FOUR

Miranda looked over at Buffy sympathetically from the counter. She had been
watching everything with a discreet sense of interest, right from the
beginning. She pondered the series of events as the handsome young man that
had come to see Buffy stormed out. She looked at Buffy, who slumped back
against the seat, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Didn't turn out so well, huh." Miranda said softly as she took a seat
opposite the Slayer.

Buffy briefly looked up at the older woman and answered bitterly. "You
think, Sherlock?"

"There's no reason to get snappy."

Buffy gently bit her finger. She looked back at Miranda and her face and
tone softened. "I'm sorry." She paused. "I guess I'm not in a very good mood
right now."

"That's okay," replied Miranda. "Do you want me to get you a drink? Coffee
perhaps?"

"How about three hundred margaritas?"

Miranda couldn't help but laugh. "I don't think I can do that, dear." She
ran her hands through her hair carelessly. "But what I can do is listen. If
you'd let me."

Buffy put her hands in her head and moaned softly. "My life is just one big
screw up after another."

"Well, I don't think it's that bad," Miranda tried to comfort the young
woman. "Things will work out soon. You'll see."

"I certainly hope so."

"I couldn't help overhearing your conversation, because, well, I was
eavesdropping," ventured Miranda with a small smile. "And he seems like a
nice fellow."

"Nice," repeated Buffy. "I've never had a nice guy before. Stupid, and
insipid yes, but never nice."

"Nice guys are the best kind," commented Miranda, as she wet her lips.

"Do they always finish last?"

"On occasion, yes. But not all the time. And this one doesn't have to. If
you give him a chance." Miranda paused, phrasing the next question in her
mind carefully before putting it forward. "How do you feel about him?"

Buffy thought about how to answer this question. "I guess… I don't know. I
think I feel something, but I'm not sure. How can you be sure?" She hammered
the table with her fists.

"There's no real way to tell, but your heart knows, believe me. Your brain
just hasn't received the signal yet... and sometimes it doesn't have to."

"Are you going Disney on me?"

"I'm giving you advice, Disney or not. I may not know what's going on
inside your head, but I'm guessing you like this boy. A lot."

Buffy looked at Miranda, wondering what else she knew. "I guess I do. But I
… I'm scared. If… if we ever got together, and things don't work out, I
could lose him. I don't want that."

"Keyword being 'if'. Who says things won't work out? How will you know if
you don't give it a shot?" Miranda's voice took on a serious , maternal
tone. "If you don't do something about this right now, you'll regret it, I
can guarantee it."

Buffy took a deep breath. "I should talk to him."

"Yes, you should," ordered Miranda. "Now get off your butt and start
looking for him."

Buffy nodded and stood up. She turned to go, but looked back at Miranda
instead. "Thank you."

Miranda smiled in response. "Go," she said warmly, motioning towards the
doors of the diner. "Now."

Buffy nodded again and headed towards the door. She was intent on telling
Xander her feelings. There would be no more hiding, no more lying. She had
wasted too much time with that already.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the door
swinging open. The tinkling of the bell merged with a loud 'thud' as the
edge of the door struck her face. She toppled backwards and tumbled to the
floor. Miranda got up immediately and rushed on to the scene.

"You all right?" She asked, as she helped Buffy up.

The blonde nodded and gently massaged the bridge of her nose. "Fine, but
just a bit humiliated."

"I'm so sorry!" The man who had entered apologised profusely. "I should
have been paying more attention to where I was going. God, are you all
right?"

"Fine," said Buffy for the second time. She looked at the person who was
speaking, and realised it was none other than Alex Kingsley. She muttered
his name in recognition. "Alex."

"I'm so sorry," he mumbled over and over again as he helped her stand
steadily. "Look, let me buy you a drink, to show you how terribly sorry I
am."

"I work here. I get drinks for free," Buffy answered, still rubbing her
nose. "But thanks anyway."

"Well, I know this club downtown that…"

"No thanks." Buffy cut in before he could finish his sentence. She could
tell where he was going from there, and she wasn't really interested in that
right now. Right now, she could only think of Xander. "I really have to be
going…"

"Do you need a lift?" Alex was going out of his way to be helpful in an
attempt to impress her. "I could give you a ride if you…"

Buffy waved her hand weakly. "Nah. I need the exercise, and the weather
look's pretty good." She took a step towards the door.

"It looks like it's going to rain."

"Nothing like a little rain to put me in the mood for walking," Buffy
replied hopelessly, shrugging her shoulders as she spoke. She gave both
Miranda and Alex a brief nod, and stepped outside. She looked up at the sky
and realised that Alex was right - dark clouds were looming precariously.
She took a deep breath and started walking.

Inside the diner, Alex watched her through the glass windows. He turned
back to Miranda. "Is she going to be all right?"

The old woman arched her eyebrows for a moment. "I certainly hope so."

= end of this part=