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TITLE: Close Quarters
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: What happens when Willow and Tara are thrown together far away from home? Tara has secrets, Willow has a lonely past. They both want to be loved. Can they find it together? (Of course they can, this is me!)
SPOILERS: AU fic, so at most minor references or pieces of dialogue
FEEDBACK: Yes please
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My eyes are blurry from formatting this chapter lol so any mistakes, let me know and I'll fix it!
Chapter 8/20********
“I can’t believe a sheep just ran out in front of the bus!” Willow giggled as she walked through the door of their room, Tara right behind her, “And then the farmer was yelling at the bus driver, like it was his fault.”
Tara gave a soft giggle as well in reference to the incident that had occured on the bus journey back from the town. They’d spent the afternoon just talking under the tree they’d been sitting under until it was time to head back to the school.
Their hands had been permanently clasped to each other right up until they got to the school grounds and they both let go, for fear that if someone saw them and realised the true nature of their relationship, at the very least they would’ve been put in separate rooms and neither wanted that to happen.
“It was very funny,” Tara agreed with a smile, before adding more shyly, “That was the most wonderful day of my life.”
Willow turned and took both of the brunette’s hands.
“Me too,” she answered honestly before leaning over for a quick kiss, “The best.”
They shared another sweet kiss before Willow turned and sat on her bed, reaching under it for her personal laptop.
“We could watch a movie tonight if you wanted?” she asked as she turned her laptop on, “There’s popcorn and stuff in the senior’s kitchen and I have loads of movies on here, we could watch whatever you like.”
“Sounds good,” Tara nodded, sitting down on her own bed, putting her bouquet of roses on her nightstand.
“Great,” Willow smiled, before gesturing to the machine on her lap, “I’m just gonna write in my diary for a few minutes, okay?”
Tara nodded quietly before curiosity got the better of her.
“I didn’t know you kept a diary.”
Willow blushed slightly, looking up as she continued to type away.
“I didn’t until I met you. I wanted a record of every single moment we spent together. You know, before and after...well, last night. I hope you don’t think that’s really creepy and stalker-y. I’d never show anyone or anything, and it’s password protected so if I write private things you tell me or things we do, no one would ever find out.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Tara replied with a smile, “I won’t disturb you anymore.”
The girls smiled at each other for a moment before Willow focused back entirely on her screen. Tara stared off into space for a few moments before glancing at her flowers and realised they needed water.
She looked around the room and saw a tin container on top of the bookcase that was meant pencils but was empty so she went and picked it up, then quickly went into the bathroom and filled it so it was three-quarter ways full of water, before returning to her bed and putting the roses in. She smiled at them before bending down to retrieve her laptop from beside her bed, then sitting back on her mattress and turning the machine on, logging into facebook.
I didn’t even know what facebook was a week ago and now I’m like addicted. The internet is weird.Her profile came up on screen and she grinned as she saw a glaring irregularity and giddily brought the cursor over to the box that said ‘single’ and used the drop-down box to change it to ‘in a relationship’. She stared at the words dreamily, biting her lip in excitement until Willow spoke suddenly, making her jump a little in surprise and snapping it from her reverie.
“Hey, you changed your relationship status!”
Tara looked up from her laptop with a smirk.
“I thought you were writing your diary?”
“I may be on facebook too,” Willow blushed, “Can I link you as my girlfriend?”
Tara stared at the redhead dumbly; she may have been able to log onto and mess around the addictive social networking site but the lingo still surpassed her. Willow saw the confused stare and gave a small giggle.
“Okay, just go to your home page.”
Tara nodded and clicked the ‘home’ button.
“Now see on the right hand side there’s a little thing that says ‘requests’? Click on the line under that and press accept. Then go back to your profile page.”
Tara followed the smaller girl’s instructions and grinned when she saw her profile.
“Tara M. is in a relationship with Willow R.”
“Yep,” Willow grinned, “You are. Whoa...”
“What?” Tara asked, watching as Willow’s eyes widened at her screen, “You okay?”
“Yea,” Willow replied with a chuckle, “Just all my online buddies are commenting like crazy on the whole ‘in a relationship’ thing. I’ve been kinda neglecting them lately, we used to talk every night for hours.”
