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CHAPTER 23
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“I object!” Cordelia stood up off her chair horrified by what she had just heard.
This being Tuesday, the counselors and some staff members were gathered in the assembly hall for their weekly meeting during the afternoon break. At the beginning of the hour they had been broken up into smaller groups and brainstormed ways to make the banquet a lot more fun for the campers. Now, they were discussing the top idea and Cordelia was certainly against it.
“This isn’t a court of law, Cordy.” Jonathan rolled his eyes and shook his head.
How dare such a dork talk to her like they were friends. “And you would certainly know all about that wouldn’t you mister rebel without a clue.”
Camp director Flutie continued on with the conversation, “What exactly are your objections, Cordelia?”
“You guys aren’t really planning on letting this banquet be all Sadie Hawkins like- because I'm totally organizing a boycott. Hello, do you realize that means the girls are suppose to ask the guys? I mean, who's genius idea was that?”
“Obviously some hairy-legged feminist.” Assistant camp director Snyder accidentally let slip out.
Cordelia nodded. “Exactly. We have to nip this in the bud. I’m all about woman power, female life force cycle thingy or whatever but I draw the line somewhere. And I’m drawing it here.”
“Anyone else agree with, Cordelia?” Mr. Flutie looked around the gathered, his eyes rested on two particular girls whose hands were raised. “Any others besides Harmony and Anya?” he asked. His gaze turned towards Willow. “Willow, you’ve been exceptionally quiet all meeting. What do you think about having the girls ask the boys to the dance?”
Willow was caught off guard, she’d been staring out the window at the blue sky. Blue like the color of Tara’s eyes. “I, uh, I think…” She trailed off, hating having everyone’s ears perk up to what she was saying. She was afraid they could hear her thinking how she really thought whoever wanted to go to the dance together should. And she unequivocally thought girls didn’t have to only ask boys.
She had been working up her courage to ask Tara to the dance even though she was sure her father wouldn’t let her come. “I think it would be nice. Sometimes girls need an empowering rite of passage such as-“
“Oh, please, spare us your mother’s feminist rhetoric, Willow.” Cordelia interrupted and watched Willow sink further into her chair, Buffy’s hand reaching out to her in a consoling gesture. “We know that the only way you’d ever get a date is if you asked someone out. And they would say no.” Harmony and Anya snickered around her.
Oz quickly stood up and stepped forward, defending Willow, “You’re stepping way out of line, Cordelia.”
“Very true.” Mr. Flutie held up his hands. “That’s enough. We’ll vote on it. All those in favor?” His eyes scanned the room. “All oppose?” Her counted the three hands and nodded his head. “Motion passed. I’ll announce it tomorrow morning. Now for the theme of the banquet.”
Holding back her tears Willow abruptly stood up and quickly walked out the door. Oz and Buffy trailed behind her.
“Willow!”
“Hold up!
“Stop!” Oz yelled.
Willow did. She’d hardly ever heard him raise his voice. He was Oz, master of all things Zen. She wiped her tears away as her two friends reached her.
“Cordelia is such a bitch,” Buffy said, certain, as soon as she stood in front of her best friend. “I wanted to punch her face in. Thought I was channeling Faith there for a second.” A tiny Willow smile spread as Buffy hugged her. “You ok there, Will?”
“You know for a fact that she is completely wrong, right?” Oz softly smiled, “Just ask Tara.”
“Yeah.” She mumbled out, her spirits lifting thinking about her blonde goddess. Tara liked her. No, Tara loved her. Tara loved her, right? She wrote her a poem, she let Willow be her first, her only. She had to love her. Why was she suddenly doubting it? Damn that Cordelia Chase. “Thanks guys.” She voiced as she wiped the tears away.
Oz shook his head. “That girl has some serious issues.”
“What’s her problem anyway?” Buffy asked. “Why has she been picking on you since you were in kindergarten.”
“I broke her yellow crayon.” Was the unmistakable answer.
“Ah, yes that explains it.” Oz nodded. “The warm and joyous feelings caused by the color yellow- uh, what?” he asked the Slayer. She sure was looking at him funny.
Shocked, Buffy stuttered to get her words out. “W-Were you just telling a joke?”
“I have been known to do that once in a while.”
The redhead agreed. “It’s true.”
“Wow. I’m… speechless.”
“That’s a first.”
Willow observed the comic banter between her best friend and her ex boyfriend. Funny how when she and Oz dated, even though he’d helped out in Scooby occasions, he’d stayed peripheral. Buffy, Xander and Willow were the core Scoobs, significant others remained marginal. She realized what Tara had said nights ago was right, she really wasn’t part of the group. Not really. How could she be if no one knew about them?
But Buffy did know, and Riley, and Xander, and Oz and even Jamie now. But no one else did. Did it matter though? As long as they were together…
“Will?”
She was drawn from her thoughts by Oz’s voice. “What?”
“You ok? You’ve got worry face on.”
“No, I’m fine. I’m just…I’m going to go take a walk.”
“You need company?” Buffy asked.
“I think she’ll have plenty of company as soon as she reaches the stables,” Oz smirked.
