********
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 5 ********
Previously:Quote:
Tara smiled at the joke, but had better things on her mind.
“So...you said something about a...proper date?”
Willow brightened and nodded excitedly.
“Yes, yes, yes! Okay, um, I normally would need time to plan and panic and make sure everything was mapped out perfectly but I really don’t think I can wait even longer for a date with you so...a movie? I could take you to a movie! And then out for dinner! Dinner and a movie, but, you know, backwards!”
“Right,” Tara replied a little nervously, not wanting to think about money at a time like this, but having to anyway, “I’m in.”
Luckily she was careful with the little she did have, so she had a few extra dollars she could spare for the day...enough for a movie ticket anyway. And how expensive could a salad be?
She resolved to enjoy the day and try not to worry too much about expense, a feat made easy when she saw the huge smile on Willow's face.
“Yay!” Willow squealed, unable to contain herself, “We’re going on a date! We’re going on a date!! A real one, too, not like the fake one I tried to plan on Valentine’s!”
She blushed as she realised what she'd said, but Tara just smiled.
“I thought that’s what you were doing. But then I thought there’d be no way you’d ever want that so I figured it couldn’t have been.”
They started to walk again; hands squeezed together between them and made their way out of the Gardens and onto the streets.
“Yeah, I thought if I set us up on a date, it would magically turn into one,” she explained, then looked up to Tara, “Hey, can I ask you something?”
Tara nodded.
“Of course.”
Willow moved so that she was standing in front of Tara, walking backwards on the street.
“Make sure I don’t crash into someone, okay?”
Tara laughed but agreed.
“I’ll protect you.”
Willow could tell Tara meant that, and even if it was just in reference to making sure she didn't fall on her ass right then, it was something.
“I know you will,” she replied happily before getting on with her question, “So, um, on Valentine’s night...did we almost kiss? When you were teaching me to use the chopsticks? Before those frat boys interrupted? Or was I going completely insane? You can say insane if it was insane.”
Tara shook her head, relieved Willow had wondered the same thing.
“We did. I think. I wanted to. I was going to.”
Willow did another bounce and fell back into step with Tara.
“Thank god. I thought I was going absolutely crazy and I imagined the whole thing. Like I was thinking about kissing you so much that my mind just made it happen. Like a mirage or something. I was really convinced. I was looking my textbooks up about it and everything!”
“Well, I kinda believe in fate. So I thought the interruption was fate’s way of telling me trying to kiss you was the wrong thing to do,” Tara replied before seeing Willow frown, so quickly added, “Now I know it was just their way of saying it wasn’t our moment.”
Willow turned her head curiously at that. She wasn't quite sure of her own belief system, but she could get behind the idea of fate.
“You think?” she asked, the concept intriguing her, “Huh. Why do you think fate wanted us to wait?”
“I'm not sure” Tara replied, never giving too much rhyme or reason to things like that, just accepting them, “Maybe they were bored and messing with us was their way of having some fun.”
“Those darn fates,” Willow clicked her tongue with a laugh, “Pawning us around like we’re part of their own personal video game.”
Tara grinned a little, joining in on the fun.
“Or maybe they just wanted us to be in the Gardens for our first kiss or something.”
Willow smiled.
“You think? Like it’s gonna be like a special place for us?”
Tara let their hands swing between them.
“It's special for me already.”
“Yeah, me too!” Willow replied cheerily, feeling like she was walking on air, “There's the movie theatre, right up there!”
Tara looked over to the building in question. It was a small, quaint structure, nothing like the large multiplex-type establishments she had seen around, with a red awning overhead and a small booth with a man sitting inside, in front of and in-between a set of glass doors that led inside.
“It's nice, huh?” Willow smiled as they strolled up to it, “It's my favourite movie theatre in Boston. It's all old-timey but they show the new stuff. I think they have classics nights too.
And they do the world's best popcorn! Really!”
“Do you go to the movies a lot?” Tara asked, interested.
“Not every week or anything,” Willow replied with a one shoulder shrug, the gestured to the movie posters adorning the walls on the way to the door, “What movie do you want to see?”
