Maybe Now Is That Time
Chapter Two
Oz pulled the van into the parking space at the side of the dusty road. He had been driving for almost ten hours now, snacking as he drove rather than stopping for a meal, and listening to the distorted sound of the van's very old stereo. He needed to sleep, stretch his legs and take a leak, although possibly not in that order.
Ablutions dealt with and legs thoroughly stretched, he climbed into the back of the van and lay down on the bed mat he kept there. Checking the back door was securely locked, he lay down to sleep. He could have booked into a motel or guesthouse somewhere, but this seemed easier, and of course, cheaper. Turning onto his side, Oz closed his eyes and sank into a sleep filled with dreams of red hair and sweet smiles.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When he woke, the traffic outside was already picking up. Checking his watch, he realised he'd slept much later than planned. It was along time since he'd had such pleasant dreams, and he hadn't been in much of a rush to wake up. He shrugged to himself, acknowledging that it didn't much matter when he reached his destination. Nothing much was waiting for him there except a few days of wandering aimlessly through familiar streets and browsing the same shops and stalls that were there every time he took this trip.
Climbing out of the back of the van, Oz shielded his eyes from the already blazing sun. He really ought to learn that this wasn't a good time of year to do this trip. He smiled ruefully. He always came in the heat of summer, mainly because it reminded him of the happiest times he and Willow had spent together, after Graduation, and before college and the whole Veruca mess got started. He wasn't likely to change the habit now just because of a little bit of global warming.
Running his hands through his currently light-brown hair, he jumped in the driver's seat and started the van's engine. He could find a bar or café in the next town which would provide an essential caffeine jolt as well as somewhere to wash the worst of the post sleep grit from his face. Reaching for the stereo he slipped a recording of the Dingoes, made at a frat party shortly after they started at UC Sunnydale. He remembered Buffy and Willow dancing at the party, which was in the pre-Parker, happy Buffy phase of college. Pulling out into the fast-moving traffic, he set off in the direction of Istanbul.
Three hours later, he was totally bored. The journey seemed never-ending, and he had seen most of the scenery before. Usually he enjoyed driving alone, listening to music and watching the world go by. Today, though, it was making him uncomfortable. Which was why, when he saw the girl at the side of the road with a dusty backpack and a battered cardboard sign, he pulled over.
Even as he stopped, Oz was thinking that this was probably not the best idea ever. But, it was daylight, so not a vamp. And she was, surprisingly, much smaller than him, so, unless a new slayer had been called, probably not dangerously strong. He leaned over and opened the passenger door of the van.
"Hey" Smiling at her, realising too late that she might not even speak English.
"Hi." American accent. Probably Mid-West, although he'd been away for a while and couldn't swear to it. At any rate, they'd be able to communicate.
"Where you headed?" Now he'd had time to think about it, hoping she would be aiming in a different direction. Sure he'd been bored, but the thought of having to make conversation didn't really appeal. He was more of a listen and learn guy. Not big on the small talk.
"Istanbul. You?" She looked up at him hopefully, pushing her hair away from her face, leaving slightly dusty grey smudges on one cheek.
"Same. Jump in." Even if he wasn't sure about sharing his van for the rest of the journey, the look of relief on her face spoke volumes, and there was no way now that he could not give her a lift. Maybe she'd sleep, or be one of those who liked to look out of the window.
"I'm Cathy." Sliding into the seat, she pulled on her seatbelt and turned to smile at him.
"Oz" He smiled back, aware that it probably looked a little forced. Already, he was regretting allowing his boredom to get the better of him. He eased back out onto the road, turning the volume on the stereo up at the same time, hoping that would get his message across.
"So, why Istanbul, Oz? You ever been there before?" Evidently she was thicker skinned than that. She was looking at him with interest, obviously keen to fill up the travel time with tedious getting-to-know-you chat, the type
"A few times, yeah. You." Keep the sentences short, hope she'll lose interest in monosyllabic-guy. Even with people he liked, he tended to keep it short and sweet, so with total strangers, conversation was at even more of a minimum.
"First time. I've been travelling for two months. Heading back home to start grad-school in a couple of weeks. Some guys I met in Bulgaria told me it was a pretty cool place, so I though, seeing as I had a bit of time to kill, may as well check it out. I guess it is?"
"Huh?" Oz was aware that he had been asked a question, but hadn't zoned in on the girl's chatter enough to know what it was.
"Istanbul. A cool place? I mean, you're going back, and you said you'd been a few times, so I guess you must think it's worth it?" She turned slightly in her seat, interest showing on her pretty, if slightly grubby face, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Oz sighed inwardly. She was obviously a relative newcomer to the backpack trail, still starry-eyed and wanting to go everywhere, see everything. He knew the type. Travelling before college, or before their first full time 'real' job. She would go home, tell everyone about her fantastic trip, and life-enhancing experiences, then settle down as a grown-up; glad she never had to do it again. They were easy to distinguish from the hardened nomads, who had seen it all, done it all, and weren't ever going to go home.
Oz thought he probably fell somewhere in between. He didn't plan on doing this forever, but he was too cynical to start with to have ever had the bright-eyed enthusiasm for new experiences that the girl beside him showed. He was reminded of Willow and that made him a little more honest and open than he would usually be.
"It's okay" he began, "but I don't really go back for the place. More for what it means to me." Even as he spoke, he was thinking that this wasn't a good idea. Talking about Willow was always difficult, and as someone who didn't express a great deal of emotion in front of his closest friends, displaying his feelings to a total stranger was bound to be too much for the naturally taciturn man. Oh well, he'd started now, and she looked like she wanted to hear this.
"So, what's special about the place then? Let me guess. You met a girl there, had a whirlwind night of love and passion, and then never saw her again." Convinced she'd hit the nail on the head, she smiled at him, clearly looking forward to a story straight out of Brief Encounter.
That smile, so sweet and innocent took him right back to Willow, and, deciding that a little conversation once in a blue moon wouldn't hurt, he smiled back at her
"Not exactly. But you're right. It started with a girl."
TBC