Part Three
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Willow Rosenberg trudged her way down the sidewalk to school. She was barely going to arrive in time. Xander Harris came by most mornings to walk with her to school. Not this morning. He hadn't shown up. Didn't even call, she pouted.
Nearing school, a familiar car caught Willow's eye. Buffy. Her mother stopped in the midst of the school buses to let her out. As Willow drew closer, she could see Buffy struggling to get several posters out of the back seat. The homework from the other night, Willow remembered. Buffy had to give some kind of presentation in history today.
Xander leapt down the stairs to the car. He took the posters from Buffy's hands before she could say a thing. Willow stopped still on the sidewalk and stared. Xander was never early to school. He always timed his arrival, and therefore hers, with the bell. He must have gone early just for the chance to carry a couple of posters for Buffy from the street to the building.
Willow rolled her head back and looked at the sky for a moment. He never did anything like that for her. Will he ever notice me? she thought. Looking again towards Buffy and Xander, she watched them go into the school together. Buffy was laughing at something Xander was saying. And Xander, she noted was all but knocking people down because he wasn't watching where he was going. His eyes were on Buffy.
Willow dropped her head and started walking again. Why shouldn't he keep his eyes on Buffy? She had great clothes, those boots and wonderful hair. Willow tugged lightly at one side of her long hair. Her long straight hair. It just sat there. Sighing, she went up the stairs and into the building.
Great, she thought, I'm just starting the day and already I'm depressed. Lost in thought, Willow bumped into somebody hard.
"Watch it, nerd!" Cordelia Chase shouted. Startled, Willow jumped back. Cordelia stood over her purse and a scattering of loose cosmetics. "If any of these are broken..." she was saying.
"Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you," Willow stammered. She bent to pick up Cordelia's belongings. "Let me help you get them."
"I so don't think so," Cordelia snapped. "Just get your nerd hands away from me." Behind her, the gaggle of Cordelia wannabe's talked over each other in order to be the first to agree with Cordelia.
"Yeah, back nerd girl...Maybe she wants to steal one...It'll take more than that to fix her lame-o looks..."
Willow stood silent for a moment, listening to their insults, then moved on around them. Heading down the hall, she tried to tune out the voices that called out to her as she left. Mercifully, a corner presented itself and she turned it. Stopping by a water fountain, she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Could this day get any worse?
The bell began to ring.
Now I'm late, Willow realized. Well, one question answered.
* * *
First period over, Willow hurried toward the library. Buffy saw her from a distance and called out, but Willow pretended not to hear. She was in a hurry and besides, she was into her depression at the moment.
It wasn't Buffy's fault Xander ignored her. Buffy just reminded her that Xander seemed to chase after just about every girl that wasn't Willow.
I should time my brooding, Willow thought. Given the funk I'm in I think maybe I could best Owen. In spite of her mood, she smiled at the thought. Owen was a sensitive, brooding boy that most of the girls in school swooned over. Of course he paid no attention to them, making them desire him all the more. To the shock of many, especially Cordelia, Owen had actually taken his nose from a book long enough to take out Buffy on a date. He'd almost been killed by vampire, and he later professed his attraction to the danger of it all. For his own safety, Buffy had been forced to make their first date their only date. Owen had once more retreated to reading poetry. Of course I'm too busy to sit around reading Emily Dickinson all day like he does, Willow told herself.
Reaching the library, she pushed quickly through the double doors and went right to the checkout counter. She swung her backpack onto the counter and opened it. "Giles," she called out, "I've got some printouts for you." She pulled a thick bunch of papers from the backpack and set it down on the counter.
Giles came out of his office wiping his glasses with a cloth. "Oh good," he said. He put his glasses on and reached for the papers. "Was there anything of note?"
Willow nodded. "I think so. Two panel portraits were stolen just last week in Texas. At sundown some guy took them out of a university museum. The police think he was on PCP or something because he jumped off a balcony and ran through a glass door."
"Hmm, that sounds like a vampire." Giles stood for a moment in thought. "A brazen vampire at that."
Willow took her backpack off the counter and turned to go.
"I guess I'll see you at lunch then," Giles said. "We'll get these sorted and..."
Willow spun around. "Maybe I have plans for lunch. Just because I don't have boys chasing me like Buffy or I'm not off carrying posters for people doesn't mean I don't have anything else to do." Willow stood for a moment with a look at frustration on her face.
