Chapter 14: Magic is Real

*****Where We Left Off*****

When Dick realized that he wasn't hallucinating and that the girls really were floating, he interrupted Logan and Buffy's slow dance.

"Dude," he said, tapping his arm to get his attention. When Logan looked up, he pointed to the two girls.

Buffy winced and realized that the jig was up and walked over to her best friend, tapping her on the shoulder. "Hmm, Will," she said.

"Yea?" Willow asked, looking up.

"You are floating," she said.

"Oops," Willow said, looking sheepish as she settled her and Tara back on the ground.

The two men stared at her and Tara and then looked at Buffy. Finally, Dick blurted out, "I knew it! You really are witches!"

Logan snorted. "Let's not jump to conclusions, Dick. Just because she clearly possesses telekinetic powers does not mean that she is a witch," he said.

"Except that I am," Willow said. "We told you that we were Wiccans—we are practicing witches. Unlike most, we have some power."

"Willow has more than I do," Tara said quickly.

"Tara's mother was a practicing witch, and she has more knowledge. She's been teaching me," Willow said.

Dick was so excited he was practically jumping up and down. He reminded Buffy of Tigger from that cartoon she used to watch Winnie the Pooh.

"Magic is real?" Logan said, trying to wrap his mind around it. Then something occurred to him. "You made the bird crap fall on Goyra, didn't you?"

Willow smirked. "It was a harmless use of magic," she said. "Tara doesn't like it when I use magic for stuff like that, but I couldn't resist."

"Is magic something anyone can learn?" Logan asked.

"Not everyone has the natural ability," Willow said. "Some don't. Some can be used in spells or follows spells to do things. Buffy and Xander can read basic spells and call the corners, but they aren't witches."

"One time, the military in Sunnydale had this robot that was killing people, and we combined our essence to defeat it," Buffy said.

"Buffy was the hand that we channeled the magic through, so it seemed like she had magic," Willow said. "But it was really just me, Xander, and Giles working a spell."

"Giles is your old librarian?" Logan asked.

Buffy was impressed with his listening skills and gave him an approving smile. "You listen when I speak! I'm so happy!" she teased.

"I do," he said, smiling at her.

"Giles was more than our librarian," Willow said. "He was our mentor and father figure. He also taught me magic. I met him before I met Tara. She and I didn't meet until college."

"Where's Giles now?" Dick asked.

"He's in Ohio training Faith," Buffy said with a pout. "He also instructed me in martial arts."

"A librarian who knows magic and martial arts?" Logan asked incredulously. "How is that possible?"

"He's British," Buffy said as if that explained it.

That answer didn't work for Logan. "So? What does that have to do with anything?"

"British people just know things," Buffy said with a shrug. "He's wearing of the tweed and drinking of the tea. He also made us learn ancient languages and read old musty books."

Logan just shook his head, mystified.

"Think of magic as just another gift some people have," Willow explained. "You and Dick are good at the surfing. Buffy's good at the physical stuff. Xander's good at fixing stuff, and we're good and working elements of nature and channeling energy."

They sat there a minute, trying to absorb what Willow said.

"Logan, do you think you can introduce me to the guy downstairs?" Buffy asked. She looked at Dick. "You can stay here, and Willow can reassure you some more that she's not evil."

"Oh, I don't think that!" Dick said quickly. Then he got a funny look on his face. "You didn't turn your friend Amy into a rat, though, right?"

"Actually, she did that to herself," Buffy said.

"What?" Logan asked in disbelief.

"Yea, she was a witch, who had a really crazy mother that was a very powerful, evil witch. So evil in fact that—well, I better not tell that. I don't want to give Dick nightmares," Buffy said. "Anyway, Amy accidentally turned herself into a rat."

"Giles and I couldn't figure out how to turn her back because she called on the goddess Hecate," Willow said.

"So the rat is really a girl?" Dick asked. "Is she a hot girl?"

Willow and Tara giggled. "I never met her, so I can't say," Tara said.

"She was attractive," Willow said. "I need to get that spell figured out, though. We need to turn her back this year. The girl's been a rat long enough."

"That's just messed up," Logan said, shaking his head. "I don't even know what to think about that."

"It's best not to," Buffy said. "That's what I do when things don't make sense—don't think about them."

"You know you can't go around telling people about this, right?" Willow said to Dick. "It's not like the lesbian thing. Witchcraft is not something that is accepted."

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with us," Dick said. "Right, Logan?"

"Of course. It's not like anyone would believe us anyway," Logan said with a smirk.

