As promised, here's chapter two:
Title - Wave
• Author name – LonelyTara
• Email Address -
9kodama@gmail.com
• Rating - PG-13, eventually R
• Disclaimer - This is a romantic and angsty AU piece with plenty of adventure (eventually). All things Buffy belong to the Whedon man, Fox, Mutant Enemy, et al. Please don't sue.
• Feedback-Please, please!
• Summary- Wave is a season 2 AU. On Halloween, Willow meets a strange and beautiful blond girl, and becomes determined to find her. When they connect, Willow's life will be changed forever...
• Notes-Thanks to everyone who will read.
Chapter Two: First Date
Willow’s mystery girl was just finishing Angel by Sarah McLachlan, voice quivering and clear and passionate as she sang about finding peace. She was still dressed all in blue, the same combat boots from Halloween now paired with a sky blue t-shirt and denim cutoffs that revealed long, slim, peaches-and-cream legs. Even her guitar, Willow could now see, was blue, coated in a translucent finish that allowed the wood grain to show through. The guitar was a twelve-string, and the girl’s slender fingers danced over the neck with lightning speed. Willow willed the girl to look up from her guitar, to show her those beautiful blue eyes again, but she stared down at the guitar as she sang, letting her golden hair fall forward like curtains to hide her face.
The song she was playing came to an end and the crowd applauded. In the moment of silence that followed, people tossed money, coins and bills, into the girl’s guitar case. Willow felt Buffy and Xander step up on either side of her just as the musician launched right into a song about Portland, lighter, faster, more bluegrass than ballad. “Oh, I love The Replacements,” a woman murmured to the man standing next to her.
“What’s up, Will?” Buffy whispered.
“Isn’t she wonderful?” Willow sighed.
“Yeah,” Xander replied. “She plays really well. It’s hot out here though; let’s get to the Bronze. You promised me cold and shivery girls.”
Willow felt a little stab of panic at the thought of walking away from her mystery girl. She’d just found her; she couldn’t leave her again, not now. I don’t even know her name, Willow thought, I have to find out who she is.
“I want to hear a whole song,” Willow replied in a hush. “I just caught the end of the last one.”
“I’m getting all melty and my hair is starting to frizz,” Buffy complained. “Cordelia is going to have a field day.”
“You guys go ahead,” Willow said quickly. “I’ll catch up.”
“Well,” Xander began.
“The Bronze is right around the corner,” Willow interrupted.
“You’ll really be all right?” Buffy asked.
“I’ll be fine.” Better than fine, because I’ll be nervous enough talking to her without you guys watching.
“Okay, see you in a few,” Buffy replied.
Willow just nodded; she never took her eyes off the blue girl. When the song ended she began to do a quick tuning check on her guitar, plucking strings and tightening and loosening pegs faster than Willow could track. More members of the audience threw money into the guitar case. Willow made a quick decision. She slid her change purse out of her pocket and pulled out what was left of the money her parents had left her for food. It had to be over eighty dollars. With one long step she moved in front of the guitar case and dumped the whole wad of bills in.
As soon as the money hit the velveteen lining Willow could see the girl’s shoulders drop in surprise. Her head tilted up and Willow caught a glimpse of blue, could’ve sworn that she saw a smile tweak the corner of the girl’s mouth, but then she was looking down at her guitar again, strumming out a few notes. Willow stepped backward into the crowd, and the girl began to hum, playing another round of the opening notes. As she began to sing, she looked up for the first time, locking eyes with Willow and smiling. Willow felt a wave of heat sweep through her; she’d never felt so flustered just from having someone’s eyes on her.
“Don’t know much about your life. Don’t know much about your world, but
Don’t wanna be alone tonight, on this planet they call Earth.”
Willow was transfixed. The girl’s gaze remained locked on her; it was like the rest of her audience wasn’t even there. She was singing for Willow.
“You don’t know about my past, and I don’t have a future figured out,
And maybe this is goin’ too fast, but girl I think it’s meant to last…”
Willow felt her own smile broaden, her cheeks were warm. Was she just imagining a similar flush of pink in the girl’s neck?
So what do you say to takin’ chances? What do you say to jumpin’ off the edge?
