Part 18 - Pathetic
Buffy knew that the Dingoes were playing, so she walked to the
Bronze. It was crowded, as usual, so it took her a full minute to
locate where Willow was. She walked toward the table, then realized
that it would not be a good idea to make an appearance.
Too late.
Xander turned and looked behind him, as he noticed something had
gotten Willow's attention. He met the beautiful hazel eyes belonging
to the girl who had ownership of his heart, and that heart was struck
with a pain that proved it wasn't completely broken quite yet.
He looked away and met Willow's sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry, Xan. I
really didn't think she'd be coming."
"S'okay," he tried to shrug it off, willing himself not to cry. "It's
a small town, it's gonna happen." He realized he couldn't stay there
with her so close, and stood up. "I need fresh air."
"Be--"
He held up a stake he kept in the pocket of his new leather
jacket. "All under control," he said with a smile. He made his way
for the door on the opposite side of the building, hoping she
wouldn't follow while also hoping that she would.
Buffy saw the pain in his expression when their eyes met, and could
do nothing but stare back at him. She realized at that moment she was
in the most complicated situation she'd ever been in. She loved both
of them, Angel and Xander. What she was going to do about it, that
was a question she didn't know the answer to yet.
She watched him stand and walk away, toward the other door. Part of
her wanted to follow him, but the other part of her knew it wouldn't
be fair. Not when she couldn't give him the answer he needed. She
hoped he could wait until she found the answer, though, because she
couldn't imagine what her life would be if he walked out of it.
He stepped outside into the alley behind The Bronze, and tried to
take a deep breath. *Yuk* He then realized that a deep breath next to
a dumpster wasn't a good thing. He heard a growl next to him and
staked the offending vamp before it could attack. "Can't a guy have
any privacy?" he muttered, shaking his head.
He walked down the alley to the street, and saw Buffy walk outside
and down the street in the direction of her house. He followed at a
safe distance, telling himself he'd call Willow and apologize later.
He knew Buffy could take care of herself, but he also knew he'd die
if anything ever happened to her.
He followed until she reached her house, and waited until he saw her
shut the door behind her. Then he walked back down the street to his
own house. "You're pathetic, you know that? Still obsessed with the
need to protect her, even if she doesn't want you anymore."
Buffy knew that the Dingoes were playing, so she walked to the
Bronze. It was crowded, as usual, so it took her a full minute to
locate where Willow was. She walked toward the table, then realized
that it would not be a good idea to make an appearance.
Too late.
Xander turned and looked behind him, as he noticed something had
gotten Willow's attention. He met the beautiful hazel eyes belonging
to the girl who had ownership of his heart, and that heart was struck
with a pain that proved it wasn't completely broken quite yet.
He looked away and met Willow's sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry, Xan. I
really didn't think she'd be coming."
"S'okay," he tried to shrug it off, willing himself not to cry. "It's
a small town, it's gonna happen." He realized he couldn't stay there
with her so close, and stood up. "I need fresh air."
"Be--"
He held up a stake he kept in the pocket of his new leather
jacket. "All under control," he said with a smile. He made his way
for the door on the opposite side of the building, hoping she
wouldn't follow while also hoping that she would.
Buffy saw the pain in his expression when their eyes met, and could
do nothing but stare back at him. She realized at that moment she was
in the most complicated situation she'd ever been in. She loved both
of them, Angel and Xander. What she was going to do about it, that
was a question she didn't know the answer to yet.
She watched him stand and walk away, toward the other door. Part of
her wanted to follow him, but the other part of her knew it wouldn't
be fair. Not when she couldn't give him the answer he needed. She
hoped he could wait until she found the answer, though, because she
couldn't imagine what her life would be if he walked out of it.
He stepped outside into the alley behind The Bronze, and tried to
take a deep breath. *Yuk* He then realized that a deep breath next to
a dumpster wasn't a good thing. He heard a growl next to him and
staked the offending vamp before it could attack. "Can't a guy have
any privacy?" he muttered, shaking his head.
He walked down the alley to the street, and saw Buffy walk outside
and down the street in the direction of her house. He followed at a
safe distance, telling himself he'd call Willow and apologize later.
He knew Buffy could take care of herself, but he also knew he'd die
if anything ever happened to her.
He followed until she reached her house, and waited until he saw her
shut the door behind her. Then he walked back down the street to his
own house. "You're pathetic, you know that? Still obsessed with the
need to protect her, even if she doesn't want you anymore."
