hope you like!
********************
Willow’s stare at the crackling bonfire was interrupted once she heard her name called out. “Xander.” She replied, surprised, as she turned towards her oldest friend in the world.
She hadn’t expected him to be at the bonfire tonight. She had heard a rumor before the games were over that evening that he and Cordelia had broken up but she didn’t know why. She recalled how the last time Cordelia dumped him it had been rough on him for the first few days but after that he went back to being the Xander goof she knew even though he was still hurting inside. Here, again, she saw his sweet, sad smile as he walked up to her holding up a bag of Hershey chocolate Kisses.
“Chocolatey goodness?” he held out the silver wrapped bells.
“Always.” She grinned as she took one and unwrapped it.
Willow was nervous though as she popped the candy in her mouth. They still hadn’t talked about their little tiff and she didn’t know exactly where she stood with Xander right now, but he’d come up to her, truce chocolates in hand, and she was willing to be the best friend she’d always been. Even if they still had issues to deal with themselves, she would alwyas be there for him.
“So…” he began as he sat down on the log next to the redhead, “Where’s Tara?” he casually asked.
Willow gulped down the chocolate before replying, mouth full of chocolate didn’t allow understandable speech. “I don’t think she’s coming. I wasn’t sure if we’d have a bonfire tonight.”
Xander snickered as he gazed at those gathered. “Please, any chance for these cavemen to sit around and smoke pot for a couple of hours will be taken advantage of. Only rain will stop bonfire.” He realized how he’d said that and laughed. “Hehe, I just sounded like them. Fire... pretty.” He quipped.
Willow giggled along. “Fire bad, tree pretty.”
“Hey! I go to get some water for you and now you’re making fun of me?” Buffy shouted as she neared the two.
It had been a spell last year, their first semester of college, where the beer at a local bar had been spiked and anyone who drunk it turned into a person of the upper Paliolithic Period. Buffy had unfortunately been one of them.
“Come on, Buffy, you have to admit that caveslayer was pretty funny.”
“I could still kick your ass.” She told him as she handed the bottle of water to Willow.
“Pretty much anyone can kick my ass.” Xander sighed.
“Speaking of which,” Buffy snuggled on the ground in between the legs of her two best friends, “What happened between you and Cordelia? Why did you break up with her?”
“You broke up with Cordelia?!,” Willow asked, bewildered. That wasn’t the gossip she’d heard.
“I didn’t even know you’d fallen off the bandwagon and started seeing her again.” Buffy continued.
Xander smiled nervously. “Yeah, well, you know Cordelia.”
“Yup, she’s moved on to-“ she motioned with her head over to were Cordelia was sitting with Percy, all smiling and seemingly interested in what he was saying.
Xander shrugged it off, “Tears of a clown, baby. Or is it... grins of a sad person? Or maybe it's-”
“What happened?” Willow harmlessly asked. “I thought you were ok with her and all.” At least that’s how it had seemed that night. Her thoughts quickly scurried elsewhere for a moment since that had been THE night, the truck night. The first time she’d made love with Tara, and now her eyes were glazed with loving visions.
His voice interrupted her mid-drool. “There are certain things about her I don’t like.”
“You couldn't have figured that out in tenth grade?” Willow smirked. “Would have saved us a whole lot of trouble.”
Across the way, Percy suddenly interrupted Cordelia mid sentence, “Cordy, this is really nice and everything. I’m surprised you want to hear about my football scholarship and all but if anyone saw me hanging with Xander Harris' castoff... Death, you know, but... maybe...” Percy wiggled his eyes, “If you wanna go someplace private...”
She was completely disturbed by the proposal, “What?” she gagged.
Percy stood up. “Think about it.” he said as walked away.
Cordelia was still reeling when she heard Harmony announce, “Trying to get back on the horse already?” Anya and Tiffany were standing beside her. “I have just the stallion. He's *so* you.” She motioned, in a Vanna White stance, over to Jonathan. He was silently sitting on the next log over, minding his own business as he drank his soda and read his comic book. He was completely oblivious to the conversation. “I'm pretty sure he won't cheat on you. At least not for a while. And, knowing your track record, probably with a another geek just like him.”
Cordelia had enough and stood up, defiant. “Harmony-“ But what could she say? She just wanted to go back to her hut and cry. “Forget it. You’re a waste of breath.”
The Scoobs had been silently watching the whole exchange and Xander moved to follow as soon as he saw Cordelia storming off. But Anya stopped him mid way, “Xander. You are my new boyfriend. Shouldn’t we be spending time together?”