Tara didn't recognise any of the names.
“I don't mind, you choose.”
“Do you like comedies?” Willow asked, pointing to a poster for ‘Hitch’, “That one starts in ten minutes. I've heard good things. Will Smith is pretty funny. Have you ever seen Men in Black?”
Tara shook her head.
“You haven't?!” Willow asked in disbelief as they walked over to the ticket booth, “It's a classic! Or a modern classic anyway. It's about these secret agents who keep the world safe from aliens.”
She saw Tara didn't quite get the humour and smiled.
“It's funnier than it sounds. And one of the aliens is called Rosenberg. That always made me laugh.”
“Maybe we could watch it sometime,” Tara suggested, making Willow nod eagerly.
“Definitely! I have 1 and 2 on my laptop,” she replied, then turned to the man in the booth, “Um, two for Hitch.”
Tara reached for her wallet, but Willow was already paying.
“I got it, baby, don't worry.”
Tara forgot about protesting at hearing Willow call her by a pet name and ducked her head to hide the blush. Willow took their tickets and retook Tara's hand as they walked inside to the concession stand.
“Do you want Coke? Or Sprite? Or something else? We can share but I like everything. Except orange soda, yuck.”
“I like Sprite,” Tara answered.
“Large popcorn and a large Sprite please!” Willow said to the woman behind the counter.
The server put the cup under the drinks machine and let it fill up while scooping the popcorn into the bucket. Tara figured since the cost of her movie ticket had been covered, she could use that money to pay for their snacks but Willow, showing the stealth of someone who had watched way too many ninja movies, had the cash pushed into the server's hand before Tara even realised it had happened.
Willow handed her the popcorn and held the drink herself so they still had their hands free between them to hold but Tara kept her gaze down as they walked into the right theatre. She silently nodded when Willow pointed out two seats near the back and left the popcorn on the floor when they sat down
“Are you okay?” Willow asked her as she put the drink in the cup holder between them and saw Tara toying with the end of her shirt, “Did you not want to see this movie? We can go to another one.”
Tara glanced up for a moment.
“You don't have to pay for me.”
“It's fine, really,” Willow tried to brush it off cheerily, only for Tara to look away again, “I didn't mean to embarrass you, Tara. I'm sorry.”
She took a tentative reach for Tara's hand and held it on the arm rest between them, keeping her voice low so as not to cause further embarrassment.
“Tara, I know...you can't have much to live on. I think it's amazing that you manage at all. I have some complicated parent money that I had saved from before...you know. I'll explain all of that to you, soon, I promise. But not now. It's our first date. I still can't believe that. We're on a date. A real date. And our dates don't have to be expensive. I just want to spend time with you. But this once...it's just popcorn and movie tickets. And we don't even have to go to a restaurant, we can just pick up a pizza on the way back. Is that okay?”
Tara looked back up and smiled shyly.
“Yeah. That's okay.”
Willow turned Tara's hand in hers and played with her fingers. She kept her eyes on Tara's face, smiling widely.
“Why are you smiling so much?” Tara asked, finding the look both adorable and infectious.
Willow shrugged, bouncing a little in her seat.
“I was smiling 'cause I thought 'my girlfriend has the prettiest smile'. Then I was smiling more 'cause I got to think of you as my girlfriend.”
“Oh,” Tara replied, flushing lightly, “You think my smile is pretty?”
Willow felt a surge of confidence and leaned over to kiss the corner of Tara's mouth.
“Uh huh, definitely,” she said, loving the tingle left on her lips, “I love when it does that sideways thing, it makes my belly do flip-flops”
She blushed then, thinking she sounded childish, and picked up the drink to cover.
“Oh I only got one straw,” she said after taking a long sip, “Do you mind?”
Tara looked to the lid, then back to Willow shyly.
“Sharing a straw? I-I think we got past that on the bench.”
Willow covered her mouth to contain the giggles, not wanting to draw any attention to them from the other people starting to fill the theatre. Tara blushed again, wondering where the bold-for-her comment had come up, but loved hearing Willow's laugh so much that she didn't care too much.
