Ok…
I was debating posting this fic. I thought it wasn’t good enough..but hey, why not give it a try, right? So..here it goes!
Title: 66 - The road of dreams
Author: onlykaren
Feedback: Yes please, if you want to.
Distribution: Ok.
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters.
Spoilers: None.
Setting: AU.
Rating: PG through to R, maybe a little NC-17.
Pairing: W/T eventually.
Summary: A trip that changes everything.
Note: This is my first attempt at a fic and English is my second language, so I apologize for any misspelling or grammatical errors.
Note2: All the information about Route 66 I got from the Internet, so if there’s anything wrong, I apologize.
***
“If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best,
Get your kicks on Route 66!
It winds from Chicago to L. A.
More than two thousand miles all the way.
Get your kicks on Route 66!
Now you go through St. Looey, Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty.
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona; don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino.
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip.
Get your kicks on Route 66.”
Words & Music by Bobby Troup
Part 1
That year wasn’t like the others. It was different not only to the world, but especially to me. It was 1970. The year of the freedom revolution, ‘Peace and Love’…it’d been only a few months after Woodstock. Kids were listening to Beatles, wearing gel in their hair, twirled skirts and stuff like that.
It had been only a few years after President JFK’s death. Well, everything was different, everything was new. And of course, it all began in a quiet neighborhood. The kind that we used to see on ‘The Wonders Years’, with the fathers washing cars, the mothers in the kitchens, the oldest daughters with a Beatles record in hands or a knapsack on their backs.
And who didn’t like that? Well, who didn’t like it, tried to make their own revolution and seek their own freedom. And that was what I did.
But I didn’t do it by myself.
The Summers were a big family that lived beside our house. With time, our parents became friends and we ended up growing up together.
There wasn’t a time when you could not see us together. At school, at home, at the lake. We even had a band called “The Girls”, but that didn’t turned out okay. Well, they were almost like my own sisters.
I say they because there were three of them. Buffy was the oldest sister and also one of my best friends. She used to help me a lot when other kids made fun of me at school and also was always there for me when my mom had passed away. Then there was Dawn, Buffy’s little sister. Well, she was kind of my own little sister too, at least I considered her that way. She was the youngest of us, but not less important. And at last, there was Willow. She wasn’t a Summers sister, but she lived with them most of the time because her parents were never home. She even had her own bedroom there. She was also my best friend and was the one I felt most connected to. Not having our moms there for us, in my case, literally, we looked for comfort in each other - in good times as well as bad.
Our favorite pastime was to go to the lake and climb trees. Then we’d play pretend or just swim. But more than that, at night, we loved to hear the stories of my brother.
I was younger than my brother. He wasn’t with us anymore, he had gained the world. I remember he used to be my idol. He would take us in his lap, play with us at the lake, but one day he kissed the four of us and then he was gone. He went to the Vietnam War and never came back.
I saw my mom crying on the couch one day…Willow and I didn’t understand anything at the time and went back to play, without knowing how important that was.
It was my brother that put in our head the reason I’m here now, telling this story. I remember he was one of those people that loved the world. He had pictures, videos and used to show them to us at night and would tell us all these amazing stories. Our eyes would get a sparkle and we’d be very quiet, listening to it all.
I had been only seven when all of this had happened. It was 1960. In 1961 he left. Now I was 17, it was 1970, and I still remembered it all. Not only remembered, but I had this idea in my head…and not only in mine, but in the mind of the four of us.
That was the summer after we’d graduated from high school, except Dawn of course. As usual, it was hot and in the backyard of the Summers’ house, Mr. and Mrs. Summers were doing the typical Sunday barbecue.
The four of us were sitting in front of the house, waiting for something cool to happen.
“Well, this sucks.”
Dawn was at my side, drawing with a chalk on the street. Buffy was sitting in front of me and Willow was lying on the grass.
“Buffy, i-is the TV in your house working yet?”
“No, I don’t think so…”
I shrugged.
“Let’s hear some music?”
“Oh no, not Beatles again…” Willow complained, moving to lie in my lap.
“Let’s swim?”
“Good idea”.
We stood and went running down the street. When we arrived at the lake, Willow climbed the tree. Our tree. All the times that we wanted to be alone, without our parents, we’d go to the tree. All of our initials were written there.
