Buffy's night out with Ethan didn't go so well. Now she's more confused than ever.

Buffy grimaced when she saw Riley pacing the lobby of her dorms. Great. This was the perfect topper to an incredibly awkward night. She took a moment to calm herself before walking over to him. "Hey."

"Where have you been?" he demanded loudly. The few people still milling around looked their way. Buffy turned and walked toward a couch in the corner.

"I went out," she said simply. "Why are you here, Riley?"

"I want to know what's going on, Buffy! I thought we were happy! Then you start seeing this witch guy? He's your dad's age! He's a criminal! Does he have you under a spell?"

"It's not like that!" she hissed under her breath. Buffy looked away, feeling torn. "At least, not exactly like that. Look, admittedly, Ethan's got a bit of bad in him, but he's not a criminal. And he's helping us with something right now."

"He's been sending you jewelry!"

"Which I did not ask for, or accept!" Buffy argued back. "Look, what this boils down to is you don't trust me! You broke up with me without even discussing any of this with me!"

Riley grabbed he hands and tried to pull her closer. "Let's start over. Whatever is going on, you don't need this creep. We'll deal with it together."

Buffy stared at Riley for several seconds before slowly pulling away and shaking her head. "Are they giving you drugs?" she asked carefully. "The Initiative?"

Riley's jaw dropped in shock. "WHAT?"

Buffy glanced around to make sure no one was watching them. "Drugs, Riley. And not the 'let's get high and streak through campus' kind, either. Drugs to... change a person. Like uber-steroids."

His skin flushed angrily and he stepped back. "Of course not! The initiative would never do that! We're the good guys!"

"So what, Riley? They just hold those demons and vamps without doing anything else? From what I saw, there was an awful lot of scientists in the compound. What are they doing, Riley?"

"It's our job to try and figure these creatures out," he insisted. "That way we can battle them more effectively!"

Buffy studied him closely for several seconds. "The word on the street is that the Initiative is experimenting on demons. That they are trying to create a drug that gives their soldiers the strength and abilities of a demon. Super soldiers. So, I'll ask you again. Is the Initiative giving you any drugs?"

Riley's lips pressed into a thin line and he looked away from Buffy. "No." He spun around and walked off quickly without another word.

Buffy sighed as he disappeared out the door. She headed up the stairs toward her dorm room feeling tired and confused. She had thought college was supposed to be easier. She thought college was about being an adult, making grown up choices and having grown up relationships. Not about demon-based drugs and moody chaos loving warlocks!

She reached her door and opened it up, smiling when she saw Willow and Tara sitting on Willow's bed as they went over some homework. "Hey," she greeted fondly.

Both women looked up at her with surprise. "Buff? Did you have a date? You're all dressed up and looking sexy," the redhead teased.

Buffy went to the closet and grabbed some sweat pants and a t-shirt. "Let me change and I'll tell you everything," she replied.

"I'll g-give you two some p-privacy," Tara stammered, reaching for her books.

Buffy shook her head quickly. "No. Stay, Tara. I want you to. You might be able to help me figure this out, too."

Willow's expression grew worried. "Is it something bad? Demons? Vampires?"

Buffy headed toward the door. "Not exactly." She paused in the doorway and looked at them over her shoulder. "I was out with Ethan and I think I screwed up."

Tara looked at Willow with confusion. "The m-man you told me about? Isn't he a b-bad guy?"

Willow nodded slowly. "Yeah. He's also the one who sent Buffy that necklace and lots of flowers."

Tara thought about that for a moment. "So... is this good or b-bad?"

Willow looked toward the door. "Well, let's just say that the news about you and me, not such a bombshell anymore."

Tara's eyes widened. "Oh."

Buffy hung her dress up so she could drop it off at the dry cleaners before siting on the bed. She twisted her hair up into a messy bun and sighed softly. "Okay, let me just get this all out and then we can break it down and dissect it."

Willow grinned teasingly. "Like Professor Forrest does in Lit class."

"Exactly," Buffy grinned back. "So, here's the deal. Yesterday I went out for ice cream with Ethan. We didn't talk much. I gave him back his mom's cross. Afterwards he asked me to dinner. I talked to Giles about it, since, you know, it's Ethan. After all the gifts and stuff, I was a bit wigged by the way he was acting.

Anyway, he picked me up and... wait. I have to go back. Remember when Ethan turned Giles into a demon? Well, I'm the one who broke him out of Initiative custody. He's human and it just seemed wrong to let them throw him in a cell for demons. We sort of argued about why I broke him out and he, um, kissed me."

Willow's gasp was loud in the small room. "Really? How was it?"

Buffy blushed lightly. "It was...toe-curling," she admitted. "Anyway, when we left earlier, I told him I didn't like him, and was only going to get the information he told me and Giles he had about something big happening. He kissed me again, and said even if I didn't like him, I was attracted to him."

She sighed and twisted the bottom of her shirt in her hands. "And I think I am," she admitted softly. "Which is just wrong, right? I mean, it's Ethan Rayne! He's a trouble maker! He's always doing things to Giles and he works for vamps and he... he..."

Buffy groaned and flopped sideways on the bed. "And he never forgot my birthday," she said softly. She looked at Willow and Tara with confusion. "He's the only guy I've ever known who ever did something for me, without asking anything in return. He remembered my birthday every year, and sent me my favorite flowers, just because he could.

He asked me out, just because he wanted my company. Dinner and dancing. Only I kept pushing for him to tell me what he knew. I, um, I think I insulted him once or twice."

"No!" Willow said sarcastically.

Buffy sat back up and shot her a mock glare. "Anyway, he told me what he knew, and then he left. Will, I really think I hurt his feelings. And that makes me think that maybe he really does, well, like me."

Willow and Tara exchanged looks for a second before looking back at Buffy. "Do you like him?" Willow asked softly. "I mean, it's Ethan Rayne and we both know what he's like. Is it possible that you have feelings for him?"

Buffy nibbled on her bottom lip as she gave real thought to the question. "I might," she admitted.