor.”


“I’m fine,” Tara answered, wrapping her arms around herself to keep her warm as they emerged from the water, “I just want to go home.”


“Of course,” Willow replied, rubbing her arms to try and give her some heat.


They climbed the steep, grassy bank back up to the walkway and the rest of Willow’s class surrounded them to make sure they were okay.


“Uhh, I’m like, really sorry and stuff,” the guy who’d started the whole mess said to them, still completely out of it, “Hey, did you get my ball?”


“Shut the fuck up,” Willow snapped at him, resisting the urge to throw him over to find the ball himself, “We’re going back to the dorms.”


“I drove here, let me give you a lift back,” Lucas offered right away, fishing his keys from his pocket.


“We’ll get your seats all wet,” Tara said quietly, thoroughly embarrassed by all the attention.


Lucas smiled kindly.


“It’s a beat-up ’97 fiesta, it’s seen worse, don’t worry.”


Willow accepted the offer with a appreciate nod and they all made their way towards Lucas’s car parked near the bus stop.


“Don’t forget your camera,” Tara said to Willow, really shivering now, “Y-you got your shot, right?”


“Yeah, I got it baby,” Willow reassured, quickly retrieving the camera and her shoes, then catching up with them.


They sat into the back of Lucas’s car and Willow took the middle seat so she could sit close to Tara for body heat, much too preoccupied with keeping Tara warm to release she was just as cold.


“Are you two alright, do you need me to swing by the ER?” Lucas asked as he started the car and began to drive.


“She’s okay, just a little shaken up,” Willow answered, pressing a lingering kiss to Tara’s cheek, then met Lucas's eye in the rear-view mirror, a silent look passing between them to say they were 'cool', “Thank you, Lucas, this is really nice of you.”


Lucas dismissed it with a hand wave and kept his eyes on the road the whole way back to the college. Willow thanked Lucas again when he dropped them off, then all but marched Tara back to their dorm.


“Get in a hot shower right now,” she ordered, shaking her head. “And I swear if that stupid timer cuts it off…”


Tara did as she was told and went into the bathroom to start the shower.


Willow started to strip herself off in the bedroom, peeling her clothes away from her body while they stuck to her like a band-aid. She heard a thud as she dropped her jeans and picked them up again, reaching into the tight pocket to pull out her cell phone.


She attempted pressing a few buttons, but it hadn’t survived the swim as well as she had.


“Well you’re as dead as a dodo,” she said, tossing it onto the desk.


The loss of her cell phone would have normally been a cataclysmic event right up there with the ‘F’ she’d feared earlier, however she wasn’t thinking about much but Tara in that moment.


She brought her wet clothes into the bathroom to leave on the tile, then knocked gently on the glass wall of the shower, where Tara was standing underneath the spout, head down and body unmoving.


“Hey, mind if I warm up in there with you?”


She didn’t wait for a reply and joined her girlfriend, rubbing her arms again.


“Are you sure you’re alright?”


Tara nodded but didn’t look up.


“Just feel stupid.”


“You shouldn’t feel stupid, those doped-up jackasses who threw the ball at you should feel stupid,” Willow replied, though saw that didn’t seem to change Tara’s mood much, “Hey, c’mere.”


She pressed their bodies close together in a hug and just held her for a couple of minutes, then started to shampoo her hair, knowing how much she liked it.


“Well one thing’s for sure, I’m teaching you how to swim. God, I’ve never been more terrified.”


Tara leaned her forehead down on Willow’s shoulder as her hair was rinsed.


“I can’t believe you came after me.”


“Well I kinda, sorta love you a little bit, doofus,” Willow replied, gently lifting Tara’s head to look in her eyes, “I’d take a bullet for you.”


Tara wrapped her arms around Willow’s shoulder and held her tight.


“Yeah, well lucky that won’t ever happen.”


Willow closed the embrace and kissed Tara’s ear.


“So I think the first point of order is some comfy jammies, second point of order is snuggles and third point of order is a nap. Whaddya say?”


Tara nodded but didn’t let go.


“That sounds good.”


Willow turned the water off before they got a cold spray, and got a towel so she could gently dry Tara off.


Tara accepted the tender touch and another soft kiss from Willow, then found some comfy sweats and a t-shirt to wear. The room was stuffy from the humid heat outside, so Willow opted for some sleep shorts and a tank.


Tara couldn’t help but appreciate how the shorts framed Willow’s buttocks, especially when she bent over to towel-dry her hair. She settled back on the bed to watch the wiggle of her girlfriend’s hips, but had to laugh when Willow straightened up, hair flying in all directions.


“What’re you laughing at?” Willow asked with a knowing grin as she tossed her towel away and picked up a hairbrush.


Tara just smiled, but noticed something fall from the desk when Willow threw the towel.


“Will, you dropped your phone.”


Willow picked the phone up and left it on the desk again.


“It’s trash anyway. Maybe I can recycle it.”


Tara was confused for a moment why Willow’s cell was suddenly trash – she’d seen her playing with it on the bus – before realising.


“Did it…did it get wrecked when you came in after me?”


“Remembered to take my shoes off but not empty my pockets,” Willow replied with a wry grin as she bounced onto the bed with Tara, “Lucky I didn’t bring my wallet with me.”


Tara swallowed guiltily.


“W-Willow, I’m sorry, I’ll pay–”


Willow made a grab for Tara’s hand, cutting off that train of thought straight away.


“Tara. It is not your fault you were practically shoved off a bridge,” she said, bringing her hand up to kiss her knuckles, then smiled reassuringly, “I was due an upgrade anyway. I’ll go to the store tomorrow and pick up a new one, easy. Don’t even worry about it. I’m not. Now, wanna watch a movie pre-nappage?”


Tara nodded and Willow went to pick out and set up a DVD, then retook the prime cuddling position.


“You feel warmed up,” she said softly, gently kissing Tara’s arm.


“Well you’re helping,” Tara replied, turning her head in to press their lips together, “I love you.”


Willow smiled and nuzzled their noses together.


“I love you too.”


If Tara didn’t know that before, the thirty foot leap to save her had certainly convinced her. She enlaced their fingers and rested her head under Willow’s chin, taking in her familiar scent and listening to the gentle rhythm of her heartbeat.


“I know. It's mystifying sometimes. But I know.”

---

“I never knew there were so many different types of cell phones.”


Tara looked around the store in awe of all the different displays. She hadn’t been in many electronic stores in her time, much less one dedicated just to phones, and had always sort of thought everyone had the same one.


Willow looked around too, but this was the kind of place she hung out in for fun, so nothing was a shock to her.


“They’re all pretty much the exact same, really…except some flip and some slide and some do neither,” she explained, showing said mechanisms on a few models, “You can take pictures and videos and even go on the internet, oh and Bluetooth, which is like open wireless technology and…I’m completely boring you.”


Tara tried to take in what Willow was saying and keep up, but her face apparently gave her away.


“Sorry.”


Willow just smiled and rubbed Tara’s shoulder affectionately.


“Don’t worry. I’ll go talk to the techie guy and get us out of here quick.”


“Take your time,” Tara reassured as Willow walked over to talk to one of the people behind the counter.


“So this is my best option?” Willow asked a few minutes later as she looked at the plans available to her side by side, “Or this one?”


She peered between the two plans and didn’t see much difference, but then something else in a different column caught her eye.


“Wait, what about this one?”


The sales clerk looked where she was pointing and shook his head.


“That’s a family plan, ma’am.”


“Yeah, no, I know,” Willow replied, looking in over, “But it’s pretty much the same price.”


The guy examined the details.


“It has a limited amount of minutes, but still has the unlimited texting.”


“Well I barely use my minutes anyway!” Willow exclaimed, getting excited as an idea formed, “I get two phones on this plan, right? Do you have any deals on phones?”


She bounced excitedly around the store as she was shown various phones, then did her best to contain herself to try and strike a deal. When she squeezed the best offer she thought she was going to get, she rushed over to Tara, who was idly pressing some buttons on a model phone.


“Tara, Tara,” she said excitedly, taking her girlfriend’s hand, “I want to talk to you about something.”


“Okay,” Tara replied, wondering how she would be able to help with a cell phone decision.


Willow lifted herself onto her toes giddily.


“I found this plan and it’s the same price as I’ve been paying all along, but for two phones!”


“Two?” Tar asked in confusion, “Why do you need two?”


“No, Tara, it’s a family plan,” Willow replied, the gestured towards her when Tara still didn’t seem to get it, “For you, too!”


Tara dropped her gaze shyly and shook her head.


“I-I can’t afford–”


“No, baby, you wouldn’t have to pay anything…’cause it would be costing me the same anyway,” Willow quickly assured.


Tara was completely surprised by the offer, but wary.


“It would really cost you the same?”


Willow nodded.


“Uh huh, I can show you if you want.”


“What about the, um, phones?” Tara asked, guessing such devices were probably expensive.


Willow was growing even more excited, hoping she was reeling Tara in to the idea.


“Well, I talked to the guy and he said he’d give me fifty bucks off if I bought two, plus there’s a rebate offer, so when you do all the math, two phones will end up costing the same as one. Okay, maybe ten bucks more, but it’s just ten dollars. What do you think, are you in?”


Tara considered it a moment.


“Just ten dollars?”


“Just ten dollars,” Willow nodded, unintentionally squeezing Tara’s hand tighter as she waited for an answer.


Tara needed another moment to think; it was a kind and generous offer, but she didn’t want to mooch off of her girlfriend.


“And it really costs the exact same?” she asked once more, then smiled when Willow confirmed, “Okay, then yes, that’s very sweet of you.”


Willow clapped her hands excitedly.


“This is so great! We can text and, and well, probably mostly text, but still! I’ll just go sort everything out!”


She rushed back over to the counter and organized the details with the sales clerk, then got out her wallet to pay. Tara came up beside her then, $10 bill already out.


Willow was about to protest but sensed it was important to Tara to pay the difference, so said nothing. They paid and Willow eagerly took the bag, then skipped out onto the street.


She wasted no time in hurrying them back to their dorm, and once there, clawed the phones from their boxes so she could set them up. Tara sat cross-legged on the bed and watched her in amusement as Willow excitedly pressed buttons on both phones.


“I’ll put Becky’s number in here for you, and mine of course, and we can put more in if you need them,” Willow said as she customised the settings for easiest use for Tara, “Here you go! Your brand new phone!”


Tara took the phone as presented and looked blankly at the keys.


“I barely learned to type on a computer keyboard. And even then it's with two fingers.”


“You can do some incredible things with two fingers,” Willow replied off the bat, eliciting a huge blush from Tara.


Willow giggled.


“It’s okay, I’ll show you,” she said as he scooted nearer Tara, “I’ll show you how to send a text message, okay?”


She showed Tara how to find the ‘messages’ folder on the menu, and how to start a new message.


“See, all the numbers correspond to a set of letters…tap one for the first letter, twice quickly for the second, or three times quickly for the third. Get it?”


Tara thought she did and experimented with some random letters until she got the timing down.


“Okay, now try sending a message,” Willow encouraged.


Tara was slow, but did manage to type out a message, and figure out how to select Willow as the recipient. Willow’s phone buzzed a minute later. She opened the message and smiled.


“I love you, too, cutie.”


“I did it?” Tara asked, thrilled to have gotten it right.


“You sure did,” Willow replied proudly, tapping away at her own phone.


Tara felt the phone vibrate in her hand then and watched the screen light up. She saw the notification for a new message and figured out the ‘open’ button without help.


Smile if you think I’m sexy


Willow watched Tara smile first, then giggle and found herself doing the same.


“Oh, this is going to be fun.”

[BuffyFan4ever]

Dibs

Great update

at Willow being a "transportation snob."

<facepalm> at Lucas' apology to Tara.

“Yo, red, think fast!”

I've never understood why people do this. I would just be minding my own business reading and suddenly I'm getting hit in the face.

at Willow jumping in to "save" Tara.

“Uhh, I’m like, really sorry and stuff,” the guy who’d started the whole mess said to them, still completely out of it, “Hey, did you get my ball?”

<facepalm>

At least Lucas decided to Willow and Tara get back. He earned major points.

“I’d take a bullet for you.”

Stupid foreshadowing

Hooray for Tara finally getting a phone. Loved the text messages.

Can't wait for more.

