Chapter 7Tara couldn't believe it. Willow had a girlfriend. It's all she had been thinking about all night. Willow. Girlfriend.
Of course she has a girlfriend. She's beautiful. She has a nice body. A cute voice. A smile that could light up the darkest room. Why wouldn't she have a girlfriend. Anyone would be lucky to have her. Tara wished she was that lucky person.
She's considered a nerd. That's why I didn't think she had one. Tara stopped jogging and started to walk. That was the reason. Since Willow was considered a loser, she just assumed she didn't have anyone.
Well I'm a stupid dumbass. That makes me sound like Cordelia. Tara cringed at that thought.
What do I do now. Do I just back off. Tara stopped walking. She shook her head.
No. I want to be closer to her. I want to be her friend. I want to know her. If she is happy with this girl then I am happy for her. I can be her friend. Tara smiled and started to jog again.
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"I hate math," Xander threw his pencil down.
"Xander we learned how to divide in elementary school," Willow said. They sat at one of the tables in the library as Giles stood at the counter going through some book returns.
"I know, but long division. I just can't get it. I've always sucked at math. Especially dividing and dividing more numbers then normal. Fuck no," Giles cleared his throat. Willow and Xander both looked at him. "Sorry," Xander said.
Willow looked back at Xander. "You can do this. I have faith in you," she smiled.
"Thanks," Xander looked at her. "But I don't need math."
"And why is that?"
"I'm going to own my own video game store one day," Xander smiled.
"Really," Willow said. "And um who is going to count the drawers and make sure all the money is right?" Xander just sat there and looked at her. "Exactly," Willow said.
"Money?" they both turned at the voice and saw Anya standing there. "I like money," she smiled.
"See" Xander pointed to his girlfriend as she approached the table. "She can handle the money."
"And what if you guys aren't together?" Willow said.
Anya gasped. "That is unexceptionable.," she sat next to Xander and put her arm around his shoulders and smiled at him. "We will be together forever."
"That's right baby," Xander said. He leaned in and kissed her. Willow felt a sting of jealous go through her as Giles rolled his eyes. She wanted that. A love like that. They were only teenagers and already knew what they felt. Knew they had love. Willow would never feel that. She knew she wouldn't. She looked down at the desk. "Do you want to stop for the day?" she asked.
"Uh sure," Xander said. "You okay?"
Willow looked up and smiled. "Of course. I have to go to the bathroom," she gathered up her books and put them in her bag. "I'll see you guys later."
"Hey we all usually meet at that small wall by the front doors before class," Xander said. "You should come after you well handle your business."
"She isn't doing business she is going pee," Anya said. "Or poop. I'm not sure."
"Anya," Giles said.
"I'll see you guys there," Willow walked out of the library. "Bye Uncle Giles," she waved at him.
"Have a nice day," he smiled at her.
Willow walked down the hallways, well it was more of a power walk then just a normal walk. She got to the gym doors and looked through them. Her heart dropped when she saw no Tara.
"Maybe you are stalking me," Willow jumped and turned to see Tara smiling at her.
"I.. Uh.. Well.. No.. I.. You.." Wilow went to walk away.
"No, no, no," Tara grabbed her arm. "It was a joke."
Willow looked at her. The look Tara gave her was so warm, so friendly. The smile on Tara's face was just breathe taking. In fact it took Willow a couple seconds to breathe normal. "I just like watching you play. I like the way you move." Willow's eye widen. "Oh god that sounded bad. So bad."
Tara chuckled. "I love watching you run so we're even." Now Tara's eyes widen. "Oh god now that sounded bad. I didn't mean I was like checking your backside out. Well I mean you have a nice backside, but that would be rude of me to say, but you really do," Tara put her hands. "Not that I've checked you out or anything. Okay well maybe I have, but it's not my fault you're beauti.." Tara stopped. She turned to walk away.
"No, no, no," Willow grabbed her arm.
Tara looked at her. "Don't tell your girlfriend."
"My what?" Willow asked.
"Your girlfriend. Last night. The phone call?"
It took Willow a couple seconds. "Oh," she laughed. "Erin is one of my best friends from back home. She is straight. Not my girlfriend."
Relief flew through Tara. "She isn't? But she called you baby girl."
"Erin calls Trinity and I that. Trinity is straight too and dates Lucas. They are my other best friends."
"Oh," Tara couldn't help the big smile that spread across her face. "So you don't have a girlfriend?"
"No," Willow smiled. "Do.. you?" Wilow asked slowly.
"No," Tara smiled. "I don't usually date. Not my thing."
"Me either," Willow said.
"Unless I find a girl I really want to be with."
"Really?" Willow asked. "And do you.. have anyone.. in mind?" Willow was scared for the answer. She hoped Tara didn't like anyone unless that someone was her.
She doesn't even know you and you don't know her."There is someone I want to get to know better," Tara looked at her.
"Well it's always nice to get to know new people," Willow said. Just then her phone vibrated. She took it out of her pocket and looked at the text.
