Chapter 16
‘No, absolutely not. I forbid it,’ Giles adamantly declared. ‘You are not to go on patrol for at least another night. You are not sufficiently recovered.’
Buffy opened her mouth to argue but Angel cut her off. ‘We’d all fell better if you would just lay low for one more night,’ he backed up Giles and Buffy felt the fight leave her. Giles she could fight.
‘Fine,’ she gave in grudgingly as she slumped back into the seat. She hated sitting on the couch doing nothing. It was unnatural for a Slayer. Not that she wouldn’t take advantage of it. ‘Hey Xand, hows about that pizza and movies you offered last night?’
‘Ooh, Buff,’ Xander rubbed his hands together with exaggerated glee. ‘Wills and I are going to introduce you to the fine world of Hindu and Indian films. The dancing, the twisted love stories, the oxen.’
‘Oxen,’ Buffy repeated with some scepticism. What did oxen have to do with Indian movies? ‘Aren’t they animals?’
‘Yep,’ Xander confirmed. ‘Oxen. They’re pretty big movie stars, didn’t you know?’
Buffy rolled her eyes. ‘Whatever, oxen boy. Lets do it.’
‘Oh,’ Xander clutched his heart. ‘Hearing you say things like that Buff, it just-’
‘I don’t want to know,’ she said with certainty. Xander grinned and she shook her head. ‘I’m so going to regret this. I can tell. My friendship with you is going to come back and bite me on the ass I just know it.’
‘Yeah but what an ass,’ Xander said offhandedly.
In outrage Buffy slapped him across the back of the head. ‘Do not be checking out my ass, Harris.’
‘Yes ma’am,’ he acquiesced as he rubbed his head. He dropped his hand and stood straight.
‘I’ll go get the snacks. Wills knows when the movies are on and what channel so have it ready by the time I get back,’ he left the room quickly.
‘Channel?’ Buffy said, confused. ‘I thought you rented them.’
‘Oh no,’ Willow denied. ‘We hardly ever rent things. That's what cable is for.’
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Buffy sat transfixed by the bizarre sight in front of her. ‘Why is she singing again?’
‘She’s sad that her mothers cousin left them to go sell wheat at the market,’ Xander eyes were fixed on the T.V as Buffy and Willow put his hair in ponytails. He shovelled a handful of popcorn in his mouth.
‘Mother’s cousin? I thought that was her boyfriend,’ Buffy peered at the box in confusion.
‘No,’ Willow explained. ‘It was her brother. Her boyfriend was the one leading the oxen into the barn.’
‘Do they call them barns in India?’ Buffy asked thoughtfully as the woman on screen let out a particularly loud wail. ‘And why is she so upset?’
‘She’s not upset, she’s happy and I assume they call them barns, I mean, what else is there to call them,’ Willow looked perplexed as she contemplated. ‘Maybe there they are just called animal houses or something. I’m gonna look that up.’
‘You would,’ Xander shot out as he stuffed his face with another handful of popcorn.
Buffy relaxed back and smiled. This is what she needed, time out with her friends. She mentally reminded herself to thank Angel for taking over patrol.
‘There, done,’ she lifted her hands from Xander hair. ‘Doesn’t he look so beautiful,’ she cooed and Willow giggled. Xander’s hair was a mess of ponytails and plaits and was littered with bows and ribbons.
‘Camera,’ both girls squealed ignoring Xander’s feeble protests. He gave up, knowing it was no use. Buffy whipped the camera out of her draw with a flourish and started snapping pictures of the poor boy. Willow kept trying to take the camera out of her hand so she could have a go. After they snapped him from every angle possible, Buffy put the camera away and sat back down to continue the movie.
‘So,’ Willow said slowly as they began to undo Xander’s hair.
‘What?’ Buffy knew she was leading up to something.
‘You and Angel,’ she hinted and Buffy rolled her eyes.
‘I’m not telling you any thing, Will because there’s nothing to tell,’ Buffy said with a smile on her face.
‘Uh huh. That’s why you have something face. What’s happened? How far have you gone? How are the smoochies?’ she asked the last question in hushed tones and Buffy was amazed that just the word smoochies could make the girl blush. I wonder what would happen if she said sex.
‘Yes, there have been smoochies,’ she conceded. ‘Really, really, really, great smoochies but that’s it. So far.’
‘I don’t know what you see in him, Buff,’ Xander shook his head disbelievingly. ‘He’s a vampire. At least you don’t love him, right?’