She picked up their popcorn as someone walked by, not wanting them to accidentally kick it over, and threw a piece into her mouth.
“It's good, huh?” Willow asked, getting her laughter under control.
Tara wasn't hugely versed in the world of popcorn, but there was definitely a nice flavour and satisfying crunch to what she was eating, so she nodded in agreement.
“I told you!” Willow replied, forgetting her earlier quest for quietness.
A woman shuffling through the aisle in front of them instantly turned, an annoyed look on her face.
“Shush!”
“You shush,” Willow retorted back, not appreciating an attempt to ruin her good mood, “The movie hasn’t even started yet!”
The woman shot daggers at them for a moment before turning her attention away and moving a few seats down, though there wasn't many left. Luckily they had almost their own entire row to themselves; not many people wanted to sit at the very back. The lights dimmed then and chatter quietened down as the screen was projected with a welcome greeting before rolling onto a trailer.
“I think we really have to be quiet now,” Tara whispered, leaning over so she only had to raise her voice a tiny bit.
“Okay,” Willow whispered sheepishly, unable to resist leaving a quick kiss on Tara's cheek as it was so close.
Tara nuzzled against Willow's lips without realising she was doing it, and held her hand a little tighter.
She had a fleeting thought that maybe she was in a dream and was going to wake up to an empty bed and aching heart like she had before, but it only lasted a second. She knew this was real, because even the best of her dreams couldn't compare to how good reality felt.
She sensed by Willow's reaction that it was okay to stay close, so decided to rest her head on Willow's shoulder. An arm immediately wrapped around her shoulder,
“I thought I was gonna have to do the ole yawn-and-reach!” Willow whispered in her ear, obviously giddy, “Can you reach the popcorn okay?”
Tara nodded and took another piece in indication. Willow relaxed back, enjoying the protective embrace she had on Tara.
Rationale before would have told her there was no such thing as a 'perfect moment', but she could fully believe that she was in one right then.
The movie started just a few seconds later and they both silently enjoyed it, laughing along with the rest of the theatre until they were more than half way through and only a few stray pieces of popcorn remained in the bucket between them. Their fingers brushed against each other as they both reached for the last one.
“Sorry,” Tara whispered, straightening up in her seat.
“It's okay, you have it,” Willow whispered back even quieter, not wanting the aggressive woman in front to get angry again.
Tara looked in the bucket and picked up the last piece, biting off half, then offered Willow the rest. Willow took it between her lips with a blush that was hidden in the darkness.
“Thanks.”
Tara smiled demurely and started to move her head back down, but was stopped by another cheek kiss. She turned to smile again, but apparently Willow already had plans for her lips. She was glad she was sitting as she realised what the phrase to 'go weak in the knees' meant and did what she thought was the right action by moving her lips gently.
It felt right, and Willow was coming back every few seconds for more - that had to be a good sign. She saw Willow leave the bucket down to the floor, then felt a hand on her shoulder and watched her lean right over to speak into her ear.
“Can we kiss the way we did on the bench?”
Tara met her shy eyes and gave a tiny nod - she had worried she'd been overzealous during their first kiss but if that's what Willow wanted, she was definitely happy to go along with it.
Willow's face lit up, very eager to experience all Tara-tongue had to offer, and pressed their lips together again. This time instead of pulling away to reinstigate, she did the tongue-push Tara had earlier and found herself welcomed straight away.
She did a little more exploring as well as playing this time, discovering how Tara's mouth felt. Her hand found its own way to the back of Tara's neck and played with the little bits of hair that fell near her ear. She was completely melting into the kiss, feeling a warmth spread to her through every point of contact, but after a little while had the eerie sensation of someone watching them.
She was quite unwilling to break the kiss, but did open her eyes. She knew there was no one alongside them so her eyes instantly jerked to the side, in front of them. The 'shush' woman has her eyes glued to them and seemed more than a little intrigued.
Are you serious, lady? Jeez, stare much?She knew Tara would be completely humiliated if she knew they were being watched, so instead of pulling away to give the woman some choice words, she lifted her hand and raised her middle finger.
