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“Wait, wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight. She said I was cute, and that me being gay and single was good news,” Willow asked for the third. When Buffy had come home that afternoon and told her about the conversation she had had with Tara, Willow found it almost impossible to believe. Even though she had picked up on a few of the blonde’s subtle signals she couldn’t believe that Tara was really interested in her.
“Will, for the last time, YES. Look, she likes you. Just be happy,” said Buffy.
“But I can’t be happy. I can’t date her. She’s a student,” said Willow, disappointment more than evident on her face and in her tone of voice.
“Why can’t you? I remember hearing about girls dating professors in college all the time.”
“Because it’s just not my style. I mean I don’t want to feel like I’m abusing my position.”
“Answer me this: Does Tara seem like she needs help from you to get a good grade?”
“No, she actually does very well on her own.”
“So then what’s the problem?”
“Buffy, what if someone found out. I think it would make me look bad. I mean I really like my job and I don’t have any guarantees of coming back next semester. I’m sort of on an informal probation period. I guess I just don’t want to rock the boat,” Willow sighed, feeling defeated.
“Willow, just relax. Just because there’s a mutual attraction it doesn’t mean you have to jump into bed together. Take it easy, get to know her as a friend and keep it platonic for now. Then if you’re still interested at the end of the semester tell her to never take one of your classes again,” Buffy said, trying to lighten the mood.
“You’re right Buffy. It’s just so hard not to flirt with her,” Willow sighed once again.
**
The next few Wednesday nights saw a sort of routine developing for Willow. She taught her English class and did her best to help her students with the coursework but in those in between moments when the students were busy working she would always find herself daydreaming about Tara. Somehow Tara’s incredibly soft looking skin or silky hair would fill her mind while she watched her studying and Willow could only be brought back to reality by somebody asking a question or needing help, or one of those few times when Tara would feel Willow’s eyes on her and look up from her work to catch Willow staring at her, then Tara would give her a knowing smile and go back to her work. This sort of mild flirtation that was going on between the two women was viewed by both of them as sort of harmless while at the same time also being very exciting.
For Willow, knowing that Tara was attracted to her was a complete thrill. Never before had she caught the eye of someone she found so completely alluring. And as for Tara, she found a sort of innocence in Willow that she couldn’t help but be endeared to. Not to mention the fact that Willow was a knockout.
As for why the interaction between Willow and Tara was remaining so innocent, Tara had a pretty good idea. Tara was bright enough to figure out that Willow had certain principles that she lived by, principles that wouldn’t allow her to pursue a romantic relationship with a student. She respected Willow’s idealism and wasn’t about to put her in an awkward situation by trying to take their flirtation to the next level. But it was definitely getting more and more difficult.
Every Wednesday night when Willow drove Tara home she made sure to go just a little bit slower than usual in order to draw out her time with Tara. Even though it was only about a ten-minute drive to Tara’s house from the campus they had managed to learn quite a bit about each other. And although the information was nothing too personal it was still enough to make both Willow and Tara realize that they shared enough interests to be sure that there was definitely the potential for more than a friendly relationship between them.
The week of spring break Willow was finding herself with a lot of time on her hands. Her notes were completely organized, her office was impeccable, and she had got the better part of the house spotless.
So on Thursday afternoon Buffy decided to take pity on her. “Hey Will. My Yoga class got cancelled. Wanna go with me to pick up Jake?” Buffy said with a smile, knowing what the answer would be.
“Yes, I would love to,” answered Willow, not even trying to cover up her excitement.
“How did I know you were gonna say that?” asked Buffy as they headed out the door.
“Maybe you’re psychic” Willow joked back.
When they arrived at Tara’s house Willow was suddenly nervous. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come. I mean her daughter’s in there, right. What if she thinks I’m a dork and then Tara won’t like me anymore?”
“Will, you’re being ridiculous, kids love you,” replied Buffy dragging Willow to the front door before she could object again.
When Tara answered the door she was more than a little pleasantly surprised to see Willow. “Hey Willow, long time no see. How are you?” asked Tara as she opened the door for them.
“Oh I’m good, you know, enjoying the break.” Just then Willow’s attention was caught by an adorable little girl. “Tara is that your daughter. She’s gorgeous, she looks just like you,” Willow said.
“Yeah, and thanks. Gracie, come here. This is Willow, she teaches one of my classes and she’s really good friends with Jake.”
“Hi Willow. I like your name. Next year when I go to kindergarten I’m gonna have a teacher too. I hope she’s as nice as Momma says you are,” said Gracie, oblivious to her mother’s growing blush.
“Well that’s sweet of you to say, I’m sure she’ll be just fine. Hey Jakey how are you,” Willow said as the boy let go of Buffy’s legs and wrapped himself around Willow’s.
“Momma, can me and Jake go in the front yard and show Willow how we do somersaults,” Grace asked, eager to impress the new adult.
“Sure, if Buffy isn’t in a hurry to go.”
“I think we can stick around for a few somersaults,” said Buffy as they headed out the front door.
