BTVS



New and Improved



Chapter One

The day dragged on. 5th period English wasn't too fun when grammar was the topic du jour. The bell rang and I grabbed my books and headed straight for the library. Giles looked up from one of his trusty old tomes. "Ah, Xander. Glad you're here. Have you seen Willow?" I shrugged. "Not since yesterday afternoon. When we had that meeting about that Griijak demon. Why?" He removed his glasses and sighed. "She's missing. Buffy hasn't seen her, her mother doesn't know where she is." I swallowed. "You don't think she's de-" Giles cut me off. "Let's not be rash here. We'll simply draw up a reasonable list of explanations. She's bound to turn up. Hopefully, she's okay." I nodded. "Well, I've got class and then I'm free. Need me afterwards?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, " he stated. "Some of these old volumes need cataloguing . Would you mind helping out the others?" "Nope, not at all. Call me Ishamel, the book-sorter." Giles put his glasses on. "See you then."

"Gotcha."

I couldn't believe it. Willow. Missing. We'd have to look hard. I wasn't even going to entertain the thought that she might be missing or dead or a va-

Buffy smiled. "Xander, hi. Listen, I've spoken with police and hospitals around town. No luck. Ditto for The Magic Shop. She really went AWOL." I licked my lips. "Buffy, I'm not going to worry. Worry causes panic. Panic is not a good thing." I paused. "Okay, I'm worried. Where could she be?" Buffy shrugged. "Who knows. I hope she's okay. Wherever she is. Anyway, I've got to motor. Plan on helping Giles, Cordy and I sort through dust layers in 45 minutes?" "I'm your man." She smiled. It was a brave feat to do. I headed into 6th period History and was lost in thought when I spied the desk beside me. It was hers. It was empty. And I was scared.