Silver Spoons
Summary: Total A/U. The gang is in their junior year of high school, and everybody's human. Cordelia's family from England comes to live in Sunnydale, bringing her cousin William along. He quickly assimilates into the group, even though Buffy and him barely stand each other.
Feedback: Would I like some? Of course. Do I need some? Yes, all the way. What will I do if I don't get some? Go all crazy and Joss-ish on you all.
Disclaimer: I own everything. I am Joss, and I created the whole plot to the Buffy craze. What? I don't? Damn you all to hell! Well, at least I own this computer. Come again? I don't own this either? Shit. Um, never mind, I don't own anything.
A/n: Okay, I know I don't really have anything important to say. Just wanted to let everyone know that some things may seem a little weird, but as this is total A/U, none of you can send any flames. Muwahahahaha! Joss can kiss this ass!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So, what exactly is this party at Cordelia's house for?"
Buffy was spread out placidly on her rumpled bed, twirling a strand of her golden hair as she chatted with her best friend Willow, on the phone. School had let out this week, and Buffy was taking every opportunity to either relax, catch up with her friends, or soak up the hot, buttery sun. Right now she was enjoying the blessed air conditioning, discussing her plans for this evening with Willow. The two girls, and the others, were supposed to go to their close friend Cordelia's house tonight, but Buffy hadn't had the chance to ask the dark-haired girl why. Buffy heard Willow chuckle wryly, and answered easily.
"Well, apparently, part of Cordelia's family, her uncle, cousin, and aunt, live in England, but are moving to Sunnydale. Her uncle got a job here, so today is the day they arrive. She wanted to throw a welcoming party for them tonight, hence the reason why we all have to head over there and face her parents," Willow said, and Buffy giggled. It was a well - known fact that Cordy's parents didn't approve of her friends, and especially despised her boyfriend, Xander.
"I never knew Cordy had English family," Buffy stated, grabbing a bottle of pink nail polish and started to apply it to her toenails. Willow laughed again, and Buffy could practically see her best friend rolling her big green eyes.
"Well, you know Cordy. Never one to divulge any unrelated information about her family," Willow offered as explanation, and Buffy had to nod in agreement. She heard Willow sigh, and Buffy questioned her. "What is it, Wil?" she asked, and Willow avoided the question for a few silent seconds.
"Nothing, Buff. It's just that Cordy showed me some pictures of her cousin, and boy, is he ever hot. Major English- goodness," Willow said, and Buffy laughed outright, almost spilling the small bottle perched unsteadily on her bedspread. "Willow," Buffy admonished her with a playful tone, "what about Oz? You know, cute, guitar-playing boyfriend?"
Willow laughed a little, than said, "I know, I know. But he was cute. Of course, I love Oz and everything, but Cordy did say he was single. She made it a clear point to have me tell you that." Buffy rolled her hazel eyes, realizing that she should have known. It was a well-known fact that none of her friends actually liked her current boyfriend Riley, and that included her own mother, Joyce. It would be only Cordy who would set Buffy up with her cousin even though she wasn't even single. With a smirk, she wondered how her possessive boyfriend would react to that. She could just imagine Riley's blue eyes flashing, that huge, unattractive vein throbbing in his neck. Yeah, that sure would be a lot of fun. Remind me to never mention English boys or male cousins to Riley. Scratch that. Never mention anyone else except for Riley to Riley.
"Yeah, that is like Cordy. Is Oz coming tonight, too? Or does he have a gig at the Bronze?" Buffy asked, effectively changing the subject. She didn't want to talk about her boyfriend right now. She had just eaten, and their whole relationship always gave her cramps. Best that she didn't throw up on clean sheets, as her mother was away on an art- buying trip and wouldn't be able to do laundry. Buffy smiled to herself, and focused back on Willow, who was answering her.
"Um, yeah, he said he was coming. Reminds me, it's our anniversary soon. Sorry, going a little off topic. Is Riley gonna be there, Mr. Macho-Quarterback himself?" Willow inquired innocently, and Buffy laughed. Capping the nail polish bottle, she sighed as she answered.
"No, he's not. Apparently he has some big school award thing to go too." Buffy said flippantly, trying to ignore the fact that Riley always seemed to have something better to do than hang out with her and her friends. He was always free when he wanted some action from her, though. Buffy could almost her Willow's confusion through the line, and she asked her best friend what was wrong.
"Well, nothing really," Willow started hesitantly, and Buffy silently waited for her to continue. Willow had the habit of not finishing her sentences when she was either confused, nervous, or hiding a secret. Buffy had the feeling that at this particular moment, Willow was doing all three. Finally, Willow cleared her throat again. "Buffy, the sports awards at school were two weeks ago. And I'm pretty sure that he's not going to win any awards for his high achievements in academics or chess," Willow finished gently, and Buffy felt her blood start to heat up in anger.
