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TITLE: Lessons In Love
AUTHOR: Laragh
CHAPTER RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: Joss, UPN, FOX, ME and anyone else associated with the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer own the characters of Willow and Tara and anyone else who may appear, I am simply a lowly viewer, trying to write some happier situations for, who I consider, the greatest TV couple ever.
SUMMARY: Highschool fic! You guys know I'm bad at summaries, so I’m gonna go with my standard 'happy, light reading.'
SPOILERS: Completely AU, so I doubt any. At most, the odd reference or piece of dialogue. Not supernatural, no way am I smart enough to write a magic fic
FEEDBACK: I love it.
Chapter 6
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Tara flashed her hall pass to a teacher as she walked down the corridor towards the library. She knew Willow had a free period and would be finishing off her speech for tonight. Closing the heavy doors of the library behind her, she scanned the large room and saw the back of girlfriend’s red hair sitting at the table near the middle of the room.
I have a girlfriend
The thought echoed in her mind in a singsong voice and she bit her lip to contain the giggle that came from it. It was the library, after all, she was supposed to be quiet. Plus she was technically supposed to be in class, so there it would be no good to draw attention to herself. She sat in the seat next to Willow, who was too engrossed in her own work to notice the body beside her. Tara stared at her for a moment, bemused that she didn’t notice her arrival, before leaning in to whisper in the redhead’s ear.
“You’re cute when you concentrate.”
Willow whipped her head around at the sound, almost hitting Tara’s head with her own, but the brunette anticipated the move and pulled back just enough so that their lips met lightly instead, barely grazing each other.
“Hi baby,” Willow whispered when the shock had worn off slightly, “What’re doing here?”
“Finished my English assignment early. Told Mr. Kelly I had cramps so I could come and see you.”
“You lied to a teacher?!”
“I can always go back…” Tara pretended to start to stand up but was pulled back down by the smaller girl.
“No, no. Please stay. I just meant, you did that for me?”
“Of course. Don’t worry though, no schoolwork has been abandoned. I know you wouldn’t approve of that.”
“I approve of anything that gets me more Tara-time,” Willow replied, grinning bashfully.
Tara ducked her head at the compliment and put a hand on Willow’s knee.
“How’s your speech going?” she asked, looking up.
“Oh it’s okay. It’s pretty boring, you know, just about uniforms, whether schools should have them or not. It’s just an in-house debate, not a competition or anything. Like a practice round to prepare us, but I’m still nervous.”
“I had to wear a uniform in Jersey. It kinda sucked. I guess it gives the other kids less to tease you about… And I know you’ll do great, honey. I’ll be right there cheering you on.”
“You know you don’t have to come…”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to.”
A shrill ringing ran through the room, the quietness beforehand making it seem all the louder. Willow, knowing the school rules flawlessly, widened her eyes in panic.
“You’re gonna get in trouble! You’re supposed to be back before class ends!”
“Sshh, I know sweetie,” Tara replied, standing up, then after a quick glance around the room to make sure to coast was clear she leaned down and gave the redhead a chaste kiss. She then quickly turned and ran out of the library in an effort to get back before her English teacher realised she’d stayed out over time.
Willow watched her leave, then a broad grin broke out on her face.
Sneaking out of class to see me. She is just the sweetest… Hehe. My girlfriend’s a bit of a rebel. Willow Rosenberg is dating a bad girl.
Laughing at her own thought and deciding that Tara was definitely not a ‘bad girl’, she took her pen and started doodling on her paper, lost in thought about her girlfriend and the catholic school uniform she had had to wear before.
Wonder if she still has it?
****
Willow looked out into the small group of chairs set up in the gymnasium for any spectators that wanted to watch the debate. Right now it had a couple of parents and some teachers who came for moral support, but seeing as it wasn’t a competition and most people had better things to do on a Friday night, it was pretty deserted. Her face lit up when she saw a familiar brunette slip into one of the seats and give her a little wave.
She really came! Just to see me!
She was used to parents not really caring one way or the other what she got up to and her friends saying that anything requiring you to stay in school after the designated times to be their idea of nightmare, or as Xander had put it, “Bell ring, Xander bye.”
