Starting Line
by Rin
4
[reviews]
A/N: If you read this previous chapter, then I've repasted it, as I've only now realized that half of what I wrote was missing from the copy and paste job. LOL. For those that thought it was short...try this one...
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Xander was dating Cordelia? How could this be, of all people...
Cordelia Chase? Their sworn enemy? They even had an 'I hate Cordelia' club, where he was active vice president! How could he? What was he thinking? Was it drugs? When did this happen? HOW did this happen? Was she so caught up in Buffy that she'd ignored Xander enough to have him resort to...Cordelia? Willow was still baffled by what she saw in the library.
She'd caught them making out in the stacks, and felt like she'd been slapped across the face several times. First, Buffy's dating that Angel guy...who she's still with...two months later, and now this? Willow was beginning to think she was losing her mind. Maybe she should try dating. There was that cute girl Fred that just moved here from Texas. She was really great, and kept flirting back with her. Then, there was Tara, who had a crush on Willow since they were kids. If Buffy could move on past those heated kisses in her bedroom, then so could she...maybe.
"Heya, Wills...what's the what?" Buffy found Willow in deep concentration in their spot under the tree. Only instead of the bench, the redhead was leaning against the tree's trunk with an open book and a pensive, confused expression. The blonde knew the expression had nothing to do with the book, which only meant one thing: Willow was contemplating something really, really hard. "Everything okay?"
"Huh? Oh...yeah...hi, Buffy. I was just trying to finish this book." Willow swallowed hard. The blonde had made it a point to only address the redhead when they were in public, or on the phone. They were never alone together anymore. Willow wondered if it had anything to do with the boyfriend, who Buffy hardly talked about to her (for obvious reasons) but talked to Amy about, and Amy (the rat she is) would tell the redhead.
"Looks like you were deep in thought...must be a pretty heavy book." Buffy grabbed the book. "Nope...feels light to me...so what's on your mind?"
"Just thinking...nothing new..." Willow didn't know how to bring up that she just caught Xander making out with Cordelia. "I just caught Xander making out in the library."
"With what? The books? Giles?" Buffy was baffled. Xander had a love life, and she didn't know about it?
"You'll never believe me..." Willow put her book back in her backpack.
"Tell me anyways. I live for juicy gossip." Buffy tucked her feet, and prepared for something cringe-worthy. Xander had cleaned up, and was looking more dapper this year (and less greasy) but who had the hots for him?
"Well, this is pretty juicy...are you sure you're ready for this one?" Willow clutched her backpack to her chest, keeping her hands busy so she wouldn't try to hold Buffy's hand that was right beside her leg.
"I'm ready...give me your worst." Buffy smirked, and gave her flirty eyes.
"Cordelia Chase." Willow watched Buffy's disbelieving face before the blonde saw the 'I'm not kidding' face on the
redhead, which only meant one thing.
"You're not kidding...Cordelia? As in... 'I'm too cool for anything but myself' Cordelia? That one?" Buffy was in a sudden state of shock. "Does he know you caught them?"
"Why do you think Cordelia's giving me something akin to the evil eye?" Willow nodded her head in the direction of the Sunnydale high quad, where indeed the Queen C was sporting a rather warning glare.
"Ah...she threaten you? Do I need to beat her up?" Buffy smirked, and started softly jabbing the air.
"I'm sure that would go over well..." Willow stood up, just as the lunch bell rang.
"How do you do that every day?" Buffy was amazed at the redhead's sense of timing lately, as she stood to walk with her into the school, on the way to Chemistry. "So...what does Xander say about you finding out? Did he give you a bunch of excuses? Tell you he tripped on her lips?"
"No...he just sorta gaped like a fish, and hasn't talked to me yet, since the bell rang, and he had lunch duty."
"Snyder ever gonna let him off that?" Buffy thanked heavens that troll of a man couldn't do anything to her just based on reputation.