Xander looked like a kitten caught fishing in the fishbowl, “Huh? Boyfriend? No.” He tried to look over her shoulder for Cordelia but Anya kept blocking his view.
“But you are going to the banquet with me.” She mentioned.
“Yes. As your date. No one said anything about boyfriend.” Holey moley what had he gotten into here?
“Date leads to boyfriends which leads to sex. Wouldn’t you like to have sex?”
“But I hardly know you!” Any other point in time he would have been on his knees thanking the gods above, but not right now. He felt bad about everything Cordelia was going through.
“I am Anya. You accepted my offer to go to the banquet.”
“I know who you are, Anya.” He rolled his eyes, “I just-“ As much as he felt bad for Cordelia he thought of Willow. His sweet, best friend Willow who’d been through thick and thin with him. He looked back towards Buffy and the redhead, both with expectant looks on their faces. “I was just… going to the bathroom.”
“Well, then, that’s private but once you return be sure to find me so we can talk and get that part out of the way.”
Xander just stared at her. Why did he attract such strange women?
********************
“Come on, scaredy cat.” Buffy prodded as she dragged Willow closer to the entrance of the ride. Wednesday was their groups day at the nearby amusement park and Willow had yet to go on a single ride the last hour and a half they had been there. No bumper cars, no water logs, no mini locomotion, nothing.
“Buffy, no, please. I hate loop de loops. I get all pukey. You don’t want me pukey, right?”
Buffy nodded, she had to agree. “Especially not when laundry day is next Monday and this is my favorite shirt.”
“I’ll just be over there, by the games. Playing. Trying to use coordination I don’t have.” She pouted.
Since the very moment they got there Willow had been grumbling about how much she wanted to take a prize back to Tara, not a silly ring you could buy for a quarter but one of those huge plush toys every game stand had hanging around. Tara could cuddle with it at night and think of her. However, they both knew the rock Willow had thrown to kill the yucky yucky had been pure luck and she’d need a whole lot more than that to win a prize here.
“Tell you what,” Buffy whispered, “Once I’m done with these rides I’ll come over and help you win one of those big bears. Does Tara like bears?”
Willow grinned heavenly. “She likes horses and cats.”
“Then we’ll get her a cat. Ok?”
The redhead had to hug her best friend, onlookers be dammed. “Thanks, Buffy.”
“No problem.” The Slayer turned over to the group of campers ahead of her. “Girls! You ready?!” They all screamed in glee. “Let’s go!”
Bludgeoning gophers, duck ponds and many ring tosses later Willow had yet to win a prize. So she decided to go with what seemed the safest game possible even though she had absolutely no athletic ability: the basket ball hoop. But that was a complete loss too.
The young man behind the counter chuckled, he’d been watching the cute redhead for ten minutes now trying to make a basket. He also noticed she was running out of coupons. “Sweetheart, give it up. You’ve been here ten minutes already. Why don’t you go get your portrait taken or something?” Her obvious cringe made him laugh even louder. “Here, I’ll give you a free shot, ok?” he winked as he gave her the basketball once more.
She accepted the ball from him even though she felt a bit uncomfortable about both the wink and free shot. She simply chalked it off to country friendliness.
Willow sighed deeply as she bounced the ball in front of her trying to focus on the basket but all she could think about was winning something for Tara. She owed it to her. A small smile edged out as she thought of her blonde goddess.
The carnie noticed the deep concentration and ensuing blush. “Thinking about your boyfriend wont help.” He mumbled under his breath.
Willow heard him but channeled that building fury into the throw. To her and his surprise the ball landed in the basket, a perfect swish ball, no touching of the rim at all.
“Here.” He smiled as he handed her a large gorilla plush. “For your boyfriend.”
“Actually,” Willow grinned brazenly, “My girlfriend would like the tiger better. Fits her personality… in bed.” She added as he, shocked silent, handed her the tiger.
******************
“Willow! You got a tiger!” Buffy squealed as she ran up towards her. They had gone on the loop ride a record of five times before the ride manager told them they had to get off and give other patrons a chance. “How’d you get it?”
“Basket ball.”
“Are you turning all WNBA on me? Oh wait you already are.” Buffy laughed at her own joke as they walked behind their campers.
Willow groaned at the innuendo. “You know, that’s just a huge misconception. Girls in sports are-“
“Ok, little miss Shelia Rosenberg, stop right there. Geez, did you ever have a normal conversation with your mom that didn’t involve statistics or feminist theorems?”
“No.” That was the truth.
Buffy laughed. “Let’s go get some grub. I’m hungry.”
