A Walk in the Clouds

Chapter 2

By Zarrah

Heavy black smoke spilled into the air and the blaring of the train whistle drowned out the voices of those waiting in line as William watched the train slowly making its way to the station. He had reluctantly left Drucilla at home after her refusal to accompany him to the depot, as she claimed watching him leave again so soon would be too hard on her.

The kiss she had given him before he left was still fresh on his mind and as the train entered the station, William wished he could have had the luxury of spending more time with her after their lengthy separation.

As the throng of people made their way onto the train, William lifted his bag and joined the hurried mass as they boarded the train. Voices were loud and the clamber to find seats had William pushed and shoved up the aisle. As the line of people behind him pushed forward, William lost his footing before running head-on into someone in front of him going the opposite direction of the flow of traffic. The small squeal the petite blonde made as William impacted with her was joined with a surprised yelp as they both tumbled forward.

"I'm sorry," William apologized as he held his weight off of the young woman who was staring up at him. Brilliant green eyes shone up at him and he was reminded of emeralds as he stared down into the face of what could have easily been an angel. Soft, flowing blonde hair framed her face and as she moved beneath him, he realized their position before he quickly climbed to his feet.

"I'm so sorry," William once again said as he saw her reach over and grab their fallen tickets before he reached down and grabbed her arms and helped her from the floor.

"It's alright," she smiled as she handed William his ticket after he helped her to her feet. "I shouldn't have been trying to come down the aisle."

William smiled back at her as she bent down to retrieve her fallen bag before he bent down to help her. "Here, let me," he said, grabbing up as many of her belonging as he could as the other passengers on the train made their way around the couple.

"Thank you," she said and William couldn't help but notice the tears in her eyes as she stared at a photo.

"Your father?" William asked, looking at the graduation photo she held in her hands.

"Yes," she weakly smiled as she stared at the photo. "He is going to kill me," she whispered out before a lone tear spilled down her cheek.

"Oh, it's only glass. It's easily replaced," William tried to reassure her as he saw the broken picture she held before she placed it back into her bag.

Smiling as brightly as she could, she repacked her things and stood quickly as the trains whistle once again blew.

William stood up straight, smiling down at her before her eyes closed briefly. He noticed her face pale and as she opened her eyes back up, she brought one hand to her stomach before she tried to push past him. "Is everything alright?" he asked as he grabbed her arm and realized his mistake when she leaned forward and emptied the contents of her stomach down the front of his uniform.

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Buffy sighed heavily as the stagnant air inside the bus had her reaching for the window. The train ride had been nauseating and she was glad to finally be off of it and hoped that the rest of her journey wouldn't be as bumpy.

The blast of fresh air that came through the window whipped her hair around her face and she welcomed it with a light sigh before she straightened in her seat and picked up the book she was reading. A voice coming from the front of the bus caught her attention and as she looked up she was met with the sight of a familiar face.

She couldn't help but smile as she saw him and when she remembered the look on his face when she had become sick on him, her smile turned into a small chuckle. Never had she met anyone so apologetic in her life. She had ruined his jacket and he apologized to her for it, claiming if he had just let her go, it wouldn't have happened.

As he gave his ticket to the driver, she quickly looked down, hoping he hadn't caught her staring at him as he made his way down the aisle. When he moved into her line of sight, she looked up and smiled.

"You're not following me are you?" She asked with a wide smile.

William stopped at her voice and the smile that lit up his face matched her own. He didn't think he'd ever see her again, not after the way she practically ran away from him on the train and seeing her now was a huge surprise.

"No ma'am," he chuckled as he took the seat across from her. "I'm not sure I can afford the cleaning bill for my clothes if I follow you around to much."

Buffy couldn't help the pink tint her face took on as she blushed before she shook her head lightly. "I'm so sorry," she said looking back over at him. "Why do you think I was in such a hurry to get down the aisle on the train?"

William laughed lightly as he looked toward the front of the bus when the other passengers slowly climbed aboard. Glancing back over at the blonde he had had the pleasure of meeting twice in one day, he smiled at the book she held in her hands. "The complete works of Shakespeare?"

Buffy looked back over at him, smiling as she held up her book. "Yes. Required reading I'm afraid."

"Required?" William asked, curiously.

"Yes. I attend University."

"Is that where you're going?" William asked as the bus started to fill with other passengers.

"No," Buffy smiled. "I'm going home. My family owns a vineyard in Napa."

"Oh. I hear it's quite beautiful there," William said. "I've never seen it personally."

"It is," Buffy told him as she returned his smile. "So um, where are you headed?"

"Sacramento."

Buffy looked at him and smiled before tilting her head to the side slightly. "Didn't the train go all the way to Sacramento?"

"Yes," William told her, "but apparently my ticket didn't. I thought it did, or at least that's what I had asked for."

"Oh no," Buffy said before covering her face with her hand. "I thought it was a mistake," she said as she reached into her purse. "I guess I got them mixed up when we fell on the train," she said as she handed him the ticket she had. "I think this is yours."

William laughed as he looked at the train ticket Buffy handed him. Sure enough, it was his ticket.

"I'm really sorry," Buffy apologized.

"Don't be," William smiled as he looked back over at her. "I would have missed out on the pleasure of your company if it hadn't happened."

William watched a brilliant smile cover her face before the noise levels on the bus rose and he looked up as two men made their way nosily down the aisle.

Buffy followed William's line of sight and stiffened lightly as the first man stopped by her seat.

"This seat taken?" He asked, pointing to the seat next to her as the bus slowly pulled away from the curb.

"Um, no," Buffy said politely as she lifted her bag from the empty seat beside of her.

"Names Jim," the man said, smiling widely as he sat down beside of her and his friend took the seat directly behind them. "And this is Frank," he told her still smiling. "And you are?" he asked, grinning.

"Not interested," Buffy replied as she went back to her book.

William smiled as he heard her reply and had to look away. The conversation between the three could be heard by everyone and as the bus made its way onto the deserted dirt road, William leaned back in his seat.

He had to admit he would have enjoyed spending the remainder of his journey talking to her. He wasn't sure if it was just loneliness on his part or the fact that she truly seemed interested in hearing what he had to say that caused him to want to talk to her more.

Hearing one of the men laugh, William turned his head and watched as "Jim" swung his arm up and around Buffy's shoulder. The move was bold and rude and when he saw Buffy try to move away he couldn't help but step in.

"Hey, fellows. I don't think the lady wants to be bothered," William told them.

"Not bothering her," Jim said, never taking his eyes off of Buffy. "Just having a little talk."

"I don't think she wants to talk," William told him, getting angry when he saw Jim wrap his free arm around Buffy's waist.

"Get your hands off of me," Buffy said loudly and gasped in surprise when Jim was roughly pulled away from her.

"I said, she doesn't want to talk," William said as he forcefully held Jim by the collar after yanking him from his seat.

Buffy sat stunned as she watched this complete stranger defend her before Jim threw a punch. The scuffle was brief and all Buffy could do was watch in horror as all three men were quickly kicked off the bus in the middle of nowhere.

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William sung his jacket over his shoulder and adjusted his hat as he stared up into the bright noon day sun. He had been walking for what seemed like forever and as the trees along side the road thickened and covered the dirt road in a blanket of shade, he was relieved when he felt the temperature drop.

Rounding a bend in the road, his steps slowed as he saw someone sitting on a suitcase in the middle of the road. As he approached them, he couldn't help but smile when he saw who it was.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced," William said smiling as he stopped. "I think since our paths keep crossing, it's only appropriate that I know your name."

Buffy looked up, quickly wiping her face free of tears before her eyes landed on him. A smile curved her lips automatically at the sight of him and despite her sullen mood, a small chuckle escaped her. "No, I don't think we have," she said, watching as he placed his bags down on the ground and moved closer to her.

William crossed the small distance between them before he reached out and extended his hand. "William Sutton," he said, smiling as she took his hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Buffy Summers," she smiled. "It's nice meeting you as well, William."

"Buffy?" William asked as he released her hand. "Unusual name."

"It's only a nickname," Buffy grinned. "My real name is Elizabeth, but no one ever uses it."

William gave her another smile before he looked down the long deserted road. "Waiting for your ride?" he finally asked when he looked back down at her.

"No, this is my stop," Buffy told him quietly as she looked down at her lap and straightened her skirt.

"Your stop?" William asked curious. "There's nothing here," he said looking around him.

Buffy looked back up, tears once again welling up in her eyes before she brought a handkerchief to her nose and whipped at it. "My family owns all the surrounding land," she said before a small hiccup came from her as she once again started crying.

William was at a loss as to why she suddenly started crying and what he should do. As her cries grew stronger, he hesitantly took a step closer to her.

Buffy felt his hand on her shoulder and the small gesture made her cry even harder. Why did things have to happen this way?

"Shhh, don't cry," William tried to comfort her, not knowing what was wrong.

"I can't," Buffy cried. "He's going to kill me."

"Who?" William asked as he studied the young girl before him, confusion clearly written across his face. What could she have done that was so terrible?

Buffy felt the soothing strokes of William's hand brush over her shoulder and she wiped at her eyes before taking a deep breath and trying to control her tears. After a few minutes, she was able to look up and even managed a tiny smile. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm not usually so emotional."

"It's quite alright," William told her. "You're apparently upset. Is there anything I can do?"

Buffy looked at him as he knelt down in front of her and she felt herself getting lost in the bluest eyes she had ever seen. The concern etched across his face as he looked at her made her heart skip a beat before she forced her self to look away. She smiled, trying to regain her composure before she finally shook her head. "No, but thank you."

"You're quite welcome," William said as he hesitantly stood back up. "Now, who exactly do you think is going to kill you?"

"My father," Buffy told him, closing her eyes as she pictured the rage her father was going to be in when she told him.

"Why, if you don't mind me asking," William said. "It isn't because of the picture is it? I can replace the glass for you."

Buffy chuckled at that, wishing a broken picture was her only problem before she looked back up at him. "No, I'm afraid it's more complicated than that."

"How so?"

Buffy looked down at her hands briefly before glancing back up at him. "I'm pregnant."

To Be Continued….