Title: Before the Fall of Rome (3/?)
Author: Brooke
Email: yabbadabbadome13@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I wished I owned the two Xanders' from "The Replacement" though. Buffy and friends are owned by Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, The UPN and whoever else has rights to the show.
Summary: You remember all that crap that started post-puberty…yeah, it's great isn't it. It was when life started
Distribution: I don't know why anybody would want this, but if somebody does…sure.
Feedback: Definitely!! Tell me if it sucked or if you liked it. Whatever. Just write back!
Authors Note: Takes place in an AU season 1 where Buffy and Xander are best friends and Willow is the new girl as Sunnydale High. It is the beginning of their sophomore year and, as 15 and 16 year olds, hormones and feelings are taking center stage.
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Thee Weeks Later
Xander swiped his hand through his hair and then over his face before pulling his goggles into place. He swung his arms back and forth a few times as he stepped up onto the platform and glanced from side to side at his team members.
Usually, he was all for timed laps, he found it was a really good way to clear his mind. And he was good at it…and he knew it. It was one of the reasons that he loved tryouts…not only was he doing something he loved, but it gave him the opportunity to show the whole school that Xander Harris was not a complete and total failure.
He may have never taken an advanced placement class, or won a science fair, or gotten on of those honor roll bumper stickers for his mother's car, but when he was in the pool…when he dove into the water, he was damn near god-like, in a completely non-sacrilegious way.
But today…he was just there. He was really trying to retain a minimal amount to focus, but it didn't look like it was going to happen, and his times were proof of that. To some it up in one word…Buffy.
Yep. They were still milling around in the land of confusions and maybes, and it seemed to him that they should invest in some property in the place. At least rent an apartment.
After the first day of school things got decidedly more complicated. He had gone to the Bronze with her, Jesse, and Willow, genuinely expecting to have the time of his life. Both he and Buffy in total denial mode…until…
The coach's gun sounded and startled Xander into action and he dove into the pool, his thoughts momentarily parting and washing past his body like the water he cut through. The 400 meter butterfly was his favorite stroke, and he knew that nobody in the county could beat him in it. There were 3 trophies in the case in the hall that proved that fact.
He forced his body to move as if there were nothing else in the world…right now, this was all he wanted and needed in the world…there was NOTHING else…NOTHING. He counted in his head and measured out his movements, intending to finish this last practice race for no one but himself, and when he reached the wall for the second time and whipped off his goggles, he saw he had achieved the desired results.
"Finally, the Harris I know!" Coach Ramsey's voice boomed through the pool area, "Good work!"
"Alright, ladies!" he coach spoke again as Xander and the other boys hoisted themselves out of the pool, "That's it for today. Tomorrow we'll start at 3…be on time, remember this is a COMPETITION!"
There were several tired sighs to be heard, but Xander ignored it and walked hurriedly into the locker room. All he wanted to do was shower and go home, but that wasn't even going to happen. He had to meet Willow for his math tutorial in fifteen minutes.
Yes, it seemed to Xander, that after swim practice his life dove back into sucking horribly.
Just like it had everyday for three weeks…three weeks ago, when he had almost kissed his best friend at the Bronze. Since the beginning of the school year, it had become increasingly clear that Xander was not going to be able to rely on Jesse to offer the much needed Buffy distraction that, he assumed, he had been providing for about two years. He figured Jesse had to be the ONLY reason that he hadn't noticed Buffy in that way until now…but now…Jesse seemed to have a girlfriend. Paige Durmot had shown up at the Bronze that night and Jesse went MIA for the majority of the night. And Willow had offered little to no help at all. She was still so shy…and seemed to keep looking at him for extended periods of time, which had, in turn, prompted Buffy to ask him to dance upon sensing his uncomfortability.
And that's when it started.
Stupid fucking band and their stupid fucking breaks. And Stupid fucking him…he should've gone back to the table to be starred at some more by Willow, but noooooo…he HAD to wrap his arms around Buffy's waist…and she had to let him. She had to be wearing that short tight black dress that he loved…and she had to smell sooooo good, all Herbal Essence-y…he loved that smell.
