(Small note: Sorry to those of you who don't know anything about Mystery Science Theater 3000...there are several references to it in this part.)

Musical Chairs
by:Rebecca Carefoot
Part 3

The bright morning sun shone down on Willow's head as she lay under the covers. Slowly she awoke, peering out into the day with bleary eyes. Eventually the ringing of the telephone registered as the cause of her waking. Sluggishly, she reached out and held the receiver to her ear.

"Hello?" she asked in a voice that was thick with sleep.

"Ooh, did I wake you?" she heard Buffy's voice ask.

"Yeah," she admitted.

"I'll call back later," Buffy told her.

"No, I'm up now," said Willow, snuggling deep under the covers with the phone to her ear.

"I just wanted to get all the juicy details," Buffy said. "Did you have a good time after I left?"

"I did actually," Willow said. "It was awkward at first but then we started talking..."

"And?"

"And nothing.."

"You didn't kiss?" Buffy said, disappointed.

"I didn't say that," Willow teased, laughing at Buffy's outraged shriek on the other end of the telephone.

"Details, Will," Buffy demanded.

"We kissed twice," said Willow.

"So how was it?"

"Well there wasn't any music or lightning striking, but it was nice."

"Only nice?" Buffy asked.

"Well yeah...what's it supposed to be like?" Willow asked suspiciously.

"It's not supposed to be like anything in particular," Buffy evaded.

"But with you and Angel..."

"Time stood still, the mountains crumbled, the Red Sea parted, the whole deal," admitted Buffy.

"That's so romantic," sighed Willow.

"So are you saying you're not attracted to him?" Buffy asked.

"No, I think he's really cute, and he's so sweet. He took me to this beautiful little spot in the park. It was all bathed in moonlight. I've never met a guy who's as good to me as he is. And he's really smart too."

"But the kiss..."

"It wasn't bad...at all," Willow said remembering. "It's just that the Red Sea did not part. It was more comfortable than exciting. Like putting on a pair of well-worn shoes."

"Great Will, you're comparing a kiss to old shoes," said Buffy with a laugh.

"I didn't mean it like that," Willow protested. "I just meant that.." She paused utterly at a loss for words.

"Give it time," Buffy suggested. "You'll probably get more into it as you get to know him better. Especially if he's Mr. Perfect like you seem to think he is." Willow could hear the smile in her friend's voice.

"He really cares about me, Buffy," said Willow happily. "And he treats me like I'm this amazing person."

"You ARE this amazing person," Buffy told her friend.

"Anyway, I feel special when I'm with him."

"So are you going out again?"

"He said he'd call me soon."

"I wonder how long that is in boy time?" Buffy asked jokingly.

"I'm thinking some time next month," Willow answered.

Buffy laughed, "Hey I have to go. I think mom's trying to spend some quality time with me. You know to make up for the whole, working 24 hours a day, thing."

"All right then I'll talk to you later," Willow said.

"K, bye," Buffy answered as she hung up the phone.

Willow stayed under the covers for a moment, just wallowing in the warmth like a freshly baking blueberry muffin snug in the oven. With a supreme effort she managed to pull herself upright and head for the bathroom. Just a little while later, she emerged showered and energized.

Her parents had gone to a charity event of some sort. She wasn't really sure of the details, and she really didn't care. She liked having the house to herself. Her thoughts were interrupted by the insistent voice of her computer informing her that she had mail. Drying her hair with a towel, she sat down at the computer to check her e-mail. There was only one new message. With the click of a mouse button she opened the e-mail, and was surprised to see that it was from Oz. It consisted of one word, 'Hi'. Well, two really if you counted the signature which read simply, 'Oz'. < A man of few words, > she thought with a grin.

She considered for a long moment before answering. < I want to be interesting, but not too long-winded. Interested, but not needy, > she thought, attempting to figure out what sort of tone was appropriate. It was hard to know when all you had to go on was "Hi."
Finally, after nearly driving herself insane she placed her fingers on the keyboard and typed. 'Hi yourself.' With a grimace she typed her name and hit the send button before she could change her mind. As soon as the message was sent she lay her head in her hands thinking, < I am such an idiot! Hi yourself? What was I thinking? > Her self-hatred session was interrupted by a new e-mail arriving.

