My Salvation
by Bwriter
My Salvation - PART ONE
[reviews]
Author: Jo
Title: My Salvation
Pairing: Buffy/Willow and minor Cordy/Xander, Oz/Lori
Rating: NC/17
Disclaimer: Joss and co. own the characters from the Buffy/Angel verse
Distribution: IKOLY, mystic muse, and my home page www.angelfire.com/vamp/bwriter anyone else just ask
Warning: Abuse and Attempted Rape. If this offends please don't read.
Spoilers: Pretty much AU. All human. There might be a few minor things but nothing major
Summary: Buffy is the social outcast with problems while Willow is the most popular girl in school
Feedback: makes the world go round: feedbacktome@hotmail.com
Status: Began 14/02/04 Finished:
Part one
"Right class is over, please place you test papers on my desk on the way out."
There was a general sigh of relief when the teacher Ms Card announced that class was over. The students began packing up their belongings and slowly moving out. All but one.
"Ah, Ms Card I need to talk to you about something."
The teacher looked up from where she had already started marking the pop quizzes she had given her class that period. In front of her stood Buffy Summers. Suppressing a sigh she stopped marking and stood up.
"Buffy what can I do for you?" Ms Card liked Buffy. She was a quiet girl who always handed in her homework but had missed several of her classes. Truth be told, she secretly thought the girl had problems at home because of the way she would arrive at school, but the teacher's and school in general could do nothing for fear of how the parents would react to such an allegation.
Buffy squirmed under her teachers gaze. She liked English. She was good at it but lately she just wasn't in the right state of mind to study King Lear. As it was she had no idea how she was going to tell her teacher that not only did she not do the test but also that she didn't have any of the project work finished that they had been given two weeks ago to be handed in and complete a week later. Top that off with what was going on at home made for one very unhappy Buffy.
Snapping back to the here and now she noticed her teacher had said something;
"Sorry what?"
"I asked if this was important because I have a lot of work to get through here."
"Yeah about that, I kinda haven't taken the test. I just haven't had any spare time to study for it but I will take it again whenever you want."
Buffy really hoped that Ms Card was nice about this and didn't ask any questions because she knew for certain that she wouldn't tell her and she felt bad about lying to her favourite teacher.
Seeing that Buffy looked distressed Ms Card decided to let the test issue go for now.
"Dear are you okay? Its just you haven't really been 'with' us during class theses past few weeks. Is everything okay? Anything bothering you at home maybe?"
Buffy had a deer caught in headlights look plastered on her face before she could stop it.
"N..no why w..would you think that? I've just been slacking lately but its over. From now on you get my full attention during class."
Plastering a too big smile on her face she turned and hurried out before Ms Card could say anything more.
Looking at her watch she noticed that it was 4.30pm and that she was already late home to start dinner. Cursing herself for spending too much time with Ms Card she decided not to go to her locker to get her books and just headed for home.
Arriving at her house at 4.45pm, which was a record for her, she noticed that her dad's car was in the drive. Cursing herself for dallying at school she head with caution to the front door. Carefully opening it and moving into the house she heard them before she saw them. They were arguing again. She couldn't make out the words just the loud voices.
As she was moving into the kitchen her mother breezed past her and walked out of the house. He dad came crashing down the stairs not long after.
"Where the fuck have you been? Why isn't dinner ready?"
Not wanting to anger her dad anymore than he already was Buffy took a deep breath and explained that she had to stay late to talk to a teacher and that she was going to start dinner now.
"Well fuck that. I'm going out to the bar. That whore of a mother of yours wont be back. It's just you and me from now own. Isn't life grand!"
Buffy couldn't stop the shudder of fear that worked its way up her spine. With her mom there her dad had never beat her too badly, well that was a lie he had beat her into hospital when she was 13, but her mom had always looked after when he was finished. Who was going to look after now she was gone?
Her dad was walking closer to her and she had nowhere to go as her back was up against the kitchen door. She watched as he lifted I=his hand to her face and gave one gentle stoke across her cheek before rearing his hand back and slapping her hard across the face.