He and Buffy left the room, and he led her to the elevator. "So is that the only big secret you have?" Logan asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Buffy said with a grin.

"Yea, I would," Logan said, reaching for her hand. When they stepped into it, he pushed the button to the ground floor and then pulled her close for a kiss.

Buffy returned his kiss and then pulled back. "Logan, I like you a lot, but I'm not going to trust you with all my secrets or my heart when I know you are still in love with Veronica," she said.

Logan gave her a surprised look. "Why do you say that? Veronica and I have been broken up for several months," he said. "I've moved on."

"I know you're trying," Buffy said. "I had my own epic love with a guy named Angel. He was my first, and then he changed. Literally, overnight, he turned into this total monster. He ripped out my heart—I know what it feels like to think you've met your soul mate, and then have them walk away from you."

"See, you already get me so well," Logan said, a bit shaken by her.

"It's how I know you're still in love with her," Buffy said gently. "Don't get me wrong. A part of me is still in love with Angel, so I don't expect you to be over her completely or anything. However, it does make me think that you and I wouldn't be a good match long-term."

The elevator opened. "Really?" Logan asked surprised.

"We're too much alike," Buffy said.

Her response wasn't at all what he was expecting, and he couldn't think of a response for a long moment. They were nearly at the front desk before he paused and grabbed her hand again. "How so?" he asked. "You're all blonde and perky. No one has ever accused me of being perky."

Buffy laughed. "We both are so much more than a pretty face," she said, giving him a cheeky grin.

"Logan," a voice said. Buffy smiled at the man behind the front desk.

"Ratner," Logan said. "Just the man, I was looking for. This is my special lady friend, Buffy. Buffy, this is Ratner."

"My name is Jeff," Ratner said, giving Logan an annoyed look. He smiled at Buffy. "Nice to meet you, Buffy."

Buffy gave him a warm smile. "Jeff, do you happen to know if the hotel is hiring serving staff? I'm needing some extra cash to take some martial arts classes, so I don't grow rusty. Currently, I work at the Hutt on campus, but that's just temporary," Buffy said.

"So the new blonde girlfriend has the old girlfriend's job?" Jeff said in bemusement.

"Can you help or not?" Logan asked impatiently.

"They are looking for another person for brunch," Jeff said. "It's ten to two on Saturday and Sundays. You'll probably make a few hundred every weekend."

"Seriously?" Buffy asked in surprise.

Jeff nodded. "Yea," he said.

"That sounds great," she said. "How do I apply?"

"Come here tomorrow morning before ten, and I will introduce to the floor manager in the dining room," Jeff said.

"That's great," Buffy said. "Thanks."

"Did you say you wanted to take martial arts lesson?" Jeff asked, looking at her doubtfully.

"Don't let her appearance fool you," Logan said. "She can kick some major ass."

"I've been studying for years," Buffy said.

"What style?" Jeff asked. "I actually have a second cousin who owns a kickboxing studio here in Neptune."

"Seriously? There's a kickboxing studio in town?" Buffy asked. She gave Logan a quizzical look.

Logan shrugged. "I had no idea," he said.

"I'm actually off tomorrow, so I'll meet you here to talk to the manager and then take you to meet my cousin if you want," Jeff said.

"Really? That's great. Do you have a car?" Buffy asked. "I don't drive."

"Of course, I have a car," Jeff said.

"Buffy is still learning to drive," Logan said with a smirk.

Buffy elbowed him—not too hard—in the stomach. "Hey," she said.

"Pretty girls can always find some guy to drive them around," Jeff said with a smile.

"Actually, I just usually walk everywhere," Buffy said. "I have tons of energy."

Logan laughed and shook his head while Jeff kept his comments to himself, not wanting to alienate the very attractive and friendly girl. "Hey, it's a valid life choice," Buffy protested. Now Jeff laughed.

"Okay, well, I'll see you tomorrow," Jeff said.

"Thanks, Ratner," Logan said. He looked down at Buffy. "Did you want me to take you home or was Willow going to?"

"She will probably be up there with Dick a while," Buffy said. "If you don't mind."

"Of course not," Logan said, reaching for her hand.

Jeff watched the couple leave. They didn't have the sexual chemistry that Logan and Veronica did. However, he hadn't seen Logan smile so much before. It was a strange sight. The girl actually seemed genuinely nice, so why was she spending time with Logan?

*****The Next Day*****

Buffy was ecstatic to discover that the job at the hotel was hers if she wanted it. In fact, she could start the next day, which was Sunday as she didn't have a shift at the Hutt. She figured that she'd talk to Veronica about taking her old job back sooner rather than later.

Jeff drove her over to his cousin's kickboxing place, and it was not far from the hotel—about a mile. The sign said Michael's Kickboxing. Neither was close to Buffy's house. Obtaining her license was going to have to become a priority.

When Jeff introduced her to his cousin, Buffy had to crane her neck—the man was a giant. "Wow, you're tall!" she exclaimed. Then she put her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry! I hate when people comment on my height. You probably do, too!"

The very tall man with sandy brown hair and blue eyes, grinned down at Veronica. "Actually, it doesn't bother me at all," he said. He held out his hand. "Gabe Michaels."

"Buffy Summers," Buffy said.

"Jeff says you're a fighter," he said. "What belt do you have?"

Buffy shrugged. "I never did formal testing. I just learned a lot of different forms from Giles. Sometimes, he'd blindfold me and throw knives at me—that kind of thing," she said. Both men looked at her in surprise. "I dodged every time."

Gabe smiled. "Well, do you know kickboxing?" he asked.

Buffy bit her lip, wondering how to answer. Finally, she said, "Here's the thing. I'm kind of a savant when it comes to fighting or anything physical really. Like Logan took me surfing, and I hadn't done it in years, but I just could do it. I see someone fighting or someone teaches me a move, I just learn it."

"Really?" Gabe asked in bemusement. "You don't look like much of a fighter."

"What about you?" Buffy asked. "Where did you learn?"

"I was in the Marines. Served in the Gulf War," he said. "I did MMA for a few years and won some money—enough to open this."

"MMA?" Buffy asked.

"Mixed Martial Arts," he said. "You've never heard of it? It's become very popular in America. Women even fight in it."

"Really?" Buffy asked in surprise.

He nodded. "I don't do much of that here because this is Neptune," he said. "I do, though, have a few MMA students. The women, though, want to do kickboxing to stay in shape and feel powerful. It's mostly feminist shit more than real self-defense."

"Feminist shit?" Buffy asked in amusement.

"No offense," he said.

"Not offended, just confused," Buffy said, laughing.

"Okay, I have a class going on right now that you can check out and see what I mean," he said. "Go watch. Then if you want, I'll get someone to spar with you and see what you got. I could use another female instructor to be honest."

"Really?" Buffy asked in surprise.

He nodded. "If you're halfway decent and didn't mind teaching two classes, I'd let you have free lessons in the advanced classes or use the facilities to train in," he said.

Buffy's eyes lit up with excitement. "That'd be amazing," she said. "I've never done any teaching, though."

"Oh, it's not really teaching with these 09er women," he said. Jeff snorted and nodded.

Jeff led her to the class, and they stood in the back and watched. There was about ten women, but they didn't wear gloves as Buffy expected. However, the instructor up front led them through a series of fighting moves that Buffy could see would produce a work-out, especially if the class was a full hour. She wondered if the women ever sparred. Did they not want to learn to defend themselves for real? It didn't look too complicated.

When they left the class after about ten minutes, Gabe introduced her to an African man that was about two inches shorter than he but still much larger than Buffy.

"Buffy, this is Scott Kettman. He is going to spar with you, so I can assess your level," Gabe said.

"Nice to meet you," Buffy said. "I'm Buffy."

"Great to have you, Buffy. I love meeting female fighters," Scott said, giving her a warm smile.

Buffy was touched. The man looked to be in his early thirties and flashed him a grin. "Thanks. I've not met too many fighters myself as my hometown of Sunnydale didn't really have that many. I had an ex that was, who I'd spar with, but that was it."

"Well, we have a small group here—about six," Gabe said. "Not a lot. We don't actually have any serious females. Our one female instructor you just observed, Izzie, is a certified aerobics instructor, who I basically taught moves to. Her class has only women interested in exercise, not really a desire to engage in any sparring. I have had a few women asked if I was ever going to start a class for women that were more seriously interested in learning self-defense. The college campus had two rapist last year—did you hear about it?"

Buffy nodded. "Unfortunately, I did," she said with a grimace of distaste.

"So I would love to get a class going," he said. "I'd offer to teach it myself, and I'd been thinking of doing it. However, women's bodies are very different from men, and I am a very large man. Learning from a woman your size would really encourage the women that they can learn to protect themselves."

The idea really excited Buffy, and she considered how to spar with Scott without hurting him. No power hits, hold back the power kicks.

Jeff was surprised to find Logan's new flame to be friendly and down to Earth. Unlike Veronica Mars, she didn't seem at all calculating. However, he was blown away when she began to spar with Scott. He heard his cousin suck in a breath. "My God!" Gabe exclaimed as Buffy didn't hesitate and pressed forward, exchange fast blows with Scott. Gabe could see Scott's surprise on his face, but also the man's real enjoyment as the girl was able to keep up with Scott with ease. Not wanting her to get hurt, Gabe raised his hand.

"Okay, that's good," he said.

Buffy stopped, frowning. "Is everything okay? We were barely fighting for two minutes," she said.

"He seen enough," Scott said with a grin. "Damn, girl. If someone had told me that I'd meet a cute little Barbie doll that could keep up with me in hand-to-hand today, I would've told them that they were nuts! You are amazing!" He high fived her.

"Yes, it's clear that you are more than qualified to teach the girls," Gabe said. "What forms have you trained in?"

"Well, Taekwondo is my favorite. Aikido and a bit of Jiu Jitsu, Tai Chi, and Krav Maga as well as good old-fashioned street fighting," Buffy said, listing off the various forms Giles had taught her. "Oh, and kick boxing, of course."

The three men looked at her in dismay. "No shit?" Scott asked.

"Well, I'm not belted in them or anything," Buffy said quickly. "I just had a teacher who knew a little bit of everything, so he was always teaching me new things. That way I can always switch up my fighting style and catch an opponent unaware."

"That's a good teacher," Gabe said, impressed. "You know Tai Chi?"

Buffy nodded. "My ex actually taught me that. It's a great form of meditation and relaxation," she said.

"That would be a great class. Some guys might be interested in that," he said thoughtfully. "Do you happen to know your class schedule yet? If you could do a Tai Chi class Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays at eight in the morning, and an all-women's self-defense class at whatever time you can fit in your schedule, that'd be great."

"I have an eight a.m. class on Tuesday and Thursdays if I remember correctly," Buffy said. "I'll double check. I think the other three days I don't start until ten."

"Perfect," Gabe said. "I'll start advertising." He pulled out his cell phone. "Do you mind if I take your photo for the website?"

"No," Buffy said in bemusement. It was all happening so fast. Since coming to Neptune, it was like she was living under a bright light of good things.

She couldn't wait to share her good news with her mom.

*****Across Town*****

Veronica Mars was going through all the mail of hers that had piled up while she was gone. Wallace was over, filling her in on his trip to Africa. His trip sounded much better than hers.

"I should've went with you," she said. "My trip just showed me how much I suck."

"That's not true," Wallace said. "It showed you that you are just not suited for a career in the FBI is all. It does not mean you won't make a good police detective or maybe prosecutor if you wanted to go into law."

Veronica considered it. "Maybe," she said.

"So are you going to get back with Piz when classes start back?" Wallace asked.

Veronica shook her head. "No. Didn't he tell you before you left on your trip? We broke up," she said.

Wallace winced. "No, I guess he figured you would've told me," Wallace said. "Why didn't you?"

"I figured he would've," she said with a shrug.

"Do you mind telling me what happened? I thought you two got along pretty well," Wallace said.

"Oh, we did," Veronica said. "Piz was great. It was—" How did she explain this to Piz's best friend and her own best friend when she wasn't even sure how to say it? "He broke up with me."

Wallace looked surprise. "He did? I can't believe it," he said. "He was crazy about you."

"I think he felt very threatened by Logan," she said. "I tried to tell him that Logan and I were over, but he said that he saw the way I looked at Logan after Logan fought with Goyra."

"How did you look at Logan?" Wallace asked.

Veronica shrugged. "I don't know. He thinks that I still have strong feelings for Logan," Veronica said.

"Do you?" Wallace said.

"I don't know," she admitted. "He matters to me. The fact that he watches out for me and that he cares means something to me. We've been through so much, but I don't know that we're good together or that we could ever be."

Wallace nodded. "He seems happy with Buffy. More carefree than I've ever seen him," Wallace said. He watched his best friend's face and saw the frown. "Does that bother you?"

"Does it bother me that he's dating someone? I don't know," Veronica admitted. "I think it bothers me a bit that it's Buffy because she seems to have taken over my life."

"She's actually pretty cool," Wallace said.

Veronica glared. "See. Even you are drinking the Buffy Kool-Aid!" she said.

Wallace laughed. "Well, if your parents are dating seriously, you and her will be spending time together. Her friends are cool. Have you met Xander yet?" Wallace asked.

Veronica shook her head. "I met Trina's near twin Willow and her girlfriend Tara," Veronica said. "I really liked them, especially Tara."

"Weevil lives in the building with Xander and works with him on campus," Wallace said. "Xander is very much like me except not a jock."

"Then I'm sure I'll adore him," Veronica said, flashing him a smile.

"He's laid back and funny—but he doesn't have my fashion sense," Wallace said.

"Well, not many men do," Veronica mocked.

"So true," Wallace said. "If Buffy's got cool friends, then she has to be pretty cool. That's what you need to consider, and stop being jealous. No matter how great she may be, she's not Veronica Mars. The girl who solved a murder and stopped two murderers before graduating high school. The girl who will do anything for her friends and even enemies."

Veronica smiled, remembering why she wasn't ready to go to Stanford. She didn't want to say goodbye to her friends. "Thanks, Wallace. I really missed you," she said.

Her doorbell rang, surprising her. "Mac didn't say she was coming over," Veronica said as she got up to open it. It was Buffy. "Well, hello."

"Hi. Sorry for just dropping by like this," Buffy said, giving her a smile. She waved at Wallace.

"It's fine," Veronica said. "I'm surprised you knew where I live, though, but come on in."

Buffy turned around and waved Logan off. Logan waved back and backed out. "Oh, Logan dropped me off," she said.

"He did?" Veronica asked, looking at and catching Logan backing out.

"Yea, I don't live too far, and he knows I like to walk places," she said.

"So what brings you by?" Veronica asked.

"I wanted to see if you were interested in taking back your job at the Hutt?" Buffy asked. "Like immediately."

"Well, sure," Veronica said. "I told Dad I would work with him, but he doesn't care. I hope you aren't quitting because of me, though. My dad will be really mad."

"Oh, no. Nothing like that," Buffy said. "Actually, Logan introduced me to this guy named Jeff at his hotel, and Jeff got me on there working brunch. Just 2 shifts on Saturday and Sundays and more money than the Hutt."

"That's great," Veronica said. "I know Jeff. We had a criminology class together."

"He is great," Buffy said excitedly. "He introduced me to his cousin, who owns a kickboxing studio in town. I'm going to teach Tai Chi three days a week before classes and then a women's self-defense class. This will let me have my own training for free."

"That's amazing," Wallace said. "What's Tai Chi?

"You will have to take a class with me and find out!" Buffy said with a grin. "It's actually very beautiful. It's a form of Chinese martial arts that's more for meditation than for fighting. Like Chinese yoga."

"Cool," Wallace said. "I will totally check it out."

"It won't start for about two weeks as Gabe—the owner—wants to do some advertising," Buffy said. "Same for my self-defense class. Gabe says because of the rapes that happened last year, he's had a lot of requests."

"I bet," Veronica said.

"Well, I'm excited," Buffy said. "Things have just fallen into place since we moved here, and I love it. Sunnydale was such a dark and dangerous place. I was constantly having to fight or stop someone from hurting someone else. Here everything is so bright and cheerful." She flashed a smile. "I will tell the manager, you will take over the next Friday shift."

"Works for me," Veronica said.

"I'll see you guys later," Buffy said. She gave a cheerful wave and left the apartment.

"That is so weird," Veronica said after the door closed.

"Seriously," Wallace agreed. "How did we not know we have a kickboxing studio in town?"

"That's not what I meant," Veronica said. "And I totally knew that. I meant what she said about this town and about her old town. Neptune is the dangerous town. This place isn't cheerful. Is she insane?"

Wallace grinned. "Maybe it's just you that isn't cheerful," he pointed out. "Buffy is pretty damn cheerful. You should totally sign up for her self-defense class, especially if you are going to keep finding yourself in dangerous situations."

"Like I want to blow money on that kind of thing. Those classes are expensive. Buffy's only affording it because she's teaching classes there," Veronica pointed out, picking back up her mail. She opened up a letter from the school and began to read to it. "Holy crap!"

"What?" Wallace asked.

"I just got my scholarship upgraded from partial to full, including the dorm this year," she said.

"That's great!" Wallace said. "Congratulations! Now you have extra cash to take a self-defense class."

"Maybe," Veronica said. It would be nice to feel more confident when she was in dangerous places. Would spending more time with her new nemesis be a good thing?

"It was nice of Buffy to give you back your job early," Wallace pointed out.

Veronica sighed. Fine. Maybe Buffy wasn't really her nemesis. Maybe Veronica just needed to give people the benefit of the doubt sometimes.

"Yes, it was," she agreed.

Wallace gave her an approving smile. "Do you think we can talk Mac into taking one of Buffy's classes?"

They both laughed at the thought.

*****Chapter End*****