Okay, next part. I've almost finished Part 7 so i'll probably post that sometime later today.
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Part 6As they walked, the alleyway became darker and Tara began to find it hard to see. She could barely see Willow in front of her, but she knew the other girl was there because she still had hold of Tara’s hand. She could still hear the faint noise of the club behind her and if she turned her head, the light from Xander’s was just visible.
Willow: Almost there.
Tara: W-where are we going?
Willow smiled to herself.
Willow: You’ll see.
They walked one for a few more minutes until they came to a spilt in the alley. They could now go one of two ways. Straight ahead or to the left. Grinning, Willow tugged on Tara’s hand and pulled the girl into the left alleyway.
Tara: W-Willow…. This leads t-to a dead end.
Willow: Not everything is what it seems.
Walking until they came to the end of the alleyway where a huge wall stopped them, Willow let go of Tara’s hand and looked at the wall in front of her.
Tara sighed as Willow let go of her hand, missing the contact immediately. She watched as Willow pressed both her hands flat against the wall and then began to slide them along the bricks.
Tara: What are you-
Willow looked back at Tara over her shoulder and smiled. Then turning back to the wall, she removed a brick and then the one above it, revealing a lever. Using her free hand, she pulled on the lever. Slowly, the brick wall began to move further away from them. After a minute or two of waiting, the wall stopped moving and Willow put the bricks back. She took hold of Tara’s hand again and pulled her towards the wall. There was a gap between where the wall had cut off and where it should be big enough for them to fit through. Willow walked through first, Tara following closely behind, still holding on tightly to the redhead’s hand. Once they were inside, Willow stopped walking and felt around for something on the wall. Tara heard something click and the wall began to close up, leaving them in total darkness.
Tara: W-Willow…?
Willow: It’s okay. I just need to, um, find the, uh….
Another click and a dim light filled the room they were now in. They were standing on the top of a stone staircase that led to a room below. A string of lights hung on the walls and three sets of bunk beds were set up. In the middle of the room was a huge hole. Big enough for people to sit around and dangle their feet of the edge and deep enough so that if you feel in, you’d never be seen again. A number of crates were scattered across the ground and there were two ladders each side of the room that led up to the roof rafters. An old, badly worn sofa sat in one corner and a chair in another. Piles of books and comics lay everywhere and a wooden cabinet stood next to one of the bunk beds. The room was fairly big and somewhat dusty. The concrete ground was a blackish colour, lighter in some areas from where it had been worn.
Tara stood and looked at the sight before her in awe.
Tara: W-what is…. what is th-this place?
Willow: Faith and Oz think it was probably used as an air raid shelter during the war. Pretty cool, huh?
Tara nodded silently. It was without a doubt amazing. Willow turned around to face her.
Willow: Faith and me found it when we were 10. Only me, Oz and Faith know about it. And now you.
Tara’s brows knitted together in confusion.
Tara: W-why did you bring m-me here?
Willow: I wanted to show you. I’ve never brought anyone here. Faith and Oz always talked about bringing their girlfriends here….
Willow suddenly realised she’d stopped talking and was starting to move closer to Tara again.
What is the matter with me?! I’m not gay…. And I don’t want to kiss her.Willow turned around, let go of Tara’s hand and started to walk down the stairs. She paused when Tara didn’t follow her.
Willow: Come on.
Tara nodded and dropped her gaze, shyly. As soon as Willow had turned her head away from the other girl, she let out a shaky breath. Once they were at the bottom of the stairs, Tara began to walk around the bunker, curiosity getting the better of her. Willow smiled and moved toward the wooden.
Tara: S-so you, Faith and O-Oz have known about this f-for years?
Willow: Yup. I’d run away from home sometimes and come here. We’d each have a walkie-talkie and we’d have to take it everywhere with us. But just in case one of us forgot, we had the base system here, so whoever was hear could get in touch with any of us. They’re still here somewhere.
Tara: Wow. S-sounds like you guys had a lot of fun when you w-were little.
Willow: We did.
Willow got lost in her thoughts for a moment. They’d had a lot of good times in that shelter.
Willow: Come here.
Tara did as she was told and walked over to Willow. The redhead moved in front of her and opened the door of the cabinet. Inside, were shelves laden with items all different shapes and sizes. Willow grinned and took hold of something. Holding in the palms of her hands, she turned back to Tara.
Willow: I found this the first day I came down here.
In the redhead’s hands was a dagger. It was in a gold case that had a dragon carved into it. When Willow took the actual dagger out, its blade was silver and still looked very sharp. Lengthways along the blade, something had been engraved. Tara tilted her head and read the inscription.
Tara: Seize the day, for tomorrow may never come.