This finger is getting plenty of exercise today. Note to self, having a girlfriend brings all the jerks out to play.The woman at least looked thoroughly embarrassed to be caught staring and spun back around in her seat, slumping down. Willow brought her hand back to Tara's hair, happy to give her focus back to more important things.
Relaxed again, the minutes slipped by them caught up in each other, until everyone in the theatre began clapping along with the closing scene. Tara pulled away first, as soon as the lights came back on and started to fix the front of her shirt, though it hadn't gotten too disrupted.
Willow sat back in her seat, a look of stunned awe on her face for a moment before she lifted the arm rest and slid her arms around Tara's waist.
“That was awesome,” she gushed, not bothering to keep her voice down now that everyone had left or was leaving, “I really like making out. Can we do that a lot?”
Tara looked surprised for a moment, not having expected the embrace, but finally looked over her shoulder and offered a smile.
“Uh huh, sure,” she replied shyly, then gestured needlessly at the screen, “We missed the movie.”
“We can get the DVD,” Willow suggested, making no move to let up her hold.
Tara could feel the imprint of Willow's hand pressing through her shirt onto her stomach and looked away to hide the silly grin on her face.
“When do those come out?”
“A few months,” Willow replied with a shrug, “I'm not going anywhere.”
Tara's silly grin got sillier and wider, but was aware they were the only people left in the theatre.
“I guess we should probably leave.”
Willow sighed dramatically, then squeezed Tara's waist just one before releasing her.
“Yeah, we should,” she said, picking up their empty containers but offering her other hand to Tara, “Pizza now? Or are you still full?”
Tara took the offered hand and stood, following her out.
“I could eat if you could.”
“I can always eat,” Willow joked, dumping their trash and leading them out into the street-lit sidewalk, the sun having set while they were inside, “We could look around for a pizza place. Or um, just get the T back to campus. Go to one of the places nearby and head back to the dorms. It’s gotten kinda chilly out.”
Tara wordlessly unbuttoned her sweater and put it over Willow's shoulders.
“Oh, no, I didn't mean for you to-” she started, but stopped when she saw the shy look on Tara's face, “Thank you. That's... so nice.”
Tara watched Willow's smile light up her face and looked away coyly.
“You're smiling again.”
“I'm happy,” Willow answered unapologetically, “I dunno, just...you gave me your sweater. It's a...couple-y thing to do.”
Tara looked back up.
“We are a couple, right?”
Willow nodded eagerly.
“Yeah, uh huh! Definitely! Couple a' what I don't know, but definitely a couple!”
Tara's smile matched Willow's, and she was so lost in her own little bubble of happiness she almost walked straight past the T station. Willow giggled and pulled her back, then got them through the turnstiles onto the platform where their train was already sitting.
“Good timing,” Willow commented, jumping onto the train and looking around, “Pretty crowded, it's rush hour.”
She spotted a single free seat just down from them and walked over, gesturing for Tara to sit.
“You take it.”
Tara shook her head.
“No, you take it.”
“Tara, take it before someone else does!” Willow protested, seeing someone board on the other end of the carriage.
Tara took the seat and Willow held onto the nearest handrail, but still lunged forwards when the train jolted into movement.
“You need shoes made of glue to stay still in one of these things,” Willow said, pressed up close to the rail.
Tara pointed to her lap shyly.
“You could sit if you wanted.”
Not about to pass up an offer like that, Willow slid over just enough to sit gently on Tara's lap.
“I'm not too heavy am I?”
Tara smiled and shook her head.
“No, you’re light as a feather.”
“And stiff as a board?” Willow joked before immediately frowning, “Ew. Gross. I didn’t mean-”
The train jerked again, cutting her off and she took it as a sign to abandon the thought completely. She smiled as she felt Tara's arms cross over her waist the same way she'd done to her in the movie theatre and swung her legs around enough that she could look at Tara's face.
“I like peaches!”
Tara hid her confusion and nodded along, going with it.
“I like apples.”
Willow realised she sounded insane and giggled.
“No, on pizza,” she clarified, “I like peaches on pizza.”
Tara couldn't mask being confused this time.
“On...pizza?”