Buffy didn’t say anything so Xander turned around to face her. She knew her face gave her away but she didn’t expect such a reaction. ‘WHAT?’ Xander yelled. 'You’re in love with a vampire?!?
Willow took a more diplomatic view. ‘Are you sure?’ she asked the shocked Slayer. ‘Do you love him? ‘Cause that would be so cute. A vampire and a Slayer,’ Willow sighed. ‘It’s so romantic.’
‘It’s not romantic, Willow, it’s disgusting. He’s a vampire. You know, dead body, no breathing, no heart beat or body temp,’ Xander was livid and Buffy felt her own temper rising. How dare he judge her? All of a sudden her peaceful night at home with her friends had disappeared.
‘You better watch what you say, Xander,’ she warned, standing up from the bed. Xander had also risen and was facing her. ‘You may be my friend but you’ll only get away with so much. You’ve already passed that line.’
Xander either didn’t notice the threat in her voice or he took no note of it because he just kept on going. ‘He’s a vampire, you’re a Slayer you’re supposed to slay him not date him.’
‘I seem to recall that you didn’t have a problem with this earlier,’ Buffy reminded him angrily. The situation was going from bad to worse.
‘That was before I knew you were in love with him,’ Xander yelled, getting up in her face. ‘It’s wrong, Buffy. In so many ways. Least of all that you’re in love with a corpse.’
‘HE IS NOT A CORPSE,’ Buffy screamed at him. ‘He is a man. Right now, he’s more a man than you will ever be. Grow up Xander. The world is not as black and white as you see it. He may be a vampire but he is a good man. He has a soul, he feels pain, regret, love, just like you do. He just does it without a pulse.’
Xander’s mouth opened and closed a few times, like a fish, something that Buffy would have found funny any other time. Instead of saying whatever else was on his mind, he turned abruptly and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Buffy immediately collapsed on the bed, tears blurring her vision. Why had Xander gotten so upset? He had never mentioned any bad feeling towards Angel. Granted he’d only known him a couple of days at the most but still.
‘He’s jealous,’ Willow said sadly as she sat down beside the slayer. ‘He likes you and you’re in love with Angel. He’ll come round, though.’
‘I don’t know what to do, Will,’ tears streamed down Buffy’s face. ‘He was so angry.’
‘He’ll come round Buffy. He’s just jealous of your relationship,’ Willow tried to soothe the upset Slayer.
‘What relationship?’ Buffy laughed harshly and Willow winced. ‘I only see him every now and then. We’ve kissed twice. Any other time I see him or talk to him it’s just so he can give me words of warning or tell me a new threat. What kind of relationship is that?’
‘Maybe he does want a relationship, Buffy. He’s a vampire and he’s dating a Slayer. Not exactly explored territory, you know. He probably has no idea what he’s doing,’ Willow tried to explain. Buffy knew she was trying to comfort her even though she was completely out of her depth. It was sweet.
‘Yeah, well, I can just see him in a relationship. 'Hi, honey, you're in grave danger. I'll see you next month,’ Buffy said in a deep voice and Willow sighed.
‘He's not around much, it's true.’
‘When he is around...it's like the lights dim everywhere else. You know how it's like that with some guys?’
‘Oh, yeah!’ Willow nodded wisely and Buffy turned to her in surprise.
‘Is there something I should know, Rosenberg?’ she stared at the redhead with a sneaky smile.
‘N-no,’ Willow stammered as she backed away from Buffy, hiding her face.
‘You are so lying to me, Willow,’ Buffy took a step towards her. The grin on her face widened. ‘Who is it? Who are you crushing on? Come on tell me,’ Buffy whined, pulling on Willow’s sleeve.
The redhead flushed deeper and glanced quickly at the door. ‘Oh my god,’ Buffy said slowly with realisation. ‘Xander?’ she squealed. ‘Oh my god!’
‘Don’t say anything,’ Willow pleaded, eyes wide with mortification. ‘No one can ever know. Xander’s never even suspected. Please, if you do I will not be your friend anymore.’
Buffy smiled at the childish threat. That was so Willow. ‘Your secret is safe with me, I promise,’ she assured the nervous redhead. ‘I won’t say a word to anyone.’
‘Not a word, no words should come out of your mouth, it should be closed,’ Willow took a deep and calming breath. Buffy resisted teasing the girl. She was still too worked up.
