The Fall of William
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs
A/N: Hi all. Thanks so much for the reviews on this story. You all have been great. Well anyway thanks again and here's chapter 12.
~*~
Ch:12
Faith slid out of the cab and after paying him she made her way up the walk to the safe house.
She frowned slightly as she glanced around the street. Something seemed off, she wasn't sure what, but she knew something was wrong.
So reaching inside of her jacket she pulled out a small .45 and tried to control her nerves as she tried the door and found it locked.
She turned, she had the key but since she was feeling the need to be sneaky she made to move away.
"Where are you going?" Anya's voice stopped her cold.
Swinging back she blew out a breath.
"Damn," Faith muttered and shook her head. "I had the weirdest feeling. How are you guys?" she asked as she stepped in past Anya.
Anya shrugged and shut the door behind them.
"Surprisingly good," she remarked off handedly as she re took her seat on the floor.
Faith's eyes swept the livingroom.
Settled on Willow.
Then to the men tied and unconscious in the middle of the room. She arched a brow and then shook her head.
"What happened while I was gone," she demanded.
Willow barely glanced up from her laptop and gestured around.
"We had a small problem that we took care of," she mumbled.
Faith couldn't believe what she was seeing. The two people who had no actual live action experience had taken these goons out?
She couldn't believe it.
"Where's Buffy?" she asked.
Anya sent a furtive look up the stairs.
Faith followed her gaze.
"Buffy's upstairs.....with Spike," Anya mumbled and lowered her head as she saw Faith's face turn red and felt a rant coming her way.
"D-did I hear you correctly?" Faith hissed out. "Up there where Buffy's at is Spike?"
Willow glanced up and met Faith's blazing brown eyes.
"See that was the little problem we had Faith. But calm down we took care of it. Everything's fine," she tried to reassure her.
"Well if you count the fact your boyfriend brought Buffy in unconscious and looking halfway to dead, then yeah everything's fine," Anya piped up sarcastically.
"Gunn's here?" Faith muttered. Then shook her head to clear it. "He brought Buffy here? How did Spike come into play? Never mind. Listen I need you to-"
"And then there's the fact Xander's in love with Buffy," Anya interrupted as she rose and began to pace gesturing wildly. "I mean is this a surprise only to me? Did you know about this too Faith? Was everyone laughing at me behind my back? I thought we were friends....."
Faith blinked.
She wondered how Anya had found out Xander was in love with Buffy. Then she thought about it, and rolled her eyes. It would be just like Xander to be the one to tell her.
He could be so dumb sometimes. Next thing you knew he'd probably be telling her about when they used to be fuck buddies.
"Anya calm down okay? I'm sure it's not as bad as you make it out to be alright? Now I'm going to go-"
"....Away from her," they all heard Xander's furious yell echo around the house and as fast as she could Faith raced up the stairs.
Followed closely behind by Anya and Willow.
~*~
"Get out of here," Spike ordered gaze still locked on Buffy's.
"Get away from her. Now, or I swear I'll blow your-"
It took all of Buffy's effort to tear her eyes from Spike's and let them rest on Xander. Once she did though she blinked.
De ja vu all over again, she mused in silent wonder. She half expected Spike to tackle Xander and for them to both wrestle around for the gun.
"Xander...." She murmured softly.
He took his wild gaze from Spike long enough to look at her before he was once again yelling at Spike.
"Why can't you leave her alone? Why do you always do this ?! Huh, what makes you so special-"
"Whoa, hold off there Xandman," Faith said as she shoved open the door and saw Xander pointing his gun at Spike.
"Xander put the gun down," Willow tried then as she crept closer to him.
He shook his head.
"No," he replied stubbornly.
"Get the fuck outta here," Spike erupted. "We were in the middle of something! Get out!"
"Spike," Buffy warned sharply. "Leave us alone. All of you. Now," she ordered.
"That's more like it," Spike announced with a smug smile.
Buffy let her gaze remain on Xander as she spoke again, her voice light, "I meant all of you except for Xander. Please leave us alone."
Faith hesitated.
Gunn reached out and took Spike's arm.
Oz took his other.
"Come on. We'll leave you two alone," Willow said as she turned.
Faith stared suspiciously at Buffy, then to a glaring Spike.
