EIGHT

"Is that a new hairstyle?" asked Miranda as Buffy came out from the back
after changing from her uniform into something a little more comfortable.

"Not really," said Buffy, running her fingers through her ponytail. "Just a
little different."

"Doing that for Alex?" The other woman asked.

"No," shot back Buffy almost too quickly.

"Just asking," said Miranda, scratching her forehead. "Are you attracted to
him?"

"Alex? God, no," said Buffy, as she walked up to the front and sat down on
one of the stools. "Maybe. I don't know. I don't think so. Maybe it's
because he reminds me so much of Xander."

"You've been moping about Xander for the past … God only knows," said
Miranda , putting her elbows on the counter, "Can't you just go out for a
simple movie and enjoy yourself without worrying and thinking too much?"

"I guess I could," reasoned Buffy slowly, "Besides, it does look like a
good movie."

"And you're only going as friends," said Miranda, as she leaned forward to
Buffy, "Right?"

"Right." Buffy paused. "You don't think I'm being cheap or anything, do
you?"

"What on earth would make you think I would?"

"I dunno," Buffy grabbed her bag which was on the counter and put it on her
lap. "I mean, this whole movie thing with Alex. It's not like I'm totally
forgetting Xander or anything. It's just a movie."

"You're the one being all hyped up over nothing," said Miranda, "You just
said that you were going as friends. What's the big deal?"

"I don't know. I feel like I'm betraying him." Buffy paused again. "It
sounds ridiculous, of course, because… we're not together or anything, but
I…"

"If you feel that way, then," Miranda looked Buffy straight in the eye.
"Don't go."

"Well… I…" Buffy sighed, "I sort of already promised him and I don't …"

*tinkle*

Alex strolled in before she could finish her sentence. She turned around at
the tinkling of the bell and looked him over. He was wearing a long-sleeved
off-white shirt, and leather pants. Buffy couldn't help but raise an
eyebrow.

"What?" asked Alex.

"Nothing," said Buffy, "You look … different. That's all."

Alex looked down at himself and then back at Buffy and Miranda. "It's the
leather pants , isn't it?"

Buffy giggled. "Maybe."

"Well, I would change," said Alex, as he looked at his watch, "But I don't
think we'll have enough time. Are you ready to go?"

"Sure," said Buffy, as she stood up. She turned to Miranda. "Good night.
See you tomorrow."

"Good night," Miranda smiled at her. "Have fun. Tell me all about the movie
tomorrow morning."

"I will, Miranda." Buffy patted her hand and then waved goodbye. Alex
waited for her and they both walked out of the diner together.

- - -


"That was a good movie, wasn't it?" said Alex as they walked out of the
theatre.

"Well, it was kind of interesting," replied Buffy, "I liked the bit where
the whole building blew up."

"No kidding," said Alex, "That was my favourite part of the movie too."

"Yeah, especially when…" Buffy stopped. She stared straight ahead at
something, and then blinked several times… It couldn't be…

"Buffy? Is there something wrong?"

Buffy didn't say anything for a while, but kept on looking. She squinted,
and then shook her head, rather disappointed. "I'm … I'm sorry. I thought I
saw … someone I knew. My mistake."

"Who was it?"

Xander, she thought. "A friend. Never mind… I should probably get my eyes
checked."

Alex stopped walking and turned to face her. "Hey, do you feel like going
for a snack? All that action bits made me quite hungry, believe it or not."

"Well," Buffy contemplated for a moment, "I could use something to eat. The
popcorn really wasn't that nice."

"I know this place down the street," said Alex, "They serve the best
Italian food. Do you like Italian food?"

"Sure," said Buffy, and she started walking again. She looked back one more
time… just to be sure. He was nowhere in sight. Buffy wrinkled her forehead
and looked down as she walked. With each passing moment she spent with Alex,
he reminded her of the times she had had with Xander. Alex and Xander shared
more than just physical similarities. Alex's sense of humor brought back
memories of the jokes Xander used to crack every five minutes, and she would
have sworn Xander would have enjoyed the exploding building in the movie as
much as Alex. She missed him. And home. God, it had been so long since…

"Buffy?"

Buffy shook her head and looked at Alex. "Eh… sorry. Dazed out for a
second. You were saying?"

"Are you sure you're all right?" Alex asked, concerned, "You seem … pretty
out there."

"Just thinking," Buffy gave him a fake smile, "Nothing to worry about. I've
been told I think too much, though."

"That isn't a bad thing," said Alex, "Most of the time."

"I was just thinking about … home. And stuff," said Buffy. "Haven't been
home for a while. I thik I'm homesick."

"I used to feel that way when I first moved here," said Alex softly, "But
you get used to it in time. And you can always visit."

"I guess I can," said Buffy, thinking about the idea. Maybe it was time to
go back home. If she could… she would have to deal with whatever happened.

"Where do you come from anyway?" asked Alex curiously.

"Oh, some place called Sunnydale," said Buffy, for some reason not very
keen about mentioning her 'home town'.

"Sunnydale?" Alex echoed. "Gosh, isn't that a coincidence. I grew up in
Sunnydale. Or at least for a couple of years. We moved when I was, like,
five. Don't know why though…"

I can guess why, Buffy thought. "It's a small world, isn't it."

"Yeah," Alex agreed. He stopped and pointed across the street. "That's the
place."