Queen Bee
by cathy nort
Queen Bee- Chapter 2
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The following morning Willow entered the commons where students gathered before class. She saw Dusty over in the corner sitting in a table by herself. As Willow approached her Dusty looked up briefly then lowered her eyes quickly. Willow sat in the chair beside her. "I know, I know. You're mad at me."
"A little," Dusty acknowledged but Willow was relieved to see she did smile slightly.
Willow explained, lied actually, that a crisis in the Rosenberg household had prevented her from meeting Dusty. "I didn't have your phone number so I couldn't call."
Dusty searched through her purse and brought out a ball point pen. She also produced a scrap of paper which she scribbled a set of numbers on. She handed it to Willow. "There. Now you have no excuse to 'stand me up' the next time.
Willow placed the paper in her own purse. "It will never happen again. Promise." Willow hoped that was true. Dusty had her hair drawn into a ponytail and she looked even younger than her 17 years. And there was no denying she was attractive to Willow.
The two teens sat silently for a moment because both became aware of a girl who had just entered the commons. It was Buffy wearing a short white scooter and gauzy green blouse which accented and flattered her slender, athletic figure. Buffy paused and looked over at Willow and Dusty. She wagged her fingers at Willow then after seemingly measuring Dusty up she waved at her too. Both waved back. Buffy found a seat at the table Dawn and Cordelia were sitting at. She sat down. Willow figured she was satisfied with the situation since the chair she was in faced away from Willow and Dusty.
"She's very pretty, isn't she?" Dusty asked looking directly at Willow.
"Yes. She knocks me out." Willow smirked inside at her little, private joke.
"Willow? You and Buffy are lovers aren't you?"
Willow was taken back by the directness of the question. She didn't reply but just lowered her eyes for a second. That was enough to satisfy Dusty. "I thought so."
Willow felt the soft touch of fingers on the inside of her thigh just above the knee. A caress that made her heart jump and pulse quicken. The fingers were moving slowly up the leg to the hem of Willow's skirt which was so short there wasn't much farther to go before.........It was not an unpleasant sensation. You are such a push over Rosenberg, Willow thought to herself.
"I like girls too, Willow. I like them a lot." Dusty said quietly.
Willow gathered herself, put her hand on the one on her leg and lifted it back on the table. "This hardly the place for that Dusty."
The rejection seemed to amuse Dusty. She smiled and leaned toward Willow. "Well, why don't we someday find an appropriate place. How does that sound, Willow?"
Willow cleared her throat."Eh.....ah.......let's see what happens."
"Speaking of Buffy," Willow said rising to her feet. "I need to talk to her."
Dusty gripped Willow by the wrist. "Tonight at the library. The Chem test is tomorrow."
Willow nodded. "Seven o'clock." Willow crossed the commons as Dusty watched the redhead all the way. Then as she saw Willow tenderly run her hand over Buffy's shoulders as she sat down beside her, Dusty gathered her books and purse and left the commons.
"Oh look who is all 'glowing' this morning. Is there something we should know about?" Cordelia had noticed an extra bounce in Willow's step as she had crossed toward them. Dawn merely giggled into her hand. Her bedroom adjoined Buffy's and nothing more had to be said. The foursome chatted for a few minutes until Cordelia and Dawn popped up and headed for their first period classes. Buffy turned to Willow studying the Wiccan's face. "Is she hitting on you?"
Willow nodded. "Kinda. Actually more than kinda."
"And you find her attractive?"
Again Willow nodded. "But not as attractive as I find you."
For the second time that morning Willow felt a hand on the inner part of her leg. Buffy was gazing steadily as she traced her finger tips up Willow's left leg. Willow felt her insides quiver and the temperature in the room escalate the further Buffy's hand traveled. Oh my God, Willow thought. Since they were facing the wall with their backs to the other students in the commons there was really nothing to prevent Buffy from...........But Buffy stopped on her own accord. Removing her hand and placing it on the table. "And let's keep it that way."
Willow was madly in love with Buffy. Everyone knew that even the oblivious among the student body and faculty. And Willow knew Buffy loved her........to a certain extent. Exclusivity was not part of that love. At least not for Buffy. Willow accepted that for what it was worth and she didn't try to rein in her feelings for other girls because of that. Or did Willow try to hold back on her own. That was certainly why she was allowing herself to become attracted to Dusty.
"Let me walk you to class." Buffy said rising. On the way down the hall Willow asked if she knew any more about Dusty and why she Buffy considered her dangerous. Buffy pursed her lips as if she was kissing Willow. "One reason is because you're so young and vulnerable."
"And you don't want to lose me to her. Say it." Willow teased the blond Slayer. Buffy refused to take the bait.
"I'm going to see Giles after school." Buffy said.
"I'm going to meet Dusty tonight at seven to help her with Chemistry."
Buffy tilted her head to the side. "I'll call if I learn anything."
* * * * * * *
Giles, as usual, was up to his elbows in cluttered books. Buffy managed to find a chair not occupied by a book and sat down. "Have you learned any more about Dusty Laurent? She's coming onto Willow and we all know Willow has a strong libido that can rear up in a heart beat. I've asked her to not let herself be alone with Dusty but unless I can give her a good reason I don't think I can press the matter further. Just how dangerous is Dusty? And why has she set her sights on m...on Willow?"
Giles remover his glasses and set them carefully on the desk he was sitting behind. He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. "The truth is I may have misled you. The truth is I also may have not misled you."
"You mean," Buffy bolted up. "that Dusty is not what you told me she was? She's not a former Slayer who killed her watcher?"
Giles was very uneasy. "I heard from the Watcher Counsel this afternoon." Giles voice dropped as he spoke. As fond as she was of her Watcher it always annoyed Buffy when Giles mumbled.
"Speak up Giles. Let it out."
Giles raised the volume. "What I told you about a Slayer having killed her Watcher. And what I told you about Dusty being connected with it........somehow."
"You didn't use the word somehow then, Giles. You said flat out she caused the death of her Slayer." Buffy tried to contain her anger.
Giles held his hands up in self defense. "I hadn't all the information I needed when I said that to you, Buffy. Let me finish. A Slayer killed her Watcher. The Slayer and two other Slayers have somehow disappeared from the Counsels guidance. Slayer candidates are well chosen. And well trained to the point of excellence as you well know. That a Slayer would kill her Watcher is uncomprehendable. That she would disappear from doing her duty is rare. That she and two other Slayers would leave the sisterhood within a matter of months is, quite frankly, impossible. Mathematically at least."
"Giles. Is Dusty any of those Slayers? I want to know."
Giles looked down at the floor unable to meet Buffy's eyes. Buffy had to listen careful to even hear Giles reply. "Apparently not."