********
TITLE: College Confidential
WRITER: Laragh
CHAPTER RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: Willow, Tara and any other characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise belong to Joss Whedon, FOX, ME and a whole host of other entities, none of which are me.
SUMMARY: The first part of the prequel to
Hacker Confidential and
Family Confidential - the college years!
SPOILERS: Perhaps minor references to the show or stealage of dialogue, but nothing that would spoil the series.
FEEDBACK: Yes please
Chapter 49 ********
Tara was browsing through pencils in a craft store as she waited for Willow, who was next door reaping the bargains of a last-minute-Christmas-Eve sale in the electronics store.
After a while, she noticed the woman behind the sales counter repeatedly sighing. She looked at her watch and picked out two different sketch pencils to bring to the counter.
“Sorry, you must be eager to get home.”
The woman looked embarrassed to be caught out and forced a smile.
“Nice to have a few days off,” she said finally, ringing the first pencil through and putting them both in a bag, “Here, take this one for free. Merry Christmas.”
“Oh that’s very kind,” Tara replied with a shy smile, “I like how you decorated the store. Your little tree, the red and silver is really pretty.”
The woman followed Tara’s eyeline to the small, plastic Christmas tree, simply decorated with silver tinsel and shiny red baubles. She gestured towards a stack of rectangular boxes lined at the back of a wall.
“Do you want one? I don’t have the storage to hold them until next year. It comes with all the decorations. Let’s say 10 dollars?”
“Really?” Tara asked, checking her wallet to make sure she had it, “Thank you. I live in a dorm, so it’s a great size.”
The woman seemed delighted to be able to offload one and rung it up a lot cheerier than before.
“There’s your receipt and the box. Happy Holidays.”
Tara returned the sentiment and awkwardly held the box in front of her, peering around it as she walked out so she wouldn’t walk into anybody. She waited on the street, leaning on a streetlamp, until Willow came out of the other store, happily swinging a bag on her wrist.
“Hey,” she greeted, though was looking at the box, almost the same height as Tara, strangely, “That’s a very big pencil holder.”
Tara smiled and turned the box to show the picture on the front.
“Well you’re giving me my first Hanukkah, so I wanted to give you your first Christmas,” she said, then further explained, “It’s a Christmas tree.”
“Oh, cool,” Willow replied, trying and failing to help with the lugging, “Lucky we’re only around the corner.”
Tara looked down.
“I-It was a bad idea.”
“No, I love it!” Willow replied, kissing Tara’s cheek quickly.
Tara smiled again.
“It comes with all the decorations.”
Willow’s eyes lit up.
“Even better! I’ve never decorated a tree before! Let’s go home and do it, quick!”
Tara ambled as quickly as she could after Willow, avoiding bumping into a few people on the way. Once they were in their dorm, she left it down with a puff of exertion, and Willow immediately tore into it.
“Oh, look, you stick the thing into the thingies and they become the branches!”
Tara watched as Willow diligently followed the color-coded chart to put the branches in place. She took her fairy lights down from around her desk and brought them over. Willow clapped with excitement.
“Yes! The lights and the shiny stuff!”
Tara smiled and gave one end of the lights to Willow to curve around before they started to put the decorations on. They didn’t get too far into it, until Willow threw the tinsel around her neck like a scarf and started to pose like a model.
Tara giggled and made a camera-shape with her hands, pretending to snap, but had to give up the pretense for raucous laughter when Willow started to pretend she was on the catwalk.
Willow eventually stopped, smiling sheepishly, as she sat back down beside Tara.
“I love making you laugh.”
“You’re very good at it,” Tara replied, slipping the string of a bauble over one of the branches.
Willow blushed, smiling, and strung the tinsel around the tip of the tree.
“Wow, a real Christmas tree!” she said giddily when they’d put everything on, “Well, a real fake Christmas tree.”
Tara looked at the bare top spoke.
“People normally put something on top, like a star or an angel.”
“Oh…” Willow started to reply, but didn’t get a chance to finish as she watched Tara go over to root in her art-supply box in the closet.
Tara came back over, two long pieces of satin ribbon in hand; one red and one white. She tied each into a bow shape on the top spoke of the tree and let the ends hang down either side.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” Willow said, gently touching the soft end of the ribbon, “I think I’m gonna like Christmas.”
Tara put a hand on Willow’s knee.
“We’ll miss out on the big dinner.”
Willow’s face suddenly lit up.
“Actually, I meant to talk to you about that, I saw a flyer while we were out but forgot to show you! There’s a place that delivers holiday dinners, you know, so you don’t have to cook a whole meal for one or two people. They take bookings all the way up to midnight,” she said, excited but shy, “We could get a Christmas dinner and a Hanukkah dinner and share.”
