Buffy looked down at her feet and noticed they'd fallen into step. He had his hands in his pockets - not for warmth, just for the sake of it. Old habits die hard. She wrapped her jacket tighter around her. There had been a distinct lack of communication for the past half-hour. She had meant to ask him a few things, she wanted answers - she didn't think she was going to get any. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then shut it again as she saw him watching her out the corner of his eye. He didn't seem to be in a very talkative mood. They rounded a corner and Cal smiled slightly as a lone vampire stared at him for a moment then decided to take the long route to Willy's Place. He looked up at the sky, then at his watch,
"It's late."
"Never stopped me before. I always seem to get stuck with the night-shift."
Her small attempt at adding a little humour to their stroll only succeeded in making her feel rejected. He looked at her for a second, then turned his eyes back to the pavement.
"You're not tired?"
"Nuh-uh. Why, are you?"
"No ... I just thought - nevermind."
"What's wrong?"
"To be honest," He looked straight at her, "it's you."
The vampire looked back at the side-walk again. He didn't want to be here, he wanted out. Now.
"...oh."
"Well, I need to go. It's been nice ... uh ... saving your life."
His tone was almost cheerful and his words hit home.
Buffy looked up as he quickened his pace and the distance between them grew. She speeded up aswell,
"Y'know, you can't just do that and expect to leave straight after."
"I didn't. If I had left straight after, I wouldn't be here."
"You always have to have to last word!"
He shrugged,
"Family trait - and that's two words, not one."
Cal stopped and turned, realising she'd stopped behind him. He raised his eyebrows,
"What?"
Her face showed no emotion and instantly the vampire chided himself for ever accepting the assignment. He watched her closely for a moment before turning on his heel and continuing his way to his car. He was a loner, he felt uncomfortable among company and those who would call themselves his friends. He didn't like people.
"Hey, y'know, contrary to your self-evolved little world, other people have feelings - even if you don't. So maybe next time you decide to drop in, don't bother. I'm the Slayer, this is *my* turf."
"Yeah, and contrary to *your* self-evolved little world, you can't always be there to save everyone every time. You can't always be the one to stop everything. Everyone needs help - including you ... and me. So snap out of your big, tough Slayer attitude and go away."
Her brow furrowed and she looked down at the side-walk. Satisified his words had made a significant impact, Cal continued on to his car.
He stopped by the door and looked at her. She had stopped walking at his last comment and was staring after him. His raised his eyebrows and she glared at him,
"You can't just kill my boyfriend and run."
"Who's running?"
"You can't just leave after everything that's happened."
"Everything that's happened? So far all I can think of is killing your boyfriend, which I could have avoided if I'd known, and saving your arse from a serious kicking ... now please, let me go."
She looked at him for a moment, then her face softened. She couldn't blame him for not knowing who Riley was. He would only have appeared to be another G I Joe. He *was* another G I Joe. She shrugged,
"Does it matter what I think?"
"Uh ... no."
"See? You'll do what you want anyway."
"True ... what of it?"
She shook her head,
"Nothing."
He turned his head slightly, looking at her from the corner of his eye as his lips curved upwards into a half-smile. He climbed in behind the wheel and revved the engine. As the vampire pulled away from the curb, Buffy waved slightly,
"See you around."
He smiled at her and began to drive away,
"No, you won't."
Buffy folded her arms across her chest, trying to guard herself from the cold as she watched the car drive away. Then she realised. He *still* got the last word. Amused, a half-smile played on her lips as she wandered home again.