[Missocki]

Poor Tara! What the heck was up with the dopers?! Chuckleheads.
I'm glad Willow was able to save her!

[zampsa19752001]

Yay for excellent update-y goodness... Lol for Willow being a transport snob... Big yay for Willow finding beauty to photo... Yay for Lucas saying he is sorry and taking the girls back to dorm... Stupid dopeheads. I'm glad that Willow dived after Tara to save her... Big yay for Willow getting them a family package on phones... I loved their messages...

[willowtaralover]

“I get the T around the city…why did we get the bus again?”

Forgive me for asking but what exactly is the T? Is it a tram system as used in San Francisco or a monorail system that I believe is used in several U.S. cities?

The bus was only half-full, and of those people all seemed ‘normal’, though she wasn't sure what she was expecting, but still couldn’t quite feel comfortable.

Ah the wonders of public transport I know thee only too well.

I like the foreshadowing of Willow's interest in cars from going with her dad to car shows just to spend quality father/daughter time with Ira.

Lucas attempting to say sorry to Tara. Worst. Apology. Ever. Tara was far too kind to him.

A big YAY to Hero Willow diving into the river to save her girlfriend and now she can get all large with the butch on the moron who threw the ball at them.

And another YAY to Lucas for showing he means no harm by giving the girls a ride back to college.

Aww I love Willow taking care of Tara. :derr

Tara couldn’t help but appreciate how the shorts framed Willow’s buttocks...She settled back on the bed to watch the wiggle of her girlfriend’s hips.

Hmmm Willow's buttocks and her wiggly hips

Tara nodded and Willow went to pick out and set up a DVD, then retook the prime cuddling position.

Awww the adorable cutemess of Willow and Tara cuddles

Willow looked around too, but this was the kind of place she hung out in for fun, so nothing was a shock to her.

And I thought I needed a life

Loved Willow getting excited about buying the phones for herself and Tara. Reminds me of myself when I see trailers for new seasons of Doctor Who

“You can do some incredible things with two fingers,”

Smile if you think I’m sexy To both Willow and Tara :derr

Another awesome chapter in the lives of our favourite couple by an awesome writer.

[Wills redemption]

Yay for Willow jumping after Tara to save her. It again shows Tara how deeply she is loved, although this sentence made me a bit sad:

“I know. It's mystifying sometimes. But I know.”

It feels a bit as if Tara still doubts sometimes that she's worthy of Willow's love...and that is just wrong. Never forget you're Willow's soulmate, Tara!

Then this bit made me shudder, I'm just glad we know she'll survive that bullet...

“Well I kinda, sorta love you a little bit, doofus,” Willow replied, gently lifting Tara’s head to look in her eyes, “I’d take a bullet for you.”


Tara wrapped her arms around Willow’s shoulder and held her tight.


“Yeah, well lucky that won’t ever happen.”

After his stupid "apology" to Tara Lucas still managed to win my sympathy by bringing the girls home and keeping his eyes on the road instead of trying to get some "wet T-Shirt contest- glimpses!

Willow getting the "family plan" for the phones and being sensitive enough to accept Tara paying for the price difference also warmed my heart, as much as their sweet messages...

I'm looking forward to the next update!

[taralicious]

“I get the T around the city…why did we get the bus again?”

For background ambiance and plot exposition contrasting Willow's upscale transport issues and the more pedestrian, without being a pedestrian, form of transport available to many.

“The bus isn’t that bad,” Tara replied with a playful roll of her eyes.

There is also the comforting smell of diesel exhaust in addition to being close to each other.

“Nothing’s impossible, sweetie,” Tara replied with a comforting hand squeeze, “I’m sure you’ll find something.”

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
As Sherlock put it.

“Any luck with…finding stuff?”

They had found beauty in the remains of a bong pipe.

She scarpered off and walked the pier back and forth a few times

scarpered is a good word.

“I’m, uh, Luke, Lucas and uh, I just wanted to say how sorry I was, um, about, well, uh, I presume, Willow, um, well...”

Ah, look at Lucas all large on the path to redemption even if he does backslide a time or two with Tara but who wouldn't drop a smutty innuendo towards Tara cause how often do you get to be graced by perfection?

sending the basketball directly into Tara’s stomach, the force of which knocked her right back and over the wall, spiralling into the river beneath.

Will our heroine be dashed to bits on the jagged rocks below? Thankfully this isn't a cliffhanger movie serial and we got our answer in the next paragraph.

“You came after me.”

Tara knows not to go somewhere that Willow can't follow her.

“Shut the fuck up,” Willow snapped at him

The stoner kid will reflect later that he so nearly got his ass kicked by a fiery redhead.

“I drove here, let me give you a lift back,” Lucas offered right away, fishing his keys from his pocket.

Lucas has redeemed himself by stepping up and doing the right thing by the women he so grossly offended earlier.

“I’d take a bullet for you.”

OOOOOHHHH, the foreshadowing of your most controversial scene casts a long shadow upon the restorative powers of shower time.

“Yeah, well lucky that won’t ever happen.”

A clever piece of retconning here?

“You can do some incredible things with two fingers,” Willow replied off the bat, eliciting a huge blush from Tara.

Much more satisfying usage of the old "let your fingers do the walking" tagline for the Yellow Pages but it is nice that they can now be connected through tech.
And who wants to watch porn on such a tiny screen, anyway?

[Laragh]

BuffyFan4ever –

at Willow being a "transportation snob."

It's a serious affliction to have

<facepalm> at Lucas' apology to Tara.

I think he gets one of those 'you tried' stickers.

I've never understood why people do this. I would just be minding my own business reading and suddenly I'm getting hit in the face.

I can't even count the amount of times I've been hit in the face for the same reason

at Willow jumping in to "save" Tara.

I would expect nothing less than protective Willow.

<facepalm>

Don't do drugs, kids.

At least Lucas decided to Willow and Tara get back. He earned major points.

He's essentially a good guy, if a little cocky.

Stupid foreshadowing

I'm mean like that.

Hooray for Tara finally getting a phone. Loved the text messages.

They're gonna have some fun with those!

Thanks for commenting

Missocki -

Poor Tara! What the heck was up with the dopers?! Chuckleheads.
I'm glad Willow was able to save her!

There's always one! or in this case, two. Willow jumped to the rescue, as ever!

Thanks for your comment!

zampsa19752001 -

Lol for Willow being a transport snob... Big yay for Willow finding beauty to photo... Yay for Lucas saying he is sorry and taking the girls back to dorm... Stupid dopeheads. I'm glad that Willow dived after Tara to save her... Big yay for Willow getting them a family package on phones... I loved their messages...

Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for your comment!

willowtaralover –

Forgive me for asking but what exactly is the T? Is it a tram system as used in San Francisco or a monorail system that I believe is used in several U.S. cities?

1

It's the Boston subway

Ah the wonders of public transport I know thee only too well.

Same here!

I like the foreshadowing of Willow's interest in cars from going with her dad to car shows just to spend quality father/daughter time with Ira.

It had to start somewhere!

Lucas attempting to say sorry to Tara. Worst. Apology. Ever. Tara was far too kind to him.

Yes, that is a trait of hers...

A big YAY to Hero Willow diving into the river to save her girlfriend and now she can get all large with the butch on the moron who threw the ball at them.

She probably will if she ever sees him again!

And another YAY to Lucas for showing he means no harm by giving the girls a ride back to college.

He's a nice guy, really.

Aww I love Willow taking care of Tara. :derr

Don't we all!

Hmmm Willow's buttocks and her wiggly hips

Uh huh, specially for Tara

Awww the adorable cutemess of Willow and Tara cuddles

They are the best type

And I thought I needed a life

Phone shops are fun

Loved Willow getting excited about buying the phones for herself and Tara. Reminds me of myself when I see trailers for new seasons of Doctor Who

Haha! Same here!

Another awesome chapter in the lives of our favourite couple by an awesome writer.

Glad you enjoyed it

Thanks for commenting!

Wills redemption -

Yay for Willow jumping after Tara to save her. It again shows Tara how deeply she is loved, although this sentence made me a bit sad:

It feels a bit as if Tara still doubts sometimes that she's worthy of Willow's love...and that is just wrong. Never forget you're Willow's soulmate, Tara!

I think what she's more mystified about is just how strong the emotion is between them, but yes, I could see her still with some feelings of unworthiness. I think Willow is doing a damn fine job of convincing her though!

Then this bit made me shudder, I'm just glad we know she'll survive that bullet...

I know, that was mean, wasn't it?

After his stupid "apology" to Tara Lucas still managed to win my sympathy by bringing the girls home and keeping his eyes on the road instead of trying to get some "wet T-Shirt contest- glimpses!

I can't vouch for his thoughts but at least he was savvy enough not to broadcast them

Willow getting the "family plan" for the phones and being sensitive enough to accept Tara paying for the price difference also warmed my heart, as much as their sweet messages...

They're definitely getting to that level of understanding without explicitly being told stage, which is awesome!

Thanks for your feedback

taralicious –

For background ambiance and plot exposition contrasting Willow's upscale transport issues and the more pedestrian, without being a pedestrian, form of transport available to many.

Yup!

There is also the comforting smell of diesel exhaust in addition to being close to each other.

That's one of those love 'em or hate 'em smells, isn't it?

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
As Sherlock put it.

Smart guy

They had found beauty in the remains of a bong pipe.

Probably if they ingested the contents

scarpered is a good word.

I do like it.

Ah, look at Lucas all large on the path to redemption even if he does backslide a time or two with Tara but who wouldn't drop a smutty innuendo towards Tara cause how often do you get to be graced by perfection?

I know I would!

Will our heroine be dashed to bits on the jagged rocks below? Thankfully this isn't a cliffhanger movie serial and we got our answer in the next paragraph.

Ack, I couldn't do that, especially when they have such drama later on!

Tara knows not to go somewhere that Willow can't follow her.

Love that. Yes.

The stoner kid will reflect later that he so nearly got his ass kicked by a fiery redhead.

And it will probably turn him on

Lucas has redeemed himself by stepping up and doing the right thing by the women he so grossly offended earlier.

He tries. He's an ass, but he tries.

OOOOOHHHH, the foreshadowing of your most controversial scene casts a long shadow upon the restorative powers of shower time.

Showers (and baths) will always do good

A clever piece of retconning here?

More like Tara hoping!

Much more satisfying usage of the old "let your fingers do the walking" tagline for the Yellow Pages but it is nice that they can now be connected through tech.
And who wants to watch porn on such a tiny screen, anyway?

Not them anyway.

Thanks for commenting

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

********

TITLE: College Confidential

AUTHOR: Laragh

CHAPTER RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: Willow, Tara and any other characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise belong to Joss Whedon, FOX, ME and a whole host of other entities, none of which are me.

SUMMARY: The first part of the prequel to Hacker Confidential and Family Confidential - the college years!

SPOILERS: Perhaps minor references to the show or stealage of dialogue, but nothing that would spoil the series.

FEEDBACK: Yes please

Chapter 30

********

Tara busied herself in the back room of the administration office, filing the many forms and paperwork that passed through on a daily basis.


She was happy to spend her time working in there, even though she quite liked the women she worked with, it was a small office and got crowded quickly.


She hummed quietly to herself as she sorted papers into their various folders, until one of the women called her name. She popped her head around and saw Judy handing her cell phone to her, having mistakenly picked it up.


“Very sorry dear, we have the same message tone.”


“That’s okay,” Tara replied, checking the message quickly.


Ready to get wet later?


“The kids are so forward these days,” Judy commented to the other two, grinning just slightly.


Tara turned bright red and quickly shook her head.


“I-it’s not…” she started, pocketing her phone and taking some soft breaths to calm her cheeks, “She’s taking me swimming.”


“In my day a date was a nice dinner and trip to the drive-in,” Judy said, pushing her glasses up on her face, “I won’t say what went on there, but it wasn’t usually watching a movie.”


Tara went to collect the newest pile of papers to be filed.


“It’s not a date. She’s teaching me. I had an accident last weekend and fell into a river.”


All three women expressed their concern at that, but Tara was quick to reassure she was okay and got back to work.


Willow had been quite serious when she’d mentioned teaching her how to swim and Tara had felt compelled to agree after the incident, though was nervous about their first lesson that afternoon.


They were going to the pool on campus, so Tara wasn’t worried about getting swept away by the water, but she was a little embarrassed at needing to be taught at all.