Tara lifted her gaze from the dagger to look at Willow. The redhead smiled and turned to put the dagger back into the cabinet. It was then something caught her eye.
Willow: And this, I found this under one of the bunk beds.
Willow pulled out a small wooden chest and moved to sit on the bed nearest to her. Curious as to what was in the chest, Tara followed and sat beside her. Willow ran her hand over the top of the box and then blew away the dust before opening it. Inside was the most beautiful blue stone Tara had ever seen. The stone was the main part of the necklace that lay in the box. Carefully, Willow took the necklace out of the chest to look at it.
Willow: This means a lot to me. When I first saw it, I thought it was so beautiful…. I had to have it.
Willow turned her head and found Tara looking at her, smiling.
Willow: What?
Tara: I thought you were meant to be all tough. The ‘put ‘em up and beat ‘em up’ type, but you’re not.
Willow laughed and closed the box. Getting up off the bed, she moved back to the cabinet.
Willow: You haven’t even known me for two days. How do you know-
Tara: I didn’t mean….
Willow put the chest back into the cabinet and closed the doors. She turned back around to face Tara and sighed.
Willow: Sorry.
Tara: N-no it’s w-was my…. I-I shouldn’t…. I-I just m-meant-
Willow: It’s okay. Let’s just forget it.
As Willow moved to walk past her, Tara grabbed onto the redhead’s arm.
Tara: No…. I-I-I meant, you know, y-you’ve got q-quite a reputation at s-school. For being a “t-tough guy”, but…. You’re more th-than that.
Willow looked at Tara, half expecting her to laugh any second and announce she was kidding, but she didn’t. Willow smiled and took hold of Tara’s hand again. She held it for a second, just held it, before pulling Tara back towards the stairs.
**********
The weekend had passed quickly and it was Sunday night before Willow realised it. She had arranged to meet Tara outside Xander’s at 7:00 after the blonde had decided she wanted to go. So, once again, Willow had panicked over what she was going to wear. Denying the fact that it had anything to do with Tara being there. It was 6:50 when Willow left the house. Dressed in jeans and black long-sleeved top, she practically ran all the way to Xander’s, finding Tara waiting nervously outside. Breathlessly, Willow started to apologize.
Willow: I’m so…. Sorry…. I…. shower…. Clothes…. Time….
Tara giggled.
Tara: I-it’s okay. I h-haven’t been waiting long.
Together, both girl paid the guy at the door and walked in to the club. It was packed, as usual. Taking hold of Tara’s hand, Willow fought her way through the crowd and pulled the blonde along behind her. Eyeing a seat in the corner, Willow made her way to it.
Willow: You sit. I’ll go get us drinks.
With that, she left Tara sitting alone and moved back out into the madness, towards the bar.
Willow: Can I get two cokes?
Barman: Sure thing.
It was then she heard a familiar voice behind her.
Xander: And how’s my favourite customer?
Willow turned and grinned when she saw the person in front of her.
Xander: Looking good as always, I see.
Willow: You’re hitting on me now?
Xander shook his head and held his hands in the air.
Xander: You’d blame me if I did?
Willow: Seeing as how you told me you didn’t think of girls like that, yeah, I would.
Xander: Me? Not like girls? Who would have thought?
Willow glanced down at the sparkly, silver shirt Xander was wearing and laughed.
Willow: How’s business.
Xander: Well, for an 18-year-old businessman, pretty good.
Willow: I can’t believe this actually worked out for you.
Xander: Yeah. Three years ago you, Faith and Oz did nothing but tell me what a mistake I was making. Now you’re the ones sitting in my bar.
Willow: They actually aren’t here tonight. Oz is…. probably under his rock and Faith…. I actually haven’t seen her since Friday.
Xander: Faith was in earlier.
Willow: She was?
Xander: Yeah, with some blonde girl.
Willow: Who was she?
Xander shrugged his shoulders.
Xander: Blonde girl. Speaking of which, who’s the cutie with you tonight?
Willow: There you go again with this who ‘girl’ thing. Are you switching teams?
Xander chuckled and rested his hands on the bar.
Xander: No. Never in a million years. I like the team I’m on. I was just wondering who your friend was.
Willow looked towards Tara over her shoulder and smiled.
Willow: That’s Tara. New girl at school.
Xander: Ah, you and Faith took her under your wings. Ready to corrupt the poor girls mind. She has no idea what she’s in for.
Willow slapped Xander’s arm and shoved him.
Xander: Hey!
Willow: We do not corrupt! And Faith doesn’t even know her.
Xander: Keeping her to yourself, eh? You sure I’m the one supposedly switching teams?
Willow was about to argue again when she paused. She glanced over her shoulder at Tara again and then back at Xander.