We took off our clothes and jumped in the lake. Well, the 70’s could be called ‘liberal’, but not literally. I mean, any person could pass by, so we’d swim in tank tops and panties, not totally naked.
“Wow, I needed that…” Willow said, shaking her hair out of water.
Even living in Chicago before, it wasn’t the way that it was today. We lived a little far from the city, so it was really cool.
Soon we were all in a water fight, laughing and having fun…like it always used to be.
We stayed there until it started to get dark.
“Guys, I think we should head back now, I’m kind of hungry.” Buffy suggested, getting out of the water.
“Gee Buffy, you only think of food.”
Dawn stepped out of the lake, got dressed and took off running, followed quickly by Buffy.
“Come on”.
Willow and I got out of the water slowly. We picked up our clothes and started getting dressed.
I put my jeans pants on, tied my hair up in a ponytail and put my shirt on. Because I was still wet, the shirt was sticking to my chest, but I didn’t care, it would soon dry up anyway.
I looked over at Willow. Her short red hair had been pulled back loosely, but the weight of the moisture caused strands to escape and stick to her face. I realized she was staring at me with a strange look.
“W-what?” I asked confused.
She shook her head, closed her mouth and resumed dressing.
“What is it, Will?”
She didn’t say anything.
“Will.” I grabbed her arm.
“It’s nothing, Tara. Let’s go, Buffy and Dawn are probably waiting for us.” I noticed her cheeks were a little flushed, but I let it go.
We walked barefoot in silence the way back.
***
“Girls, where were you? Aren’t you hungry?” Buffy’s mom asked us as we entered the house.
“S-sorry, Mrs. Summers, we went swimming and must have forgotten the t-time.”
“That’s fine dear. Why don’t you go inside and grab something to eat?”
“Thanks.” Willow nodded.
We made our way to the kitchen. Buffy and Dawn were already there, eating something.
“What took you guys so long?” Buffy asked with a mouthful of food.
“We didn’t feel like running.” Willow answered softly as she sat down.
***
It was already night. We went to the Summers' front porch and sat there talking. I was playing with Willow’s hand.
“Tara, the day is coming.” The redhead said softly.
“Yeah, I-I mean, we’ve waited for so long, we’ve planned it so much that it can’t go wrong.” I replied, staring at the sky. It was clear, without any clouds. The stars were shining brightly.
“Are you sure tomorrow they aren’t gonna leave early?” Buffy asked.
“Yeah… I double-checked. We don’t have to w-worry about that.”
“And I helped.” Dawn added, smiling triumphantly.
“Okay, so, don’t forget. Tomorrow, at six.”
“Six?” Willow pouted. I giggled at her.
“Will…” I said, caressing the back of her hand with my thumb.
“Ok, I know…”
We stayed in silence for a moment, contemplating the idea of what was going to happen the next day, before I noticed the lights in my house being turned on.
“Tara!” I heard my dad calling me.
I stood up. “I h-have to g-go. It looks like it’s o-one of those n-nights. Don’t forget to take your bikes tomorrow, ok? We’re going to the city.”
“Yeah,” Willow sighed. “Bye Tare.” She kissed my cheek.
“Bye.”
They also stood and walked back into the house.
When I got home, my dad was in the living room. Three empty bottles of beer were lying on the floor.
“G-good evening, s-sir” I said, lowering my head and letting my hair cover my face.
“I just got home and you weren’t here! What were you doing out ‘til this time? Go fix me something to eat!”
I sighed. “Yes, s-sir.”
***
Well… What do you think? Should I continue? I know there isn't almost any interaction between W/T in this first part, but it’ll get better, I promise.
And you’re right about shy and stuttering Tara. I mean, with her mom’s death and her dad being mean to her, she didn’t grow up that confident like Willow…so, this kinda explains why she’s like that. Anyway, thanks again!
? This story was in my 'new story, read later' folder and I finally got around to do so... good thing I did! I love it! Pleeeassee continue soonish!
Hum, I’m glad you like that this is told from Tara’s pov. I wasn’t really sure which one I should pick when I started writing it, but I guess I chose Tara’s cos I think I’m more like her, you know? So…I’m glad you like it =) Oh, and thanks for the tip. Maybe I’ll use it in the next parts =)
I'm such a cynic sometimes .... 