Giles stood speechless for a moment. "Oh...I'm sorry. That was terribly presumptuous of me. If you get a chance to stop by..." Giles paused, looking at Willow, then hurried to continue. "Whenever that may be, of course, I would be grateful." He held up the printouts. "As I already am. Grateful, that is."
Willow looked down at her feet and fidgeted. She bit her lip for a second then raised her head back up. "Um, I don't have any plans. I'll see you at lunch," she whispered. She turned and fled the room.
Giles stared after her for a few seconds, then shook his head in confusion. Gripping the printouts, he returned to his office.
* * *
Willow sat at one of the tables in the school courtyard eating her lunch quickly. She was just finishing when Xander and Buffy found her.
"Hey Will," Xander called. "We were going to eat with you, but it looks like you're done already. What's with the speed feed?"
"Library. Giles." Willow said through a mouthful of sandwich. She waved her hand vaguely. "Research."
Buffy sat down next to her. "I know you guys will find out what this is about. I really don't like the idea that my mom's gallery might have something that vampires want."
"At least they're not normally into art and stuff," Xander said. "Did you see the junk Angel had in his apartment? What kind of crap was that?"
Buffy looked at him. "Anyway, I want to get whatever they want out of the gallery and away from my mom." She turned to Willow. "If you can find out which picture things are the ones they are after, then we can get them out of there."
Willow nodded. Finishing her soda, she stood to leave.
"Is something the matter?" Buffy asked.
Willow's eyes darted to Xander then came back to Buffy. "No. I just have a lot to do."
"Are you sure? Maybe I should come help you."
Willow shook her head. "That's okay. I'll see you guys in class."
As Willow walked slowly away, Buffy hit Xander in the shoulder. "Ow!" he cried. "What did I do?" Buffy glared at him. "What, should I go help her? I'm no good at that stuff. I'd just be in the way."
"I think maybe Willow wants some company," Buffy said. "Let's eat then go sit with her."
Xander gave Buffy an exasperated look, then said, "Alright, we'll go sit with Willow. Jeez, I don't get what the deal is." He started eating.
Buffy just looked at him. No, she thought sadly, you don't.
* * *
Willow sat at the table, flipping through the pages of a large art book. Spread out around the book were printouts from newspaper articles. The pictures showed a variety of stolen panel portraits. Chewing on her hair, Willow leaned down toward the book. It seemed as if the stolen portraits were similar, but figuring out how seemed to be just beyond her grasp. She leaned down so far that her nose was almost touching one of the pictures. She almost had it...
"Excuse me," a voice said.
"Eeek!" Willow shrieked.
A young man stood in front of Willow by the long table. He started at Willow's outburst and stepped back. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you."
Willow stood silent, embarrassment on her face. "That's okay," she managed. "What are you looking for? Are you a teacher..." She looked him over. He had sandy blond hair, dark brown eyes and friendly face. He was also dressed like a teacher-slacks, nice shirt, tie-but he didn't look old enough, maybe twenty-two at the most. He was rather cute, though.
"A teacher? No, I'm here to see Rupert Giles. Is he around?"
Giles came from office. "Stephen Allinson?" The young man turned to him and nodded. "I'm very glad to meet you." Sticking his hand out, he added, "I'm Rupert Giles."
"It's a pleasure," Stephen said. He waved his hand toward a large suitcase back by the library entrance. "I went ahead and brought my materials straight here."
"Excellent," said Giles. His eyes sparkled with excitement. "Having so many primary sources must make your research a real treat."
"It helps, but there are a few gaps. I don't have many works on the Slayer..." Stephen paused and glanced at Willow.
"It's okay," Giles explained. "Willow Rosenberg knows about the Slayer. She helps me a great deal with research"
Stephen turned to Willow and extended his hand. "I'm pleased to meet you Willow. I'm sorry I startled you."
Smiling, Willow replied, "That's okay. Uh, what kind of books do you have?"
"Books, books, books," Xander said loudly. He and Buffy came into the library. "One day Willow, your addiction is going to get you into trouble. Admitting you have a problem is the first step."
Giles, with a touch of irritation, said to Stephen, "This is Xander Harris and Buffy Summers. Buffy is the Slayer, Xander is... Um, Buffy and Xander, meet Stephen Allinson." Rubbing his hands together, Giles went to get the suitcase. "I suppose you are eager to just dive in and get to work. What is it exactly that you need my help with?"
