Title: The Studio
Author: Anna…Piper…whatever
Email: foreverpiper@yahoo.com
Feedback: I love feedback…bring it on!! i'll take anything!
Spoilers: None, completely AU
Summary: Tara is looking to take some kickboxing classes, she meets Willow there…and the rest, as they say, is history.
Disclaimer: Don’t own crap…just this story.
Rating: PG-13
Couples: W/T, X/A
Notes: There is no hellmouth, no vampires, and no horrible nerds in this story…it’s also set in LA…so no Sunnydale.
Chapter One
Tara let out a sigh of relief after the last box was unpacked. She had just moved to LA from New York, trying to begin a new life, away from all that she had left behind. Her past was something she cared to not think about much. Tara McClay was a mystery to some, but invisible to most. Back in New York she had been the person no one really cared much about. She kept to herself and had very few friends. Moving to LA, she hoped to change that. She told herself that she would get away from all that loneliness, find a job, make friends, and start a whole new life. After searching for a few weeks she had found the perfect apartment…cheap, yet spacey and comfortable. But best of all, it was close to this quaint little coffee shop she had fallen in love with just across the street called “Pete’s”.
Getting up, Tara decided it was time to get another cup of coffee, as she hadn’t been there all day, due to unpacking all of her belongings. Placing the last book into the bookshelf she grabbed her keys and set of for caffeineated goodness.
Walking into the door of the Pete’s, she went to her usual table and sat down. About two minutes later, a young man with sandy blonde hair and gentle brown eyes put a steaming mug of coffee in front of her.
“Thanks Charlie.” She said, glancing up at him and giving him a grateful look.
“No problem Tar.” He winked charmingly, before walking away to take someone else’s order.
She had made friends with Charlie about 3 days after she had come to LA. He was funny, charming, and possibly one of the best listeners Tara had ever come to meet. At 19 years old he was working this job to get himself through college, and even though he was 4 years younger than Tara the two understood each other perfectly. You could sit there and spill out your heart to him for hours, and unlike most people, he’d actually listen…and Tara was so grateful to have a friend like him.
After he’d finished bringing food to the couple next to Tara, he pulled a chair and plumped himself across from her. Tara smiled at him. “What’s up?” she asked him.
He grinned. “Now that you mention it, I found something that may spark your interest.” He pulled a newspaper clipping out of his pocket and slid it across the table.
She looked at him and read the headline out loud, “Sunny Delight or Sunny Fright: What you didn’t know was in your breakfast drink.” She raised an eyebrow, amused.
Charlie shook his head and rolled his eyes, “The other side!”
Tara turned it over and read the article. She looked up. “Kickboxing?”
He beamed.
“What makes you think I’d be interested in taking kickboxing classes?”
“Well you always said you wanted to get involved in something…this is perfect! And it’s only a block away from here so after your classes you can come and tell me all about it!”
Tara just looked at him.
“Oh come on Tara! Just promise me you’ll give it a try.” He looked at her with pathetic eyes, “Please? For me?” He made his lip give an exaggerated tremble.
Tara chuckled.
“Come on, just go there after your coffee and check the place out. Maybe you’ll find some gorgeous babe there, eh?” He waggled his eyebrows.
Tara laughed, “Alright! Alright! You’ve convinced me!”
“Aha!! I new the babe thing’d get you to check it out!” He grinned.
She shook her head; “I’m only doing it so you’ll get off my case.” She stuck her tongue out at him and took the last swig of her coffee.
Charlie laughed. Tara started to get her money out of her pocket but Charlie just shook his head. “It’s on the house if you go now.” He grinned.
“Fine!” Tara laughed, and walked over to the door, “But if I end up missing my interview…!” He laughed as she walked out the door, before picking up her empty coffee cup and bringing it to the back to get washed.
***
Looking at the newspaper clip still clutched in her hand she read over it again. It sounded interesting to say the least, and she was looking to meet new people. ‘I guess I can give it a try.’ Glancing down at the clipping again, she checked the address. ‘There it is.’ She stopped and looked up at the studio. ‘Doesn’t look too bad.’
Opening the door she looked around to find a person she could talk to. The studio wasn’t at all what she expected to find. It had a ring on the far left corner with piles of sparring gear next to it. There were gloves of all sizes, kneepads, elbow pads, chest covers, headgear, mouthpieces, and some things that Tara had never seen before. To the right of the ring she could see 2 punching bags hanging from the ceiling and in front of the ring she saw 2 more movable punching bags by the gear, probably used for kicking exercises.
A huge mirror covered the right wall opposite of the ring and gear and Tara could see an open space that surely lead into another room.
“In here!” She heard a female voice coming from the open door a few feet in front of her and to her right that was undoubtedly the studio office. Tara took a few paces and found herself staring at the most beautiful thing she had ever set her eyes on. Her breath caught, and she could feel her heartbeat picking up. ‘Oh my God.’ The girl had fiery red hair and the most stunning green eyes she had ever seen.
“Can I help you?” The gorgeous girl asked, looking up. ‘Wow. Wait, wow? Why am I wowing? I’ve never wowed before…’ The girl thought.
Tara shook her head to clear her thoughts, “Hi.” She blinked.
“Hi.” The girl said, smiling. Ok Will…be cool.
‘Say something!’ Tara scolded herself. “Um, yes, I-I was thinking about taking some lessons. A friend of mine told me to come and check this place out…and, well, I can’t really refuse him anything.” She gave a nervous laugh. ‘Stupid!’ Tara thought. ‘I can’t really refuse him anything? What’s wrong with me?’ She slapped herself internally.
The redhead beamed, “Well I’m glad you came to check us out. Well, what kind of classes were you thinking of taking?”