“Uh huh, it's really good,” Willow answered, “Especially with pepperoni.”
Tara's eyebrow quirked in suspicion, but Willow was adamant.
“Really. It’s sweet and spicy and really, really good!”
Tara tried to be open.
“How did you find out about, um, peach pizza?”
Willow exhaled slowly for a moment.
“Well, last year, after my disastrous coming out phone call...Becky got me drunk...and we got post-alcohol munchies...and the only thing we had in our dorm was a leftover pizza from earlier in the day...and peaches that were in our mini-fridge to try and make us look like we at least tried to be healthy. So in our inebriated state, Becky dared me to combine the two, thinking it would be horrible and I’d throw up everywhere which would have apparently been hilarious...but it was actually amazing and I’ve been a convert ever since. I, uh, even got the pizza place we normally order from to put it on their menu.”
“Wow,” Tara replied, unsure what to think, but willing to try, “Well, if you say it’s delicious, then I’m sure it’s delicious.”
“It is,” Willow agreed heartily, slipping her hand into Tara's on her lap, “And I’m an expert on things that taste good.”
“Oh an expert?” Tara teasingly challenged.
Willow nodded seriously.
“Uh huh. Real vanilla ice-cream...s'mores...blueberries...” she trailed off a moment and popped a second-long kiss on Tara's lips, pulling away giddy, “You...”
Tara knew her cheeks were flushing but she kept her smiling gaze on Willow until the old train pulled to an abrupt halt again and a crackly voice came over the speaker system.
“Boston College Station. Please exit the train with all your belongings. Boston College Station...”
Willow jumped up, keeping Tara's hand in hers.
“Our stop.”
Tara followed behind Willow until they were out of the station, then fell into step with her.
“Tara?” Willow asked after a moment.
“Yes?” Tara replied, looking over, ready to answer.
“Do you mind when I kiss you in public?” Willow questioned, “You just seem a little uncomfortable. I only thought it was okay, 'cause you smooched my brains out in the Garden's. But I totally get that that was, you know, a heated moment. So if you don't want me to, I won't.”
Tara thought about it for a moment, then suddenly stopped them in the middle of the street and pressed their lips together sweetly. She did blush, but she didn't mind.
“I'm not ashamed of kissing you.”
“Wow,” Willow replied, a dazed look on her face, “So this is what it's like to swoon.”
She thought she might've fallen over if Tara hadn't been holding her hand, such were the butterflies in her belly, but managed to compose herself after a minute.
“So, um, pizza. Was it pizza?”
Tara couldn't help a smile.
“Uh huh, pizza. I don't really know the carry-out places around here too well, do you?”
Willow nodded.
“Oh definitely. My regular place is just on the corner here.”
“And they really...put peaches on pizza?” Tara asked, still unsure of the idea.
“Fruit on pizza is not completely unheard of,” Willow argued, “People have pineapple on theirs all the time.”
Tara had to concede that point.
“Okay, sweetie. I'll try it.”
Willow felt her heart skip a beat at Tara calling her 'sweetie' and suddenly recalled her own use of a pet name earlier.
“Thank you, baby,” she replied sweetly, looking for and receiving a similar reaction.
She reluctantly dropped Tara's hand to open the heavy door for the pizza parlour, then led her over to the counter, gesturing for her to sit on one of the stools while she ordered. A tall guy their age with light hair walked over when he saw them approach.
“Hey there,” he said easily with a some-might-say charming smile.
“Hi, Danny,” Willow replied, friendly, having struck up a friendly rapport with the pizza maker/cashier/delivery guy – his role changed daily and she ate a lot of pizza, “Usual please.”
“Large Sweet Red special,” Danny called out to whoever was in charge of making the pizza’s that evening, then immediately focused back on Willow, “Nice evening, huh?”
“Sure,” Willow agreed with a smile, casting a sidelong smile to Tara, “After a really good day. To be finished with some awesome pizza.”
Tara smiled back at Willow, but she felt uneasy around Danny - particularly the way he was looking at Willow.
“It’d have to be, you invented it.”
Willow blushed and gave a dismissive hand wave.