Tara ducked her head slightly.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you from your friends.”
“Don’t be silly. Girlfriend trumps online buddies,” Willow responded quickly, “They’ll totally understand. And be totally jealous. Do you mind if I go into a chat with them for a little while? We can still talk and everything, we just might have to delay the movie half an hour or so.”
“Go ahead, have fun,” Tara smiled, “I’ll do some of my English reading.”
Willow blew a kiss across the room before focusing back solely on her screen and Tara brought up the pages from Othello they’d been assigned to read. She’d read the play numerous times already, but figured it would do no harm to have if fresh in her mind. An added bonus was that reading Shakespeare always reminded her of the happy memories she had with her mother.
She smiled as she heard some giggles coming from the other side of the room and looked up briefly, surprised to see Willow suddenly frowning. She was going to ask again if something was wrong when the redhead spoke up first.
“Baby? Can you come over here for a sec?”
“Of course,” Tara replied, placing her laptop on the bed, “What’s up?”
Willow scooted over on her bed and patted the space beside her; Tara sat down obligingly.
“Can you wave at the screen?”
“What?” Tara asked in confusion, before glancing at the screen and paling when she saw the camera was brought up, “Willow, who can see us?”
“Just my buddies,” Willow replied, before pouting, “They think I’m making you up. They’re doubtful and it’s making me poutful.”
“Wait...” Tara held up a hand, “We’ll get back to your friends thing in a minute. Poutful?”
Willow nodded, a ‘duh’ expression on her face.
“Yes. I’m poutful. To be full of pout.”
“Sweetie, that’s not a word.”
Willow looked defensive.
“Yes it is.”
Tara just raised her eyebrows and shook her head.
“I have a dictionary right over there...”
“Dictionary smicktionary-”
“Also not a word.”
“Tara!” Willow protested and the brunette couldn’t help but snigger at the fun she was having teasing the redhead, “Look, they’re all part of a much larger Willicon-”
“Is that like a lexicon of all things Willow?”
Willow grinned and nodded.
“You’re catching on. Words you need to accept exist if you want to date me. Not that my silly friends even think you are dating me.”
Tara face went back to that of confusion.
“What? Why don’t they believe...?”
“I dunno, ‘cause I’ve never had a girlfriend and most of them have never had a girlfriend, or a boyfriend and they just think I’m making you up!” Willow exclaimed, annoyed, “Stoopid friends.”
“Okay, sweetie, calm down,” Tara said with a quiet voice before giving a small wave to the camera, “Now, see, they can all see I’m real.”
Willow grinned and then suddenly pulled Tara into a kiss, surprising the brunette who took a second to respond. The redhead pulled away with an audible pop and smiled smugly at the camera.
“Ha. Let them deny that.”
Tara blushed bright red at the thought that people she’d never met had seen her kissing and Willow giggled.
“Why’re you blushing? We were kissing for the whole world to see earlier and that was in the middle of a busy town!”
“Uh huh,” Tara replied, moving off the bed again, going back to her own, “Just warn me next time, okay?”
“Hey, Tare-bear, I’m sorry,” Willow said, getting off her bed and following the brunette, sitting beside her, “I didn’t think you’d mind and they were just annoying me with all their not believing and stuff. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Tara replied with a small smile and a shrug, “It’s never a bad thing that you’re kissing me. And, um, I like ‘Tare-bear’.”
“Yea? Good,” Willow grinned, “Just give me a few minutes to gloat over my super-hot,
real girlfriend and then we can have our movie time, okay?”
“Sure,” Tara replied before cupping the redhead’s cheek and kissing her softly.
Willow quietly murmured her approval into the kiss and moved her hands to the brunette's waist, then pushed her tongue forwards slightly, which Tara welcomed wholeheartedly. They fell back so the redhead was lying on top of her girlfriend as their tongues began stroking each other until they needed to break for air.
“Wow, that’s distracting,” Willow said giddily, giving the taller girl another peck, “Two minutes, yea? And I’ll put on a really boring movie so we have an excuse to just do that.”