"Are you sure B?" she asked concerned as she took in the pallor of Buffy's face, the thinness of her lips as her eyes told the tale of her strain.
Her pain.
"Absolutely."
Faith gave a curt nod and left the room.
Anya was the only one left behind as she took them both in and then crossed her arms.
"Well whatever you have to say to my boyfriend I'm sure you can say in front of me Buffy," she began agreeable.
"Now isn't a good time to get into this Anya. Trust me," Buffy muttered as she slanted a quick look at her friend.
Anya pouted slightly.
"How long has he been in love with you? How long have you known Buffy?" she asked quietly.
Buffy blew out a breath and shook her pounding head.
"Not now. Please Anya let me talk to Xander, then we can talk okay?"
Willow returned to the room looking contrite and took Anya's arm.
"Sorry Buffy," she mumbled as she led Anya out of the room closing the door behind her as they left.
Buffy studied Xander who remained motionless in the middle of the room, the gun hanging loosely by his side.
"What was that about Xander?" she asked calmly though she was anything but.
Xander turned confused eyes to her and shook his head as if he couldn't comprehend what she had just said.
"Doesn't this seem familiar to you at all Xander? We've done this before haven't we?" she asked as she gestured to the gun and then to herself.
"Why...Buffy why?" he asked voice cracking as he lowered his head, unable to look at her.
Buffy frowned, trying to understand what he was asking.
"Why what? What have I done Xander? I want to understand why you look so hurt, so upset. Please let me help you," she begged as she gripped the comforter with an iron like grip.
"Why do you love him?" he exploded.
It made her jump, shake her head in denial.
Heart pounding and mouth suddenly dry she shook her head again and tried to speak.
It took her a bit before she could say the words
"I don't," she denied in a voice that didn't shake.
She admired the ease of her lie even as Xander let out a bitter laugh and turned to look at her.
"Don't lie to me," he spat. "Tell me the truth!"
Buffy narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why are you doing this Xander?" she asked gently her face conveying her concern, her fear for him, her love for him.
It galled Xander that all she saw when she looked at him was loveable, friendly Xander. That she would never want him, never see him for the man he was. The man that was in love with her.
"Say it. I want to hear you say it!"
Buffy's own anger began to stir.
"Why? Why is this so important to you? Do you want me to hurt you? Why are you bringing more pain to yourself, cuz I know that's what my words will do to you Xander. We both know that."
Xander paced the room, restlessly as he remained silent, waiting for her to answer his question.
"I love him," her words were little more than a whisper as she spoke them. But they were enough as Xander came to a halt and clenched his jaw.
"Why?" he choked out.
Buffy tilted her head and then pursed her lips.
"Why not you is that what you're asking? Why I can't love you like I do Spike? We've been through this Xander, not more than a year ago. The same reasons apply as they did then."
"He hates you! He has tried to kill you! He's a criminal and yet....through it all you've loved him?! How can you in good conscious love a man like that?"
It hurt her more than words could say to see him, the one man who had been her bestfriend for more years than she could count, to see him so hurt, so lost, it made her ache. And it was all because of her.
She couldn't give him what he wanted.
She would never be able to and he could not accept that.
"There are two very different things about you two Xander. Listen," she demanded as Xander turned away and shook his head. "Listen to me! I have known you for years and through them all you've been a lifeline for me. All of you. My connection to the world. I need you in a way that I could never need Spike. You were a friend, then you were a confidante, then you were a bestfriend. You are one of my very bestfriends and that means more to me then you think! I knew-I've known for years you had a crush on me-then realized later on that you might actually think it was more than what it was-"
"More than what it was?" Xander echoed incredulously.
"Yes," Buffy snapped. "Yes more than what it was. Who am I to you Xander?" she demanded.
"Buffy," was his immediate answer.
"To Spike I'm Elizabeth and that's where you two are different. I've shown him things I would never show anyone, I've done things to him I would never do to you. I....I know this hurts you but he's-"
"He's like a drug to you! Can't you see what he does to you Buffy?! Once you're around him you act like the rest of us, the world doesn't exist anymore and it's all about him! All about Spike! That's not love-that's obsession Buffy! I-I could love you so much, so well you would neve-"
"Xander," Buffy whispered raggedly as tears pooled in her eyes and she lifted a hand to stop him. She couldn't hear this and not weep. He was so clueless, so sweet and so-" Stop it! You talk about love Xander and I want to know what you mean. How can you love me? What about Anya?"
