First Respnse
by cathy nort
First Respnse
[reviews]
Part 1
"Hmmmmmmmmm," Willow murmured aloud. "What does a girl wear to a drive-in movie?"
What would the Chandler sisters be wearing? The twins were immaculate dressers, as well as being drop dead gorgeous, popular, academically brilliant. And daughters of a wealthy lawyer so their wardrobe budget was a healthier shape than was a certain Willow Rosenberg's.
At first Willow had been so excited when Connie Chandler had befriended her at school. Willow was a new freshman at Sunnydale High and even being new there it was clear that the Chandler twins were top echelon among their peers. When Connie had asked Willow to go with her and her sister, Laura, to the drive-in on Friday Willow had been totally awed by the invitation. And mildly puzzled. How had she deserved the honor?
Little old me being invited by the twins, she had thought. Now faced with the suddenly daunting tasks of deciding what to wear the luster of the invite was wearing off a bit. Willow didn't want to make a fashion snafu so early in her high school career. She had enough self esteem issues as it was.
Finally Willow decided that it was, after all, a drive-in movie where people sat in cars and watched movies. Who would even see them? So Willow choose a pair of Levi cut-offs and a powder blue Tank.
Dressed, she went down the stairs grabbing her purse on the way out the door. The Chandlers lived a few blocks over so the walk wasn't far. At the top of the walkway, as Willow started in the direction of their house Willow saw a blond girl maybe twenty steps in front of her. She couldn't see the girl's face but Willow guessed, being a blond, she was probably pretty. The girl had a nice, slender figure, at least from the back that appeared to be the case.
Willow wondered why, lately, she had been paying more attention to the girls at school than the guys. It made her uncomfortable although not uncomfortable enough to stop checking them out. The girl in front of her was a perfect example. She was wearing a pair of white tennis shorts and a plain white tee. Willow could see she had a nice butt which made Willow's feelings of guilt surge as she watched it sway back and forth as she walked.
"Come on Willow," she said to herself. "Are you turning into a lezzie?"
The blond, her hair bouncing softly as she walked, crossed the street at the corner and continued in the same direction Willow was headed so the red-haired girl fell in step behind her.
To Willow's surprise when she reached the Chandler resident the blond started up their driveway ahead of her.
The Chandler twins were waiting on the porch. "Hey there's Buffy. And Willow." One of the twins called. Willow wasn't sure which was which they looked so much alike. Alerted that someone was behind her the blond turned briefly to face Willow.
Willow's heart jumped. She was indeed pretty. As pretty or prettier than the Chandlers even. Willow guessed her, Buffy seemed to be her name, to be her own age, which made her several years younger than the twins.
There was a man, graying at the temples, and certainly Mr. Chandler, on the porch with the twins. "Come right home after the show. No dallying. Got that?" He was gruff and hardly acknowledged either the blond or the red head as they approached.
Then he turned and when his back was to the twins they each rolled their eyes. He than went inside.
Laura, wearing a green blouse, had car keys in her hand, There was a black Lexus in the drive and she led her sister plus Buffy and Willow over to it. She climbed behind the wheel while her twin got into the passenger seat. Both did so without saying a word to either Buffy or Willow.
Willow shrugged in Buffy's direction, who then returned the gesture. Then the two climbed into the back seat, Buffy against one window and Willow solidly against the other.
The car was backed out of the driveway and they were off. "Dad is so uptight," Connie snapped. "Can you believe we're still not allowed to date boys?"
"Bummer," Willow sympathized weakly.
"Oh. Buffy this is Willow. Willow this is Buffy."
The girls were grateful they were at least introduced, It was becoming awkward. Nothing more was said. In the drive-in Laura pulled the Lexus into one of the stalls. Connie got out quickly and fastened the speaker to the partially rolled down window. Strangely she didn't get back in.
Laura climbed from the car too. "Hey guys. We saw some friends we want to say hello to. Be back later. Enjoy." Then the two marched off.
Buffy and Willow watched them disappear down the isle of cars until they were blocked from view.
Willow glanced at Buffy. She looked as puzzled as Willow felt.
A few long minutes of silence followed. It turned out that Buffy was as shy as Willow so they both sat squished up against their side of the backseat. Thankfully the movie started so the uneasy they were sharing was saved by the bell in a way.
The Chandlers didn't return and the movie was plain awful. About halfway through Willow got the courage to speak. "I suppose one of us has to stay with the car, huh? I'm going for some popcorn. Can I get you some?"
"Please." Buffy searched through her purse for some money and handed Willow a few bills. "I have this horrid weakness for popcorn."
Willow took the money. "Me too. I eat bags of it at home. I really pig out."
Buffy smiled showing straight, gleaming white teeth. Her smile was warm although the shyness was still there. When Willow returned the two chatted as they munched. It turned out Laura had befriended Buffy at school. Sought her out in fact much as Connie had done with Willow and invited her to tag along to the movies.
"We ought to be honored," Willow giggled. "They're biggies at school."
"That's what I hear." Buffy swung toward the red head sitting beside her. "They seemed to be a little self centered, don't you think?"
"Yeah. I think we're their cover so they can be with their friends. Or boyfriends."
"I have to agree. I guess they weren't over whelmed by our charm."
Willow gave a poutie look. "Seems we've been stood up kinda."
Buffy reached over and patted Willow's hand. "The bright side is I've met you and....ya know...you're sorta neat. I don't always feel comfortable around new people. But I am around you. Now. An hour ago I was crawling inside."
"Me too. I'm so lame at times. I wish I wasn't this way but sometimes I can't think of anything to say." Willow said aware of Buffy's hand on hers. It sent a tingle through her and she was feeling a little warm.
Willow quietly withdrew her hand from under Buffy's innocent touch. At the same moment the Chandlers returned and got back into the Lexus as the movie ended. Both looked a little disheveled. Their hairs were mussed and their neatly tucked in clothes were....not so neatly tucked in.
Connie turned to Buffy and Willow. "So, what was the movie about. Dad's going to ask. We got to yakking with our friends and well.......time went by."