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Title: It Has Always Been You

Author: Cass ( intricatemirage@yahoo.com )
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, ME, UPN, and other characters belong to me.
Feedback: Yes please, everything is welcome
Distribution: Email me first please, just to let me know if you're borrowing it.
Pairings: W/T (Eventually... *evil grin*), F/B (Maybe...)

Rating: Builds up to NC 17

Summary: AU fic. Still takes place in Sunnydale minus the Hellmouth factor. Tara is a guidance counselor at Sunnydale High, Faith a physical education teacher. Willow holds a computer related job, working for a huge firm. Buffy is a gym instructor.

Note: Thoughts in < >

***

Chapter 6

Gleefully running out of the building towards the parking space where her car was at, Willow could have screamed for joy. The moment she realized what Tom was doing, she had to restrain herself from physically leaping out of the chair and planting the biggest kiss on Toms lips. Without a doubt, Buffy was her best friend, but Tom definitely came in at a very close second.

Unlocking the door of the car hurriedly, Willow took deep breaths as she slid herself into the seat. <I cannot believe Tom just did that for me! Right, breathe Willow Breathe.>

Willow could feel her senses coming alive at the prospect of seeing Tara again. She had just been unable to kick herself out of sheer moodiness the past few days, and strangely enough, there was the feeling of sudden emptiness within her every time she thought of Taras smile and the handshake that made her body tingle. Diane had never made her feel that way before. Of course she loved Diane, and possibly very much so still even till now, but she had never felt that way before. Not like that, not with Diane.

Pulling the car into the driveway of Sunnydale High, Willow smiled to herself as she mapped out her plan of action to find Tara. Willow simply refused to walk away from Sunnydale High today, feeling the way she did a couple of days back.

Willow scanned around for an available parking space, grinning as she found one immediately, she swiftly make a turn in and parked her car, just missing a blue Mazda which was on its way out.

***

Yo, pull out here T! Exit Tara, EXIT! Faith tried to grab the steering wheel of Taras blue Mazda as she made a near miss of the exit leading out of Sunnydale Highs carpark.

Shooting Faith a glare, Tara replied, I know Faith, I know. Now hands off! I do happen to work here too, remember?

Oh really? Well, doesnt seem like it recently. Faith protested.

Looking at Faith out of the corner of her eye as she made a left turn out to the main road, Tara questioned her, Now what do you mean by that?

Nothing Well, all Im saying is that youve been all weird recently. Doesnt feel like youre all here. Its like youve been all distracted and youre not paying attention to stuff you usually would. I mean, for goodness sake, you peppered me to death with your fish last night and put salt instead of sugar in the pudding!

Blushing slightly at the disastrous dinner that she and Faith had the night before, Tara mumbled something incoherently.

Huh? What did you say Tare? Faith asked as she gazed at Tara inquiringly.

I said, I saw the redhead in school on Monday. Tara replied with a soft sigh.

Raising an eyebrow questioningly, but knowing better than to bombard Tara with a list of questions that had automatically lined themselves up in her brain, Faith kept quiet and allowed her to continue in her own time.

We kinda crashed into each other in the hallway. Tara chuckled softly as she had recollections of that fateful day. I dont really know what she was doing there, but she was just there. We introduced ourselves, shook hands Trailing off quietly, a soft smile gracing her face. <Almost a perfect fit> Shaking herself out of the images that were flooding her mind, But anyway, thats pretty much it. Tara concluded firmly.

Looking possibly quite shocked and baffled, Faith said, Thats it? What do you mean thats pretty much it? Whatever happened to flirting and lots of making out? Noting Taras disapproving glance in her direction, Faith smartly retracted her last comment, Ok ok, maybe not lots of making out, but I mean, youve been going on for ages about her since the Bronze. No number? No next meeting?

No. Unless you count the see you maybe at the Bronze or something comment. Tara replied with a dead-panned face.

Never having seen Tara so affected by one woman before, Faith was a little unsure on how to tread with this issue, Ok Urm, hey Lighten up Tare. Youll see her soon again. I mean, you met her at the Bronze right? And I know she hasnt shown up the past couple of nights we were there, but Im sure shell show up soon enough.

Overcome by a big urge to tell Faith that that will never happen, Tara realized she was starting to worry Faith as she heard the tone of her voice, so she hastily said, Yeah probably. Dont worry about me Faith, youre right, shell show up. <Yeah right.>

I know you better than that T. Youre telling me one thing, but your heads thinking something else. Youll see Tare, soon Ill be giving you the see I told you so smug look again. Satisfied to hear laughter coming from her best friend, Faith turned away to look out her window only to notice they were just about to miss another exit, the most important one of all the one that led her to her lunch!

Yelling at the top of her lungs, No no no! Youre gonna miss it! Tara Maclay! I command you to turn right NOW! Dont you dare make me miss my lunch now that youve already made me miss dinner last night with your atrocious cooking. Argh. I swear youre out to starve me. Faith grumbled as she slouched grouchily in the car seat, arms folded across her chest, shaking her head exasperatedly, only to receive a cheeky grin and giggle in reply.

***

Walking through the hallway of Sunnydale, Willows lips quirked into a slight smile as the memory of her and Taras meeting filled her mind. <Those gorgeous blue eyes, that captivating smile, the touch of Taras hand>

Willow hurriedly did the job of inspecting the systems as arranged by Tom which barely took more than half an hour, before dashing off to the reception office, asking for a certain Miss Tara Maclay. Tapping her fingers impatiently against the counter top as the receptionist placed a call through to Tara to inform her that Willow Rosenberg was looking for her.

Looking up at an expectant Willow, the receptionist said, Im sorry Miss Rosenberg, but it seems as though Miss Maclay isnt in at this moment. Would you like to leave a message?

Slightly thrown off by the outcome of her visit, Willow said in disbelief, W-what? Shes not in? <No! This cant be happening, thats just wrong! She was meant to be here, I was meant to see her, and we were meant to go out together!> Attempting to conceal the disappointment that overcame her, Willow replied rather despondently, Its ok. Ill just urm swing by another time I guess Before glumly making her way out to her car, shoulders slumped in defeat.

Casting one last longing look back at Sunnydale High, Willow let out a heavy sigh as she slid her car keys into the lock. <This cant be happening. Everything should have been perfect We We could have been perfect Perfect Just like the way our hands fit that day.>

***

To be continued...

Feedback, anyone?

Cass x