Never knowin’ if there’s solid ground below, or a hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say? What do you say?”
The mystery girl, the girl in blue, the guitarist, was sending Willow on an emotional rollercoaster. She could feel sweat beading along her brow line, cooling the palm of her hands. There was such joy and such sadness in the young musician, and Willow wanted to know everything that had happened in her life to touch her with such happiness and grief.
“I just wanna start again, and maybe you could show me how to try
Maybe you could take me in, somewhere underneath your skin
What do you say to takin’ chances? What do you say to jumpin’ off the edge?
Never knowin’ if there’s solid ground below, or a hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say? What do you say?”
The tempo of the girl’s playing picked up and she tilted her head back, closing her eyes as she strummed at the guitar with fervor. Willow almost whimpered at being deprived of the girl’s gaze.
“Hey now, hey my heart is beaten down, but I’m always comin’ back for more
There’s nothing like love to pull you up, when you’re lying down on the floor, babe.
So talk to me, talk to me…”
The girl’s eyes opened again, still looking just at Willow. Her smile broadened as she sang:
“Like lovers do, walk with me, walk with me, like lovers do, like lovers do…”
Her smile broadened as she sang. Willow felt heat coursing through her body, leaving her trembling.
“What do you say to takin’ chances? What do you say to jumpin’ off the edge?
Never knowin’ if there’s solid ground below, or a hand to hold, or hell to pay What do you say? What do you say?
As the song came to a close the girl’s voice dropped to a whisper, she tilted her head as she watched Willow watching her.
“Don’t know much about your life
And I don’t know much about your world…
Willow burst into wild applause as the girl played her final notes of the song, just a few seconds ahead of the rest of the crowd. She didn’t know if it was the streetlight or the pale shirt the girl was wearing, but tonight there was a turquoise sheen to those dark blue eyes that made the girl look otherworldly, ethereal. She played four more songs, hidden again behind her long hair. Willow just smiled and swayed to the music, hoping that the girl would catch her eye—hoping that she could feel that thrill one more time—and in the same moment she feared the girl would catch her trembling.
At the end of the fourth song Willow’s mystery girl thanked her crowd for listening, and told them all to travel safely. There was another enthusiastic round of applause and then the crowd began to thin out. A few people moved toward the girl to express their appreciation, twice Willow heard them ask her for a CD to purchase, but the girl replied to them so softly that Willow couldn’t hear her response. Those fans walked away empty-handed, so she assumed to the girl didn’t have music to sell. Finally the stragglers all wandered away, down toward the Bronze or out into the night. They were alone.
Willow watched the mystery girl move the change and bills out of the body of her case and into a small silk pouch that had been sown into the top of the case. With slow reverence, with easy grace, the girl crouched down and slid the guitar into its case. She closed it, latched it, and stood, swinging it onto her back all in one smooth motion. With that done she lifted her skateboard from where it leaned on the wall behind her. Willow realized that if she didn’t speak up, her mystery girl was going to roll of into the dark, again.
“Hello,” Willow said softly.
She must’ve startled the girl because she spun around, wide-eyed, but then stilled as soon as she saw Willow. A small smile curved the corners of her full lips. Willow found herself thinking about how soft those lips must be, wondered what it would be like to touch them, kiss them, and her heart began to race.
“You played beautifully,” Willow said in a rush. “And in so many different styles. I don’t know if you remember me, we saw each other on Halloween. I-I looked different then, I guess,” she said, wishing she could stop, wishing she had borrowed some of Buffy’s clothes so her mystery girl would recognize her. “It was a cool trick that you did on your board, turning backward like that. I couldn’t get you out of my head—the trick, out of my head. And now I found you and I’d like to know if I can buy you a cup of coffee.” She took a deep, gasping breath.
“I’m sorry,” Willow finished. “I don’t usually use so many words to say stuff that little.”
The girl’s eyes opened even wider and that big crooked grin that had so occupied Willow’s thoughts for the past few nights spread across her face. I love that smile, Willow thought. Like, it. I like it. I really like that smile.
“I think y-you just gave me all your money.” The girl replied. Her voice was soft, and just as melodic as when she sang.
