My Salvation
by Bwriter
Part six
[reviews]
Part six
The next week passed slowly. The cops were trying to hunt down Hank who had disappeared.
Buffy was starting to feel comfortable just being in her own skin. Living with Giles was showing her that fear didn't have to rule her. She was even beginning to feel comfortable hanging out with her new group of friends and not having to always clock watch to make sure she wasn't late home.
The one thing she was confused about was Willow. She loved being round her but she was sure there was more to their friendship than just friendship. She liked her a little too much for it to be strictly platonic, but she refused to do anything that would end their friendship. It was too important to her. She decided to just leave it alone and hoped it went away.
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It was a Saturday night exactly one month after Buffy had moved in with Giles. Hank still hadn't been found though the police were still looking. Buffy's life was moving on but she still felt that as long as he was out there that he would come for her and that thought scared the hell outta her. The police had told her to carry protection in the form of pepper spray so she now had a canister for every bag.
Willow was coming over to collect her then they were meeting up with the rest of the group before heading over to the movies. There was a new film out that Willow really wanted to see and her infectious giddiness surrounding it had the gang all going.
Hearing the horn of Willow's car Buffy grabbed her bag and shouted to Giles that she was going before leaving to meet her friend.
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Willow had had enough. She was going to tell Buffy how she felt. She had been trying to work up the courage when she heard about the release of a movie she wanted to see. It was the perfect thing. Deciding on a plan of action she told the guys that they were going as well, only they wouldn't make it to the film.
They would be coming in Cordy's car and just before the movie started Willow would get a call saying that Cordy had a flat tire.
It had to work.
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Buffy thought that Willow seemed a little quiet. She had been hyper all week about seeing this film and now she looked... well actually she looked kinda queasy.
"Will? Are you okay?"
"Me? I'm fine! Totally!" Willow had squeaked out that whole sentence and Buffy was really starting to worry now.
"Will, you're not fine. Fine lives in the next state to where you're at right now. Spill what's wrong?"
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Willow looked over to Buffy to gage her mood before beginning.
So much for my carefully thought out plan.
"Well there is something but if I tell ya you need to be quiet 'til I finish okay?" Seeing Buffy nod She began.
"See there's this person I like, well more than like and I really want to ask them out but I'm not sure how they would take it."
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The moment she had spoken, Buffy knew that she was in love with Willow. She wouldn't be in that much pain from hearing Willow say she liked someone if it wasn't love.
Mustering up a smile though her heart was breaking she spoke from the heart.
"That's great Will really. You deserve to be happy."
Seeing Willow's smile she knew she had said the right thing.
"I guess I'm scared this person won't like me that way." Buffy was shocked. Did Willow not know how great she was?
"Will how could anyone resist you. I mean come on! You're funny, nice, beautiful and very sweet. If this person doesn't like you then they don't deserve you."
Kinda like me.
Buffy missed the smile Will gave her when she mentioned that she was beautiful.
Deciding to bring out the big guns Willow continued.
"So you think she'll say yes to a date?"
Buffy's eyes widened comically at that.
She likes girls'? Just my luck. Pulling herself together to answer Buffy turned to face the road again hoping to hide her pain at the thought of Willow with someone who wasn't her.
"If she has any kind of brain she'll say yes Will."
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Willow stopped the car but Buffy didn't notice. Turning to face her friend she smiled at the way Buffy was chewing her lower lip and pouting.
"Good. So you want to go out on a date with me then?" Willow tried to keep a straight face as Buffy's head whipped round to face her so fast she was surprised she didn't get whiplash.
"W..What?"
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Buffy was shocked. Willow just asked her out on a date! Looking over at Willow she noticed that she was trying to hide a smirk. Oh does she not mean it? No she couldn't mean it I mean I'm nothing special so it must have been a joke. She couldn't have known it would have hurt me cause she wouldn't have said that if she knew it would hurt. Right?
Buffy was beginning to doubt her own sanity when a soft touch on her arm brought her back to the present.
The lack of response from Buffy was concerning Willow. Noticing that her face transformed from surprise to hope and then to confusion and hurt, Willow thought she better say something.
"Buffy? I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you. I just needed to tell you how I feel. Nothing has to happen or change between us if you don't want it to. I mean your still going through all that stuff with Hank so I understand you not wanting to get involved with any one but don't let it ruin out friendship please." Willow was begging by the end of her impromptu speech.
She was being serious!?! Willow likes me likes me?
"Will I... You don't want to get involved with me. I have major issues that no one should have to deal with. Lease of all someone I..." Buffy trailed off not wanting to admit what she knew was true just yet.
"Buffy I know about all your issues as you call them because I've been here with you through it all, well some of it, and I still want to give us a shot. If you don't like me that way then it's fine but if you do then stop with the self flagellation and date me!"
Buffy couldn't help a small smile to spread over her face.
"Self flagellation huh? I do like you Will. I more than like but... If we were to do this then I would need to know that we'll still be friends even after I mess it up."
Willow looked into Buffy's eyes and she could see how much their friendship meant to the other girl.
"Your aren't gonna mess up. I wont let you. But if that's what you need to hear then I promise I will be your friend if we ever do spilt up. Happy?"
Though she was still wary Buffy found it hard to refuse Willow so she gave a small nod of her head while staring at her hands.
"Good then we can go to the movies and enjoyed the film and that can count as our first date!"
"What about the guys?" Buffy didn't really want their first date to be witnessed by their friends.
"Don't worry. I had a plan worked out where they don't show up. It was always only gonna be me and you from the start." Willow admitted with a sheepish smile.
"Ohh sneaky." As Willow restarted the engine Buffy looked at the girl who she had fallen for hard. Taking a deep breath she reached over and took Willow's free hand and held it in hers hoping that it was okay to do so. When Willow turned to face her with a smile Buffy felt better about taking that risk.
Finally breaking the silence Buffy spoke.
"This is my first date ya know? Even if anyone had asked me out I doubt Hank would have let me go. Its nice not having to stress about what I'm gonna do that's gonna set him off every three seconds. I just wish the cops would find him already."
Willow didn't know what to say so she simply squeezed Buffy's hand.
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When they arrived at the cinema, Willow's phone rang just as she thought it would. Smiling over at Buffy and giving her hand a firm squeeze she answered.
"Cordy! Flat tire huh? Okay we'll head on in then. Yup. Later."
She disconnected and looked over to Buffy who seemed to be trying to hide her smirk.
"So you really did have this all planned huh?" Willow nodded her head not feeling one bit guilty about it.
As the girls entered the cinema neither one noticed the car pull up that had been following them all night. Nor did they notice the driver who was smiling a sick smile before he circled round to wait for them to exit.
"Soon Baby Soon."