Snow cones, cotton candy, candied apples, ice cream, popcorn, and any other snack food Willow and Buffy could get a hold on had been nibbled on throughout the rest of their day at the park. They never finished any of the snacks since there was so much food they wanted to eat, gross camp food being their new diet and all. By the time they got back to Camp Flutie neither of them wanted to move from the beds they had so ceremoniously plopped upon once they entered their cabin.
“Oh god,” Buffy grunted, pulling her pillow under her, “It’s almost dinner time and I’m pretty much ready for barf.”
“Yeah, me too.” Willow said as clutched her tummy with both hands. “All was good. Too much goodness.” She said as she stared up at the grafitti filled ceiling of the cabin.
“Are you two all right?” Tara tenderly asked as she entered the cabin.
“Hey!” Willow smiled but couldn’t sit up to greet her girlfriend. She didn’t even have the energy to wave hello. “Hi. We’re in the barf club.” She sulked.
“We ate too much.” Buffy explained as Tara went and sat by Willow on her bed.
“Oh, baby, do you want me to rub your tummy?” She asked as her hands grazed over her lovers. She half smiled at Buffy, “She likes it when I...” Willow’s hands hastily squeezed hers, “Stop explaining things.” She finished, embarrassed by disclosure. She quickly wanted to change the topic and look away from Buffy’s knowing grin. “Where is everybody?”
“Showering. Long day and all.”
“Cute tiger.” Tara mentioned once she noticed the large plush by the side of Buffy’s bed. How she hadn’t noticed the huge orange toy before now was a mystery. But she had been busy wondering what was up with Willow and Buffy after all.
“Oh, honey, it’s yours! I won it for you!” Willow uttered as she tried to sit up. However, her tummy ache made her reflexes push herself back down.
“For me?” Tara asked, grinning. Willow absolutely loved how her smile lit up her face.
The redhead nodded as she gently tugged Tara to lean over and kiss her. Tara certainly did, forgetting Buffy was still in the cabin for a moment. Her burning blush afterwards was giggled by all.
“I won it in basket ball. I had an air ball.” Willow beamed not knowing her terminology was incorrect.
Tara couldn’t help but laugh, Willow was just so cute. “Sweetie, air ball means you totally missed the shot.”
“Well, I did plenty of those before he gave me a free shot and I finally dunked the ball in.”
“He gave you a free shot?” Tara feigned jealousy.
Before Willow could retort a trickle of campers began to run into the cabin. Tara quickly pulled her hand back, off Willow’s tummy and stroking fingers, standing up fearfully. Jamie knowing about them was once thing but the rest of the cabin… “I s-should go.”
“But you just got here.” Buffy voiced. She’d notice the change in Tara’s demeanor right away. She had seemed so comfortable before, even with her in the room.
Willow had since painfully sat up and was staring at her girlfriend, a questioning look on her face. “Please stay.”
Tara ruefully smiled, “I have to go. It’s almost dinnertime.” She said, not really wanting to explain.
But Willow knew what that meant. It meant her father would be coming home soon and dinner needed to be prepared. “Ok.” She mouthed at her love and smiled, handing her the tiger.
Tara knew Willow knew but it didn’t hurt any less having to cut their time together because of her responsibilities at home. "Thanks again, Willow." she hugged the plush tightly. She'd be cuddling up to this tonight.
She gingerly waved goodbye to both girls and headed out.
Willow took a deep breath to settle her thoughts. “One of these days, Buffy, I’m going to get her out of that house.”
Willow needn’t have told her about Mr. Maclay’s domineering ways even though she had, she’d gotten that vibe from him when they met in the barn during Visitors Day. “Going to rescue her on a white horse, Will?” Buffy snickered playfully.
The redhead knew exactly what Buffy was joking about. “Maybe not a horse but I will rescue her.”
“I think, in some ways, you already have.” She smiled at her best friend.
*************
TBC...
Edited by: Rane018 at: 10/26/02 4:01:47 pm
by Puff » Fri Oct 25, 2002 10:18 am 
Spice 
Willow screaming "the library" and Cordy thinking Xander was gay was funny. liked Xander sticking up for Willow, and Anya is so sneaky. 
at: 10/26/02 9:10:01 pm
. Reminded me a bit of the stuffed dog she had in NMR. Soooo cute.
Ah, cheeky Willow...so adorable!
I really need to get a girlfriend. I can only live vicariously though fanfic for so long before I go mad...I think perhaps I'm reaching that point. 
I feel like I should put out a personal add or the board or something...I'm DEFINATELY getting a little bit twitchy withouta girlfriend. 
Spice, who's desperately seeking romance... 
