Part 11

Willow, Xander, and Buffy usually sat in the middle of the classroom. Most people think that sitting in the back would be the best way to avoid the teacher's gaze. Willow and Xander had realized from experience that teachers always picked on the kids in the back because they were supposed to be the trouble makers. So instead you sat in the middle a little to the left out of the direct view of the teacher. Then you could do whatever you wanted.

Willow and Buffy were passing notes back and forth across their lab table. Each leaning back occasionally to listen to some random quip Xander would shoot out about what Cordelia's dress of choice for the day.

i have to ask you something

What

there's this dance. it's like a couples only thing. its at the Bronze. And i was wondering if you would go with me.

Yes

Willow looked up from the note, a large grin stretching across her face. Buffy blushed and looked down at her notes.

"God! I swear she's hoping for the 'Hooker of the Year ' contest." Xander sneered behind the two oblivious girls. "I mean why doesn't she just climb into his lap. How could she possibly think anyone would find that...'I'm super sexy' thing even remotely..."

Willow rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair. "You might be more believable if it those daggers were actually pointed at Cordelia instead of Mark. Let it go Xander. There are plenty of girls besides her."

Buffy turned slightly towards him, "You could do so much better. Your funny and tall and..."

Xander sighed, "No please stop right there. Your praise is killing me. Who cares if the guys Cordy's used to dating are gorgeous, rich jocks. I'm tall."

The bell rang and jolted the class to its feet. A steady stream of bodies raced through the door moving from one circle of hell to the next. The gang moved towards the library, where they all tended to hang out in between periods and during off periods.

"Oh God, there's a test in Chem. today and you know me. I didn't study or read the chapter or open the book since school started." Xander grumbled. "I have to get the hang of this studying thing otherwise I'll be..."

"...Even more of a pathetic loser than you are now?" Cordelia snorted. "Tough job, but I have faith in you." The brunette cheerleader followed the others into the library. " I don't even know why I come here."

Xander raised his hand, "Let me guess. Your a popular girl with half a brain looking for friends who see behind your bitchy facade? Only problem is that it's not a facade and we don't really like you either."

Cordelia's eyes narrowed and she marched up to Xander, "Or maybe it WAS because of this really cute, funny guy that I kind of liked and considered MAYBE dating." She poked him in the chest with a perfectly manicured nail. "That's past tense HARRIS. I'm so gone." Turning around she stomped out of the room.

Buffy and Willow, who had been sitting at the table in the center of the room, glanced from Cordelia's retreating to Xander and back. Their eyes met over the table top. Willow grimaced and shook her head. Simultaneously they stood and moved to their friend. Each girl wrapped an arm around his waist and lay their heads on his shoulders. Willow patted him on the back.

Giles walked out of his office glanced up from the dusty volume in his hands. "Are you ill Xander?"

The young man sighed, "Not yet, but I'm pretty sure when this all catches up with me I am definitely going to feel the need to puke."

*********

Buffy and Willow moved down the street. The blond going into high alert with the setting of the sun. They held hands in as much a desperate need for romance as Buffy's need to ensure Willow's safety on the dangerous patrols. Dating was kind of hard to slip in when new monsters kept cropping up every few days. To make up for the lost nights Willow had begun to follow on patrols. Giles and Buffy had tried to persuade the red head that this was too dangerous. Eventually though they had conceded to her wishes. Particularly after Willow had threatened to follow the slayer from a distance, where Buffy, perhaps, would not be able to protect her.

"So I was thinking we could meet up at the club. You know cause neither of us drive and everything."

Buffy glanced over at her girlfriend, " So its just a convenience." Willow nodded. "It has nothing to do with the reason you refuse to come inside my house when my mother is around. Or why you've never invited me over to your place?"

Willow laughed nervously. "Yeah, see it has nothing to do with any of those things."

Buffy nodded, "Well just as long as your sure. Any way I was wondering what you were wearing. I thought it would be cool if our dresses like matched."

Willow snorted, "Umm...I'll be wearing a suit. Willow does not wear the dresses."

Blushing Buffy nodded, "Of course not. So...what color will your suit be."

"Anything that doesn't look butt ugly on me and hopefully compliments your dress."

Buffy smiled brightly. " Oh I was thinking of going with this great burgundy dress I have. It has a little silk bow and..."

*********

"I think she wants me to meet her mom."

Xander gulped down the rest of his Twinkie. "Your meeting the parents? Dude, Wills that's like huge."

Willow ran a comb through her hair once more. Looking in the mirror she frowned. "Could you imagine that scene? I wonder what'll flip her mom out more...the hair or the breasts."

Xander clapped her on the back, "No question man. It'll definitely be the hair. I mean what colorblind loser talked you into that."

Willow rolled her eyes. Xander had dared her to die her hair at the end of the summer two years ago. She'd really liked the results and had kept it ever since. "I never heard any complaints until now."

"That was back when all we had to worry about scoring with the ladies at the Bronze. Now you've got to meet parents. Its a completely different setting."

"I don't have to meet Buffy's mom. I just got the feeling that Buffy wanted to be picked up for the dance from her house." Willow shrugged and ran a hand through her hand one last time then stood to her full height.

She and Xander moved towards the door. "You know Wills one day your going to have to go back to the little girl's room. Your scaring the natives."

Willow glanced back at the group of boys near the urinals clutching their flies closed. "But Xand...that's half the fun."

**********

"Look I know that Xander can sometimes be a moron but you know he likes you." Buffy glared at Cordelia's reflection.

Cordelia leaned closer to the mirror, and raised the mascara brush to her lashes. "I'm not seeing where that concerns me." Breaking away from her image she turned to the blond. "I'm also not seeing why you're talking to me."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Cordelia for one second please...pretend that something matters more to you than popularity." The cheer goddess turned back to the mirror. " Look I know what he said hurt your feelings, but that's Xander... unable to deal with emotions in a rational manner. He likes you, he sees you flirting with someone else. Now you and I both know that the best way to deal is to talk to you about this. But Xander isn't King of Maturity or anything so he just wigs."

Cordelia began to put away her makeup. She glances up from her purse. "See I knew all of this. What I'm not getting is where you think I care."

" Please Cordy its so obvious that you like him too. So, for once in your life, you are going to have to be the bigger person and forgive him." Cordelia gave an indignant snort. " Look the dance at the Bronze is coming up. Xander doesn't have a date and you...well you don't really want to go with any of the guys that asked you anyway. Ask him to the dance. Or better yet...don't ask him. You can go with Willow and I. We see him at the dance...he grovels for a little while and then you two can go off and have your smoochies. It'll be great." Buffy beamed at her brilliant idea.

Cordelia laughed. "So I go to one of the biggest dances of the year alone...no worse with Willow Rosenberg, I'm branded a lezzie, lose all social standing for what. For the possibility that Xander Harris will make an ass of himself and ask me out? How do you see this as a fair exchange?"

Buffy groaned. "Think about it Cordy which would make you happy. Popularity, which could suddenly disappear, or Xander, who would worship you for like ever."

The cheerleader nodded. " Fine I'll go. But be sure to tell your girlfriend the deal...I don't want her hitting on me or anything."

"She prefers blonds."

"Then why is she dating you."

"Good one."

"I try."

The two exited the bathroom.

end part 11