Toshi: Please don't hate me...
Big thanks to my wonderful BETA Laragh-OneeChan
Enjoy (Or probably not...Please don't hate me)
I stiffened. My name was called again.
“Tara Maclay to the headmaster’s office. Now, please.”
I could hear how impatient the announcer was. Oh god. It was my father. I could almost sense it. Just as my internal panicking was about to hit its peak, I felt Willow squeeze my hand.
“Come on, Ta. I’ll walk you there.” she said, offering me her adorable little half smile.
I had always known that there was something between us but I don’t think I truly accepted it till last night. When I had gone down there I didn’t actually have an answer in mind. I had tried making my mind up but I just wouldn’t have it. The speech that I managed to babble out all came to me in the spur of the moment. I rose with Willow, wishing my table a quiet goodbye and we walked together, towards the headmaster’s tower.
“What do you think is going on?” Willow asked.
“I-It’s m-my d-d-dad.” I said simply.
Now I knew I was panicking. I was stuttering again. I always stuttered at home but I rarely stuttered here and even less around Willow. Willow seemed to notice this as well as she pulled me off-course and into a storage cupboard. In there she hugged me close, allowing me chance to breathe in her scent, the essence of Willow. That would make a great perfume.
I hugged her back, relishing at the feel of her pressed up against me, knowing that if it was my dad that this would probably be the last time that we could do anything at all. I would probably never see her again.
At this the tears finally came. I sobbed and sobbed, clinging to Willow as if she was a life-support ring and I was a drowning swimmer. She let me, rubbing up and down my back gently, offering the moral support and comfort that I needed. We couldn’t have been there very long but to me it felt an eternity. I mentally logged everything. Every motion of her hand and every feeling so that when I was alone I could relive this final moment.
“Tara…baby…look at me.” Willow urged, cupping my chin and bringing my face gently to eye level with her.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” She said, in such a firm voice that I almost believed her.
I knew it was futile but as the saying goes. It was the thought that counted. She couldn’t stop this. My father was going to take me home and then that was it for me.
I wondered, in a moment of true pessimism, how long it would be until my body was found. I, at that moment, truly understood why Willow cut herself. The feeling of the blood flowing out of me would have been a welcome one right now.
Before I had chance to think anymore there was an unfamiliar sensation on my lips. Willow was kissing me. I closed my eyes and kissed her back, just as softly as she was kissing me, still mentally logging everything. Her hand travelled up from my back to cup my cheeks and the one from my chin went down to hold the back of my neck. Again, another timeless moment seemed to pass before Willow removed her lips from mine and rested her forehead against my own.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” she repeated.
I nodded, still knowing it was futile but letting her believe that it was not. I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and looked at her.
“D-do I l-look l-l-like I’ve b-been c-crying?” I asked, meeting her eyes.
She looked back and in one of the most sincere voices I have ever heard anyone use she told me…
“You look beautiful, baby.”
I couldn’t help but smile then. And I knew that she was telling the truth. In her eyes I was always beautiful.
“L-lets g-g-go th-then.” I said, still smiling.
I took her hand again and we resumed our walk, after exiting the storage room of course. When we reached the headmasters door I knew that this was where I would be going it alone.
“I-I’ll g-go i-in o-on m-my o-own. I-I’ll s-see y-you w-when I c-come o-out.” I stuttered out, not willing to let go of her hand.
Willow leaned in and kissed my quickly on the lips, just a quick peck.
“You’ll be fine, baby. I’ll be right here when you get out.”
I smiled at her and walked in through the door, my hand feeling empty without hers within it. As I had expected my father was sat at the headmaster’s desk with my older brother by his side. The headmaster, Mr Giles, looked very sombre.
“Have a seat, Miss Maclay.” said Mr Giles, indicating to the seat next to my father.
I sat, sitting as far away from my father as possible. Mr Giles smiled at me and I gave him a quick lip jerk in return. My hands fidgeted with each other, a normal thing for me to do when I was nervous.
“Well, Miss Maclay. It seems that your father here wants to remove you from Sunnydale Boarding School and take you home. Despite the fact that we love having you here and all the great things you have brought to this school there is nothing we can do. Mr Maclay, she’s all yours.”
I knew it. I had known it from the moment that I had received the letter. My father had tried getting rid of me, but sending me here had made me happy and that was the last thing he wanted. So he was going to take me back and make my life a literal hell before one of us, either him or me, killed me. And that would be it. And I would never see or hear from Willow again. I bit back the tears. I refused to cry in front of my Father.
“Mr Maclay, if you and your son could step outside a minute so I can have a word with your daughter it would be much appreciated.” Mr Giles said, not looking at me.
My father nodded and walked out of the room, my half-wit of a brother on his heels. As soon as the door shut I broke down. Mr Giles let me cry and for that I was grateful. I knew that this would be another last. Last time I would ever cry probably. My father seemed to feed on my tears and if I cried he hurt me more. After I had sobbed for a good five minutes I was finally beginning to slow.
“I tried Tara, I really did.” Mr Giles said as I reached for the tissues.
I nodded as I wiped my eyes.
“I kn-know, M-Mr G-Giles.”
I pulled a piece of paper and a pen from my bag and scribbled something quick down.
“C-could y-you g-give th-this t-to W-Willow p-please?” I asked, folding it over and holding it out towards him.
He nodded and then took the paper. He let my father and brother back in. They told me that my bags were already all packed and in the car. That and my little friend had been sent back to lessons. Thank heaven for small mercies. I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to my Willow. I followed my father out of the school and away from the only piece of happiness I have ever had. I just let myself replay mine and Willows first and last kiss over and over, remembering completely, knowing that that would probably be the last thing I let go through my mind, even when my father was killing me.
Toshi: I'M SORRY!!! DON'T HATE ME!!!
Lets hope Willow can help...
So so Sorry...:(