Part 21:


"Buffy." Cordelia said, rushing through the crowded hallways of Sunnydale high to speak to the slayer. Buffy raised an eyebrow at Cordelia. It was hard enough being back at school so soon after her break up (betrayal). But add Cordelia Chase into the mix and it seemed like the day was not going to be a good one.

Cordelia, ever tactless, failed to notice Buffy's raised eyebrow, or her exasperated sigh, and instead, began talking.

"I've been thinking about Xander." Cordelia began. That caught Buffy's surprise. The slayer had seen Xander looking at Cordelia, and knew he had at least some kind of crush on her. However, Buffy had assumed it was merely a physical attraction. Xander was, after all, only male. He shouldn't be held accountable for his lack of taste. However, now that Cordelia was inquiring about Xander, in a way that seemed more than just a little suspicious, the slayer began to wonder about the feelings that were forming between the two.

"What about Xander?" The slayer asked, snapping back to reality.

"Is he going out with anyone?" The head cheerleader asked, trying to keep her voice even. However, Buffy had already figured out where the series of questions were heading. Still, before the petite blonde could answer, Cordelia spoke again. "No, of course he isn't. I mean this is Xander, he's a loser. He's not dating anyway…is he?"

"No." Buffy replied, smiling slightly, something it seemed that she hadn't done in ages, though in truth it had only been two days.

"Then I'll go." Cordelia said. "Not to find him." The cheerleader quickly said, amending the statement.

"I never said you were." Buffy said, still smiling at the cheerleader. Cordelia turned to go, however, she glanced back at Buffy, as if deciding about something, and then turned back around, without even a 'thank you.'

Buffy went on the tips of her toes and watched as the cheerleader headed toward Xander's locker. Buffy smile was erased from her face as she thought about the day Spike had come to school with her…and the night before…and all the nigh and days before that. However, Buffy's train of thought was stopped as a question formed in her mind. Sunlight…sunlight! Spike had been able to go out in the sun. But that shouldn't have been possible. Buffy contemplated going to Giles to ask him about it. However, the thought of having to speak Spike's name aloud brought tears to her eyes, so Buffy suspected saying it would hurt even more. Instead, the slayer assumed it to be some kind of spell, and headed to her last class of the day.

On the way she passed Oz's locker. Oz was a guitar player, and it seemed that he had his eye on Willow. It also seemed that Willow had her eye on Oz. Buffy thought it would be nice, to see her friends all in relationships. However, when Buffy went further up the hall she found Willow standing by her locker, but not alone. No, Willow was standing next to a girl with light brown hair. When Willow saw Buffy she turned and smiled widly.

"Hey Buffy." The redhead greeted her friend. Buffy managed to get a weak smile across her lips, knowing that she couldn't fool her friend into thinking she was happy anyway, so why try.

"Who's this?" Buffy asked, nodding her head in the direction of the brown haired girl.

"Oh. This is Tara, she's new. Buffy, Tara…Tara, Buffy." Willow said. Tara managed a soft hi, as well as a wave, but Willow continued talking. "Tara knows all about demons. She does spells and said she would help me. You know I've been interested in magic." Willow explained to Buffy. The slayer smiled at Willow and Tara and then headed on, nearing her classroom. However, when she looked back, she saw Willow brushing hair away from Tara's eyes, and wondered just how close the girls were.

The slayer continued on, stopped a few more times by annoying jocks, and the regular hallway traffic. The school had never seemed this crowded before. However, Buffy knew that time had never seemed to move more slowly before. It seemed like every second away from Spike was like ten million years. The slayer stood in front of the computer lab, her last class…finally there. However, when she walked inside the sight there shocked her. Giles stood, holding an old book, and stuttering as he spoke to Miss Jenny Calendar, the attractive, raven haired computer teacher, and, as Giles had just found out, Cyber Pagan. Though Buffy knew that she and Giles looked like they were just talking shop, the light in their eyes reflected more. Yup, it seemed like everyone was entering a relationship. Everyone but her.

It wasn't that Buffy wanted a boyfriend, just for the sake of having one. No, the petite slayer wanted Spike. People enter relationships everyday, but Buffy was so hyperaware of people entering relationships today. It was like they were mocking her. Trying to show her how happy they were, how normal and simple their lives were.

"That's it." Buffy said, exiting the computer lab. "Last period be damned. I'm going to find Spike." With that the slayer exited the building, zipping past Snyder, who watched her with hawk eyes as she left campus.







There I am in younger days, star gazing. Painting picture perfect maps of how my life and love would be. Not counting the unmarked paths of misdirection, my compass faith in love's perfection. I missed ten million miles of road I should have seen.

-Indigo Girls