Willow’s face fell and she could feel a blush creep into her cheeks. “Oh, you’re right.”
Willow took a step backward and the girl put a hand out like she was going to touch her, but hesitated, drew her hand back toward her chest. “I’ll tell you w-what,” the girl said. “I made a good haul, I think you need to let me b-buy you a cup.”
Willow couldn’t stop herself, she felt a goofy grin spread across her face and she bounced on the balls of her feet. She was worried that she looked stupid, but the girl’s smile only deepened.
“Come on,” she told Willow, “There’s a nice shop a few blocks down from here.”
She turned away from Willow, walking westward away from the Bronze, when Willow remembered something important, something crucial, something absolutely key.
“Wait,” she said softly. She clasped her hands together in front of her, smiling. When the girl turned, when she saw those eyes, Willow had to resist the urge to laugh aloud. “What’s your name?”
The crooked smile was back in a flash and Willow felt a delicious quiver. That smile, she knew she could really get used to that smile…
“I’m Tara,” the girl said. “What’s yours?”
“Mine?” Willow squeaked. For a terrorizing moment she actually thought she wouldn’t be able to remember. “Willow,” she said, almost convulsively. “I’m Willow.”
Tara tipped her head. “Earth and tree, it’s meant to be,” she intoned.
“Huh?” Willow asked.
“Terra,” Tara said, pointing to herself. “And Willow,” she added, pointing to the nervous redhead.
“Oh, Latin joke!” Willow cried, bursting into loud laughter. Rein it in Rosenberg, she pleaded with herself. She’s going to think you’re slow! She dropped down off the balls of her feet and smiled, the tip of her tongue peeking between her teeth. “Sorry,” she murmured.
“Why sorry?” Tara giggled. “You’re the only person who’s ever gotten one of my jokes before.” She paused, and Willow definitely saw a blush in the girl’s cheeks. “And your laugh is really cute.”
It took everything in Willow to keep her mouth from dropping open. Cute, she thinks I’m cute?
“Come on, Willow,” Tara said, still giggling. “It’s coffee time.”
* * *
Tara took Willow to a coffee shop a few blocks down, a little hole-in-the-wall place that Willow had never been in because she’d always assumed it was a bar. It was surprisingly cute inside, the evergreen walls were lined with polished oak two-seat booths, and the main floor was filled with mismatched tables and chairs in every color and shape imaginable. There was a tiny stage at the far end of the shop, and all the lighting came from tea lights and small round Christmas lights strung across the ceiling like stars.
“Wow,” Willow breathed. “This place is so adorable. And it smells great.”
Tara grinned and ducked her head, hiding her face behind her long hair for a moment. Willow wanted to reach out and brush her hair back, reveal her beautiful smile.
“I’m g-glad you like it,” Tara murmured, looking up. “They have the b-best coffee I’ve ever tasted.”
“I can’t wait to try it,” Willow replied. “Should we get a table, or a booth?”
“Booth?” Tara asked.
“Sure!” Willow wanted to take Tara’s hand, but Tara was carrying her guitar case in one hand and her skateboard in the other. “Do you need some help with that?”
“N-no, but thanks,” Tara said, smiling shyly. “Is this okay?” She gestured to a booth halfway down the wall that had a tiny turquoise votive sitting on the middle of the table, casting a flickering blue glow.
“Perfect.”
Willow slid into a seat and Tara slid into the booth across from her, propping her guitar case against the wall and sliding her long board under her feet. The moment they settled in, a thin man with a huge mop of curly hair dyed apple green walked up with menus.
“Hi there,” he said with a wide grin. “I’m Jamie, welcome to Zanja Muro.”
“Zanja Muro?” Willow asked, snorting with laughter. “It’s really called hole in the wall?”
Their waiter’s eyes widened. “Ooh, she’s a smart one, Tara,” Jamie laughed, nudging the blonde’s shoulder with his elbow. “You better keep her.”
Willow looked at Tara and saw the girl blushing with a burn she felt matched in her own cheeks.
“You two are adorable,” he sighed. “Why don’t I start you off with two cups of Kona, it just came in from Mauna Loa. I swear to goodness it is a vacation in your mouth.”