The damn bastard lied to me again. Again, even after he swore he wouldn't. He's probably cheating on me again with the resident bimbo Harmony, just like the last time he had something 'to do for school'. I swear, this is it. Buffy took a calming breath, and Willow wisely said nothing. Buffy decided that she would deal with this whole mess tomorrow, and realized that the party was in less then two hours. Maybe it would be good for her to start checking out the hottie market.
"Thanks for telling me, Wils. I think it's time for me and Riley to have a little chat. Don't worry about us though, and just focus on what you're gonna be wearing tonight instead," Buffy replied, teasing edge lacing her words. Willow chuckled, and she said good-bye. Replacing the phone in its cradle, Buffy stretched and stood up, wiggling her freshly painted toes. Pushing aside nauseating thoughts of her absentee boyfriend, she walked over to her large closet and flung open the doors. Immediately, despite the piles and piles of every imaginable piece of clothing, in every style and color, Buffy's face crinkled in despair.
"I have nothing to wear!"
~*~*~*
Buffy took a sip of her smooth wine cooler, straight out of the bottle. She was standing beside Willow and her boyfriend, listening to Willow talk animatedly about some new kind of computer, Oz with an amused, loving smile on his quiet face. Buffy tried to listen intently, but she didn't understand anything past the word 'hard drive'. Instead, she was focused on people-watching, taking in the sight of all of her friends mingling in Cordelia's large living room. The evening sun cast light shadows in the bright room, the golden rays illuminating smiles and twinkling eyes. Even Cordelia's usual snobby parents had softened up, talking easily with another of Buffy's friends, Angel. He was saying something presumably witty and intelligent, as Buffy could see both parents laughing smoothly, no trace of distaste evident on composed features.
Angel had been a friend of Buffy's for a short time, but the two had become insanely close in the quick span. At first, Angel had wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with her, but she had quickly diverted his attentions to her cousin Faith. Now, Angel and she were like best friends, almost closer then Buffy was with Willow. They had a tight knit connection, and with one glance they could communicate volumes. Angel was happily seeing Faith, and Buffy bragged that she had been the mastermind that had set them up. Faith was a wild girl, but she was caring and fun. Buffy and Faith always had crazy adventures together, and whenever Buffy wanted a good time she would ring the brunette girl up. Looking around, Buffy spotted her talking with Cordelia and her boyfriend Xander, his arm so sweetly hugging Cordelia close from the waist. Buffy smiled adoringly at the two, knowing how to spot true love when she saw it.
Xander had chased after Cordelia for ages, and eventually Cordelia succumbed to his boyish charms. Sure he was a geek, and she had been popular, but somehow the two had worked things out. As a good friend of Xanders', Buffy had to say that the two were deeply in love. They spent every waking moment with each other, Xander completely enamored of the beautiful girl, and Cordelia seemingly the same of him. The two fought like cats and dogs, always yelling about something or another. But in the end they always came back to each other, even withstanding the disgust that Cordelia's rich parents threw at the couple almost hourly. Buffy had admired Cordelia for her strong will, knowing that she herself wouldn't stay with Riley if her mother expressed such a low opinion of him.
Maybe that's because you try to find excuses to hate him. Boyfriend your ass, you hate the boy almost as much as Angel and Xander do. Rolling her hazel eyes, she downed another gulp of the cool, sweet drink. Wiping her mouth daintily, she flopped down onto the nearest leather couch, eager for some peace. Her mother had freaked about her report card, and had been mentioning it all week, causing some ugly stress and tension. Buffy was glad for the time away from her problems. Crossing her tanned legs, she felt her tension soothed by the laid back gathering, and the light dousing of alcohol from her cooler.
The doorbell shrilled loudly, and Cordelia shrieked happily. Handing her drink off to a surprised Xander, she nearly sprinted to the front door, heels clicking loudly, shiny hair flying. Buffy smirked, taking in the unusual reaction from a normally composed Cordelia. But even Cordy's parents had moved quickly toward the door, happy smiles caressing their faces. The rest of the group shuffled into the spacious hallway, Buffy tagging along in the back of the group as Cordelia flung open the tall door, excited greeting echoing. She could hear loud gushing and wet kisses, laughter tinkling over the room like rain. Two male voices, distinctly English, one somewhat subdued and the other almost boisterous, mixed in with a light female voice, that wasn't English at all. She could see Willow turning around and discreetly giving her the 'ok' sign, smile adorning her face, and Buffy assumed she was talking about the infamous cousin of Cordy's.