"Don't be late again and have my dinner ready for when I get back or you'll get worse than that little tap."
Buffy watched as he walked out of the house with a swing in his step before sliding down the wall and burring her head in her hands and sobbing. After what felt like hours but was only twenty minutes she picked herself up and went to start dinner knowing that if she didn't have it ready for when he got back she would get a severe beating for it.
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As soon as the test was over Willow left the room with her followers trailing behind.
"God could that have been any harder? Why do they make us learn that crap?"
Willow looked at Harmony who had spoken. Sometimes she wondered why she hung out with these people. Sure she was rich and popular and beautiful but she was also smart and she liked learning. Looking towards Cordy and seeing the same look of her best friends face she just shook her head and the two walked off to the library to get some books that Cordy needed for her science project leaving Harmony and the squad behind gossiping about the latest hottie they came across.
"Why do we put up with those guys? I mean we are way more popular. I say we just ditch them and be done with it."
Cordy looked at Willow like she was nuts before a smile came over her face.
"You have the best ideas you know that?"
"It's a gift."
Hearing a noise near the entrance of the school Cordy looked up to see Buffy hurrying out like a bat outta hell was chasing her.
"Look. The freak looks like she's in a hurry."
Willow frowned at Cordy. She happened to like Buffy. They used to be friends. Well not friends really but they used to say hello when they passed each other in the corridor.
"I don't see what's freaky about her. She's nice once you get to know her. Not that I know her know her but from what I've seen she's nice.
"Will! Stop babbling. Look we're here now lets get the books and get outta here. It is Thursday after all. One more day 'til the weekend starts. You know what that means?"
The two looked at each other before shouting Bronzing in once voice startling the school librarian Giles from his reading.
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It was 10.00pm and he still wasn't home. Buffy was worried. Not about Hank but about what state he was going to be in when he got home. She had seen him drunk before and she didn't know what she was going to do if he came home drunk. Deciding to just leave his dinner in the microwave she went up to bed.
Not really a wise choice when she thought about it but she was tired and she didn't know what time her dad would be home.
Deciding to have a shower first she stripped down to her underwear and got her stuff ready. Turning on the water as hot as it would go she stepped under the steam and began washing away the days build up of grime. As she was washing her hair she heard the unmistakable sound of the front door banging shut. Quickly rinsing she turned off the water and quickly dried herself off before changing into her pjs, which consisted over men's boxer shorts and a Lakers t-shirt.
Opening the bathroom door she came face to face with her father.
"Where the fuck is my dinner!?!" He was drunk but not overly so. Buffy figured she could cope with that.
"Well I didn't know what time you were coming home at so I put it in the microwave so you could reheat it."
She knew she had said the wrong thing because in the next instant she felt his hand in her hair trailing her down the stairs not caring when she tripped and rolled the rest of the way leaving his holding a handful of the hair that had been yanked out by her fall and his grip.
With tears running down her face and knowing for definite that some ribs were at the best only bruised she stood again only to be punched hard on the face. Spinning she fell again and her father used the opportunity to kick her anywhere he could reach from her ribs to her legs but never her face. Crying out in pain she tried curling herself into a ball and just before she blacked out from the pain she heard her father whisper in her ear:
"Baby, don't cry. Now that your whore of a mother is gone we can have so much fun." The last thing she felt was his tongue in her ear.
Willow and Cordy had been at the Bronze for 2 hours and had been dancing the whole time. Deciding to take a rest willow went and sat back at their table after ordering a new drink. Sitting down she watched the people around her and smiled when she saw Cordy dancing with Xander.
She liked Xander. He was a nice sweet guy and even though he wasn't part of the popular crowd Her and Cordy had just always seemed to click with him. She knew that he lusted after Cordy but her friend was oblivious to it.
She looked up when a shadow feel across the table. Seeing Oz she smiled and motioned for him to sit. Oz was the lead guitarist for the local 'hot' band Dingoes. He was also Xander's best friend. Though unlike his friend he didn't talk very much and willow liked that he just listened and didn't criticise.