With a bit of trepidation she opened the e-mail. 'Do you hear that?' was all the e-mail said. Puzzled Willow read the e-mail again, her thoughts whirling in search of an explanation. The sharp ring of the telephone broke her concentration. She hurried to answer it, hoping it was Buffy so she could ask her opinion on the odd e-mail message.

"Hey," a male voice said into the phone.

"Oz?" she asked warily.

"Good guess," he replied.

"When you said soon, you meant soon," she told him, impressed.

"Well yeah," he said a little confused. His confusion grew as he heard her break into a sudden fit of laughter. "There's a joke?" he asked. "I'm not getting it."

"The e-mail," Willow gasped through her giggles. "I just got it."

"Oh that," Oz said, understanding. "I thought I'd e-mail you and then when you answered I'd know you were awake. Then I could call without having to worry that you were still asleep."

"Well what were you going to do if I just didn't ever answer the e-mail?" Willow asked.

"That's when I would have had to think of a Plan B," Oz explained wryly. Slowly Willow realized that he had actually cared so much about not waking her that he had sent an e-mail first. She felt a little overwhelmed. < I don't know if I've ever had anyone care about me like that, > she thought wonderingly. She was speechless for a moment, and a little afraid. Having inspired such devotion was scary...it put a lot of pressure on a person. < I don't know if I can be that devoted, > she thought doubtfully.

"So what's up today?" she asked, realizing that it was her turn to talk.

"You mean for the whole day?" Oz asked, in mock horror. "I hadn't planned past getting you on the phone."

"Well," said Willow, deciding to take a sudden leap into the great unknown. "You want to come over and hang out here?" She hurried to continue talking, a little afraid of what the answer would be. "I mean there's not really much to do over here. TV, snacks, computer...we could always hack illegally into something..."

"Hey, if it's illegal I'm there," Oz exclaimed. Willow held the phone silently. "I'm joking," he clarified.

"Oh, ok," she said, relieved.

"I'll be over in less that an hour," Oz continued.

"How much less?" Willow asked, looking around her room to see if there was anything she would have to clean up. Like bras or underwear or some other blush inducing feminine thing.

"15 to 30 minutes less?" suggested Oz.

"I'll see you then," Willow answered.

"Right," Oz said as he hung up. Willow hung up her end slowly. < Ok, so what ARE we going to do when he gets over here? > she asked herself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Roughly 30 minutes later there was a knock at the door, which Willow hurried to answer. Oz stood on the doorstep, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. He looked at Willow questioningly, and she quickly moved to get out of the doorway.

"Come in, " she said, eventually remembering her manners. Oz took her direction to heart and entered the house, looking around him curiously.

"So.." she said uncomfortably. "We can go watch TV," she suggested.

"That's cool," he said. He reached into his back pocket and drew out a video. "I brought a movie in case...well I guess in case you didn't have any which now that I think about it is kind of silly. Because of course you have videos."

"But maybe we don't have that particular video," said Willow smiling. "What is it?"

"Oh, it's actually a couple of old Mystery Science Theater episodes." He assumed from Willow's cry of delight that she had heard of the show.

"I love MST!' she exclaimed. "Are you a Joel guy or a Mike guy?"

"Well, I think that Joel was a better host...more likable. But I think that the show's been funnier with Mike running it."

"Yeah, I have this friend online who thinks Mike is the sexiest thing since Brad Pitt. She's always going on and on about Mike without his shirt pretending to be the Lord of the Dance...Ugh! Talk about gross. I miss TV's Frank though," Willow said suddenly switching gears with a pout.

"Awww, yeah. Frank and Dr. Forrester were the best," Oz agreed, switching gears along with her. Willow grabbed the tape and dashed into the den with Oz close behind her. She popped in the video and took a seat on the couch. Oz sat next to her, after debating for a moment how close was too close. The familiar theme music came on and Willow couldn't help but sing along. After watching her bouncing to the music Oz joined her with a grin.