“S-sounds delicious,” Tara stammered. “Is t-that okay, W-Willow?”
Willow didn’t trust herself to speak, so she just nodded.
“I’ll be right back, girls.”
And then there was just Tara. The soft piano music over the sound system faded away, and Willow just watched her no-longer-a-mystery girl. Her hair had a glow from the lights twinkling above their heads, and the votive cast a wavering light on her hands, reminding Willow of the first time they met, when she saw the girl as a mermaid, surfing down the street. Had it really only been two days? Tara dropped her eyes and smiled, a tiny grin that Willow imagined was her attempt to hold in a full smile. Willow sighed, smiled, and propped her cheek up on her fist. Tara tucked her hair behind her ears and gave a little giggle.
“You’re s-staring.” She murmured.
Willow straightened up. “Was I?” She asked. “I was just thinking about how nice it was of you to get me coffee.” I wasn’t thinking about how beautiful you are, or how I really think I’m kinda gay. “I appreciate it.”
“It’s the least I could do for my best t-tipper,” Tara replied, catching Willow’s eye for a moment and then dropped her gaze back to her hands where they rested on the table, fingers tapping as if she could play the wood beneath them.
Before Willow could reply, Jamie was back. He sat two large, steaming cups on the table. The one he placed in front of Willow was shiny with rich cornflower-blue enamel; Tara’s cup was grass green.
“Honey for sweet Tara,” Jamie said, pulling a small glass vial out of the crook of his arm and placing it on the table. “How about you, miss?” He asked Willow. “Do you take cream, sugar?”
“I’m Willow,” she said, smiling. “And honey will be just fine.”
“Excellent,” he murmured, and leaned over the table. “The first round’s on me.” Tara opened her mouth to protest and Jamie shook his head. “No arguments. You two enjoy and I’ll be back in a few minutes to see if you’d like anything to eat.” He looked down at their menus and laughed. “You haven’t even cracked those yet, have you?”
Tara shook her head, blushing furiously now.
“Well, take a break on the goo-goo eyes and pick some food. You both look like you could use a good meal.”
As soon as Jamie walked away both girls burst into laughter.
“He’s really funny,” Willow said, reveling in the sweet sound of Tara’s laughter.
“I come in here pretty r-regularly,” Tara replied. “Jamie’s always been n-nice to me. Are you hungry?” She asked, playing with the corner of the menu with one long, slim finger.
“A little.”
“W-we could get an appetizer, and share,” Tara said. “Do you like hummus? Their hummus is really good, they serve it with toasted pitas.”
“Yum!” Willow cried. “Sounds delicious.”
“Good.”
Tara opened the honey and rolled her spoon around in it, lifting a large golden globe of honey out of the jar and dropping it into her coffee. She stirred slowly, lifting her spoon every now and again to see if the honey was melted. As soon as the thin, bright lines of honey stopped trailing between her coffee and spoon Tara look a long sip from her cup. The arch of Tara’s throat, the shift of muscles as she swallowed, fascinated Willow.
“Your coffee will get cold,” a voice said softly.
Willow looked up to see Jamie grinning down at her. “Uh,” she began.
“Did you decide on something to eat?” He asked.
Willow could see Tara watching them from the corner of her eye. “Hummus, please.”
“Good choice. Drink up.”
She dropped a spoonful of honey in the coffee and took a big swallow, tipping the cup up to avoid the temptation to stare at Tara some more. The coffee was smooth and creamy.
“It tastes like dark chocolate,” Willow said happily. Setting the cup back down on the table, half empty.
“Um, y-yeah,” Tara murmured. “I t-told you, best coffee ever.”
“My tummy’s all warm now,” Willow replied, settling back in her chair. Tara took another sip of coffee, watching Willow over the top of her cup. Willow smiled and Tara gave a little cough.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine, I just need to remember not to inhale the coffee.”
Willow giggled and Tara flashed her crooked grin. “So Tara,” Willow said, given courage by the warmth of the girl’s smile. “How long have you been living in Sunnydale?” I want to know everything about you.
“N-not long,” Tara replied, ducking her head and peering up at Willow with those blue eyes. “Just a few weeks. You?”
