Two Seats

Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

Willow's POV.

~

We met her the second day.

Sitting in the Espresso Pump, looking out of place, like Giles at the Bronze. Brown wavy hair, striped scarf, stack of books, mug of tea. She looks a little younger, not yet college, but not immature. Of course, being a fastidiously dressed girl alone at a table, reading books thicker than even my average, contributes to her image.

Unfortunately, she also has the only two empty seats across from her, in all of the Pump. It’s a busy Friday afternoon, and Tara’s meeting me here. We should probably go somewhere else, but I look at the two empty seats, and I wonder a bit at fate. Fate probably doesn’t usually intervene with anything so mundane as seating arrangements, but fate can be fickle, and I’m not going to take any chances.

No harm can come from it.

I approach the table. It’s been a couple long, hard years since high school, and I can ask people to make room at a table now. I can do all sorts of crazy things, like participate in class discussions, and collect college flyers, and kiss girls under trees in the sunshine. Well, a girl. That won’t be changing anytime soon.

Speaking of, “Tara, hey! Over here!”

I turn back and make my way over as I wave. Tara sees me, and I bask in her smile. I’m sure I’ve got the same smile radiating right back at her. I’ve never felt love so physical...no, tangible...before. I mean tangible, because when Tara walks in the room, I can barely contain myself. I remember that all is right with the world. I can never regret a single moment of a life that led me to the love of my life. Tara is magnificent. I love Tara. Even thinking it lifts me up, before I can come down to Earth again, and greet her like a sane person.

Even then, I’m a little breathless. “Tara, there’s two seats.”

We both look over, and Tara quirks a smile. “It’s the books right? You want to get at the books?”

“No, see,” I grin, “It’s simple logic. Two bodies, two empty seats. One fills the other exactly.”

“Mm. And we can’t argue with logic?” Tara sneaks a hand into mine, and I grasp it.

“Exactly.”

Hands held and minds decided, I lead our way over.

~