"Doubtful." Willow and Buffy walked into Chemistry, and sat at their table. The new girl, Fred, was sitting across from them, and sent shy glances to Willow, who sent a few back to her. Buffy noticed this, and tried to hide her jealousy.
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"I have a study date." Willow was sitting with Xander in her bedroom, explaining why she was digging through her closet.
"Oh...would I happen to know the lucky lady?" Then, Xander remembered Willow's Buffy crush, and the way the blonde still flirted endlessly with the redhead. "It's not Buffy, is it?"
"Even if it was, you have Cordelia now, so there's nothing you can do about it." Willow snickered.
"Don't remind me..." Xander groaned, as he fell back on the bed. He and Cordy had 'come out' officially as a couple last week, even despite the grievances he knew Cordy was getting from her friends. He was, too...
"You know that new girl from Texas?" Willow knew it wasn't a real date but she still wanted to look nice...just in case, and maybe to make Buffy a little jealous. Okay, a lot jealous. The blonde knew that Willow and Fred were studying together a lot more lately, since she and Angel were together more.
"Fred Burkle? She's a cutie...think she's into the girl on girl lovin'?" Xander stood up, and started to help Willow in her closet. "Here...this one screams, 'Date me but I'm not forcing you to ask me out.' Plus, it brings out your eyes."
"What was that?" Willow had a dumbfounded expression on her face. Xander was giving her fashion advice, and picking out her clothes?
"What? I'm dating the queen of fashion. You tend to pick up a few things..." He sat back down, as he waited for Willow to change behind the wall. "Think she might like you? I mean...she has to...you're so likeable."
"I don't know. I mean...she gives me these looks sometimes, and she's really sweet, and nice...and sooooooo smart. Plus, she's cute. Okay, really cute...but I don't know." Willow didn't want to admit that she was attracted to the slim brunette. It felt like she was betraying Buffy somehow, even though she wasn't, and Buffy had Angel anyways.
"She's definitely cute. I think you two have a language all your own, too." Xander watched as Willow walked out from behind the wall with the green blouse.
"What do you mean?" Willow started to gather things in her backpack.
"You both babble..." Xander smirked, as he handed her the physics textbook. "Plus, she must like you...I mean...you both have A pluses in physics, so why would you need to study together?"
"Maybe she just needs a friend, and she knows we both like physics, so that's her way of asking me to be her friend. Just friends..." Willow hoisted her backpack over her shoulders, locked up after them, and walked Xander home. Fred lived right next door.
"Could be...but I still think she has the Willow lovebug." Xander smirked, as they approached his house. "Well...have fun...on your date..."
"STUDY date. It's not a real date." Willow blushed, as she watched Xander go in his house. She walked next door, rang the doorbell, and was greeted by the seemingly ever-excited Burkles. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Burkle. Is Fred home?"
"Oh, yes, Willow dear. Come inside. She'll be ready in a few minutes. We'll keep you company." Mrs. Burkle ushered the young redhead inside, and was glad that Fred had an eye for her. Willow Rosenberg was a charming, intelligent, and attractive young lady. Her mother and father should be proud. "Winifred, Willow is here!"
"I'll be right down!" Fred called from upstairs, in her heavy Texan twang. Willow smiled; she loved the brunette's accent. It was quirky. "Hey...ready to go?"
"Where are we going?" Willow was confused. She wasn't aware they were going somewhere but by the looks of Fred's backpack slung over her own shoulder, it was obvious they were.
"Espresso Pump. I thought I'd buy you a mocha, and we could study there. That is, if that's okay with you. I mean, we don't have to, and I shouldn't have assumed that..." Fred was halted by Willow's hand on her shoulder. The idea of a mocha sounded wonderful.
"Of course...but you have to let me buy the second cup...if there is a second cup. That's assuming you want a second cup at all. I mean, there doesn't have..." Willow was halted this time by Fred's hand on her arm. They both felt the tingles that time. "Um...we should go before it gets crowded, and we can't get a quiet table in the back to study."