“Born and raised,” Willow said, grinning sheepishly. “Lame I know.”
“It’s n-not lame, it’s just home.”
“Where’s home for you, do you miss it?” Willow asked.
“I’m f-from Oregon,” Tara replied. She paused for a moment, lost in thought. “I do m-miss the trees.”
“Oregon?” Willow leaned forward, running a finger over the lip of her cup. “How cool, did you get to see lots of redwoods?”
“Sometimes.” Tara smiled, but Willow could see the sorrow she was fighting. “My family h-has a little farm, with lots of birch and elm trees around it, b-but there’s a state park about thirty minutes away with huge redwoods.”
“I’m jealous,” Willow said, giving a mock pout that she hoped would cheer the blonde up. “I’ve never seen redwoods. There’s a park though, called Stow Grove, that isn’t too far from here, I heard they have some redwoods but my folks never want to go, they aren’t very outdoorsy. We could go there together some time, if you want, maybe it would help with the homesick?” Tara still looked so sad. Willow sighed. “I guess it wouldn’t be the same, huh? You must really miss your friends too.”
Tara took another sip of her coffee. “You can’t miss what you didn't have,” she replied, voice soft, staring down into her cup.
“Huh? Oh, come on Tara, you’re so sweet; you must’ve had a few friends. I mean I don’t have a big circle of friends or anything. I never did. Now I have two best friends, Xander and Buffy, oh and there’s Giles, he’s the librarian—a cool librarian though,” Willow said when Tara’s eyebrows shot up. “And maybe Cordelia. No,” she said thoughtfully. “Not Cordelia.”
“There were a c-couple of girls I talked to at school,” Tara said, once again avoiding Willow’s eye. “But we were never really close, we didn’t hang out outside of school or anything.”
She was quiet for a moment, and Willow was afraid she’d upset her, hurt her feelings, but then she looked up at Willow with a little smile on her face.
“And of course there were our horses,” Tara said. Her grin widened. “We have two. Cirrus is our old draft horse; he’s the same color as the sky just as it starts to rain. And we have a yearling filly, a chestnut my mother named Summer.”
“H-horses?” Willow asked. Tara nodded and Willow felt her stomach drop. She was afraid of horses. “Horses, like big, tall, teeth that can take your arm off horses?”
Tara tilted her head. “Oh sure, I learned to ride when I was a kid. It’s fun. And by the way,” she giggled, “Most horses don't like arm very much.”
“I had a bad birthday party pony thing when I was four.” Willow said, trying not to sound like a mad woman. “I look at horses and I see really big ponies.”
“You should ride with me some time, I guarantee safety and fun.”
“Well,” Willow murmured. “If you promise you’ll look after me…” Are we flirting? Willow marveled.
Tara nodded enthusiastically. “Promise.”
“So,” Willow said, fighting the urge to catch the tip of her tongue between her teeth. “What happened to them when your family moved?”
“W-what?” Tara asked. “Oh, well, they’re-the horses are still on the farm. That’s where they belong.”
“Hummus!” Jamie announced, making both girls jump. He slid their votive aside and sat a large triangular ceramic plate in the center of the table. “Enjoy!”
The plate had a huge mound of hummus in the center of it, sprinkled with paprika and garnished with a large leaf of fresh basil. An army of toasted pita triangles fanned out around it. Willow reached out for the basil, licking her lips, and found herself playing tug of war with Tara.
“You like fresh basil?” Tara asked.
“Like it? I love it.” Willow replied. “I could eat it from a spoon. Buffy and Xander think its weird.”
“They must’ve never tried it.”
“That’s what I always say!” Willow laughed, and then dropped her end of the leaf. “But you can have it though.”
“How about we share?” Tara asked. She tore the leaf in half along its center vein and held out a piece.
“Thanks,” Willow replied. Both girls blushed and popped the basil in their mouths.
Willow couldn’t remember ever having a better time. While they snacked on pitas and nursed their coffee, the pair talked about everything from philosophy to history to music. She’d never met anyone that could keep up with her quick, eclectic mind so easily. Willow found out that Tara had been studying Latin since elementary school, and could read and write it fluently. And she loved mythology and folklore, a favorite topic of Willow’s.