“Nah, you’re the one who perfected it. Just the right ratio of peaches to pepperoni.”
Tara's eyebrows rose just a tad at that - she was projecting Danny's flirting tone onto Willow having it as well. She didn't have long to process though as she heard him speaking in her direction.
“I haven’t seen you in here before.”
“This is Tara!” Willow said excitedly, bouncing over to be near her.
“Hi,” Tara spoke up with a shy wave, though internally glared at Danny.
“Hi,” Danny replied kindly, before another customer beckoned him over, “Your pizza won’t be long.”
He moved off to attend to the other patrons, while Tara toyed nervously with her hands in her lap.
“So, Danny, huh?”
Willow looked confused.
“Yeah...that’s his name,” she replied, before adding on, “He was the one who convinced them to put my pizza on the menu.”
Tara nodded but didn't lift her gaze.
“Did he name it?”
“Yeah, actually he did,” Willow nodded, not picking up on Tara's discomfort, “You know, ‘cause peaches and pepperoni and both reddish in colour...and peaches are sweet.”
Tara felt a flare of something inside her.
More like the redhead he's sweet onWillow could have sworn she saw Tara physically wither and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Tara? You okay?” she asked gently, “Is the floor tile really that interesting?”
Tara looked up for a moment and gave a bashful shrug.
“H-he likes you. Can't really blame him.”
“Danny?” Willow asked, bewildered, before shaking her head, “Tara, no, no way, you got it all wrong. I only even know his name ‘cause me and Becky are lazy and never want to go down to the cafeteria for food. Hence a lot of pizza ordered. I know the name of the guy who delivers the Thai food too. Danny doesn’t like me like that.”
Tara nodded but Willow saw right away it was a façade.
“You don't believe me.”
Tara started to bite the skin around her thumb.
“T-there was flirting.”
Willow immediately shook her head.
“He wasn't flirting with me, we were just talking about-wait...do you mean I was flirting?”
Willow kept her voice down, but she was slightly annoyed that Tara would think that. It only took her a second to forgive - it may have been unfounded but she knew if that idea had been in her mind, all hell would have broken loose. She let her hand fall from Tara's shoulder to her cheek and brushed her fingers there tenderly.
“I wasn't flirting, Tara, I promise,” she said softly, “I mean that.”
Tara looked up into Willow's kind eyes.
“I believe you,” she replied, feeling both relieved and stupid, “So, I'll just go crawl in a hole now.”
Willow smiled.
“It's okay. You're cute when you're jealous. But you don't have any reason to be, ever. I've been dating you five hours and I know I could spend my life with you.”
She almost choked on air as she realised she'd spoken the last sentence she'd meant to think, so missed the smile it left on Tara's lips, and gratefully jumped away when Danny approached with their pizza in its box.
“One large Sweet Red special,” he said and put a hand up when Willow brought her wallet out, “Let me get this one. You order enough, I think you're about due one on the house.”
Willow pushed a $20 bill across the counter, not wanting anything to seem iffy to Tara.
“That's cool, I got it,” she replied hastily, “But, um, thanks...”
Danny shrugged and tendered the sale, handing Willow her change, who tucked it in her pocket and grabbed the pizza box.
“Thanks, again. Bye.”
“Uh, wait,” Danny suddenly interjected, reaching out to clasp Willow’s wrist, “So, uh, my friends have kind of been ribbing me lately...'cause I like this girl and I've been too chicken to ask her out. I kinda have a rep to keep up...so do you want to go out next weekend? I, um, do have a life outside of this place sometimes.”
Danny smiled that charming smile again, while Tara slinked back. Willow looked down at where his hand was touching her and gently took her hand back.
“You really pick your moments, buddy,” she muttered, thinking how exponentially easier it would have been to let him down when Tara wasn't three feet away watching, “Uh, sorry. That's um, very sweet, but, uh, um-”
“You’re seeing someone?” Danny guessed with a dejected sigh, “Of course you are.”
“Uh huh!” Willow nodded, grabbing Tara's hand and pulling her right up closer, “I'm seeing her.”
Danny perked up again, thinking he hadn't lost his chance.