Tara took this moment to check Willow out. She was wearing tight jeans with a baggy sweater. The sweater had a picture of Pluto on it. "Pluto was always my favorite."
"What?" Willow looked up at Tara.
"Your sweater," Tara smiled at her. "Pluto was always my favorite."
"Oh," Willow looked down at her sweater. "Oh mine too," she looked back up at Tara. "I guess wearing sweaters with cartoon characters on it is kind of childish isn't it?"
"I think you are cute as anything," Tara said.
Willow's face turned bright red and she looked back at her text.
"Is it Erin?"
"Wha?" Willow looked back at Tara. "Erin?"
"Your friend," Tara said.
"Oh her. No, it's uh Xander."
"Do you have to go?"
"Uh," Willow looked back at her text. "He wants me to meet them at the wall out front."
"Well I guess you better go" Tara said. She really didn't want Willow to go. She liked being around her. She liked the feelings she got around her. She was happy. Just being in her presence.
Willow looked back up at her. Tara's eyes were memorizing. She was memorizing. Willow knew she told Xander and Anya she would meet them there, but the feelings she was feeling right now were ones she didn't want to stop. She felt comfortable. She felt, well she wasn't quite sure what else she felt. It was feelings she didn't know. "Are you going to play basketball?" she asked.
"Well it's about 10 minutes before class so I don't really have time," Tara said.
"Right,"
Stupid question Rosenburg. Of course she wouldn't have time."Where is your first class?" Tara asked.
"Um Mrs. Carter."
"Can I walk you?" Tara asked.
The question shocked Willow. She didn't expect it. She knew she should be cautious, but she didn't want Tara to leave. "I'd like that," she finally said. The smile that spread across Tara's face made Willow's heart race. She looked happy with the answer. Willow had never seen someone look at her like that.
"Tara," Mike came running up to the pair. "Cordelia and Danny are fighting. It's fucking hilarious. Come on."
"Uh," Tara looked from Willow to him. "No I'm gonna walk with Willow."
"What?" Mike looked from one girl to the other.
"No it's okay," Willow looked from Mike to Tara. "Go on," she tried to show a smile that would hide the fact that Tara leaving her made her heart break.
"I want to walk with you," Tara smiled at her.
The look Tara gave Willow shocked Mike. He had never seen Tara smile like that. Never seen her look at someone like she was looking at Willow. "It's cool," Mike said quickly. "Go on you guys. I'll let you know how it goes," he gave Tara's arm a light tap and headed back off down the hall.
"You didn't have to do that," Willow said.
"You're right," Tara said. "I didn't have too," she smiled.
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First period felt like it went on forever. Willow wanted to see Tara. She knew she should be cautious. She knew she shouldn't get to close, but what was the harm in having a crush? Just a little crush. Nothing more.
"Willow!" Buffy shouted.
"What?" Willow looked at her.
Buffy laughed. "You have to stop doing that."
"Sorry," Willow said.
"Best friend," Anya hugged Willow. Willow tensed. She hated that she did that whenever someone touched her. Well she hated when someone touched her, but she hated tensing because then people wondered why. They asked why. They wanted answers that Willow couldn't give. Anya pulled away. "Time for gym," she kissed Xander. "Bye," and with that Willow was drug down the hall. Either Anya didn't notice that Willow always tensed up or she just didn't ask. Maybe she knew? Maybe Xander told her? She hoped not. She didn't even like Xander knowing. Although he didn't know everything. At least she hoped not.
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"Where were you this morning?" Rosa caught up with Tara in the hallway.
"I walked Willow to class," Tara said.
"Ah Willow," Rosa smiled.
"Yes Willow," Tara smiled.
"Stop," Rosa jumped in front of Tara and held onto her shoulders.
"What?" Tara was confused.
"Willow," Rosa said.
"Where?" Tara smiled and look around her smiled dropped. She looked back at Rosa who was smiling. "Why'd you do that."
"Willow."
Tara smiled.
"Aw," Rosa said.
"What?"
"You smile when I say her name."
"Oh I do not," Tara batted her hand at her friend.
"Willow."
Tara smiled. "Stop!" she shoved Rosa away and kept walking down the hall.
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"Okay guys," Ms. Carmen said as the class sat on the bleachers. "It's raining out today."
By the time Tara got to the locker room Willow and Anya were already in the gym. She spotted Willow on the bleachers, but Willow was talking to Anya about something and didn't notice her.
"So we will have a free day." The classes cheered. "Play basketball. Volleyball. Badminton. Whatever. Jog around the gym. Just make sure you do something."
"I am so bad at sports," Willow said.
"Me too," Anya replied. "But badminton is kind of fun. Want to play that?"
"Sure," Willow got up and looked around the gym. She spotted Tara talking to Rosa, Tanya, Harmony, Cordelia, Mike, and Ross.
"You coming?" Anya, who was halfway down the bleachers, looked back at Willow.
"Yeah," Willow followed her.
"Hey," Tara jogged up to them when they got to the bottom. "What are you guys gonna do?"
"Play badminton," Anya said. "I'm assuming you are going to play basketball?"
