"Buffy, I like you, a lot!" Willow stuttered nervously before sighing heavily and shaking her head "no no, that's not it!" she exclaimed, straightening herself out again and looking into the mirror.
"Buffy, Xander isn't the only one who fell for you the moment he saw you, I really, really... No!" she groaned, banging her head on the cold mirror surface impatiently. This was getting her nowhere, rambling at the mirror, after half an hour she still couldn't find the right words to tell her. How do you brake it to your best friend that you want to be more than friends with them? Especially after three years. Willow had been hiding this secret since the day they met, but today might be the day she finally told Buffy how she really felt. The red head took a deep breath and started again.
"Buffy, we need to talk.." she started, hands in her pockets and bright red hair falling in her face as she spoke.
"What about?". Willow spun around to find the object of her affections standing in the door way, smiling as she entered the room and closed the door quietly behind her. Buffy dropped her bag onto the soft cream carpet and flopped onto her bed lazily, looking up at the red head expectantly and waiting for her to answer.
"I.." she scrambled for an answer inside her head 'Oh shit…Quick! Think, think!!' "I'm going out to the Bronze tonight, in a just a sec actually, and I might not be back till late. That's okay right? I just wanted to make sure you didn't mind, what with us sharing a room now and all" she mumbled, just glad that she could think of a half believable excuse in time. Buffy paused for a moment, looking up to the right like she was thinking over it, her eyes glancing over at the open wardrobe. Willow held her breath as she waited for the blondes answer. Finally the slayer looked back at her answered with a smiled.
"Sure, actually... would you mind if I tagged along?" she asked sweetly. Willow paused, trying not to cringe, and nodded before slipping on her jacket. Buffy grinned, jumping up and hurrying over to her closet "Hmm... now what should I wear?". Willow sighed, loud enough that the blonde heard and giggled as she rummaged through her closet "Don't worry, I'll be quick. I just want to look hot. I'm single again after all, I want to have some fun". The red head took a seat on her bed, facing the opposite wall so Buffy couldn't see her pouting. This was not her idea of a nice evening out. Buffy looking gorgeous and her being stuck there while the blonde flirted, feeling miserable.
"Come on Will, let's go!" the excited slayer tugged on her sleeve playfully. Willow stood up, plastering a smile on her face as she faced Buffy and nodded. It was time to go dancing.
X.x.X.x.X
Willow drummed her fingers on the glass table top as she watched Buffy from afar. The blonde was giggling, her hand reaching out to gently touch the chest of the brunette standing opposite her flirtatiously. He grinned, chatting away to her, making her laugh. The red head glared at him before looking back down at her drink with a sigh, watching the ripples disperse through the smooth brown liquid as she bumped the side of the blue plastic cup.
"Hey Will. Boy, you and that cup sure do look like your having a great time" Xander commented sarcastically as he took a seat beside her. The red head looked up and smiled as she saw the brunette grinning at her goofily. If there was one person who always got her it was Xander. He was the only one who knew how she really felt about Buffy She'd never told him though, he just figured it out in his adorable Xander way. The brunette reached out and squeezed her hand.
"What's up Will?" he asked softly, causing the wicca to groan, indicating with her head which way to look "Oh, Buffy troubles huh?" he smiled petting her hand "don't worry, you'll get your girl. It's just a matter of time before Buff realizes what's been in front of her this whole time. No-one can resist Willow's wily wicca charms". The red head giggled, giving him a small smile back. 'If only he was right..' she thought to herself with a low sigh as she lifted her cup to take another sip. Buffy was still standing in the corner, catching Willow's eye with her slinky, backless red top and tight black jeans. The blonde paused for a second to glance back at the wicca, her cheery pretense failing for a moment a she saw the red head sitting with Xander, his hand upon hers as they giggled. Buffy sighed, turning back to the boy doing his best to impress her and smiling coyly as she leaned in to whisper.
