THE BOOK AND BEAN
Proprietor R. Giles Esq.
Buffy smiled at the new sign above the door. The letters were in Old English, and like an English Pub sign, there was a painted carving on the sign; a steaming mug rested on a desk next to an open book. On any other day she might have pouted at the sign and made some quip about certain ex-patriot British Ex-Watcher being in Southern California too long, but not today.
All day long Buffy had found herself just happy with the world. Neither angst-y feelings about being a Slayer nor worries about surviving college-level chemistry had crossed her mind. Even when her backpack strap broke and all her books and papers tumbled down a stairwell she hadn't been fazed at all. No doubt about it, today had been a good day.
She kept thinking about last night; Xander had amazed her. She just felt this incredible bond between them. He would always be there – he said it and she knew it to be the truth.
"Buffy?"
"Huh…Oh Giles; Hi! I was just…Admiring the new sign! It's…Really…Britty-looking…"
"Right…Thanks…I think…Are you coming inside or not?" Giles was still holding the door open.
"Yes! Inside – coming inside now!" Buffy couldn't help herself; she gave Giles a big smile as she walked past him and he smiled in return. Giles was really enjoying himself these days; he kept working the phrase about England being a nation of shopkeepers into sentences. He had been at his shop twenty-four seven for weeks now, but he seemed to be in heaven. What with Olivia moving in with him and their opening his new coffee-house-slash-bookstore, he seemed completely re-energized.
Olivia was over at the Espresso counter and she waved cheerily to Buffy, and Buffy waved cheerily back. A few customers sat at tables while others browsed the book aisles. "Buffy, we really should talk about what happened last night with Dawn – "
"Is Xander here?"
"Yes, he's upstairs in the attic room setting up my occult library. He did fill me in about what happened at the fair but I really would like to hear your take on it before - "
"Excuse me for interrupting – " Olivia had appeared at Giles' elbow.
"Yes me-dear?"
"Ripper, would you mind being a dear and minding the counter for a sec?" Olivia dropped into a stage whisper "I've got to run to the loo."
"Not at all. Buffy?"
"No problem, I'll just go upstairs and bug Xander 'til you're ready to chat"
The threesome split off towards their separate destinations. Buffy bounded up the steps then slowed down at the second floor landing. Suddenly gripped by a mischievous notion, she decided to sneak up on Xander. Slowly and quietly she eased open the door to the attic room and peered stealthily inside. As luck would have it, Xander was on the other side the room with his back to the door shelving books. He had a CD player going, and he was lustily singing along to Garth Brooks. Buffy saw her opportunity and began tiptoeing across the floor.
Buffy waited until she was directly behind Xander before opening her mouth. "Hi Xander!"
"OMIGOD!" Xander jumped clear off the floor, sending an armful of books in various directions. Grabbing the bookcase to steady himself, Xander turned to stare at Buffy with wide eyes. "Have you lost your mind woman!" Xander bent over to start picking up the fallen books.
"I'm sorry Xander, I couldn't resist." Buffy bit her lip to stop laughing. Buffy suddenly noticed that even with the window open, the room was rather hot and stuffy. Xander had peeled off his baggy Hawaiian shirt, and was wearing a white tank top. 'Has he been working out?' Buffy pushed that thought aside and crouched down to assist him. "Let me have you - Help you with those." Buffy immediately blushed at her slip and pivoted her face away from Xander.
Xander froze for a split second, then decided that his ears were playing tricks on him. He shook his head then picked up the last of the books and stood up. He stacked the books on an empty shelf. Buffy handed him the books then walked towards the open window. Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she hoped she seemed nonchalant. "Wow, it's hot in here. If Giles expects this to be the new clubhouse, he better put in an air-conditioner."
"You're telling me! I told him working under these conditions was cruel and unusual punishment, and that we needed to renegotiate my salary; but he just muttered something about America being a country founded by lawyers and left the room." Xander had walked over to the conference table in the center of the room and was in the process of putting his shirt back on. "Still, the all night demon lore sessions will go a lot easier – There is an Espresso machine downstairs."
Buffy noticed the open tome on the conference table. "It looks like you're cracking the books already."
"Well, as I was shelving I came across a text about psychic powers and I was trying to see if it described anything like Dawn's situation…" As Xander sat at the table, he turned off the CD player and was suddenly lost in thought. "I mean it's like she's tuned into 'Radio Free Demon'. If we can learn to harness that power – "
"Xander, she's not a demon fighting tool. She's a fourteen year old girl who needs our help."
Xander snapped out of his reverie. "I know, you're right. But she if learns to control her gift, that's a good thing, right?"
"Right…" Buffy eased into a chair across the table from Xander. She idly picked up the Garth Brooks jewel case and looked at Xander. "Still listening to 'the Music of Pain' I see…"
"Yeah, I just feel good that I'm out of my Patsy Cline stage. A week more of honky-tonk music and I should be right as rain." Xander glumly stared at the tabletop.
"You still miss her, don't you?"
"I guess so. I just wish my last memory of her wasn't seeing her all vein-y and demoned-out. It kind of makes it tough to look back and smile, you know?"
"I have a vague idea of what you're going through…"
"I'm sorry, that was really tactless of me. Xander the human faux pas strikes again…"
"It's okay, that seems like a long time ago. Anyway, I had a really good day – so no brooding – okay?" Buffy smiled at Xander, hoping to cheer him up. He smiled back at her.
"When you're right, you're right. So what's got you in such a good mood?"
"Oh, nothing in particular, just having a good day…"
"Hey you guys!" Xander and Buffy turned to see Dawn standing in the doorway. "Do you guys remember any Algebra? I've got a test tomorrow and I really need some help."
"Well, I remember failing miserably at it, if that helps…"
"Not really…
"Just being honest here."
"How were your grades in math Buffy?"
"They were okay…as long as I was sitting next to Willow."
"That's who we need! Never ask Shaggy and Daphne – always ask Velma!"
"Right! If we can't help you, we'll take a spin over to Willow and Tara's. How's that sound?"
"Cool! You guys are the best!" Dawn flounced over to take a seat next to Xander.
'She always lights up when he's in the room.' Buffy thought to herself as Xander chatted with Dawn about her day. 'Oh, you're one to talk Summers, you almost fell all over him yourself. What's gotten in to you anyway?' Buffy shook her head silently and joined in the conversation.