Three Months Earlier…“Explain to me again
why we are doing this” Willow asked wryly as she fussed with the tangled mess of ties that hung from the 16th century swordsman’s shirt that she was wearing.
“Because Sunnydale High’s Key Club, of which I am the sponsoring teacher, came up with the ‘oh-so-brilliant’ idea of holding a little ren faire on the park”, replied Buffy, equally distressed at the daunting task of lacing up the front of her bodice.
“And for whom are they doing this?” Willow grunted, pulling on her soft-leather, knee-high boots and starting to tighten the leather laces.
“Like I’ve said a hundred times”, the petite blonde answered through gritted teeth, “the elementary school kids.”
“Okay”, said Willow, apparently satisfied, “I just need to keep reminding myself that this is for a good cause.”
“At least you don’t have to wear a dress”, chided Buffy.
“It’s the only saving grace to this effort so far”, answered the redhead as she pulled on her leather jerkin and buttoned it to the top. “How do I look?” she asked, seeking her friend’s approval.
“Wow, Will”, said the blonde, thoroughly impressed, “You look… dashing. Very knight in shining armor... Uh… without the armor… or the horse. I never imagined you in leather before, but you wear it really well.”
“Really?” she queried, glancing down at herself. “You don’t think the linen pants are too… poofy?”
“Well, they are a little big on you, but you look fine. Awesome even.”
“Good enough to sweep a girl off her feet?”
“On what girl do you plan on doing the sweeping?” asked the blonde, curiosity getting the better of her.
“Oh, wow, Buffy uh… you look really sexy”, complimented Willow, “very sixteenth century wench. Your male students will certainly be thanking heaven for their codpieces.”
“Willow!!” responded the smaller woman, thoroughly shocked. “You can’t be serious! Are you serious? Oh God…
Are you serious? I can’t go out there looking like a wanton harlot! What am I gonna… and I just realized this was all a diversion to keep me from forcing you to tell me who you are so concerned about looking dashing for… so spill.”
“Dang”, grumbled the redhead, “thought I had you for a second there.” Willow moved over to the bed in Buffy’s room and sat down. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure”, said Buffy, noticing her friend’s sudden downshift in mood.
“Well, it’s just… you’ve known this girl longer than I have, so maybe you can tell me if I’m just wasting my time…”
“Oookay.” Clearly her interested was piqued.
Willow decided to skip with beating around the bush and went right for the kill. “Is Tara gay?”
Buffy was about to answer, when she paused, and a strange and distant look came over her eyes before she stated in a far-away voice, “Nobody knows.”
“Nobody knows?” Willow asked, seeking clarification.
“Yeah”, said Buffy, “Nobody. And I mean nobody. Well, maybe Anya. You might ask her, she and Tara have been friends since middle school. And of course, you could always ask Tara.”
“No”, Willow countered firmly, “No, I couldn’t. You just don’t go up and ask someone if they’re gay. A lot of people out there would take such a thing as major insult. And it’s worse if the person isn’t sure themselves, because then they get all paranoid and avoid-y…”
“Okay, I get it”, interrupted the blonde, “so, no asking Tara. But there is Anya. If anyone would know, she would.”
“I don’t know Anya that well.”
“Well, you’re on your own then”, Buffy sighed, and finished up tying her peasant shoes. “We should probably start over to the park.”
“Can I ride with you?” Willow asked, standing.
“Sorry, Will, I already promised rides to William, Anya and Dawn”, Buffy apologized, until a brilliant idea struck her brain. “You could ask Tara for a ride. I mean, as far as I know she isn’t driving anyone other than herself.”
Willow smiled a little at the thought, “Yeah, okay. Where is she?”
“Downstairs, she should be done changing by now.”
Willow stepped past Buffy and out into the upstairs hallway of the Summers’ home. She practically bounced down the stairs into the living room where she found Tara crouching down, her back turned, apparently sorting through her purse for something.
“Hey, Tara?” she asked, a little hesitantly, not wanting to disturb her concentration.
“Yeah?” she replied, standing and facing the redhead. She looked absolutely stunning in her period garb. She wore a light-red dye woven peasant’s skirt with an underskirt that gave the outer garment a pleasant soft “bell” shape. For a top she wore an even darker red peasant’s blouse and rich navy colored bodice that laced up the front and further pronounced her already attractive bosom. Her hair cascaded freely around her face and neck, and the soft glow of the afternoon sun found itself captured in the strands of her hair, giving it the appearance of a natural halo.
Willow inhaled sharply and found herself choking on her own breath, hacking and wheezing in front of the girl as Buffy came down the stairs behind her.
Tara quickly rushed to Willow’s side and began gently patting her on the back in an effort to help correct the redhead’s breathing.
Oh God, she thought at Tara, though the girl did not hear her, Stop touching me. You’re only making it worse with these touches that feel like an electrical current running through me. But then again, this is really nice. So don’t stop. I’ll just die coughing as a result of your gorgeousness and with you touching me and the electricity and everything will be perfect. Oh, wait… I think I’m coming out of it now. Crap.