“There’s Hanukkah dinners?” Tara asked, smiling.
Willow shrugged a shoulder.
“Well you can choose meats and sides and stuff, so maybe brisket or lamb, and kugel, latkes, some matzah ball soup maybe. And dessert, anything deep fried in oil is encouraged. I’ll let you look after the Christmas stuff but I loved turkey and stuffing at Thanksgiving, well, I liked the microwave meals anyway.”
“That sounds really nice,” Tara replied, loving the idea of having a real holiday meal with Willow, “Is it expensive?”
“Well you got the tree, so it’s my treat,” Willow said quickly, keeping her voice steady.
Tara thought about it a moment and finally nodded. Willow threw her arms around her, toppling them backwards. They both laughed and Tara waited in anticipation for a kiss she thought was coming, but Willow jumped up instead.
She went over to her nightstand and brought out a rectangular box, gift-wrapped with a neat bow on top.
“Under the tree, right?”
Tara nodded and got a circular gift from the drawer of the desk, putting it under the tree with the other.
“I mean it though, no birthday presents. One present for the season is enough.”
Willow started to pout. She’d held off on buying Tara a birthday present because her girlfriend had been so insistent otherwise, but had secretly hoping for some last-minute persuasion.
“But your Christmas/Hanukkah present is really little.”
“So is yours,” Tara replied, then added on, “I know you’re only trying to be kind.”
Willow shuffled over to Tara on her knees.
“It’s your 21st birthday. We can’t just not celebrate.”
“I want to celebrate, I just don’t need presents,” Tara replied, putting her hand on Willow’s shoulders, “I’d feel bad, all I was able to do for yours was make that silly necklace.”
Willow’s hand lifted under the collar of her shirt and toyed with the beads of that exact necklace.
“It’s not silly to me,” Willow replied, but didn’t want to make tension for the evening, “But, I understand, and we agreed.”
Tara leaned over to peck her in thanks.
“I’m so happy we’re spending the holidays together.”
Tara woke up to the feeling of movement beside her. It only took her a second to realise it was Willow having a morning stretch. She closed the small gap between them and curled herself into her girlfriend’s side.
Willow smiled and sighed in satisfaction.
“Good morning, gorgeous. Merry Christmas.”
Tara had her arm around Willow’s waist under the blanket and was drawing circles on her hip.
“Happy Hanukkah.”
“It doesn’t officially start until sundown,” Willow replied, wiggling her toes happily.
Tara pressed a kiss onto Willow’s shoulder.
“Oh. Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Willow replied cheerily, “We can do Christmas day and Hanukkah night.”
“Sounds good to me,” Tara agreed.
Willow did one last luxurious stretch, then bounced onto her side so she was face-to-face with Tara.
“So you’re in charge of Christmas. What’s first?”
“In an ideal world, I would make you pancakes,” Tara replied, eyes floating down to Willow’s lips.
Willow pursed her lips together.
“Mmm…I bet you make good pancakes.”
“My mom’s recipe,” Tara replied absently.
“We weren’t much for the family recipes. I have one for Bubbe’s latkes in my head, they’re like potato pancakes so it’s
sort of the same,” Willow said back, “We can have the scones I stole from the cafeteria yesterday as a substitute.”
Tara nodded but her focus was elsewhere. She started to cosy up, but Willow rolled away in the same second, not recognising the come-on.
Tara’s face hit the pillow and she blushed, then quickly sat up to pretend it hadn’t happened.
“No, no, I’ll get them,” she said quickly, standing up, “Warmed with grape jelly?”
Willow lay back and grinned.
“If I get to eat it off your naked body, then I’m just about in heaven.”
Tara blushed again and went into their food stash to get the scones. She melted butter on them when they were warm from the microwave, and spread some grape jelly on one and raspberry on the other.
She left them both on one plate and walked back over to the bed, sitting cross-legged by Willow. She lifted one of the halves and offered it to Willow.
Willow took a big bite and wiped the crumbs away as she chewed.
“They’re making my tummy all warm,” she said happily, “Here, you have some.”
She offered Tara a bite the same way she had been offered. They finished their breakfast like that, though when Tara spotted an errant dab of jelly on the corner of Willow’s mouth, she couldn’t resist this time.
“You’re all sticky.”
She leaned over and closed her lips over the spot, wiggling her tongue out to ‘catch’ it.
Willow nuzzled against Tara’s mouth for a moment, but it only took her a second to turn her head in to meet her girlfriend’s lips.
Tara shuffled up so she was sitting in Willow’s lap.