Buffy stepped forward, and had to entirely agree with the redhead. The cousin was extremely handsome in a unique, rocker-goth way. He was tall and lean, hair bleached almost white. He had high cheekbones and long black lashes that framed beautiful brilliant blue eyes, deep and reflective. His gait was easy and even cocky, lips pulled into a smile that Buffy found to her immense liking. His father, Cordy's uncle, looked nothing like the younger man, with his dark hair, glasses, and tweed suit. But the older man had a certain appeal to him, with a sincere smile and nice eyes. Buffy almost choked on her drink though when she saw Cordy's aunt. She was young, almost as young as the cousin, with pretty features and wavy blonde hair. She was petite, yet still commanded a presence among others. Buffy was amusedly confused, until she heard the hottie call the woman Anya, not Mom. Must be his step mother, then.
Cordelia finally stepped back from the threesome, flushed and happy. Everyone waited patiently while Cordelia finally remembered that there were other people there. With a startled and embarrassed "Oh!" she hastily introduced her family. Pointing to the older man, she said, "This is my uncle, Rupert Giles. He's a total expert on almost everything, and he's opening up a bookshop over here. "This guy over here, decked out in punk wear, is my cousin William. He's a total daredevil, but I still love him. He'll be going to school with us," Cordelia said, looking pointedly at Buffy, dark eyes wide and suggestive. Buffy chose to ignore it, and William was busy taking in the expansive hall to notice Cordy. Faith seemed intensely interested though, and giggled as Angel caught her ravenous look, jealousy flashing across his handsome features. She gave him a reassuring peck on the cheek as Cordy finished the introduction.
"And this is my aunt, uh, step-aunt," Cordy fumbled, and the blonde woman smiled easily. "She's Anya, and she married my uncle two years ago," Cordelia finished, and everyone nodded in greeting. William was looking at the new faces, when he caught Buffy's eyes. In that moment, everything else disappeared, and an eerie silence fell over her. She took a sharp intake of breath involuntarily, eyes locked with William's. She felt the heat and intensity of his gaze, blood starting to fire up as they stared at each other. A wave of emotion crashed over her, and it broke her from the trance. William smiled at her, a secret smile filled with lustful promises, and despite herself, Buffy smiled back lightly. But their privacy was lost as Cordy's parents swooped over to them, greeting them also. Buffy and her friends moved back to the living room, Cordy in tow. The girls formed together, each bursting with naughty adjectives about Cordy's cousin. Cordelia just stayed silent, nodding in agree, trying to deduce Buffy's opinion of him. Finally, Cordelis asked innocently, "So Buffy, what did you think of Will?"
Faith and Willow stopped their chatter, both looking at Buffy expectantly. The corner of Faith's lip curled up, and Willow had a suspicious gleam in her eyes. Buffy sighed in exasperation, realizing that this would be a joint effort for them to get her together with the platinum haired hottie- uh, William, William. As Buffy smirked back at them, she tried to remember solid, cute Riley, but she just couldn't muster up the effort. "He's totally hot," Buffy said, and Cordelia squealed happily, throwing her arms around Buffy. Xander, Oz, and Angel looked over in concern at the sound, from their corner, but rolled their eyes when they saw that she wasn't in fact being mulled by a bear as it had sounded. Cordelia noticed the eye rolling, and casually flipped the three off, immediately turning back to the blonde.
"But I do have Riley, though. Remember him, my boyfriend?" Buffy said sarcastically, and all three girls were immediately silenced, eyes wide and incredulous. They looked at Buffy as though she was a bit dim, open dislike on their faces. Even sweet Willow had her mouth curled, beside the open, hostile looks of Faith and Cordelia. Faith cleared her throat, than falsely said, "Uh, yeah, yeah, Riley. Of course. What were we thinking?" Willow and Cordelia coughed, and followed Faith's lead. Buffy rolled her eyes, knowing that no matter how much she protested, she would be getting set up with William quite soon. And even though she was annoyed by Riley often, she still had feelings for him. Sighing again, Buffy held up her empty bottle.
"I'll just go get another drink, so don't go planning my marriage quite yet," Buffy stated dryly, turning away. She heard Faith say "Is getting piss drunk how you deal with Riley?" and the snickers of her two other friends. She had to hold back her own small smile, stepping into the expansive kitchen that was gleaming. Walking over to the aluminum fridge, she pulled it open and grabbed another drink. A noise sounded behind her, and she whirled around, almost dropping the bottle. She sighed in relief and slight excitement when she was faced with a smiling William, who was leaning against the door jam, arms crossed as he studied her intently.
"Don't scare me like that," Buffy reprimanded, yet smiled to show she was teasing. His own smile grew wider, and he took a step into the room, his eyes probing and deep enough to drown in. Knees weakening, she tried to control her pulsating blood pressure, biting her lip involuntarily. William's gaze dropped down to her mouth, watching her teeth worry the soft, pink skin. He flicked his eyes upward again, taking in her golden skin and shiny hair.