She hoped she didn’t make too big a fool of herself.


She tried not to think about it as she got on with her work. She settled easily into her routine of work and kept her head buried in paperwork until she heard some chatter, more than usual, from the office. A glance at the clock told her what the likely cause was.


“You’re a sweet girl, coming for her every afternoon like this.”


“I miss her,” Willow answered Judy, getting quite used to the interrogation every time she came to collect Tara. Her face lit up as she appeared, “Hi baby!”


“Hi,” Tara replied, smiling softly, then spoke to her co-workers, “Um, I got A through K done for those freshman files, is that okay?”


All three women smiled and nodded at her, so Tara walked around the desk to take Willow’s hand.


“Have fun swimming!” Judy called after them and the other two could be heard laughing.


“Oh, you told them?” Willow asked, holding the door outside open.


“They saw your text,” Tara replied and saw Willow try to hide a grin, “Don’t look all innocent, you know what you said.”


“Well at least someone got a giggle out of it,” Willow replied, sticking out her tongue, “Do you want to get some lunch before I become Willow Rosenberg: Master Swim Coach?”


Tara shook her head, eyes on the ground.


“I don’t think I could eat much.”


“Are you feeling okay, baby?” Willow asked in concern.


“I just feel stupid that I don’t know how,” Tara admitted sheepishly, “To swim, I mean.”


“Don’t feel stupid. You can’t know something you were never taught,” Willow reassured with a gentle back rub, “We can skip lunch if you want.”


Tara’s nerves weren’t exactly quashed, but she knew Willow must be hungry.


“No, let’s get something.”


“Great!” Willow replied, leading them towards the cafeteria, “My belly is begging me for some fries.”


Tara rolled her eyes good-naturedly.


“It’s amazing you’re not covered in zits the amount of greasy food you eat.”


“Years of conditioning!” Willow quipped, again being the gentlewoman she was to open the door for Tara, “You can eat apples and I’ll eat potato chips and we can stay hopelessly in love because opposites attract. You can’t argue with science, Tara.”


“I wouldn’t even try with you around,” Tara replied with a wry, crooked smile, “Sometimes I think science is your mistress.”


“Pfft,” Willow said with a dismissive hand wave, “Science is just a hobby. My laptop is my mistress.”


Tara giggled, a sound that always sent a jolt of joy to Willow’s heart. They went through the cafeteria line, Tara getting a turkey sandwich and Willow a double helping of fries, then went to sit around a table in the corner.


“Can I snag a fry before you empty the whole salt cellar onto your plate?” Tara asked with a playful smile.


“Alright, Teasey McTease,” Willow replied with a chuckle, leaving a generous handful of fries onto Tara’s plate, “Why do you care so much about my clogged arteries anyway?”


Tara picked up half of her sandwich to take a bite from.


“Well if I’m going to spend my life with you, I’d like it to be a long one.”


Both of them paused then; Tara with her sandwich halfway to her mouth and Willow with the salt cellar in her hand.


Willow took a moment to really hear what Tara said. She still felt the initial thrill of the implication but thought about what her girlfriend really meant.


She was part of an ‘us’ now, an ‘us’ that she wanted to be a part of forever. An ‘us’ she was sure Tara felt the same way about. And that meant making sure she was her very best self, for herself, and for Tara.


She didn’t plan to start an all-kale diet and take up running right that second, but she knew she could do better to eat healthier.


She left the salt down and smiled.


“Wanna half that sandwich?”


Tara handed half her sandwich over without question but looked worried that she’d spoken out of turn. She knew she’d expressed her interest in the very long-term with Willow, but never quite so offhand.


“Willow, I-I say things I shouldn’t, often actually, and in public, but–”


Willow scooted her chair closer to Tara and took her hand, then lifted it and softly kissed her ring finger.


“Know where I just kissed?” she asked, then smiled when Tara shook her head, “Where I’m gonna put a ring someday.”


Tara looked overcome for a moment, so Willow pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.


“You don’t need to worry about playing games with me, Tara. Tell me how you feel. You won’t scare me off. I already want forever with you.”


Tara looked over to meet Willow’s eye.


“I want that, too.”


Willow smiled softly.


“Well, good. So you can teach me how to take better care of myself so we can be healthy little old ladies together, and I’ll teach you how to swim so that we can visit all the exotic beaches in the world and go skinny dipping,” she said, giggling, “Deal?”


“Deal,” Tara replied promptly.


Willow offered her pinky, which Tara linked and used to pull her in for a quick, chaste kiss.


Willow smiled happily and picked up her half of the sandwich to eat. She looked surprised as she took the first bite.


“Hey, this is good! What’s all the crunchy stuff?”


“Lettuce and cucumber,” Tara answered, one eyebrow quirking upwards, “You’ve never had a sandwich before?”


“Yeah but I normally pick out the green-y stuff,” Willow replied, peering between the bread to learn more about this new vegetable wonderland, “Do all veggies taste this good? I mean, I’ve eaten some onions and peppers and stuff but only when they’re buried deep in lasagnes and pizzas.”


Tara felt sad for a moment that Willow had clearly never had a real, home-cooked meal.


“You can try different kinds and see what you like,” she replied, transferring some of her side salad to Willow’s plate, the fries pretty much abandoned, “Try some of that. There’s radish and carrots in there, and some beets.”


Willow’s attitude towards vegetables before had resembled that of a petulant child, mostly because her parents had never bothered to force that attitude from her. She was willing to try for Tara, however, and was quite excited they weren’t the horrible slimy mess she thought they were.


She tried all the different components of the salad, giving each a thorough chew. She quite enjoyed most of it, though one thing left a bad taste in her mouth.


“Not too sure about these things, are they the radishes?”


“They’re the beets,” Tara replied.


Willow pushed the beets to the corner of her plate.


“Okay, not so much with them…but the rest is good! I hope you realise the small miracle you’ve performed getting me to eat and actually like this stuff!”


Tara took the beets back to eat herself.


“When was the last time you ate a vegetable that wasn’t on a pizza or in a pasta?”


Willow had to think about it for a moment.


“My Bat Mitzvah?” she asked and saw the surprise on Tara’s face, “I know I’m a bit of a spoiled brat sometimes… just… lots of ready meals and take-out from junior high onwards. I really thought I was getting all I needed from them… you know, carbs, dairy, meat and veg on a pepperoni and mushroom pizza.”


Tara just smiled.


“There’s nothing wrong with pizza every once in a while.”


“And there’s nothing wrong with vegetables at all!” Willow replied, amazed at the words coming out of her mouth, “Look at that! I don’t even want the fries!”


She looked at them for a moment, then picked a few up sheepishly.


“Okay, maybe one.”


Tara smiled again and had a couple, too – she liked to eat well because it made her feel good, especially after going through so many years of malnourishment when she lived with her father, but in no way wanted to be the food police. Still, she was happy she could show Willow that vegetables weren’t the Devil.


They finished up and got back to their dorm, where Willow seemed eager to get on with their plans for the day.


“So, wanna get changed and head back out?”


Nerves were getting the better of Tara.


“Don’t we have to wait thirty minutes?”


Willow smiled, mistaking the procrastination for enthusiasm.


“Uh huh, you’re right! But we can still throw a bag together and we have to get across campus to the pool. Oh, and I got you something!”


Tara looked concerned as Willow went to the closet to root through a bag, hoping a skimpy bikini wasn’t going to come out in place of the demure swimsuit she’d bought for herself.


“Here it is!” Willow eventually said, pulling out a circular container and offering it to Tara, “Goggles, so you can see under the water!”


Tara twisted the top off to let the goggles come out. Nerves aside, she couldn’t help but smile.


“Thank you, Willow.”


“You’re welcome,” Willow replied, pulling an old beach bag out from the closet, “Okay, we need towels and shampoo and–”


“Shampoo?” Tara asked.


“Uh huh, for showering after,” Willow replied, getting everything together.


Tara watched her and sank down to sit on the bed.


“S-showering…in the pool?”


“No, silly,” Willow giggled, “In the showers in the locker room. Get all the chlorine and stuff out.”


“Right, okay,” Tara replied, resigning herself to getting through this.


Willow threw her older swimsuit that hadn’t been used in a while in the bag along with Tara’s brand new one they’d gotten during the week and remembered a hair brush at the last minute.


“Okay, that’s everything. Unless you want new clothes? But as long as the ones you’re wearing don’t get wet, they’ll be fine.”


Tara was once again confused.


“I t-thought I wore the swimsuit in the pool.”


Willow smiled softly, finding Tara’s unfamiliarity with all things swimming both adorable and sad; adorable that she got to experience her learning something and sad that she’d lost her main parental figure before she’d had a chance to be taught.


“You do, I mean if they get dropped on the floor or something.”


“Oh, okay,” Tara nodded, embarrassed at being so unfamiliar with something.


Willow zipped the bag up and left it by the door, then sat down behind Tara and gently massaged her shoulders.


“Relax. We’re gonna take it real slow,” she reassured but didn’t feel Tara’s tension ease at all, “Tara, if you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to. I just…if something like that happened again…and…and…”


She couldn’t bring herself to even talk about the possibility of Tara being hurt. Tara felt Willow’s head drop to the back of her shoulder and nodded a few times for self-reassurance.


“No, it’s good. I s-should learn. And…and you won’t laugh at me or anything.”


Willow’s arms wrapped around Tara’s torso from behind.


“‘Course I won’t.”


She kissed Tara’s ear gently, then offered her hand to help her up. She grabbed the bag with their things and held Tara’s hand tight as they strolled across campus to the leisure centre. She peered in at the pool as they passed on the way to the locker room and was grateful to see only one person doing laps. It would give them plenty of room and hopefully ease Tara’s embarrassment.


“In here, baby,” she guided as they approached the locker room.


Tara followed Willow into the locker room. A bench was attached to the wall in an L shape around the room, and there were a couple of shower cubicles ahead. Willow went to a corner of the room and dropped the bag, then started to strip off.


She felt herself being watched and looked over her shoulder to Tara.


“Your stuff is here,” she said, pointing to where she’d laid it out.


Tara looked away from Willow’s legs and walked over. She sat on the bench and got her shoes, socks and pants off, but was struggling to get her shirt unbuttoned, worried someone might walk in.


Willow smoothed out the twisted straps on her shoulders until her swimsuit was on her snugly, then glanced at Tara and easily guessed her predicament. She grabbed one of the towels and held it up and around her, giving her a private semi-circle to change in.


“Thank you,” Tara said, touched at the gesture without the need for her to even say anything.


“You’re welcome,” Willow replied, smiling, quite happy with what she was getting out of the deal – wiggles and jiggles in all the right places until Tara finally had her swimsuit on.


“I feel like I’m in my underwear,” Tara said, pulling at the ends to try and cover her thighs.


“Nobody can see anything when you’re in the water,” Willow reassured, “Don’t forget your goggles.”


Tara got her goggles and followed Willow through the foot bath and out to the poolside. It was larger than she’d thought it would be, but was happy to see how clear the water was and that she could see the bottom.


“We’ll get in slow, okay?” Willow said as she sat down and let her calves dangle into the water.


Tara sat by her and copied, her toes dipping in first and the rest of her leg following up to the back of her knee.


“This water feels much nicer than the river.”


“Yeah, no kidding,” Willow replied with a small grin, “We’re lucky we didn’t get dysentery.”


Tara smiled and gently kicked her feet back and forth a couple of times to get used to the feel.


“I think I’m ready to get in.”


Willow slid the rest of the way into the water, which came up mid-chest, and stood in front of Tara, offering her hands to help her in.


Tara took one and kept hold of the pool edge with the other, using both as leverage until she was standing firm.


“Let’s just walk around the water for a little bit, okay? Get used to it.”


Tara liked that idea and nodded. She started to wade through the water, twisting her body around.


She didn’t notice she was letting her feet float every few steps until she accidentally wandered in water above her height and started to flounder. Willow was over in a flash, grabbing her and holding her against the edge.


“I’ve got you, I’ve got you,” she reassured, gently moving them along back to shallower water, “I should’ve walked with you, I’m sorry. We’ll stay up here now, okay?”


Tara kept a hand on the wall until she felt safe to stand again.


“I-I’m sorry if I’m embarrassing you.”


“You’re not embarrassing me at all,” Willow replied lovingly, “I think you’re very brave for doing this.”


