The phone's shrill ring pierced the still air. Buffy pulled the pillow tighter around her head, attempting to drown out the intrusion.
Eventually, the ringing stopped. The Slayer sighed, feeling the tension melt away. She sat up and yawned, stretching her tired muscles. Last night had been a workout, but not an unwelcome one. Sunnydale had been quiet since the Master's demise. It felt good to fight again. Buffy hadn't realized how much slaying had become a part of her life until she didn't have much to do in that area.
The phone rang once more, interrupting Buffy's thoughts. Groaning, she reached for the offensive object. "Hello."
"Well, it's about time!"
Buffy's mind raced, trying to place the familiar voice. "Kym?"
"Yes, Kym," the other girl replied. "Where have you been?"
"I just woke up," Buffy answered.
"Do you realize that it's four in the afternoon?" Kym asked, barely concealing her disbelief.
"Oops!" the Slayer laughed. She must've been more tired than she had originally thought. "Well, I had a late night last night," she admitted.
"You went out without me?" Kym sounded slightly upset.
"I couldn't just sit around waiting for you," Buffy argued.
"No matter," Kym brushed off Buffy's excuse. "I say we party now."
"Sure, we could…" Buffy began. "Wait a minute, aren't you…"
"My parents had an 'important business meeting' that sprung up at the last minute," Kym told Buffy, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She dropped her voice, mimicking her father. "'We're sorry, Kym, but we have to go. You could always stay here like you had planned.'"
Buffy felt bad for the girl. "Yeah, I've been there before," she admitted, thinking of her father.
"I told him to go screw himself and I came back here," Kym replied.
"You didn't!" Buffy said, shocked.
"No," Kym admitted. "But I wanted to. Instead, I just asked to come back like a good little girl."
"And now you want to party?" Buffy asked with a smile.
Kym laughed. "Hell yeah! You up for it?"
"Sure, I'm up for it," Buffy agreed. "Oh, but I have to be back by two. Xander's coming."
"Buffy, I thought we…" Kym began.
"Hey, I didn't do it!" Buffy defended herself. "A family friend is coming down and he asked Xander to accompany him."
"OK," Kym sounded thoughtful. "Can you be ready in an hour?"
Buffy thought about it. "Sure. Why?"
"Well, if we have to be back early, we might as well start early."
"I like your logic," Buffy laughed. "You gonna pick me up?"
"You betcha," Kym sounded much happier than she had been when Buffy had first picked up the phone.
The two girls said their good-byes and Buffy hung up the phone. She shook her head slightly at Kym's enthusiasm. the blond thought.
Buffy whistled as she headed for the shower. Just a couple of days ago she had thought her summer was destined to be boring and miserable. But now, things were looking up. Her boyfriend was coming to stay with her and she had rekindled her relationship with an old friend. New evil? So what! Buffy knew she was the Slayer and her life would always be in danger. When Giles and Xander arrived, she would at least have back up. Buffy closed the door behind her and turned on the water. she thought with a smile and climbed into the shower.
A few streets away, Kym hung up her receiver and let out a string of curses under her breath. "Need a new plan," she muttered to the empty room. She tapped her foot impatiently, glancing around for inspiration. Her eyes lit up as they fell upon the gleaming knife lying on the countertop. "When in doubt, violence usually gets the job done."
She rushed over and wrapped the sharp object in a towel before placing it in her purse. "Plan B," she whispered. "This one had better work," she threatened no one in particular. Kym then grabbed her keys and dashed out the door.
"Sleeping late makes you sluggish!" Kym laughed as she grabbed Buffy's arm, linking it with her own. Together, they made their way into Georgio's.
"Whatever," Buffy rolled her eyes. She glanced around at the fancy restaurant, oozing with money and elegance. Buffy hadn't been here since she was 14, just before her parents' arguments had grown worse. It had been her mother's birthday so they had come here to celebrate.
The blond blinked quickly to push away the unwanted onslaught of memories. She loved LA, but the city held so much of her past, she found she could not escape it.
Kym glanced at Buffy and tugged slightly on the other girl's arm.
Buffy tossed Kym an apologetic smile. "Sorry, were you saying something?"
"They're ready to seat us now," Kym dropped Buffy's arm and followed the host.
Buffy quickly followed behind the dark-haired girl. They weaved in and out around other patrons before coming to a stop next to an ideal window seat. The host held out the chair for Buffy. She tossed him a quick smile as she slid into the seat.
Kym cleared her throat and the host finally tore his gaze away from Buffy. He rushed over to the other side of the table and held Kym's chair for her. "Thank you!" she huffed.
The host still didn't move. He stared at Buffy once more before quickly looking back at Kym. "What?" Kym raised an eyebrow.
"It's remarkable," the gentleman stated, glancing at Buffy.
Buffy smiled at the man, noticing his heavy Italian accent. "What is?"
"You two," he replied, motioning between the two girls. "Both so beautiful. She is a darker kind of beautiful, but still, it's the same."