“Um…I’m not really sure.” ‘Oh my God, she’s going to think I’m a total loony!’
“Well let me just show you what classes we offer. Feel free to ask any questions.” She pulled out a piece of paper with time schedules and the classes they offered. Tara took the paper. “It’s kind of slow today. We just opened up two weeks ago and we’re just getting started.” The redhead smiled again, showing off pearly whites, “Willow…uh, Willow is me.” She gave an embarrassed chuckle, “Willow Rosenberg.”
‘Willow…it suits her.’ Tara grinned. “Tara McClay.”
‘Tara.’ Willow thought. ‘I like it.’ She grinned.
Tara looked at the sheet in your hand and looked up at Willow, “What would you suggest?”
“Hmm…well that depends on what you’re interested in. The beginner classes for adults are kickboxing, fitness kickboxing and grappling. But then there’s also women’s body sculpting, which is pretty much just lifting weights to tone up the body…not that you need it, cause well...look at you…” She gulped. ‘I so didn’t just tell her that she was hot…’
Tara blushed. She thought for a moment, “Well kickboxing sounds pretty fun…I could do that. Are the trainers nice? Or are they like drill sergeants?”
Willow laughed then explained, “Buffy, that’s the adult trainer, is really nice. We’ve been best friends for a while now, and Mr. Giles, her dad, owns the shop. I’m the only one here now though. I’m the website coordinator. There’s also Xander, another of my best friends and he’s the children’s instructor, his wife Anya, she handle’s all our finances, and then Dawn, Buffy’s sister. She doesn’t really work here but she’s always around helping out after school…when schools in, that is…but hey,” she laughed and shrugged, “summer!”
Tara smiled.
“Sounds like a nice little family you guys have.”
“It is,” Willow smiled. There was a lot of smiling going around. Things were silent for a moment until Tara broke the silence.
“So the kickboxing classes are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 – 8:00?” She asked, consulting the sheet and looking up for conformation.
Willow nodded. “Yep, that’s right. And the cost is really cheap too…only fifty dollars a month. I know it may sound kinda expensive, but most places can get up to one hundred fifty a month. So…” Willow shrugged and gave a sheepish smile.
Tara laughed.
Tara clapped her hands together, “Well, where do I sign up?” She beamed.
Willow got out the papers quickly and handed them to Tara. “You can start whenever you’d like to. I’m guessing you’re over 18 right?” Willow blushed. ‘I’m guessing your over 18? What am I saying!? Or course she’s over 18!’
Tara laughed and nodded, “Yes, I’m 24.”
Willow lighted up, “I thought so…not about the you being 24 cause how would I know that? Just about the being over 18.” She chuckled nervously, “Heh, sorry…sometimes I tend to babble.” ‘Why must I always make a fool out of myself! She’s gonna think I’m a freak or something.’
‘She is so cute!’ Tara thought, grinning. “That’s ok…I do it sometimes too. I think it’s cute.” Tara regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. Her eyes widened. ‘Why did I say that!? Now she’s gonna think you’re some sort of freak.’
Willow blushed. “Well I’m glad I’m not the only one to babble then! Now there can be two of us!” ‘She called me cute! …Yay!’
Tara looked at her watch, “Oh shoot…I’ve gotta run. I have a job interview to get to in about 30 minutes and I’ve got to go change.” She stood up. “Could I fill these out and bring them back on Monday?”
Willow nodded and stood up as well, “Ya sure can. Are you going to start classes the same day? You can if you want, I’ll just tell Buffy to expect another student.” She winked playfully.
Tara laughed, “Yeah, that’d be great.”
Willow smiled, “Well it was nice to meet you Tara McClay.” She moved to shake Tara’s hand.
Tara accepted it gladly. ‘Wow, she’s so soft.’ They released hands. “And it was nice to meet you Willow Rosenberg.” Willow’s heart skipped a beat when she felt her hand connect with Tara’s.
Tara gathered the paperwork she’d need to complete before walking out the door, turning to look at Willow one last time. “See you Monday.”
“Bye!” Willow called as she walked out the door. She stared after Tara. ‘Is it Monday yet? Wait, why am I all of a sudden so anxious for it to be Monday? Its no big deal…she’s just a girl…a nice, pretty, beautiful – wait! Stop right there! She’s a girl! You don’t like girls!’ The conversation in Willow’s head went on for a while…but that didn’t stop her from wanting the next 2 days to go by like a wildfire.
***
‘Wow.’ Tara looked at her hand once she was outside. It was still warm from her handshake with Willow. ‘I’m never gonna wash this hand again.’ She was in such a happy mood she almost skipped back to her house to change for her interview. ‘I’ve got to thank Charlie one day.’
One thing was for sure though…she couldn’t wait till Monday.
****
welp, thats it for now...feedback is a wonderful gift...also, if there's no update for few days it's not because i didnt feel like posting...it's cause power probably went out. Cause i like in VA Beach and Isabel's supposed to be hammering down on us tomorow. So...hopefully power will stay up...that or i'll have to throw myself off a cliff *wink* lol, well, hope you liked!
Galahad: What a strange person. French Dude: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries. Galahad: Is there someone else up their we could talk to? French Dude: No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time. - Monty Python
at: 10/2/03 9:43 pm
mmm sorry just thinkin bout Tara all swaety doing her kickboxing ok im stoping right there! 
,
more of it. 
and 
are so cute together. 
Update soon, please? 
) because then I spent lots of time cheking for updates 
I just read this and it's great! They're all dead on, and your Anya is hilarious! I need more, about nowish would be good. 
and box some kangaroos
right on!
hee! 2 more days to stall doign homework...joy!