There were some splashing sounds then as the man who had been swimming lengths finished his set and disappeared into the locker room.


“Now, look, we’re all alone,” Willow smiled, seeing Tara relax a little at that, “I’ll show you how to kick first, okay?”


She guided Tara to hold onto the wall and showed her the short, shallow kick technique; based on her own memories of learning how to swim and some instruction guides she’d looked up in preparation.


“Keep your legs straight,” she encouraged, then smiled when she saw a hint of a grin on Tara’s face, “I think you’re having fun!”


Tara smiled a little wider; she was definitely having more fun than she thought she would.


She copied the arm motions for a freestyle stroke when Willow showed her, then worked on doing them while just standing in the water.


“Uh huh, just keep your elbows bent a little more,” Willow encouraged, “There you go, you got it! Wanna try it with the kicks?”


Tara straightened up nervously.


“I-I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”


“I’ll hold you under the water on your stomach, you just have to do the motions,” Willow replied, holding her palms out in indication, “And we’re right in the shallow end, so if you start to stumble, I’ll catch you.”


Tara took a deep breath and pushed her legs out from beneath her. She had a moment of panic but Willow’s hands were under her stomach in less than a second, keeping her steady.


She felt a little silly to be in such a position, but started to kick and repeated the arm strokes.


“That’s it, baby, you’re doing it!” Willow said, very gently moving Tara back and forth so she was used to the feeling of the water going past, “You’re doing so good!”


Willow slowly moved one hand away so she was only giving Tara the least bit of support. Tara didn’t seem to even notice and continued swimming in place.


“Tara, do you want to try swimming a width?” Willow asked when they stopped for a break, “I really think you can do it.”


Tara looked over to the far pool edge.


“A width? Just across?”


“Just across,” Willow confirmed, then waded over to the other side, “Just to me.”


The other side of the pool could have been the length of a football field as far as Tara was concerned as it loomed in front of her, but looked on determinedly.


She had a few false starts, her nerves and footing foiling her slightly, but finally managed to push off from the wall. Her arms moved in the right motion, if a little sloppy, and her feet kicked like her life depended on it, but she made it to the other side of the pool without stopping once.


“You did it, you did it!” Willow exclaimed, clapping and jumping around excitedly, “I’m so proud of you!”


She threw her arms around Tara’s neck and hugged her tight.


“You are amazing.”


Tara was flushing from exertion and in pride.


“It was only a little ways.”


“Who cares, you did it!” Willow replied, proud as punch, “Show me again, show me again!”


Tara showed off her new skills a couple of times, with much fanfare from Willow.


“Tara, I can’t believe how good you are,” Willow said to her genuinely, “Really, you’re phenomenal. You are!”


Tara looked down shyly, so Willow waded over to peck her cheek.


“Hey, wanna float?”


“Float?” Tara asked.


Willow nodded, smiling softly.


“You won’t sink or anything. We just…float.”


She let herself fall onto her back to demonstrate. Tara copied her and fell in line beside her.


“This is…peaceful.”


Willow smiled, gently running the water through her fingers.


“I feel like an otter,” she said, turning her head just enough to catch a glimpse of Tara, “They hold hands when they sleep, you know. So they won’t float away from each other.”


She felt Tara’s hand slip into hers a moment later and the smile completely broke out on her face.


“You did so great today,” she said, feeling more proud of Tara than anything else she had before.


“I just splashed around,” Tara replied, but Willow was quick to correct.


“Nuh uh, you swam. You really did. And you were good, you were great.”


Tara smiled over at Willow.


“You’re a great teacher.”


Willow lifted their conjoined hands to press a kiss to the back of Tara’s.


“You’re a great student.”


They shared a loving look for a moment, but it wasn’t long before Willow burst out with a giggle.


“And you look great in that swimsuit.”

[BuffyFan4ever]

Dibs

Love Tara's co-workers. My mom is one of the oldest employees at her Starbucks so it's fun to imagine it for their point of view.

I approve of Willow's diet. Potato chips are a vegetable and a perfectly valid lunch choice.

Mmmmm ... Tara Wiggles and Jiggles ... Ghaaaaa

for Willow teaching Tara how to swim.

I can't wait to see Willow 'reward' Tara.

[zampsa19752001]

Yay excellent update-y goodness... I really loved Tara's swim lesson...

[love_2003]

I'm glad that Tara agreed to let Willow buy her a cell phone. Tara was able to teach Willow to start eating/loving vegetables and Willow taught her how to swim. I think Tara had the harder job.

[willowtaralover]

Ready to get wet later?

Can it be too soon to drool over Willow and Tara wetness??? Nah

Loved Judy gently teasing Tara and making her blush over the message from Willow.

“Do you want to get some lunch before I become Willow Rosenberg: Master Swim Coach?”

I thought Willow would have known that it isn't advisable to go swimming after eating food.

“Know where I just kissed?” she asked, then smiled when Tara shook her head, “Where I’m gonna put a ring someday.”

YAY awesome foreshadowing for Willow and Tara's future.

Awww so sweet Willow saying she wants to spend forever with Tara.

Willow and Tara visiting exotic beaches to go skinny dipping!!!!!

How did Willow survive without ever having eaten vegetables? I get thefeeling that she lived on just marshmallow fluff, PBJs and coffee or mochas.

Willow smoothed out the twisted straps on her shoulders until her swimsuit was on her snugly.

Willow in a swimsuit

Tara getting all jiggly and wiggly in the changing rooms, then changing into a swimsuit.

Reading Willow helping Tara in the pool makes me wish she had taught me to swim.

“And you look great in that swimsuit.”

Well duh, it's Tara, of course she's going to look hot...I mean great in a swimsuit, especially if she's all wet

Such a sweet chapter with Willow and Tara both learning something new and the forging of their future long term life together. There was also much drooling for me with the girls in swimsuits, so much so that I nearly short-circuited my laptop

[taralicious]

Ready to get wet later?

Even Tara's middle-aged co-workers first thoughts at that message turn to the glorious imagery of she and Willow all naked and sweaty later.

“You’re a sweet girl, coming for her every afternoon like this.”

Fancy Tara's co-workers being that forward; what would they do if Tara tells them they cum together or that they come in mutual pleasure?

My laptop is my mistress.”

Willow's mistress can even pleasure her through the applied science of dildonics.

“Well if I’m going to spend my life with you, I’d like it to be a long one.”

In my fantasies, this is what Amber says sweetly to me.

“Know where I just kissed?” she asked, then smiled when Tara shook her head, “Where I’m gonna put a ring someday.”

Willow pushed the beets to the corner of her plate.

I've tried pickled beets once in my life and that was enough for me.

“No, it’s good. I s-should learn. And…and you won’t laugh at me or anything.”

Tara has nothing to be ashamed about in not learning how to swim as a kid.
I took swimming lessons every summer for six years and never learned how to swim as a kid and only learned how to swim in high school when I was 17 because you had to know how to swim to graduate.
Fear is a motivator for learning when you are desperate to escape Hell.

[Laragh]

BuffyFan4ver –

Love Tara's co-workers. My mom is one of the oldest employees at her Starbucks so it's fun to imagine it for their point of view.

That sounds awesome!

I approve of Willow's diet. Potato chips are a vegetable and a perfectly valid lunch choice.

You won't get any argument from me!

Mmmmm ... Tara Wiggles and Jiggles ... Ghaaaaa

Lucky Willow!

for Willow teaching Tara how to swim.

Important lesson!

I can't wait to see Willow 'reward' Tara.

Naughty

Thanks for commenting!

zampsa19752001 –

Yay excellent update-y goodness... I really loved Tara's swim lesson...

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks for commenting!

love_2003 -

I'm glad that Tara agreed to let Willow buy her a cell phone.

Me too!

Tara was able to teach Willow to start eating/loving vegetables and Willow taught her how to swim. I think Tara had the harder job.

I think you're right!

Thanks for commenting!

willowtaralover -

Can it be too soon to drool over Willow and Tara wetness??? Nah

It's never too soon!

Loved Judy gently teasing Tara and making her blush over the message from Willow.

She's good for the teasing, that Judy.

I thought Willow would have known that it isn't advisable to go swimming after eating food.

That's really a myth but it is mentioned later on

YAY awesome foreshadowing for Willow and Tara's future.

Nicer than some previous foreshadowing!

Awww so sweet Willow saying she wants to spend forever with Tara.

Who wouldn't?

Willow and Tara visiting exotic beaches to go skinny dipping!!!!!

I'll have to make sure that happens

How did Willow survive without ever having eaten vegetables? I get thefeeling that she lived on just marshmallow fluff, PBJs and coffee or mochas.

Pretty much!

Willow in a swimsuit

Much agreement!

Tara getting all jiggly and wiggly in the changing rooms, then changing into a swimsuit.

You're drooling a lot

Reading Willow helping Tara in the pool makes me wish she had taught me to swim.

Me too!

Well duh, it's Tara, of course she's going to look hot...I mean great in a swimsuit, especially if she's all wet

Naughty

Such a sweet chapter with Willow and Tara both learning something new and the forging of their future long term life together. There was also much drooling for me with the girls in swimsuits, so much so that I nearly short-circuited my laptop

Uh oh, watch that laptop

Thanks for commenting!

taralicious -

Even Tara's middle-aged co-workers first thoughts at that message turn to the glorious imagery of she and Willow all naked and sweaty later.

I think everyone's is!

Fancy Tara's co-workers being that forward; what would they do if Tara tells them they cum together or that they come in mutual pleasure?

Ha!

Willow's mistress can even pleasure her through the applied science of dildonics.

Doubtful

In my fantasies, this is what Amber says sweetly to me.

Nice for you

I've tried pickled beets once in my life and that was enough for me.

I'm a fan myself

Tara has nothing to be ashamed about in not learning how to swim as a kid.
I took swimming lessons every summer for six years and never learned how to swim as a kid and only learned how to swim in high school when I was 17 because you had to know how to swim to graduate.
Fear is a motivator for learning when you are desperate to escape Hell.

I was a bit of a fish baby but I hate swimming now.

Thanks for commenting

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

********

TITLE: College Confidential

AUTHOR: Laragh

CHAPTER RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: Willow, Tara and any other characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise belong to Joss Whedon, FOX, ME and a whole host of other entities, none of which are me.

SUMMARY: The first part of the prequel to Hacker Confidential and Family Confidential - the college years!

SPOILERS: Perhaps minor references to the show or stealage of dialogue, but nothing that would spoil the series.

FEEDBACK: Yes please

NOTE: Sorry it's late!

Chapter 31

********


“I can’t believe this is my last week of classes. Did summer go by quick or am I crazy?”


Tara glanced over at Willow, who was checking the contents of her camera bag, while she laced up her boots.


“Yeah, I guess it did. There’s still a couple of weeks left.”


“A couple of weeks of freedom!” Willow replied, keen for their plans of getting to places like the Gardens and the beach before real classes started up again, “Are you gonna come collect me when I’m done?”


Tara finished her lacing and looked up, a look of regret on her face.


“I have to do the campus tours, you know I do.”


Willow didn’t even try to hide her pout; she wasn’t enjoying Tara’s all-day work schedule of late.


“Do you not get bored, saying the same things, over and over again? This building was built in blah blah blah and this random thing happened here and oh you should really come to school here ‘cause it’s the absolute best!”


Tara went to check her appearance in the mirror.


“I say what I get paid to say.”


“You have the patience of a saint,” Willow replied, shaking her head, “Well at least walk me there. It’s on your way.”


Tara pulled the end of her shirt to smooth it out and smiled.


“Okay, bossy.”


“I’m not bossy, I’m cranky,” Willow replied, throwing her camera bag over her shoulder, “So I like actually spending time with my girlfriend, sue me.”


Tara walked over and gave Willow’s shoulder a gentle rub.


“I’ll be back at 4.”


Willow lifted her chin defiantly and crossed her arms over her chest.


“Well maybe I won’t be back ‘til 5.”


Tara pecked Willow’s cheek.


“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”


Willow dropped her arms, exasperated.


“Why are you so nice all the time?”


“Why wouldn’t I be?” Tara asked, pocketing her keys.


Willow walked over and wrapped her arms around Tara from behind.


“Because your bratty girlfriend needs to stop being a baby.”


Tara leaned back and offered her hand.


“My lovely girlfriend needs to get to class.”


