Author: Shai
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Unfortunately neither Tara nor Willow are mine. Neither's anyone else in this fic for that matter!

Buffy had come by to Willow's at 6:30 that evening to pick her up. At first Willow was surprised to see her best friend on time for the second time in one day."That's gotta be a record!" she thought. Then she noticed Buffy enthusiasm with regard to the sleep over, and figured out that that was probably the reason why her friend was sticking to the clock.

"Will, I told Cameron that we could pick her up too. She lives in your block, so I hope that isn't a problem," Buffy said, as they made their way down from Willow's dorm room on the third floor.

"Nah, that's cool," Willow said, following Buffy as the blonde turned right on the second floor, and walked to the third room on the left. She knocked, and seconds later the door was answered by Cameron, clad in a singlet and a pair of shorts, with a bag slung over her shoulder, probably holding her night things, and her handball kit in her hand.

"Hey guys!" she smiled.

"Hey!" Willow and Buffy responded, before Buffy added "You ready to go?"

Cameron nodded and they made their way to the car, making small talk till they reached the small Volkswagon. Once in the car, Cameron said "I know the way, so if you have a problem with directions, just ask me."

Buffy nodded, and started the engine, pulling out of the parking lot. Then she said "So Tara lives alone in an apartment?"

Cameron nodded, "Yeah, she's been living alone for about a year now. It's a great place, with a pool, gym and the works."

"So has she like migrated here or something?" Willow questioned.

"No, Tara's a Sunnydale girl through and through. We all actually went to the same high school together, so we go back a pretty long way. Tara started playing handball a lot later than the rest of us, in the 9th grade after her folks got divorced actually. The rest of us have been playing together since the start of Junior High. Anyway, Tara's folks left town, and she lived with her old Aunt for a while. She passed away last year, and that's when Tara got her own place."

"Oh," Willow said, thinking for a few seconds before asking "So her folks left Sunnydale and Tara stayed behind...?"

"Yeah, thats pretty much it. Tara's mom moved to L.A, and... well, I'm sure you're heard of her. She now calls herself Susanna White." Cameron said.

Buffy gasped and said "The Susanna White??? The talk show host?" Cameron merely nodded her head. "Man! I love that lady!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Yeah, thats her mom. She comes down to see her every now and then. I've actually mether a couple of times," Cameron said.

"What about Tara's Dad?" Willow asked.

"Well, Tara doesn't really talk about him. Actually she doesn't talk much about herself at all. Tara's got a great sense of humour and she makes everyone laugh and stuff, but she doesn't really get personal with many people, so I don't think anyone really knows her. Still, she's a great gal. Goes out of her way for people and stuff...just doesn't open up. Most people actually think she's a snob the first time they meet her, which is really a laugh!" Cameron said, with a thoughtful expression on her face.

There was silence in the car for a few moments, before Buffy said, "Well, she sure has a great set of wheels!" thinking about the S Class that Tara had arrived in that morning.

Cameron spoke, "Yeah, that was an 18th birthday present from her Mom. Anya actually told me that Tara didn't wanna take it, since she prides herself on being self sufficient. But in the end she took it because it was a birthday present."

"Self sufficient?" Willow asked aloud, and Cameron nodded her head.

"Tara's been with the Sunnydale Radio station since she was 17. She started out as junior writer, and now she's already been made senior writer. She handles all her finances herself, which I think is really cool."

Buffy and Willow voiced their agreement, just as Cameron said "Oh we're here! Park in that space on the left" she told Buffy, pointing.

Buffy parked the car, and they all got off, making their way to the doors of the apartment block. Willow buzzed apartment no. 7, waiting to be allowed in.