"Buffy? Is that you?" As Buffy closed the front door, she heard Willow coming towards her from the kitchen. Knowing that Willow wanted to talk brought Buffy's good mood down a little.
Earlier that day, after Liam had finished explaining his past and reasons for finding her, and Buffy had calmed down, the two had spent the rest of the day hanging out and finding out about each other. When sunset had come, Liam had offered--to Buffy's delight--to patrol with her, as long as she came out for a coffee with him later. Both of them had realized, at some point, that there was more than just "friend feelings" between them.
But hearing Willow's voice just made Buffy sink. "Yeah." She was taking off her hoodie as Willow came and stood in the doorway between the hall and dinning room.
"Where were you all day? We...I was starting to get nervous..." Buffy rolled her eyes, smacking her hoodie down on the banister.
"Don't give me that. You weren't worried about me, you were just wondering if I had snapped yet, and gone off the deep end. You were wondering if you were rid of me yet."
"That's not true, and you know it Buffy..."
"No I don't! The only times any of you guys pay attention to me, is when I start to get happy."
"Buffy."
"NO, Willow! Just don't!" Buffy left Willow hanging, ran up the stairs, and slammed her bedroom door behind her.
"If they're better off without me, then fine, so am I." Buffy pulled the hood of her black sweatshirt up over her hair. She threw a black canvas bag, with clothes, toiletries, money, and some personal stuff stuffed inside, out the window. Quickly, Buffy followed her bag and set off, with Liam's address in her hand, and determination in her heart and head..
"Giles, I'm serious. I know we've all been a little on edge because of the new vampire attacks, but after Buffy let out some steam on me tonight, I realized, she's been right all the time. We never pay attention to her any more, since the events of last year, we've just forgotten her." Willow looked across the dinning room table at him and sighed. The other scoobies sat around them listening.
"She's right." Xander piped up. "We never even asked her how she felt about what happened last spring, we just assumed she was alright."
"Perhaps," Giles stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We have been to caught up in our own problems, and forgotten hers. Being the slayer is hard on every girl set to the task, but it has been particularly hard for Buffy."
Not even Faith had any objections to this, they all knew it was true. "Oz, why don't you go and check on Buffy. You seem to be neutral in all this." Michaela smiled at the lyancopthe.
"Sure." Oz disappeared, but returned a moment later, looking confused. "Will, you said Buffy hadn't come down since your fight?"
"Yes, why?" The others all turned to look at Oz, who stood in the doorway.
"Cause, she's gone!" The scoobies all looked at each other, stunned.