[OK, this should probably go in "Pens" but I'm too shy to post it there--really. But the titular question was one I asked myself one day when I had a tad too much time on my hands. And this was the result.
The scene occures in "Who are You?" immediately following the "I am, you know -- yours" dialog. With Willow on the phone getting her "situation update" from Giles.]
Willow cradled the handset of Tara's phone to her ear and half listened to Giles' sonorous speech patterns. With her free hand she absent-mindedly stroked several of the objects on Tara's writing desk. Her middle finger traced the spine of the stapler and then found its way into the hole of the scotch tape dispenser, which she then twirled around her hand like an old west gunslinger. Setting the tape down and trying to eschew all other distractions Willow concentrated on making words and sentences out of the sounds coming from the ear piece, but her thoughts, like her hand, were currently obsessed with all things Tara.
What she
did register was Giles remarking on the fortuitousness of Willow having taken just this moment to call, and drolly inquiring about the possibility of her having cast some sort of psychic call forwarding spell on her dorm phone, as he had just rung her there to no avail. And, that he'd finished calling all the other Scoobies together and was beginning to give up hope of locating her. He wanted everyone together for an update on the situation with Faith, nothing to worry about -- good news, mostly -- how soon could she be there?
Willow turned to look at Tara still sitting cross-legged on her bed. "I'm at a friend's dorm, so the usual amount of time I guess." With that, and the usually pleasantries, she hung up.
Tara looked inquiringly at Willow -- but the redhead was at as loss to determine whether that questioning look had to do with the contents of the phone call, or the revelations that had preceded it. Nor was she able to fully separate the two, as both had vied for her thoughts these last few minutes and had confusingly mired themselves together. Then, suddenly, they sorted themselves out, along with a likely response.
Willow jumped in gamely, trying to cover all the bases, "Uh, Giles wants us to meet at his place for an update." Tara's expression dimmed slightly. "But, it didn't sound like any serious Scooby-age is afoot, and if that's the case -- and he doesn't keep us too long -- well, I was wondering . . . if you'd like to go out with me later this evening?"
Tara smiled at that, and answered with feigned nonchalance, "Sure, or we could just hang out . . . h-h-here if you want. Maybe try some new spells."
Willow returned the smile wryly, "Uh Tara, I may not be the most experienced person in this regard -- definitely not the most experienced person in this regard, on a scale of one to ten, I'd rate somewhere in the fractions -- but I think it is usual and customary to go out on a date, especially a first one." Willow paused to let that sink in, and emboldened by Tara's grin, she took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm asking you out -- on a date. Un-unless I'm wrong about . . . this? In which case, forget I said anything"
"N-n-no, not wrong," Tara stammered, still grinning.
"Good. Cuz you know how I hate being wrong. I mean, I miss even one question on a quiz and I'm, like, kicking myself for days, well . . . hours at least. Although that's not as scary as giving the wrong answer aloud in class, which ranks right up there after the fear of being naked in public of course, or being killed by mucus demons." Tara's smile broadened at her friend's babbling, which caused Willow to blush slightly. "So, anyway, you might have noticed . . . not very good with the 'being wrong' thing."
"You're not wrong, Willow."
"Well good, cuz I really . . . hate . . . that. Which, I already said."
"Hadn't you better get going?' Tara asked softly.
"Oh, yeah. I should." Willow glanced at the clock, "Yeah."
"Cuz you know, the sooner you leave, the sooner you'll probably get back."
"Oh, right." Willow grinned, "Give me an hour -- two at the outside. I'll probably stop by my room on the way back to change into something more evening-y. And if Giles' 'situation update' does involve some sort of pressing Scooby response, I'll call you and we can reschedule. OK?"
"Yes." Tara stood up and walked Willow to the door. "Very OK."
Willow ran most of the way to Giles' apartment -- only slowing near the end to keep from arriving completely red-faced and out of breath.
Edited so you no longer have to guess what the punctuation is supposed to be. Edited by: nemesystah at: 5/24/02 7:52:15 pm
at: 5/24/02 9:37:32 pm
at: 5/24/02 10:10:16 pm