The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
by cathy nort
chapter 6
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Buffy rushed from the Equipment Room, pulled her blouse and purse from her locker and was still buttoning the blouse as she hurried out of the locker. She wasn't sure what she would tell Willow but she did know that what would be said about what been seen would spread through the school like wild fire. She wanted to be the first to explain what had happened. She didn't want Willow to learn from someone else and get a distorted version.
It was after six in the evening already and she was desperate to reach Willow's house. But when she got there no, neither Willow, Willow's mother nor her father were home. Buffy stepped off the porch and removed her cell phone from her purse and punched in Willow's number.
Darn. There wasn't an answer. She put her cell back into her purse and walked gloomily home. She'd have to try again later but later seemed an eternity. Once she reached her house and opened the door she was all but run over by her mother and Dawn.
"Where have you been, young lady?" Joyce seemed frazzled, which confused Buffy. Then she remembered it was Dawn's birthday and they were all supposed to go out, have dinner and see a movie. She had completely forgotten.
On top of that it was the 16th of the month. It was the Night of the Undead. The time vampires re-birthed and prowled the streets of Sunnydale picking off one victim after another. It was imperative that Buffy go on patrol. It was still light so she could fulfill her sisterly duties before but.........after.
Oh Willow. Where are you? I need, need, need to talk to you, Buffy cried inside.
* * * * *
Willow at the moment was sitting in the breakfast nook waiting for Sasha who was running a plate dinner up to her Grandmother. She didn't want to start her meal without Sasha so she waited patiently for the white blond girl to return. The truth was she really wasn't very hungry anyway. The day had been a complete bust. She wished it was Buffy who would be sitting across from her, not that Sasha was unpleasant company. She had been extremely sweet to Willow and she had helped past the time, and to get Willow's mind off Buffy.
There was something wrong between Buffy and herself but Willow couldn't put her finger on it. Not having any contact all day with Buffy was crushing. It had never happened before. Even when their relationship was that of friends. Now that they had fallen in love it made the whole thing worse. If only Buffy had taken the time to call.
Sasha came back after a few minutes. The fact was that even in an apron she radiated. And Willow realized, as they chatted, prepared dinner, tossed together a salad while whipping up fudge Sasha was definably hitting on her. She had kept brushing against Willow. Reaching out to touch her when she spoke. If it hadn't have been for Buffy, Willow was quite certain she would have allowed herself to be seduced. Who, guy or girl, wouldn't have succumbed?
Sasha untied her apron and placed it on the counter then she sat down. Sat down on the same side Willow was sitting on so her hip was resting against Willow's hip. On one level it felt nice. On a second level it made Willow uncomfortable.
"Grandma's a little under the weather or she'd have joined us." Sasha explained. "Tell you the truth I'm kinda glad she isn't here. Now you can tell me all about yourself."
Later, after washing the dishes they went into the living room. Except for a couch, a television and one lone coffee table, the room was empty of furniture. Willow sat up to one side of the couch leaving Sasha the other side. Sasha, as Willow suspected she would, choose to sit in the middle right beside the redhead.
Oh boy, Willow thought. Oh boy.
She was relieved that Sasha, as they watched the movie, didn't make any thing that could be construed as an advance. Later when Willow left to go home, Sasha gave her a quick hug but it didn't go further than that. She did offer to walk her home since it was now dark.
"I'll be fine." Willow told her. She wanted to be alone so she could detour past Buffy's house. Which she did but the lights were all out so she continued home.
* * * * *
The night, as Buffy feared, was quite eventful. And dangerous for the Slayer. Her mind kept wandering back to Willow and what she would have to face in the morning. The distraction of that almost caused her demise. The first couple of Vamps she handled easily since she was alert enough to see them first. The third encounter with the undead was different.
It was hiding just outside a mosque in the cemetery. As Buffy passed he had sprung and was on top of her before she knew it was there. Buffy found herself slammed up against a tombstone. She hit so hard that she saw stars. It then tossed her 15 feet in the air and when she landed it stunned her even further. The vampire sensed a kill and It came rushing at Buffy but, even though dazed, she was able, at the last minute to stake the creature.
"That was close," Buffy said to herself. "Better start paying attention or you won't be around to tell Willow anything."
It was near dawn when Buffy finally returned from patrol and crawled into bed. She could still catch an hour of sleep before school so that would have to do. She set her alarm and promptly fell asleep.
Joyce had heard Buffy come in and she knew she was exhausted. Joyce decided that she would give Buffy the day off of school. Buffy deserved to get some rest. It was too much to ask her to fight demons and such all night and stay up all day.
Quietly, Joyce slipped into Buffy's bedroom and switched off the alarm. In the hall she told Dawn to let Buffy sleep in.
"Yeah," Dawn said. "I heard her come in too. Honestly, how does she do it?"
* * * * *
Willow also spent a sleepless night. She watched her illuminated digital clock flick off one minute after another. Endlessly. When it was time to get ready for school she showered and then went over to her closet. She wanted to look exceptionally good for Buffy today. She wanted to be at her very best. She also wanted to forget the miserable day she had yesterday.
Willow selected a bright yellow, sleeveless dress and pulled it over her head. It had a belted waist so after she tied it she put on her make-up with unusual care. Finished she studied herself in the mirror. "I hope I zoom her," she said and spun away to gather her books.
Willow was sitting in the Commons once again. And once again Buffy was a no show. Willow resisted breaking down in tears but the sadness was so overwhelming for her she didn't know how long it would be before she lost control.
She got up and left to go to her locker biting her lip and not making eye contact with anyone. Her locker was at the intersection of two corridors and as she dialed her combination she heard a squealing from around the corner.
"Have you guys heard? It's all over the school." One girl was saying excitedly.
"I did. I did. I did. About Buffy Summers and Angela Bowen? Oh my. They spent all afternoon making out in the Equipment room." A second girl replied.
"Swapping spit and playing tonsil tag." Girl one said.
"And more. Feeling each other up."
"I heard it was even more than that. Angela told Macy that Buffy went down on her. I never would have thought THAT of Buffy." Girl two sounded ecstatic. No doubt thrilled to pass on such juicy gossip.
Willow felt like she was punched in the belly. She had to lean against her locker for support or she would have crumbled to the floor. Willow, literally sick to her stomach, closed her locker quietly and started to the nurse's office. She needed leave. Go home. Crawl in a corner and die. The school nurse took one look at Willow's sunken eyes and ashen face and started scribbling permission for Willow to be sent home.