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All the horses were out at pasture and since then Tara had quickly finished all her chores around the stables. Bored, she decided she was going to jump up on the racks and finish reading the book she hadn’t had the discipline to finish yet. She still had another hour until the lunch break was over and the afternoon round robins began.
As she gathered her backpack she couldn’t help but think about the silly romance novel she was reading, always about men and women falling in love. And extramarital affairs and murders and lying and stealing… No wonder she lost interest over and over again. How aunt Lily read one of these every few days was beyond her. Why weren’t there as many stories about two girls falling in love? She’d read those lesbian romance novels, all seven of them. And she certainly had issues with every single one of them.
She was about to step up on a haystack when she felt a tap on her shoulder. “Tare?”
Startled, Tara squealed, “Oh my god!” as she turned around towards a surprised redhead.
“Deep thoughts, baby?” Willow asked, her hand reaching out to steady the blonde. She got like that too sometimes. She’d concentrate so much on her thoughts she couldn’t hear anything around her. Not very good for when on patrol with Buffy, especially when on patrol with Buffy.
“Why do all lesbian novels end in tragedy?” was the first thing to pop out of her supple lips.
Oh, those lips looked so sweet. “Um, huh?” Willow wondered as soon as her eyes wandered back up to Tara’s blues. She inhaled the scent of vanilla in the air.
“I’m sorry. I’m just-“ Tara sighed and smiled happily. “Hi.” She whispered, leaning in for a kiss but Willow’s nervous stance pulled her away. “Willow? Is something wrong?” she asked backing up.
“Wrong? No, nothing is wrong. Why would you think anything is wrong. Is something wrong?”
“Well, for starters you’re all jittery and suddenly you’re all babbly. Jittery and babbly means nervous Willow and a nervous Willow-“
“Ok, I get it. No need for a flow chart or anything.”
“Ooh, snarky too.” She smirked.
“Snarky?”
Tara eyed her. Willow shook her head, and smiled. Tara was right. She had no reason to be snarky with her. "I'm sorry."
Tara eased her body against Willow. “Now what’s running through that head of yours Ms. Rosenberg?” she kissed her lover’s temple.
“You.”
“Just me? Cause that wouldn’t be any fun if I’m all alone.”
“You are a handful.”
“I like both your hands. Absolutely love ‘em. Willowhands.” she brought up Willow’s hands to her lips. “Sweet, soft and delicate. Freckle-y too. I love these freckles.” Tara slowly kissed each freckle on Willow’s hand one by one. “Strong hands yet-“
“Tara?”
“Yes?”
“Are you reading those hetero romance novels again? I thought you said you were going to stop.”
Tara’s laugh echoed through the barn. Her rich, throaty laugh Willow wished she could hear very single day. “You got me.”
“Did I?”
“From the moment I saw you.” Tara grinned. It was true, Tara had given Willow her heart from the very first moment she said eyes on her.
Willow softly smiled again, but soon her face clouded with concern. Why was she so nervous asking Tara to the dance? Oh, yeah, cause she could say no and break her heart. Willow knew Tara had so much more to lose than her and she understood that. “I need to ask you something.”
“What, darling?” Tara asked, setting her backpack on the haystack behind her.
“Will you, um… See… How do I say this?”
Tara turned around towards Willow, a curious look on her face. What was taking her so long to communicate? Willow never had a problem speaking. “Willow, what?” she asked untying her ponytail letting her long hair fall airily around her shoulders.
Willow swallowed before replying. All she wanted was to run her fingers through Tara’s hair and kiss her forever. “Will you…” Tara’s eyes silently prompted her to continue, “Will you please accompany me to the banquet? As my date?”
“The banquet. The banquet- banquet? The end of the summer banquet?”
“Yes.”
“As your date?”
“Yes.”
“Officially?”
Willow didn’t understand her question. “Huh? You lost me.”
“Is this an official date?” Tara asked reaching out to hold Willow’s hand.
The redhead nodded. Yes. Official. Their first official first date even though the sleepover could have been their first official first date too. “As official as possible. There’s dinner and then the dance.” Tara smiled though did not affirm right away. Willow sighed. Ok, here, the brush off was coming. “Tare? Look-”
Tara snapped back to the conversation, her face serious. “Willow.”
“Yes?”
“If I say yes, and I want to say yes, will you dance with me?” Tara placed Willow’s palm over her heart.
Willow understood this question. She certainly did. “In front of everyone?” Everyone including her brother and cousin and god knew who else would be at the dance.
“In front of everyone.” Tara confirmed. She was ready. She was not going to hide anymore.
Without even a pause for breath Willow replied, “Yes.”
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TBC....
by Cindipitude » Fri Oct 11, 2002 7:53 am 
at: 10/12/02 4:18:21 pm
. And knowing what an "official date" to the banquet entails (ie being out as a couple), I am so glad Willow (even with some doubt) found the courage to ask Tara to be her date. Yay for Tara saying, "Yes", and I can't wait to see what happens next (although I have feeling some angst is on the horizon)!
at: 10/12/02 3:05:18 pm
AWESOME! 
that laugh is so underrated. 