“Willow, are you okay?” Tara asked as her companion’s breathing slowly returned to normal. She changed her gentle patting to a gentle rubbing, massaging the redhead’s back through the heavy leather that she wore.
“Oh…fine… I just… breathed in some… air… the wrong way”, she finally managed.
“Oh, okay”, she replied, sharing an odd glance with Buffy, who was stuck half-way down the stairs due to Willow still occupying the bottom few.
“Um, can I get a ride with you to the park?” Willow asked weakly after a few more moments of gathering her breath.
“Sure”, said Tara, moving back over to her bag and picking it up, fishing out her car keys in the process. “I was just on my way over. Nice outfit, by the way.”
“Oh, uh... thanks. You too”, Willow smiled, following Tara out the front door, turning quickly to wave at Buffy.
The first few moments of the drive were silent. Tara was concentrating on the road and Willow was concentrating on trying to lower her anxiety level to the point where she could talk without squeaking. The blonde hit “play” on her car stereo and the soft sounds of world music filled the cabin.
“Nice music”, Willow said, trying to make with the small talk.
“Yeah”, Tara agreed, “Most people don’t like it. There’s this one guy at work who I drive home occasionally and he hates it. He’s always complaining and asking me to turn it to the Rap station.”
“That’s so dumb”, huffed the redhead, “First of all, way to be nice and thank you for giving him a ride. Second of all, it really shows how narrow-minded some people are. This music is awesome, how could you not like it?”
“See, that’s what I think too”, she replied. “It is my car after all. I think I should be able to listen to what I want to without it being this big thing.”
“I agree”, stated Willow. “So... this is… Italian?”
“Actually it’s French”, Tara corrected.
“Oh”. And the winner for dumbest psuedo-intellectual remark of the week… Willow Rosenberg!, she mentally kicked herself for the faux pas. “Well, it’s really cool.”
“Thanks.”
And again there was silence. Willow shifted a little in her seat, tugging at the seatbelt which had suddenly become unbearably irritating in its confinement.
“It’s from a movie called ‘Amelie’”, Tara continued after a moment. “You should come over some time. We could watch it.”
Suddenly the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ started playing with wild abandon through Willow’s brain. Oh my God. A French film!! She just invited me over to her house to watch a French film!! She likes me!
“Uh, yeah, sure”, she said in her best, I’m-cool-and-nothing-can-phase-me voice. “That would be nice. I’d love to see it.”
“I’d like to share it with you”, Tara smiled.
“So, is your sister coming… to the park, I mean?”
“Lisa? Yeah, she wanted to come and take some pictures of everyone in costume”. Tara explained as she pulled the car into a parking spot near the picnic grounds of Weatherly Park. They looked up and saw a couple of multi-colored square-frame tents set up near the water’s edge.
“That must be us”, noted Willow.
Tara nodded in agreement. They clamored out of the car and started toward the humble encampment.
“So what are you supposed to be?” the blonde asked as they neared the two tents.
“Oh, I’m a rogue mercenary, an expert in all weaponry of the age, from sword to bow. Available for hire at a reasonable price to vanquish your foes and make meat of your enemies”, Willow proudly recited her character outline
“Impressive”, Tara smiled.
“And you?”
“I am the daughter of a wealthy land-owner. Raised in privilege, but suffering from a deplorable case of ennui, which I successfully overcame by leaving my father’s home in search of adventure with a band of traveling gypsies”, the blonde expounded.
Willow was suitably impressed. “And what, pray tell, is your name, fair maiden?”
“Olivia. And yours kind lady?”
“Jana”, Willow said, dipping her head in a slight bow. She looked up again into Tara’s eyes, “My lady, these woods I fear are treacherous with thieves and highwaymen. Allow me to escort you to the safety of our camp, not a stone’s throw from here. Indeed, looking yonder ways you may see our colors waving proudly in the breeze.”
“Indeed I do, m’lady”, answered Tara, “I accept your most kind invitation and allow you to lead me thither.”
Willow bowed again and raised her elbow out for Tara to take. The blonde obliged and curled her hand into the crook of it. The pair shared a silent smile for a moment before Willow gently pulled Tara onward to the small faire.
The day went by somewhat quickly. The elementary school students were suitably impressed by Buffy’s Key Club’s efforts and the assistance of her friends. Everyone had a wonderful time pretending to not know what televisions and cars were, taking great pleasure in exasperating the young children as the futilely tried to explain the concepts of video games and pizza. Finally the sun had fallen well below the horizon and the group of friends retired back to Buffy’s home to change back into their everyday clothes, back into their everyday lives.
Willow and Tara found themselves standing alone in the darkened upstairs hallway of the Summers’ home, waiting for Xander to finish changing inside the bathroom so that they each could have a turn. They waited silently, too tired from the day to even attempt to start a new conversation. Willow found herself desperately wanting to draw Tara close to her in a long and comforting hug, for no other reason than to just do it. But she couldn’t. She felt afraid, for some unfathomable. No, not unfathomable… she feared rejection. That her attentions would not be welcomed and rather pushed away. So she stayed immobile, and they both stayed silent. The electricity in the air between them was so tangible you could taste it. Yet still they only stood, and waited.
