Troublemakers: Slaying Bites

AUTHOR: Silence

DISCLAIMER: Joss, Fox, and UPN own all things Buffy. Lila, Scarlet & Simon are MINE.

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PART 10

The morning light filtered through the dirty windows of the warehouse as Buffy packed things away aimlessly.

She could see Merrick's personal belongings in the corner. Wandering over to the crate she began to rummage around slowly. Letters from England.. maps.. newspaper clippings.. a battered looking passport.. which had an extremely unflattering picture on it that made Buffy's lips twitch a bit. As she looked through the crate she picked up a small wooden cross. It was rough, and old but it was intricately carved.

"Umm.. our father, who art in heaven.. ahh.. hallowed be thy name. Kingdom come.. daily bread-I don't know!" Buffy cried out. Her hands tightened around the small cross.

"I'm supposed to say something," She said and lowered her head. "But you're just dead. So totally dead. And I don't know what to do. You were the one who.. I don't know if the training was over.. I don't even know if I passed!"

"How could you be so stupid!! What am I going to do without you?"

Placing the cross on top of the box, Buffy brushed away her tears with the back of her hand.

"Amen."

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Xander slammed his locker shut. "You haven't seen her at all then?"

Lila shook her head. "Nope. I even went by the warehouse. I think I just missed her."

"Sorry." Spike said as he toyed with a strand of Scarlet's hair. "We checked every dark.. secluded corner."

"I'll bet." Xander muttered.

"She'll be okay." Scarlet said.

"Pet's right. She went through this before. It's not like she'll turn up dead."

"You aren't helping." Xander snapped.

Spike snarled at him, "Bloody hell! I'm here aren't I? I've helped when I need to! So stop your bitching, mate!"

Scarlet smiled sweetly. "I love it when you say that."

"Bloody hell?"

"Oh! Yes! Let's skip lunch!"

Lila groaned as the couple strolled off. "Next time I do this, I'm not letting her bring along one of her obsessions."

Xander sighed, "Keep an eye out for Buffy, okay?"

"I will. Not coming for lunch?"

"No. I'm going to look around some more." He replied.

Lila nodded. "Okay." She opened her backpack and pulled out a lunch sack. "Here. Take this for the road. I'll risk lunch land."

Xander opened the sack and a wry grin spread on his face as he saw its contents. "Twinkies and Ho-Hos! Lila you're a girl after my own tastes."

"Didn't you know?" Lila asked jokingly. "We're twins separated at birth!"

"Ha!" Xander chuckled and walked away. "Thanks, Lila."

"Any time Xander." Lila said. She turned to head to the cafeteria and ran into someone. "Hey! I.." Her voice trailed off as she recognized a very familiar face.

Standing in front of her was a handsome young man with stylishly cut, red hair that slightly flipped over the right side of his face. His sparkling green eyes were both amused and annoyed.

"Simon!" Lila squeaked out. "Um.. Nice to see you! I'm late. Gotta go!"

Simon frowned at her and Lila knew immediately she wasn't going to get away. She smiled nervously. "Would you believe it was an accident?"

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"Maybe she was commando girl in a previous life." Kimberly snorted. "All she-manly and she can't get over now."

Jen giggled, "Or maybe she's just a bi-polar, paranoid, manic depressive psycho looney, whose only recourse now is prozac or a bullet to the head."

Kimberly laughed, "Jen has a mean streak! Let that bitch within out!" She tossed Jen a roll of streamers, "I don't know what her problem is but she is in urgent need of a reality house call."

Nicole's eyes narrowed in anger. She was miffed at the way Buffy was acting lately too, but it didn't give the shrew sisters the right to talk about Buffy like she was lower than dirt. Before she could speak up the gym doors swung open.

Buffy walked in. "Hey guys." She greeted tiredly.

"Speak of the she devil." Kimberly whispered. "You were supposed to be here at three."

"I had things to do."

"Well go back and do them again." Jen snapped at her. "We don't need you here."

Buffy was dumbfounded. "Jen.."

"Don't Jen me. After what you said to us the other day, I don't see why you're talking to us 'lemmings'."

"I wanted to explain-"

Kimberly held up her hand. " No way. We don't give a damn. We've had it with your thing from another tax-bracket ways. Consider your self discarded like last month's handbag." She stared at Buffy with an evil smirk.

As Buffy closed her eyes and exited the gym with out a word, Nicole's gaze followed her sadly.

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Buffy stared at the afternoon sky, her spirits as low as they could get. She sighed and leaned against the tree she was sitting under.