"..if you're wondering how they eat and breath and other science facts..lalala..then repeat to yourself it's just a show I should really just relax...for Mystery Science Theater 3000...brawp," the pair simultaneously imitated the odd sound effect at the conclusion of the theme song, breaking into fits of giggles.

After watching a moment, Willow recognized the episode.

"This is Alien From LA!" she exclaimed. "This is one of my favorites. You, my good sir, have excellent taste."

"Why thank you ma'am," said Oz, tipping an imaginary hat in her direction. She giggled before turning her attention back to the television screen. About half way through the movie, both Oz and Willow were exhausted from laughter. And not all of it was from jokes instigated by the movie. They had somehow fallen into a tickle fight and were squirming all over the couch in an effort to tickle without being tickled.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, a surprised Willow tumbled off the couch and on to the floor, landing with a bump.

"Are you ok?" Oz asked, helping her up off the floor.

"Takes a licking and keeps on ticking," Willow said. "I have to go answer that." She headed for the door as whoever waited outside rang the doorbell again.

"Want me to pause it?" Oz asked.

"Sure," Willow shouted back, pulling open the door. 'May I help.." she began, then trailed off.

"Hey, Will," said Xander with a grin. "I thought I'd come over and we could hang out."

"Oh, well..oh," answered Willow. < What's wrong with me? > she asked herself. < I'm acting like having Oz over is some big crime that Xander can't find out about. > "Oz and I are watching Mystery Science Theater," she said.

"Oh," Xander answered, trying to keep his mouth from falling open in shock. "Well I'll come back some other day," he said. "It's not like I had big plans for us to you know...do whatever." < How stupid am I? > Xander asked himself, mentally whacking himself in the forehead. < Could I possibly any more intrusive or idiotic, or... > His thoughts were interrupted by Willow.

"You can stay for the second half of the movie," she suggested. "If you want to I mean."

"Oh," said Xander inarticulately. He studied Willow for a moment. Her eyes were bright with excitement and her hair and clothes were disheveled. "Are you sure I won't be interrupting anything?" he asked meaningfully. Willow blushed, then kicked herself for it.

"Of course not."

"I guess I could stay for a little while," Xander said reluctantly. He didn't want to intrude. But he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone with HIM. She gave him a quick smile and led the way back to the TV room.

"It was Xander," she said, stating the obvious.

"So I see," said Oz, giving Xander a wave.

"Hey man," Xander said, nodding in Oz's direction. He seated himself in the middle of the two of them. < No funny business while I'm here, > he thought. He felt a tiny pang of guilt for butting in on them. But his jealousy overwhelmed his other emotions. "So what've you two been up to?" he asked.

"Just vegging," Oz answered.

"Sounds like a fun time," Xander answered hostilely. Oz shot Willow a look of puzzlement.

"Well yeah it has been. Are you a Mistie fan too?" Oz asked innocently.

"Willow and I watch it all the time," Xander answered. He turned to Willow, "Remember that time when we watched Mitchell and you laughed so hard that Coke came out your nose?" He grinned at her, and Willow couldn't help but grin back.

"Yeah, but it wasn’t Coke," she corrected. "It was that Crystal Pepsi stuff they used to sell."

"Wow, that must've been a long time ago then," said Xander.

"My parents loved that stuff. They stocked up when we heard it was being taken off the market...I think we had bottles of that stuff at least a year after the rest of the world had forgotten about it."

"Yeah well at least your parents go shopping. Remember that time when all we had to eat at my house for a month was frosted mini-wheats cereal?"

"I still can't eat those stupid things to this day," Willow said, beginning to crack up. "I think I overdosed on them back then."

"That's why I always come over here to eat."

Oz watched the two of them reminiscing and tried not to be jealous. He watched as she smiled at Xander, laughing at his jokes, and he couldn't help himself. < So he's known her since birth, > he thought bitterly. < Does he have to rub it in my face? >

"So did you ever try Crystal Pepsi on Frosted Mini-Wheats?" Xander asked. Willow only shuddered in response.

"What about you?" she asked Oz, suddenly realizing that he was being awfully quiet.

"Nope, never tried it," he said, trying to make his voice sound as cheerful as hers. "But...I have eaten cereal with Gatorade instead of milk."