She loved her friends, and knew she could always rely on their support, they always wished her good luck when they knew she had a debate, but to have someone actively come to watch her, to want to be there as Tara had so insisted she had, just because…well, just because, really struck a cord with the redhead and she felt even more thankful and pleased that they had made their way into each others lives.
She briefly thought about Anya, and although she didn’t always get on with her best friend’s girlfriend, if they made each other feel even a little of what her girlfriend had made her feel in such a short period of time, then she could do nothing but be happy for them.
Deciding to leave that train of thought before she started analysing certain…physical feelings Tara was able to stir in her and not wanting to think about either Xander or Anya in that capacity, she started to stand to go over and thank Tara was coming when Mr. Ramos, her debate coach took to the podium in the middle of the stage and announced that they were ready to start.
The entire Sunnydale High debate team had six students, four Juniors and two Seniors. For competitions they were broken up into teams, varying on things like who was available or how many people were required to speak. Some members worked best with the one-on-one style, while others gelled easier with other students and worked well in teams. Willow could work either way, something Mr. Ramos liked a lot, as she was almost always available as well.
Willow settled on a small wave and a beaming smile in the direction of her girlfriend, before setting her features into her resolve face when the first speaker from the other team got up to speak.
Tara smiled backed, internally chuckling when she saw Willow’s determined look. She admired that the girl was unwavering in her attempts to excel, even if it was just a practice round. Judging from the seating arrangement of the teams, Tara figured that her girlfriend would be the last speaker and settled down to listen to the people who were speaking before her.
As she’d suspected, the other five students made their points before Willow stood and made her way over to the podium. The redhead sought out Tara’s eyes as she took a deep breath before beginning her speech. The brunette gave her a reassuring smile and a small thumbs-up sign.
Tara listened intently as Willow made her arguments, speaking clearly and concisely, and rebutting some of the points made by the opposing team in a civilised manner. Tara was thoroughly impressed at how calm and collected her girl was. Even if she was still nervous on the inside, she wasn’t showing it at all, in fact in Tara’s eyes, she downright owned the stage.
Willow finished her speech with a flourish and made her way back to her seat, a content smile on her face. The judges, consisting of Mr. Ramos and two other English teachers talked privately for a few minutes, before announcing Willow’s team the winner and thanking everyone for coming. The teams disbanded and Willow made her way to Tara, embracing her in a warm, lingering hug.
“You were so amazing. I loved hearing you speak,” Tara whispered into her ear.
Willow blushed, but it was concealed as her head rested in the crook of the brunette’s neck, which she kissed in response to the compliment, smiling in surprise and delight when she felt a small shiver go through the taller girl. They pulled back when they heard a throat being cleared behind them.
“Willow,” Mr. Ramos started, “Everyone agreed you were wonderful tonight. We have a tournament coming up next month, and I think you’d be excellent in it. It’s a one-on-one style event and it’s state-wide, progressing from the first debate to quarter-finals and so on.”
Willow nodded eagerly as Tara looked on proudly, her arm snaked around the redhead’s waist.
“I’m in, for sure,” Willow said.
“Great. I’ll let you know more at our next meeting. Good evening girls.”
“Thanks, sir.”
“Night,” Tara said to the teacher before addressing her girlfriend again, “See? Amazing”
“Oh shush, you. Wanna get out of here?”
“I think that’s an excellent idea, Ms. Rosenberg,” Tara replied, letting the arm around the other girl’s waist fall slightly so she could take her hand instead.
They walked out of the school hand-in-hand and the brunette steered them towards the carpark when they got outside.
“I drove,” Tara explained off her girlfriend’s confused look. She walked them to her car and Willow giggled.
“You have a Bug?” She asked through the laughter as she took in the dark blue Volkswagen beetle.
“Hey, Alexis is sensitive. Don’t laugh at her.”
Tara opened the passenger door and Willow slid into the car, relaxing comfortably into the seat. Tara went around and got in the driver side.
“You named your car Alexis?” Willow asked.