"So what's your name, princess?" he asked, and the trill of his voice echoed loudly in her ears. Alright, gotta agree that accents are extremely hot. I'll be moving to Europe myself, soon. He waited as she regained her composure, answering, "I'm Buffy. Summers." He nodded, and stepped closer to her, resting a few feet away. He cocked his head at her, and she felt like she was being scrutinized, though enjoying the play of his eyes over her petite body. His gaze was almost like a soft touch, devouring the sight of her in a composed manner.
"I'm guessing you're one of Queen's friends, huh?" he inquired, and she frowned. Her forehead scrunched up, as he chuckled. "Sorry. Queen is a nickname I have for Cordy," he explained, and her face relaxed, eyes comprehensive, nodding. William took more steps closer to her, until he was right in front of her. He smelled like aftershave and of the leather jacket he wore, and Buffy inhaled deeply, heart speeding up. They stood in silence, taking in the sight and smells of each other, eyes searching and hungry. Buffy longed for a taste of him, immediately yelling mentally at herself. Riley. Riley. Riley. Rilliyam. Rilliam. William. Yummy William, all English and salty goodness. William ducked his head, lips resting inches from hers. She inhaled sharply, breathing erratic. Somewhere in her muddled mind, she could see Riley's face swimming around, and it was enough for her to break from her William induced hormonal binge. She pulled away, leaving a surprised and almost hurt William gazing at her, mouth quirked.
"What's wrong, luv? Scared?" he taunted her, and she shook her head, blonde hair swinging. All William wanted to do was grab handfuls of it and hold it forever, burying his nose in the tempting strands. It was almost like liquid gold as it rippled over her bare shoulders, and William had to physically hold himself back. He was hurt and angry from her rejection, like he had been denied a rare treat. His lips were burning, yearning for the taste of the girl in front of him. And he was not someone who took rejection well. Running a frustrated hand through his bleached hair, his gaze turned cold.
"Well, what is it then? I mean, are alright and all? Because girls don't usually turn me down, especially not ones like you." William lashed out without thinking, and immediately regretted his rude words. Buffy's face closed up, and her eyes grew hard. She clenched her jaw, than shook her head in disbelief.
"Oh yeah? Girls like me? Cocky bastard, aren't you? Well, I don't know what girls your talking about, cause I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole, Willy," Buffy spat out, eyes flashing angrily. Her words cut through him, and he didn't hold back from the thoughts coursing through his injured thoughts.
"Is that right, princess?"
"Yeah, it is, Willy, because I can't see how anyone could find you attractive."
"I'm sure, Betty. You look like you're as easy as they come, pet, which is prolly the only reason you ever get any male attention. You have- stupid, stupid hair, and stupid clothes, and a stupid mouth! You are stupid, a stupid dumb blonde!" William yelled back, his words lame, but still hurting Buffy's pride. Their argument caught the attention of the group in the next room, and the crowd walking to the sound of the yelling, and stopped in the kitchen doorway to investigate. They were met with the two blondes facing off, faces angry and eyes harsh, their stances defensive and unyielding.
"Fuck you, William! Go buy some more hair gel and another Rob Zombie t-shirt!"
"Go get an actual IQ! Your credit card and shopping experiences don't count as educational teachings. Wait, I hear someone calling. Oh sorry, it's just the bloody store, cause they've never seen you away from it more than five minutes!"
"Yeah right, English. Go back to you damn home country, you conceited bastard!"
"Oh I would, but you big fake blonde head is blocking the way!"
"Me? Fake blonde? Look at you, Peroxide-Boy! How many times have you seen the bottom of a container of bleach?"
"Shut up! My soddin' hair looks good!"
"Yeah, it would if we were in the eighties and Billy Idol was still in!"
"Fuck you!"
"Fuck you more!"
"Fuck you the most!"
"Fuck you the mostest!"
"Fuck you around the bleedin' world!"
"Fuck you to infinity! Ha, beat that, Blondie!"
"Argh!"
With an angry growl, William turned on his heel and stomped out the door, pushing past his surprised parents and Cordy's friends. His mouth was formed into a snarl, his eyes hard and angry, and soon his footsteps could be heard going up the stairs. Buffy was left fuming in the middle of the kitchen, arms crossed. Muttering angrily, she stalked out the opposite way, the front door slamming as she left the huge house. Everyone was left in an awkward, stunned silence, even Cordelia, who always had something to say. Finally, Cordelia's mom walked over to the counter, picking up a half filled bottle of Champagne. Holding it up, she smiled weakly, eyes narrowed.
"Anyone else want another drink?"
*To be continued.
A/n: Yeah, that was a weird beginning. But, whatever, it'll all get worked out. Remember, this is a B/S fiction, even though Riley is Buffy's boyfriend (gag, puke, hurl twice). So, please review, because the more reviews then the faster the next chapter comes (actually, that's a lie. The next chapter will come whenever it's damn well ready, okay? Sorry, a little tense from writing Buffy/Riley mush. Once again, can I barf now or later?) If anyone has any requests for the story or the characters, then send 'em my fucking way. Thanx everyone.