And they, with no hope of interruption just happened to look up at each other and it clicked. It was at that moment that Xander knew that he was right about there not being any words that could be used to fix things between them…only actions that could possibly clarify everything. Buffy had leaned first, up just a fraction of an inch, like she wanted him to kiss her…and oh, how he did. Every fiber of his being wanted that moment…her lips…her body pressed so close to his…
And then somebody bumped into them in a mad dash out of the door. Can we all say 'So long moment'?
But Xander assumed it was for the best…he felt like shit, but it had to be for the best. He couldn't go around kissing his best friend…he could think about it until his right hand fell off…he did have a cramp some nights…but that was all he could do.
He slammed his locker door shut and grabbed his book bag of the bench behind him. He knew he was going to be late for his meeting with Willow, but he just got lost in his thoughts in the shower. Xander was sure that she wouldn't be mad, and even if she were she wouldn't say anything to him about it. She let him slide on those things…if Buffy found out, on the other hand, he'd need to schedule a surgery to get the new ass hole she would tear him closed up.
Xander said some good-byes to his teammates and headed outside, careful to avoid the gym where Buffy had cheerleading practice. He felt a flash of guilt at avoiding her, but didn't really feel like being yelled at for his "inconsiderate attitude" concerning the redheaded newcomer. But, Xander reasoned, Buffy didn't even seem to yell at him so much anymore, it was always more along the lines of a stern look which seemed to always melt into a warm smile and then a disturbed head shake. He had the same reaction to her and his…involuntary…bodily responses.
He knew aversion wasn't the way to go either, but if he saw her and the girls were done their practice he would, without a doubt, stay and talk with her…and then walk her home…and stay for dinner…
And totally forget about Willow waiting at the Espresso Pump for him.
But he did need to talk to her. Beyond their almost kiss, that was reaping havoc in his world, he knew something else was going on with her. Something they had not discussed, be it because of the lack of an appropriate time, or because they always seemed to get distracted when they were together now…or, and Xander hated this reason, because, one Scott Hope, had sought out Buffy on the second day of school and tried to restart their relationship.
Tried, being the operative word. Buffy had told him that she would like to try out an extended summer plan as far as they were concerned, and because Scott, Xander ruefully admitted, would do anything for her, agreed. Now Xander noticed, Buffy had a full fledged stalker, and their group had an enthusiastic fifth wheel…member.
Xander shuffled his feet down the pavement through town, letting his hair dry in the sun. Not that the fact that Buffy had chosen to remain in the single pool…with him…didn't make him happy, but he thought she wouldn't be able to wait to enter the land of the attached again. One thing Xander knew about Buffy was that she loved to, well…to be attached. But when he had asked why she wanted to extend her break with Scott she had just said that she had too much on her plate right then. She said with school starting, cheerleading, new friends, and stuff, Scott just didn't fit into the equation right now.
It was the "and stuff" that had gotten Xander's attention, and he had asked "What stuff?", but in her famous defensive maneuver Buffy had deftly avoided the question by showing him the cheerleading uniform catalog…He was only human.
But Xander was still asking himself, "What stuff?"
He knew it was something. Ever since that first day…he didn't know exactly, but Buffy seemed to have some sort of…second life…she was leading. She was always busy now. Sure, she made time for him and Willow and Jesse, when he was available, but it was different…she was different. She left the Bronze early, now, and almost always, got there late. And when Xander would call her line at night, just to check on her, she wasn't always there. He had to ask himself, if she wasn't with him, where was she?
And sometimes, Xander noticed, she had strange bruises, and if he wrestled her to rough in the hallway, she would wince. That, and when she would wrestle back, he would always end up with a steady ache where she had hit him, which usually lasted for days…she was still small, she just seemed to pack more of a punch that she had in the past. And Xander had seen her in the library more than he had ever seen anybody else in the school…which was weird…and he didn't like it. He didn't like that she was different, and increasingly defensive because of it.
He had a surmounting number of facts…he just needed to talk to her. He hoped she would want to talk to him…especially since she had shown no interest in it thus far.
"XAN!!" he hears his name called in the now familiar voice and he entered the gated outside seating area of the coffee house where Willow was.
"Hey Wills," he greeted warmly, huge smile in place, "What's the what?"
"Nothing much," she smiled back at him, and then reminded herself mentally to tone it down a bit. She just always got this fluttery feeling whenever Xander was near her, so forget it when he smiled at her. "How was practice?"