“Yep,” Tara nodded and saw she’d have to explain further, “I loved Winnie the Pooh when I was little and when I got Alexis, I had just read some more of A.A Milne’s writing, he’s the guy who wrote Pooh, and he has a poem called ‘Now We Are Six’ and there’s a line that goes ‘I found a little beetle, so that beetle was his name, and I called him Alexander and he answered just the same.’ So seeing as I didn’t really think my car was a guy, I named her Alexis.”
She put the key in the ignition and turned the engine on.
“And she purrs like a kitten,” she finished, smirking.
“I like kittens,” Willow said fondly, smiling too, “They’re always so friendly. So, how long have you had Alexis, then?”
“I got my licence a year ago…well, my learner’s permit, I got my full licence seven months ago, but I got Alexis a month after getting my permit. I saved for years beforehand to get her,” Tara replied, reversing out of the parking space and out of the carpark, “I wanted this car since I was thirteen and I saved all my Christmas and Birthday money since then. And my grandparents helped pay as well.”
“I’m really looking forward to our date,” Willow blurted out as they made their way down the streets of Sunnydale, “I know you haven’t been in town long, but there’s a new fifties Diner place opened in the mall. You wanna go there before the movie?”
“Sounds great, honey. What movie are we seeing?”
“Either one that has a bunch of half-naked girls running around a beach or one that has a child that goes all demonic and tried to terrorize the entire village.”
“Doesn’t matter to me. I’ll be watching you the entire time,” Tara replied with a shy smile. She pulled up outside the Rosenberg household as she finished her sentiment.
“You wanna come-” Willow’s offer was cut off by her own yawn and she smiled sheepishly.
“You’ve had a long day sweetheart. Why don’t you go in and get some sleep. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. 6 o’ clock?”
Willow nodded gratefully and undid her seatbelt, leaning across the car kiss her girlfriend. The brunette eagerly moved forward and met Willow halfway, their lips crashing together. Tara felt a jolt go straight through her at the contact and chuckled into the kiss.
“Are my kisses funny?” Willow asked, pulling back and looking bemused.
“No, I was just thinking of a song I was listening to earlier…here, give me your cell.”
Willow wordlessly handed the girl her cell phone, wondering what was going on. They’d exchanged numbers on their first study date and had been texting since so she knew Tara wasn’t programming her number in. Tara handed the phone back and Willow saw the message bank was open with some words written in an unsent text.
“Listen to that when you go in. It reminds me of you,” the brunette said shyly.
“I will,” Willow promised before leaning in for another kiss, cupping the taller girl’s cheeks so she could deepen it.
Pulling back, breathless a few minutes later she gave her girl one last peck before getting out of the car. Tara rolled down her window and waved as the other girl made her way to her front door.
“Night Will.”
“Night Tare. Night Alexis.”
When Willow was safely inside, she pulled away and continued on to her own house.
***
Inside Willow’s bedroom, the redhead had booted up her laptop and was typing the song that Tara had written for her, thinking to herself.
She has a song that reminds her of me…hope it’s a good one … hmm … MGMT …weird band name…okay…Electric Feel. And downloading.
She checked her email while the song downloaded, forwarding a few jokes onto some people before seeing the song had finished. She plugged her earphones in and pressed play, letting the music and lyrics of the song flow through her.
The song finished and Willow had a huge smile on her face. She grabbed her cell and keyed a few buttons before grabbing a t-shirt to sleep in and settling into bed.
***
Tara closed her bedroom door behind her. She had talked to her Mom for a few minutes before deciding to retreat to her bedroom so she was well rested for her date. She had just gotten under the covers and had turned off her lamp when she heard her cell beep. She flipped the cover, grinning when she saw it was Willow who had texted.
Ur my electric girl 2. Sweet dreams baby. X
Last edited by Laragh on Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I didn't get to read the whole update because I'm at a friends house and we're leaving soon, but I really want to leave feedback for every chapter this time. 
So I read up to the first stary thingy and what I read was excellent as always! I'll be sure to read the rest tomorrow!
.....and yeah i like those stories...and hey who doesn't? but i did miss the "easy reading"....and i really like your setting of them all being in high school and seeing the sweet, nervous, and shy interactions of the high school willow and tara....so anyways that's my jumbled up feedback and thoughts of your kickass story....cant wait to read more