Worlds Apart
By: WillowWise
Email: Alys_Willow@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: See first post.
Rating: PG-13 (for mild adult language)
Feed Back: Ooo Gimme I so love any, negative, nutral, general yay!
Replies from previous post:
Tarababy77: Aaron,
Ought oh, I hope you didnt get into any trouble with the laughter, coz in that case I should so add possible -LOL- warnings! -smiles- just kidding, but I am glad that you liked the update, I hope that in the next many updates I still peak your intrest. If ever you have an idea or something of the nature that you would like to see happen in the next updates just give me a heads up and I will try to work it in the story... I like to keep the readers happy.
~Ashley
Worlds Apart, Part 6.
Oh great so here I am thinking that this evening I'm going to try and have a good time, when damn it my phone just had to start ringing and me being me of course answered it, knowing I could have just sent the incoming call to voice mail. I guess deep down in the back of my mind, I just really wanted a good reason to slip out of this 'date'. I know that more in likely this person that Anya thinks would be good for me is completely wrong, she has to be. Anya and my tastes are completely different. But still why am I having doubt that this could be the one, that maybe this time Anya was right. Which I will never admit out loud ever again. That girl doesn't know the meaning of 'rubbing it in'.
So here I am sitting in the car waiting, trying to figure out how I'm going to be nice about this, about me having to work instead of hanging out with my friends and the blind date. Anya already knows that Giles called, she doesn't know that I told him yes I'll do the story, she only heard half before getting out and going to meet up with the others.
'Come on Tara, think. This isn't hard. Hey guys, sorry that I can't party the night away, Giles really needs me to cover this story.' But if I do that then I look like I'm avoiding all thought of speaking to this mystery person. I don't want to be rude, and I really don't want to give this date thing a try again. Why can't they ever just find me new friends? Everyone needs friends.
Inevitably I know I have to get out of this vehicle sooner or later, so lets just do it now. That was the final thought to get me out of the contraption and I began to walk up to the front. It was really beautiful, the lights and how it gave it a semi dusk look and the fountains and then even the ice sculptures. My attention was drawn from the delicate shavings that created the frozen water fall to a group of people standing talking and I knew right then, that this was my crowd. I only caught a hint of what was being said, mostly by Anya. Ducking quickly behind a white marble pillar I waited, not wanting any of them thinking I was spying on them, which technically I was. But something like that and knowing your blind date heard, well it wasn't something that any girl would want.
I replayed the last bit in my mind.
"Yes Willow, she works at the Times, and yes she also happens to be one of my very best friends. Good part about her she is your type." I could hear my friend getting a little agitated at Xander's 'school chum.' Then finally the red head spoke at least I assume by proper logic it's her.
"My type? I have a type?" She seemed confused, yet amused at the fact that this person said she had a specific type of girl she liked more then others, that caught my interest right away. Was I her type? As the next sentence emerged I felt like I had been knocked over with a feather.
"Of course you do, she is gay. Duh gesh and I thought I was the slow one."
I was crestfallen, there was no answer to her 'type' nothing in there at all. And still I had this nagging voice in the back of my head slapping the back of my wrist as if I were in trouble or some little girl being reprimanded.
'What is with you? You just said you don't want to date? Are you confused, I think your confused.' The curt tone and bluntness made my stomach turn, I was getting reprimanded by Anya. Well the Anya in my head, which sounds more psychotic then it does something that is supposed to be helping me. Looking out into the stars for some guidance, maybe my mother was watching over me from heaven and she could give me something to go on. A small flash of a blond about my build and height walked by catching my eye, I stopped to look at her for the brief passing pulling my mind from it's thoughts.
Taking a deep breath I managed to get my emotions in check.
[center]*****[/center]
"Willow." I could hear my name being called, but I didn't want to leave this little place I was in. I saw the blurred fingers snap in front of my face and that inevitably pulled me out of this little revere that I was in.
"Yeah?" I looked to Xander, who had a somewhat confused look on his face.
"What'cha lookin at?" He asked almost child like.
"Umm, I thought I saw the woman you described, but I guess I was wrong, coz uh heh-"
"Tara, where?" Anya cut in tuning back into the conversation, usually so attentive and sharp, she seemed to be loosing her edge as of lately.
"As I was saying. She kinda just walked straight past you guys and into the hotel. So I'm taking a wild hunch that in less this Tara is like Cordilea then that wasn't her." I continued.
"Oh no, that wasn't her then, Tara is sweet, sometimes a little jumpy but normally sweet." Anya interjected.
I couldn't help but get caught up in the thought of this woman, why Anya had held her to such a high standard. It was different when you heard the once a week hair color changing woman speak, normally it was as if she were a breeze in the wind, nothing favorable to say about anyone. But with Tara, a girl I hadn't even met yet, she held her to this high reguard as if she were some kind of goddess that should be on a pedestal, with Anya you don't come by that to often. Usually if she is telling you about someone its like she is describing a can of dog food. I can't help but imagine her striding in on a ray of sunshine, but I know that is my imagination over reacting and I need to get a grip.