They spent an hour talking comparing goddesses from the Celtic, Welsh, and Japanese pantheons, barely noticing as Jamie cleared away their demolished plate of hummus and refilled their coffees. Tara laughed and sighed in all the right places as Willow told her about Ukemochi, the goddess doomed for hurling up rice and fish to feed the world. And Willow was entranced as Tara told Willow a tale of the lost seal brothers of Lugh of the Long Arms, literally dabbing tears from her cheeks as Tara wound the sorrowful tale to a close.
“What an amazing story,” Willow sighed. “Tara you know more about myths than anyone I’ve ever met, you might even know more than Giles.”
“Well, that one was from a book my grandmother owned, she got it from her mom. I think it might be the only copy anywhere. So that one doesn’t really count as one of mine.”
“Sure it does,” Willow replied, grinning as she took another sip of coffee. Her hands were shaking, a combination of copious amounts of caffeine and the wonderful company
She was about to ask Tara to tell her another story when the door to the shop opened, and Buffy and Xander came in, looking frantic. Xander had a smear of dirt on one cheek and his jeans were torn. Buffy blouse was rumpled and wrinkled and her hair looked like she’d been caught in a cyclone.
“Willow!” Buffy cried, relief clear on her face. She and Xander rushed over to their table and wrapped her in a group hug. “We thought something terrible had happened to you.”
“Guys,” Willow said, muffled by the press of her friends’ bodies. “I’m fine. I was just having coffee with my new friend, Tara.”
“Coffee?” Xander exclaimed, backing away and throwing his arms in the air. “You were supposed to come to the Bronze like three hours ago. Buffy and I thought you got maul-mugged,” Xander said swiftly after an elbow from the slayer. “We thought you got mugged and you’ve been here drinking coffee? Is that really coffee? It smells so good—”
“A bit off topic, Xander.” Buffy scolded. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m great, guys, this is Tara.” Willow held a hand out toward the blonde, who’d squashed herself into the far end of the booth, ducking her head, but she still threw her hand up in a quick hello.
“You were playing outside earlier, right?” Buffy asked. When Tara nodded Buffy smiled. “You’re really talented.”
“T-thank you,” Tara murmured.
“She’s really smart too,” Willow gushed.
“N-not as smart as Willow.” Tara said softly.
Willow grinned at her and turned back to Xander and Buffy. “I’m sorry that I lost track of time, but Tara and I got to talking after her show was done and we decided to get a cup of coffee. You guys wouldn’t believe the stuff she knows. I think she might like books even more than Giles.”
I saw her on Halloween, Willow thought, imagining what it would be like to speak the words aloud to her friends. And I had to find her because she’s just, well, look at her. She’s amazing. Is that stalking? I think maybe on a technical level, but since there’s no malice…oh God, I even babble in my own head.
“Impossible,” Xander replied. He held up a hand in greeting. “Hey Tara, I’m Xander, also known as the spastic one. Sorry for all the me making with the loud. We were just worried about Willow.”
“That’s o-okay. Do you guys want to join us?”
Willow almost hoped they would say no.
“Oh yes,” Buffy sighed, pulling a chair up to the table and settling in it. “I could really use a break. My stylish yet affordable shoes have betrayed me.”
“I obviously don’t need any more caffeine,” Xander joked, still clearly embarrassed by his outburst. “But food would be good. Do they do food here?”
“You should try the hummus,” Willow said. “But Tara and I have dibs on the basil.”
“Ew,” Buffy said, wrinkling her nose. “Don’t tell me you share Willow’s odd fascination for herbage.”
“You can’t judge if you haven’t tried it, huh Tara?”
The musician nodded, smiling. She’d straightened up in her seat, clearly relaxing as she saw the affection the trio of friends had for each other. Jamie came and buzzed around the table for a few minutes, warmly greeting his new customers and grabbing cokes for them with lightning speed. Buffy, Xander, and Willow chatted happily about school, the gruesome Principal Snyder, and the terrible band that had been playing that night at the Bronze.
Tara interjected now and then, often grinning and giggling at the trio. Willow could’ve sworn she caught the beautiful girl staring at her once or twice. When their second round of sodas came up Tara joined in the conversation.