Willow: What if-
Barman: Two cokes!
Willow: Um, thanks.
Willow got out her wallet to pay.
Xander: Hey. No. On the house.
Willow: Cool.
Xander: So, what was it you were going to say?
Willow: Oh, it was…. Nothing important. Never mind.
Xander: You sure?
Willow nodded.
Willow: See you around.
Xander: Sure thing, Will.
Willow left the bar and made her way back to the table. Tara was still sitting there, looking around the room nervously.
Willow: We can go, if you want.
The blonde looked up as Willow put the cokes on the table and sat across from her.
Tara: N-no. I’ll b-be fine.
Willow: Tara, if you’re not comfortable-
Tara: It’s fine.
Willow: Okay.
The hours passed them without either girl realising. They talked and laughed and just had fun in general. Willow noticed how Tara seemed more at ease as the night went on. Glancing at her watch, Willow raised her eyebrows as she saw the time.
Willow: Wow. It’s almost eleven.
Tara: Eleven? Damn. I’m g-going to b-be late g-getting home.
Willow: Come on. I’ll walk you home.
Willow finished off her drink and put her glass with the others on the table before standing up.
Tara: Y-you d-don’t have to.
Willow: I’m not letting you walk home alone at this time.
After making their way through the crowd on the dance floor, Willow and Tara walked out into the night air.
Willow: Where do you live?
Tara: Not far from your house.
Willow: Okay.
They walked on in silence for a while, both trying to put thoughts of the other girl at the back of their mind.
Willow: Hey, if you want, tomorrow I can introduce you to Faith and Oz.
Tara: I-I-I don’t know….
Willow: Oh, common.
Tara: W-what if they d-don’t like me?
Willow: They’ll love you.
Tara: I’m sure of it.
Before either girl knew what was happening, two large men were pushing them into an alleyway. One of them carried a crowbar, the other a knife.
Man1: Give us your wallets, and no one’ll get hurt.
Willow: You’ve got to be kidding….
Man2: Do we look like we’re kidding?
Tara looked up at both men.
Tara: W-Willow, m-maybe y-you should-
Man1: Looks like your girlfriend’s got a bit of a problem when it come to getting her sentences out.
The second man chuckled at the first’s comment and Willow fists clenched at her sides.
Man1: Looks like you’ll have to sort some speech lessons out for you’re girlfriend-
The man was on the floor before he got chance to finish his sentence. Willow put her foot back firmly on the floor and looked at the other man.
Man2: Looks like we got ourselves a kick boxer.
The first man got up off the floor and held his hand to his nose. Pulling it back to look, he found his hand stained with blood.
Man1: Don’t just stand there, do something with the crowbar in your hand!
Before the man could to anything, Willow delivered a kick to his hand, knocking the crow bar out of it. Suddenly, the sound of shouts got nearer to the alley. The men looked at each other before turning back to Willow and Tara. The second man turned and started to run off, while the first man took the time to sucker punch Willow, sending the girl tumbling, taking Tara with her. Willow put both hands out in front of her and closed her eyes tightly as she fell. When she opened her them, she found herself looking directly into Tara’s. Both her hands were at either side of Tara’s head, palms flat out on the ground, and their faces were inches apart. Willow’s breathing rapidly increased and she swallowed hard. She made no attempt to move and Tara made no attempt to push her off. Strands of copper hair covered Willow’s face and lifting a shaky hand, Tara tucked them behind the redhead’s ear. She let her hand slide to the base of Willow’s neck, making the other girl tremble slightly. Tara smiled hesitantly and to her relief, Willow smiled back. Slowly, the redhead leaned down towards Tara and closed her eyes. After what seemed like an eternity, Tara felt Willow’s lips brush against hers gently, as if asking if this was okay. Answering her question, Tara lifted her head to meet Willow’s lips and kissed her. Softly at first, but their desire soon grew and the kiss became more passionate. Tara’s hand moved from Willow’s neck, across the redhead’s shoulder, down her side and back, finally resting on Willow’s neck again, just below her cheek. Willow found herself getting completely lost in the kiss. Her head started to spin and her heart was almost beating out of her chest. It felt right. Being with Tara, kissing Tara. Willow suddenly pulled away.
Tara: W-Will-
Willow: I…. I can’t.
Taking a spilt second to look at Tara, Willow got up and ran out of the alley. Leaving Tara to watch her run.
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Kittens are wonderful things
Tara ~ She practically had genuine molded plastic stamped on her [/i]
Edited by: Ginner at: 5/9/02 7:47:07 am
by mollyig » Wed May 08, 2002 10:04 am 
Great update!! *makes a few incoherent sounds* uh huh, great update...
You better be tellin the truth about getting a happy ending with all the angst
