Wizard of Oz
by Rin
Wizard of Oz
[reviews]
A/N: A classic with a little Sunnydale twist. Wait until you see what I have planned for this!! It's gonna be awesome!!!!!!!
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As the vampire below her continued to rest, Buffy waited impatiently, reading the book she was assigned for Senior English. The blonde slayer huffed, angry that she couldn't just watch the movie like she normally would. Willow had insisted she read the book first, though. It was almost impossible for the slayer to deny her best friend anything.
Buffy sighed.
"Are you gonna come out soon? I still need to do my calculus homework, and Will's probably in bed already." Buffy mumbled to the unmoving grave. Finally, the ground started to shake, and dirt began to rumble. "Finally."
Buffy was too tired to even attempt a fight tonight. Lately, she had just wanted to get away again. Go someplace far, far away. Some place where there isn't any trouble. She didn't even give the vampire a chance to rise completely before she slammed her stake in his heart, and watched him mingle with the fresh dirt he had been buried in earlier that day.
As she started her trek home, her thoughts fell back on Willow. These days, that's all her thoughts did. Her grades could attest to that. Ever since she found out about the redhead and Xander, it had been hard not to be jealous. She did her best not to show her open feelings but it started to get harder once Oz left the picture. 'I'm going to find myself; get rid of the wolf.' That's what he'd told Willow. The redhead begged him not to go but he still did, and Willow had been mopey girl ever since.
Secretly, Buffy was elated that the redhead was free but that unrequited feeling of lust and love she had for her best friend just made it harder. The slayer inside her was just screaming to take action, be bold, tell her friend about her feelings. The seventeen-year-old girl inside her was telling her that so many things would go wrong, including the worst thing possible: losing Willow in any way, shape, or form. Buffy came out here to slay, to fulfill her duty, all to make the world safe for her friends, especially Willow.
Crawling into bed, she picked up her book, determined to do as Willow wished. The movie was sitting on her dresser, ready to be watched. It was tempting just to stick it in there, and forget the book entirely. Surely, there couldn't be that much difference. Then again, she did get a C on that last paper because she had obviously watched the film instead. Making a decision, she forced herself to read the book. She got into the second chapter before she put it down, frustrated and tired.
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"Morning, Giles." Buffy walked in, sunglasses still plastered to her face. It was too bright today, even in the musty, old library.
"Buffy, how was patrol?" Giles made his way from behind the counter, and joined Buffy in front of the table.
"Boring. I waited for that vampire to rise like you said but he took forever. I didn't get to bed until after four, and I'm swamped." Buffy put her head on the table. Maybe a small nap before classes started would help.
"I've been doing research on Angel's reappearance. I can't seem to find anything solid but I've managed to uncover a few theories." Giles took a deep breath; unhappy at the long hours he'd spent on Angel's case. Buffy didn't ask him to, she honestly didn't seem to care about the vampire anymore but the Watcher in him would not allow a phenomenon like this to hang above their heads. It could be relevant at some point in the future, be it evil or good.
"I'm sure he's doing research, too." Buffy sighed. She didn't want to think about Angel. He was still a sore point, and she absolutely abhorred him. Okay, so that was harsh. She didn't hate him completely. She just didn't like him anymore, if she ever really did. He was something she couldn't have, something forbidden, and she realized too late that their relationship was more of a rebellion against her duties as the slayer. She didn't want to accept her own fate, so she chose to mingle with an evil being, soul or no soul.
"Yes, well...perhaps it would be wise to take Willow or Xander along with you tonight." Giles never suggested putting the others in harm's way but it was quiet these past few days, and Buffy needed to spend more time with her friends. It seemed the three of them were drifting apart slightly.
"I'll think about it." Buffy choked down a growl, as she heard the bell ring, signaling it was time for Calculus. She'd only done a few of the problems before she left for school this morning, and they were probably wrong anyways. "I'll see you later, Giles."
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The day went by fast, and nothing exciting happened. She decided to take Willow out tonight, just the two of them. They were in the Espresso Pump, chatting about the matinee they'd caught when Cordelia walked over to them, smug expression on her face.
"I see the fashion police haven't caught you yet." Cordelia curled her nose up at the two. "If I really cared, I would take you down to the sheriff right now, and make sure those clothes are destroyed."
"Nice to see they let you out of your cage, Cordy." Buffy squinted her eyes in warning. There was no need for the comments but the former cheerleader was just angry at the redhead. Still, Buffy would have none of it. Willow was already upset about the situation.
