Title: Velociraptors
By: BendSpaghetti
Rated: K+ (PG) for peril and some gore and violence
Dedicated: For Chloe. The Awesomest, the Wittyest, and the biggest Xan-Fan there ever was. :D
Feedback: Well, I will probably give you a tuty-fruity jellybean, a high-five, and a cyber hug if you review this fic, but you don't have to. ;) Any kind of feedback is more than welcome! That includes flames! No really, they're hilarious!
Disclaimer: All things Buffy do belong to Signor Whedon, and I do hereby distribute all material thereof illegally and without remorse because I ain't getting paid anyway. :)
Note: I'm sorry if there are any punctuation marks missing. For some reason, when I uploaded the document, it removed all my quotation marks, all my apostrophes, and have my commas, hyphens, and triple-periods. I think I got them all in their proper places now, and I'll check the upcoming chapters, too.
Okay, I'm gonna stop talking now so that you can read. Enjoy!
Velociraptors
Willow sat up so fast that all her throw pillows and stuffed Care Bear rolled off the bed. A yell escaped her throat but she was too drowsy to know what it was.
*taptaptap*
She swiped a hand over her forehead and came away with sweat coating her fingers.
Something about faces. Scary faces. But it was silly to try and recall a nightmare. So Willow slipped her feet off the disheveled bed and into her brown bunny slippers, rubbing sleep out of her eyes.
*taptaptap*
Time. Time? She squinted at the alarm clock. Blue numbers glared back at her and she noticed it was dark in the room. Curtains they must be closed.
*taptaptaptaptaptap*
The clock numbers finally came into focus. 9:06 am. Willows breath hitched. School! Late for wait Saturday no school. Late for. Dentist? No, friends?
*taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptapTAPTAPTAP*
Woodpeckers. Late for woodpeckers? Willow shook her head and finally stood up. Someone must be knocking on the glass doors.
She rubbed the back of her neck as she walked. Sleeping in always gave her a headache. She pulled the curtains aside and was instantly blasted by sunlight and Xanders grin. He continued wrapping the glass impudently.
Willow slid the door back and he followed it with his fist, continuing to tap until there was no door left. She gave him a wincing smile with her eyes squinted almost shut in the daylight.
"Hey, Xander."
"Hi, you know, its a good thing your door is ground level, cause I dont think there are enough pebbles in your yard to wake you up on Saturdays. Plus, the tossing rocks thing is a little passé and might lead to the Let down your hair thing which is embarrassing and probably painful on your end."
"Willow couldnt help smiling wider as she stepped back to let him in. Did we have study date?"
Xander looked offended as he stepped past her. "Me? Study on a Saturday? How very little faith you have in my ability to be an unproductive member of society."
"Sorry, my mistake." She stood a moment at the door, breathing the fresh California air. Then, leaving the door open, she followed Xander in and sat down on the foot of her bed. "So what's up?"
"Well," Xander plunked down on her desk chair. "I was wondering if youre going to the Fun Park with everyone today?"
"Um..." Willow hesitated as her friend bounced up and down in his seat expectantly. "I don't know. I mean, I think Fun Parks are a little boring."
"Boring right, with all that fun going on, things are bound to get unbearably humdrum. And frolic, just like a mallet to the brain, you know?"
"Well it's only that, I dont like going on rides very much, and there are these creepy guys dressed like Cows and Scooby Doo walking around trying to hug ya , and the whole things just really unnerving."
"Oh," said Xander, looking suddenly sober. "And clowns, too, right?"
Willow barely concealed a shiver. "Clowns? What m-makes you say clowns?"
"I didn't say it, you did. When I was knocking on your door just now, I heard you shout Clowns! really loud."
"Oh well, Im - yes! I mean, I suppose I don't enjoy - and if you think about it, clowns are very disturbing. With their faces all painty and there hair all not hair-like." She folded her hands and tried to look composed. "I'm not sure its natural."
Xander nodded furiously. "No, I totally get that. Clowns are twisted, diabolical, and vicious! Fortunately, I'm pretty sure this a clown-free park."
"And spider-free?"
"I have no clue, but hey, Jesse's gonna go and Amy, too."
Willows mouth twisted up in indecision. "Nmm..."
"And there's a petting zoo Her foot bounced up and down. Ill buy you cotton candy!"
Her eyebrows went up. "Really?"
"No, I'm flat broke, but Ill gladly steal cotton candy from the individual of your choice."
She laughed and the tension went out her shoulders. "Okay, I guess."
"Yes!" Xander jumped up, knocked the chair over, righted it, saluted and dashed to the door. He paused in the doorway. "My mom said shed drive, noon good?"
"Yeah."
"Great, see you in two hours."
"Three, Xander."
"Three! Right, I knew that. See, who needs studying?" And with that, he slid the door shut and strode off, hands in his pockets and whistling "Come Fly With Me."
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At 12:07 Willow, wearing her favorite brown skirt and purple sweater, climbed into Mrs. Harris backseat and gave Xander an uncertain high-five. Mrs. Harris was on her car phone.