Xander shook his head, purposefully flinging some remaining water on her, to which Willow laughed, but pretended to be upset by. "Same ol', same ol'," he took a seat across from her and then took a sip of her Frapappuccino, "I hope you realize that you're sitting with the star of the Razorbacks Swimming team," he joked.
"Oh, I'm well aware," Willow chided, "I'm just surprised that you can swim with huge head of yours."
"Just let me have one thing," Xander pleaded, "I can swim and I can read, that's all. Please don't steal my thunder."
Willow shook her head at him, "You're better than you think you are," she reprimanded, "Just not according to Ms. Kelson," she added, referring to his math teacher in hopes of covering any deeper meaning to her previous comment.
Xander heard her, but chose to ignore the comment, "Well, she's in the majority." He reached into his bag for his notebook, "Should we start?"
Willow raised an eyebrow at him, "You in a hurry to ditch me?"
Xander looked up shocked, "Ditch you?" he asked in a mock hurt tone, "Of course not. Buffy just said that you guys were going to the mall before dinner, so I figured you'd want to hurry this up. I know I do." He watched her continue to look at him and realized what he had just said, "The math. I want to hurry the math up…not the hanging out with you…"
"Sure," Willow sounded disbelieving despite her smile. She and Buffy were going to the mall later, she remembered. She had actual friends now…she had a group. The pain she had felt when she left her old friends back in LA was slowly melting away the more time she spent with Buffy, Xander and Jesse. They, despite the obvious differences that she could see between them, accepted her. Everything was perfect…except for one thing…one Xander shaped thing that she had no idea what to do with. Willow had never had anybody in her life like Xander…he was so…cute, and funny, and nice, and there…and Buffy's…only not Buffy's…and Willow had no idea what to do, because when it came down to it, she was quite sure she couldn't compete with Buffy for him and win; after all, completely aside from the physical side, where Willow felt increasingly inadequate, he and Buffy had so much more history, and she was so new to it all. She even felt ashamed that she felt the need to compete with her new friend for a guy.
"So what part are you having a problem with?" she asked, shaking her thoughts away, and flipping open the textbook she had borrowed from Buffy to help tutor Xander with.
Xander just looked at her for a moment as if she had just spoken Japanese to him, "The math part." he stated matter-of-factly.
"Alright," Willow sighed, "Let's start with real numbers then."
Xander quirked one eye brow at her, and Willow mentally accepted that no matter how warm and fuzzy she felt about him, this was going to be a long afternoon.
*~*~*
"READY GIRLS! OKAY!"
Buffy was wearing her biggest smile as she fell into formation, taking her place right next to Cordelia in the triangular pattern they were in. This was mostly a clapping cheer, something easy for all the newcomers, so all the pom-poms had been discarded by the bleachers before Cordelia, as head cheerleader, began shouting out the orders in an overly peppy and obviously fake tone.
Buffy had to laugh…not only had she made the squad, a clear step up from last years second alternate, but in most of the formations she had been placed right next to Cordelia. It was the perfect set-up for the private competition they engaged in everyday. Everyday since the second grade when they had met and proclaimed a mutual hatred for each other. Now, as mature high schoolers' they had the means to carry it out more efficiently. Buffy wanted nothing more than to be better than Cordelia, and Cordelia wanted nothing more than to rip Buffy's spine out and jam it up her ass…it was really pretty even handed.
"LIKE AWESOME, OH WOW!" the cheer started and Buffy clapped in time with the words, trying to best the girl next to her with her enthusiasm.
"LIKE TOTALLY FREAK ME OUT! LIKE TOTALLY, RIGHT ON! THE RAZORBACKS SURE ARE NUMBER ONE!" the cheer ended with the customary round of high kicks and screams, and the expected round of applause from the guys in the bleachers.
"Alright ladies," the coach drew their attention and they all drew into a scattered circle. Buffy was only half listening as she congratulated them in a hard days practice as her eyes scanned the bleachers for her friends…well, one friend in particular.
She spotted Jesse, who was more than likely, there for Paige, who Buffy briefly noticed was also not paying close attention to the coach as she did some serious eye flirting with her friend. She rolled her eyes at him when she saw him making kissing gestures towards the other girl and she scanned the rest if the bench he was sitting on, which didn't take much. Buffy spotted Scott sitting next to him and he gave her the obligatory excited wave when he saw her look at him.
