Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.
Part Eight B:
"I have to meet Riley," Willow mumbled under her breath. "I couldn't possibly stay and help my best friend chose an outfit for this very special, very important occasion. Can't cut into the Riley time." Willow flopped down onto the pile of clothes on her bed. She had exactly five minutes before she had to be at Tara's room, and she was never gonna make it on time. 'I should call and let her know that I'm gonna be late, but if I call she'll want to know why. Telling her I can't decide what to wear sounds really stupid. Maybe I could make something up. How about I lost my shoe, no that's no good. What kind of person only has one pair of shoes to wear. Think, Willow, think. I'm just no good at lying,' Willow thought, 'but I have to call. I'm gonna have to wing it. I don't want her to think I'm not coming, that would be mean.' Willow grabbed the phone off the night stand and dialed Tara's number.
"Hello," Tara said.
"Hi, Tara. It's Willow."
"You're not c-coming," Tara said.
"No, I'm coming. I'm just running late," Willow said.
"Oh. Why are you late? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everythings fine. It's just well," Willow stalled while trying to come up with a godd reason why she was late. "Buffy caught on fire."
"What? Oh my God. Is she okay?"
"No, I mean yes, Buffy's fine. She didn't really catch on fire. The truth is I can't decide what to wear."
"Why did you lie?" Tara asked sounding hurt.
"I didn't mean to. I just didn't want you to think I was a geek," Willow said. "I'm sorry."
"Why don't I come over and help you pick something?" Tara suggested. "I know I d-don't have the best fashion s-sense, but maybe I can help."
"That'd be great, thanks," Willow said. "And I like the way you dress."
"Okay, then. I'll be right over."
"Great, Bye," Willow said hanging up the phone. As soon as she laid it down she began to frantically run around the room picking up clothes and putting them back on their hangers or in their proper drawers. She didn't want Tara to think she lived in a pig sty. After the clothes were taken care of she made her bed and straightened up her desk. She was just beginning to tidy Buffy's side of the room when Tara knocked on the door. Willow placed Buffy's books in a neat pile on her desk and moved to answer the door.
"Hi," she said smiling widely holding the door open.
"Hi," Tara said smiling back at Willow and then quickly turning away.
"What?" Willow asked. Tara moved Willow into the room and closed the door all without looking at her.
"Willow, you aren't...you're not wearing any clothes," Tara said using all her will power not to look at Willow who was standing only inches away in nothing but her bra and panties.
"Oh my God, I forgot. I was so busy trying to clean the room before you got here," Willow said running over to her dresser and throwing on an oversized tee-shirt. "I guess now we're even."
"Close, but not even," Tara said finally looking at Willow. "I seem to recall that you saw much more flesh then I saw."
"Say the word and we can be even," Willow said slinking over to Tara and wrapping her arms around her waist. Willow moved in for a kiss, but Tara pulled back.
"If I start, I may not be able to stop," Tara said trying to control her breathing. She was standing so close to Willow she could feel every part of her through the thin tee-shirt.
"We don't have to stop," Willow said pulling Tara even closer, so even air couldn't fit between them.
"Yes, we do," Tara said extracting herself from Willow's grasp. "Now we should find you something to wear."
"You're right, we have somewhere to go and we're already running late," Willow said walking over to her closet. "But maybe we can get even later tonight."
"I think you should just focus on putting on your clothes right now, not taking them off," Tara said smiling.
"If you say so," Willow said turning her attention back to her closet. "So whatta ya think?"
"I thought t-this was nothing s-special, just a typical Saturday," Tara said sitting on the edge of Willow's bed facing the closet.
"It is," Willow said turning to face Tara.
"Then why are you having so much trouble f-finding something to wear? You're making me very n-nervous," Tara said dropping her head.
"I don't mean to make you nervous. I'm just trying to find something normal in my closet," Willow said. Noticing the amused look on Tara's face she added, "Well, normal for me. I thought if I looked completely normal that everybody would be more comfortable and relaxed."
"You c-could wear your p-pajamas and I still wouldn't feel c-comfortable and relaxed. I'm just not a s-social person," Tara said walking over to where Willow stood in front of her closet, "but I know your f-friends are important to you. So I'm gonna try."
"Why?" Willow asked. She had wondered what it was that made Tara so shy and reserved ever since she met her. Even when Willow had been her most insecure she wasn't nearly as bad as Tara. Tara would drop her head and fold her arms across her chest like she was protecting herself, and her stutter became so much worse when she was uncomfortable. Willow had noticed that she almost never stuttered around her anymore.
"Why what?" Tara asked. Willow didn't say anything, she just gave Tara a look that said don't play dumb with me. "I'm just not."
"There has to be a reason," Willow said. "There's always a reason."
"Maybe there is, and I p-promise I'll tell you, but not now," Tara said. She was nervous enough without having to worry about Willow's reaction to her past.
"Okay, but if this is your way of avoiding the subject hoping it won't come up again, then I must warn that I'm like an elephant, I never forget," Willow said grabbing an outfit. "I guess I'll wear this."
"We're really late," Tara said turning her back to Willow as she dressed.
"I'm ready," Willow said. "Do I look like me?"
"Definitely," Tara said smiling. She loved Willow's crazy tee-shirts and long skirts.
"Anya will probably think we're having sex. She always thinks that when people are late," Willow said as she and Tara left her room. "She thinks we already have. I tried to tell her that's not what we were doing today on our picnic, but she didn't believe me."
"That's okay. I don't really care what other people think," Tara said. She had learned a long time ago not to pay attention to other people's opinions of her.
"I wish I could be more like you," Willow said remembering how painful school had been because she cared so much what her fellow classmates thought.
"No you don't," Tara said.
"When are you gonna realize how special you are?" Willow asked.
Tara smiled back at Willow knowing her answer wasn't the one Willow wanted to hear. There was so much about her that Willow didn't know, but Tara wanted her to know. She wanted to tell Willow everything, but she was scared that if Willow knew, she would leave, and Tara loved her too much to let that happen.
"What are you thinking about?" Willow asked seeing the pensive look on Tara's face.
"How much I love you," Tara said.
"Are you lying because you don't really want to tell me?"
"No," Tara said shaking her head and smiling. Willow always had a way to draw her out.
"Good, because I love you too," Willow said. She didn't think she would ever get tired of saying that. "Are you ready?" Willow asked stopping outside the Bronze.
"No," Tara said.
"Everything will be fine," Willow said trying to reassure her.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm going to give you these words of advice. Xander likes comics. Anya likes money, but never mention bunnies around her. Riley likes Buffy, and Buffy likes Riley. Stick to those topics and you'll do fine."
"Got it," Tara said as Willow began gently pulling her toward the door. "Comics, money, Buffy, Riley."
"Perfect."
Tara dipped her head down and prepared to enter the crowd. For her, it was scarier than entering the hellmouth.
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"Bloodsuckers. They kill by sucking blood. Take it easy, Joan." Anya (Tabula Rasa)
"I've seen honest faces. They usually come attached to liars." Willow (The Initiative)
Great updates! I love Willow forgetting to put her clothes on in her mad dash to clean her room. 
blunt and to the point as always. Thanks for the update keep 'em coming.......no pun intended