Aftermath and College
by Bwriter
chapter twelve
[reviews]
Chapter twelve
a/n - once again, I want to say thank-you for the generous amount of feedback, its much appreciated.
"So, how was your day?" Buffy watched with an amused grin as Tom, Mike and Jonny all walked into the kitchen, a little on the red side.
"We got burnt. Remind me to never listen to you ever again will you." Mike sat painfully down in the closest chair.
"Guys, they have this thing, I don't know if you have in over in England. Its called Sun lotion. See you put it on your skin, and it stops it from turning that colour." Buffy pointed at them and giggled.
Buffy dodged the paper towel Jonny threw at her and hopped off her seat to answer the phone.
"Hello?... oh hey Xand... sure what time?... okay, meet you there."
Buffy hung up the phone and made her way back into the kitchen.
"Hey, guys, that was Xander. We're all going to meet up at the Bronze later. You want to come?"
Tom stood painfully.
"Sure, we have to patrol later anyway. Just tell me... do you have any lotion that will take way the pain?"
Buffy smirked at him but went and fetched some after sun lotion for the three lobster coloured English guys.
"Right, I'm going to get ready. We leave in two hours."
Buffy dashed upstairs and turned on the shower before going into her bedroom to gather her gear.
She entered the bathroom, glad to find steam filling the room and stripped off before stepping in and sighing when the hot water hit her skin.
Tom, Mike and Jonny were sitting in the living room with Joyce, waiting on Buffy. There were supposed to have left half an hour ago.
Sighing, Jonny stood and walked to the bottom of the stairs.
"Would you hurry the... bloody hell." He trailed off as he saw Buffy starting to descend the stairs.
She was wearing red leather pants with a black, long sleeved silk shirt, her black chunky boots and her knee length black leather coat completed the outfit. She wore minimal jewellery. A simple cross necklace and a ring, matching the one Willow had refused.
"You look gorgeous."
Buffy smiled at Jonny and turned to see everyone else staring at her as well.
"Come on. We're already late. Bye mom."
Nobody bothered to mention, that the reason they were late, was because Buffy had taken so long getting ready, because honestly, it was worth it. She did look great.
"All this to impress a girl?" Mike laughed with Jonny, but Tom hit them both upside the head, causing Jonny, who was driving, to jerk the car a little.
"Watch it mate."
Buffy's head lowered. It had been her intention, but she didn't really think that Willow would care. Still, she had made the extra effort.
"Where are we patrolling tonight?"
Buffy looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath.
"Well, we can check with Faith, see if the hotspots are still the same."
They exited the car and paid the cover into the club.
"There must be a band playing tonight."
Buffy found her friends almost immediately. They pushed they way through the crowds and finally made it to them, minus Tom and Mike, who had headed to the bar to get drinks.
"Hey Buff."
Buffy said her hellos and sat down, Jonny taking a seat beside her.
"Hey Jon boy."
Jonny sent Faith a glare.
"Don't call me that."
Faith smirked at him.
"Whatever you say."
"You all sorted for classes to start Will?" Buffy had noticed Willow's stare and it made her feel happy inside.
Willow snapped out of the fantasy she was in. Ever since Buffy had entered, Willow's eyes hadn't left her. She looked amazing tonight, decked out in leather.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I'm totally ready. How about you guys?"
Xander slouched in his seat as Faith shrugged her shoulders. Buffy felt sorry for them.
"Why go to college if you hated school?"
Willow opened her mouth to defend her beloved education when Faith spoke up.
"We weren't going to, but between Will and your mom B, we had no choice."
Buffy smirked at her fellow Slayer.
"In that case, thank god I left." It was said in jest, but Willow didn't find the funny side of it.
She got up and mumbled an excuse to go to the bathroom.
Buffy dropped her head into her hands, only looking up when Anya nudged her.
"Go after her you fool."
Buffy didn't think, she just followed Anya's order and went in the direction Willow did.
When she reached the girls bathroom, she waited outside for her... she didn't know what they were anymore.
Willow came out, and Buffy could swear she saw tear tracks. Cursing herself, she made her presence known.
"Willow."
Willow jumped at the sound of Buffy's voice. She hadn't seen her standing there.
"Oh, hey."
Buffy walked closer.
"I never meant it to sound like-"
"No, its okay."
"Its not. The whole time I was there, I mean every day, you were the first thing I thought of in the morning and the last thing at night."
Buffy stepped back and let that information sink in.
Without her knowledge, Willow smiled.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really." Buffy took a deep breath and gathered the strength to say what she was about to say, even if it broke her heart.
"Look, I know that's there is no going back, I messed up big time and I have to deal with the consequences of that, and I know that just because you and Kim broke up doesn't mean that we... well that there is going to be a "we", but I would like us to be at least friends, like we were before. But if you can't, well, I'll understand."
Willow looked at Buffy. Really looked at her for the first time since she had seen her again. She looked different, but the same. It was something Willow couldn't put her finger on, but she had a feeling it had to do with the power Buffy had now.
"I would like that."
Buffy smiled at her. If friendship was the only thing being offered to her, she would take it.
tbc