"There you are!"

"Hi, Xander." Buffy said without looking at him. "Have a seat."

"I've been looking for you all day." Xander said as he settled down next to her. "Avoiding me?"

"Not you. Everything in general."

"Want to talk about it?" Xander asked.

"No. I want to forget about it." Buffy answered. "All of it. I want nothing to do with any of this!"

"Buff. You can't just drop everything. I mean you're the slayer. You have a responsibility.."

"Screw it! I couldn't even save Merrick! How the hell am I supposed to save everyone else?" Buffy stared at Xander her eyes brimming with tears. "What happens if I can't save your friends? Or when I can't save you? Or even me? I don't want this responsibility!"

Xander pulled her into a comforting hug. "I know. But you do have it. It's not fair but at least you aren't alone. You have me you know."

Buffy looked up at him and she nodded slowly. "I know, but I don't want to see you get hurt.."

"I'd face the end of the world by your side even if you ordered me not to, Buffy."

"But why?"

"Because you're my hero." Xander pulled away from her and stood up. Still holding on to her hand he pulled Buffy to her feet. "I've got an idea that could perk things up."

"And what's that?" Buffy asked.

"You, me, the dance Saturday night." Xander smiled at her hopefully. "What do you say?"

A smile spread across Buffy's face. "I say I'll have to go shopping then."

"Shopping?"

Buffy and Xander spun around to see Nicole.

"That Scarlet girl said you were over here." Nicole explained quietly.

"What is it, Nic?" Buffy asked timidly.

"I'm sorry. I've been a bitch." Nicole blurted out in apology.

"No! It's not your fault! I've been going through stuff and.." Buffy began.

Nicole shook her head. "I should have tried harder to help!" She smiled hopefully. "Are we cool?"

Buffy nodded happily. "We're cool."

Xander grinned. "There's nothing like watching to girls bond. Although Spike would be hoping for bondage instead.."

Nicole frowned suddenly. "We have to go shopping now if you want a dress."

"I know!"

"I'll pick you up at-" Xander tried to say. "Wait.. I have no car.."

"No problem." Nicole interrupted. "She'll ride with me and meet you here."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm. See you." Nicole said and dragged Buffy away. "We need to find a ride to the mall though. No car privileges until the dance." She rolled her eyes. "Get 50 parking tickets and suddenly you're Satan."

Buffy waved to Xander as she and Nicole began their search. "I'll see you later Xander!"

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"How did we get roped in to this?" Spike asked

Scarlet shrugged. "Hell if I know." She waved a hand towards Buffy and Nicole who were lost in conversation. "Doing a good deed?"

"I'm helping the damn slayer shop!" The vampire moaned. "I can't believe I've sunk so low!"

"My poor little Spike." Scarlet cooed. "I'll reward you tomorrow night if you behave."

Spike pulled Scarlet closer with a wicked grin. "Why not reward me now?"

"Hey, Buffy!" Scarlet called out. "Spike an I will meet you at the car a nine!"

Buffy waved the couple away distractedly. "Okay. Later!"

Nicole and Buffy's arms were already full of bags from their rigorous journey. Pausing in front of a fountain the girls continued their chattering.

"So you weren't dating Xander?"

"No. But now I guess I am."

Nicole squealed. "You like him!"

Buffy nodded her head slowly. "Yeah. I do. He's sweet. He's funny."

"He's cute."

"Nic!"

"Well he is!" Nicole said. Her tone turned serious. "Buffy, what else is going on?"

"I can't really say." Buffy replied and sat down at the edge of the fountain. "It's complicated."

Nicole sat beside her and placed her bags on the floor. "Tell me."

Buffy sighed and told Nicole about her new 'destiny'. When she was finished Nicole's mouth was open in shock.

"You're serious."

"Of course I am, Nicole! Would I joke about this?"

"No." Nicole ran a well-manicured hand through her hair. "So, Buffy Summers is a vampire slayer. Whoa. Who'd have thought?"

"So you believe me?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"Does the word duh mean anything?" Nicole said with a grin. She glanced at her watch and groaned. "Ugh. We have only an hour and a half. We better finish up."

The girls picked up their bags and got to their feet. Buffy motioned to a nearby shoe store. "I still need shoes."

"How about those light blue ones with the.."

Their voices trailed off and a very pale guy with dark hair and a hawkish nose exited a small photo booth. He lips curled in disgust. "Buffy."

As he hurried off, a strip of photos dropped into the slot.

There was no one in them.