"There are several gaps in my great-great-grandfather's diaries. Most of them are from the time he spent with Natalia, the Slayer at that time. I was hoping that the Watcher Diaries you have can fill some of the holes."
Giles nodded, "Yes, I thought it might be something like that. I've brought the relevant volumes here...actually I brought them all." He gestured to his office. "Would you like to..."
"Actually, I'm pretty tired," Stephen said. "I've been digging through those things," he waved his arm to the suitcase, "so much the last few weeks I'm going nuts. If possible, I'd like to take the evening off and rest up. We could start early tomorrow, though." He stifled a yawn. "Help yourself to the material, though. I keep my notes simple and clean, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting started."
Giles stood holding the suitcase like a child with a Christmas present. "Oh, rest up. Yes, that would be fine. I'll see you tomorrow then. Buffy, maybe you and Xander could..." he motioned to Stephen.
"What about my mom's gallery?" Buffy asked.
"Oh my," Giles said. He put his hand to his forehead. "How could I forget. There is an art show at the local gallery, run by Buffy's mother, which has a number of panel portraits in it. Willow has been studying the stolen paintings to try and find a link that could help us. We'd like to see if any of these in the show are involved."
Stephen's face clouded with doubt. "Do you really think it would be here? I mean the odds of it..." he trailed off. He furrowed his brow, then continued, "Then again, Sunnydale is the Hellmouth, after all. But coincidences like this are more in line with unfolding prophecies and such, and there are no mentions of this being related to any prophecy."
Buffy put her hands on her hips. "Well, I want to be sure. If one of these paintings is there, then it puts my mom and all of us in danger."
"Yes, yes," said Giles. "Perhaps we should go to the gallery and look at them."
"Hey," said Xander, "don't you think your mom will think it's a little odd if the school librarian and all of us show up, during school no less, to check this stuff out?"
"You mean your mother doesn't know about you?" Stephen asked Buffy.
"No, and I'd like to keep it that way."
Stephen put his hand up in front of him, "Fine, fine. I don't want to be any trouble."
"Buffy, that show you mentioned, it is tomorrow evening, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll all go and look them over. That will give us time to try and find a way to determine if any of them are involved." Giles looked at Stephen for a moment, then back to Buffy. "Why don't we let Stephen rest up, and we'll meet back here tomorrow morning."
Stephen glanced at Xander before speaking to Buffy. "What is there to do on a Friday night around here? I need to take a nap, but afterwards it might be nice to do something relaxing."
"What do you do to relax?" Buffy asked.
"Do we dare ask?" Xander muttered, his eyes on the suitcase of books.
Stephen shrugged "Oh, I don't know. Something with a lot of people. I'm a little stir crazy. It would be nice to go out someplace."
Buffy thought for a moment. Having him around might be weird. Still, she should be nice. "Why don't you come to the Bronze with us tonight. It's the only decent club in town." Looking him over, she hesitated. "Uh, maybe you're a little old for that kind of thing."
Stephen laughed. "No, I still like that sort of thing." He turned to Willow. "Will you be coming? I'd like the chance to make up for scaring you like that."
Willow stood speechless for a second. "Me? Uh, okay, sure," Willow said.
Stephen smiled at her, then turned to leave. "What time should we meet there?"
"How about eight o'clock," Buffy said. "Maybe I should give you directions."
"If it's the only nightclub in town, I think I'll be able to find it. Now I'd like to sleep off some of this jetlag." Stephen turned to Giles. "I'm at the Holiday Inn, room 224." To the others, "I'll see you at eight then." He smiled at Willow, then headed for the doors.
After Stephen left the library, Xander turned to everybody and said, "Great, we're taking Young Giles to the Bronze for Friday night. It's gonna be a whirligig of fun."
"You just don't like him because he's cute," Willow said.
"He's cute? When did this happen? He's a book freak. Buffy, you don't think he's cute do you?"
"Why, not at all Xander," Buffy said, smiling. "Willow does though."
Xander rolled his eyes at Willow. "I should have known. That geeky tie, those dusty books..."
Willow's face turned crimson. "I...I was just..." She looked down at the pictures again. "I need to finish this."
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Willow Rosenberg trudged her way down the sidewalk to school. She was barely going to arrive in time. Xander Harris came by most mornings to walk with her to school. Not this morning. He hadn't shown up. Didn't even call, she pouted.
Nearing school, a familiar car caught Willow's eye. Buffy. Her mother stopped in the midst of the school buses to let her out. As Willow drew closer, she could see Buffy struggling to get several posters out of the back seat. The homework from the other night, Willow remembered. Buffy had to give some kind of presentation in history today.
Xander leapt down the stairs to the car. He took the posters from Buffy's hands before she could say a thing. Willow stopped still on the sidewalk and stared. Xander was never early to school. He always timed his arrival, and therefore hers, with the bell. He must have gone early just for the chance to carry a couple of posters for Buffy from the street to the building.
Willow rolled her head back and looked at the sky for a moment. He never did anything like that for her. Will he ever notice me? she thought. Looking again towards Buffy and Xander, she watched them go into the school together. Buffy was laughing at something Xander was saying. And Xander, she noted was all but knocking people down because he wasn't watching where he was going. His eyes were on Buffy.
Willow dropped her head and started walking again. Why shouldn't he keep his eyes on Buffy? She had great clothes, those boots and wonderful hair. Willow tugged lightly at one side of her long hair. Her long straight hair. It just sat there. Sighing, she went up the stairs and into the building.
Great, she thought, I'm just starting the day and already I'm depressed. Lost in thought, Willow bumped into somebody hard.
"Watch it, nerd!" Cordelia Chase shouted. Startled, Willow jumped back. Cordelia stood over her purse and a scattering of loose cosmetics. "If any of these are broken..." she was saying.
"Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you," Willow stammered. She bent to pick up Cordelia's belongings. "Let me help you get them."
"I so don't think so," Cordelia snapped. "Just get your nerd hands away from me." Behind her, the gaggle of Cordelia wannabe's talked over each other in order to be the first to agree with Cordelia.
"Yeah, back nerd girl...Maybe she wants to steal one...It'll take more than that to fix her lame-o looks..."
Willow stood silent for a moment, listening to their insults, then moved on around them. Heading down the hall, she tried to tune out the voices that called out to her as she left. Mercifully, a corner presented itself and she turned it. Stopping by a water fountain, she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Could this day get any worse?
The bell began to ring.
Now I'm late, Willow realized. Well, one question answered.
* * *
First period over, Willow hurried toward the library. Buffy saw her from a distance and called out, but Willow pretended not to hear. She was in a hurry and besides, she was into her depression at the moment.
It wasn't Buffy's fault Xander ignored her. Buffy just reminded her that Xander seemed to chase after just about every girl that wasn't Willow.
I should time my brooding, Willow thought. Given the funk I'm in I think maybe I could best Owen. In spite of her mood, she smiled at the thought. Owen was a sensitive, brooding boy that most of the girls in school swooned over. Of course he paid no attention to them, making them desire him all the more. To the shock of many, especially Cordelia, Owen had actually taken his nose from a book long enough to take out Buffy on a date. He'd almost been killed by vampire, and he later professed his attraction to the danger of it all. For his own safety, Buffy had been forced to make their first date their only date. Owen had once more retreated to reading poetry. Of course I'm too busy to sit around reading Emily Dickinson all day like he does, Willow told herself.
Reaching the library, she pushed quickly through the double doors and went right to the checkout counter. She swung her backpack onto the counter and opened it. "Giles," she called out, "I've got some printouts for you." She pulled a thick bunch of papers from the backpack and set it down on the counter.
Giles came out of his office wiping his glasses with a cloth. "Oh good," he said. He put his glasses on and reached for the papers. "Was there anything of note?"
Willow nodded. "I think so. Two panel portraits were stolen just last week in Texas. At sundown some guy took them out of a university museum. The police think he was on PCP or something because he jumped off a balcony and ran through a glass door."
"Hmm, that sounds like a vampire." Giles stood for a moment in thought. "A brazen vampire at that."
Willow took her backpack off the counter and turned to go.
"I guess I'll see you at lunch then," Giles said. "We'll get these sorted and..."
Willow spun around. "Maybe I have plans for lunch. Just because I don't have boys chasing me like Buffy or I'm not off carrying posters for people doesn't mean I don't have anything else to do." Willow stood for a moment with a look at frustration on her face.
Giles stood speechless for a moment. "Oh...I'm sorry. That was terribly presumptuous of me. If you get a chance to stop by..." Giles paused, looking at Willow, then hurried to continue. "Whenever that may be, of course, I would be grateful." He held up the printouts. "As I already am. Grateful, that is."
Willow looked down at her feet and fidgeted. She bit her lip for a second then raised her head back up. "Um, I don't have any plans. I'll see you at lunch," she whispered. She turned and fled the room.
Giles stared after her for a few seconds, then shook his head in confusion. Gripping the printouts, he returned to his office.
* * *
Willow sat at one of the tables in the school courtyard eating her lunch quickly. She was just finishing when Xander and Buffy found her.
"Hey Will," Xander called. "We were going to eat with you, but it looks like you're done already. What's with the speed feed?"
"Library. Giles." Willow said through a mouthful of sandwich. She waved her hand vaguely. "Research."
Buffy sat down next to her. "I know you guys will find out what this is about. I really don't like the idea that my mom's gallery might have something that vampires want."
"At least they're not normally into art and stuff," Xander said. "Did you see the junk Angel had in his apartment? What kind of crap was that?"
Buffy looked at him. "Anyway, I want to get whatever they want out of the gallery and away from my mom." She turned to Willow. "If you can find out which picture things are the ones they are after, then we can get them out of there."
Willow nodded. Finishing her soda, she stood to leave.
"Is something the matter?" Buffy asked.
Willow's eyes darted to Xander then came back to Buffy. "No. I just have a lot to do."
"Are you sure? Maybe I should come help you."
Willow shook her head. "That's okay. I'll see you guys in class."
As Willow walked slowly away, Buffy hit Xander in the shoulder. "Ow!" he cried. "What did I do?" Buffy glared at him. "What, should I go help her? I'm no good at that stuff. I'd just be in the way."
"I think maybe Willow wants some company," Buffy said. "Let's eat then go sit with her."
Xander gave Buffy an exasperated look, then said, "Alright, we'll go sit with Willow. Jeez, I don't get what the deal is." He started eating.
Buffy just looked at him. No, she thought sadly, you don't.
* * *
Willow sat at the table, flipping through the pages of a large art book. Spread out around the book were printouts from newspaper articles. The pictures showed a variety of stolen panel portraits. Chewing on her hair, Willow leaned down toward the book. It seemed as if the stolen portraits were similar, but figuring out how seemed to be just beyond her grasp. She leaned down so far that her nose was almost touching one of the pictures. She almost had it...
"Excuse me," a voice said.
"Eeek!" Willow shrieked.
A young man stood in front of Willow by the long table. He started at Willow's outburst and stepped back. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you."
Willow stood silent, embarrassment on her face. "That's okay," she managed. "What are you looking for? Are you a teacher..." She looked him over. He had sandy blond hair, dark brown eyes and friendly face. He was also dressed like a teacher-slacks, nice shirt, tie-but he didn't look old enough, maybe twenty-two at the most. He was rather cute, though.
"A teacher? No, I'm here to see Rupert Giles. Is he around?"
Giles came from office. "Stephen Allinson?" The young man turned to him and nodded. "I'm very glad to meet you." Sticking his hand out, he added, "I'm Rupert Giles."
"It's a pleasure," Stephen said. He waved his hand toward a large suitcase back by the library entrance. "I went ahead and brought my materials straight here."
"Excellent," said Giles. His eyes sparkled with excitement. "Having so many primary sources must make your research a real treat."
"It helps, but there are a few gaps. I don't have many works on the Slayer..." Stephen paused and glanced at Willow.
"It's okay," Giles explained. "Willow Rosenberg knows about the Slayer. She helps me a great deal with research"
Stephen turned to Willow and extended his hand. "I'm pleased to meet you Willow. I'm sorry I startled you."
Smiling, Willow replied, "That's okay. Uh, what kind of books do you have?"
"Books, books, books," Xander said loudly. He and Buffy came into the library. "One day Willow, your addiction is going to get you into trouble. Admitting you have a problem is the first step."
Giles, with a touch of irritation, said to Stephen, "This is Xander Harris and Buffy Summers. Buffy is the Slayer, Xander is... Um, Buffy and Xander, meet Stephen Allinson." Rubbing his hands together, Giles went to get the suitcase. "I suppose you are eager to just dive in and get to work. What is it exactly that you need my help with?"