Tara giggled and nodded as final gave her a final quick kiss and jumped off of her, traipsing back to her bed. The brunette stayed there, enjoying the tingling sensation in her lips and body until Willow’s voice rang out again.
“Um...Tare?”
Tara turned her head to look at her girlfriend.
“Yea?”
“Feel free to say no, but they’re asking and I think it’d be kinda cool...do you wanna come into the chat with us? You can meet my buddies? Virtually anyway, but that’s pretty much the only way I’ve met them too.”
Tara raised herself up on her elbows.
“You want me to meet your friends?”
“Well, yea,” Willow replied, “If I had real-life friends I’d want you to meet them too, but I don’t, so...only if you want to of course.”
“Okay,” Tara nodded with a smile, “Yea, definitely. What do I do?”
“Great,” Willow beamed, “Okay, um, bring your laptop over here. Oh and the camera’s off by the way, so it’s just chat.”
Tara seemed relieved by that and brought her laptop over to the bed, sitting beside Willow. The redhead took the machine from her and typed over it for a few minutes.
“Okay, what do you want your screen-name to be?”
“Um...” Tara trailed off, unsure, “Can it not just be Tara?”
Willow giggled but nodded her head.
“Sure. Okay, now here you go,” Willow placed the laptop back on the brunette’s lap, “Now I’ve downloaded the chat software and added myself as a friend, so I’m just gonna add you to the conversation I’m in with all the others, okay?”
“Okay,” Tara nodded, “So how did you meet these people?”
“Online forum for gay teens,” Willow answered, before adding more sheepish, “An online forum for geeky gay teens.”
Tara bit her lip to stifle a laugh.
“They have a forum for that?”
“Baby, it’s the internet. They have forums for everything.”
“Okay,” Tara giggled, “So are we on the forum now?”
“No, it’s just a chat with my friends. You ready?”
Tara nodded and watched as a small box flashed up on her screen.
Tara Has Been Added To The Chat
Jillybean: Hey Tara!!!TheTiminator: YoBeccalicious: Welcome Miss_Piggy: Hello 0101011101010010: Hey baby Tara looked up from the screen and at Willow.
“You’re, um...01010....uh, that one?”
Willow blushed and nodded.
“It’s my initials in binary code,” she replied and saw the brunette was about to ask the question, so responded before she had the chance, “It’s the number system used to tell a computer what to do. All a series of 0’s and 1’s. Super geeky and I really, really wish I’d changed it before logging you on.”
“Don’t change it,” Tara said with a smile, “I like it. It’s very...you. And I definitely like you.”
I love you. Don’t say it, Tara. Don’t risk it. “Well, thanks,” Willow replied with a goofy smile, “I really like you, too.”
Tara ducked her head, looking back at the screen.
“Okay, so do I just type and...?”
“Press ‘enter’.”
Tara nodded her understand and focused back on the chat.
Tara: Hi everyoneJillybean: Welcome, Tara. We’ll go through some introductions so you know who you’re talking to. I’m Jilly, I’m 16 and I live in CanadaBeccalicious: I’m Rebecca, but everyone calls me Becca, 17 and from ConnecticutMiss_Piggy: Penelope, 19, TexasTheTiminator: Timothy, but only my mother calls me that, Tim to everyone else, 18 and I hail from the everglades of Florida0101011101010010: Willow, 17, right beside you Tara: Tara, 17, I’m from Alabama but in Switzerland at the momentTheTiminator: Ah, the fortress of all unholy0101011101010010: Hey it’s not so bad this year. I kinda was able to snag a really pretty girl to hang around with0101011101010010: She’s blushing now so she might not respond“Willow!”
“What?” Willow asked innocently, “You were.”
Tara blushed harder and turned back to the screen.
Tara: I wasn’t blushing. It’s just hot in hereJillybean: I’ll bet, we all saw that kiss earlier *fans self*0101011101010010: That little thing? You should’ve seen the kiss she planted on me a few minutes after thatMiss_Piggy: lmaoBeccalicious: :thud-worthy I’m sure “Willow!”
“You’re getting awfully fond of yelling my name at that decibel,” Willow replied, holding her hands against her ears, before looking apologetic, “I’m sorry. This is just how we are with each other. I’ll stop encouraging them, though.”