"Do you want to dance?". The eager boy nodded gladly, leading her out onto the floor the moment the words had left her mouth. A new song came on and the blonde quickly put on her charm, wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck and moving to the music, letting the melody flow through her and show her body how to move. Willow looked and swallowed loudly. The red head rose quickly to her feet and mad a move for the door till Xander grabbed her wrist.
"I think I'm going to be sick" she insisted, fleeing the club as soon as he let go and bursting out the back door into the dark and shadowy alley way. The door shut behind her loudly and the pumping music turned to a stifled sound as though it where a million miles away. Willow took in a slow, deep breath of cool night air, leaning back against the wall as she tried to calm herself and push the feeling off rising food back down. No-one else could make her feel this way. Sick with jealousy at a mere laugh, a touch, a simple dance. It probably meant nothing. Just another of these guys Buffy met at the club, flirted and danced with and then never saw again. Ever since this summer she'd been doing it. Willow was stuck somewhere between worrying about her best friend and hoping next time the blonde would choose her. She sighed, opening her eyes and taking a few wobbly step forwards. She should get back to the dorm, she was tired and she definitely couldn't stand another moment watching Buffy dance with that stranger. The red head looked around, nothing but dark deserted alley ways back here. She clutched the bottom of her shirt nervously. She'd always had a fear of the dark but it had increased enormously since meeting Buffy.
"Willow? Oh my god!". She whirled around cautiously to find an old friend smiling back at her from in the gloom. Willow calmed, smiling back at the blonde, slightly surprised to see her after all this time.
"Harmony? Uhh, hey! God, I haven't seen you since... well since graduation day" the red head laughed as Harmony slowly walked forwards, appearing out of the shadows as she approached "How have you been?" she asked as the pink clad girl reached her with a warm smile that was some what unlike herself, or how Willow had known her during high school. The blonde shrugged lightly.
"Pretty good I guess, to tell you the truth though, I'm feeling a little peckish right now" Harmony added with a sly smile that sent shivers down the other girls spine. Willow took a step back uneasily only to find herself against a brick wall. She smiled nervously at the blonde as the ex-Cordette kept advancing on her, coming slowly closer till she had the red head pinned against the wall. She smiled as Willow quivered, her sharp fangs now clearly showing in the moon light as she morphed, ready to feed. The red head scanned the ground with her eyes for anything wooden and pointy that could help her but could see nothing of the kind.
"Harmony, it's so good to see you again" came a voice from just to the side, the owner approaching fast and kicking Harmony to the ground in one smooth motion "now get lost!" Buffy growled at her, taking up a protective stance in front of Willow as she held a sharp stake at the ready. Harmony pulled herself to her feet, scowling and dusting off her dark pink skirt angrily as she backed away into the alley again.
"You just wait, my boyfriends gunna kill you guys SO bad!" she called out before running off into the darkness. Buffy just laughed before turning back to the red head behind her and placing her hands softly on the other girls shoulders. Willow blushed, smiling up at her rescuer as she had many a time after being saved by the slayer. The blonde shook her head and wrapt an arm around the wicca's shoulders warmly as they walked back into the brigt noisy club through the back door to join Xander, who was still waiting for them at the small table, sipping Willow's drink boredly.
"Come on, let's dance!" Buffy grinned as she led her two friends out onto the dance floor, keeping a firm but gentle grip of Willow's hand as she weaved her way through the crowd right into the centre. The red head looked round self consciously as a new song started up, but as soon as the blonde took her by the waist she forgot about all the people surrounding them. Buffy smiled, trying to act as though this was something her and Willow always did, dance together like this. Xander danced beside them, every once in a while glancing back over with a knowing grin. The red head's cheek's where as red as her vibrant hair. The blonde pulled her a little closer, just enough so it was closer than just two friends would be but not so close it was obviously something more than friendship. Just enough so she could enjoy this moment with no consequences or questions later.