CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
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Author: eday69 Willow walked into school with a smile plastered on her face. It was quickly forgotten when she saw Oz sitting at the band table with the rest of the crew. She hadn't seen him since Sunday night, and took a deep breath and walked over to the table. "Hey guys." "Hey Wils, how'd last night go?" Xander asked aware of the weirdness between Willow and Oz. Willow smiled thinking about her evening with Tara's family. "It was great, she said yes, so I'm officially taking the most gorgeous cheerleader to the dance next weekend." "That's great, congratulations." Oz said smiling. Willow smiled back. It was hard to imagine this guy being so forceful and aggressive, but she knew he had and they needed to talk. It was going to affect the whole line if they didn't get this situation figured out. "Can we talk?" Willow asked him. "Um." Oz looked around to see if he saw Tara. He didn't want to endure her wrath again. "Sure." Both Willow and Oz walked outside the cafeteria where there were relatively few students. "What happened Oz?" Willow asked. "I don't know." He sighed, he really didn't. "I just was so jealous and angry and I don't know why I reacted like that. You have to believe me I would never want to hurt you." "Well you did. You really freaked me out." Willow said crossing her arms. Oz looked down ashamed of his behavior. "I'm really sorry Willow, you have to believe me. It was like it wasn't me, it was someone else using my body. I would never do anything, you have to know that." "I thought I did, but Oz you really wigged out. I'm with Tara, and even if I wasn't I'm gay. You and I will never happen, in a million years. You need to get that through your head." "I know, I think I always knew that, and that was what was so upsetting to me. To know you would never want me like I want you." "I don't want this to interfere with the line, but I don't think we should spend time alone." "Yeah I pretty much got that from your girlfriend." "What?" Willow asked furrowing her brow. "She made it pretty clear I shouldn't come near you." Oz said feeling horrible for putting them in this situation. "That's probably a good idea." Willow said a little distracted by the thought of Tara threatening Oz. "We probably should get back." Willow said starting toward the school. Tara similarly walked into the school wearing a smile on her face as she walked over to the cheerleading table. "So what's with the smile Tara?" Cordelia asked seeing Tara approach. "Oh, um.." Tara blushed. "Willow asked me to homecoming." She said trying unsuccessfully to wipe the smile from her face. "Oh that's great." Cordelia squealed and wrapped Tara in a huge hug. "Yeah right on Tara." Buffy said. "Oh oh, we get to go dress shopping now." Anya said rubbing her hands together. "Yeah let's go Friday night, we can have a girls night out." Buffy said. "Ok." Everyone agreed. Tara was a little hesitant to make plans when she didn't know what she and Willow would have planned. She smiled at the thought of actually having to consider someone else when making plans with friends. "I just heard this great song, I totally think we should use it in the routine." Anya said looking at Buffy who looked a little weary. "Um...I don't know Anya." Tara said now frowning. "I think we're pretty set on a song, if we switch now it's gonna be hell to find something that fits." "I know, but Buffy and I kind of have a routine all worked out, or at least part of it." Anya said and looked at Buffy again for support. "Yeah, I mean we can just show the squad, see what they have to say." Buffy nervously said. Tara looked at Cordelia who had an equal expression of confusion on her face. "Ok I guess you guys could show the squad what you have." "Great, that's awesome, right Buffy?" Anya asked shoving Buffy with her shoulder. "Yeah, and I mean if they don't like it or whatever, we can do the other one. I mean we just thought it was really cool and stuff." Buffy added lamely. The first bell rang and each girl parted their own way. Tara walked down the hall and was intercepted by Cordelia's hand on her shoulder. "Hey, so what was that about?" Cordelia said. Tara ran her hands through her long blond hair. "I don't know. How weird is that?" "They have been acting really weird this year don't you think?" Cordelia finally voicing what Tara was thinking. "Yeah, I mean it's like they are all supportive to my face, but it's like they don't really approve or something. I don't know I just have a weird feeling you know." "Tell me about it, well see you at practice." The cheerleaders met up for lunch like normal. Tara didn't see Willow in her usual spot and figured she was practicing. As they walked back from the store with their food, Anya grabbed Tara's forearm and hung back from Buffy and Cordelia. "What's up?" Tara asked. "Hey I just wanted to let you know, some of the girls on the squad are questioning your commitment to the team." "What? That's ridiculous." Tara said surprised anyone would question her commitment to the squad. "I'm just saying with your new relationship and all it's kind of hard to be captain. I mean no one would think bad of you if you couldn't handle it. It's a tough job." Anya said. Tara stopped walking and turned to look at Anya. "Are you saying my relationship with Willow is interfering with my role as captain of the squad?" Anya threw up her hands in defense. "I'm not saying that. I just said some people are." "Is that what you think?" "Well you have to admit Tara, it took you a while to even find a song for our State routine." "That's because I wanted the team to choose it, not just me. Every year the captain gets to pick the song, and the whole squad has to go along with it. I thought it would be nice for everyone to have input on what type of routine we did. Then you and Buffy go behind my back and pick a song and routine on your own. I can't believe this." Tara said exasperated. She looked around and saw Cordelia and Buffy had already crossed the street. "We're just trying to help. We know you are busy, we just want what's best for the team." Tara was tired of the conversation. "Well we'll see what the squad wants to do after school today." Tara said before continuing on at a quicker pace than before. Tara sat quietly at the back of the squad watching the routine Buffy and Anya had come up with. It was ok, but Tara really thought the move Cordelia had found would really put them over the top at State. "That was really wonderful girls." Mrs. Flanders said as Buffy and Anya took their seats on the floor of the lunchroom. "Well should we put it to a vote?" Her eyes landing on Tara for acceptance. "Yeah whatever." Tara said annoyed. "Ok who likes Buffy and Anya's routine." She asked and most of the girls raised their hands save a few girls, Tara and Cordelia. "Well that's settled then. Buffy, Anya, why don't you guys split the girls up and work on the moves. And Tara I would like to talk to you." Mrs. Flanders said motioning for Tara to follow her away from the girls. "Tara I think your attitude needs some adjustment." Mrs. Flanders said when they had moved out of hearing range of the squad. "What?" Tara said not believing what she was hearing. "You need to show more support for the squad. Some of those girls look up to you and you are setting a bad example with your indifference to the team." "My indifference?" Tara said, her voice rising in anger. "I have done nothing but work for this team, and how do they repay me, by choosing a stupid routine that won't get us past State." "It's what the team wants, so I suggest you get on board, or think about moving on." Mrs. Flanders said before walking back to the girls. Cordelia seeing the exchange walked over to Tara a moment after Mrs. Flanders had left. "What was that about?" Cordelia asked. "Well apparently I don't care about the squad and it would be better if I left." Tara said embellishing Mrs. Flanders words. "What she said that?" "Pretty much. This is such bullshit Cordy!" "I know, we are never going to get past State with that shitty routine." Cordelia said glancing at Buffy and Anya. "This is so stupid, I mean what are we doing? It's not like it will matter after this year. It shouldn't matter now. I don't know why I care. I should just be done with the whole thing." "No Tare, you can't. We've worked for 4 years to get this far." Cordelia tried explaining. "To get where? Where are we Cordy?" "I don't know Tare, but just don't make any rash decisions right now. I know you're pissed, hell I am too, but just think it over ok." "You're right. Listen I don't really feel like practicing today, let Mrs. Flanders know I'm sick ok?" "Sure thing Tare." Cordelia said before walking away. |
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