"Ewww," said Willow with a grin. "Why'd you do that?" she asked.

"There wasn't any milk," answered Oz simply.

"So why didn't you just have a bagel?" Xander asked rudely.

"I guess I didn't think of it...or maybe I was just craving cereal that day."

"Was it any good?" asked Willow curiously.

"It didn't make me gag."

"That's always a plus," chirped Willow. Xander just rolled his eyes in disgust. "It's not like you've never done anything gross involving Gatorade," she teased, elbowing him in the ribs.

"That was for a good cause," he defended himself. "I was trying to impress a girl."

"Did it work?" Oz asked.

"Well...I think it did. In a subtle way," Xander claimed.

"Well sure," Willow broke in. "If you call having a girl screaming ewwww in disgust and running away, and then avoiding you for the rest of the time she's in school until she moves to Oregon being impressed." She grinned at Oz, who couldn't keep a laugh from bubbling out of his throat.

"Just watch the movie," Xander ordered. They attempted it for a few minutes. But the room was charged with animosity and none of the jokes seemed quite as funny. Willow sat stiffly next to Xander, and wondered what on earth she was going to do? Xander was acting like such a jerk. < Every time Oz tries to say something, Xander gets all huffy and rude, > she thought a little angrily. < He's acting like a jealous boyfriend...which doesn't make any sense considering that he's not my boyfriend and never wanted to be. Aaauugh!! Boys! > Willow wished very hard that Xander had just not come over. She and Oz had been having a lot of fun before he came over and started to act like a pain in the butt.

< That's odd, > she thought suddenly. < I can't believe that I just wished Xander would leave so I could be with another boy. This has to be some kind of breakthrough...that whole *I'm going to get over him* thing must actually be working! > She looked over at Xander for a moment, then down at her hands. < Ok, so he still makes me a little swoony...but the being mad at him. That has to be a good thing. Wait, > she stopped herself. < What am I saying? Xander is still my best friend. It is NOT a good thing that I'm mad at him. > She sighed deeply. < Relationships suck, > she decided firmly.

Oz looked over at Xander. He hadn't wanted to fight with the guy who had been Willow's best friend since that Ice Age. He had wanted to hit it off with the guy. But Xander was making it awfully hard for him them to get along. Acting like such a jerk. < Ok, but not really just a jerk, > he thought. < He was acting like a jealous boyfriend. Well maybe he IS jealous,> Oz thought. < But that's his problem. He never wanted Willow before, and now it's too late. > He could tell by the way Willow interacted with Xander, by the way that she had talked about him last night, that she had had a huge crush on him. And he could also tell that the idiot hadn't done anything about it. < So now she finally gets a life and all of a sudden he's realizing what he passed up. > Oz stole a glance at the other two. He wished that he could say with confidence that he had nothing to worry about. That Xander's jealousy was just too bad for him, and that Willow was over him. But he was afraid. He had a feeling that if Xander were to tell Willow he had seen the light, it would be *bye, bye new boy.*

Xander stared blankly at the TV pretending to watch the action on the screen. He had made a mistake coming here. He had been feeling like he was losing his best friend, and he had come over to try to spend a little time with her. But she was with her boyfriend, which should have been his cue to leave. Though he knew it would have been the right thing to do, he couldn't leave. Her being with Oz only added to his growing panic that he was letting her slip away, right out of his life. < I have to do something, > he told himself. < There has to be some way that I can get her back. > He wanted to leave. He knew he wasn't really welcome. But he couldn't go. Not while Oz was still here. He couldn't leave her alone with him. < Why? ,> he asked himself. < Because the thought of his lips on hers makes my stomach turn, > he admitted. < Because I want it to be my lips on hers. >

< Where did that come from? > he wondered silently. < Willow's my best friend...I am not attracted to her. > His mind whirled in confusion as he tried to deal with thoughts he did not want to accept. In a daze, he noticed that the movie had ended. Oz was getting up to go, driven away by the hostility Xander held toward him. Xander got up as well and said goodbye as he headed for the door. He felt strange, disconnected. One thing was certain, he and Willow needed to have a little chat.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *