Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or anything affiliated with it. The only thing I own is my character Val and her family. Thank you!
Chapter 2
I was somewhere new yet familiar all at the same time. I looked around and saw dozens of people dancing and laughing. Somewhere close by there was live music playing but it was muffled. If I didn't know any better I would say I was at the Bronze but that was impossible. Buffy might have shown up in my world but I highly doubt an entire building could appear too. "Hey Willow! Xander!" I looked over my shoulder and saw Buffy walking over to two of the Scooby gang. (What on earth is going on? I don't remember seeing this in the show. Maybe my mind is just running amok with reality turning upside down.) "Come on Val!" My head snapped up to see Buffy waving me over and the others smiling at me. I walked over and waved slightly. "Hey." "Hey Val, what's up? You look like you've seen a ghost." "Nothing Will, I just got lost in a train of thought is all." Xander grinned and slapped me on the back. "Well how 'bout a dance to get the mind back on the fun train." I laughed and nodded. "Well I don't supposed it could…." Before I could even finish I was being pulled by the behemoth that is Xander across the room to the dance floor. Willow and Buffy quickly followed suit.
After a couple songs I excused myself to grab a drink. On my way to the bar I bumped into someone. "Shit, I'm sorry!" I looked up to see a blonde man about half a foot taller than me staring down at me. (Oh, geez. The Billy Idol look does good things for him, and those eyes. Yesh!) "Well hello there. Do I know you?" I shook my head. "Uh no, absolutely not." "Best be on your way love. Next fella you bump into might not be so kind." He winked as I decided against the drink and headed back to the gang. I hadn't made it two steps before I heard a loud beeping, and felt something on my shoulder.
"Val, hey Val come on wake up!" I jumped and my eyes flew open as I felt my shoulders being shook. "Huh? Wha? I'm up, I'm up!" I pulled myself into a sitting position, and looked at Buffy. "Please tell me I'm in my bed in LA." Buffy just quirked her head to one side and laughed. "Where else would you be? I'm the world jumper haha." "I suppose heh. I just had a super weird dream. I guess my mind is just on overload." (I wonder who that guy was, oh well.) "Well it is already 11 so I think we should get moving." "Right, we should get changed, grab some food, and go shopping!" Buffy just laughed at me and nodded. "Sounds good to me, but do you think you could spare another change of clothes?" "Sure thing!" I jumped out of bed and headed to my closet. "Feel free to grab anything you like I don't mind." I grabbed a pair of dark wash jeans and a purple v-neck tee before heading to the bathroom. When I came back out Buffy had already changed into a grey skirt with light pink button up shirt. "Nice outfit, I love that skirt. Let's go grab some food." I grabbed my wallet and leather jacket of the chair by my desk, and we headed downstairs.
As we made our way to the kitchen I spotted my mom and little brother sitting on the living room couch watching cartoons. "Hey mom, Vinny." My little bro waved from his spot on the couch. "Hiya Val." "You're not even gonna look at us?" I waited a minute till a commercial started and watched as Vinny jumped onto the couch cushion and looked at us. "Hiiiiiii, are you Buffy? My mom said I couldn't wake Val up cause she was having a sleepover. You're pretty!" Buffy just laughed and I rolled my eyes. "Yes I'm Buffy, and thank you." "You girls sleep well?" "Yes mom." "Good. Would you like me to make you two something to eat?" "That's okay mom, we can fend for ourselves." "Alright." They went back to watching tv as Buffy and I continued on.
"What do you feel like, breakfast or lunch?" "Hmmmm how about waffles?" I turned to see Buffy holding a box of toaster waffles. "Good idea, quick, tasty, and somewhat nutritious." I popped a few in the toaster and grabbed us some orange juice. "So, Buffy are there any particular stores you'd like to go to? I'm sure they're the same as back home." "Any will do. If we just go to a mall I'm sure I can find a new wardrobe." I just nodded as our breakfast popped up. Placing them on plates I handed Buffy hers, and we sat down to enjoy. As soon as we finished we started to head out the door. "Bye mom, we're going to the mall. We'll be back later." "Alright hun. Try to be back by dinner." "Will do." We headed to the car and towards shopping land!
It was about an hour until Buffy pointed out a mall she just had to go to. "Oh my gosh, it's been forever since I shopped at a proper mall!" I found a parking spot and fought to keep up with her Slayer speed. "Buffy, wait up!" She stopped at the doors and grinned sheepishly at me. "Sorry Val. I just got a little excited." As I got closer she frowned. "Is it terrible I'm not freaking out about getting home, but I'm excited about being normal? Even if it is only for a little while?" "No, and honestly I would probably act the same. You live a crazy life, and deserve a little break." After going from store to store for three hours I needed a break, and decided to meet Buffy at the food court. "Hey Buff?" "Yeah?" "Do you mind if I head to the food court? I'll stay there until you're ready. I'll even take some of the bags to the car." "Oh, sure. I'll try not to take too much longer." "You're fine, I'll see ya soon." I took our first round of bags to the car and headed back to the food court to grab a smoothie and chill. While waiting for Buffy I decided to go relax in one of the massage chairs nearby. I must have been worn out because soon I was back in a dreamscape that felt all too real.
I stood by a metal column and looked at my friends laughing and dancing. Our group had changed since last time. Where was Angel? Even Cordelia was gone and there was a new blonde girl standing rather close to Xander. (What is going on? Is my mind just getting carried away?) I felt a hand go around my waist and a deep voice whisper in my ear. "Hello love. Why aren't you out there dancing?" I rolled my eyes and somehow I knew what to say. "Why do you care? Shouldn't you be with Harmony discussing Unicorns or something?" I heard the voice behind me scoff as his hand tightened. "You and I both no I don't have any bloody feeling for that twit. She simply makes for a good pet or lackey. Likes to give a good scratch now and then." "Ew! That just makes it so much easier to ignore you." "Come on love you know I'd rather get comfy with you than her." "I really don't care. Besides I have better things to do than be second best especially to the enemy." I went to pull away. Before I got a two feet away I was spun back around. I stared into cool blue eyes as I heard him whisper. "You're never second… in anything." I watched him get closer….