"Don't blame me because you are fashion rejects. It's not my fault only demons and losers will touch you." Cordelia stared holes into Willow.
"Cordelia Chase, just because you own half the county doesn't mean you have the power to run the rest of us! For seventeen years, I've been dying to tell you what I thought of you! And now — well, being a good witch, I can't say it!" Willow stood up, and grabbed her bag, huffing past the beauty queen, Buffy following fast behind her.
"Will, wait up!" Buffy followed her friend out, surprised at the outburst from the quiet girl. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Willow stopped, and sat down on the bench. "I'm just mad. I tried to be her friend, and yeah...I screwed up, I let what I thought were feelings for Xander ruin that but...but..."
"It's okay, Wills. I'm just surprised is all." Buffy sat down next to her friend, and placed a comforting hand on the redhead's knee. "I get it. If I'd known I didn't really love Angel like I thought, all of last year could've been avoided. Ms. Calendar would still be alive, and...a lot of people would still be alive."
"Hey, it's not your fault." Willow swallowed hard, as she gripped Buffy's calloused hand in hers. "You didn't know Angel would go evil. We just let our hormones get the better of us. Maybe subconsciously, I knew it would hurt Cordelia, and that's why I did it. I don't know. I just...I know I hurt Xander, too, and that's what bothers me more."
"I don't ever want to hurt you." Buffy's eyes were so open, so revealing. "Willow, I..."
"Looks like you girls could use a hand." Two strangers approached the girls, and Buffy's slaydar immediately cried 'vampires.'
"We're fine, thank you." Buffy watched them approach closer, as she subtly grabbed her bag, and fished around for a stake. All she found was her holy water-filled mace, as she pointed it at the two.
"Mace won't help you, little girl." The taller vampire said, as he vamped out first.
"It has a little extra zing." Buffy sprayed it in their faces, as smoke started to billow from them. While they were distracted, she dug in her jacket to pull out her stake, disposing of the two vampires quickly. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. You're my hero." Willow smiled that purely Willow smile, and Buffy couldn't help but smile in return. It was adoring, loving, and awe-stricken all at the same time. "Should we patrol?"
"I think we should." Buffy was about to pour her heart out right there, that look on Willow's face said so much. As a matter of fact, a lot of things lately had hinted that the redhead's feelings for her might be deeper. 'If only...' Buffy didn't want to risk the friendship if she was wrong. Again, Buffy started to feel tired and worn thin. She just wanted to escape it all, get away but she knew Willow would hurt more if she ran away again. No, she'd have to stay put for now.
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As she tried to finish the book, Buffy found she thought about Willow the entire four pages she'd sifted through the past two hours. Reading was getting her nowhere, and the paper was due tomorrow. She'd have to watch the movie again after all. School started in a few hours, and there was no way she'd finish the book, and get a decent paper written in time. She was already about to fall asleep, as the rain was hitting stronger against her window.
Getting out of bed, she laid the book aside, and put in the movie. Cuddling up to Mr. Gordo, she started the film, sighing that she was letting Willow down. She feared that it's all she would do if a relationship with the redhead were ever possible.
The storm outside got louder, as the tree branches started hitting her windows. She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, worried that her mother's drive from Los Angeles would be delayed. She clutched Mr. Gordo to her, as she walked to the window to have a look outside. She could see a tornado in the distance, as the winds blew against her window harder.
The branches against the window hit extra hard, as the tornado grew closer, and with one big hit, the window went smashing in, as Buffy flew back from the wind. She struggled to stand, as she grabbed hold of Mr. Gordo extra tight, and made her way into the hallway. The windows, walls, and pictures were all rattling. She saw a picture of her and her parents fall to the ground, the frame broken, and glass now on the floor. She dodged the broken glass, as she made her way down the stairs. She was trying to get to the basement but to no avail. There was a loud boom, a strong rumble like an earthquake, and everything stopped. It was eerily quiet and calm; the rain was no longer hitting the roof, the branches no longer hitting the windows.
Curious, Buffy made her way down the rest of the stairs until she came to the doorway. Still clutching to her stuffed pig, she walked onto her porch, only to stare out at vibrant colors, and a winding, yellow road. There were small people ducking their heads out to stare at her, and she was tempted to pass out on the spot. Staring down at Mr. Gordo, her wide-eyed expression said it all.
"Mr. Gordo, I've a feeling we're not on the Hellmouth anymore." Buffy swallowed hard, as she stared out at the tiny village in front of her.