Xander slumped into one of the armchairs and lowered his head into his hands.
"What about her?" he demanded.
"What about her? Xander you've been with her these past four years and you're telling me through it all you have loved me? What is that? If that's true then I wonder-I wonder what you know about love. How you can claim to love me and hurt her like that! Explain this to me! Make me understand."
"You need me Buffy," he ignored her words. "More than you could ever need him Buffy. He gives you pain, I could give you happiness. Please...."
"Stop it," Buffy muttered wiping at her eyes. "Stop this right now. Do you see yourself right now? Look at yourself Xander. I love you, I do. You are a special man. Do you love Anya, Xander? In the slightest bit?"
He sighed and nodded.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Are you in love with me?" she asked then.
Waited for him to speak.
And waited.
"I...I don't know," was his final answer as he lifted his head.
Buffy swallowed.
"Xander....I think for so long you've put me on some kind of pedestal. Made me into something even I can't live up to. I'm not a saint. I make mistakes. I've made a hell of a lot of them these past five years. I'm human, flawed like everyone else."
"Why do I feel this way? I look at you and want to make you happy Buffy. I want to see the pain in your eyes fade away. I want....I want to be your hero. For once I want you to look at me like you look at him!"
Buffy frowned.
"How do I look at him?" she wondered aloud. She hadn't been aware she had been looking at him in a way that wasn't other than indifference.
Xander let out a choked snort.
"How do you look at him? Like he's the have all end all. Like he's everything to you Buffy! I want- I...I hurt Buffy. What has he done for you? He's the reason you resigned. He's the reason you were shot. He's the reason you haven't spoken to your father in five years. He's the reason why all this is happening right now. He brings you nothing but pain. Is that what you like? You like men who hurt you!"
Buffy denied that vehemently, "No! I don't. And he doesn't hurt me, the only pain I feel is caused by myself and me alone Xander! You don't-you couldn't ever understand what's between Spike and I. It's complicated. It's- "
"It's love," Xander stated coldly.
Buffy remained silent.
She couldn't contradict him.
He was right.
"I-I guess I did have you on a pedestal," he grudgingly admitted then. "I mean I've always looked at you and seen the light. Seen the better side of life. Helping you made me feel better about myself. Made me feel worthy. That maybe one day you, this beautiful creature could love me. Could bless me with her light and make me whole. All I saw for a long time was the Slayer triumphant and glorious. It never occurred to me the things you had to do in order to get the nick name Slayer."
He paused and tried to sort out his thoughts.
"That's understandable Xander. You couldn't have known...I'm no pure virginal princess to be worshipped. I'm just a woman."
"Maybe it's because it's him. I see him and he's everything you stand against and you love him."
She let out an exasperated laugh.
"I've loved other men Xander," she pointed out with a small smile.
Xander's eyes met hers and he studied her face for a moment before he gave her a small sad smile back.
"But you've only ever been in love with him. And that's when I saw, what you could be like if you were in love. You'd do anything for them. You did so many things for Spike...I couldn't believe it. And I thought for sure it must have been him. His doing that you were slowly ruining your life. That he corrupted you. Not my Slayer. She wouldn't lower herself to be with him. Then you married him and still I couldn't let myself believe."
"It doesn't matter Xander," Buffy stated.
"But it does."
Buffy shook her head and slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"No it doesn't. The only thing that matters to me right now is for you to be okay. To understand that even if Spike hadn't come into my life- I'm sorry this hurts you, but it would never have been you. I could never picture you as more than what you are. I doubt I could cope with it. You are my bestfriend and I love you. That's for good. But I'm never going to be in love with you."
The silence was thick with Xander's hurt, with his resentment and Buffy wondered if he would ever be able to understand what she had tried to explain to him.
"Fine," Xander bit off as he rose to his feet.
"Xander," Buffy began as he headed for the door. "Listen to me. You and Anya are for real. She's in love with you. When you said I looked at Spike as if he meant everything to me, well Anya looks at you the same way. You haven't been fair to her. If you really, truly think you're in love with me, you need to let her go. I told you before to stop stringing her along. Let her go. Do you hear me?"