"Have a nice nap?" "Huh?" I looked up to see a smiling Buffy with her arms once again full of shopping bags. "I guess I didn't realize just how tired I was. What time is it?" Buffy just laughed and pulled me out of the chair. "Five thirty or so. Time to head back I guess?" "Yeah, mom wanted us back for dinner." The two of us started to make our way to the car when Buffy stopped and put a hand on my arm. "Val, are you ok?" "Yeah, why?" "You just seem out of it." "I just had a weird dream. My mind is on overload and being way to active." (How can I tell her that I keep having dreams of her friends? Are they glimpses of what is happening in her world? Or perhaps glimpses of the future?) "Well if you need to talk I'm here. This whole adventure is new to both of us. We have to stick together." I just nodded as we continued on to the car and started our ride back home.
Thank goodness Buffy has her super strength or it would've taken forever to get all of our bags inside. A passerby would think we robbed an entire store. "We're home!" "Oh good! Once you put your things away you girls can set the table and start putting things out." We quickly tossed the bags in my room and went back downstairs. Vinny was still in the living room but instead of watching cartoons he was playing a video game. "Hey squirt have you done anything besides sit in front of the tv?" "Yeah, I ate lunch in the kitchen earlier and rode bikes with Bobby for a bit." "At least you got your vitamin D." I rolled my eyes and moved on. As we made it to the kitchen we witnessed the cooking fury that I call mom. "Perfect timing girls! Go ahead and start readying the table while I finish up in here." "Alrighty." I handed Buffy the placemats and silverware while I grabbed plates and glasses. "Buffy go ahead and start putting down the mats. I'll be right behind you." After we got the table set we started taking out the side dishes. It was like clockwork the way my mom pulled lasagna out of the oven right as my dad walked through the front door. "Honey, I'm home!" Buffy laughed and gave me a goofy smile. "Does your dad always act like this? Are your sure you aren't the fictional character?" I just stuck my tongue out at her. "No, he must have had a good day." We watched in embarrassed horror as my dad handed my mother a bouquet of red carnations and kissed her cheek. "You my dear are amazing, and your timing impeccable." We started coughing as my parents looked up and rolled their eyes at us. "Vinny! It is time for dinner. Come wash your hands." "Buuuuuuut dad, I'm almost to the next level." "Now Vinny. I have no doubt you will finish your game, but not right this moment. Come on." Vinny came running in sliding across the tile floor in his socks. Crashing into dad Buffy and I couldn't contain ourselves from the laughter that bubbled up. Shaking her head my mom let out a small laugh, and watched my dad pull him and my brother up. "Go on you two. Have a seat and we'll be there in a minute." I just nodded and grabbed a pitcher of water to sit on the dining table.
A few minutes later the rest of my family joined us and we started dinner. Picking up a slice of garlic bread my dad looked at Buffy. (Gulp, this might be a problem.) "So Buffy tell us about yourself. We didn't get to talk to you much last night." Buffy smiled and put down her fork. "Well I'm originally from LA. I moved away a little further up north. My mom and I just moved back this last semester. Hopefully I'll be able to finish out high school before I move again." My dad nodded happy with her answer. (Wow, and to think she isn't event stretching the truth that much. We might not have anything to worry about.) I decided to turn our conversation away from Buffy. "So dad how was work? Anything exciting?" "Pretty uneventful. Couple minor accidents but nothing too bad." The next several minutes were quite as we continued eating. Once we were finished Buffy and I helped mom clear the table. My dad helped Vinny wash dishes. Chores is this house start young haha. As we were putting leftovers away my mom decided to put in her two cents worth of conversation. "So what will you girls be doing this summer? Any plans?" We just shrugged. "Typical teenagers, no plans haha." "I'm sure there is plenty of beach time in our future mom." She smiled and nodded at my belated answer. "Just make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen." Once everything was cleaned and put away we decided to head to my room and start making sense of the mess of bags we left up there. "Oh, Buffy?" "Yes Mrs. Grey?" "I just wanted to tell you the guest room is ready for you hun." "Okay, thank you."
After sorting our bags I helped Buffy take her wardrobe to her new room. "Wow." "Glad you like it. Looks like mom out did herself redoing the home room while we were gone. She even put in a tv, dang." "It's amazing!" Buffy spun around and gave me a bear hug. "You guys are unbelievable! I'm so glad I met you!" She pulled back and just stare at me. "I will never forget anything you and you're family have done for me. You are so a part of the Scooby gang. Even if you aren't from my world." Her eyes were tearing up and I smiled. "It's no big, really Buffy. I gotta say I'm really glad you're not just a figment of my imagination haha. You're welcome here as long as you like." Buffy gave me another hug and pulled away. "I promise, I'll help you find a way home too." "Thanks." "Of course….. I know it's still kind of early but I think I'm gonna grab a book and read for a bit before hittin the hay." Buffy nodded. "Ok, I think I'll do the same; not read of course but watch tv. It's been a while since I could just stay in and veg." With our nights planned out we went our separate ways. I grabbed mystery novel from the shelf and lounged on my bed. (Alright Sherlock, let's see what mystery you solve tonight.)
The last thing I remember was reading Sherlock call Watson a nancy boy, and seeing the red numbers on my clock reading 12:25.