As Cordelia pulled into her parking space at the high school, Xander slowly
relaxed his death grip on the 'Oh Shit' handle. Thankful that "Mr. Toad's
Wild Ride" had finally come to a complete stop, he slowly began to unfurl
himself out of the car. Right before he closed his car door however, he
remembered that there was still a sleeping Buffy in the back seat. Turning
to ask Cordelia for help in waking the Slayer, he saw her retreating form
rushing off into the school, apparently in a huff.
Shrugging, Xander leaned the passenger side seat forward and brushed his hand against Buffy's bare knee to wake her up. "Hey Buffy, I hate to wake you up, but I think detention from Snyder would put a crimp in the whole 'protect Sunnydale from evil' gig. So wake up, ok?"
Her only response was to smile contentedly and snuggle into the leather of the back seat. Xander was melted by her sweet smile, and couldn't resist moving his hand up to gently cup her cheek. Unconsciously, she arched her back and began to rub her face against Xander's palm, nearly whimpering in her sleep. Without thinking, Xander brushed his thumb across her lips, wondering to himself how they would feel pressed against his. Why am I letting myself feel this way again? I've got Cordy, and I promised myself that I wouldn't let myself love Buffy anymore. But, God help me, I still do love her. I love her with all of my heart.
The pressure of Xander's thumb against her lips was all that was needed to bring Buffy out of her dream. Slowly she opened her eyes, green eyes meeting his brown ones. "Mmm, wow."
Luckily, Xander had noticed her stirring and had just enough time to snatch his betraying hand away from her face. "What was wow-worthy Buffster?"
Still a bit hazy from sleep she blurted out the truth. "Mmm, that kiss. Never been kissed like that." Grinning like a maniac Xander leaned closer. "Oh yeah? And who was this magnificent kisser?"
Realizing that this was real-Xander and not dream-Xander, she clamped her hand over her mouth and blushed a deep shade of red. After re-gaining her composure, she trusted her mouth enough to move her hand away. "Umm... Probably nobody you'd know."
Already knowing the truth, Xander decided temporarily to take the high road. "Whatever you say, Buffy. Though I'm sure I know him better than you'd think." Well, not so high a road after all. Wondering how it would affect her, Xander offered his hand to help her out of the car, knowing full well she didn't need it.
Blushing still, but unable to stop herself, she reached forward and placed her hand in his. As he closed his hand, she couldn't help but notice how small it seemed in his. Sort of like it was a safe shelter made just for her. Isn't that what he's been? A shelter for me? Always strong? Always there? Is this a dream too?
Unconsciously stroking his thumb along her palm Xander tenderly pulled her out of the car. "Umm, we'd better hurry Buffy. That is unless you'd like to have detention for the next week. And detention is notorious for not letting you dream about your kissing friend." High road? Maybe a speed bump.
Before the awakened Inner-Buffy could make herself show Xander exactly what a kissing friend was, they were interrupted by an irritating and utterly nasal voice. "You have no idea how right you are Harris. Except, that is, for the week part."
"Oh, thank God. I love being wrong. In fact, 'Wrong' is my middle name. Isn't that right Buffy?" All Xander got in response were giggles.
The comment even earned a smile from Snyder. Though on him it looked a lot more evil. "Strangely I can believe that Harris. However, you both have detention for the next TWO weeks. Now, come with me to the office!"
The outburst by Snyder slowed Buffy's giggles as they headed inside. That is until she remembered a little factoid about Xander. "I thought your middle name was Lavelle?"
Xander grimaced, which only caused Buffy to giggle harder. "Never speak of that again."
*****
Through massive consumption of Mountain Dew, Buffy was able to make it through third period without having another dream about Xander. That is, until fourth period Advanced Biology. Somehow, Willow talked her into signing up for this class at the beginning of the year. Other than being able to spend a class period with Willow, the class was a total waste of time.
And it was apparently designed to torture her. Why else would they be learning about the mating habits of the male hyena? It's not like I didn't experience it myself. Hmmm, Hyena Xander. For some reason, thinking about Hyena Xander made her feel very drowsy.
Shrugging, Xander leaned the passenger side seat forward and brushed his hand against Buffy's bare knee to wake her up. "Hey Buffy, I hate to wake you up, but I think detention from Snyder would put a crimp in the whole 'protect Sunnydale from evil' gig. So wake up, ok?"
Her only response was to smile contentedly and snuggle into the leather of the back seat. Xander was melted by her sweet smile, and couldn't resist moving his hand up to gently cup her cheek. Unconsciously, she arched her back and began to rub her face against Xander's palm, nearly whimpering in her sleep. Without thinking, Xander brushed his thumb across her lips, wondering to himself how they would feel pressed against his. Why am I letting myself feel this way again? I've got Cordy, and I promised myself that I wouldn't let myself love Buffy anymore. But, God help me, I still do love her. I love her with all of my heart.
The pressure of Xander's thumb against her lips was all that was needed to bring Buffy out of her dream. Slowly she opened her eyes, green eyes meeting his brown ones. "Mmm, wow."
Luckily, Xander had noticed her stirring and had just enough time to snatch his betraying hand away from her face. "What was wow-worthy Buffster?"
Still a bit hazy from sleep she blurted out the truth. "Mmm, that kiss. Never been kissed like that." Grinning like a maniac Xander leaned closer. "Oh yeah? And who was this magnificent kisser?"
Realizing that this was real-Xander and not dream-Xander, she clamped her hand over her mouth and blushed a deep shade of red. After re-gaining her composure, she trusted her mouth enough to move her hand away. "Umm... Probably nobody you'd know."
Already knowing the truth, Xander decided temporarily to take the high road. "Whatever you say, Buffy. Though I'm sure I know him better than you'd think." Well, not so high a road after all. Wondering how it would affect her, Xander offered his hand to help her out of the car, knowing full well she didn't need it.
Blushing still, but unable to stop herself, she reached forward and placed her hand in his. As he closed his hand, she couldn't help but notice how small it seemed in his. Sort of like it was a safe shelter made just for her. Isn't that what he's been? A shelter for me? Always strong? Always there? Is this a dream too?
Unconsciously stroking his thumb along her palm Xander tenderly pulled her out of the car. "Umm, we'd better hurry Buffy. That is unless you'd like to have detention for the next week. And detention is notorious for not letting you dream about your kissing friend." High road? Maybe a speed bump.
Before the awakened Inner-Buffy could make herself show Xander exactly what a kissing friend was, they were interrupted by an irritating and utterly nasal voice. "You have no idea how right you are Harris. Except, that is, for the week part."
"Oh, thank God. I love being wrong. In fact, 'Wrong' is my middle name. Isn't that right Buffy?" All Xander got in response were giggles.
The comment even earned a smile from Snyder. Though on him it looked a lot more evil. "Strangely I can believe that Harris. However, you both have detention for the next TWO weeks. Now, come with me to the office!"
The outburst by Snyder slowed Buffy's giggles as they headed inside. That is until she remembered a little factoid about Xander. "I thought your middle name was Lavelle?"
Xander grimaced, which only caused Buffy to giggle harder. "Never speak of that again."
*****
Through massive consumption of Mountain Dew, Buffy was able to make it through third period without having another dream about Xander. That is, until fourth period Advanced Biology. Somehow, Willow talked her into signing up for this class at the beginning of the year. Other than being able to spend a class period with Willow, the class was a total waste of time.
And it was apparently designed to torture her. Why else would they be learning about the mating habits of the male hyena? It's not like I didn't experience it myself. Hmmm, Hyena Xander. For some reason, thinking about Hyena Xander made her feel very drowsy.