Willow took Tara’s hand and they walked from their building across campus. Their first stop off was Willow’s photography class where they said their goodbyes, then Tara trotted off to the admin building to start her work day.


She busied herself with filing, as ever, until it was time to start the first of three afternoon university tours for new freshman and prospective students. Although she was given a lunch break, she always felt bad for leaving before all her office work was done, so often just grabbed a granola bar between jobs.


The first tour finished without event and Tara took a break to slug some water, the hot August heat getting to her. She waited at the meet-up point for the next set of people to arrive, but had to groan inwardly when she saw a group of rowdy boys in high school varsity jackets approaching.


She wasn’t one to pre-judge, but they were being loud enough for her to know she was going to struggle to stay in control.


“A-are you all here for the tour?” she asked as they gathered in front of her, noticing the nudges they were all giving each other.


“I know where I’d like to take a tour of!” one of the boys shouted from the back, giving rise to cheers and wolf whistles.


Tara gritted her teeth a moment and tried to remain professional, standing up straight and gesturing around her.


“This is the lower campus quad, a meeting place for a lot of students, or even somewhere to eat lunch or study on a nice day. We’ll do a full circle of the campus, starting with the library and arts building and move on from there…”


She managed to lead them around the academic buildings and student centre without too much event, but was choosing to ignore the catcalls and obscene gestures coming from them.


She was feeling entirely worn out by the time they got to the only open residence building, her own, and wanted to get them through as quickly as possible so she could take a break.


“Most dorms are two-person, some are larger rooms split in two for four people,” she said as they walked them down her own hallway.


“Do you live here?” one of the guys in front, that had the most bravado of them all, which was saying something, asked; the look in his eyes bordering over from teasing to predatory.


“Um, yes, I live right here,” Tara replied, gesturing at her door, though distracted as she tried to stop one of the boys from the hilarious prank of upturning a trash can on another’s head, before leading them off again, “All buildings have their own kitchen and laundry room…”


She led them down the stairway to the laundry room and let them all pile in to have a look around. The same guy who’d enquired about her living quarters earlier held the door open for her.


“Thank you,” Tara replied cordially.


“No problem,” the boy replied, leering over Tara’s shoulder to look down her top.


Tara quickly looked away, embarrassed. She made her way to the front of the group again and brought them around the rest of the building and finally back to their starting point in the quad.


“Has anyone any questions?” she asked, eager to finish up before quickly tacking on, “About the campus.”


There was a chorus of shaking heads, something Tara was quite grateful for.


“Okay, then. If you have any questions in future, feel free to contact the college. Have a good day.”


The boys all broke apart, but Tara’s admirer approached her.


“Hey, if I decide to come here next year, might need some real showing around, you know.”


Tara picked up on the tone, but didn’t want to acknowledge it.


“There’s bus tours of the city you can get…you can pick up a leaflet in the admin office.”


She pointed in its direction, but he just sidled up closer.


“I prefer a personal touch.”


Tara was started to feel her personal space severely invaded and decided to be clear.


“I-I’m not interested.”


The boy scoffed, clearly not something he was used to hearing.


“I’m AJ Jackson. I’m the quarterback. Looking a full ride, no matter what school I want to go to.”


“T-that’s very nice, but I’m with someone,” Tara replied, hoping that would be enough to get him to leave.


“You might not be next year…” AJ said in a suggestive tone, taking another opportunity to peer down Tara’s top.


“Yes, I will,” Tara replied adamantly, “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested. At all.”


AJ looked like he’d been slapped in the face – rejection was something he’d dealt with never.


“Whatever, bitch,” he snarled.


Tara turned around and started to walk to the other side of the quad. She didn’t notice her keys falling out of her back pocket on the way.


She kept her eyes on the grass for several minutes before chancing a look up, grateful that AJ had scarpered. She waited there for the next half hour, fifteen minutes after her last tour was to start, and was relieved when no one appeared to be coming – she just had to wait another five until she could consider it officially cancelled.


She left it another ten, just to be sure, then moved off and walked back to the dorm building. She searched her keys for her pockets and sighed when they were nowhere to be found, then was about to knock when Willow suddenly appeared at the top of the hallway.


“Hey, you said you’d be back at four! I was going to surprise you with flower petals!”


She gestured to the bag of petals she’d spent the last hour painstakingly plucking as she approached.


“No one showed up for the last tour, so I could come home,” Tara replied, then smiled and leaned over to pop a soft kiss on Willow’s lips, “You’re sweet. Can you let us in? I think I left my keys inside this morning.”


Willow was sure she remembered seeing Tara put her keys in her pocket, but figured she must have been mistaking in for a different morning. She opened the door for them.


“How was your class?” Tara asked, emptying her pockets onto the desk.


“Turn around,” Willow said to her as she started to toss handfuls of petals onto the bed, “She left the hardest assignment for last, but she liked my picture of the wave for ‘motion’. Said I caught the light really well.”


Tara dutifully turned around to Willow could keep up the pretence of surprise.


“What’s the assignment?”


“Poetry,” Willow replied, obviously disdainful, “Like what am I supposed to do, photograph a page of a book? Reading it, yes; photographing it, no.”


“I’m sure you’ll come up with a great idea, you have on all the others…” Tara replied encouragingly, “Think outside the box.”


“Having a different perspective is hard,” Willow grumbled, but her voice became perky as she threw the last of the petals on the bed and clapped, “Okay, turn back around!”


Tara turned back around and smiled.


“You did all this just for me?”


“Yeah, are you surprised?” Willow asked, giddy despite knowing otherwise.


“Very,” Tara replied, holding out her hands.


Willow gladly took them and pulled Tara close. She crossed her arms behind Tara’s neck and kissed her softly.


They fell to the bed together a second later.


Ten feet away, having rushed to hide in the closet when he’d heard someone at the door, AJ’s mouth dropped open as he took in what he was seeing.


He wasn’t sure what he’d planned on doing when he’d picked up Tara’s keys. Maybe break some of her things for daring to reject him; maybe steal a pair of her panties to boast to his teammates about. He wasn't sure, but he was a man of opportunity and that was one he couldn't pass up.


He had expected plenty of time to get in and out, not anticipating another set of keys being available as quickly, so had to act quickly to jump into the closet.


A decision he was currently considering the best one he ever made.


“Jackpot,” he whispered, whipping his phone from his pocket and angling the camera between slats of the closet door.


Tara’s head lifted away from Willow’s and she glanced around the room.


“What was that?”


“What was what?” Willow asked, her hands annoyingly stilled over Tara’s collarbone.


“I heard something,” Tara replied, casting a look behind her as if she expected something to pop out.


Willow tugged the collar of Tara’s shirt lightly to pull her back down.


“It’s probably the wind.”


Tara didn’t look convinced.


“There’s barely a breeze out today.”


Willow pursed her lips for a moment in silence.


“Listen. Nothing but my lips screaming for kisses.”


Tara had to concede there was nothing to be heard, so started to settle back down. She let Willow kiss her again and was starting to get really into it, when she heard another odd sound. Her ears were perked this time, and she identified it coming from the closet.


She jumped up, much to Willow’s annoyance.


“Tara,” Willow groaned, “Things creak sometimes, it’s nothing to freak out ab–holy crap!”


Willow’s eyes went wide as she saw the tall stranger standing in the closet when Tara flung the door open and instantly scrambled for the phone.


“W-We need security–”


AJ was frozen in place, trying to hide both his camera and his crotch, but after a moment of readjustment, decided to make a run for it.


“Get out of my way, you dumb bitch!” he said to Tara, backhanding her out of the way.


Willow jumped to the floor to catch Tara before she hit it.


“Tara!”


She cradled Tara’s head and examined the bleeding cut on her cheek where AJ’s bulky watch had connected.


“Oh baby, oh baby.”


She saw AJ about to make his escape, but he was met by two even bigger and burlier campus police officers when he opened the door.


“What’s going on here?” one of them asked, blocking his exit.


“That guy was hiding in our closet!” Willow exclaimed, “Then he shoved Tara trying to get out!”


The officers exchanged a look and one roughly grabbed AJ’s arm to bring him away, while the other stayed and called for EMS on his radio.


“I-I’m okay,” Tara spoke up for the first time, her head swimming a little.


“It’s standard procedure. You won’t be brought to hospital unless it’s necessary,” the officer replied, firm but kind, “We’ll get you checked out and then bring you in for a statement. What happened here?”


“We just came in here a few minutes ago and Tara was hearing weird noises and then he’s just jumping out of the closet!” Willow replied, in total shock.


“You’ve never seen him before?” the officer questioned.


“No!” Willow all but yelled, making Tara grimace.


“I-I have. He took a campus tour with the rest of his football team earlier,” she said, before adding on meekly and with a blush, “He asked me out and I said no. H-He must’ve taken my keys…I thought I just forgot them.”


Willow saw red then, but didn’t get a chance to act as the EMS arrived and came in to assess Tara.


He made sure she didn’t have a concussion, then checked her cheek and determined it needed no stitches, so bandaged it up for her.


“Put some Neosporin on it a couple of times a day and keep gauze over it,” he said, handing her some extra gauze, “If you start to get dizzy or begin vomiting, call a doctor or get to the ER.”


Tara nodded, grateful she didn’t have to go to the hospital. She felt Willow’s hand in hers a moment later.


“I’ll help you stand,” she said gently, having calmed down from her initial rage, knowing it was no help to Tara.


The officer kindly offered his arm to assist too and Tara wasn’t too proud to take all the help she was given, quite shaken up. He brought them down to the station, where Tara retold her experience with AJ earlier in the day, and then they both told what had happened just then.


They had to tell it three or four times to make sure all the details were right, then were told to wait while AJ was assessed.


“Do you want a hot cocoa or something?” Willow asked, keeping her arms around Tara as they sat in the cold, plastic chairs going into the second hour.


“No, thank you,” Tara replied quietly, “I really just want to go home and sleep.”


“I know, baby,” Willow replied, leaving a gentle kiss on her temple, “Do you want me to go hurry them–”


She was interrupted as the officer who had stayed with them on the scene beckoned them back into an interview room.


“Here’s your keys back, ma’am,” he said, handing the set over as he gestured for them to take a seat, “The assailant’s cellular phone has been confiscated.”


“Why?” Willow asked, confused.


“He had been…recording images,” the officer replied, and remained professional as both girls turned the colour of a tomato, “Do you want to press charges against him today?”


Willow was about to shout an adamant ‘yes’, but quickly realised she really hadn’t been the wronged party in this. She quietened down and kept Tara’s hand in hers.


“Do you, Tara? I’ll do whatever you want.”


Tara was silent for a moment, then just shook her head. It was easier to let it go than have to dwell and retell the story for months on end. The officer nodded in acknowledgement, then left the room but came back just a few moments later.


“The boy will be returned to his coach this evening and his name will be blacklisted for attendance here. A copy of the incident will remain on his transcript.”


“Bye bye scholarships, Mr. Quarterback,” Willow scoffed, thinking that was the least he deserved, “You sure you’re okay, baby?”


Tara looked up, embarrassed.


“W-were the images deleted?”


“With no charges going forward, the cell phone will remain in a sealed evidence box,” the officer replied diligently, then looked to the side and back to them, “There was nothing compromising, the screen was dark and hindered by the closet door.”


Tara nodded in relief.


“Okay. I just want this day to be over.”


The officer nodded and stood.


“We’ll accompany you back to your dorm and secure the area.”


“Do you want to stay somewhere else tonight?” Willow asked, rubbing Tara’s arm gently, “I can get us a hotel room.”


Tara shook her head.


“No, it’s fine. I’m not going to be scared of my own room.”


Willow leaned right in then and pressed a lingering, tender kiss just below her ear. The officer looked away and stood to open the door for them. They stood together and clasped hands, but as soon as they left the interview room, a unfamiliar man in a rain jacket that bore the same emblem as AJ’s had appeared.


The officer got between them.


“Sir, take a step back, please.”


The man did as he was told and held his hands up to indicate he meant no harm, then took his baseball cap off and hung his head as he looked to Tara.


“I apologise, girls, didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m AJ’s coach and I’m just disgusted by his behaviour. I promise you he won’t be getting off lightly. I do appreciate you not pressing charges,” he said to her, his eyes both kind and remorseful, “Just wanted to say I’m sorry. Won’t take up any more of your time.”


