UC Sunnydale on a brilliant fall day is a thing of beauty. With Indian summer in full effect, the temperature usually stays in the upper seventies, but there is a cool breeze off the ocean that just makes everything perfect. Especially the co-eds; plenty of well-tanned flesh is still being shown off by summer dresses, halter tops and short-shorts. As he and Riley played an easy-going game of one-on-one on the basketball courts behind the field house, Graham was keeping one eye peeled on the bicycle path as major hotties were swooping past with great regularity.
Riley yo-yoed the ball up and down as he backed Graham towards the key, biding his time. Soon enough, a beautiful girl swept into view on the bike path. As soon as Graham was completely distracted, Riley made a drop-step move to the baseline and dunked with ease. Riley smirked at his friend as he walked to the top of the key. Chagrined, Graham retrieved the ball and walked towards Riley.
"What are you grinning at, Huckleberry?"
"You of course! You can't keep your hormones in check long enough to play defense. Where's your concentration, soldier?"
"Maybe I just need a little more incentive. What say we take next?" Graham indicated the five-on-five pickup game on the adjoining court.
"I told Xander we'd wait for him – He should be here soon. Besides, it's game point – All I need is another pretty girl to ride past and you're buying the beers. Come on – Check ball!"
Graham just bounced the ball and looked quizzically at Riley.
"What's your problem?"
"Do we have to play with Xander?"
"What's wrong with Xander? I thought you liked him?"
"I do like him, he's a great guy, it's just…you know…"
"Yeah, I know. He's not the most coordinated player on the court – but his heart is in the right place. No one hustles more than Xander."
Graham continued to stare at Riley without saying anything. Riley looked at his monosyllabic roommate with annoyance. "What is it now Sphinx-boy? Say what's on your mind."
"It's just…You know how he feels about Buffy…Isn't it just a little weird how close of friends you guys are?"
"No, I don't think so; I trust Buffy, and I trust Xander too. Buffy got all gushy about some heart-to-heart they had last week where he said he thinks of her like a sister since they did that joining spell to defeat Adam. Besides – he's a stand up guy. I don't think he's the type that would see some other guy's girl on the sly, even if he wasn't my friend."
Graham pursed his lips and looked at the ground. Riley was getting annoyed. "What now?
"It's just something Xander told me about last week over a couple of beers. It seems back in high school, Xander was dating some hot cheerleader type but they broke up when she found him sneaking around with Willow. He was still pretty tore up about it…"
"My point exactly. It sounds like he learned his lesson and has moved on. Why can't you give him the benefit of the doubt?"
"Hey, I got no problem with that, I like the guy, I just don't want to see you get hurt, man. After all, it's not MY girlfriend he's best friends with – it's yours." Looking past his Riley, Graham gave an up nod of his head. "Anyway, speak of the Devil…"
Turning his head, Riley saw Xander jogging towards them. Wearing a headband and matching wristbands, Xander had a passing resemblance to Jim Carrey in The Cable Guy. "What's up guys, sorry I'm late!"
Riley grinned at him "No problem, we were just playing a little one-on-one." Graham passed the ball to Xander "Take a few shots, get warmed up!" Xander grinned as he caught the ball. He awkwardly dribbled the ball a few times then cranked up an off-balance jump shot. When the ball clanked off the rim, Xander chased down the rebound and immediately launched another brick. As Xander raced past them after the wayward ball, Graham caught Riley's eye and smirked. Riley whispered "Oh, you just keep your mouth shut and play ball!"
Well into their second pitcher of beer, Xander was cramming the last slice of pizza into his mouth as he and Graham ogled the various co-eds jamming The Pizza Place. Riley looked on in amusement. "So Xander, you seem to be bouncing back from the whole Anya-Thing pretty good, if you don't mind my saying so."
"Well, after a lifetime on the Hellmouth, you learn to roll with the punches. 'Life hands you lemons, yadda-yadda-yadda'. Besides, I've now learned that actually being enrolled in college makes all the difference with college girls, even if it is Sunnydale Community College. My big problem is finding time; between classes at SDCC, working for Giles at 'The B and B' and Scooby Gang activities, I'm pretty well booked up. Not that I'm in any big hurry – I think a little time solo would be good for me. I don't have the best track record with relationships…"
As a particularly well formed young thing passed them carrying a pitcher for re-fill, Graham coolly remarked "So many women, so little time." He and Xander shared a grin. Xander turned to Riley "But how about you guys? Any trouble adjusting to civilian life?"
"It's weird alright. Before coming to Sunnydale, the Corp was all I knew. It got me out of Iowa, gave me an education, gave me a purpose in life. Now, I don't know – it's like something's missing. You know how they say an amputee will wake up in the middle of the night and scratch at a limb that's not there anymore? That's what it feels like…"
"A morbid analogy, but strangely evocative…But you're still going after your Master's degree, aren't you?"
"Yeah, as long as the money holds out; no more Initiative - no more free ride at UCSD."
Graham stopped looking at girls long enough to pipe in. "Yeah, we've been trying to find a part-time jobs to make our severance packages last longer, but the pickings are pretty slim around here."
"Oh, do tell!"
Riley smiled back at Xander. "Yeah that's right, you've been down that same road yourself, huh?"
"Don't remind me. I think last year was the worst year of my miserable life. When the G-man told me he'd give me a loan and a job so I could go back to school, I felt like I had won the Lotto."
"Hey that's it Huckleberry – we need to buy some Lotto tickets!"
"Graham, if you don't stop calling me that, I'll start referring to you as 'Crackers and Milk', okay?"
Xander smiled at the interplay between the two friends. As much as he loved Willow and Buffy, he really hadn't been around guy-talk since Jesse died. Suddenly, remembering his lost friend, Xander grew quiet.
"Hey Xander, what's with long face? Are you having an Anya moment? I thought you were past that?"
"No, I'm cool. I was just thinking about a friend of mine…He died five years ago, a casualty of the Hellmouth…He got turned by the Master…I had to stake him myself – that was my introduction to fighting the 'Creatures of the Night'…Sometimes I think about him. When I went to see the X-Men movie this summer, I almost broke down…Jesse loved the X-men…He would have loved that movie…"
Graham and Riley shared a look that said, 'Forrest.' The three friends sat in silence, lost in remembrance. Finally Riley spoke "This place…Sunnydale, city of graveyards…Whoever thought we'd end up here, fighting HSTs?"
Graham looked at Riley "We don't have to stay here you know? Buses, trains and airplanes leave everyday. We could just get on one; split – start over someplace else. It's not like we're still nervous in the service bro' - we don't have to be here…"
Riley returned his look with intensity "You don't; but I do. As long as Buffy is the Slayer, my place is here. I'm not going to abandon her…"
Graham nodded "Well, as long as you're here, I'm here – we're in this together…"
Xander wasn't sure where the words came from, maybe it was some leftover from being soldier-boy on Halloween, but he suddenly found himself on his feet, raising his glass in a toast. "'Loyalty above all else – Save honor!'"
Graham stood and raised his glass as well "Semper Fi bro', Semper Fi!"
Riley stood and raised his glass; all three glasses were clinked together. "'To us, and those like us – Damn few left!'" Solemnly, all three raised their glasses and drained them. As one, they turned and threw their empty glasses at the brick wall behind them.
It took a lot of fast-talking by all three to get the manager to calm down…