Buddha Is Around Us

Chapter 11

Liz and Riley reached their destination. It was a wood cabin that was surrounded by some trees and in front of the house was the desert. And the most beautiful sunset. It was chilly so Liz unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself. Riley saw what she did and placed his arms around her. She was tense around him to begin with, but with his arms around her and oh know, he just placed a tender kiss on her temple.

"Relax, baby," he whispered in her ear.

"K," Liz said knowing instantly she wouldn't be able to relax. I would be able to relax if it was Max, there I go again with Max. I'm not doing anything wrong. Just boyfriend and girlfriend, but I'm not Buffy. I'll just try to avoid him. Earth to Parker, it's going to be hard you're staying in a house TOGETHER. In some ways its like Liz Parker's brain is having a battle. Liz vs. Liz. What the hell am I going to do???????

"Buffy, get the blankets please?" Riley asked carrying two duffel bags into the house.

"Is everyone a psychic here?" Liz muttered to herself grabbing the blankets and a cooler.

Liz trudged into the house and was in awe at the art work. On the ceiling there were constellations and planets painted on. Some of the stars were painted in glow-in-the-dark paint.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Riley said closing the door.

Liz jumped at the sound, trying to be as discreet as possible, "Yeah, look a balcony."

They walked to the balcony, Liz making sure she was at least 2 feet in front of him. Wow I wish I had this view from my balcony. Her thoughts were interrupted as Riley turned her around and kissed her. Liz just felt weird. And quite honestly, icky.

Chapter 12

Maria, Isabel, Kyle, and Michael were in the Crashdown discussing how Liz has changed over the past day.

"I haven't really noticed it," Kyle said taking a bite of his Will Smith burger, Michael had fried up a couple of minutes ago.

"Shut up Kyle, all you notice is how Buddha is around us," Maria said.

"You know, Buddha----"

"I think she has changed in some way," Isabel said saving the conversation. Anymore of the Buddha talk and Maria was going to sneak into the Valenti house and steal all his Buddha books. But that's not good. NOOOOOOOO Buddha Boy got to me. Maria made a face unnoticed by everyone.

"In what way?" Alex said sitting next to Isabel giving her a kiss on the cheek. Isabel blushed. She liked to keep things private when it came to Alex, but sooner or later she would want to publicly display her affection. She didn't want to still have the reputation as the 'Ice Queen'.

"C'mon Liz going to Leather R Us. Right there is a sign of help," Maria said.

"Help? You think she needs help?" Michael asked. He never really got along with Liz or with anyone else. But since Max has been flaunting that blonde he saw the hurt in Liz's eye and whatever animosity was between them vanished. He wanted to get to know her better. And she is Maria's best friend, so it would be nice to get along with her. Especially after the journal fiasco. But that was behind them, hopefully. She forgave him and that was that. They never really conversed before, but he wanted to try.

"You know, I have some great Buddha books on help," Kyle said before ducking his head underneath the table. He knew Maria would hit him.

Buffy was in Liz's room, on the balcony, taking in the view she had. She never had a view like this in her dorm room. The only view she had was of the naked fat guy in the other dorm building.

She leaned against the brick wall and felt something move. She instantly turned around and put her hands on the wall. She felt around for a loose brick. Here we go, she thought as she tugged out the brick. What is Liz Parker hiding? A diary, she thought holding the bound book. Do I read this? It's really personal and I remember when I thought Angel read my diary I flipped. Almost had a jelly-belly. But of course assuming the worst I told Angel everything I felt and boy did I feel like an idoit when he told me my mom moved the diary when she was cleaning. My mom. MY mom, no one else's. I miss her so much. A single tear dropped from her eye and Buffy used the back of her hand to wipe it away. Whenever she thought of her mom, she always got emotional. Buffy put back the diary, finally deciding it was too personal. She took seveal steps toward the door looked back at the loose brick and ran back.

"Doesn't hurt if I read some of it?" Buffy said grabbing the book and sitting on the lawn chair.