"Alright." Fred's smirk was so cute that Willow wanted to kiss the brunette for the first time. She'd tried avoiding feeling something for the other girl but Fred's cuteness was making it rather difficult. "Bye mom, dad. I'll be home by 10."
"Go see a movie or something, too. Don't study the WHOLE time. Do something fun for once. Stay out until 11. Don't forget your coat." Mrs. Burkle handed Fred her coat, and the two were headed the few blocks to the Espresso Pump. They talked the entire way, hands flying everywhere at their animated conversation. The two girls talked as though they'd known each other for years, and when they got to the coffee shop, studying was the last thing on their minds, as they forgot about their backpacks under the table. Instead, they continued their conversation and flirty looks. A few times, Willow almost leaned over to kiss whipped cream from Fred's lips. The redhead couldn't believe it but she had actually gone two seconds without thinking about Buffy, and the cause of it was sitting across the table from her.
"Do you wanna go out?" Willow blurted out without thinking first.
"What?" Fred was taken aback by the outburst. They were talking about how much sand Texas had.
"Oh...sorry I interrupted you." It was eerily quiet for a few seconds. "Well...do you?"
"Do I what?" Fred was still baffled. She didn't think Willow would be so bold, and had caught her completely off guard.
"Never mind..." Willow blushed profusely, and ducked her head. Fred got up from her side of the booth, and scooted beside the redhead, forcing the redhead to look at her.
"Tell me..." Fred saw Willow's eyes light up briefly, as their eyes met.
"Oh...um...it's okay, really..." The redhead took a hard swallow, as she noticed Fred's adorable smile and the way her eyes lit up. "I was just being silly."
"Be silly now. Ask me again." Fred was ready this time.
"Huh?" Willow wasn't.
"Ask me again." Fred nodded her head for Willow to try that one more time. The redhead gained a little bit of courage.
"Do...do you wanna maybe...I don't know..."
"Come on...out with it, silly...it wasn't this hard a second ago." Fred smiled encouragingly, eager to hear those words again.
"Do you wanna go out?" Willow had a sheepish look, ready for the rejection.
"Of course. I'd love to go out with you, Willow. I've been waiting for you to ask me that now for a month." Fred smirked, as she saw the redhead's eyes sparkle. "You didn't think I really needed help with physics, did you?"
"Oh...Xander said..." Willow trailed off, as the waitress came to ask them if they needed another round. "No, thanks. I think we're going to take in a movie."
"A movie?" Fred looked baffled, as the waitress left them alone. "You mean you wanna go out right this second?"
"Why not? Why waste time? The theatres right there, your parents gave the go ahead. Seems perfect to me." Willow gave one of those tongue in tooth smiles when Fred started gathering their things, grabbing their forgotten backpacks from beneath the table. "It was already partially date-y anyways."
"True..." Fred followed the redhead into the theatre. They shared popcorn, and held hands finally halfway through the movie.
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"Hey..." Fred saw Willow walk into Chemistry with Buffy, as per the norm. However, today was a little different. Today they were girlfriends. "I had fun last night."
"Me, too. Had fun, that is...with you." Willow blushed, and for once, turned her complete attention to Fred.
"We should do it again this Friday. There's the carnival downtown that might be fun. We could ride the Ferris wheel." Fred leaned forward, and touched Willow's hand briefly.
"Yeah. That'd be great! Um...just call me tonight. We'll work out the details." Willow sat down at her table, beside Buffy who was eyeing the couple suspiciously. What was going on there?
"Mom wanted me to invite you to dinner tonight, too. She said she was making chicken and wild rice, and I mentioned that you said it was your favorite, so she wanted me to invite you. That is, if you'd like. You don't have to, if your parents are in town but it'd be nice." Fred sighed, and was nothing but smiles.
"I'd love to." Willow was nothing but smiles, too.