He gave a small bow of genuine regret, then fixed his cap back on his head and walked away. Tara watched him leave for a moment, highly appreciative of the apology, then nodded that she was ready to go.


The officer brought them back to their room and left them there alone for a few minutes before reporting back.


“Your room is secure. There will be guards posted outside the building the rest of the night, and the assailant will be on the first plane home with the rest of his group, his coach has assured us.”


“Thank you,” Willow said for both of them, impressed at how dedicated the campus police were, “Really.”


The officer nodded and offered a firm smile before leaving again.


They sat in silence for a moment before Willow finally piped up.


“Well that was some ordeal,” she said, turning towards Tara and looking at her cheek forlornly, the big white bandage stinging her heart, “Your poor cheek.”


She resisted reaching out to touch it and went to find the gauze and antibiotic cream.


“It’s just a scratch,” Tara replied, sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed.


Willow returned and sat next to her.


“A nasty scratch,” she said, gently folding the gauze away.


She tenderly wiped the dried blood away, then applied some of the cream. Tara winced.


“Sorry, baby,” Willow said, covering it up with a new piece of gauze, “Are you sure you’re okay to stay here tonight?”


Tara nodded resolutely.


“I’m not going to let another person have that kind of control over me again.”


Willow held the sides of Tara’s face and looked at her in wonder for a moment before pecking her lips affectionately.


“You’re so strong.”


“Strong like an amazon?” Tara asked with a softly lopsided smile.


“Yeah, strong like an amazon,” Willow replied, slowly letting her hands fall down Tara’s neck and shoulders as she looked into her tired eyes, “Let me brush all these silly petals off.”


She shifted onto her knees and started to wipe the petals from the bedspread.


“They weren’t silly, they were very sweet,” Tara said, catching a rose petal as it fell near her and toying with it between her fingers.


“Well they can be sweet some other time, ‘cause right now this bed needs a sleeping beauty in it,” Willow replied, bouncing back to smile at Tara, “And I shall awaken you with True Love’s kiss in the morning and we will live happily ever after.”


Tara reached out to touch Willow’s cheek, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.


“I…just love you.”


“And I just love you too,” Willow replied, leaning over to wrap her arms around Tara.


They embraced for a few silent moments, content to hold each other, then broke apart to change into pyjamas and get ready for bed.


“Think you’ll be able to sleep?” Willow asked, worried Tara would be nervous after their ordeal.


Tara, however, looked completely serene as she settled under the covers – if she hadn’t been left with a physical mark, it would seem she’d had a perfectly normal day.


“I feel completely safe.”


Willow lifted the sheet and scooted in behind Tara.


“There’ll be guards there all night.”


Tara smiled softly to herself.


“Not them. You,” she clarified, settling her head under Willow’s chin, where she always felt the most protected, “I always feel safe with you.”

[Missocki]

Wow, what is wrong with that AJ punk. There would have been a boot up his butt from me. Ugh! What a perv. I have mixed emotions about Tara not pressing charges, but either way, he is getting punished and the girls get to move on. Great update!

[zampsa19752001]

Yay for great update-y goodness... Yet another appearance of brains-in-the-pants-highschool-jock.... I kinda understand that Tara doesn't want to press charges but what the dickhead did was very very serious and I think he got away too easily...

[wimpy0729]

Hey, Laragh! Sorry, I've been having trouble keeping up, but I'm here and always loving it.

You know, it's been a long time since I felt the urge to whip out my old softball bat and really wail on anyone, but this asshole really deserves it for many, many reasons. I won't list them all because it'll just enrage me again, but every single thing he did was wrong and he deserves at least, if not more punishment than what he got. Not sure about Tara's reasoning about not pressing charges, but I'm thinking she just wants to get past it and move on. If it's any comfort, I picture him becoming prematurely bald and with a big beer belly before he's 25, and having no good things in his life whatsoever.

I must say I was impressed with the Security guys. They got there quickly and caught the scumbag and treated the girls respectfully the whole time. Not all guys are assholes.

I'm thinking these two are due for some nice, relaxing, quality alone time before classes start back up.

Great job again!


Wimpy

[BuffyFan4ever]

No one actually said it so I will: DIBS!!!

@ A.J.

While I wished to see the finality of his punishment. I think that Tara made the right choice in not wanting to press official charges. A.J.'s already going to be punished: In addition to losing his spot at Boston College, chances are he'll lose his other scholarships with this incident on his permanent record and without his coach's recommendation. I can't imagine any additional punishment be worth Tara's time and focus due to so many chances for appeal and parole.

I'm glad the officials took the incident so seriously, even when Tara didn't press charges. So many times, it seems like the system works against the victim, especially when the perpetrator is a college athlete. I loved how the coach took the time to come apologize personally for his student. When the other teammates see how serious the consequences are, hopefully it will make them think before doing something similar.

Can't wait for more.

[sandbarDragon]

Well I've been neglecting my commenting duties for far too long.

I love the dynamic you portray between them. They're just so friggin sweet with each other. If it were any other couple it would inspire the slight urge to throw small rocks. ...But with Will and Tara it just makes me giggle like a little girl. Lol.

That AJ. Wow. What a class-A shit stain. I was kinda hoping to see Willow kick some ass. Then again...football player vs tiny Will, probably a disaster waiting to happen. So woohoo for diplomacy.

And I must say, your Tara absolutely does have the patience of a saint. Its quite admirable. Willow is one lucky chick.

[willowtaralover]

“I can’t believe this is my last week of classes. Did summer go by quick or am I crazy?”

Not crazy but quirky and yes, a little but it's why we, especially Tara, love Willow.

Tara's work schedule sound's really sucky, cutting in on serious Willow/Tara quality snuggle time.

She managed to lead them around the academic buildings and student centre without too much event, but was choosing to ignore the catcalls and obscene gestures coming from them.

Tara was giving this tour alone, no teachers from the school had accompanied the boys on their trip???? Willow's right, Tara does have the patience of a saint---if she isn't one already. Saint Tara, that has a nice ring to it.

AJ looked like he’d been slapped in the face – rejection was something he’d dealt with never.

I think a solid right hook might have been a better form of rejection, and it would have warned off any of the other students from making similar advances towards Tara.

Awww the sweetness of Willow collecting flower petals just to decorate the bed with them for Tara.

“What’s the assignment?”

“Poetry,” Willow replied, obviously disdainful.

How about a picture of Tara walking, then Willow will have a photo of poetry in motion

He wasn’t sure what he’d planned on doing when he’d picked up Tara’s keys...but he was a man of opportunity and that was one he couldn't pass up.

AJ may have the body parts that make him a male but his actions certainly don't make him a man.

“Get out of my way, you dumb bitch!” he said to Tara, backhanding her out of the way.

I hope someone kicks the shit out of this bastard, seriously, hitting a girl, what kind of moron does that. Or perhaps theycould cut off his testicles and penis, sounds a suitable punishment. Perhaps Wimpy could do it, she does have a softball bat so it could be put to good use.

A big YAY to Tara for refusing to give in to fear and going back to her's and Willow's room instead of a hotel for the night. It shows how strong a person she's really become since leaving home and her psycho-looney father for college.

A big YAY to AJ's coach for apologising to the girls for what happened. At least we're getting more proof that not all the males in the 'Confidentialverse' are bad, they just sometimes come to the wrong conclusions about the girls.

More loving sweetness from Willow as she plays nurse to Tara, cleaning up her injury and re-bandaging it.

“And I shall awaken you with True Love’s kiss in the morning and we will live happily ever after.”

More foreshadowing of the happier variety cos who wants gloomy foreshadowing especially at the end of a darker episode in their lives like this one. And at least the girls will have some interesting stories to tell Becky when she returns.

[taralicious]

Did summer go by quick or am I crazy?”

This week certainly went by quickly as i spent it in LA for Gallifrey, the Doctor Who convention so don't have enough time for more than a cursory bit of praise for another splendid update.

[Laragh]

Missocki –

Wow, what is wrong with that AJ punk. There would have been a boot up his butt from me. Ugh! What a perv. I have mixed emotions about Tara not pressing charges, but either way, he is getting punished and the girls get to move on.

He is a classic 'peaked at high school' kinda guy and thinks he's all that and a bag of chips (I'm going old school with that reference). I think the coach might bench him for a long time, which is something!

Thanks for commenting

zampsa19752001 -

Yet another appearance of brains-in-the-pants-highschool-jock.... I kinda understand that Tara doesn't want to press charges but what the dickhead did was very very serious and I think he got away too easily...

They have an unfortunately high occurrence, the nice ones are quieter and don't draw as much attention to themselves.

Thanks for your comment!

wimpy0729 -

Hey, Laragh! Sorry, I've been having trouble keeping up, but I'm here and always loving it.

Nice to see you

You know, it's been a long time since I felt the urge to whip out my old softball bat and really wail on anyone, but this asshole really deserves it for many, many reasons. I won't list them all because it'll just enrage me again, but every single thing he did was wrong and he deserves at least, if not more punishment than what he got. Not sure about Tara's reasoning about not pressing charges, but I'm thinking she just wants to get past it and move on. If it's any comfort, I picture him becoming prematurely bald and with a big beer belly before he's 25, and having no good things in his life whatsoever.

Oh most definitely. He's gonna lose all his scholarship opportunities, Coach is going to bench him and he's going to live a lonely life filled with regret.

I must say I was impressed with the Security guys. They got there quickly and caught the scumbag and treated the girls respectfully the whole time. Not all guys are assholes.

They were great, definitely helped Tara get through it (along with Willow's hand to hold of course)

I'm thinking these two are due for some nice, relaxing, quality alone time before classes start back up.

I'm thinking you're right

Thanks for your feedback!

BuffyFan4ever -

No one actually said it so I will: DIBS!!!

Go you!

@ A.J.

Yes. Lots.

While I wished to see the finality of his punishment. I think that Tara made the right choice in not wanting to press official charges. A.J.'s already going to be punished: In addition to losing his spot at Boston College, chances are he'll lose his other scholarships with this incident on his permanent record and without his coach's recommendation. I can't imagine any additional punishment be worth Tara's time and focus due to so many chances for appeal and parole.

You got it! Tara really doesn't like dwelling, I don't think she would have coped well with it dragging on for months.

I'm glad the officials took the incident so seriously, even when Tara didn't press charges. So many times, it seems like the system works against the victim, especially when the perpetrator is a college athlete.

I've seen this far too often in recent media, and so many times the victim is raped which makes it a thousand times worse. I couldn't let it brushed aside here.

I loved how the coach took the time to come apologize personally for his student. When the other teammates see how serious the consequences are, hopefully it will make them think before doing something similar.

And I'm hoping the coach will make an example of him!

Thanks for commenting

sandbarDragon –

Well I've been neglecting my commenting duties for far too long.

Hi

I love the dynamic you portray between them. They're just so friggin sweet with each other. If it were any other couple it would inspire the slight urge to throw small rocks. ...But with Will and Tara it just makes me giggle like a little girl. Lol.

I know what you mean. I was never a mushy romantic until I encountered W/T and they turned me into this cheesy, corny mess (but I kind of love it )

That AJ. Wow. What a class-A shit stain. I was kinda hoping to see Willow kick some ass. Then again...football player vs tiny Will, probably a disaster waiting to happen. So woohoo for diplomacy.

He'll get some ass-kickin' alright but there was no point in both of them getting hurt.

And I must say, your Tara absolutely does have the patience of a saint. Its quite admirable. Willow is one lucky chick.

She is very patient. I find that to be an inherent 'Tara' quality.

Thanks for commenting

willowtaralover –

Not crazy but quirky and yes, a little but it's why we, especially Tara, love Willow.

Very true!

Tara's work schedule sound's really sucky, cutting in on serious Willow/Tara quality snuggle time.

It's not all bad, but she'll be glad to have it over!

Tara was giving this tour alone, no teachers from the school had accompanied the boys on their trip???? Willow's right, Tara does have the patience of a saint---if she isn't one already. Saint Tara, that has a nice ring to it.

Their coach had probably gone to check out the sports field. Saint Tara does have a nice ring to it

I think a solid right hook might have been a better form of rejection, and it would have warned off any of the other students from making similar advances towards Tara.

Tara however wouldn't approve of hitting anyone.

Awww the sweetness of Willow collecting flower petals just to decorate the bed with them for Tara.