"There are several gaps in my great-great-grandfather's diaries. Most of them are from the time he spent with Natalia, the Slayer at that time. I was hoping that the Watcher Diaries you have can fill some of the holes."
Giles nodded, "Yes, I thought it might be something like that. I've brought the relevant volumes here...actually I brought them all." He gestured to his office. "Would you like to..."
"Actually, I'm pretty tired," Stephen said. "I've been digging through those things," he waved his arm to the suitcase, "so much the last few weeks I'm going nuts. If possible, I'd like to take the evening off and rest up. We could start early tomorrow, though." He stifled a yawn. "Help yourself to the material, though. I keep my notes simple and clean, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting started."
Giles stood holding the suitcase like a child with a Christmas present. "Oh, rest up. Yes, that would be fine. I'll see you tomorrow then. Buffy, maybe you and Xander could..." he motioned to Stephen.
"What about my mom's gallery?" Buffy asked.
"Oh my," Giles said. He put his hand to his forehead. "How could I forget. There is an art show at the local gallery, run by Buffy's mother, which has a number of panel portraits in it. Willow has been studying the stolen paintings to try and find a link that could help us. We'd like to see if any of these in the show are involved."
Stephen's face clouded with doubt. "Do you really think it would be here? I mean the odds of it..." he trailed off. He furrowed his brow, then continued, "Then again, Sunnydale is the Hellmouth, after all. But coincidences like this are more in line with unfolding prophecies and such, and there are no mentions of this being related to any prophecy."
Buffy put her hands on her hips. "Well, I want to be sure. If one of these paintings is there, then it puts my mom and all of us in danger."
"Yes, yes," said Giles. "Perhaps we should go to the gallery and look at them."
"Hey," said Xander, "don't you think your mom will think it's a little odd if the school librarian and all of us show up, during school no less, to check this stuff out?"
"You mean your mother doesn't know about you?" Stephen asked Buffy.
"No, and I'd like to keep it that way."
Stephen put his hand up in front of him, "Fine, fine. I don't want to be any trouble."
"Buffy, that show you mentioned, it is tomorrow evening, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll all go and look them over. That will give us time to try and find a way to determine if any of them are involved." Giles looked at Stephen for a moment, then back to Buffy. "Why don't we let Stephen rest up, and we'll meet back here tomorrow morning."
Stephen glanced at Xander before speaking to Buffy. "What is there to do on a Friday night around here? I need to take a nap, but afterwards it might be nice to do something relaxing."
"What do you do to relax?" Buffy asked.
"Do we dare ask?" Xander muttered, his eyes on the suitcase of books.
Stephen shrugged "Oh, I don't know. Something with a lot of people. I'm a little stir crazy. It would be nice to go out someplace."
Buffy thought for a moment. Having him around might be weird. Still, she should be nice. "Why don't you come to the Bronze with us tonight. It's the only decent club in town." Looking him over, she hesitated. "Uh, maybe you're a little old for that kind of thing."
Stephen laughed. "No, I still like that sort of thing." He turned to Willow. "Will you be coming? I'd like the chance to make up for scaring you like that."
Willow stood speechless for a second. "Me? Uh, okay, sure," Willow said.
Stephen smiled at her, then turned to leave. "What time should we meet there?"
"How about eight o'clock," Buffy said. "Maybe I should give you directions."
"If it's the only nightclub in town, I think I'll be able to find it. Now I'd like to sleep off some of this jetlag." Stephen turned to Giles. "I'm at the Holiday Inn, room 224." To the others, "I'll see you at eight then." He smiled at Willow, then headed for the doors.
After Stephen left the library, Xander turned to everybody and said, "Great, we're taking Young Giles to the Bronze for Friday night. It's gonna be a whirligig of fun."
"You just don't like him because he's cute," Willow said.
"He's cute? When did this happen? He's a book freak. Buffy, you don't think he's cute do you?"
"Why, not at all Xander," Buffy said, smiling. "Willow does though."
Xander rolled his eyes at Willow. "I should have known. That geeky tie, those dusty books..."
Willow's face turned crimson. "I...I was just..." She looked down at the pictures again. "I need to finish this."
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