She felt genuinely bad that he was there…still refusing to let her go, even after she told him that she wasn't ready to go out with him again after nearly four months of separation. But it was true…she couldn't be with him feeling the way she did. It wasn't fair to him, and it wasn't fair to her, and, it seemed more importantly, it wasn't fair to Xander. Not that the last fact mattered at all, because it seemed that she would never to be able to make it fair for Xander…and the reasons for that were far to many and complicated for her to deal with without getting a splitting headache.
But Scott, being the guy that he was, refused to just let her walk out of his life…he said that if nothing else we would wait until she was ready if as nothing more than a friend, And a friend he became…if friend meant a suffocating, smothering, psychopathic stalker boy…he was her best friend.
Buffy waved back feebly at him and him alone. See…they were the only two who had come to see her that day. She knew that Xander had swim practice, but he had, at least for the past two weeks, come to watch her right after he was done. She liked that. She always seemed to practice better knowing that he was there watching her.
But, today, like yesterday, and everyday that week, for a matter of fact, he hadn't been there.
She felt like she had hardly spoken to him at all, and that fact bothered her a lot. Buffy tried to shake it off as she headed towards the locker room as fast as she could in hopes if avoiding having to talk to Scott. She hoped that Jesse could talk him into giving him a ride home, at least that way she wouldn't have to BS some excuse as to why she wasn't going home yet.
Everyday after practice Buffy had to head to the library to train with Giles. He had finally roped her into this Slayer thing and now it had thoroughly taken over her life. In the end, Buffy knew that she couldn't just let people die…not when she had the power to stop it. Or as Giles had told her, she was destined to stop it…or die trying. It seemed that of all her childhood dreams, her true destiny lay in fighting the forces of darkness until she died at a disturbingly young age.
So she slayed. Every night for the last two and a half weeks she fought and bled and bruised and beheaded and staked everything that crawled out of the ground or sewer. Oh did she had the bruises to prove it too. She may have Slayer strength and healing, but she was still new to the game, and Giles was still complaining that she was taking too many hits, herself, to be truly effective.
All this criticism, Buffy noted, while he hid behind a tombstone and did as his title claimed…watched.
But, at the end of the day, all this slaying, when added onto school and cheerleading practice, friends, and the already minimal amount of time she spent with her family, meant that she had no time for her. Not that she craved the loner life style or even needed countless hours to mull over her life; she just missed having the option to if she wanted. Buffy was loosing herself, and she was always so tired all the time now, and the aches, while they healed quickly, were accumulating faster than her body could deal…
Xander noticed.
Nobody but Xander noticed…and she couldn't even talk to him about it. All she could do was say that she was fine, give him a smile, and change the subject. Buffy hated that she couldn't tell the one person in her life that she had always told everything to this. He couldn't know this…the biggest thing in her life…the one thing that could end her life. She hated that when she cried herself to sleep at night, because, as of late everything was proving to be too much, she couldn't go to Xander and have him make it all better. She had a feeling that he could, she just couldn't let him.
Buffy trudged warily out of the locker room, still in her practice clothes, on her way to the library. It was Friday and she knew that Giles was going to work her extra hard. She didn't know where she had developed any type of martial arts skills, but she had them now, and had absolutely no idea what to do with them, as her Watcher had so pointedly put it. And he had to show her exactly what to do as he intended to sent her out on a solo patrol on Monday.
Solo patrol.
All that meant to Buffy was that there would be no one in shouting distance to call an ambulance when some monster beat the living shit out of her and left her to die in the dirt.
Her eyes were closed as her feet carried her to the library but she stopped when she heard her name called…it was Scott, her mind recognized immediately. Dammit! her mind cursed. Not only had she not seen Xander that afternoon, which undoubtly assured that he was avoiding her again, but now she hadn't even spent enough time in the bathroom to miss Scott.
"Hey," she greeted, turning to face him, hoping she didn't sound too irritated. "What's up?"
Scott came up to face her, noticing her slouched stance, "Nothing much. You?" he asked, a small smile in place.
Buffy shrugged her shoulders, "Eh," she couldn't think of anything else to say, so she left it at that. She knew it was pathetic, but she was tired. Plus, less conversation should be less encouragement for him.