Willow and Buffy spent the next few minutes watching the pair play as Tara got the other kids ready to be picked up. Just as the last child was pulling out of the driveway with his parents Buffy and Willow had their attention drawn away from the kids and toward a very loud motorcycle that was pulling up in front of the house.
“Who is that?” Buffy asked, her curiosity more than piqued by the woman who pulled off her helmet and shook out her dark hair. “Oh my, that’s a lot of leather,” Buffy said as her eyes wandered over the brunette’s body.
“Auntie,” yelled Gracie at the top of her lungs as she ran toward the object of Buffy’s attention. The brunette picked up the young girl and hugged her tight before pulling her around her back for a piggyback ride up to the porch.
“Auntie, watch me and Jake,” Gracie said as she hopped off and ran over to Jake in the front yard.
“Ok, I’ll watch while I say hi to your mommy”.
As she reached the steps Tara came out the door with a huge grin on her face. “I thought I heard a Harley,” Tara said as she hugged the woman.
“Well you know I like to ride in style,” replied the dark haired beauty.
“You were supposed to be here weeks ago.”
“What can I say, I got tied up,” Faith said with a mischievous smile.
“Yeah I’ll bet you got tied up, among other things.” Then Tara remembered her guests, “Willow, Buffy I’d like you to meet my cousin Faith,” said Tara, oblivious to Buffy’s still awestruck expression.
“Nice to meet you,” said Willow as she extended her hand.
“How’s it going Red,” Faith answered as she briefly shook Willow’s hand and then turned her attention to Buffy.
“Hi there,” Faith said to Buffy as her already husky voice went about ten times huskier.
“Uh hi,” Buffy managed to squeak out.
Faith let her eyes roam Buffy’s body as she said to Tara, “You know when I pulled into this town I was thinking it was a real shithole, but now I think I’m gonna like it just fine” Faith finished the comment with a smirk at Buffy before turning her attention back to Tara.
“Well, its nice and quiet, but that’s a big reason why I wanted to move here,” Tara said, trying to ignore her cousin’s suggestive tone and get her attention away from Buffy.
“Yeah that’s great,” Faith said, barely registering Tara’s words. “So what’s to do for fun around here other than gathering hot chicks on your front porch,” Faith said, once again looking at the still dumbstruck Buffy. Tara just rolled her eyes and shook her head, thinking that her cousin was up to her same old ways again.
To everyone’s surprise, including Buffy, she was finally able to pull herself out of her stupor long enough to say, “Well the Bronze is always fun.”
“And just what is the Bronze,” Faith said once again focusing her attention on Buffy.
“It’s a club. You know drinks, dancing,” Buffy said.
“Sounds great. So, we going tomorrow or Saturday night?” Faith asked Buffy, leaving no room to question whether or not she was serious.
“Faith, cut it out,” Tara said.
“What cuz, I’m new in town I need someone to show me around,” Faith said, knowing that Tara knew exactly what she was up to.
“Yeah well I’ve been new in town for a few months now and I didn’t need someone to show me around,” answered Tara. She really didn’t want to see her cousin manipulate Buffy into some psuedo-relationship that Faith would just break off as soon as things got serious.
“You just didn’t know you did. I have an idea, Buffy will be my tour guide and Red here can be yours, and being that I’m the newbie for once - I say Saturday night. Is that good for you, B” Faith asked Buffy with a smile.
“Uh huh” answered Buffy, having gone back to her previous semi comatose state.
“Five by five. Now if you ladies will excuse me I’ve got a few things on my bike I need to unpack. See you later B,” Faith said as she strolled off.
“OK”, said Buffy, watching her walk away.
**
When Willow and Buffy left Tara decided it was time for a talk with her cousin. “Faith why did you do that. I can’t go out with Willow, she’s teaching one of my classes.”
“Oh come on cuz. Don’t even pretend you don’t like her. I saw the way you were looking at her when you thought no one would notice. Besides, what does it matter? It’s just a friendly get together.”
“Faith, it matters to her and I don’t want to do anything that would make her uncomfortable.”
“Screw that. Some of the best things in life come from being momentarily uncomfortable. You think it’s comfortable riding my Harley hundreds of miles a day? No, but I look cool doing it and in the end it got me here. Or how about being pregnant with Gracie? Was that comfortable? I don’t think so, but look what you got out of it.”
“Faith, I think that’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard you say,” Tara said, genuinely touched by Faith’s words.
“Good, so you’ll go Saturday night because it’s just too hard to deny me anything when I’m this sweet,” Faith said with her best puppy dog eyes.
“Ok, but don’t come on too strong with Buffy, I really want to be friends with her and besides her son is in my day care. Speaking of that, what makes you think she’s interested?”
Faith just gave Tara a look that said “you’ve got to be kidding me”. “Look cuz, the last woman I rendered almost speechless was more than interested, ok.”
“Fine, whatever. Just be on your best behavior.”
“No problem,” answered Faith, grinning to herself at just how bad her best behavior was.
keep going
more, soon, ok?
Love sammi xx