I am so sorry! I have been a very naughty kitten. I have neglected my story *hangs head in shame*. I do have an excuse though! I just moved and was without internet for the longest time. Renovating a run down apartment and working full time really consumes your life! However, I have come to say that things are finally calming down and I have an update! Unfortunately, it is a little short, but that just seems how this is going to play out. I begin to write and I get to a point where it think "ah this is where I want to stop, but it makes it a little short". It is all part of the plan though! Now, to the replies.
Alex_Vixen: I am glad that you enjoyed the update and I hope you continue to enjoy my story!
angieb86: Yay indeed! Got love the hot chicks behind the register! Thanks for reading and I love that you love it!
cyteach: Thanks! Lucky for you, this update includes the backstory! Thanks for reading!
Bewitchedyke: My loverly beta, I am sorry that I did not send this chapter to you first, but I was just too excited that I have something written. The next one will be yours to view first!
Taylsa: I am sorry :( I know i promised a longer update, but this just seems how it is going to play out. I take too long to write and then I come to a point where I think it is a good place to start. I hope the story line makes up for the length! And wouldn't we all love to buy stuffs from the amazing Tara!
Justskipit: I am not giving anything away! That's how I plan to keep you reading
Wouldn't you be completely smitten by Tara as well?
UPDATE
Tara paced her bedroom. She hadn’t been this nervous since she first moved to Sunnydale four years earlier. She looked around her room and thought of how far she had come.
After that terrible night when she lost her parents and her livelihood, Tara had called her only living relative, her great aunt, Iris. A two day bus ride had led Tara to the front door of her mother’s aunt’s house, a tall stone house set in the quiet, albeit strange, neighborhood of Sunnydale. Upon seeing her great aunt and her striking resemblance to her mother, Tara cried for a week, finally letting her grief overcome her.
Tara, shy and broken stayed in her room for about a month, only coming out to use the bathroom and when her aunt forced her to eat. The walls of the bedroom were bare, unadorned with photos or posters. The only signs that someone lived in the room were the neatly stacked clothes in the drawers, the well-worn books on the small bookshelf, and the picture of Tara’s parent on the little night stand next to the bed.
She spent her days reading the books in her room; books about pirates, fairies, ones about great battles and tragic heroes. When she had read through all the books at least twice, Tara had decided to come out of her room. Her Aunt Iris had been watching TV, her blue eyes drifting shut and her graying golden blond hair glowing in the soft lamplight, when she heard the light creak of the stairs. She watched as Tara crossed the room, blanket wrapped around her small frame, and sat at the far end of the couch. Iris didn’t dare speak for fear of scaring the poor girl. They spent the rest of the night watching television in quiet companionship.
The next morning Tara willingly joined her aunt for breakfast. Juggling with various conversation starters, Iris asked her niece if she would like to go to the library (she knew how much Tara loved to read). With a small nod of approval, they set off for the library where Iris got Tara her first library card. This became a routine; they would have breakfast together, Tara would complete online coursework (she decided she wanted to be home schooled), and once a week they would make a trip to the library. The evenings consisted of the pair, each huddled in their own end of the couch, Iris watching television and Tara reading.
Over the months and years, their relationship grew, finally becoming a strong, close friendship. Tara finally opened up telling Iris everything that happened that one night. She had spent that night safely tucked in Iris’ arms and she sobbingly told her the story of how she lost her parents and how her mother’s spirit had saved her and the world. Tara showed her the mark that was over her heart and her aunt reassured her that it was nothing to worry about and that her mother had finally stopped the evil. She felt she was able to confide in Iris; telling her of her dreams and plans for the future. Iris had been supportive all the way. The thought snaps Tara back into the present.
Why did I do this to myself? Tara thought.
This was to be her last year of school before she would be able to attend college and so Tara decided the best way to prepare would be to attend a year of public school.
Today was to be her first day. Not just for school either! Today was to be her first day of work as well. She knew college would be expensive (even if it were only the local university) and she did not want to burden her aunt with the expenses.
She felt very fortunate to have found the neat magic store with the kind owner, Mr. Giles. Her mother had been a witch and so was her aunt (it was one of the things they were able to bond over). With her extensive knowledge of magic, Mr. Giles had offered her a job and subsequently hired her on the spot. She had been delighted.
Until now that is.
Now she had to face school and work. The butterflies in her stomach were rapidly growing into pterodactyls. She glanced at the clock.
7:40 am.
Gulp. Oh Goddess. Time to go.
She grabbed her backpack and walked out the door.
The day passed in a blur of chatter and pages of notes. Tara loved it. She loved all that she was learning and, although she had not herself engaged in social interaction, she like being surrounded by people and enjoyed listening in on their amicable conversations. It had all ended too quickly. The idea of work did not excite Tara nearly as much; she would be forced to interact with other people which made her nervous. She had a tendency to stutter when she got nervous, which, consequently made her even more nervous.
Heart pounding Tara raced to her locker to collect her things so that she would have to grab a calming tea before going to her first day on the job. After she had placed her books in her locker, Tara shut it and turned to walk down the hallway. She was almost out of the building when she saw a flash of red out of the corner of her eye. Turning to see what had caught her attention, Tara gaped as she saw a beautiful red head struggling to open her locker. She was gorgeous! Tara had never felt this way before and she wasn’t sure what exactly what she was feeling. Unfortunately, the delighted feeling quickly fled when the red head succeeded in opening her locker, revealing a mirror on the door. Tara quickly turned and fled out of fear of being caught staring. With a last sigh she left the school and walked into the warm sunlight, thoughts of the striking red head tumbling through her head.
Maybe I will see her again…
