Rating: P.G 13
Pairing: W/T
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Joss Whedon.
Feedback: Yes Please.
Summary: Faith and Tara are best friends. Willow is Faiths’ cousin. Tara’s mom is dead and she lives with her father and brother. Set during Season three. Not set in Sunnydale. There is no such thing as the Hell mouth or Vampires, but Willow and Tara are witches. Oz and Willow broke up when Willow and Xander kissed, and didn’t get back together.
Note: Thoughts are in <>.
Note: Dedicated to everyone at the Kitten Board who keep Willow and Tara alive and happy.
Tara sighed and looked at the clock. Three twenty four. Only six minutes till she could leave. She turned and looked out the window, ignoring the teachers’ speech about the upcoming test. School just didn’t interest her anymore. Tara was smart. She knew she could pass all her subjects if she put the effort in, but it just didn’t matter to her any more. Nothing did, not without her mother around.
She was shaken out of her thoughts by the bell ringing. She grabbed her books and walked quickly out the classroom, not bothering to listen to the teacher’s reminder of homework. She made her way to the front of the school, where she knew Faith would be waiting for her. She kept her head down as she walked. No-one paid attention to her, which suited her fine. She hated being the centre of attention. She knew herself how shy she was. Whenever she met someone new, she usually stuttered so badly the person couldn’t understand her. The only people she had ever been herself in front of were Faith and her mother.
She turned the corner and saw Faith. The dark haired girl was wearing leather as usual and very little of it. Tara didn’t understand how Faith could be so confident about herself. Whenever they were out, and Faith saw a guy she liked, she would always make the first move. Tara knew that she would never be brave enough to do something like that.
They were not the sort of people you’d think were best friends. Tara was quiet and shy, and Faith was loud and a bit over-friendly at times. Faiths’ wardrobe was full of tight leather outfits, while Taras’ was full of skirts and peasant tops. Faith’s idea of a good time was going out and getting drunk, whereas Tara’s was staying at home reading or drawing. But they were best friends nonetheless, and always had been.
They both helped each other out too. Tara made sure Faith was up to date on all the classes she skipped, and Faith would always sort out anyone who was mean to Tara or looked at her the wrong way.
Faith turned around and smiled as she saw who had tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey Tara, you have fun in history?” She asked. Tara laughed, “As always,” she said sarcastically.
“You should have come with me.” Faith said to her. Tara sighed and said, “Faith, my dad would go crazy if he found out I was skipping classes.”
Faith turned to her and said, “Tara, you dad goes crazy at you for every little thing you do wrong.” Tara didn’t say anything; she knew her friend was right.
Faith saw the sad looked that appeared on her best friends’ face, and it made her so angry. The only people that Faith couldn’t get to stop being mean to Tara were her father and brother. Although Tara never spoke about it, Faith knew how badly they treated her. There had even been times when Tara had turned up at school with bruises, and had made lame excuses about falling or walking into a door. But Faith knew how they really got there.
Of course, she had tried to stand up to Taras’ father and brother before, but each time neither of them paid any attention to her.
Tara turned to her friend and asked, “So, do you wanna do anything tonight?”
Faith shook her head and replied, “Sorry, I’m stay at home girl. My cousin is arriving tonight.”
“Oh, I thought she wasn’t arriving till next week.” Tara said.
Faith nodded and said, “Me too, but she decided to get an earlier flight. She’s gonna finish the rest of the year here. Her and her parents don’t get on much; mainly because they ignore her, so she’s gonna stay with me and mom.”
They walked in silence for a few more minutes until Faith spoke, “hey, you wanna stay for dinner tonight?”
Tara smiled and said, “are you sure your cousin won’t mind?” Faith shook her head, “Nah, she’ll love you. And before you stat worrying about what your dad will say, you can call him when you get to my house, ok?”
Tara nodded, and they both got into Faiths’ car.
“So, what’s you cousin like exactly?” Tara asked.
Faith smiled, and replied, “Well, I’ve not seen her since that time I visited her in Sunnydale a few years ago, but from what I remember, she’s a lot like you.”
Tara frowned, not really sure what her friend meant, “Like me how?” She asked.
“Well, she’s shy, smart,funny and friendly. Trust me Tara; you’re really gonna like her.” Faith replied.
The car pulled to stop and they both got out and walked into the house.
Faith walked into the kitchen first, and got a shock at who she saw.
“Willow, what are you doing here just now? I thought you weren’t arriving till later!” She said as she rushed forward and hugged her cousin.
“I took the early flight.” Willow replied as she pulled back.
Faith smiled and said excitedly, “There’s someone I want you to meet.” She pulled Willow into the hallway.
“Willow, this is my best friend Tara, Tara this is my cousin Willow.”
Tara stood there, unable to move.
Willow held out her hand, which Tara gladly shook, and said, “hey Tara, nice to meet you.”
Tara smiled at her shyly and said, “You too Willow.”
They just continued to stare at each other.
< Wow! She’s gorgeous! Ok, why I am thinking that. I’m not supposed to think that. She’s a girl. But oh my god she’s such a beautiful girl. She has the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen. Keep calm, don’t start babbling, and just smile back.> Willow thought to herself.
“Hey Will, where’s my mom?” Faith asked. Willow reluctantly turned her gaze from Tara to Faith and said, “Oh, she had to go to work; she said she’d be back around seven.”
Faith smiled and asked, “So Will, what do you say me and Tara give you the grand tour around Denver.”
Willow smiled and said, “Sure, that’d be great.”
Faith turned Tara and asked, “That ok with you?”
Tara nodded, “absolutely, I’ll have to let my dad know though,” She said.
“Well I’ve got my cell-phone; you could call him from the car if you want.” Willow said.
Tara smiled at her and said, “Thanks Willow.”
< Ok, what’s happening? Why am I so attracted to her? Oz and I only broke up last week, so why am I thinking about her, I should be thinking about him shouldn’t I? But look at her; she’s got the most perfect face and smile. And her hair looks so soft… ok, I’ve really got to stop before I start drooling!> Willow thought.
They all headed out the front door together, Willow and Tara both trying not to get caught staring at each other.
T.B.C
whitewiccan.
Edited by: xita
at: 8/30/04 11:58 pm
I really like the start of this fic, and I'm looking forward to reading more of it. 
I love that Faith, and not Buffy for once, is the main best friend. Is Buffy and Xander, still, Willow's best friends? Will they ever visit Willow in Denver? Cos that would be fun. 
Will Willow maybe have a positive influence on Tara's grades? 
and I can't wait for more of this, but I'll be a patient Kitten.
i wonder how this will go can't wait!!
whitewiccan, 
and Fith arebes friends and that Faith and 
and cousins. When you take people who hate each other and make them related that just has to turn out funny. I find my self haing to ask if Buffy is gonna show up in this? The reaction 
! I cant wait to 
I loved the update. 
cliffhanger! I love the start to this! 
can i say that is a horibble place to stop? simply painful!!!! wonderful story, please continue at your own, fast, pace 
Ending it like that?
Update soon please?
keep up the good work.
You so can't leave it like that. We need more, please??? Great work, can't wait to see more. =)
Willow until she understand what she has done to Tara. But I am not, so I just hope she's coming around soon. 
awesome start. cant wait to see what happens next