"Of course," Tara smiled. She looked at Willow. "Want to play?"
"What? No. Me. Sports. No."
"Oh come on," Tara said. "Unless you are scared of getting to distracted," she smirked.
"No," Willow smiled. "I just suck." she shrugged.
"I can teach you," Tara smiled.
"If I was on your team, they'd lose and everyone would be mad," Willow said. Memories of her other high school gym days flooded into her mind. She couldn't deal with that again.
"Then we will just play," Tara smiled. "All three of us of course," she looked at Anya.
"I can throw the orange ball into the hoop," Anya said proudly.
"I can't even do that," Willow pouted.
That pout was the cutest thing Tara ever saw and she wanted nothing more then to kiss Willow right then. "Don't do that," Tara said a little breathless.
"Why?" Willow un-pouted and stared at her.
"Just don't," Tara shook her head. "Basketball?"
"Tara you playing?" Ross shouted.
"Hold on," she said to Anya and Willow and jogged up to her friends. "I'm gonna play with Willow and Anya."
"You can't be serious," Ross said.
"Why are you hanging with the losers?" Tanya asked.
"Maybe she has a thing for one," Cordelia said.
"Excuse me," Tara said.
"I think you have a crush on Willow," Cordelia replied.
"I thought she had a girlfriend," Harmony said.
"Well she doesn't," Tara said.
"What's it matter," Cordelia stepped up to Tara. "She is a loser. A dork. Why do you want to hang with her."
"Because she's beautiful and nice and sweet and if you have a problem with it," she grabbed the basketball Ross was holding. "You can shove it," Tara stepped up to Cordelia. "Because I don't really give a damn what you think." She turned around and dribbled the ball back to where Anya and Willow stood.
"She smiles every time she hears Willow's name," Rosa said looking at Cordelia. "She walked her to class."
"She looks at her with such happiness," Mike said. "I've never seen her look at someone like that."
"So what if she likes her," Rosa said. "Willow seems nice and if your friend is happy," she stepped towards Cordelia. "Then you should be happy," she jogged after Tara. "Hey," Willow, Tara, and Anya turned around. "Have room for one more?"
"The more the merrier," Anya smiled.
"Are you always this perky?" Tara asked.
"Uh yes," Anya smiled and grabbed the ball from Tara. She tossed it at the hoop near her and it fell short about 2 feet and hit some boy in the head. "Sorry," Anya shouted.
"I thought you could get the orange ball in the hoop," Tara mocked.
"I can," Anya said. "Sometimes."
"I sure hope you score better with Xander then at basketball," Rosa chuckled.
"Oh I do," Anya smiled and went after the ball.
Rosa laughed, "I like her. She's funny."
"Yeah she's something," Willow smiled. Tara looked at her. The way Willow smiled made her heart race. She was so beautiful. Tara couldn't get over it. She had never seen someone so beautiful. Willow looked at her. "What?" she asked.
"You're beautiful," Tara said so quickly she didn't even have time to think.
Willow's breath caught and she just stared at Tara. She had never had someone look at her and call her beautiful besides her friends, but it wasn't like that. It wasn't without a reason. Without her being dressed up or something. It was out of no where. In the middle of gym class. In gym clothes. With her hair pulled up. In a baggy hoodie. And Tara called her beautiful.
"Okay what's next?" Anya said.
"Let's get closer to the hoop first," Rosa said. The four girls made their way to a hoop and stood a couple feet away from it. "You guys know who dribble?"
"Of course," Anya said. She let the ball bounce to the ground. It came up and she hit it again, but the ball went sideways. When it came up Anya reached to smack it and the ball shot high in the air. Rosa jumped under it and caught it.
"Uh no," Rosa said. "Not how it works. Can you catch?"
"Yes," Anya took a couple steps back. "Throw it." Rosa looked at Tara who looked kind of worried. Rosa gently tossed the ball to Anya. The ball slipped right by her hands and hit her face. Anya fell back with a noise and grabbed onto Willow who fell down with her.
"Shit," Rosa said and ran up to the girls.
"You guys okay?" Tara knelt down in front of Willow.
"Anya I'm sorry," Rosa approached the girl and knelt down in front of her. "Are you okay?"
"I think," Anya sat up and rubbed her face.
"Let me see," Rosa grabbed onto her face. A couple kids around them were laughing.
Tara looked at Willow who was staring at Anya. Somehow Willow's hoodie sleeve slipped up a little and marks caught Tara's eyes. She looked down and saw lines going across her wrist. Scars. Tara let out a small gasp. Willow looked at her then followed her eyes. Willow eyes widened in fear and she slide her sleeve down. She looked back at Tara who was now looking at her. Anya and Rosa both noticed the fast movement of Willow hand to her arm and looked at the two girls.
"Willow," Tara whispered. Willow jumped up and took off out the gym. Everyone in the gym room looked at them.
"What happened?" Rosa looked from the doors Willow just ran out of to Tara.
Tara sat there for a couple seconds then took off after Willow.
Ash