"Hey Will."
"Hey Oz. How come you guys aren't playing? Don't you usually play on a Friday?"
"Dev got into a fight last night and had three of his teeth knocked out so he can't sing."
"Who was he fighting with?" Willow had never pictured Devon as a fighter and was intrigued as to why he would.
"Some guy he caught trying to feel up his sister who was kinda drunk at the time and didn't know what was happening."
The conversation was cut off as Cordy and Xander came back to the table.
"Hey Oz."
"Hey Man. Your late." Xander took a seat beside his friend and passed him the drink he had got him at the bar.
"Thanks. Had a flat tire."
"Right." Willow looked from Cordy to Xander and back again seeing how the two kept sending the other looks when they weren't looking. Deciding she had had enough she stood up and told Cordy to follow her and told the guys they'd be right back.
"What is the problem with you and Xander?"
"What are you talking about there is no problem."
"You guys are acting like three year olds. You like him, he like you what's the problem?"
"Its just... Will I really like him and I don't know what to do."
Willow looked at her friend not believing what she was hearing. Cordelia Chase not knowing how to approach a guy!
Muttered under her breath about dumb friends she stormed back to their table and pulled Xander up before whispering in his ear and sending him over to Cordy.
"What did you tell him?"
"That if he didn't go over there and ask Cordy out I was gonna tell everyone that he had syphilis."
"Nice."
"I thought so. So how's Lori?" Lori and Oz had been dating ever since willow could remember.
"She's good. She's at home visiting her parents but she's coming back next week. How's your crush?"
Willow looked at Oz to gage just how he had asked that question. She found the honestly in his question and answered him.
"I saw her today but only for a minute. We haven't really spoken all week. Not even a hello."
"Buffy has been extra quiet this week wonder what's up."
Oz, Cordy and Xander where the only ones who knew that Willow was gay. Being gay in high school was a major no-no but she was able to deal with her friends knowing because she trusted them not to say anything. Only Oz knew about her crush on Buffy though.
Willow just sat back thinking of the girl she had had a crush on for the last year.
The first thing Buffy noticed when she woke up was that she was in serious pain. Letting her mind recall what had happened the night before she raised herself painfully to her feet and stumbled back into the bathroom from the hall where her father had left her all night bleeding.
Wincing as the water ran over the open cuts she washed her hair and used shower gel on her body hoping to sooth the pain away but all it did was sting.
Stepping out and looking at herself in the mirror she weighted her options. A, she could stay home and risk another beating or worse or B, she could cover herself from head to toe and bear the pain and go to school. Option B it was.
Looking at her face she though of how her father never hit her there. Everyone would notice which was why he kept his blows below the neck area. Looking into her eyes and seeing a stranger in front of her she cried. She cried for the little girl she used to be and she cried because she had no-way out of this mess until she started college and that wasn't for another year.
Pulling herself together she went into her room and looked through her wardrobe for something to ware that would hide his marks on her skin. She settled on a high turtleneck baby blue sweater and a pair of comfortable jeans.
Grabbing an apple she left the house happy for the reprieve she was getting by going to school.
She was walking along just enjoying the freedom of doing so when a car pulled up beside her. Flinching back thinking it was her father she was relieved when Willow's head poked out of the driver's window.
"Hey Buffy! Need a lift?"
Knowing that she still had far to walk Buffy agreed and got in the passenger side of the car trying to hide her flinch when a bruise got rubbed the wrong way. Willow noticed though.
"Did you hurt yourself?"
Buffy looked at her noting that she really did look concerned. Thinking of the first thing that came into her head she answered;
"Yeah I fell down a couple of stairs at home." There it wasn't really a lie she had fallen down some stairs.
Willow had a look on her face like she was going to say something else so Buffy broke in.
"What'd you get up to last night? Anything exciting?"
Willow gave her a brief summary of the happenings at the Bronze and before they knew it they had arrived at school.