‘Well,’ the girl continued. ‘Except for when you need to talk and eat and drink and I’ll just shut up now,’ she closed her mouth with a snap and her hands covered it. Eyes wide she stared expectantly at the Slayer.
The door opened in that moment and Angel entered. Buffy watched him take in the scene. Instead of saying anything or voicing the no doubt numerous thoughts and questions rolling around in his head, he just continued to stare confusedly.
‘I’m just… gonna go,’ Willow edged towards the door, seeing her chance for freedom but Buffy was quicker.
‘Why don’t you stay, Willow,’ she practically purred as she walked over to her and swung an arm around her shoulders. ‘Angel makes the yummiest hot chocolate,’ she indicated to Angel that he should reinforce the offer. He took the hint.
‘Yes, Willow. Please stay. You can tell me what you guys have been up to tonight,’ Angel eyes were on Willow’s flushed face.
Buffy started to giggle. She couldn’t help it. The situation was just unbelievably funny. The redhead shook her head wildly. Buffy grinned as the girl stuttered out an apology. Sure it was cruel, torturing the poor girl like that, but it was too damn fun. Buffy needed that after the confrontation with Xander.
Angel must have notice the grey pallor of her face because he let Willow escape, his eyes firmly fixed upon the Slayer. She watched Willow stumble out of the room, desperate to leave and knew she’d have to apologise tomorrow. Buffy had a few questions of her own to ask the redhead. Like why she’d never made a move on the handsome brunette.
Angel closed the door after Willow’s exit. ‘Is everything okay?’ he asked concernedly. His hand came up and caressed the side of her face.
‘No, not really,’ she sighed. She flopped down on the bed and reached for the control for the T.V. She turned it off then focussed back on Angel.
‘Where’s Xander?’ he had no doubt noted the boy's absence as soon as he'd entered the room. Buffy wondered why he hadn’t said anything.
‘He went home early,’ she said uncooperatively. Angel sighed and sat down beside her. She looked up at him when he didn’t say anything. ‘We had a fight and he left,’ she said softly, looking down at the now very interesting carpet.
‘What did you fight about?’ he took a small hand in his. She clutched his fingers but still didn’t look at him.
‘You,’ was all she said and he seemed to get it, which surprised Buffy. She looked at him in puzzlement.
‘I got the feeling he didn’t like me earlier. He seemed to resent me for some reason and on patrol I got to thinking and kind of realised that reason was you.’
‘Oh,’ Buffy seemed to deflate. She was a whole lot blinder than she thought she was. Mom was always telling her she only saw what she wanted to see, She never knew how right she was.
The thoughts of her mom caused a pang in her heart and she angrily berated herself. What happened was a long time ago. She had to get over it already. Emotions were an asset in this business but those kind of emotions would get her killed.
‘How was patrol?’ she needed to take the focus off herself, now.
Angel must have sensed what she was doing because he went along with it with only a quick glance at her. ‘Not good,’ he sounded really tired and Buffy’s head shot up at the worried note he tried to hide.
‘What is it?’ she moved closer to him and squeezed his hand for a moment. The look on his face told her a lot. Something big happened tonight.
‘Slayerfest,’ he said grimly and it was enough for Buffy. She somehow knew it wouldn’t stop just ‘cause she left town.
‘Spike made an appearance?’ she asked, getting up off the bed to pace the length of the room.
‘Yes. He was only there for a brief moment but it was enough. You’re not safe,’ he stood and walked over to her, halting her movement. ‘The other teams are still after you. Thanks to Spike, they’re not on your trail yet but it won’t take them long.’
‘Wait, thanks to Spike?’ Buffy grabbed his arm.
‘He wants you for himself. You threatened Dru, he feels it’s now personal,’ Angel was worried and that made Buffy worry. ‘He threw the rest of the teams off so he has a better chance.’
‘When is he going to attack?’
‘I don’t know. Normally I’d say “don’t worry about him, you can take him” but at the moment…’
‘He pissed,’ Buffy guessed and Angel grabbed her arms and looked her in the eyes.
‘He’s unpredictable. That is the most dangerous Spike of all.’
Sorry about the late update. Been looking after my cat.
The collar came off today and seems so much happier. Thanks to those who inquired about her. It cheered me up a little. I'm just really glad she's okay.
Anyway, let me know what you thought. Will try and update soon. I'm gonna start posting a new story in a couple of days and i really want some feedback on whether it has potential or not. Thanks guys.
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