She is very sweet like that.

How about a picture of Tara walking, then Willow will have a photo of poetry in motion

Tara will definitely be involved

AJ may have the body parts that make him a male but his actions certainly don't make him a man.

Too true!

I hope someone kicks the shit out of this bastard, seriously, hitting a girl, what kind of moron does that. Or perhaps theycould cut off his testicles and penis, sounds a suitable punishment. Perhaps Wimpy could do it, she does have a softball bat so it could be put to good use.

We'll have to ask her

A big YAY to Tara for refusing to give in to fear and going back to her's and Willow's room instead of a hotel for the night. It shows how strong a person she's really become since leaving home and her psycho-looney father for college.

And how much she's grown since meeting Willow!

A big YAY to AJ's coach for apologising to the girls for what happened. At least we're getting more proof that not all the males in the 'Confidentialverse' are bad, they just sometimes come to the wrong conclusions about the girls.

The good always outweigh the bad, I hope.

More loving sweetness from Willow as she plays nurse to Tara, cleaning up her injury and re-bandaging it.

They just love each other so much

More foreshadowing of the happier variety cos who wants gloomy foreshadowing especially at the end of a darker episode in their lives like this one. And at least the girls will have some interesting stories to tell Becky when she returns.

Haha, that they will!

Thanks for commenting!

taralicious -

This week certainly went by quickly as i spent it in LA for Gallifrey, the Doctor Who convention so don't have enough time for more than a cursory bit of praise for another splendid update.

Hope you had fun!

---

Update Directly Below

[Laragh]

********

TITLE: College Confidential

WRITER: Laragh

CHAPTER RATING: NC-17

DISCLAIMER: Willow, Tara and any other characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise belong to Joss Whedon, FOX, ME and a whole host of other entities, none of which are me.

SUMMARY: The first part of the prequel to Hacker Confidential and Family Confidential - the college years!

SPOILERS: Perhaps minor references to the show or stealage of dialogue, but nothing that would spoil the series.

FEEDBACK: Yes please

Chapter 32

********

Willow flicked through a book of photography she’d borrowed from the library, trying to find some inspiration for her last assignment.


She’d already spent the whole morning trying to brainstorm an idea, but it quickly devolved into a fantasy about Tara, so she’d decided to try perusing some books instead.


She sighed when nothing jumped out at her and shifted to lie on her stomach, the mattress beneath her bouncing slightly as she settled.


She bent her knees and kicked her legs back and forth as she flipped the pages, but was getting to the point of frustration when the door opened unexpectedly. She looked up and broke out with a smile when she saw Tara walk through.


“Hey you,” she greeted warmly, “You’re home early.”


Tara shut the door behind her and offered a smile back.


“No more tours. They’ve suspended them until they can organise security to be there.”


Willow jumped up.


“Tara, that’s great! At least something good came out of everything,” she said, walking over to give her a hug, “So no more work afternoons?”


“Not for a few days anyway,” Tara replied, pulling back to peck Willow’s lips, “You look busy.”


Willow went back to sit on the bed and sighed.


“Trying to figure out an idea for my assignment.”


“Anything yet?” Tara asked, sitting opposite her.


“Thought I could maybe choose a poem and write it out with stones or leaves or something,” Willow replied, though clearly wasn’t enthused by the idea, “I read a Richard Dawkins quote that says ‘Science is the poetry of reality’. I kinda like that…but no idea how to make it a photo.”


“I like your nature idea,” Tara replied, trying to be encouraging, “Like poetry in a poetic setting. There’s a lot of science in nature.”


Willow idly flicked a page in the book.


“Yeah…”


Tara could tell Willow wasn’t saying something.


“What?”


Willow shrugged one shoulder.


“Nothing…just keep imagining…nothing, it’s stupid.”


Tara smiled to herself; she was quite aware when Willow was acting coy.


“Tell me.”


Willow perked up and folded her legs under herself.


“Well, I was thinking about the poetry books we were reading together. And that Sappho one we really liked, Hymn to Aphrodite.”


Tara nodded, remembering.


“It’s sad.”


“Yeah…unrequited love,” Willow agreed, “It makes me think of those weeks before we got together…when I thought my feelings were unrequited.”


Tara covered Willow’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Willow smiled and shuffled closer, then lifted her hand to gently touch Tara’s face.


Tara’s beauty never ceased to amaze her, but she’d spent almost the whole day thinking about just how perfect she really was.


“I find you… poetic. How your deep blue eyes and plump red lips contrast against your wonderfully creamy skin. How your neck carries you around with such grace. How your back muscles ripple like a river, how your hips slope perfectly and your legs stretch on and on,” she gushed, her hand falling gently from Tara’s face down her arms and body, “You’re crafted like a wonderful poem. You ebb and you flow and move in just perfect rhythm; you’re complex yet so humbly simple; you’re intense but modest; thoughtful and full of feeling. You exude beauty and you don’t even know it. You’re the definition of ‘classic’.”


Tara was more than a little overcome by Willow’s words; by the emotion and thought behind them.


“Willow, that’s…I-I don’t know what to say.”


Willow left her hand on Tara’s knee before continuing, shyer with the next observation.


“I-I also find our love kind of poetic. I mean, I know I’m just a normal girl and you’re, well, you’re extraordinary, but poetry speaks to your soul, right? And that’s what you do to me. You speak to my soul. And I feel like I speak to yours. Sometimes I look at you and it’s like I can see inside you. Not like, muscles and tendons, but just…you.”


Tara felt her heart fluttering and a smile stretching out on her face.


“You really know how to make a girl feel special.”


Willow sat back and smiled too.


“Well, good. You deserve it. You are.”


Tara’s cheeks tinged a soft pink as she put two and two together of all Willow had said.


“You want to photograph me?”


Willow clasped her hands in her lap, her eyes lighting up.


“Well, my idea, was, I could write that poem on your back, the Hymn to Aphrodite. Only if you were totally okay with it, of course. I thought I could write a verse from that at the top of your back, and then a verse from that other one we liked underneath. Do you remember?” she asked, reaching for the poetry book among the rest and locating the verse she’d singled out, “‘Peer of the gods, the happiest I seem, sitting before thee, rapt at thy sight, hearing thy soft laughter and thy voice most gentle, speaking so sweetly'. That’s the English translation, anyway.”


“I remember,” Tara nodded, taking the book to read over it when Willow offered.


“Well that’s you, I mean, that’s how I feel about you,” Willow explained, the idea having formed in her head throughout the day, “That’s the present…so there’s past and present…and you know, poems have a beginning and a middle.”


Tara looked up.


“And an end.”


“Right,” Willow agreed, biting her lip with giddy shyness, “Which would represent future…ours.”


“Does Sappho have a poem for that?” Tara asked, her lips sloping up on one side.


Willow always felt herself fall in love when Tara smiled like that. It took her a second to realise she’d been asked a question.


“Uh, not really. But in keeping with the Greek theme, I thought I could put the word for ‘eternal’…kinda bigger than the rest.”


Tara felt a whole flurry of emotions that ‘eternal’ was how Willow thought to represent their future, but tried to remain practical for the moment.


“That’s ambitious. Would it all fit?”


“I think so. If I kinda swept your hair to one side and started at your shoulders,” Willow replied, trying not to show her excitement, “Don’t feel any pressure to say yes. I know it’s…complicated and long-winded and–”


“Really beautiful. And special. And thought out,” Tara replied with a shy smile, “H-How many people would see it?”


Willow thought about it a moment.


“Well I just handed up a print-out of the shot I pick and a write-up of it to my professor…I don’t know if she shows anyone else, but I doubt it. Sometimes people share their work but it’s completely voluntary.”


Tara took a few moments to think it over – she’d been shy enough when she’d been in just a swimsuit; baring her whole back definitely gave her pause. But she could see how excited Willow was about her idea, and she knew her girlfriend would do nothing to make her uncomfortable. She trusted her.


“I’d like to do it for you.”


Willow almost leapt out of her skin.


“Really?”


Tara toyed with her sleeve bashfully.


“M-Maybe have a second idea for a back-up…”


Willow nodded, happy to do whatever Tara asked.


“Sure, baby,” she said, then caught Tara’s hands, “Thank you. This…this really means a lot. I might totally mess it up and I don’t really have the steadiest hand, but…thank you.”


Tara just smiled, intrigued how it would all turn out.


“When do you want to do it?”


“Um, well, I don’t have to hand it in until Monday, but we’re going to the beach this weekend,” Willow replied, “So maybe tomorrow afternoon? I’ll go buy some body paint in the morning.”


Tara nodded in agreement.


“Okay. I’m in.”


Willow clapped her hands once, beaming from ear to ear.


“This is going to be great.”

---

“I hope you don’t mind I changed the sheets…thought the red would contrast nicely.”


Tara glanced over from where she was fixing her hair in the mirror and offered a small smile.


“I would’ve switched them out to do laundry soon anyway.”


Willow left her camera down on the bed and walked over to Tara, embracing her robe-clad waist from behind.


“You look nervous.”


Tara met Willow’s eye in the mirror.


“A little.”


“We don’t have to do this,” Willow said to her, nothing but genuine, “It was just an idea.”


Tara took a slow breath, then shook her head.


“No, I…I want to. I do.”


“Nothing that doesn’t get your approval will be shown to anyone,” Willow replied, leaving a small kiss on Tara’s shoulder, “Promise.”


Tara nodded once.


“Okay,” she said through an exhale, then shrugged the robe off to leave her naked, “Where do you want me?”


Willow was momentarily distracted by Tara’s nudity. She could have worn anything she wanted on her lower half as it would be covered by the sheet, but Willow saw no reason to stop her.


If she wants to be naked, then I’m her number one supporter!


“Um, on your stomach. Head towards the door.”


Tara lay down on the bed as Willow directed and felt the sheets being arranged around her. Willow had a pot of black body paint with a paintbrush ready on the nightstand, and a borrowed stool from the kitchen for her to sit on.


“Okay, how does that feel?” Willow asked, the sheet covering all of Tara’s lower half and an inch of the small of her back for modesty, “I can fix if it falls off, but just so I have an idea of where to paint.”


Tara looked over and blushed for a moment thinking of being photographed like that, but was happy that Willow had covered her enough.


“I’ll keep as still as I can.”


“Thanks,” Willow replied, leaning down to peck Tara’s cheek quickly, then got comfortable on the stool, “Ready?”


Tara nodded and relaxed as much as she could, while Willow organised her print-outs of the poems. She’d worked out the scale she’d need to use to fit it all on Tara’s back and had spent a couple of hours that morning painting them just onto paper for practice.


She picked up the paintbrush and dipped it in the paint, then started the first stroke.


Tara giggled but managed to stay still.


“It tickles.”


“Sorry,” Willow replied, smiling, “Could you take your hair over your shoulder?”


Tara obliged and settled her head back down on the pillow Willow had provided.


“I hope it fits right.”


“It will,” Willow replied airily, her voice distinctly lacking the usual anxiety she had when it came to schoolwork.


“You’re not worried?” Tara asked, an eyebrow quirking slightly.


“I never worry here,” Willow replied happily, very much enjoying watching the paintbrush move across Tara’s skin, “I’m safe here. With you.”


Tara smiled to herself and closed her eyes to see if she could decipher the letters been drawn on her by touch only. They were silent until Willow was moving towards the middle of Tara’s back, approaching a known spot.


“Brace yourself, I’m coming up to that extra-ticklish spot,” she warned, then saw Tara smile wider as she dipped her brush again, “What?”


“Just like that you know that,” Tara replied, wiggling her hips for a moment.


“I’m a Tarapedia,” Willow replied with a grin, “I’m Tarapedia Willanica.”


Tara turned her head into the pillow to stop a snort of laugher.


“You don’t know everything about me,” she teased, though would be quite happy if Willow did.


“Have you told me your real name?” Willow asked.


Tara smiled a crooked smile.


“Oh you know that.”


Willow detected a very real sultry note in her girlfriend’s tone and blushed at the implication. She took a minute to make sure she was still on point, but was really just trying to stop her hand from shaking – it was hard enough keeping in control when she was drawing across her girlfriend’s naked back; she wasn’t sure she could continue if Tara kept talking like that.


“You know, I’ve had a lot of fun doing this photography class,” she said, purposely changing the subject, “I wasn’t called a nerd once.”