'What was going on there?' Buffy wondered. Her jealous flare kicked in, and she was in a bad mood the rest of the day. Willow didn't even notice, or if she did, didn't even bother to comment. That only caused Buffy's jealousy to go up even more.
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"Willow, we've been together for about two weeks now, right?" Fred was pondering something very important about their relationship. Something that bothered her deeply, and concerned her completely, as the couple walked through the park hand in hand after school.
"Two weeks, three days, and 9 hours...why?" Willow beamed, as she swung their joined hands between them.
"Well...it's just that we've been getting together almost every day, and you walk me home, and we hang out, and go on dates..." Fred trailed off; she hoped she wouldn't be rejected.
"Yeah..." Willow slowed their pace up to the Burkle's front porch, as Fred unlocked the door and ushered her inside.
"Well, it's just that... in all that time, you've never kissed me." Fred bit her lip, afraid of where this conversation might lead. She really, really liked Willow.
"Oh." Willow dropped her backpack by the couch, as they sat down.
"Yeah...why is that? I mean...do you not want..." Fred was halted by Willow's hand on her upper thigh, which caused the brunette's breath to hitch and eyes to bug.
"I guess I just...I don't know...the timing's been right, I'm just not good at vibes. I didn't know if you wanted me to or not." Willow swallowed hard, as she watched Fred pick up her hand.
"Of course I want you to, Will. I know it's your first relationship but I figure you'd at least get a vibe when I leaned forward." Fred kissed the redhead's open palm before kissing each tip of her fingers.
"Okay...do you want me to kiss you now? I just thought our first kiss would be special, an in the moment type of thing, not something you talk about first." Willow went to lean forward but Fred just placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "No vibes?"
"You want it to be perfect, then it will be. Just...next time you feel the urge, don't hold back. Chances are I want to kiss you, too." Fred smiled, as she entwined their fingers together, and they watched TV until her parents got home.
After dinner, they went up to Fred's room to study together. They were no longer under the pretense that the other needed help, and they just did their homework in the company of the other. It was more fun that way, since they could comment on some of the problems. Sometimes, they would work through them together, just to sit close. When they were finished with their assignments, they watched a movie downstairs with Fred's parents. It was like being chaperoned but all they did was hold hands anyways. When it came time for Willow to return home for the evening, the two sat on the front porch steps.
"You're sure you're gonna be safe walkin' home by yourself?" Fred moved her leg more against Willow's, as their slow flirting continued.
"We have this discussion every time I'm over here. Of course I'll be safe. I live just down the next block, and hey...if you walked me home, then you would have to walk home by yourself, and I would feel bad then." Willow leaned her own body more into the touch. She was starting to sense what Fred was talking about with the vibes. This was it. The perfect moment. The redhead leaned over a few inches, and tilted her head slightly for the kiss but all she got was the side of Fred's lips. She'd moved so fast to capture the kiss that she'd aimed wrong, and the brunette didn't know she was even trying to kiss her, since her head was turned. "Oh. Sorry."
"No need to be sorry. Just...next time, try aiming better, or at least warning me a little first. Then, I can be there for the kiss, too." Fred moved stray locks out of Willow's face to see the full blush on the redhead's face. "If it makes you feel any better, it's the best first kiss I've ever had..."
"You're just saying that..." Willow smiled in her belittling of herself.
"No, I'm serious. The first guy I ever kissed tried to lick my nose, the first girl I ever kissed bit my lip, and the last girl I kissed...well, it was like she was trying to eat my face. Trust me...your kiss was much better." Fred smiled warmly, and leaned forward a bit to help Willow out a little. The redhead's eyes got huge, as she went a little slower this time. When their lips connected, there was this slight tingle. Completely different than the tingle she got with Buffy. "That was perfect..."
"Uh-huh..." Willow's eyes were still closed. Fred's kiss was sweet, whereas Buffy's were hot and passionate. Thinking about Buffy wasn't helping the redhead any, as the couple kissed again.
