I own nothing
AU and B/A.
This is also based on a book called The House Next Door by Richie Tankersley Cusick.
For the purpose of this Willow is the most popular girl and Xander and Buffy are twins. Also Xander is the most popular guy while Buffy is semi-popular. Srry doesn't really make sense with the popularity thing and the characters don't act well…normal but I had to change it to the plot of the book.
"Are you psychotic, Will?" Buffy demanded
"I am not. The assignment was to choose something strange or scary. So I want to write about you and Xander. It's actually perfectly logical."
"How is it logical and Xander better be the strange one? C'mon Will there is nothing strange about us."
"You can read each others' mind."
"No, we can't and I don't want to read his mind. God knows what I'll find in there."
"Not to change the subject but who are you going with to the dance?"
"One who said I was going to the dance and two you are changing the subject."
"Buffy you have to date someone eventually."
"Says you. Who are you going to the dance with?"
"Oz, of course. You know you can't wait for your dream guy."
"Says you."
"Okay, dark, mysterious, handsome heroes don't pop up everyday. Just go with Riley he's been waiting forever."
"I don't want to go with him. And I'm not going to." Buffy sat down at her desk and waited for Willow's reply.
"Now what are you doing?"
"Isn't the house next door creepy? It's like hundreds of years old and nobody ever goes in there. You know how many people say it's haunted."
"Course I know I live right next to it after all."
"Oh my god. I just saw something move."
"Stop fooling around, Will. Nothing's there."
"Turn off the light."
"What for?" Buffy asked as she did what she was told.
"Just come here."
Buffy joined Willow at the window and looked out.
"Second window, second story."
Even as Willow finished her sentence Buffy saw eyes staring back at her from beside the old lace curtains. She could almost feel the intense gaze of those dark eyes chilling her soul. But all of a sudden they heard heavy breathing and loud footsteps.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Oh my god not funny, Xander."
"Well, you would find it funny if you weren't staring at the Huntington house with the lights off."
"Oh no Buffy's just seeing things again."
"We saw something in one of the windows."
"Are you sure it wasn't just my headlights or the moon?"
"Yes."
"Fine. I'll be in my room when you're ready for dinner."
Buffy and Xander's mom worked the late shift at the hospital so they never ate dinner together but always breakfast together. Buffy and Xander looked nothing alike. And why every girl at Sunnydale High had a crush on him was beyond her.
"So Will who did you say Cordy was going with? You know since her boyfriend left town."
"She hasn't decided or so she says. I don't think she even wants to go."
As Xander lay in bed that night he couldn't get that old house out of his mind or more correctly Buffy's mind. Ever since they were little the twins shared a connection being able to see into each other's mind. They had thought it was normal for all brothers and sisters until they told their mom who now insisted that they were special. After awhile Xander learned how to put up a mental wall that usually kept Buffy's thoughts away from him and his thoughts away from her. But tonight nothing could stop the intense pain coming from the strength of Buffy's dream about the old house.
The next morning at breakfast the first words out of Xander's mouth were, "I hope you fail your English test."
"Why's that?"
"You kept me up all night. And now I have a major headache."
"Buffy why'd you do that to your brother?" her mom scolded.
"It's not like I meant to. And if it helps I barely got enough sleep, too."
"So what are you two going to be doing all day."
"English test as my dear brother mentioned and a committee meeting for the winter dance."
"When's the dance and do you have dates?"
"Mom, do you have to bring that up?"
"How about you, Xander?"
"Haven't decided."
"Oh my god. You are unbelievable. Every girl in school would die to go out with you. Don't ask me why. And you haven't decided."
"I don't know."
"Why don't you ask Cordelia?"
"Are you out of your mind?"
"No, she needs a date. And she's been in love with you since like forever."
"You're crazy."
"Do you know what best friends do, Xander? They tell each other everything."
"So Cordelia has told you that she ahs been madly in love with me since the beginning of time."
"No but I'm one of her best friends. I can tell."
"Whatever. I'm out of here."
"Oh, come on, Xander, it's a good idea," his mom interjected.
"You know Buff just when I think you can't get any crazier –"
"She's liked you forever if you can't see it you're the crazy one."
Xander's jaw dropped.
"Oh by the way you just let your guard down, Romeo." (meaning mental wall that keeps Buffy from his thoughts)
"Bye, kiddies, don't kill each other."
"Hey Buff. I'll make you a deal."
"What?"
"You stay in the Huntington house for one night and I'll go with Cordelia to the dance."
"You're on."
On Friday night they left for next door with a backpack, a sleeping bag, and a cell phone.
"So you sure you gonna be all right."
"Yes."
"All right let's go."
"What?"
"I didn't think you'd actually do it. Now that we're here you're a lot farther that I thought you would be so let's go home."
"Uh uh. I made that deal and I'm gonna keep it."
"Come on Buff. I'll ask Cordy to the dance and you can sleep in your own bed tonight."
"No."
"Fine. Leave the cell phone on and call if you need anything." She's not going to go through with this. She'll be home before 11.
"Bye."
"See you in the morning."
He left her standing in the front doorway. Once Xander was gone Buffy went outside.
"If I sleep out here he'll never know the difference but it has to be a good spot in case he comes with his friends to try to scare me."
As she looked at the shadows in the bushes she was suddenly reminded of the eyes she saw watching her in the window only two nights before. What if it really was someone? Watching me right now from inside the house reaching out to get me.
"Oh god," she whispered before taking off towards her house. Too bad she didn't notice the sounds of the porch boards breaking beneath her.
Buffy woke up in a cellar but winced when the pain shot through her as she tried to remember what happened. I fell. I fell through the porch and landed here. But where's my flashlight? She tried to sit up but just couldn't make it and laid back down again but not before noticing a wooden flight of stairs and a young man silhouetted in lantern light.
"Buffy, Buffy are you down here?" the man hissed.
"Xander?" Of course it's Xander no one else knows I'm here.
"Buffy?" he repeated this time more worried.
"I…I fell."
Immediately he began to climb down the stairs towards her. He placed the lantern on the floor near her and started to inspect her injuries. Buffy had to shield her eyes from the light.
"Oh my god what has he done to you this time?" he murmured.
Finally her eyes adjusted to the light and the man raised his head. And Buffy found herself staring into deep eyes, worried eyes, sympathetic eyes, angry eyes, and most importantly the eyes that had stared back at her from behind the window the other night.