"So ladies, I guess we should be making the way into the party?" Xander gestured with his hands squeezed into his pockets and a shrug as if he wasn't sure.
"Yeah..." Anya seemed so dismissive, as if she felt something wrong, maybe she was scared that Tara had changed her mind.
Or that was just my nerves talking and I was reading to much into this. With a soft smile I started to walk in, only to be stopped by my best friends hand on my shoulder. Looking up into the warm brown eyes that I had smiled to before, he made a gesture for me to intertwine my arm with his. Xander was really a gentleman when he wanted to be.
[center]*****[/center]
'Ok MaClay, you have to go in now, they are going in without you and that means your really late, bad impression on Willow, and for sure Anya will be asking millions of 'Why's' and 'How come's' if you don't get your ass in there. Stepping around the cylinder I moved with a haste and caught up rather quickly, only a few steps behind the group that I would be eating dinner with and hopefully sharing some laughs.
"Any room for another in this party of three?" I asked with a confidence.
Anya stopped mid stride halting the other two with her movement, she whipped around almost as if she was playing some form of elementary school yard game that gives children whiplash. A large doting grin spread across her lips as if she hadn't seen me in almost a year, which was odd for Anya. It always gave me a heads up that she was planning something, and I was usually in the center of said plan.
Looking at her with a questioning tilt to my head I couldn't help but ask. "Umm, why are you looking at me like I'm next weeks article?"
"Hmm, funny you should say that Tare, coz I was just gonna mention that I was thinking of doing a piece on you-" Air quotes dancing in around with her fingers. "I was thinking of titling it 'The dating habits of the Times biggest reporter.' maybe give some tips on what to do, oh say like, not leaving said mystery date to be oogled by all available wealthy women." Giving me a mock glare, I knew she was teasing, but also being serious with her words.
"Hey, hey not my fault. Giles and the call. You know how much he talks."
'LIAR!!!' My insides challenged me. "I couldn't get him to stop."
'LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!' I gave an apologetic look to everyone. But one set of eyes I couldn't pass over.
Ducking behind my hair I felt a surge as if I were back in high school. A deep blush running up my neck to my ear, I glanced back up to the wide green orbs that were watching me. "Hi." I said softly. "Y-You must be Wi-Wi-Willow." again barely audible.
'Damn it Tara, you got rid of that pesky stutter after you met Anya, why now does it have to surface again?' My mind attacked and of course I had to respond.
'Because, pretty girl is looking at me, and I think I like pretty girl.' What ever was inside berating me wanted to go for a round 2.
'So cave speak and stutter, that makes great for conversation.. Ugh me T-Tara you Pr-Pretty.. Me smack you on head take home' And just for a great measure it was laughing at me.
'I am not going to fight with myself, this is crazy, and why am I still talking?'
A soft smile lightened her features and I couldn't help but blush more, her voice so sweet it was like a thousand angels singing to me.
"Hi, I'm Willow." She ducked her head a little with mine, watching my eyes.
We stood still for what seemed like an eternity, both just content in the silence, making small talk in the stilled night.
"Well I guess we made a match." Xander smiled to Anya proud of their accomplishment.
"Indeed Xander Harris, this is two points us, zero Love connection. Maybe next time I can put you in an adult diaper and give you a bow with some arrows and have you shoot the little suction cup part at their butts like last night when we were at home and you were--" A masculine hand clamped around her mouth.
"Heh, Ahn 'member we talked about this, things that are private we don't go saying in front of our friends." His eye's darting around sheepishly at any onlookers or the two women who seemed to be in their own little world.
Tugging at the hand the blond released her boyfriends grasp. "I wasn't going to tell them that you dressed up as cupid, just that I think your butt looks very touchable in the diaper." She looked at him with an annoyed expression that could only be read as 'You better give me many orgasms to make this up Xander Harris.'
Shoving his hands in his pockets he looked around yet again feeling as red as Willow's hair.
"So, we should-" I started to say, still watching Willow.
"Go inside." Willow finished up for me, still smiling and seeming some what in a haze.
Our small party of four continued on into the grand dinning room, all in awe of the decorations and extravagance that was being held in the buildings honor. But Still I couldn't stop beating myself up over the fact I had told Giles it was no problem, I would go ahead and work tonight. It wasn't as if I would be gone the entire time, just that I had to leave this enticing beauty's side. Trailing the crowd a shorter man caught my gaze, having not seen him since College I smiled and waved to him.
[center]*****[/center]
This seemed like it was going to be a perfect night, Tara looked amazing in her dress, I was feeling a little more confidant in this set up, how much better could this night become?
'Damn-it Will, you just jinxed it.' I could hear Buffy's voice poking my mind,
'huh, I did no such- Stop talking to yourself.' I continued in my mind, my eyes not really responding to the man that was waving back at me, or the group. With a sharp prickle in my body I managed to focus again and my eyes narrowed. "Oz." I breathed.
TBC....
Hope you still like it.