Kym noticed the host's gaze linger on the blond across from her and groaned. "My friend here has a boyfriend, Cassanova."
The man glanced at her, confused. "I…" He tried again. "You are not sisters?"
Buffy laughed. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"You look so much the same," the host struggled to explain.
Buffy looked at Kym, who was working hard to contain her annoyance. Her dark hair was pulled back, showcasing her dark eyes and high cheekbones. She then caught a glimpse of her own reflection in the window. Very California Golden-girl. "Hardly," Buffy sighed wistfully.
The man glanced at Kym's angry face. "So sorry to bother you. Zac will be with you in a moment." He rushed off towards the front.
"Well that was annoying!" Kym muttered, opening her menu.
"I thought he was kind of sweet," Buffy argued while scanning the available selections.
"You have a boyfriend," Kym reminded her.
"And I'm not looking, just said he was sweet." Buffy repeated. She looked closer at the menu. "Kym," she whispered. "I can't afford this."
"Relax hon," Kym replied. "Order whatever you want. It's on the house."
Buffy's head shot up. "How?"
Kym stared at Buffy in shock. "I can't believe you forgot that my dad owns this place."
"Still?" Buffy vaguely remembered the Anderson's expansive empire included Georgio's.
"Yeah," Kym replied. "Dad held on to this one and the other 14 across the country. We moved to Louisiana after Grandpa died so Dad could take over the headquarters."
"Fifteen restaurants?"
"And soon to be twenty-one," Kym sighed. "That's why they had to leave this weekend."
"Hi, my name is Zac and I'll be you're waiter tonight," the tall, skinny boy said, pulling a pad of paper from his apron. His long blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and the front of his shirt was peeking out from under the apron.
"You said your name was Zac?" Kym asked him, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes. Can I get you ladies anything to drink?" Zac replied, oblivious to the icy glare Kym was sending his way.
"One moment," Kym held up a hand, signaling to Buffy that she had something to say before they placed their orders. "Zac, you're obviously new here."
"Yeah," the boy shifted uncomfortably under Kym's stare.
"Well let me give you a couple of pointers if you want to keep this job," Kym told the young waiter. "Your shirt must be tucked in at all times and that hair is a disgrace. I expect it cut by the time you come in for your next shift."
"Lady, who do you think you are to tell me…" Zac started angrily.
"I'm the owner's daughter," Kym stated through gritted teeth.
"Oh," the boy fell silent for a moment. "So, can I get you anything to drink?"
Eventually, the ringing stopped. The Slayer sighed, feeling the tension melt away. She sat up and yawned, stretching her tired muscles. Last night had been a workout, but not an unwelcome one. Sunnydale had been quiet since the Master's demise. It felt good to fight again. Buffy hadn't realized how much slaying had become a part of her life until she didn't have much to do in that area.
The phone rang once more, interrupting Buffy's thoughts. Groaning, she reached for the offensive object. "Hello."
"Well, it's about time!"
Buffy's mind raced, trying to place the familiar voice. "Kym?"
"Yes, Kym," the other girl replied. "Where have you been?"
"I just woke up," Buffy answered.
"Do you realize that it's four in the afternoon?" Kym asked, barely concealing her disbelief.
"Oops!" the Slayer laughed. She must've been more tired than she had originally thought. "Well, I had a late night last night," she admitted.
"You went out without me?" Kym sounded slightly upset.
"I couldn't just sit around waiting for you," Buffy argued.
"No matter," Kym brushed off Buffy's excuse. "I say we party now."
"Sure, we could…" Buffy began. "Wait a minute, aren't you…"
"My parents had an 'important business meeting' that sprung up at the last minute," Kym told Buffy, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She dropped her voice, mimicking her father. "'We're sorry, Kym, but we have to go. You could always stay here like you had planned.'"
Buffy felt bad for the girl. "Yeah, I've been there before," she admitted, thinking of her father.
"I told him to go screw himself and I came back here," Kym replied.
"You didn't!" Buffy said, shocked.
"No," Kym admitted. "But I wanted to. Instead, I just asked to come back like a good little girl."
"And now you want to party?" Buffy asked with a smile.
Kym laughed. "Hell yeah! You up for it?"
"Sure, I'm up for it," Buffy agreed. "Oh, but I have to be back by two. Xander's coming."
"Buffy, I thought we…" Kym began.
"Hey, I didn't do it!" Buffy defended herself. "A family friend is coming down and he asked Xander to accompany him."
"OK," Kym sounded thoughtful. "Can you be ready in an hour?"
Buffy thought about it. "Sure. Why?"
"Well, if we have to be back early, we might as well start early."
"I like your logic," Buffy laughed. "You gonna pick me up?"
"You betcha," Kym sounded much happier than she had been when Buffy had first picked up the phone.
The two girls said their good-byes and Buffy hung up the phone. She shook her head slightly at Kym's enthusiasm. the blond thought.