“No,” Tara replied, relenting, “I want you to be how you are with your friends. I’ll just get used to blushing.”
Willow grinned and leaned over for a quick kiss until Tara pulled back and pointed at the screen.
“What does...‘lmao’ mean?”
“Laughing my ass off,” Willow explained, “It’s like an internet shorthand.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Willow saw her girlfriend was still a little confused and resumed typing.
0101011101010010: Can we keep the geek speak on the down low guys? My girl’s an internet Jillybean: Ah. No problem Don’t feel bad Tara, we all were onceTheTiminator: Many, many eons agoMiss_Piggy: Hey, Tara, can we add you on facebook?Tara: SureJillybean: Yay! New friends!Jillybean: Request sent!Beccalicious: Jeez, Jilly you’ve got lightening fast fingers. How do you not have a girlfriend?Jillybean: You know, I ask myself the same question everyday Willow managed to be the first one of us to snag a significant otherTheTiminator: Why don’t we all go to same-sex boarding schools in Europe?Miss_Piggy: Hot profile pic, Tara You pretty set on Willow being your girlfriend? 0101011101010010: Hey! “That means what the-”
“I got it, sweetie,” Tara cut the redhead off with a smile, “And you know you’re the only girl for me.”
Tara: My heart is completely set on her0101011101010010: Miss_Piggy: Can’t blame a girl for trying, Will. 0101011101010010: Well tough luck ‘cause she’s all mine Tara: All hersBeccalicious: You guys are so cuteTara smiled at the comment and turned to Willow, who was already looking at her adoringly. Their lips acted like magnets, attaching themselves to one another as they fell into an instant passionate kiss, only stopping when the brunette’s laptop almost fell off her knee, Willow grabbing it just in time before quickly typing on her own.
0101011101010010: Okay we gotta goTara: Yep. Study0101011101010010: Much study to attend toMiss_Piggy: Is that what the kids are calling it these days?Beccalicious: Thats what the kids have been calling it for yearsJillybean: Sigh. I wanna ‘study’TheTiminator: You could try ‘studying’ by yourself0101011101010010: Right. Leaving. Bye!Tara: Bye everyone. It was really nice meeting Willow’s friendsJillybean: Bye Nice to meet you too, Tara. We’re glad our Willow found someoneBeccalicious: Very glad Have a good evening you guysTheTiminator: Don’t leave us hanging with no contact for so long again Willow! Nice meeting you, Tara. Talk soon!Miss_Piggy: Goodbyyyyeeee! Glad you’re part of the gang now, Tara.0101011101010010: See ya Tara: ByeWillow Has Logged Off
Tara Has Logged Off
Willow slammed her laptop closed and grabbed both machines, leaning over Tara to put them quickly but carefully on the floor before grabbing onto the back of the brunette’s head and latching onto her lips. Tara bit back a moan as her hand moved to caress the redhead’s neck as they lay alongside one another, kissing fervently.
“Um...Will...” Tara managed to get out between kisses, “Willow...”
Willow pulled back completely, flustered.
“What? What’s wrong?” she asked before a look of insecurity crossed over her face, “Was I using too much tongue?”
“No,” Tara giggled before the same look crossed over her, “Was I?”
“God, no,” Willow shook her head with a grin, “I can never get enough of that tongue.”
Tara blushed and Willow moved to tuck a piece of hair behind her girlfriend’s ear.
“Do you not want to make out? We can actually watch a movie if you want.”
“I wanna make out,” Tara replied shyly, “I just wanted to say that I agree with what your friends were saying. I’m really glad I found you.”
Willow felt her heart melt and smiled.
“I’m glad I found you too.”
Tara smiled back and they met in a more reserved, sweet kiss than the ones previous until Willow pulled away and placed a kiss on the brunette’s nose.
“It was always gonna happen though.”
“It was?” Tara asked quietly, though she had hoped and thought the same.
Willow nodded with a small smile.
“Yea. ‘Cause no matter what, I’ll always find you.”
by LonelyTara » Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:46 am 
not that I’m saying that is where this is going 
