"Jees. Wait. Who has a camera! She's smiling!" Buffy exclaimed as Katherine was greeted at her friend's house.
"Buffy!" Giles exclaimed.
"So sue me." She smiled wickedly, "Or kill me." She teased, making Matt smile a little.
"You never know, Giles here could be a mega killing machine who can use his bare finger tips to kill you with one touch." Matt smiled, letting his imagination go.
"He'd still have to touch me first." Buffy smiled.
"You laugh, but what happens if he did." Liam said suddenly.
Buffy shrugged, "Been there, didn't even get a T. Shirt." Her attention turned as the door to the car opened, leaving Liam confused.
"Rupert, Leanne's mum's asking if I can stay for dinner?"
"Um, yes, I suppose. What time are you thinking?"
"You could pick me up at half seven maybe?" she suggested politely.
Giles thought for a moment, looking at the clock and nodding. "Very well. Seven thirty sharp okay?"
"Thanks Rupert." She grinned, closing the door to the car without a slam and making her way to the house.
"Jekyll and Hide." Buffy said amazed.
"Did actually exist." Giles stated, looking in the rear view mirror.
"Yeah? He…they, still exist?"
"No. I believe someone killed them in the eighteenth century."
"Good." Buffy nodded, looking out of the window with close attention.
"Matt, I believe this is your drop off?" Giles asked.
"Yup. Thanks Giles. Time you pick me up?" he asked.
"It depends." He said, looking around to the back seat. "If they are okay with you staying for dinner, just before half past seven. If not, Buffy and I will be getting dinner anyway and you can join us."
"So…"
"Text me. Or phone." Buffy suggested.
"Cool. Thanks." Matt smiled, jumping out of the car and heading to the house.
"I presume he has your number?"
"Yup. It's all cool."
"So it seems." Giles nodded pleasantly surprised, "Liam, where are we heading?"
"Straight ahead, turn right and fourth left then right." He said automatically.
"Very well."
"It's really different from California, but it's much more quaint." Buffy said, standing at the fence on the promenade over the beach.
"It's very beautiful." Giles noted.
"You not wish you stayed on the coast?" She asked him seriously.
"No." he shook his head, "I've never been a coastal person. I was brought up in land." He explained.
Buffy nodded her head in understanding. "So. You wanted to talk?" she asked.
"Yes. About so many things." He smiled at her, "I've missed a great deal of time and I want a full catch up. Call me an old maid if you like. And of course to discuss Matt and his friends yesterday night." He explained.
"Cool. You want to grab a coffee and drink it on the beach?" she asked excited.
"Sounds wonderful." He grinned.
"Hey, check out the girl." Mark stated, nodding in the direction of Buffy and Giles.
"The blonde?" Liam asked, looking at his friend.
"Yeah. The blonde. I hardly mean the guy." He looked at Liam was smirking, while closely checking out the blonde who stood with skirt, vest top and summer sandals. Her sunglasses covered her eyes and helped keep her hair in place from the breeze which drifted along the beach and promenade. "You don't think they're going out do you? You know, sugar daddy style?" he asked, looking at the gent with dressed chino trousers with a white shirt rolled up to the elbows with the heat.
"No. I've asked already." Liam smiled, "That's Rupert who we're staying with, and Buffy his…I don't know, adoptive daughter or something."
"And you're complaining about staying there?" Mark asked amazed. "What, is she a total cow?"
Liam shook his head, "No actually. She's really nice." He looked at his friend.
"You got the hots for her?" he grinned.
"Who wouldn't?" Liam shrugged smirking, "She's gorgeous. I saw her coming out of the shower this morning in her towel. Katherine went ballistic at her for making her brothers drool all the time." He paused, "She's a total hero to Matt too. She treats him really well. She despises Katherine though."
"Why? Cause she's in her way of getting you two wrapped around her finger?"
"No, just because Katherine's been…." Liam shrugged. "Really angry all the time. She's been really harsh to Matt and she makes Rupert's life really hard. She moans and shouts all the time. Buffy just gets pissed off and leaves the room or house and tells her she's not answerable to her."
"Katherine's not normally like that." Mark said frowning.
"She has been since the accident. Really bad." Liam frowned. "I'm hoping she comes round. Otherwise I'm frightened Rupert will have enough." "He wouldn't would he?" Mark asked seriously.
Liam shrugged, "Only Matt's eligible for care. We're both over sixteen, so he could throw us out on the street anytime if he wants, though he's signed our guardian slips for the school and that."
"Come and stay at mine if you do okay?" Mark said seriously.
Liam smiled and nodded, "Cheers mate." He patted his shoulder.
"You going to introduce me?" Mark said, nodding as the two previously under question made towards their direction.
"Hey Liam." Buffy smiled at him as they got closer.
"Liam." Rupert smiled gingerly and nodded.
"Hey." He nodded, "Um, this is Mark. Mark, this is Buffy and Rupert."
"Nice to meet you." Mark smiled.
"What you guys up to?" Buffy asked, hiding behind her sunglasses as she ran her eyes up and down both boys.
"Heading to the pub. You want to join us?" Mark offered.
Buffy smiled, pulling her glasses up on top of her head, "No thanks, I don't drink. Giles and I were just going to grab a coffee and catch up."
"Thank you for the offer though boys." Rupert said sincerely.
"No problem. See you later?" Liam asked relieved.
"Yes." Giles nodded, following Buffy towards the coffee shop.
Mark turned and watched them leave, before looking at Liam in amazement. "You never said she was American and TOTALLY hot!"
Liam smiled at him, walking away towards the pub.
"Giles, he'll be fine." Buffy soothed.
"Are you sure? I mean your alcohol experiences don't exactly fill me with confidence."
"We're not on the hell mouth Giles." She smiled, "And if he does come back a drunken mess then you just ground him for life and he can join his sister. When the only one allowed out is the fifteen year old, they'll get the message."
"The fifteen year old who now knows about vampires." Giles said sadly.
"Hey, I was like, that age when I got called." Buffy said. "And when he was worried he'd hallucinated those vamps disappearing I couldn't really lie to him, not with his friend getting bit."
"I understand, I just wish he didn't have to get dragged into it. He seems a decent chap."
"Chap?" Buffy smiled, "Oh welcome back English vocabulary!"
"He's fifteen Buffy!"
"And he'll get over it, or under it, or however it goes." She said. "It's not as if there's a big population here. You said that yourself."
"Yes." Giles nodded, frowning. "He wants to see in your room, at my books and equipment."
"Are you going to let him?"
"Yes. I said I would. I said I'd wait until you were there so I didn't invade your privacy and you could perhaps help explain." He said with hope in his voice.
"Sure." She smiled at him, "We can do that. Just have to get rid of the other two, unless you want to break it to them too?"
"No." Giles shook his head, "They'll find out in their own time."
"They might accuse you of hiding stuff from them or lying to them." Buffy said gently.
"Not now. Maybe later if the current arrangements work out."
"Rupert, Buffy's drooling on my shoulder." Matt said quietly, looking at the blonde's head which was leaning on his shoulder in the back of the car.
"Let her sleep a little please Matt." Giles asked.
"Okay." He said grumpy.
"Angel, take a picture on your camera." Katherine smiled at him. Angel saw the playfulness in her face and pulled out his phone, clicking the image of sleeping beauty.
"I take it everyone's day was successful?"
There was a chorus of yes in the car.
"Rupert, when can we go back again?" Katherine asked hopefully.
"I was thinking perhaps two weekends time?" he said, glancing in his back mirror. "Would that be a problem?"
"No." She smiled lighter than normal, "I was wondering if Leanne could come up for a weekend though?"
"And Daniel." Matt chipped in hopefully.
"I asked first." Katherine stated hopefully.
"I'll consider it." Giles said carefully. Seeing the argumentative and disappointed faces in the back of the car, he elaborated, "I have nothing against the idea, I'm just worried about the space in the house while Buffy's here."
At the mention of her name, Buffy cuddled into Matt's arm further, making Katherine laugh. "Got your dream Matt." She smiled. Matt scowled at her a little, before looking down at the blonde hair which swept over his arm and shoulder.
"Rupert, can we have friends up? Please?" Matt asked.
"I'll think about it Matthew. We don't even have a spare camp bed as Buffy's using it." He tried to explain.
"I have a double bed; Leanne won't mind sleeping in the same bed as me, we do it all the time." Katherine added. Giles frowned and looked in the rear view mirror.
"Are you gay Katherine?"
Everyone in the car burst out laughing, wakening Buffy and annoying Giles. "It was a serious question!"
"No Rupert, I'm not gay." Katherine said embarrassed.
"It's okay if you are." Buffy noted, "My best friend and one of Giles' good friends are gay." She yawned.
"How are Willow and Kennedy?"
"Good. Kennedy's a bit….Kennedy." Buffy screwed up her face. "But Willow seems pretty happy." She looked at Giles, reading the question on his lips, "No, not that happy." She said sadly, looking out the window thinking of Tara. There was a moment of silence in the car.
"So Angel, did you see Kara?" Katherine asked. Buffy noticed that Matthew's eyes landed on his brother at the same time as his sister's.
"Yes."
"And?" Katherine asked.
"And nothing." He said pointedly. Matthew leant forward, looking at Katherine who shrugged her shoulders.
"Did you speak to her?" Matthew tried.
"Yeah." He said sarcastically.
"SO?" Katherine asked. "Spit it out. What's happening between you?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing nothing or something nothing?" Buffy asked, "What!" she asked as all eyes landed on her, "Everyone knows there's two different nothings." She shrugged. "Consider me silenced." She mumbled, slouching back into her seat with her arms crossed and mouth pouted and staying quiet.
"Nothing as in nothing. If you must know, she's seeing Mark."
"As in your best friend Mark? That's sick!" Katherine exclaimed. There was silence in the car as Katherine tried to think of something sensible to say and Matt looked uncomfortable. "Sorry Angel." Matthew eventually said.
"She was never good enough for you anyway." Katherine noted.
"You liked her." Angel accused.
"So, doesn't mean I like her now. After what she's done."
Buffy smiled at the girl's strong alliance, reminding her a little of Dawn.
"We weren't going out." He shrugged, trying to sound more manly, "And to be honest, I don't think she likes Mark that much."
"So you're going back to her?" Katherine asked confused.
"No. I just don't see them lasting either."
"You'll get a new girl at the new school Angel. The girls are better looking in your year than back home." Matthew said matter of fact.
"You think?" Katherine asked.
"Sure. Have you seen the hockey team? And the girls that hang out in the corner of the social area?"
"You have a girl's hockey team?" Buffy asked confused.
"Field hockey Buffy, not ice hockey." Giles explained.
"Oh." Buffy blushed, slouching back into her seat.
"You have that dance though don't you?" Matthew asked. "The back from summer dance." He looked at Buffy, "The fifth and sixth form kids have a formal dance a few weeks back after the summer. The juniors don't have one."
"Thank goodness." Katherine complained.
"I'm not going." Liam said shrugging.
"Just because Kara went off with Mark? You could get any girl you wanted to go with you." Matthew said confidently. "Especially at the new school. You're the new hot guy. I heard the girls speaking about it in the corridor."
"Can we please change the subject?" Liam asked annoyed, running his hand through his hair.
"Okay. Buffy, you drooled on Matt's new T Shirt." Katherine smiled. Buffy looked at her, confused at the teasing smile on her face. Turning to look at Matt, the boy blushed as she saw her drool stain.
"Sorry Matt." She said apologetically.
"It's okay. The guys back home loved my new jeans and T Shirt." He smiled. "They're jealous."
"Buffy!" Giles came into her room, making her stir in her sleep. "We're off to school."
"K." she mumbled.
"How was patrol?" he asked quietly.
"Fine. Found one." She mumbled.
"We'll be back about four. If you want to pop down, ask for me at reception."
"K." she moaned. Giles shook his head, closing the door behind her to her room.
"She okay?" Liam asked as Giles came back into the lounge.
"Buffy in the morning is never what I would describe as fine." He complained. "Car, all of you, please." He said, heading for the front door.
"Hi. I'm here to see Mr Giles." Buffy asked politely at reception. The woman who looked back at her was around fifty, with grey, short hair, but kind eyes and a warm smile.