Summary: Total A/U. The gang is in their junior year of high school, and everybody's human. Cordelia's family from England comes to live in Sunnydale, bringing her cousin William along. He quickly assimilates into the group, even though Buffy and him barely stand each other.
Feedback: Would I like some? Of course. Do I need some? Yes, all the way. What will I do if I don't get some? Go all crazy and Joss-ish on you all.
Disclaimer: I own everything. I am Joss, and I created the whole plot to the Buffy craze. What? I don't? Damn you all to hell! Well, at least I own this computer. Come again? I don't own this either? Shit. Um, never mind, I don't own anything.
A/n: Okay, I know I don't really have anything important to say. Just wanted to let everyone know that some things may seem a little weird, but as this is total A/U, none of you can send any flames. Muwahahahaha! Joss can kiss this ass!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So, what exactly is this party at Cordelia's house for?"
Buffy was spread out placidly on her rumpled bed, twirling a strand of her golden hair as she chatted with her best friend Willow, on the phone. School had let out this week, and Buffy was taking every opportunity to either relax, catch up with her friends, or soak up the hot, buttery sun. Right now she was enjoying the blessed air conditioning, discussing her plans for this evening with Willow. The two girls, and the others, were supposed to go to their close friend Cordelia's house tonight, but Buffy hadn't had the chance to ask the dark-haired girl why. Buffy heard Willow chuckle wryly, and answered easily.
"Well, apparently, part of Cordelia's family, her uncle, cousin, and aunt, live in England, but are moving to Sunnydale. Her uncle got a job here, so today is the day they arrive. She wanted to throw a welcoming party for them tonight, hence the reason why we all have to head over there and face her parents," Willow said, and Buffy giggled. It was a well - known fact that Cordy's parents didn't approve of her friends, and especially despised her boyfriend, Xander.
"I never knew Cordy had English family," Buffy stated, grabbing a bottle of pink nail polish and started to apply it to her toenails. Willow laughed again, and Buffy could practically see her best friend rolling her big green eyes.
"Well, you know Cordy. Never one to divulge any unrelated information about her family," Willow offered as explanation, and Buffy had to nod in agreement. She heard Willow sigh, and Buffy questioned her. "What is it, Wil?" she asked, and Willow avoided the question for a few silent seconds.
"Nothing, Buff. It's just that Cordy showed me some pictures of her cousin, and boy, is he ever hot. Major English- goodness," Willow said, and Buffy laughed outright, almost spilling the small bottle perched unsteadily on her bedspread. "Willow," Buffy admonished her with a playful tone, "what about Oz? You know, cute, guitar-playing boyfriend?"
Willow laughed a little, than said, "I know, I know. But he was cute. Of course, I love Oz and everything, but Cordy did say he was single. She made it a clear point to have me tell you that." Buffy rolled her hazel eyes, realizing that she should have known. It was a well-known fact that none of her friends actually liked her current boyfriend Riley, and that included her own mother, Joyce. It would be only Cordy who would set Buffy up with her cousin even though she wasn't even single. With a smirk, she wondered how her possessive boyfriend would react to that. She could just imagine Riley's blue eyes flashing, that huge, unattractive vein throbbing in his neck. Yeah, that sure would be a lot of fun. Remind me to never mention English boys or male cousins to Riley. Scratch that. Never mention anyone else except for Riley to Riley.
"Yeah, that is like Cordy. Is Oz coming tonight, too? Or does he have a gig at the Bronze?" Buffy asked, effectively changing the subject. She didn't want to talk about her boyfriend right now. She had just eaten, and their whole relationship always gave her cramps. Best that she didn't throw up on clean sheets, as her mother was away on an art- buying trip and wouldn't be able to do laundry. Buffy smiled to herself, and focused back on Willow, who was answering her.
"Um, yeah, he said he was coming. Reminds me, it's our anniversary soon. Sorry, going a little off topic. Is Riley gonna be there, Mr. Macho-Quarterback himself?" Willow inquired innocently, and Buffy laughed. Capping the nail polish bottle, she sighed as she answered.
"No, he's not. Apparently he has some big school award thing to go too." Buffy said flippantly, trying to ignore the fact that Riley always seemed to have something better to do than hang out with her and her friends. He was always free when he wanted some action from her, though. Buffy could almost her Willow's confusion through the line, and she asked her best friend what was wrong.
"Well, nothing really," Willow started hesitantly, and Buffy silently waited for her to continue. Willow had the habit of not finishing her sentences when she was either confused, nervous, or hiding a secret. Buffy had the feeling that at this particular moment, Willow was doing all three. Finally, Willow cleared her throat again. "Buffy, the sports awards at school were two weeks ago. And I'm pretty sure that he's not going to win any awards for his high achievements in academics or chess," Willow finished gently, and Buffy felt her blood start to heat up in anger.
