- Never knock on Death's door: ring the bell and run away! Death really hates that!
- Matt Frewer, as Dr. Mike Stratford in "Doctor, Doctor"
The sound was terrible, the wailing's of the dead languishing in agony. Xander desperately wanted to cover his ears and run but he knew he had to stay. He'd given his word and he refused to go back on it no matter what. Gritting his teeth, he continued to sit, hands ready to clap as soon as it was all over.
A hush fell over the seated crowd as the last hollow notes were played and then, just as the sound faded into to silence, the crowd began to applaud. A few of the of the heartier and deafer parents rising to their feet, whistling and calling to the children on stage.
And that was it. The two hour grade school talent show was over for another year. Xander cautiously got to his feet, determined not to be run down by any overzealous parents on their way to the stage. A quick check left and right to make all was clear and he bolted. Not really caring if the person behind him managed to follow.
An extra burst of speed saw him safely through the doors and into a side hallway free of adults and their offspring. He stopped running and leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he stared at the bulletin board across from him; little hand print turkeys plastered all over it, first grade print scrawled over each one. Xander had gone to school here, with Jesse and Willow, had done the paper turkeys and snow flakes; though for them it was more like turkey and snow flake looking things. They goofed around too much to really get it right. He chuckled underneath his breath as he remembered; school hadn't been dull with those two around.
Xander felt someone pull up beside him but didn't bother looking to see who it was; he already knew.
Lexis.
She was the entire reason he was there; her and that little pouty grin of hers. Not that it had taken much pouting to convince him to go with her when she'd asked. He was happy do being doing something outside of school with her but then again, she hadn't exactly told him what concert she wanted him to go to.
"You're terrible you know that," he said still starring at the bulletin board, "dragging unsuspecting me into that. I don't know how you can live with yourself."
"Oh come on it wasn't that bad," she playfully slapped his arm before resting her head in his shoulder.
Xander glanced down at the brunette next to him. He'd known her for three days but the way they got along it seem like so much longer. During school they ran into each other in the halls, had a few classes together and their lockers were even next to each other. She seemed to have forgiven him for almost staking her and they'd hit it off from there. He'd been excited when she brought up the subject of going to a concert together and had agreed with out getting all the details; half hoping that it meant that she wanted more then just friendship from him.
He adjusted his arm and she settled comfortably next to his body. "So why did you want to go to that anyway?"
"Oh I don't know," she leaned into him, one of her arms wrapping itself around his waist, "I just thought it would be cute."
"Cute." Only she would use that word to describe what had happened in there tonight. "That was not cute. That was the reason the itsy bitsy spider kept going up the water spout."
"Oh Xander," she laughed and pulled away from him, "Your crazy you know that right."
Lexis ran off before he could answer her with more then a grunt. He chased after her and soon they burst through the school doors and into the fading sunlight. The school had had the talent show before dark, giving everyone plenty of time to get safely home before any of the night creatures came out. He caught her in the middle of the half empty lot and spun her around; much to the amusement of the teachers and PTA members now getting into their cars.
"You know," Xander started when they had settled down, "My friends and I are going to be hanging out in the Library after school tomorrow and I thought you might like to join us. If you want to that is."
"Hanging out in the library on a Friday afternoon?" he shrugged meekly, "I'll see what I can do."
***~***
"Does this mean we finally get to meet your mystery woman." Buffy teased as she and the rest of the scoobies sat in the library after school the next day.
"I wouldn't really call her a mystery woman," Xander paced the floor in front of them, "I'm sure you've all seen her around school." At their blank faces continued, "You know tallish brunette, a bit on the curvyer side but very cute and a personality that's well…well…I guess you could describe it as quaint."
"Quaint," Giles' eyebrow rose, "I didn't realize it was that serious."
"What do you mean?"
Xander stopped pacing and turned to the old librarian, who just smiled and shook his head. "Nothing Xander." Giles frowned, "Did she happen to say how long she would be stopping by for because I don't know if you realized this or not but we're in the middle of our research and its not exactly something normal for her to walk in on."
"Point."
Giles rolled his eyes, shaking his head again as he disappeared into his office. A few of the other nodded and Willow opened her mouth to say something but before she could a cheerful hello came bursting through the doors.
Xander spun on the spot, a big goofy grin plastered to his face, "Lexis you made it."
"For a little while anyway," She smiled and nodded briefly to the others but her eyes were all for him, "Mr. Fisher called an emergency practice at four but he won't mind if I'm a little late." She held up a large case and patted the top of it confidently, "Me and this baby get along just fine without his help and he knows it."
"Mr. Fisher," Cordelia's eyes brightened as she spoke. "As in the Band teacher Mr. Fisher." She began to laugh lightly, "Oh that's rich the losers got himself a band geek. A match made in nerd heaven."
Xander looked indigent and opened his mouth to speak but Lexis beat him to it. "Ooh really mature." Lexis smirked at her, " You know your right. I am a band geek and darn proud of it. So I recommend not trying to annoy me or you'll find out what it's like to have a trumpet surgically removed from your ass."
Cordelia's laughter came to an instant halt as she gapped and then snapped her jaw shut, turning to stuff her nose in a book without another word. A few seconds later she blushed and turned the book right side up, ignoring the on slot of laughter that followed.
"I dare say what is so funnoh…" Giles returned from his office only to stop in his tracks, a weird look of shock on his face.
"Funnoh? Is that some type of breakfast cereal?" Buffy asked but her comment went unnoticed by her Watcher as he gapped at the students before him. Or rather the new girl in front of him.
"Nydia? Nydia Whitsohn" He crept a little closer. "Is that you…no it can't be. That's impossible."
"No Giles, Lexis, the girl I mentioned earlier." Xander glanced at the girl beside him, "Don't mind him he's just senile in his old age."
Lexis looked at the confounded Watcher and smiled, "It's okay Xander. I'm not surprised he got us confused. Nydia was my mother. Well, IS my mother."
"Of course your mother that makes perfect sense."
"Generally."
This wasn't where I was going to end the chapter originally but I like the note this played and decided to go with it. I hope it was okay. ^^
