Title: One.. Two…
Author: Michael Dunbar
Summary: Do I have to do all the work.. Figure it out yourself…
He awoke startled; his heart beating so fast he thought it was going to jump out of his chest. His pillow was soaked in sweat, his hair wringing wet had stuck to his forehead and he wiped his arm swiftly across it.
"Just a dream, nothing more Xan.. Your just having nightmares because this is sunnyhell and the source of all the things nightmarish.. That's all…"
The alarm clock read 4:06 and was blinking repeatedly as he sat up straight; he looked around his room expecting to see the shadows come alive to taunt him. But all that greeted him was the gentle caress of Pamela Anderson's eyes from the massive poster he has opposite his bed.
"Well I'm never going to get back to sleep now, fantastic… It's not enough that I go patrolling four times a week and hardly sleep.. Now my nightmares stop me from sleeping too.. home sweet hellmouth.. Such a wonderful place."
Deciding that talking to oneself wasn't the sanest thing Xander pulled himself from his covers and walked out of his room to the bathroom. Turning the faucet on he splashed some water on his face then looked into the mirror, his tired reflection looked back and he sighed.
It was a big day today, make or break, the start of something or the destruction of his life as he new it.
Today he, Alexander Harris, was going to ask Buffy Summers out on a date for the spring fling and his heart clenched at the thought. He was always a running man when it came to women; he usually dealt with it in his own time which usually involved lots and lots of country music.
However she was different and he knew it. You didn't risk life and limb for a simple crush. You longed for them but got over it in time, with her it was different, it was like his life had lead him to her. As sappy and girly as that sounded he knew it to be true or as true as anything in his life.
The shower was cold but he needed it badly after that awful dream and welcomed the freezing water as he prepared himself for the day. He'd planned everything, even the time and place he was going to ask her.
The quad at lunch time.
He'd have preferred a candle lit room with Barry White singing in the background but he was a teenager and he'd take what he could get.
As he dressed himself he took all the care of choosing items that wouldn't cause epileptic fits if out in broad daylight and managed to pull off something that looked at least half way decent. His clothes were all cheap and tattered since he had to buy them himself from the money he earned working the part time job he had at S-mart on the weekends.
His parents didn't notice him most of the time and were always drunk, so asking them for anything was out.
Even food was a difficulty for them most days.
It was still only 5:30 by the time he had dressed and gotten his bag ready for school and he sighed again, he wished the dreams would stop, as if his life wasn't already scary as hell.
Flipping up his mattress he grabbed a notebook from under and reached for a pen off his bed side table before turning to a page half way in and scribbling incessantly for a few minutes.
Well, I had another dream last night. He was in it again with them fucking things on his hands. This time he left me alone and just went after my friends. I woke up when he killed Buffy in one of the most vicious acts I have ever witnessed and I've seen a slayer fight. I have no idea why I keep having them but if they don't stop soon I may have to seek some help from Giles. They are getting more frequent, 3 times in as many nights is not normal for any sort of recurring dream.
Xander put the notebook back in place then sat on his bed and looked at the alarm clock on his bedside table.
5:20..
5:21..
8:31..
He blinked once and rubbed his eyes, he must have fallen asleep and not even noticed. Reaching for his bag he ran out his bedroom door and jumped down most of the stairs before sprinting out of the front door.
He was going to be late.