"Well guess I'll see ya later then Wills." Buffy really didn't want to leave. She enjoyed being around Willow. She was really the only person at school she talked to or that talked to her.
Willow really didn't want Buffy to go either.
"Hey do you want to meet up at the Bronze tonight? It's only gonna be me, Cordy, Xander and Oz. The Dingoes are playing so he's gonna be indisposed most of the night."
Buffy really wanted to say yes but she didn't know what kind of mood her dad would be in so she turned down the offer.
Willow was disappointed but as Buffy was leaving she shouted after her "If you change you mind just come along."
Buffy turned and gave a small smile before walking into the school and headed for the library to see her favourite person in the world, male wise anyway; her uncle.
"Hey Giles. It's only me." Walking over to his office she walked in and took a seat on his couch.
"Buffy hello. I missed you yesterday I was hoping you'd stop by. I was going through old books and I recognised this one. It belongs to your father."
Passing her the book Giles noticed that she was wearing a turtleneck yet it was a very hot day outside.
"Aren't you warm in that?"
Buffy looked up and wrapped her arms around her middle, wincing when she pressed on her bruised ribs.
Giles caught the wince and narrowed his eyes.
"What happened?"
Buffy looked up at the anger in his voice. She didn't mean to make him angry. She knew that he wouldn't hurt her but then she had thought her dad wouldn't hurt her the way he had. Scooting further away out of reflex Buffy told him that nothing was wrong and that she was fine.
Giles' eyes narrowed even more at the fact she moved away from him when she said that almost as if she were scared. Deciding that he would ask her father if she had been involved with anyone who could hurt her he backed off and offered her a coffee knowing she hated his tea.
Buffy was relieved that he had left the subject alone. She loved her uncle. He was the only adult in her life she trusted above all else but she couldn't help be scared when she heard him use that voice. It was one she had heard as a child when he caught her doing something she shouldn't be doing but usually he never shouted or told her parents on her. Sometimes he would even help her with whatever she was doing that she shouldn't have.
Realising that she was late for class she said goodbye and left him to whatever it was she interrupted.
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The Day passed quickly for Willow. She was hoping that Buffy took her up on her offer to come out. She wanted to spend more time around her.
Heading to the library to return a book she met Giles.
"Hey Giles. I'm just here to give this back then I'm off. This week has dragged in."
"Willow, hello. Doing anything nice this weekend?"
"You know the usual, just Bronzing With Cordy, Xander, Oz and hopefully Buffy."
Giles raised his head when he heard his niece's name mentioned.
"Buffy's going with you?" If they were friends maybe Willow would know why Buffy looked to be in pain this morning.
"Well I'm hoping she'll come. I asked her this morning but she said she couldn't."
Giles was looking thoughtful. He wanted to get to the bottom of what was wrong with Buffy.
"Did Buffy seem alright to you this morning Willow?" He tried to ask the question casually but Willow picked up on the worry in his voice.
"Well I noticed she flinched when I pulled up beside her and again when she got into the car but she said she fell down some stairs and that nothing was wrong. Why what's going on?"
"I don't know. But I intend to find out."
Leaving Willow to her own devices he went into his office to phone his brother. Noting the time was only 4.15pm he knew Hank would be home and dialled.
"Hello?" Hank answered on the fourth ring mentally cursing his useless daughter for not being there to get it.
"Hank? Its Rupert."
"Yeah what's up?"
Wanting to get this conversation over with a quickly as possible as he hated his brother Giles just dived right in.
"Do you know what's wrong with Buffy?"
Hank narrowed his eyes wondering what the little bitch had been telling people.
"Whadda mean? Nothings wrong with her."
"Well its just she kept flinching to like she was in pain and a friend of hers said that Buffy told her she fell down some stairs."
"I wasn't home so I didn't see her this morning but I'll see her when she gets home. In fact that's her now. Goodbye Rupert."
Hank disconnected without waiting for a reply and turned to his daughter.