He continued his study of her and let out a breathy chuckle, "That good huh?" he got another shoulder shrug. "You were good in practice," Scott noted, "Very cheery, but now I see that was just an act."
"I'm just tired," Buffy stated, "Once I get a power nap in I should be right as rain."
"In time for the Bronze tonight?" he asked hopefully, "Cuz I could swing by your house and pick you up."
Buffy sighed and shook her head, seeing right through yet another one of his attempts to engage her in a date-like scenario. "I can't tonight," she saw him waiting for an explanation and her mind worked furiously to come up with one, "Dad's stressing a family night, so I'm roped into it…cuz I'm in the family and all…"
Scott nodded in agreement, "I hear that. My Mom insists on Sunday's though."
"Listen Scott," Buffy started with the clear intent of ending this conversation for now, "I'm…"
"Do you need a ride home?" Scott asked suddenly, cutting her off, "I could give you a lift if your so tired…you shouldn't be walking…especially with your eyes closed." he leaned in and laughed slightly.
Buffy smiled back at him for a moment, "You have no idea how much I want to say yes…"
"Great!" Scott interjected, reaching to take her gym bag from her, but Buffy shifted her shoulder away from him so that he missed the strap.
"But…" she started again.
"Of course…but. There's always a but…"
"I've got some more stuff to do here," Buffy stated, now put off by his tone and new demeanor.
Scott shook his head, "I could wait…"
"Not necessary," Buffy insisted, "I'm just…"
"Fine," Scott held up his hands and took a small step back, "Listen Buff, I…I'm running on auto-pilot here," he watched Buffy's eyes close as she dropped her head so he continued, "I don't know what to do without you."
"You haven't really been without me yet," Buffy pointed out, "Maybe if you try it for a little bit I'll believe you more."
"You know what I mean," Scott sighed and looked around the empty hall, "Do you know how hard it is to go from couple to friend?" Buffy didn't respond, mostly because she didn't have a response to his question, and she assumed that she wasn't supposed to. "I don't understand why, Buffy. And I don't think you do either…"
"You don't know what I understand, so don't attempt to tell me that you do." Buffy said to him, finally meeting his eyes with a fierce gaze.
Scott knew he had crossed a line, but having dating her, this wasn't the first time that had happened, so he knew to back off. He changed his tone when he spoke next, "That's not what I meant…I just…you're not dating anyone…"
"How can I when my ex is trailing me all day and night?" Buffy asked semi-sarcastically.
Scott's gaze fell, "So if I weren't, you would be? Is that what you're saying?"
"No," Buffy denied, "I'm just saying…it's not like you're giving me the ideal situation to work with."
"I just want you back, Buffy," his voice held a hint of pleading in it, "I don't know what I did to loose you…"
"You didn't do anything…"
"But I can't not have you in my life…God, Buffy, I don't know what it is about you…"
Buffy looked at him and it seemed like he was going to cry, "Scott, I really have to go." She said before the situation progressed any further.
He shook his head, "Just let me tell you this…please Buffy. You…something about you…I need. I need you."
"I'll see you later," Buffy said, turning and walking away quickly. "Bye," she called over her shoulder without looking back. She heard him call her name, but she kept walking, not hearing his footsteps behind her. She took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to the library taking in Giles' form waiting for her at the large table in the middle of the room. Her day couldn't get any worse if someone were to literally throw human feces on her, and here this man sat, looking at her as if he couldn't be more disappointed in anybody else in the world.
No.
Buffy shot Giles a look as he was about to comment on her tardiness and he immediately shut up. She made her way over to the punching dummy and began the workout that he had outlined for her in the beginning of the week, executing it so efficiently as if she were daring him to interrupt her. She didn't want to hear anything anybody had to say…Not now. Right now she just wanted to get this done and then sleep until it was time to put her training into practice and then sleep again. And that was exactly what she was going to do, and no stuffy old Englishman with a power complex was going to stop her.
*~*~*
"Come now, Buffy!" came the muffled English accent through the padded face mask, "You are hardly even trying…"
Giles was easily staving off all of her half-hearted attacks and landing a few effortless smacks to her sides and head as he backed her across the room. He watched Buffy fall into another fighting stance and saw her shift her weight, dropping her right shoulder and he knew to block the left hook and right front snap kick that followed. "You're still dropping your shoulder…Alright," he sighed finally, taking off the helmet. "We're taking a break."