"A girl could get addicted to your lips if you're not careful with those." Fred smirked against Willow's mouth, as they moved their bodies a little more comfortably to continue the kissing. "Mmm...kiwi-strawberry..."
"Huh?" Willow moved back, and wondered what Fred was talking about.
"Your chap stick. Kiwi-strawberry?" Fred was licking her lips a little, savoring the lingering taste of Willow there.
"Yeah...how did you..." Willow realized how, and blushed again.
"I like it. You taste sweet." Fred leaned forward for a tighter kiss, longer than the others, as she placed her hand lightly against Willow's hip. The redhead followed in turn, as they continued to kiss on the front steps.
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"I can't believe they would just make out in the open like that. I mean...haven't they heard of privacy?" Buffy had seen Willow and Fred walk into the movie theatre holding hands, and she dragged Angel along with her to spy. Her jealousy was really starting to get the better of her, especially when Xander confirmed that Willow now had a girlfriend. The part that bothered Buffy about that was that it wasn't her.
"They barely kissed for two seconds. I don't see what the big deal is, Buffy." Angel guided her into the Espresso pump to grab an after movie coffee. Maybe something a little thicker for him. They'd been together for seven months, and the past two, all Buffy talked about was Willow and her new girlfriend. It was unnerving. "Maybe you should ask Willow if she'd like to go on a double date. It seems it'd be a lot easier to spy on her that way."
"I was not spying." Buffy ordered, as they took a seat near the back. "I was merely observing whether or not this new girl is for real, or if she's playing a cruel joke on my best friend."
"Sounds like you're jealous." Angel sighed, as the waitress went to grab their order. It was obvious his girlfriend had a thing for her redheaded best friend.
"I am NOT jealous. I just don't want Willow to end up with the wrong person." Buffy huffed, as she watched said couple walk into the coffee shop, still holding hands. "Are their hands permanently attached? Did they glue themselves together?"
"Buffy, calm down. It's not a big deal. It seems like this Fred really likes Willow, and vice versa. Plus, they're really cute together." Angel smirked because he knew the blonde would go off the deep end if she could but they were in public, and Buffy never wanted Willow to know that she was following her. "Lighten up, Buffy. Just because Willow didn't want you doesn't mean every other girl is horrible."
"What's that supposed to mean? Of course Willow wants me. It's that ponce, Xander that ruined everything." Buffy realized she'd said too much, and a little too much anger. The hurt look in Angel's eyes was enough for her. "Oh, Angel. I do like you...a lot. I'm with you, aren't I?"
"Only in body most of the time, though. You're so involved with Willow in your head that you're never completely with me. You never have been." Angel knew this talk was coming eventually. It was brewing even more since Fred entered the picture.
"I'm sorry. I truly am, and I don't want to break up with you. I enjoy being with you. You're a great kisser. You're handsome. Devilishly charming. A girl would be nuts not to want you." Buffy turned her attention on Angel. Surely they weren't breaking up over her little Willow-stalking habit. It wasn't even stalking, since it only happened twice, and both times, they'd accidentally seen them walking when both couples were about town.
"You're crazy alright." Angel saw the offended look on Buffy's face. "Just not for me. You tell me what you want to do here, Buffy. I like you way too much to let go just yet. Besides, you see how happy Willow is with Fred. Do you really wanna break that up over something you said couldn't happen anyways because of Xander?"
"Xander..." Buffy's eyes narrowed at the thought. "If he were really a true friend to Willow, he never would've made her take that pact."
"Pact?" Angel was curious and annoyed at the same time. He didn't like the other young man at all. They always butted heads, and Angel knew it was because he had what the other boy didn't but wanted: Buffy.
"Yeah...this stupid pact where they wouldn't let a girl come between them. Yet, he goes and dates Cordy, knowing she tortured Willow all those years. It's a one-sided pact, in my opinion." Buffy sighed, and turned her chair around, so she wouldn't have to watch Willow and Fred be cute together. Angel was right. Willow was happy. Dammit.