The Mind Reader – Part 2

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Library

"Is this the thing? The aspect thing?" Xander asked, looking at Giles with wide eyes. "Cause I gotta say, if it is, it is *way* better than a tail... I mean I'm already getting shit from every one else because of my hair and eyes. You think I need to walk through school with a tail or horn."

Giles cleaned his glasses. "Xander, slow down...um, I'm not even convinced this is genuine mind reading. You're most likely projecting your..."

Xander sighed and said. "When I walked in a few minutes ago, you thought, "look at his clothes, he looks like he just walk through a kindergartens art class.""

" I, um... "Giles stuttered. the demons are telepathic, I should have known, that's why

they don't need mouths. "Of course...the demons are telepathic..."

"I know. I just heard your thoughts. That's why they had no mouths. Thank God about that, I've been worrying that I would grow their teeth somewhere other than my mouth."

Xander explained. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he turned to Giles. "And you should have known."

Giles looked dumbstruck. "I...uh... this is astounding!"

"It was happening out in the hallway." Xander explained with a grin. "Our dear Principal Snyder has "Walk like an Egyptian" stuck in his head. And the teachers in this school are seriously disturbed, G-man. But think about it...I mean think about what I can *do* now.".

Giles eyes widened with the possibilities. "Well it could be very useful... you could... uh... anticipate your opponent's every move...turn his plans against him!"

Xander smiled. "G-man, you're thinking small time."

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Xander's English class

"Jealousy."

"Uh...correct Xander." Ms. Murray, his English teacher, said with some amazement. "Jealousy..."

Nancy, the teacher's pet of every class she was in, looked at Xander with venom in her eyes. I knew that!

Ms. Murray continued, "...clearly is the tool that Iago uses to undo Othello. But what's

his motivation, what reason does Iago give for destroying his superior officer?"

Cassio has my place, betwixt my sheets he's done my office...

Well, he was passed over for promotion. Cassio was picked instead..." Xander began before deciphering Willow's full sentence, "and people were saying that Othello slept with his wife.

Willow seemed surprised, her hand halfway in the air. Xander did the reading? Xander understood the reading?

Buffy was looking at Xander, confused. When did he study? Was *I* supposed to study??

I was gonna say Cassio...uhhh! I hate him! Nancy's voice screamed at him.

"Any other reason?" Ms. Murray asked the class.

"Race!" Nancy shouted very eagerly.

"Uhhh...good, Nancy..." Ms. Murray said exasperated. "Can't overlook that."

Look at them scrambling for the teacher's praise like pigeons for old bread crusts...

Xander heard the voice, but shrugged it off. 'Not important.'

bread crusts...that's deep. I should write that down...

"...Is there something else at work here?" the teacher asked.

Xander raised his hand, and when he was call he began. "Well, he sort of admits himself that his motives are...spurious...?" Xander tried. "He does things because he enjoys them. It's like, he's not...he's not really a person, he's a...the dark half of Othello himself.".

Xander heard the gasps from the students around him.

"Xander, really..." Ms. Murray praised, "very astute. I said something quite like that in

my dissertation."

"Uhhh...I agree with you on that." Xander said, surprised. 'I read the teacher's mind. Cool!'

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Library

"He can read our minds, our every impulse and fantasy?" Buffy asked. "Every one."

Oh God!

Cordelia looked bored. I don't see what this has to do with me... "I don't see what this has to do with me."

"Well, I think its great, right?" Willow asked sarcastically. "I mean, why not get a new power to make yourself stronger."

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Xander said with a smile, his green eyes shining with laughter. "And did you see Nancy Doyle's face in English class today?"

"Yeah..." Willow agreed, "she's super competitive..." He's hardly even human anymore...how can I be his friend now? He doesn't need me!

"What! Is that what you think Willow?" Xander asked.

Willow looked at him wide-eyed, before nodding. "At first I was worried that you were going to be replacing me in the group, so I was trying to avoid you." Willow began with tears forming in her eyes. "But now I think soon you won't even need me anymore."

Xander took her into his arms and gently told her, "Come on Wills. You're my Willow." He looked over at Oz who nodded his approval. "I'll always need you."

"Willow looked up at him with tear stained eyes. "Really?"

Xander smiled down at her. "Yeah."

Willow smiled at him and sat straighter in her chair, a smile that she had her best friend back clearly on her face.