"Can I ask who is asking for him?"
"Buffy. He's kinda expecting me." She tried as a sudden flow of students walked past her in school shirt and tie.
"Just wait here a moment and I'll phone his office okay?" she asked. "Sure." Buffy smiled and nodded, turning her back on the office hatch as she watched the pupils wander past. She turned and looked back through the hatch at the office as she drummed her fingers on the desk.
"Hey. Can I help you?" asked a young man. Buffy looked up at the blonde shaggy hair and the piercing blue eyes.
"Thanks, but I think the women in the office have it under control."
She saw a spark in the boy's eyes, "Are you American."
"Yeah. I am." She smiled politely.
"Where abouts?"
"California." She smiled. "A town a couple of hours from LA." She smiled.
"Buffy?" Came another voice. Buffy turned to see Liam standing at the other side of her.
"Hey." She smiled at him, frowning a little at the frown on his own face.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
"Sure." She nodded smiling gently, "I was just waiting for the receptionist to phone Giles."
"Miss?"
"Speak of the woman." She smiled at the two boys and turned back to the window.
"Mr Giles is expecting you. Perhaps one of these boys could show you to the library?" she asked, looking at the two seniors.
"Thank you." Buffy smiled. "Liam? Will you show me where the library is please? Unless you're too busy or something?" she asked frowning a little.
"I'll show you." He said softly, still staring at her.
"Thanks." She turned to the other guy, "And nice meeting you." She smiled. "Andrew." He said extending his hand for a hand shake.
"Andrew." She smiled. Letting go of his hand, she turned back to Liam who was patiently waiting for her.
"How's your day going?" she asked calmly.
Liam shrugged, glancing down at her, "Okay."
"Is this change of class?" she asked looking around her at the students who moved about around her.
"No, break." He explained.
"Okay." She said, walking along in silence at the side of him.
"Buffy!" Buffy turned and smiled as she saw Matt jogging towards them.
"Hey Matt. How's it going?"
"Good." He smiled. "I have PE next."
"PE?" She asked, looking at Liam for help.
"Physical Education." Matt tried, "You know, exercise?"
"Gym?"
"Gym." Matt smiled. The young boy turned as he heard his name shouted. They all looked up at Max and Donald who stood down the corridor. "I got to go."
"No problems." She smiled, giving the boys down the corridor a wave before she turned and followed Liam once more.
"It's just down here." He said, pointing down the corridor.
"Cool, well you can leave me if you want. I'm sure I'll get there." She said politely.
"It's fine." He said shrugging, taking her down the corridor. At the bottom of the corridor he held the door open for her as she thanked him and went inside. Looking around, she walked over and jumped up onto the worktop counter at reception.
"Giles?" She shouted. She smiled as the familiar man appeared from the middle of bookshelves.
"Always with the books huh?" she joked.
"In general, it is what a librarian does Buffy." He said seriously, taking off his glasses and cleaning them.
"Cool. You on your break too? I bumped into Liam here and he showed me the way after the say so from reception."
"Thank you Liam." Giles smiled at him. "How is your day so far?"
"The usual." He sighed, putting his bag down on the table.
"Oh." Giles frowned slightly.
"I take it the usual's not good?" Buffy asked, looking between them.
"Liam's finding it difficult to fit in…a little." Giles stated hastily.
"Huh." Buffy frowned, looking at the man in front of her and looking him up and down. Jumping off of her worktop, she walked over, taking his tie in her hands and loosening the knot a little, then un buttoning the top shirt button. Frowning a little, she picked up his arms and un buttoned his cuffs, rolling them up to his elbows and finally stood on her tiptoes and stretched to ruffled up his hair a bit. "Better." She nodded. "Comfier?" she asked. Liam looked down into her eyes and nodded. Getting lost in his deep brown eyes, she coughed and turned back to see Giles. "I don't suppose you have juice here?"
"No." he smiled at her. "However, there are cartons or cans in a vending machine or the canteen I think."
"Cool. Liam, you show me where to go? Or I can wander around, I'm not fussy." She shrugged.
"I'll show you." He said lightly.