Willow took hold of Tara’s hips; fingertips dancing on the small space where Tara’s tank was riding up. She was quick to give back every kiss she received.
“Mm…is making out a Christmas tradition?”
“We can make it one,” Tara replied, her sultry sloped smile making an appearance.
Willow showed her agreement with another lingering kiss.
“What are real Christmas things?”
“Well, we don’t have to cook, so we could do lots of things,” Tara replied, tucking a piece of hair behind Willow’s ear, “Go for a walk, then open our presents, watch Christmas movies.”
Willow’s face lit up.
“Can we watch the one, you know the Snoopy one? With the dance?” she asked excitedly, then added on sheepishly, “I used to get in trouble for trying to watch it.”
Tara smiled and nodded.
“Sure we can.”
Willow pulled her hands away from Tara’s hips, lightly snapping her waistband on the way.
“Let’s take that walk so we can really appreciate some cuddling up.”
Tara smiled and pecked Willow quickly. They separated just long enough to get dressed and wrap up in hats and scarves; hands quickly finding each other again as they headed out.
“I never enjoyed this stuff before,” Willow commented, swinging their hands between them in the crisp air, “Just walking around, looking at things. But I like it with you.”
“I like everything with you,” Tara replied, squeezing Willow’s hand through both of their gloved palms.
Willow squeezed back, smiling.
“It’s funny seeing it so quiet. It’s nice though. This was a good idea. I’m really liking Christmas. We should do it every year.”
Tara laughed quietly, shooting Willow an adoring look to accompany it. They strolled around leisurely, stopping to watch a few birds play along the way, until they decided they were ready to get out of the cold.
Tara was slowly extracting herself from her layers, but Willow had tossed it all off to a t-shirt and some sweats and was hunched down by the tree.
“Presents were next, right?”
Tara smiled at her girlfriend’s excitability.
“Sure. Do you want some tea?” she asked, moving to turn the electric kettle on so she could make a quick cup, “Or maybe a mocha?”
Willow frowned sadly.
“I don’t think I have any of the mixes left.”
Tara had a look through the food box and saw cocoa as well as coffee.
“I could try making it up.”
Willow clapped her hands together.
“Awesome.”
She sat back and waited somewhat patiently for Tara to fix their drinks and join her. She got a pleasant surprise when her mug was handed to her and she took her first sip.
“Oh my god, this is so good! It’s even better than the mixes!”
Tara blushed, sitting too.
“You don’t have to say that.”
“I mean it!” Willow replied, taking another long sip of the chocolatey nectar, “Really!”
She wasn’t sure if it was the higher chocolate to coffee ratio she’d seen Tara put in, or just because it was made by Tara herself, but it was nicest mocha she’d had in her life; made only nicer by her girlfriend’s proximity and the promise of gift exchange about to come.
“Presents now?”
Tara laughed over her mug.
“Sure. I think you'll just about burst if we don't.”
Willow instantly grabbed her gift for Tara and shoved it at her.
“Here. Merry Christmas!”
Tara set her tea down and started to carefully peel the paper away.
Willow watched nervously as Tara revealed the manicure set.
“We said little, so I stuck to that, but, um, I hope you like it,” she said, finding herself sweating in hope that Tara approved of her gift, “I know you like painting your nails…”
Tara looked at the small but incredibly thoughtful gift.
“Willow, I love it,” she said, looking back up with slightly glassy eyes, “Thank you.”
“Really?” Willow asked, hopeful.
Tara held her gift reverently for a moment, then leaned over and embraced Willow tightly. Willow hugged back and almost cried with relief and joy when Tara repeatedly kissed her cheek.
“I’m so glad you like it,” she gushed as they separated, “Really wanted you to like it.”
“I love it, I can’t wait to use it,” Tara replied, looking briefly through the polish colors for a moment, before offering her gift to Willow, “Here, your turn.”
Willow eyed the present excitedly for a moment, then grabbed it and ripped into it.
“A candle, awesome!” she said enthusiastically as she revealed it, “I love candles.”
“It’s a special candle,” Tara replied shyly, looking up at Willow though her lashes.
“Special how?” Willow asked, intrigued.
“When the wax melts, it turns into a lotion you can rub on your skin…” Tara replied, smiling crookedly again, “Or someone else’s.”
Willow’s eyes went wide.
“Oh my god, that’s so cool!” she said, spinning the candle around to read the label, “What’s the chemical composition?!”
Tara waited patiently for Willow’s eyes to scan the label, then slowly look up.
“Oh,” she replied, eyes widening again, “Ohhhh! Oh, wow!”