Xander ignored her as he opened the door and strode out.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs
A/N: Hi all. Thanks so much for the reviews on this story. You all have been great. Well anyway thanks again and here's chapter 12.
~*~
Ch:12
Faith slid out of the cab and after paying him she made her way up the walk to the safe house.
She frowned slightly as she glanced around the street. Something seemed off, she wasn't sure what, but she knew something was wrong.
So reaching inside of her jacket she pulled out a small .45 and tried to control her nerves as she tried the door and found it locked.
She turned, she had the key but since she was feeling the need to be sneaky she made to move away.
"Where are you going?" Anya's voice stopped her cold.
Swinging back she blew out a breath.
"Damn," Faith muttered and shook her head. "I had the weirdest feeling. How are you guys?" she asked as she stepped in past Anya.
Anya shrugged and shut the door behind them.
"Surprisingly good," she remarked off handedly as she re took her seat on the floor.
Faith's eyes swept the livingroom.
Settled on Willow.
Then to the men tied and unconscious in the middle of the room. She arched a brow and then shook her head.
"What happened while I was gone," she demanded.
Willow barely glanced up from her laptop and gestured around.
"We had a small problem that we took care of," she mumbled.
Faith couldn't believe what she was seeing. The two people who had no actual live action experience had taken these goons out?
She couldn't believe it.
"Where's Buffy?" she asked.
Anya sent a furtive look up the stairs.
Faith followed her gaze.
"Buffy's upstairs.....with Spike," Anya mumbled and lowered her head as she saw Faith's face turn red and felt a rant coming her way.
"D-did I hear you correctly?" Faith hissed out. "Up there where Buffy's at is Spike?"
Willow glanced up and met Faith's blazing brown eyes.
"See that was the little problem we had Faith. But calm down we took care of it. Everything's fine," she tried to reassure her.
"Well if you count the fact your boyfriend brought Buffy in unconscious and looking halfway to dead, then yeah everything's fine," Anya piped up sarcastically.
"Gunn's here?" Faith muttered. Then shook her head to clear it. "He brought Buffy here? How did Spike come into play? Never mind. Listen I need you to-"
"And then there's the fact Xander's in love with Buffy," Anya interrupted as she rose and began to pace gesturing wildly. "I mean is this a surprise only to me? Did you know about this too Faith? Was everyone laughing at me behind my back? I thought we were friends....."
Faith blinked.
She wondered how Anya had found out Xander was in love with Buffy. Then she thought about it, and rolled her eyes. It would be just like Xander to be the one to tell her.
He could be so dumb sometimes. Next thing you knew he'd probably be telling her about when they used to be fuck buddies.
"Anya calm down okay? I'm sure it's not as bad as you make it out to be alright? Now I'm going to go-"
"....Away from her," they all heard Xander's furious yell echo around the house and as fast as she could Faith raced up the stairs.
Followed closely behind by Anya and Willow.
~*~
"Get out of here," Spike ordered gaze still locked on Buffy's.
"Get away from her. Now, or I swear I'll blow your-"
It took all of Buffy's effort to tear her eyes from Spike's and let them rest on Xander. Once she did though she blinked.
De ja vu all over again, she mused in silent wonder. She half expected Spike to tackle Xander and for them to both wrestle around for the gun.
"Xander...." She murmured softly.
He took his wild gaze from Spike long enough to look at her before he was once again yelling at Spike.
"Why can't you leave her alone? Why do you always do this ?! Huh, what makes you so special-"
"Whoa, hold off there Xandman," Faith said as she shoved open the door and saw Xander pointing his gun at Spike.
"Xander put the gun down," Willow tried then as she crept closer to him.
He shook his head.
"No," he replied stubbornly.
"Get the fuck outta here," Spike erupted. "We were in the middle of something! Get out!"
"Spike," Buffy warned sharply. "Leave us alone. All of you. Now," she ordered.
"That's more like it," Spike announced with a smug smile.
Buffy let her gaze remain on Xander as she spoke again, her voice light, "I meant all of you except for Xander. Please leave us alone."
Faith hesitated.
Gunn reached out and took Spike's arm.
Oz took his other.
"Come on. We'll leave you two alone," Willow said as she turned.
Faith stared suspiciously at Buffy, then to a glaring Spike.