The damn bastard lied to me again. Again, even after he swore he wouldn't. He's probably cheating on me again with the resident bimbo Harmony, just like the last time he had something 'to do for school'. I swear, this is it. Buffy took a calming breath, and Willow wisely said nothing. Buffy decided that she would deal with this whole mess tomorrow, and realized that the party was in less then two hours. Maybe it would be good for her to start checking out the hottie market.
"Thanks for telling me, Wils. I think it's time for me and Riley to have a little chat. Don't worry about us though, and just focus on what you're gonna be wearing tonight instead," Buffy replied, teasing edge lacing her words. Willow chuckled, and she said good-bye. Replacing the phone in its cradle, Buffy stretched and stood up, wiggling her freshly painted toes. Pushing aside nauseating thoughts of her absentee boyfriend, she walked over to her large closet and flung open the doors. Immediately, despite the piles and piles of every imaginable piece of clothing, in every style and color, Buffy's face crinkled in despair.
"I have nothing to wear!"
~*~*~*
Buffy took a sip of her smooth wine cooler, straight out of the bottle. She was standing beside Willow and her boyfriend, listening to Willow talk animatedly about some new kind of computer, Oz with an amused, loving smile on his quiet face. Buffy tried to listen intently, but she didn't understand anything past the word 'hard drive'. Instead, she was focused on people-watching, taking in the sight of all of her friends mingling in Cordelia's large living room. The evening sun cast light shadows in the bright room, the golden rays illuminating smiles and twinkling eyes. Even Cordelia's usual snobby parents had softened up, talking easily with another of Buffy's friends, Angel. He was saying something presumably witty and intelligent, as Buffy could see both parents laughing smoothly, no trace of distaste evident on composed features.
Angel had been a friend of Buffy's for a short time, but the two had become insanely close in the quick span. At first, Angel had wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with her, but she had quickly diverted his attentions to her cousin Faith. Now, Angel and she were like best friends, almost closer then Buffy was with Willow. They had a tight knit connection, and with one glance they could communicate volumes. Angel was happily seeing Faith, and Buffy bragged that she had been the mastermind that had set them up. Faith was a wild girl, but she was caring and fun. Buffy and Faith always had crazy adventures together, and whenever Buffy wanted a good time she would ring the brunette girl up. Looking around, Buffy spotted her talking with Cordelia and her boyfriend Xander, his arm so sweetly hugging Cordelia close from the waist. Buffy smiled adoringly at the two, knowing how to spot true love when she saw it.
Xander had chased after Cordelia for ages, and eventually Cordelia succumbed to his boyish charms. Sure he was a geek, and she had been popular, but somehow the two had worked things out. As a good friend of Xanders', Buffy had to say that the two were deeply in love. They spent every waking moment with each other, Xander completely enamored of the beautiful girl, and Cordelia seemingly the same of him. The two fought like cats and dogs, always yelling about something or another. But in the end they always came back to each other, even withstanding the disgust that Cordelia's rich parents threw at the couple almost hourly. Buffy had admired Cordelia for her strong will, knowing that she herself wouldn't stay with Riley if her mother expressed such a low opinion of him.
Maybe that's because you try to find excuses to hate him. Boyfriend your ass, you hate the boy almost as much as Angel and Xander do. Rolling her hazel eyes, she downed another gulp of the cool, sweet drink. Wiping her mouth daintily, she flopped down onto the nearest leather couch, eager for some peace. Her mother had freaked about her report card, and had been mentioning it all week, causing some ugly stress and tension. Buffy was glad for the time away from her problems. Crossing her tanned legs, she felt her tension soothed by the laid back gathering, and the light dousing of alcohol from her cooler.
The doorbell shrilled loudly, and Cordelia shrieked happily. Handing her drink off to a surprised Xander, she nearly sprinted to the front door, heels clicking loudly, shiny hair flying. Buffy smirked, taking in the unusual reaction from a normally composed Cordelia. But even Cordy's parents had moved quickly toward the door, happy smiles caressing their faces. The rest of the group shuffled into the spacious hallway, Buffy tagging along in the back of the group as Cordelia flung open the tall door, excited greeting echoing. She could hear loud gushing and wet kisses, laughter tinkling over the room like rain. Two male voices, distinctly English, one somewhat subdued and the other almost boisterous, mixed in with a light female voice, that wasn't English at all. She could see Willow turning around and discreetly giving her the 'ok' sign, smile adorning her face, and Buffy assumed she was talking about the infamous cousin of Cordy's.