“So, do y-you guys like folklore and mythology and stuff too? Willow knows a lot of s-stuff.”
“Uh, is that something I’d learn in social studies class?” Buffy asked.
Tara nodded.
“Eh,” Buffy grimaced. “I was afraid so, no, not so much then.”
“Oh,” Tara said softly, and then brightened. “Are you guys computer whizzes then? Willow told me all about the lab you guys have at school.” She laughed. “I don’t know anything about computers.”
“Still a school thing, so not so much.” Xander ruffled Willow’s hair affectionately. “Will’s the resident genius around here.”
“Yeah,” Buffy said, nodding. “The brains of the operation.”
“Guys,” Willow murmured, blushed with a heady blend of embarrassment and pride.
“She’s also a champion blusher,” Xander teased.
“Don’t make it any worse,” Buffy scolded. “She might spontaneously combust.”
“Guys!” Willow cried, sure her face must look like a four-alarm fire. But Tara was rocking with laughter, face flushed, so Willow didn’t really mind the embarrassment.
“You d-didn’t tell me your friends were so funny,” Tara chuckled.
“I guess it all depends on your perspective,” Willow grumbled.
“Hey, humor’s the only thing I’ve got going for me at this point,” Xander said, tugging down his sleeve. “Don’t start knocking it now, Will.”
“Aw, poor Xander,” Buffy said, smiling. “But look,” she cried as Jamie walked up. “Food will heal your Willow-wounded soul.”
Xander and Buffy dug into their appetizer and Willow shook her head and rolled her eyes at them, which just made Tara laugh louder. Her joy sent Willow into a burst of giggles and soon both girls were laughing hard enough to make their eyes water.
“Stomach hurts,” Tara gasped between laughs.
Willow nodded. Buffy looked up from her plate and gave them both a solemn glance, the effect of which was totally ruined by the hummus on her chin.
“How much coffee have you guys had tonight?” She asked.
Willow and Tara went wide-eyed at the smear of hummus, really howling with laughter.
“Definitely too much coffee,” Buffy murmured.
“You savin’ that for later, Buff?” Xander asked, pointing at her face.
Buffy reached up and touched the glob of hummus. “Oh man,” she said, grabbing a napkin and rubbing her face. “Nice. You two could’ve told me.”
“Couldn’t,” Willow panted, “Too much with the laughing.”
All three girls broke into giggles again as Xander used to last two pitas so scoop up a huge pile of hummus and drop it in his mouth.
“Wha?” He asked, talking around the mouthful.
“Very smooth, Harris,” Buffy said.
“I said I wah hunry.”
“Chew, you’re going to choke,” Willow urged.
Xander swallowed and held up his arms. “And hungry boy lives!” He crowed.
“Oh, but I’m going to die,” Buffy groaned.
“What’s w-wrong?” Tara asked.
Buffy pointed to the far side of the bar, where a Felix the Cat clock painted lime green with purple swirls hung on the wall.
“It’s midnight, I’m an hour late for curfew.” The young slayer dropped her head in her hands.
“That’s mean’s we’re an hour late,” Willow said, horrorstruck. “And I’m supposed to be a good influence on you!”
“I knew I shouldn’t have told you that,” Buffy mumbled into her hands.
Tara watched this exchange with a tiny smile on her face. “I guess you guys better head out,” she said sadly.
“I, I’m really sorry, Tara,” Willow replied. “I wish I could stay.” She didn’t want the night to be over, she could only help Tara felt the same way. Willow looked around the shop, trying to write the lights and the candles and the charming mismatch tables into her memory.
“Hey,” Tara said softly. Willow’s head snapped up. “I lost you there for a minute.”
“Sorry, I want to remember this place. I had a really nice time tonight.”
“W-we could come here again, sometime.” The delicious crooked grin resurfaced, just for a moment.
“Okay.” Inside Willow was doing Xander’s snoopy dance.
“You better go,” Tara said, tilting her head toward Buffy. Xander was rubbing her on the back, totally failing to comfort her.