“I think you misunderstood. I meant on a date.”
Willow's brow creased in mild annoyance.
“I know what you meant. I'm
dating her.”
Tara had her eyes fixed firmly on floor, so didn't see the 'charming' smile on Danny's face turn into a smarmy one.
“Huh. Wow.”
“Yep,” Willow replied, not liking the look on Danny's face, “So, um, we'll be seeing you.”
Never. We'll be seeing you never. Definitely finding a new pizza place.She tugged on Tara's hand, intending to lead them away from the awkward situation but Danny called out again before they got to the door.
“Hey, if things don’t work out...or if you two feel like something...new. You call me. Day or night.”
Tara looked up, suitably offended, but could almost see steam blowing out of Willow's ears as she slammed the pizza box back down onto the counter.
“What the hell did you just say?!”
Tara hung back, not wanting to get caught up in it all but could see Danny's features change to fear and Willow continue to seethe.
“I was trying to be nice to you ‘cause I thought you just got the wrong end of the stick but if you think for one second I would ever date your scrawny little ass you are
seriously mistaken! Never mind the fact that you're a dude, have you seen who I walked in with? My girlfriend is a beautiful princess and you're an ugly toad that'll never be a prince!”
Tara couldn't help but smile at the compliment despite the aggressive nature it was said in and the numerous stares it was attracting, but could see the situation was spiralling out of control.
“Willow, let’s just go,” she said, stepping a little closer.
“You’re an asshole!” Willow continued yelling at Danny, not hearing Tara behind her, “And my relationship with my GIRLFRIEND – have you got that yet?! Girlfriend!? As in I’M GAY, buddy! – is none of your damn business but just for your information things are gonna work out because I would be a damned fool if I ever let her go!”
Tara blushed and took another step forward, feeling safe to do so; that Willow's anger wasn't going to become physical. She slipped their hands together and saw Willow instantly deflate.
Willow looked over her shoulder at Tara's sweet face and nodded once, indicating she would stop her tirade.
But not before shoving the pizza box off the counter so it opened and the cheesy mess fell onto Danny’s shoes.
“Keep your lousy pizza.”
She marched them out then, head held high until she knew they were out of sight, after which she slumped down onto a nearby bench, head in her hands, ashamed at how she'd acted. Tara sat down next to her and rubbed a hand on her back.
“You okay?”
“I dunno,” Willow replied through muffled hands before looking up, “Are you gonna break up with me?”
“Why would you think that?” Tara asked gently.
“Are you kidding? I completely lost control back there,” Willow replied, then tacked on as a self-deprecating joke, “Redheads and their tempers.”
Tara considered what had happened for a moment before speaking again.
“Do you think you'd lose control like that if you got angry at me?” she asked calmly.
Willow shook her head rapidly.
“No, Tara, no. I've never even done anything like that before. I felt like he was disrespecting you, and us, and I...lost it. And I'm not going to apologise to him, because it wasn't okay what he said, and I don't even ever want to see him again. But I'm very sorry if I scared you, or embarrassed you, or all of the above.”
Tara moved her hand up to Willow's shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze.
“I believe you, Willow,” she said finally, genuinely, “Oh, but, I don't like to be yelled at. I know we're bound to fight eventually. But I don't like being yelled at.”
Willow could see there was something heavy behind those words and nodded.
“Okay, Tara. I won't, I promise.”
Tara smiled softly.
“Good.”
She leaned over and kissed Willow's cheek, happy to put the incident behind them and continue what had been a wonderful date.
“Is there another pizza place around here?” she asked, her eyes telling Willow all was forgiven, “I may even have some peaches in my dorm we can add to them.”
Willow smiled gratefully.
“Yeah, but it's a few blocks. We can call and get it delivered. Back to yours? It's, um, more private.”
Tara nodded and they both stood to begin walking back towards campus.
Willow kept Tara's hand tight in hers as they walked - she meant what she'd said before.
There was no way she'd ever let her go.
Login
FAQ
Search
at last the start of a beautiful romance. Things can only go uphill from here.
)
Glad you’re enjoying it 