Buffy stepped forward, and had to entirely agree with the redhead. The cousin was extremely handsome in a unique, rocker-goth way. He was tall and lean, hair bleached almost white. He had high cheekbones and long black lashes that framed beautiful brilliant blue eyes, deep and reflective. His gait was easy and even cocky, lips pulled into a smile that Buffy found to her immense liking. His father, Cordy's uncle, looked nothing like the younger man, with his dark hair, glasses, and tweed suit. But the older man had a certain appeal to him, with a sincere smile and nice eyes. Buffy almost choked on her drink though when she saw Cordy's aunt. She was young, almost as young as the cousin, with pretty features and wavy blonde hair. She was petite, yet still commanded a presence among others. Buffy was amusedly confused, until she heard the hottie call the woman Anya, not Mom. Must be his step mother, then.
Cordelia finally stepped back from the threesome, flushed and happy. Everyone waited patiently while Cordelia finally remembered that there were other people there. With a startled and embarrassed "Oh!" she hastily introduced her family. Pointing to the older man, she said, "This is my uncle, Rupert Giles. He's a total expert on almost everything, and he's opening up a bookshop over here. "This guy over here, decked out in punk wear, is my cousin William. He's a total daredevil, but I still love him. He'll be going to school with us," Cordelia said, looking pointedly at Buffy, dark eyes wide and suggestive. Buffy chose to ignore it, and William was busy taking in the expansive hall to notice Cordy. Faith seemed intensely interested though, and giggled as Angel caught her ravenous look, jealousy flashing across his handsome features. She gave him a reassuring peck on the cheek as Cordy finished the introduction.
"And this is my aunt, uh, step-aunt," Cordy fumbled, and the blonde woman smiled easily. "She's Anya, and she married my uncle two years ago," Cordelia finished, and everyone nodded in greeting. William was looking at the new faces, when he caught Buffy's eyes. In that moment, everything else disappeared, and an eerie silence fell over her. She took a sharp intake of breath involuntarily, eyes locked with William's. She felt the heat and intensity of his gaze, blood starting to fire up as they stared at each other. A wave of emotion crashed over her, and it broke her from the trance. William smiled at her, a secret smile filled with lustful promises, and despite herself, Buffy smiled back lightly. But their privacy was lost as Cordy's parents swooped over to them, greeting them also. Buffy and her friends moved back to the living room, Cordy in tow. The girls formed together, each bursting with naughty adjectives about Cordy's cousin. Cordelia just stayed silent, nodding in agree, trying to deduce Buffy's opinion of him. Finally, Cordelis asked innocently, "So Buffy, what did you think of Will?"
Faith and Willow stopped their chatter, both looking at Buffy expectantly. The corner of Faith's lip curled up, and Willow had a suspicious gleam in her eyes. Buffy sighed in exasperation, realizing that this would be a joint effort for them to get her together with the platinum haired hottie- uh, William, William. As Buffy smirked back at them, she tried to remember solid, cute Riley, but she just couldn't muster up the effort. "He's totally hot," Buffy said, and Cordelia squealed happily, throwing her arms around Buffy. Xander, Oz, and Angel looked over in concern at the sound, from their corner, but rolled their eyes when they saw that she wasn't in fact being mulled by a bear as it had sounded. Cordelia noticed the eye rolling, and casually flipped the three off, immediately turning back to the blonde.
"But I do have Riley, though. Remember him, my boyfriend?" Buffy said sarcastically, and all three girls were immediately silenced, eyes wide and incredulous. They looked at Buffy as though she was a bit dim, open dislike on their faces. Even sweet Willow had her mouth curled, beside the open, hostile looks of Faith and Cordelia. Faith cleared her throat, than falsely said, "Uh, yeah, yeah, Riley. Of course. What were we thinking?" Willow and Cordelia coughed, and followed Faith's lead. Buffy rolled her eyes, knowing that no matter how much she protested, she would be getting set up with William quite soon. And even though she was annoyed by Riley often, she still had feelings for him. Sighing again, Buffy held up her empty bottle.
"I'll just go get another drink, so don't go planning my marriage quite yet," Buffy stated dryly, turning away. She heard Faith say "Is getting piss drunk how you deal with Riley?" and the snickers of her two other friends. She had to hold back her own small smile, stepping into the expansive kitchen that was gleaming. Walking over to the aluminum fridge, she pulled it open and grabbed another drink. A noise sounded behind her, and she whirled around, almost dropping the bottle. She sighed in relief and slight excitement when she was faced with a smiling William, who was leaning against the door jam, arms crossed as he studied her intently.
"Don't scare me like that," Buffy reprimanded, yet smiled to show she was teasing. His own smile grew wider, and he took a step into the room, his eyes probing and deep enough to drown in. Knees weakening, she tried to control her pulsating blood pressure, biting her lip involuntarily. William's gaze dropped down to her mouth, watching her teeth worry the soft, pink skin. He flicked his eyes upward again, taking in her golden skin and shiny hair.
"So what's your name, princess?" he asked, and the trill of his voice echoed loudly in her ears. Alright, gotta agree that accents are extremely hot. I'll be moving to Europe myself, soon. He waited as she regained her composure, answering, "I'm Buffy. Summers." He nodded, and stepped closer to her, resting a few feet away. He cocked his head at her, and she felt like she was being scrutinized, though enjoying the play of his eyes over her petite body. His gaze was almost like a soft touch, devouring the sight of her in a composed manner.
