Just like magic

Chapter 1

"Will, are you almost done? Giles said he needed us at the library first thing."

"I'll be out in a second...How'd you get your mum to let you drive her car again anyway?"

"Well, you know since the whole band candy adults-turning-teenagers thing, she's been treating me differently. Not that I'm complaining. I told her I needed to pick you up and she trusts you. Says you're responsible."

I came out my room where Buffy was waiting. "Let me guess. She also says I'm a good influence. And 'Oh, Buffy why can't you be more like Willow'.

"That's...scarily like her. So...are you ready to go?"

I nodded; I was always pretty eager to get to school anyway but Giles calling an early morning meeting was like Xander doing homework. Had me intrigued...and sceptical. The Xander doing homework part, not Giles and the meeting.

Buffy got into the driver side, and I got into the passenger. I was nervous for Buffy's driving; last time she had almost driven us into a tree. Maybe she'd improved?

I felt the car jolt as she accelerated forward quickly. Nope, definitely not. Definitely not... I held onto the seat tightly and glanced at her nervously. "Hey Buffy...Maybe you should slow down."

She either didn't hear me or ignored. "Alright...let's see what CDs Mum has in here..." She moved her eyes from the windscreen for a second to open the glovebox, making us swerve a little.

"Eyes on the road, eyes on the road!"

She looked over at me, amusement clear on her face. "You worry too much..." She put her foot down and kept only one hand on the wheel.

"Or maybe you're just too..." My breath increased a little and stomach dropped as she picked up more speed. "CARELESS. Buffy, you have a brake, don't you?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Come on Will...chill out. Hey, Will...chill. You've been in Giles' car too much."

"At least Giles drives at the speed limit! Tree!"

She looked away from me and swerved in time, into a parking space. "Slayer reflexes. Seriously though Willow...you NEED to chill."

I concentrated on returning my breathing to a normal rhythm. "Oh...we're here. I need to sit down..."

"You are sat down."

"Oh...good for me..."

"Come on! Giles's get cranky if we leave any more time."

My legs didn't feel like they could move, still shaking slightly and I gathered the strength to open the door and get out. Finally...ground.

Buffy had already started walking in the direction of the library. How she was not disoriented was beyond me...

When we got to the library, the others were already there.

Xander looked incredulous. "Wow, here before Willow. Mark the date..."

Oz came over to me...I was always glad to see him. "You okay? You look a little..."

"She's fine. Can't handle my driving apparently. So Giles what's up?" Buffy sat on the table and waited for Giles to begin.

"Well...as you know, the Council is aware of your little...group here. ...They're assigning us someone else. A girl. Your age. Slayer. Faith Lehane."

I looked up, finally recovered from Buffy's driving. "Another Slayer?"

Buffy acted cocky as usual. "Eh, that'll be a piece of cake. When's she getting here?"

"...she left England today."

The bell rang. "Buffy, when she gets here...do be kind. Her life isn't...like yours."

"Yeah, yeah...you worry too much Giles. No wonder you and Willow get along."

We headed out of the library, and I glanced over at Buffy. "So, a new Slayer huh?"

Xander nodded. "Guess so. Wonder if she's hot..."

"Xander!" Always thinking that way...As we walked to our lockers, I spied a girl I had noticed recently. Blonde long hair, quite eccentric in clothing. She was getting a lot of books from her locker.

He looked over at me. "It's a valid question! I'm a guy!"

Then someone came over and pushed the books onto the floor. Marcus... I saw her move to pick up the books as people stepped over, not even helping.

Oz followed my gaze. "You okay?"

I heard Marcus shout something then refocused on Oz's voice.

"Yeah...yeah. Who's that girl?"

Xander looked over too. "Oh her. Tara Maclay. Right weirdo...Apparently practices magic. Keeps to herself mostly."

She had almost finished picking up the books as I walked over to her. I could hear Xander questioning me, but I ignored and helped her pick up the remaining ones.

"Oh uh...t-thanks." She smiled a little, the stutter and the little nervous look told me everything. A shy person.

"No problem. It's Tara right?"

"Y-you know who I-I am?"

I looked confused. "Should I not...?"

She shook her head quickly. "N-no...it's not that...it's just...you're W-Willow...Everyone knows who you a-are...

"Please...you should refer to my proper name everybody knows...Ol Reliable..."

She looked confused, not knowing what to say.

I shook my head...Don't scare her off... "Sorry...I'm so used to just being the 'study buddy' where it turns out...just me doing the work."

"Oh...I...I don't need help with that." She dropped a pen on the floor and we both reached down, our fingers touched at the same time.

Electric...static...power...magic.

I looked up at her and she stared back at me. Piercing blue...beautiful. I could tell she had felt it too.

She shook her head, and I tried to refocus my brain.

She smiled nervously. "W-well, I should g-go. Uhm...it was n-nice to meet you Willow." She smiled again, then walked off.