The four of them bid Jamie goodnight, and then Tara paid the bill, insisting that she pick up Xander and Buffy’s drinks and food. The duo didn’t fight too hard for the right to pay, but Willow didn’t have the heart to be annoyed with them, she was too distracted by the honeysuckle scent radiating from Tara as they walked to the door. Out under the streetlights Tara’s hair was haloed once again in a radiant golden glow.
“Well, it was n-nice to meet you,” Tara said, smiling. “All of you.” She laid her board on the ground. “Have a good night.”
“Will,” Xander said, “Don’t you think we should walk Tara home?”
“Huh?” Willow asked, still watching Tara’s smile.
“It’s kind of late,” he said slowly. “You don’t want her to run into any vam—”
“V-van violence,” Willow babbled. “That is so true. A guy…in a van tried to run her over on Halloween.”
“It’s okay,” Tara replied. “I can take care of myself.”
Willow’s brow furrowed. She’d been so distracted by her thoughts of Tara that she hadn’t even considered the danger the young musician was putting herself in being out so late on her own. Visions of vampires and demons paraded across Willow’s imagination.
“You’re right, Xander,” she replied. “He’s right, Tara, Sunnydale has a pretty high uh…crime rate.”
“No arguments,” Buffy said firmly. “You should let us walk you home.”
Tara bit her lip and looked between the three of them thoughtfully. “You guys know about the vampires, don’t you?”
Willow’s mouth dropped open and she dimly heard Buffy say, “Wah-huh?”
“Vampires?” Xander asked, forcing a laugh. He started waving his arms wildly. “That’s crazy talk. That’s crazy, right Buffy, Willow?”
Tara was grinning at them slyly one hand on her hip.
“She knows, Xander,” Willow sighed.
Tara nodded. “It’s sweet of you guys to worry, but I k-know how to keep safe.” She pulled a small metal flask out of her pocket and shook it; Willow could hear liquid sloshing around.
“Liquor is going to save you from vampires?” Xander asked.
“It’s not b-booze,” Tara laughed.
“Holy water?” Buffy asked.
“Right in one.”
“Yeah,” Willow said softly, taking a step closer to the blonde. “But what if there’s more than one? Sometimes they hunt in packs, you know?”
“That’s where my t-trusty steed comes in.” Tara tapped her board with her foot. “They can’t kill me if they can’t catch me.”
“You’re prepared,” Buffy said, giving Tara an appraising glance. Willow could tell the slayer was impressed. “But still, better safe than sorry. We can still walk with you.”
“I don’t want to make you any later than you already are,” Tara replied.
Buffy’s face paled. “Curfew, I’m getting deader by the second!”
“I should let you guys head out.” Tara stepped onto her board.
“Wait,” Willow said, holding out a hand so Tara wouldn’t leave. “Will I see you at school? Where do you have first period?”
“I’m uh, I’m not enrolled yet,” Tara said, looking down at her feet. “I-I’m being homeschooled for now. I might finish out high school that way.”
“How will I find you?” Willow asked. She hoped that Buffy and Xander couldn’t hear the plaintiveness she felt at the thought that she might not see Tara again. She wanted to take another step closer to Tara, but felt too exposed in front of her friends, under the starlight.
“Just listen for the music,” Tara whispered. “Good night, Willow.” Tara pushed off into the darkness before any of them could protest further. “Thanks for the c-coffee,” Tara called from the dark. “Nite Buffy, Xander!”
“Goodnight Tara!” Willow cried after her.
“I like your new friend, Will.” Buffy said, looking out into the night where Tara had ridden away. “Tara seems pretty cool.”
“Yeah, cute too,” Xander said. Willow turned and glared. “What?” He asked.
“Behave yourself, Harris,” Buffy sighed.
She gave Willow a sympathetic look and Willow almost laughed out loud. She thinks I’m jealous because of Xander, if she only knew!
Buffy pulled Willow out of her reverie. “Let’s head out, guys. My mom is going to go nuclear.”
They were half way back to Buffy’s when a thought hit Willow like a flash of lightning. She’d had her first date. Her first date, but she would make sure it wasn’t the last date she had with Tara. Buffy and Xander asked her again and again what she was so smiley about, but for once Willow wasn’t talking.