"I'm guessing you're one of Queen's friends, huh?" he inquired, and she frowned. Her forehead scrunched up, as he chuckled. "Sorry. Queen is a nickname I have for Cordy," he explained, and her face relaxed, eyes comprehensive, nodding. William took more steps closer to her, until he was right in front of her. He smelled like aftershave and of the leather jacket he wore, and Buffy inhaled deeply, heart speeding up. They stood in silence, taking in the sight and smells of each other, eyes searching and hungry. Buffy longed for a taste of him, immediately yelling mentally at herself. Riley. Riley. Riley. Rilliyam. Rilliam. William. Yummy William, all English and salty goodness. William ducked his head, lips resting inches from hers. She inhaled sharply, breathing erratic. Somewhere in her muddled mind, she could see Riley's face swimming around, and it was enough for her to break from her William induced hormonal binge. She pulled away, leaving a surprised and almost hurt William gazing at her, mouth quirked.
"What's wrong, luv? Scared?" he taunted her, and she shook her head, blonde hair swinging. All William wanted to do was grab handfuls of it and hold it forever, burying his nose in the tempting strands. It was almost like liquid gold as it rippled over her bare shoulders, and William had to physically hold himself back. He was hurt and angry from her rejection, like he had been denied a rare treat. His lips were burning, yearning for the taste of the girl in front of him. And he was not someone who took rejection well. Running a frustrated hand through his bleached hair, his gaze turned cold.
"Well, what is it then? I mean, are alright and all? Because girls don't usually turn me down, especially not ones like you." William lashed out without thinking, and immediately regretted his rude words. Buffy's face closed up, and her eyes grew hard. She clenched her jaw, than shook her head in disbelief.
"Oh yeah? Girls like me? Cocky bastard, aren't you? Well, I don't know what girls your talking about, cause I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole, Willy," Buffy spat out, eyes flashing angrily. Her words cut through him, and he didn't hold back from the thoughts coursing through his injured thoughts.
"Is that right, princess?"
"Yeah, it is, Willy, because I can't see how anyone could find you attractive."
"I'm sure, Betty. You look like you're as easy as they come, pet, which is prolly the only reason you ever get any male attention. You have- stupid, stupid hair, and stupid clothes, and a stupid mouth! You are stupid, a stupid dumb blonde!" William yelled back, his words lame, but still hurting Buffy's pride. Their argument caught the attention of the group in the next room, and the crowd walking to the sound of the yelling, and stopped in the kitchen doorway to investigate. They were met with the two blondes facing off, faces angry and eyes harsh, their stances defensive and unyielding.
"Fuck you, William! Go buy some more hair gel and another Rob Zombie t-shirt!"
"Go get an actual IQ! Your credit card and shopping experiences don't count as educational teachings. Wait, I hear someone calling. Oh sorry, it's just the bloody store, cause they've never seen you away from it more than five minutes!"
"Yeah right, English. Go back to you damn home country, you conceited bastard!"
"Oh I would, but you big fake blonde head is blocking the way!"
"Me? Fake blonde? Look at you, Peroxide-Boy! How many times have you seen the bottom of a container of bleach?"
"Shut up! My soddin' hair looks good!"
"Yeah, it would if we were in the eighties and Billy Idol was still in!"
"Fuck you!"
"Fuck you more!"
"Fuck you the most!"
"Fuck you the mostest!"
"Fuck you around the bleedin' world!"
"Fuck you to infinity! Ha, beat that, Blondie!"
"Argh!"
With an angry growl, William turned on his heel and stomped out the door, pushing past his surprised parents and Cordy's friends. His mouth was formed into a snarl, his eyes hard and angry, and soon his footsteps could be heard going up the stairs. Buffy was left fuming in the middle of the kitchen, arms crossed. Muttering angrily, she stalked out the opposite way, the front door slamming as she left the huge house. Everyone was left in an awkward, stunned silence, even Cordelia, who always had something to say. Finally, Cordelia's mom walked over to the counter, picking up a half filled bottle of Champagne. Holding it up, she smiled weakly, eyes narrowed.
"Anyone else want another drink?"
*To be continued.
A/n: Yeah, that was a weird beginning. But, whatever, it'll all get worked out. Remember, this is a B/S fiction, even though Riley is Buffy's boyfriend (gag, puke, hurl twice). So, please review, because the more reviews then the faster the next chapter comes (actually, that's a lie. The next chapter will come whenever it's damn well ready, okay? Sorry, a little tense from writing Buffy/Riley mush. Once again, can I barf now or later?) If anyone has any requests for the story or the characters, then send 'em my fucking way. Thanx everyone.