"Good," Buffy huffed out, not bothering to adjust the hair which had loosened form her ponytail and fallen into her face. She picked up her water bottle form the table and took a large gulp before dropping heavily into her seat with her eyes closed.
Giles watched her for a moment and then approached her as she sat. "What is the problem, Buffy?" he asked, hoping that his tone displayed a sense of interest instead of distain at the sub par fighting skills she had displayed all afternoon.
"Like you care," Buffy muttered. Apparently he had failed in his task. "You're job isn't to care about me, it's to take notes on what keeps me alive for one more day."
Giles sighed and moves to the other side of the table to take a seat facing her. "That," he faltered, thinking for a moment, "That is hardly the case." He watched Buffy raise a skeptical eyebrow at him, "While it is my job to keep you alive, a part of devising that plan comes from caring about you. If something is bothering you, perhaps if we talked about it, we could resolve the issue…I'd hate to send you out with something plaguing you and leave you at a mental disadvantage. When you slay all of you must be there…"
"And there you go with the slaying again," Buffy let out an irritated sigh. "C'mon Giles, admit it, you don't even like me." She challenged him.
"P...P…Pardon?" Giles stammered under her glare, which seemed to be more curious than threatening.
"I'm just an annoying little self-centered brat, who doesn't listen to anybody and who always has her head in the clouds and you can't stand me." Buffy elaborated smugly before taking another sip of water.
Giles thought back for a moment and knew that she would likely take his hesitation as an affirmative to her accusations. Granted he didn't understand her a majority of the time…she spoke in a mutilated version of the English language that passed for normal here, she was overly obsessed with her appearance, she really didn't listen to him at all, and she displayed a total indifference to her calling as Slayer. She simply would not follow any of the rules that most all other Slayers had adhered to, and frankly Giles didn't have a clue on how to deal with her, other than to just teach her what he could and sit back while she made her own way. Truth be told, as morbid and sad as it was, he didn't expect to know her long at all…the way she behaved now on patrol.
"Fine," Buffy spoke again, resigning at his silence, "You don't have to answer. Are we done here?"
"Buffy," Giles started shaking his head, "It is true that I have little experience in dealing with teenage girls, and I thank the Lord for that," he added, "But, even if that is the case, I most certainly do not hold any contempt for you."
"One day you're gonna have to use less words in a sentence."
Giles scoffed at her and sat back in his seat, "Well, I shall not offer any form of comfort in the future if all I'll receive his criticism."
"Sorry Giles." Buffy said dutifully and dropped her gaze to the table.
He watched her stifle a yawn and heard her speak again, "I'm just tired, that's all. We were out so late last night and I had a history test first period…"
"Perhaps of you gave up the frivolous extracurricular activities that you insist you engage in." Giles suggested and Buffy glared at him.
"I spent two hours at the Bronze with my friends, who by the way, I hardly see at all during the week." She defended angrily.
"And of this pep squad endeavor?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
Buffy matched his condescending tone, "I'm not giving up cheerleading. You want me to be normal and not draw the attention of my parents than you're going to have to learn to live with it…"
"Never, in the history of the craft did a Slayer have so many distractions…"
"I'm not giving up my friends and I'm not giving up cheerleading. That's what I am…those two things…that's all I am…"
"Not any more. Now the world, literally, rests on you're shoulders." Giles took a deep breath as his charge focused again on the patterns in the wood of the table, "Listen Buffy, I know you don't like it, but there are certain aspects of your life that must be altered. You are the Slayer now…frankly you are lucky that you are still residing with your family…"
Buffy looked at him with wide eyes, "So what? You guys take away these girls social lives and then move them into a commune filled with old men?" She shook her head, "Are you sure they're dying from demonic causes, cuz I'm halfway sure it's self inflicted."
"Are we quite through?" Giles asked standing up and preparing to put his helmet back in place.
"I am," Buffy stood up. "I've been awake since forever and I'm going home. I'll see you tonight at Westlake Park." Buffy started out of the door not waiting for a response from the older man, but suddenly turned to add, "I said I'd slay things, but I'm gonna do it on my terms. If you want this job done for however long I'm able to do it, I suggest that the rule book you're reading from gets rewritten or thrown out." And with that she turned and left the room.
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End Part 3
