The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
by cathy nort
chapter 8
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Buffy was detained after school for almost an hour. She was released only when she was able to convince them, them being the Administration, that she would have a note from her mother which would explain that she, Joyce, had excused her from attending school. Exasperated, frustrated and anxious Buffy went immediately over to Willow's house.
On the way she tried to call ahead but Willow's cell was again off. She rang the bell but there wasn't an answer. Either Willow wasn't home or........Buffy was afraid to even entertain this.......Willow would not come to the door. Buffy had to finally admit defeat. It was clear that until Willow reached out to her on her own there was nothing Buffy could do to break down the wall between them. Unless Buffy could convince Angela to tell the truth that whatever happened between she and Buffy was Angela's doing. The kiss and the fondle was the total extent of it all. What frightened Buffy most was that Angela honestly thought more had happened. It was as if she had been drugged or hypnotized. She had such a vacant look in her eyes when Buffy had confronted her. What gives, Buffy wondered?
And what gives with her history teacher? She seemed to have been hypnotized too.
* * * * * *
At the same time Buffy was trudging dejectedly home Willow was sitting on the couch in Sasha's living room trying to study. A lost cause because all she could think about was how her relationship with Buffy had crashed and broken into a million unrepairable pieces. Sasha, Willow realized, despite the attention of about every male student at Sunnydale High, was doing her best to fill the void in Willow's life that Buffy had left.
Sasha came into the room carrying two glasses of cola's. How stunning she was, Willow thought again on seeing her as she placed the glasses on the coffee table Willow's feet were propped up on. Sasha was wearing a pair of white, tennis shorts, a blouse so thin Willow could see the pattern of the bra beneath. Her feet were bare so Willow could see the tiny red petals that decorated each toe.
As gloomy as she felt Willow felt a little twinge inside when Sasha sat down beside her. Everything was perfect about this girl. Her hair, now pulled up and back into a poni-tail, was thick and full. Her mouth radiated, full and welllllll........kissable. Sasha briefly ran a finger tip across her own flawless cheek. She saw Willow was watching her closely so she put down the glass she was holding then reached a hand over to grasp Willow's by the shoulder. Her head moved ever so slowly toward Willow's.
She's going to kiss me, Willow realized. Willow wanted to turn her head to one side, to deflect the moment, but she couldn't, she was powerless to resist. Sasha's mouth was soft and the kiss sent a surge throughout Willow's body.
Breaking off the embrace Sasha looked deeply into Willow's green eyes. "I've been wanting to do that. Very, very much."
Willow lowered her eyes trying to not allow another kiss. Sure, it felt nice to be wanted. Especially by a girl as attractive as Sasha. Every boy in school would trade places with Willow, and more than a few girls too. Still, half way through the kiss Willow had pretended it was Buffy who was kissing her.
Sasha played with Willow hand running her own fingers over and under Willow's before enter twining her fingers with Willow's. She didn't say anything for a while, nor did Willow who was trying to sort out just how she felt. The two sat silently and it was Sasha who spoke first.
"Give it a chance."
"A chance?"
"A chance Willow. Us. I'd heard you and Buffy were close. I just didn't realize how close. When we kissed just now you know you kissed me back. Did you pretend I was someone else? Buffy? She hurt you. If you let her she'll hurt you again. I'm yours for the asking, Willow. I can be yours totally and I don't think I'm a bad prize for a girl on the rebound."
"Of.......of course you aren't. You're gorgeous. And....ah....I find you attractive. That's for certain. Who wouldn't? It's just that I'm so confused right now. About you. About Buffy." Willow said.
"About me. What's to be confused about?" Sasha took Willow's hand and placed the palm on her breast. "I'm yours. My whole body is screaming for you. Why don't we go to my bedroom and see.........see what develops."
Willow pulled her hand away and placed it in her lap. "I can't. I can't do that. I'm not ready yet."
A smile curled across Sasha mouth. "I'm okay with that but you can't deny me the chance to change your mind. You will give me that much, won't you?"
"Sure," Willow said weakly. "It is........"
"Hush. Let's do this. This Saturday. Stay over. That'll give you three days to sort out your feelings about Buffy. About me. How's that sound?"