It was a twenty minute ride to the park and Xander talked non-stop about the Lakers, Jesses birthday party, movies, last years trip the fair, and reiterated how much he hated clowns.
Willow listened happily, offered her opinion whenever he stopped for breath, and blushed when he mentioned her sweater was "The ideal kind of purpleness".
"Oh, and check this out." Xander pulled penlight out of his jacket pocket. "It can glow blue, red and white!"
Willow smiled. "That's very patriotic."
He switched it on blue and pointed it at the back of the drivers seat. He then moved his fingers and thumb in front of it, making a talking shadow puppet. "Hello, Willow." He said in an exaggerated falsetto. "If you look out your right window, you will see a beautiful view of the Sunnydale power station. The backdrop of vacant lots and dumpsters gives this area the look and feel of a Victorian ... sewer." Willow laughed and Xander's voice dropped to a gravelly baritone. "If you'll look to your left, you'll see a handsome tenth grader, firm of jaw, bodacious of noggin -"
"Xander, please!" Mrs. Harris snapped. "I can't hear myself think, let alone the phone."
"Sorry, Mom," He replied in an instant whisper. He ducked his head impishly and pulled his hand, claw-like, towards the penlight giving the appearance of an approaching spider.
Xander! Willow hissed and scrunched into her seat.
"Sorry, right. Arachnophobic. At least your fear has a cool, difficult-to-pronounce name. What do you call a fear of clowns?"
"Coulrophobia."
"Of course. I can always count on you."
The corner of Willows mouth twitched up but just then the car stopped.
"Were here," Mrs. Harris announced dully. "Have a good time, I'll pick you both up at nine."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Thanks Mrs. Harris." They said in unison.
The minute the Willow popped her door open she was greeted by the smell of fireworks and pork rinds. Xander came around to her side and they made their way to the entrance.
The moment they got in line Jesse McNally and Amy Madison came to stand behind them.
The latter two chattered excitedly while they we're waiting.
"You guys have gotta ride the bumper cars!" Amy insisted. "Oh my gosh, it is so fun. But don't go on the Ferris Wheel, it isn't nearly as fun as people want you to believe. And the teacups -"
"Did you hear they finished the new rollercoaster?" Jesse broke in. "It's called the Railwracker and goes upside down three times."
"Ooh, we should all go on the Barney ride!" whined a new voice and they all turned at once to see Shaw Phillips and Andrew Manning snickering. It was Andrew who'd spoken. "And then, we can all get some cookie dough ice-cream -"
He looked at Shaw and they said in unison, "Together. Awwww!"
"Hate to break it to ya," said Jesse. "But you two are sorta going to the same fair as us."
Shaw, apparently having no immediate comeback, turned his steely eyes on Xander and nodded at the penlight dangling from his belt loop. "Nice kiddy light. Dollar Stop?"
"Nice hair," remarked Amy. "Lawn mower?"
"Dollar City," Xander muttered indignantly.
"At least I don't have to poof up my hair like a third pom-pom, Mommas girl," Shaw shot back at Amy. "What was it again?" His voice went high pitched. "Three hours in the morning and three at night."
"Shut up!" Jesse bit out.
"Okay!" Willow came around Xander and stood in front of the two boys, palms up. "Now lets just all take a deep breath -" she hesitated, suddenly uncertain. "And, um - we can just go about our own business."
"Sure thing, Beautiful." said Andrew with a sneer. "Whatever you say."
"Okay good." Willow smiled nervously. "Now we can all have nice time."
"Yeah?" Andrew stepped forward till his chest was up against her hands. "How nice?"
"Hey, back off, man!" Jesse half shouted.
Xander jumped forward and shoved him in the middle with impressive force.
Andrew stumbled past Shaw who grabbed a fistful of Xander's shirt, Jesse took a menacing step towards both of them, and Amy pulled Willow back.
"Excuse me!" They all whipped around, hands dropping, angry expressions vanishing, to look at the lady in the ticket booth. "How many?"
"Sorry," Jesse said after a pause and walked back to the front of the group. He handed her two twenties. "Four, please."
"Thank you," she answered, scowling at the lot of them. "You kids aren't going to make trouble, are ya?"
"No ma'am." They all murmured. She handed them their tickets warily.
Leaving the two delinquents in line, the four weaved their way towards the fair rides in silence.
Finally, Amy spoke up. "Well I guess we could split up?"
"Sure," said Xander. "You guys go ride your roller coaster."
"You don't wanna come, Xan?" said Jesse.
Xander glanced up at the twisted mettle arks from which screaming emanated. "Uh... thanks. I choose life."
Jesse shrugged and he and Amy ran off to the thrill ride section, giggling already.
"Sorry," said Willow suddenly. "I guess I kinda made that whole situation worse, huh?"
"Eah, don't sweat it, Will," Xander replied distractedly, still watching the Railwracker. "Those guys are just jerks."
"I just wish Andrew would leave me alone. I don't know what his problem is."
"He has a thing for pretty girls, apparently. Hey, corn-dogs!" Xander bee-lined for the snack stand, leaving Willow by the SkiBall machines, wearing a timid smile and red cheeks.
TBC