She clasped the candle tight in her hand, thinking about it, then lifted it to her nose and took the lid off to smell.
“Oh my god it smells amazing,” she said, almost able to taste the raspberry-vanilla scent, “Seriously, it’s making my tummy do flips.”
“I burnt the same scent…our first night,” Tara replied shyly.
Willow smiled.
“I barely even noticed, but my nose sure remembers,” she said, taking another whiff, “Thank you so much. This will…
definitely…be used. And you will know all about it.”
She leaned over to kiss Tara in thanks. Lingering on, they started to lean back together, but were at an angle to the floor when Willow’s cell phone started ringing.
They both stilled, hoping it would ring out, but after falling silent for just a second, started ringing again. Willow suddenly hopped up.
“It’s probably the delivery guy, they said it would be before noon…” she said, walking over to her cell phone on the desk, “Then can heat them up whenever we want.”
“I thought we already were heating things up,” Tara replied, though Willow heard and blushed.
She answered the phone and confirmed their delivery guy was outside.
“I’ll be right back,” she said to Tara before heading out to the front of the building.
A middle-eastern man was standing outside with a stalled white van, the logo of the delivery company embossed on the side. He was holding a small crate with various paper and plastic food containers inside.
“Hi,” Willow greeted with a friendly smile, “I think that’s for me.”
“Hello ma’am,” the man replied with a southern drawl Willow wasn’t expecting, “Could you confirm you got your whole order?”
Willow checked the labels on each of the containers and smiled.
“Yep that’s everything!”
“That’s just great,” the man replied, scanning the barcode to generate a receipt, “Well, look at that, you’re my 100th delivery of the day.”
“Wow, pretty busy huh?” Willow asked, signing the touchpad.
“We are, and our boss wanted to send the holiday cheer out with each of us,” the driver replied, walking around to take something from his glove box, “100th customer gets a gift card. They were all different, not sure which one I was handed.”
“Oh wow…thank you so much,” Willow replied, turning the plain white envelope over in her hand, then reached into her pocket to find a $10 bill to hand to him, “Here, thank you.”
The driver smiled and folded his tip away discreetly.
“And thank you, ma’am! Happy Holidays!”
Willow waved with her fingers as her hands were gripping the crate securely. She backed herself back into the building, but had to kick their dorm door as a knock so Tara would open it for her.
“That is a lot of food,” Tara commented as she let Willow in.
“Yeah, I’m glad we just had a light breakfast,” Willow replied, gratefully leaving the crate on the desk so she could relieve her arms, “Hey, we won a gift card.”
“To where?” Tara asked, closing the door behind them.
“Dunno, checking now,” Willow said, opening the envelope, “Hey, it’s for a hotel in the city!”
Her eyes scanned the front of it quickly.
“A free overnight stay and breakfast! Wow!” she said, eyes suddenly lighting up, “Let’s go for your birthday!”
Tara read over Willow’s shoulder warily.
“It’s not one of those second night free kind of deals, is it?”
Willow jabbed the paper with her finger.
“No, look, it’s right here, it’s a gift voucher. It says any weekday between now and the end of January and your birthday is a weekday between now and the end of January!”
“Why did we get this?” Tara asked dubiously.
“100th delivery of the day,” Willow answered, “The guy was really nice.”
“So it’s real?” Tara asked, looking at the brochure accompaniment of the voucher, “This looks like a really nice place.”
“Well we can at least call and check, but I don’t see why a food delivery company would send out bogus gift cards,” Willow replied, then whipped out her cell phone, “I’ll do it right now.”
She took the voucher and called the number on the back. Tara decided to make the bed while Willow talked, until her attention was pulled by way of snapping fingers.
“Baby, it checks out. I can book right now.”
Tara was pleasantly surprised.
“It’s real?”
Willow nodded, grinning.
“Completely. You in?”
“O-okay,” Tara replied with a bashful smile.
Willow booked the room through excited babble, then bounced over to Tara and threw her arm around her.
“This is so great. We really get to celebrate with no funny money business,” she said, kissing Tara’s cheek and lingering, “Is it movie time? You choose, you must know better than me.”
Tara got the remote and flicked through the channels until she saw one that was starting. She came back to sit by Willow on the floor; backs against the bed and legs stretched out in front of them.
“Have you seen It’s A Wonderful Life?”
“I don’t think so,” Willow replied with a shake of her head.
“It’s a good one,” Tara reassured with a smile.
Willow smiled back and cuddled into Tara, thinking that in that moment, they couldn’t have been watching a movie with a more apt title.
by Laragh » Sun Jul 14, 2013 6:30 am 
.
andtarasmoochies.
)