“They will find out, you know,” Tara replied, still teasing but in a different tone now, “About you.”


“Oh really?” Willow challenged, though couldn’t hide her grin.


“It’s inevitable,” Tara replied with faux-solemnity.


Willow stretched her back for a moment to prevent a cramp, then grinned some more.


“You mean this hot mama-yama can’t hide her humble, geek-infested roots?


Tara cast her eyes back to Willow’s with an answering grin.


“Infested roots? Are you trying to turn me on?”


“I have to try now?” Willow asked, her eyes lighting up playfully.


Tara smiled as Willow resumed the painting on her back. The sensation was becoming oddly relaxing and there was definitely a sensual element to the whole thing that she appreciating.


“Are you going to do the photography class during the regular semester?”


Willow frowned; she hadn’t thought about that. It was certainly an enjoyable class and an easy credit, but she’d worked out her schedule to maximise Tara-time and she wasn’t keen on changing that.


“I don’t have time to think about that,” she replied, brushing it off to focus on the much more enjoyable task at hand, “I have all this homework to finish.”


“I think you’re enjoying your ‘homework’ immensely,” Tara replied, though could hardly deny she was too.


“And shamelessly,” Willow replied promptly, “Oh, speaking of geek-infested roots, there’s a convention I want to go to two weeks from Friday…saw a flyer at the library earlier. I missed Comic-Con this year.”


Tara only understood half that statement, but one thing did stick out for her.


“The first Friday of classes? That’s our first day of drama. Will you be finished before class?”


Willow paused a moment; she’d forgotten they’d signed up for that class.


“I can be late,” she answered finally, thinking she could get her fill of the convention in the morning and hurry back.


“But you’ve never done drama before,” Tara pointed out softly, “Might miss something important.”


Willow considered it and decided Tara was right, but was happy to fall back into comfortable silence. She was impressed with her own painting skills and how she’d been able to print the letters pretty clearly, though she gave Tara most of the credit for giving her such a wonderful canvas to work with.


“I don’t ever want to leave here,” she said with a content sigh as the brush gently glided across the small of Tara’s back.


“Why not?” Tara asked.


Willow finished the last stroke on Tara’s back and sat back to admire her.


“Because this is a perfect moment.”


Tara smiled softly and twisted her neck to try and get a look at her back.


“How does it look?”


“It looks really good,” Willow replied, almost shocked it had turned out so well, “It really does. I mean, wow.”


She looked on for another moment, then left her paintbrush in the container of water to clean and picked up her camera. She looked through the lens and moved around to try and find a good angle, but the room was a little too dark.


She walked over to the curtain and pulled it back a tad, but was instantly blinded by the bright afternoon sun hitting her right in the eye.


“It's so bright,” she said, bringing her arm up to shield the sun when something glinting in the distance caught her eyes, “And there's something out there.”

She tried to peer out, then rolled her eyes and slapped her forehead when she realised what she was seeing.


“It’s just my watch reflection, I’m a dummy,” she said, turning back and lifting her camera up again, smiling at Tara’s illuminated back, “God, you’re so beautiful.”


Tara blushed but was smiling into the pillow as she heard the camera shutter behind her.


“Hey, smile, gorgeous,” Willow said a moment later, catching a shot just as Tara looked up.


Tara blushed some more as Willow snapped some shots from some different angles and in different lights.


“I thought you just needed one?”


Willow paused a moment; truth be told she’d forgotten this was an assignment, she was just enjoying herself.


“I need lots to choose from,” she reasoned, getting a close-up of Tara’s back, “Could you kind of stretch your back up a little?”


Tara lifted herself up onto her elbows, resulting in the sheet slipping down from her hips. Willow had her camera ready to go, but remained still as she watched Tara’s back muscles ripple all the way down to her buttocks.


“Wow.”


Tara glanced at Willow, catching sight of where she’d become uncovered. She snatched the sheet up again.


“Willow, you promised!”


“I didn’t, I didn’t!” Willow tried to defend, “No click-y. Just look-y.”


Tara glanced at the camera, then up at Willow.


“Okay.”


Willow smiled and left the camera down on the desk.


“Think I’m finished anyway. I got some really great shots,” she said as she pulled her laptop out to look at them on the bigger screen.


“Should I go shower off?” Tara asked, tying her hair up so it wouldn’t brush against the paint.


“Uh huh,” Willow replied distractedly, happily looking through the pictures.


Tara picked up her robe from the floor and went into the bathroom to shower. She hummed softly to herself as she watched the black water pool around her feet and go down the drain, then stepped out and back into her robe.


“How did they turn out?” she asked as she came back into the room, walking over to look over Willow’s shoulder.


Willow was staring quite intently at the screen and was completely silent.


“Tara…I don’t want to use these,” she said eventually.


Tara stepped back, embarrassed, and tightened her robe around herself.


“Oh. Sure, okay.”


Willow picked up on the tone and spun around in the chair.


“It’s not because they’re bad…they’re so good. And…intimate. I want them to be just mine. Does that make sense at all?”


Tara blushed and smiled.


“Oh,” she repeated, then nodded, “Yes, it does.”


Willow stood and took both of Tara’s hands in hers.


“This was really special. Thank you. Really – thank you. I love you.”


Tara looked down bashfully.


“What will you do for your assignment?”


“I’ll figure something out,” Willow replied, too happy to have been able to have this experience to care too much, “I owe you something big for letting me do that.”


Tara shook her head.


“No, you don’t.”


Willow brought her hands up Tara’s arm and let them close softly behind her neck.


“Well at the very least, you are getting a super special massage…with oils.”


Tara’s let out a soft breath.


“Oils?”


“I may have picked some up when I was getting the body paint,” Willow replied, letting one hand down to pull the tie of Tara’s robe free and turning her head in so her lips were against Tara’s ear and she could whisper, “Go lie down.”


Tara’s body flushed with heat and she disrobed again, moving to lie on her stomach and covered herself up modestly with the sheet. Willow came back from rooting in a bag in the closet with three vials of coloured, transparent liquid.


“Vanilla, orange or lavender?”


“Vanilla,” Tara answered, already tingling in anticipation, “I-I’ve never been massaged before. I know we’ve played around, but not with oils and stuff.”


“Well I’ve never massaged before, so it might be a disaster,” Willow replied, though with a smile as she climbed onto the bed and straddles Tara’s behind.


She rubbed her hands together to warm them up, then poured a few drops of the oil onto her palms. When they were covered and glistening, she placed them on the small of Tara’s back and gently pushed all the way up.


“Does that feel good?”


“Mmhhmm,” Tara replied, letting her eyes close softly.


Willow watched as her fingers gently glided along Tara’s skin. She found her girlfriend’s back so wonderfully sexy and was getting just as much enjoyment out of massaging her as Tara was.


“You’re like my Greek Goddess, you know that? My Aphrodite. And I have my own personal collection to remember it forever.”


Tara sighed softly as Willow’s hands moved so effortlessly across her back.


“You’re really good at this. Magic hands.”


Willow smiled smugly and tried a little knuckle-kneading, which was well received with a soft moan. She continued for several minutes, loving how soft Tara’s skin felt beneath her, then leaned right over to whisper in Tara’s ear from behind.


“Where do you want me to touch? I’m your love slave.”


She pressed her lips into Tara’s neck and heard her breath quicken from her close proximity.


Tara turned her ear into the pillow so Willow had better access to her neck and made a blind reach behind her to try and touch her girlfriend too.


Willow sensed what was wanted and sat back, intending for a quick disrobe, but was stopped as Tara turned under her so she was on her back and looking up.


“Slowly.”


Willow was momentarily transfixed by Tara’s breasts bouncing coming into view, but finally registered what was said and smiled bashfully.


She started to undress, slowly, as requested, beginning with unbuttoning her sweater; watching Tara watching her. She shrugged it off when it was loose, then dragged the cami she had on underneath off her body.


She popped the button on her pants and started to push the fabric down her thighs, her hands caressing herself on the way down until they were to her knees and she could pull them off completely, leaving her in bra and panties.


“Is that what you wanted?” she asked, almost shivering at the lusty look in Tara’s eye, “Tell me.”


Tara blushed but didn’t drop her gaze as she pushed Willow’s bra straps off her shoulders.


“I want your body against me…and to touch you…get lost in you…hold you so close it feels like we’re one person.”


Willow’s chest began to heave as Tara lightly traced the tops of her breasts. She reached behind herself and managed to undo her bra, sighing softly with pleasure as Tara cupped her breasts and gently rolled her nipples.


She covered Tara’s hands with her own and pressed them more insistently against herself for a moment before moving to lie on top of her girlfriend.


“Mmhh,” Tara moaned, welcoming the warm weight of Willow on top of her.


She crossed her arms around Willow’s back and let her palms slowly slide down her skin.


Willow helped wiggle her panties off when Tara gave them a yank, then put her hands on her girlfriend’s cheeks to turn her face over for a kiss. She reached down to throw the sheet between them away, then let her thigh settle between Tara’s legs, who moaned into her mouth and pushed her hips up into the touch.


They kissed and touched hungrily, rolling around the bed until they were wrapped as much in the sheets as they were each other.


“Mmm, Tara,” Willow moaned, nipping at the delicate skin of her girlfriend’s neck, “You’re so sexy.”


She dropped her hand and splayed her fingers out over Tara’s thigh, creeping inwards until she was caressing her mound. Her mouth moved down to Tara’s chest, tonguing her nipples and breasts before continuing down her stomach and up again.


Tara arched her back into Willow’s touch and pulled her up for a needy kiss, then flipped her onto her back.


“Hello,” Willow whispered as Tara made a beeline south.


She spread her legs accommodatingly as Tara’s lips reached her thighs, which were just starting to tremble. She closed her eyes to enjoy the flutterings in her belly, then let out a long moan as Tara settled between her legs and began to explore her folds.


Her hips gently rocked in rhythm, letting the slow burn of pleasure build-up. Her back arched when Tara began to pay attention to her clit; teasing and torturing her with random strokes.


Willow was starting to flush a soft pink with need, but Tara was already sensing the same thing and had brought her hand up to let two fingers thrust inside.


“Oh god,” Willow groaned, hips pumping more insistently, “Oh Tara, yes.”


She squeezed Tara’s fingers inside her, which apparently fuelled her girlfriend’s own desire as Willow suddenly found herself being ravaged with an uncontrollable urgency.


The bed squeaked, adding into the symphony of loud noises Willow was making as she tumbled towards ecstasy.


“Baby…harder…more…everything.”


Her hands clutched the sheets as Tara gave her more of everything, just enough to push her over the edge.


“Uh…uh…ahhhh, Taraaaa…”


She stayed rigid with pleasure for a moment, then finally settled back onto the mattress; breathing heavy and brow sweaty, a smile plastered onto her face.


She sighed happily as Tara eased her down with her tongue, then kissed back up to her neck.


“I was supposed to be thanking you,” Willow said, turning her head in to press a sloppy kiss against Tara’s cheek.


Tara lay stomach-down beside Willow, grinning contentedly herself.


“I got my Willow-treat.”


“Then I want my Tara-cuddles,” Willow replied and was promptly given a warm body to cuddle into and nuzzled into her girlfriend’s hair, “I love you, Tara.”


Tara threw her leg over Willow’s waist.


“I love you too, Willow.”


They were silent for a moment, then Willow spoke, gently running her hand down Tara’s arm.


“You’re a beautiful canvas.”


Tara smiled softly.


“I enjoyed it…I wasn’t even self-conscious…I am kind of pleased you decided to keep them for yourself though.”


Willow glanced over at the pictures still doing a slideshow on her laptop screen and smiled.


“Me too.”


They shared a loving gaze then for a few moments, before leaning in to kiss.


It was slow, sweet and sensual; lips caressing and hearts revelling in the love and warmth that they could only get from each other.

[BuffyFan4ever]

Dibs

WOW!!!

I think this is the first time I've seen this scene in an AU story. Loved it.

I’ll go buy some body paint in the morning.”

Of course my first thought is: Will it be flavored?

Tara is so sexy!!! This chapter is the perfect mix of sexy naughtiness and sensual love. Great job.

Can't wait for more! (I am now going back to read this again )

[zampsa19752001]

Yay for great update-y goodness... I really loved the poem painting... I'm glad that Willow decided to keep the photos...