Finally, Xander emerged from the bathroom in his street clothes, carrying his peasant shirt and pants in a bundle in his hand, he squeezed passed the girls muttering a low, “excuse me”, before disappearing down the stairs.
“I’ll be right out”, said Willow, ducking into the bathroom first. Once inside, she stripped an redressed faster than she ever had in her life. She hated the idea of Tara waiting alone in the darkened hall, and if it hadn’t been for the fact that, on top of wanting to change out of the hot costume, she really, really had to pee, she would have let Tara use the bathroom ahead of her. She finished with her business and stepped back out into the hall.
“All yours”, she smiled sheepishly and allowed the blonde to step past her and into the little room.
The door shut behind Tara and Willow stood momentarily unsure what to do next. Should she wait, or would that be too weird? Would it appear like she was hovering? She didn’t want Tara to think that she was a hoverer. So she’d go downstairs. But should she go downstairs? Wouldn’t it be impolite to leave Tara alone up here with a dark hallway to greet her once she had finished changing? Willow fidgeted a little with the conundrum. Go, or stay? Seemed a simple question. But it so was not. Her body jerked forward to the stairs, but her feet stayed where they were. But how weird would that look if Tara walked out into the hall to find Willow spastically jerking her body toward the stairs? Using all of her strength of will, the redhead finally decided to go downstairs, and after a couple of moments of trying, did just that.
“Hey Willow”, said Dawn as she greeted the older girl at the base of the stairs. “We were all going to go to the Bronze for some grub and drinks. You wanna come?”
“Uh, is Tara going?” she asked.
“I’m not sure”, Dawn answered, “Probably not, you know, her mom and all. I think she was just going to head home.”
“Is her sister Lisa still around?” Willow asked, scanning the living room.
“Oh, no, she left from the park”, explained the tall brunette. “I think she said something about going over to a friend’s house or something.”
Willow shook her head angrily and in disgust, “Okay, that just pisses me off. What, she can’t go home and help out a little?”
“She’s just going to a friend’s house.”
“Yeah, while Tara has to rush home and slave away”, Willow hissed, keeping her voice low. “Do you know how lucky it is that she even got to get away for today?”
“Willow, chill out”, said Dawn, “Tara can take care of herself.”
“I’m not saying that she can’t”, the redhead countered, “She takes care of everyone. She deserves to have someone take care of her for once.”
Dawn was about to respond when she noticed Tara turn the corner at the top of the stairs, heading down. Willow heard the steps creak behind her, and she looked back up over her shoulder to see the blonde descending, her costume concealed in a plastic grocery bag. She now wore a light yellow summer dress with a soft floral print, her hair still down, was tucked behind her ears and fell down the back of her shoulders.
“Hey everybody”, she said quietly, “I think I’m going to head home.”
The room looked up and everybody in turn gave a small wave and uttered familiar parting words, “Night”, “See you later”, “Drive Safe”, etc.
“Are you sure?” asked Willow as Tara reached the bottom step and stood in front of her.
“Yeah”, she replied softly, “I promised mom. She needs my help.”
“I know”, said Willow, smiling sadly.
“You need to come over sometime so we can watch ‘Amelie’.”
“That would be really cool.”
They both stood awkwardly for a moment, knowing they if they continued talking, they might never stop. Willow bobbed her head a little to an imaginary beat somewhere, waiting for whatever happened next.
“Well, I should really go”, Tara stated.
“Yeah”, Willow agreed, nodding her head vigorously in support of her… support.
Tara opened her arms signaling that it was “hug time”. Willow smiled and opened her arms as well, and they began to lean in to one another.
This is nice, thought Willow as she leaned in, A goodnight hug at the end of a long day. My, her face sure does seem to be getting close to mine. Why is her face getting close to mine? Oh my god, is she leaning in to kiss me? She is! She’s leaning in to kiss me! And I’m leaning in to kiss her! We’re going to kiss! Our first kiss. Wow. Wait, our first kiss… in a room full of people. In a room full of people that could be watching us! This isn’t good! No kiss-y! Quick, abort! Abort!
The entire one-sided conversation in Willow’s head had taken approximately three seconds, enough time for both women to suddenly deflect from “kiss-mode” back into “hug-mode”. They held each other fiercely for a long moment, feeling each other’s hearts pound into each other’s chests. Then, they pulled apart from each other far to quickly and with very wide eyes, scanning the room to see if anyone was looking their way. No one.
“Yeah so, call me”, said Tara nervously as she headed to the door.
“Sure”, said Willow, giving a small wave as she watched Tara disappear to the outside.
The redhead stood, unsure again what to do, until something like a fuse being lit at the base of a bottle rocket, spurred her to action. She grabbed her coat and the sack with her costume and blurted out a quick, “I’m going home now guys, G’night, have fun!” and blew out the door in chase of Tara. Just in time to see the blonde’s car turn the corner at the end of the street.
“Dammit”, she hissed, and threw her coat down in defeat.
*********
TBC...
at: 10/25/02 8:20:06 pm
at: 10/25/02 12:29:05 am
. Willow is right being protective of Tara as Tara is no good at standing up for herself. Lisa running of like that so easily, grrr. Willow will be glad to stand up for Tara 