TITLE: Sea Stays Silent
FEEDBACK: Yes, please !
DISTRIBUTION: Credit and tell me where its going please :D
AUTHOR: never look back
SUMMARY: Life away from Sunnydale has given Buffy a new outlook on things; but is this a good or bad thing? Will anyone be able to save her from herself? AU..BA
SPOILERS: It's an AU.
DISCLAIMER: I obviously don't own any of the characters listed in this story. Why write fan fiction when I could control minds on tv? All belong to the WB, Joss Whedon, etc.
AUTHOR NOTES: italics are thoughts or dreams
The haunting yet calming sound of the ocean's waves echoed throughout the beach. She was motionless, lying on the sand next to her new-found best friends, as the sun began to drop even lower into the horizon, making a beautiful swirl of colors unto the sky and sea.
Buffy Summers took in a breath, watching the sea from her comfortable position in the sand. She rolled the sand beneath her fingers, never wanting to forget the feeling. The feeling of freedom, with Willow and Xander on either side of her. The feeling of peacefulness between the sea and her own being, of not having to worry about anything.
"What do you guys feel?" Xander asked quietly, not wanting to ruin the moment. "I don't want this to end. I don't want this to end…"
"I want to take a picture," Willow answered, lost in her own world. "A picture…so I won't forget. So I'll never forget."
A short silence ensured as the pair waited for Buffy to answer. She brought herself to her feet, stretched her arms out to the sky, and screamed. Screamed with all her happiness and joy, her passion and furry. Xander and Willow laughed and tackled Buffy back to the sand.
"What was that about?" Willow said as she laughed.
"I was silent," Buffy answered carefully, "when all I wanted to do was scream."
"Very deep," Xander joked, rising to stand. "Now, if you would please lessen your brain cells and get ready for the ride home--"
"Oh, great," she interrupted. "We have school tomorrow, don't we?"
Willow smiled and followed Xander to the car. "That's why we took the trip!"
Buffy stayed still on the sand for a few minutes longer while both Xander and Willow cleaned up.
"She's the last one on the beach," Xander noted. "Sometimes it feels like she's so far above us." He glanced at Willow for a second before combing out his hair with his fingers. "I mean mentally. Spiritually, you know?"
"Yeah," Willow answered, looking back out at Buffy, who had started walking towards the sea's edge instead of towards them. "I just hope she won't fly away from us."
Xander put a reassuring hand on Willow's shoulder before jogging after Buffy. Just like the first time they had met, Willow still felt the slightest bit doubtful on Buffy's mental stability. They hadn't seen each other in years, and on impulse she had invited Buffy to come on a weekend trip to the beach with Xander. Buffy had agreed, and they got to know each other even better than in middle school years.
Buffy walked up with Xander and noticed the worried look in Willow's eyes. "I'm fine, Will," she said out of instinct. She walked to the outdoor showers and turned the knob. Cold water bit her skin.
"I'm fine," she told herself. The water ran down her back, beneath her bathing suit, washing away all traces of her ever standing on the beach.
The car ride home was quiet; everyone reflecting on different aspects of their lives. Occasionally, they would talk about being seniors, or bring up past memories which Buffy wasn't apart of. She told them a little about her life in LA, about her life away from Sunnydale, but nothing that gave away too much information. Xander and Willow both could see that something had changed Buffy, brought her even more silent and contemplative, but they didn't have the courage to ask.
Willow fell asleep in the back on the way to Buffy's house. Buffy quietly said good bye and good night to Xander, grabbed her stuff, and gave the two a last look before quietly closing the car door.
Her mother, Joyce, wasn't sleeping yet. The television set was full proof that she had stayed up to make sure Buffy came in all right. As Buffy put her beach gear down, Joyce turned off the television and hugged her daughter.
"How was it?"
"Good," Buffy nodded absently. "Fun. I love the beach."
"I know you do."
Buffy began to walk up the stairs before her mother could say anything else. She heard dishes clattering down below, reminding her that there was school tomorrow. School. Chores. There was no difference anymore.
Joyce came up to check on Buffy one last time.
"I'm getting tired," Buffy said. Joyce wasn't sure if there was a double meaning in her words, or not.
"You should sleep, then." She was about to leave when suddenly she faced her daughter again. "Did I tell you the neighbors moved in today? Next door?"
"The house was for sale?"
"Yes…you probably didn't notice, with your own move in all."
Buffy put her swim suit on her drawer to dry. Her mother leaned against the doorway, watching. "Aren't you going to ask about them?"
Buffy sighed. "I'm not really interested."
"They're not new," Joyce said, ignoring her daughter's last comment. "They've lived in Sunnydale almost all of their life. Mother and son next door, that's it. Father moved out on them a little while back, didn't want to live the glamorous rich life anymore…or so they say…"
"Mom, I really want to go to bed." She got underneath the covers to prove her point. "I don't even know them."
"Her son probably goes to your school," Joyce answered. "He is so sweet, you should meet him--"
"Mom!"
"Good night, then, honey."
Buffy looked over at her clock. It was only eight. She sighed before getting out of bed and opening her window. Swiftly, she was able to get onto the roof without making a noise. Creeping carefully away from the edge of the roof, she sat down on the hard material and looked around.
Her neighborhood was a little eerie, she noticed. Too peaceful and quiet; not a car rumble in hearing range. It was nice…but the silence was deafening.
Finally, in the distance, Buffy caught the sound of a vehicle roaring past. She closed her eyes, inhaled the night air, and waited. The engine seemed to claw closer and closer to her house, getting louder and louder which each second passing. Opening her eyes, she watched as a red convertible in mint-condition pulled up to the drive-way on the right of her house. Realizing it must be the new neighbors, Buffy stayed completely still and watched as the hard and loud music died down.
Around four guys were in the car, but Buffy only noticed three get out. One had platinum blonde hair, another had no hair at all, and the driver had spiked hair. In the dark, she couldn't tell what color it was, and she didn't have a clear view of what they looked like, but she continued to watch.
"Some ride," a smooth voice said, edged with sarcasm.
"Yeah, well, 'morrow's school and whatnot."
"School. Don't make me laugh, man."
A voice from inside the convertible was heard. "Angelcakes, what are you going to do about the music!"
"Nothing's wrong with it." The same voice which threatened to consume Buffy's being spoke again. "It's my car."
"Whatever you say, boss."
The group noisily went inside the house. Buffy stayed outside for a minute longer before sauntering through the window and into her bed.