"Are you sure B?" she asked concerned as she took in the pallor of Buffy's face, the thinness of her lips as her eyes told the tale of her strain.
Her pain.
"Absolutely."
Faith gave a curt nod and left the room.
Anya was the only one left behind as she took them both in and then crossed her arms.
"Well whatever you have to say to my boyfriend I'm sure you can say in front of me Buffy," she began agreeable.
"Now isn't a good time to get into this Anya. Trust me," Buffy muttered as she slanted a quick look at her friend.
Anya pouted slightly.
"How long has he been in love with you? How long have you known Buffy?" she asked quietly.
Buffy blew out a breath and shook her pounding head.
"Not now. Please Anya let me talk to Xander, then we can talk okay?"
Willow returned to the room looking contrite and took Anya's arm.
"Sorry Buffy," she mumbled as she led Anya out of the room closing the door behind her as they left.
Buffy studied Xander who remained motionless in the middle of the room, the gun hanging loosely by his side.
"What was that about Xander?" she asked calmly though she was anything but.
Xander turned confused eyes to her and shook his head as if he couldn't comprehend what she had just said.
"Doesn't this seem familiar to you at all Xander? We've done this before haven't we?" she asked as she gestured to the gun and then to herself.
"Why...Buffy why?" he asked voice cracking as he lowered his head, unable to look at her.
Buffy frowned, trying to understand what he was asking.
"Why what? What have I done Xander? I want to understand why you look so hurt, so upset. Please let me help you," she begged as she gripped the comforter with an iron like grip.
"Why do you love him?" he exploded.
It made her jump, shake her head in denial.
Heart pounding and mouth suddenly dry she shook her head again and tried to speak.
It took her a bit before she could say the words
"I don't," she denied in a voice that didn't shake.
She admired the ease of her lie even as Xander let out a bitter laugh and turned to look at her.
"Don't lie to me," he spat. "Tell me the truth!"
Buffy narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why are you doing this Xander?" she asked gently her face conveying her concern, her fear for him, her love for him.
It galled Xander that all she saw when she looked at him was loveable, friendly Xander. That she would never want him, never see him for the man he was. The man that was in love with her.
"Say it. I want to hear you say it!"
Buffy's own anger began to stir.
"Why? Why is this so important to you? Do you want me to hurt you? Why are you bringing more pain to yourself, cuz I know that's what my words will do to you Xander. We both know that."
Xander paced the room, restlessly as he remained silent, waiting for her to answer his question.
"I love him," her words were little more than a whisper as she spoke them. But they were enough as Xander came to a halt and clenched his jaw.
"Why?" he choked out.
Buffy tilted her head and then pursed her lips.
"Why not you is that what you're asking? Why I can't love you like I do Spike? We've been through this Xander, not more than a year ago. The same reasons apply as they did then."
"He hates you! He has tried to kill you! He's a criminal and yet....through it all you've loved him?! How can you in good conscious love a man like that?"
It hurt her more than words could say to see him, the one man who had been her bestfriend for more years than she could count, to see him so hurt, so lost, it made her ache. And it was all because of her.
She couldn't give him what he wanted.
She would never be able to and he could not accept that.
"There are two very different things about you two Xander. Listen," she demanded as Xander turned away and shook his head. "Listen to me! I have known you for years and through them all you've been a lifeline for me. All of you. My connection to the world. I need you in a way that I could never need Spike. You were a friend, then you were a confidante, then you were a bestfriend. You are one of my very bestfriends and that means more to me then you think! I knew-I've known for years you had a crush on me-then realized later on that you might actually think it was more than what it was-"
"More than what it was?" Xander echoed incredulously.
"Yes," Buffy snapped. "Yes more than what it was. Who am I to you Xander?" she demanded.
"Buffy," was his immediate answer.
"To Spike I'm Elizabeth and that's where you two are different. I've shown him things I would never show anyone, I've done things to him I would never do to you. I....I know this hurts you but he's-"
"He's like a drug to you! Can't you see what he does to you Buffy?! Once you're around him you act like the rest of us, the world doesn't exist anymore and it's all about him! All about Spike! That's not love-that's obsession Buffy! I-I could love you so much, so well you would neve-"
"Xander," Buffy whispered raggedly as tears pooled in her eyes and she lifted a hand to stop him. She couldn't hear this and not weep. He was so clueless, so sweet and so-" Stop it! You talk about love Xander and I want to know what you mean. How can you love me? What about Anya?"