Buffy whistled as she headed for the shower. Just a couple of days ago she had thought her summer was destined to be boring and miserable. But now, things were looking up. Her boyfriend was coming to stay with her and she had rekindled her relationship with an old friend. New evil? So what! Buffy knew she was the Slayer and her life would always be in danger. When Giles and Xander arrived, she would at least have back up. Buffy closed the door behind her and turned on the water. she thought with a smile and climbed into the shower.
A few streets away, Kym hung up her receiver and let out a string of curses under her breath. "Need a new plan," she muttered to the empty room. She tapped her foot impatiently, glancing around for inspiration. Her eyes lit up as they fell upon the gleaming knife lying on the countertop. "When in doubt, violence usually gets the job done."
She rushed over and wrapped the sharp object in a towel before placing it in her purse. "Plan B," she whispered. "This one had better work," she threatened no one in particular. Kym then grabbed her keys and dashed out the door.
"Sleeping late makes you sluggish!" Kym laughed as she grabbed Buffy's arm, linking it with her own. Together, they made their way into Georgio's.
"Whatever," Buffy rolled her eyes. She glanced around at the fancy restaurant, oozing with money and elegance. Buffy hadn't been here since she was 14, just before her parents' arguments had grown worse. It had been her mother's birthday so they had come here to celebrate.
The blond blinked quickly to push away the unwanted onslaught of memories. She loved LA, but the city held so much of her past, she found she could not escape it.
Kym glanced at Buffy and tugged slightly on the other girl's arm.
Buffy tossed Kym an apologetic smile. "Sorry, were you saying something?"
"They're ready to seat us now," Kym dropped Buffy's arm and followed the host.
Buffy quickly followed behind the dark-haired girl. They weaved in and out around other patrons before coming to a stop next to an ideal window seat. The host held out the chair for Buffy. She tossed him a quick smile as she slid into the seat.
Kym cleared her throat and the host finally tore his gaze away from Buffy. He rushed over to the other side of the table and held Kym's chair for her. "Thank you!" she huffed.
The host still didn't move. He stared at Buffy once more before quickly looking back at Kym. "What?" Kym raised an eyebrow.
"It's remarkable," the gentleman stated, glancing at Buffy.
Buffy smiled at the man, noticing his heavy Italian accent. "What is?"
"You two," he replied, motioning between the two girls. "Both so beautiful. She is a darker kind of beautiful, but still, it's the same."
Kym noticed the host's gaze linger on the blond across from her and groaned. "My friend here has a boyfriend, Cassanova."
The man glanced at her, confused. "I…" He tried again. "You are not sisters?"
Buffy laughed. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"You look so much the same," the host struggled to explain.
Buffy looked at Kym, who was working hard to contain her annoyance. Her dark hair was pulled back, showcasing her dark eyes and high cheekbones. She then caught a glimpse of her own reflection in the window. Very California Golden-girl. "Hardly," Buffy sighed wistfully.
The man glanced at Kym's angry face. "So sorry to bother you. Zac will be with you in a moment." He rushed off towards the front.
"Well that was annoying!" Kym muttered, opening her menu.
"I thought he was kind of sweet," Buffy argued while scanning the available selections.
"You have a boyfriend," Kym reminded her.
"And I'm not looking, just said he was sweet." Buffy repeated. She looked closer at the menu. "Kym," she whispered. "I can't afford this."
"Relax hon," Kym replied. "Order whatever you want. It's on the house."
Buffy's head shot up. "How?"
Kym stared at Buffy in shock. "I can't believe you forgot that my dad owns this place."
"Still?" Buffy vaguely remembered the Anderson's expansive empire included Georgio's.
"Yeah," Kym replied. "Dad held on to this one and the other 14 across the country. We moved to Louisiana after Grandpa died so Dad could take over the headquarters."
"Fifteen restaurants?"
"And soon to be twenty-one," Kym sighed. "That's why they had to leave this weekend."
"Hi, my name is Zac and I'll be you're waiter tonight," the tall, skinny boy said, pulling a pad of paper from his apron. His long blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and the front of his shirt was peeking out from under the apron.
"You said your name was Zac?" Kym asked him, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes. Can I get you ladies anything to drink?" Zac replied, oblivious to the icy glare Kym was sending his way.
"One moment," Kym held up a hand, signaling to Buffy that she had something to say before they placed their orders. "Zac, you're obviously new here."
"Yeah," the boy shifted uncomfortably under Kym's stare.
"Well let me give you a couple of pointers if you want to keep this job," Kym told the young waiter. "Your shirt must be tucked in at all times and that hair is a disgrace. I expect it cut by the time you come in for your next shift."
"Lady, who do you think you are to tell me…" Zac started angrily.
"I'm the owner's daughter," Kym stated through gritted teeth.
"Oh," the boy fell silent for a moment. "So, can I get you anything to drink?"