Giles cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I-I think there must be some precedents for occurrences such as this...I'll, I'll research it." Turning to Wesley, he asked, "Wesley, can you give me a hand?"

"Of course...where do you think we should start?" Wesley added.

Xander tried to hear only for Oz's thoughts to intrude on the two watchers. I am my thoughts... if they exist in him, Xander then contains everything that *is* me, and he becomes me. I cease to exist. Hmmm.

Wesley turned to Xander. "Chances are, you're all going to be thinking whatever least you want Xander to hear. It's a question, of course, of mental discipline."

"He's right." Giles began. "There are..."

Wesley's thoughts were what took Xander's attention away from Giles. Look at Cordelia...no, don't look at Cordelia! She's a student.. oh, I am bad. I'm a bad, bad man...

Wesley turns to find Xander's cold, green eyes staring at him with a look that clearly said, 'I'm going to rip you to shreds.'

"Uh...Excuse me." He said as he practically ran into Giles' office.

"What's it like Xander?" Willow asked.

"Yeah. What's it like to read the thoughts of your friends?" Buffy asked sarcastically.

"I dunno... I mean, its a little weird... its like... all these doors are opening to all these little worlds, and I can just walk inside." Xander tried to explain.

No one else exists either...Xander *is* all of us...We think, therefore he is... Oz thought.

He knows so much...he knows what Oz is thinking! I never know that...before long, he'll know him better than *I* do... Willow thought.

"Hey! Don't think that, Wills." Xander began with a slight smile. "Oz is a great guy but he's not really my type."

"I cant help it Xander...I'm sorry, I just can't." Willow said as she gatheed her stuff and left, Buffy following her.

Oz stood up and looked apologetically at Xander. "Uh...If you don't need me I'm gonna follow the redhead."

Whatever. I wonder when I can go... "Whatever. Can I go??" Cordelia asked.

Wesley emerged from Giles' office, leaning out only as much as he needed to. "Excuse me... can you hear me thinking in here? Uh, I could go out into the hall...?"

Xander sighed and suddenly got out of his chair and headed for the doors. "You know what? *You* stay, I'll go."

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Hallway

The halls are crowded as usual, and Xander was having a more difficult time of shutting

out all of the thoughts than he did earlier in the day.

She is so hot...

I hate my body...

I could scream from boredom...

No one is ever gonna love me...

What if I never get breasts...?

I cant believe the test is today...

I have the worst...

Xander bumped into his history teacher, Mr. Beach.Get rid of the students... it's so easy...

He has the cutest butt... He turned to find one of the Cordettes checking him out. He smiled and headed for the cafeteria.

As he passed her, Nancy had only one thought. I *hate* him...

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Library

Giles and Wesley were making there way through books, trying to find something related to Xander's telepathy.

"Here..." Giles called over to Wesley, "it's happened before. A man in Ecuador. Quite recently."

"Can we contact him?" Wesley asked.

"I'd say not..." Giles said turning to Wesley, "he can't communicate with anyone."

"Dead?" Wesley asked.

"No..." Giles sated closing the book, "he's in complete isolation. The power... you can't shut it off."

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Cafeteria

Xander stood in line trying to ignore all the voices speaking in his head. The lunch lady eyed him strangely as she ladles a scoop of potatoes onto Xander's plate. Xander doesn't move as he tries to assimilate all the thoughts attacking his senses.

It's gotta get better... please tell me it gets better...

I hate school...

I never should have taken honors math...I'm too stupid...

Am I normal..?

"Are you...through with the mashed potatoes?" Jonathan asked a surprised Xander, who snaps out of his reverie. He doesn't even know I'm here...not that anyone would.

Xander walks away and stops in the center of the lunchroom and grits his teeth as more thoughts assault him.

I'll never get my driver's license...

I want a car sooo bad...

come on...come on...

What did Mrs. Kelley say...?

Didn't she wear that skirt yesterday?

Oh my god, his fly is down!

If I stand in just the right place, I can see in the arm hole... Xander turned to see some guy trying to look down Buffy's shirt.

The test is *today*!

Xander stumbles a little as more thoughts enter his mind. Suddenly, they all are shut up by a powerful thought.

This time tomorrow... I'll kill you all...

Xander stood there shocked as that thought passed his mind. "Oh shit." He said aloud not caring if anyone heard.

To Be Continued!

Please R&R