Xander slumped into one of the armchairs and lowered his head into his hands.
"What about her?" he demanded.
"What about her? Xander you've been with her these past four years and you're telling me through it all you have loved me? What is that? If that's true then I wonder-I wonder what you know about love. How you can claim to love me and hurt her like that! Explain this to me! Make me understand."
"You need me Buffy," he ignored her words. "More than you could ever need him Buffy. He gives you pain, I could give you happiness. Please...."
"Stop it," Buffy muttered wiping at her eyes. "Stop this right now. Do you see yourself right now? Look at yourself Xander. I love you, I do. You are a special man. Do you love Anya, Xander? In the slightest bit?"
He sighed and nodded.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Are you in love with me?" she asked then.
Waited for him to speak.
And waited.
"I...I don't know," was his final answer as he lifted his head.
Buffy swallowed.
"Xander....I think for so long you've put me on some kind of pedestal. Made me into something even I can't live up to. I'm not a saint. I make mistakes. I've made a hell of a lot of them these past five years. I'm human, flawed like everyone else."
"Why do I feel this way? I look at you and want to make you happy Buffy. I want to see the pain in your eyes fade away. I want....I want to be your hero. For once I want you to look at me like you look at him!"
Buffy frowned.
"How do I look at him?" she wondered aloud. She hadn't been aware she had been looking at him in a way that wasn't other than indifference.
Xander let out a choked snort.
"How do you look at him? Like he's the have all end all. Like he's everything to you Buffy! I want- I...I hurt Buffy. What has he done for you? He's the reason you resigned. He's the reason you were shot. He's the reason you haven't spoken to your father in five years. He's the reason why all this is happening right now. He brings you nothing but pain. Is that what you like? You like men who hurt you!"
Buffy denied that vehemently, "No! I don't. And he doesn't hurt me, the only pain I feel is caused by myself and me alone Xander! You don't-you couldn't ever understand what's between Spike and I. It's complicated. It's- "
"It's love," Xander stated coldly.
Buffy remained silent.
She couldn't contradict him.
He was right.
"I-I guess I did have you on a pedestal," he grudgingly admitted then. "I mean I've always looked at you and seen the light. Seen the better side of life. Helping you made me feel better about myself. Made me feel worthy. That maybe one day you, this beautiful creature could love me. Could bless me with her light and make me whole. All I saw for a long time was the Slayer triumphant and glorious. It never occurred to me the things you had to do in order to get the nick name Slayer."
He paused and tried to sort out his thoughts.
"That's understandable Xander. You couldn't have known...I'm no pure virginal princess to be worshipped. I'm just a woman."
"Maybe it's because it's him. I see him and he's everything you stand against and you love him."
She let out an exasperated laugh.
"I've loved other men Xander," she pointed out with a small smile.
Xander's eyes met hers and he studied her face for a moment before he gave her a small sad smile back.
"But you've only ever been in love with him. And that's when I saw, what you could be like if you were in love. You'd do anything for them. You did so many things for Spike...I couldn't believe it. And I thought for sure it must have been him. His doing that you were slowly ruining your life. That he corrupted you. Not my Slayer. She wouldn't lower herself to be with him. Then you married him and still I couldn't let myself believe."
"It doesn't matter Xander," Buffy stated.
"But it does."
Buffy shook her head and slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"No it doesn't. The only thing that matters to me right now is for you to be okay. To understand that even if Spike hadn't come into my life- I'm sorry this hurts you, but it would never have been you. I could never picture you as more than what you are. I doubt I could cope with it. You are my bestfriend and I love you. That's for good. But I'm never going to be in love with you."
The silence was thick with Xander's hurt, with his resentment and Buffy wondered if he would ever be able to understand what she had tried to explain to him.
"Fine," Xander bit off as he rose to his feet.
"Xander," Buffy began as he headed for the door. "Listen to me. You and Anya are for real. She's in love with you. When you said I looked at Spike as if he meant everything to me, well Anya looks at you the same way. You haven't been fair to her. If you really, truly think you're in love with me, you need to let her go. I told you before to stop stringing her along. Let her go. Do you hear me?"
Xander ignored her as he opened the door and strode out.