E-MAIL: twi_of_the_light@hotmail.com
SUMMARY: Willow and Oz help Buffy out when she's forced to join the Photography club.
DIST/ARCHIVE: Ask first
DISCLAIMER: Willow, Oz, and Buffy belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story takes place before Willow and Oz became a couple, they just have crushes on each other here.
"Hey Wil! Willow!"
The redhead turned around and smiled as she saw her best friend running towards her. "Hi Buffy!" she said. "What's with the camera?"
"Oh, Snyder found out I skipped art class a couple of times-vamp duty, y'know-and he's making me join the photography club to make up for the missed credit. Actually that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Will you pose for me? I need some people shots to pass."
"Sure, I'll be your subject." Willow agreed, putting her books down. "Where should I stand?"
"Um....how about over there, in front of that tree? Okay....move a little to the right....no, no, not that far over! Yeah, right there! Now, push your hair back, behind the ears-like that! Perfect! Smile!"
"Cheese!" said Willow as the flash went off.
Buffy took a couple more shots of her. Willow sitting on the bench. Willow, cross-legged, in front of the flower garden. Willow walking down the school steps.
"Okay Willow, now look sad. Stand right over there, look this way and look really lonely....unhappy. Willow? Willow!" Buffy looked up, exasperated, from her camera. "Willow, stop it! Why are you smiling?"
"Hey."
Buffy turned around. Behind her was that short, red-haired senior. The lead guitarist in "Dingoes Ate My Baby". The guy who saved Willow from the bullet. That boy her best friend had a huge crush on. What was his name? Oh, yeah. Oz.
"Hi, Oz!" she said. Willow wiped the huge, ridiculous grin that had popped up when she first spotted Oz of her face. She looked down at her feet and tried to keep a serious face. < Think sad thoughts, Willow, sad thoughts > But a happy little smile kept springing up and she couldn't keep down.
"Hi Buffy. What are you doing?" Oz said to the blonde with the camera, but he was looking at Willow. He had seen the huge smile light up her face when her eyes first locked on him. God, she had a beautiful smile. It made him almost dizzy. She was smiling now, a little, shy, sort of half-smile. Her eyes were downcast, but Oz knew somehow she was smiling at him.
"I'm taking some pictures of Willow for my photography class." replied Buffy. "Hey!-" a idea suddenly occuring to her. "Oz, why don't you get into the picture too?"
"What?" cried Willow, her head snapping up.
"Me?" asked Oz, surprised.
"Yeah. C'mon! It'll be a great picture. You two look so cute together!"
Both redheads turned pink. Oz shyly edged over to where Willow, who was looking nervous and excited and angry and thrilled all at the same time, was standing.
Willow and Oz were standing, shoulders just barely touching, with identical pained but happy smiles on their faces as Buffy snapped the picture.
"Okay, that was good," said Buffy. "But there was no depth, no interaction!"
"Buffy, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were enjoying this!" said Willow breathlessly, her voice pitched much higher than usual.
"Hell, no!" replied Buffy. "But I rather be doing this than vanishing points and Chinese paper-cutting! Anyways, in the next picture, I want Oz to put his arm around Willow."
"What!!! Oz doesn't want-that's not-come on-oh, Buffeeeeee!" wailed Willow in humilation. But Oz's arm was creeping around her shoulder and from the look on his face, he enjoyed it quite a bit.
"Great! Now, Willow, move in a little bit-" Willow gingerly edged a bit closer to Oz, "-and Oz, relax your arm-" Oz unclenched the fist of his free arm. "-and smile!"
"Cheese." said Willow feebly.
"Now for the next shot, I want-" Buffy paused a moment, thinking how she wanted Willow and Oz to pose. But Oz set up the next picture all by himself.
< Come one, Oz. You know you want to, so do it! > Boldly, he stepped behind Willow and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder and smiling. < God, she smells good. Like....mmmmm, vanilla. What doesn't this girl have? Gorgeous smile, beautiful eyes, nice hair, intelligence, sense of humour, sweet, fun and SHE SMELLS GOOD TOO! >
Willow gave a little start and gasped as she realized what was going on. < Oh my god. He has his arms around my waist. He is hugging me and he is smiling. Breathe, Willow! Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Ohmygod. What goes on here? Breathe, Willow! Ohmygod, ohmygod, OH MY GOD!!! > A look of amazement and delight flashed over her face. Buffy, seeing the picture of a lifetime before her, fumbled for her camera. Click! Moment preserved in living colour.
"That was perfect, you guys!" Buffy crowed. "I'll get an A for that, then freedom of the shackles of photography class and the nagging of mothers! Thanks so much! That was so-"
"Buffy?" Oz tapped her shoulder. "When you get those pictures developed, um......could I have a copy of that last one?"
Willow, her face still glowing, added, "Me too, Buffy. I'd really like a copy of that last one."
Buffy looked from Oz to Willow, from Willow to Oz. She gave them a big smile. "Of course guys. Of course."