"Okay," Willow said. Sleeping over didn't mean she had to share the same bed, did it? She liked Sasha, a lot, but her love for Buffy was still there despite.........
"I need to go," Willow said climbing to her feet. Sasha rose and walked her to the door. Sasha was cheery and seemed comfortable with the situation. Being rejected hadn't dampened her spirits and that made Willow feel some what less guilty.
After Willow was gone Sasha closed the door and leaned against it. She looked up as an old, crunched up woman pattered slowly into the room. "So it'll be Saturday? Eh?"
"So you were listening you old hag." Sasha snapped.
"There isn't much time. My days are numbered. If you need my help it's better you act as soon as possible."
"I know. I know. As soon as possible will be Saturday." Sasha said the words with a tinge of sadness. She was growing quite attached to Willow. It was a shame it had to end.
* * * * * *
A few days later, Friday to be exact, Buffy was speaking to Giles.
"Giles, I'm at wits end." Buffy was sitting across from her Watcher in his cluttered library. As usual his books and papers were scattered every where and it was only with great effort that Buffy was able to clear a spot to sit. Giles had been in Europe the last month. He had left shortly after the Dusty incidence and had only yesterday returned. The anguish in his Slayer's voice tugged at his heart. Despite all the trauma in her life as a Slayer, and he had witnessed much of it, he had never seen her so distraught.
"What's wrong Buffy?"
"Everything. Absolutely everything. It's Willow. We've broken up." Just saying the words made Buffy tear up. She had to gather herself before she was able to continue. Giles was one of the few people who knew how deeply the relationship was between Buffy and Willow. He was aware it went far beyond friendship.
"There's a lie circulating at school that I had sex with another girl. It's so preposterous," And this made Buffy actually sob, "but Willow believes it and now she won't even talk to me. I've tried to call and she doesn't answer. I've gone over but she refuses to see me. If I can't talk to her we can't resolve this. I've never seen her so ......like this. Assnine."
"When a person feels deeply hurt some times they become irrational." Giles said lamely.
"That's it. She was behaving irrationally even before this started. She fainted in the Commons after claiming to see a nude girl coming at her. That started it. I've never known her to be like that, seeing things that aren't there. And crazy things have been happening since. My History teacher made me take a test over that she said I missed. I was rushing to see Willow and when I had to make up the test I missed Willow. Then, before I could see her after school I was locked in the Equipment room with Angela so I missed her after school too. Then when I got home It was Dawn's birthday.........."
Giles it was merely a series of odd events. "I admit this is all unusual still........"
Then Buffy told him of Angela's lies. And of the history teacher not remembering ordering Buffy to retake the test. "They act so strange when I'm around them. Like they're in a different world. And now with Willow withdrawing......... Giles, what am I going to do. I tried to have Zander mediate but Willow won't even listen to him. She avoids me at school. She avoids me after."
Giles leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. There was something about what Buffy had said that had sounded vaguely familiar to him. It wasn't really in the area of his expertise. Yet.............
"Buffy, tell me about the naked girl again. You say no one saw her but Willow?"
Buffy tipped her head to one side. Surely Giles didn't think everyone but Willow was blind to a beautiful, naked young girl? "You can't take that seriously Giles. I was twenty feet from her. The Commons was packed, and I mean packed, with kids. There was no naked girl there when Willow fainted. I would have seen her. Everyone would have seen her."
"I suppose you're right, Buff." Giles found a scrap of paper and scribbled on it, then handed it over to Buffy. "I'm sure you are absolutely correct but I want you to do me a favor. For the sake of your.......um........situation with Willow I would like you to visit Elsye. She's a friend of mine and she is well versed in,,,,,,ah........legends. Go see her. Tell her about all that has been happening at school. With Willow. Will you do that?"
Buffy glanced at the paper Giles had handed her. An address and a name with his signature on the bottom plus the notation "be honest with her."
Giles was cleaning his glasses with his handkerchief, something he did when he was deep in thought. "When you mentioned.........," then he stopped, "never mind. Just go see her. She's a bit lofty, or is it spacey, but she will take what you tell her seriously. Now promise me you'll see her."
"I'd go right now," Buffy said getting to her feet. "I'd go see the devil himself if I thought it would help get Will and I back together. I'll ask Mom to take me tommorrow."