TITLE: Burgandy

AUTHOR: Ben Is Glory

RATING: PG-13

PAIRING: B/S

DISCLAIMER: Characters do not belong to me. And I probably should have mentioned earlier that the title comes from a Common Rotation song. Goooood band, go listen!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I reallyreallyreally wished I had worked more on this this weekend, but no. Oh well, I'm gonna work like a mofo today in between studying for spanish. Enjoy!

FEEDBACK: Nooooow. Please?

***

Mr. Giles' lecture seemed to drag on for hours. Buffy was about to burst with anxiety by the time he had finished talking. She had been in writing class all morning, which only fueled her fear about her after-class date with Will. She occasionally averted her gaze from the professor to look over at him. He was sitting to the right of the desk at the front of the room. Buffy had caught him staring at her several times. She let her heart skip a beat before returning her attention to the class.

Around noon, Mr. Giles turned the class over to William, who gave out the homework assignment and requirements for the next class. "That'll do it for today. See you next class," he ended. Buffy took her time putting her books and pens away in her bag. She waited until almost everybody had left the room, stood, and walked to the front of the classroom to Will.

"Good class," she told him. "The last couple of minutes was a revelation," she joked.

"Really. You'll be excited about the next class, then. I actually get to open by saying, 'Hello. How was your week?'" He smiled and she let out a small laugh. "So, are you ready to go?" he asked looking to her to see whether it was all right to start their date.

"Yeah," she gave him approval. "Let's get out of here." The two walked out the door leaving Mr. Giles alone in the room. He shook his head. College boys in love, he thought as he gathered up his things.

***

Buffy and Will strolled through the campus on their way to coffee. "Well, Buffy," he began.

"Yes, Will," she replied playfully.

"Where are you from?"

"California."

He looked at her and grinned. "Oh, a west coast bird."

"So you've heard of us?"

"Maybe once or twice."

"What about you? Where do you call home?" she asked lifting up her head to look at him.

"I grew up in London. Moved to New York after university and been teaching here ever since."

"Do you miss England?" wondered the little blonde.

"Not the weather," he chuckled. "Nah… it's just, different. You can't really compare the two."

Buffy pretended to understand and nodded. Will turned right when they got to the sidewalk that lead off campus. "The Starbucks is just two blocks down," he informed her.

"Well, William. Who did you leave behind in England? Family-wise," she clarified.

"My mum and da live there. That's mostly it. No tiny tots running around at home," he told her. "And you? Who's back in California? Any brothers or sisters?"

Buffy let her hand drift up to touch her necklace. "My mom and sister, Dawn. She's twelve and thinks she knows everything about college. She tried to stowaway in my suitcase before I left."

"Is your father in California, too?" he asked innocently.

She immediately got very quiet. Buffy's father had bailed on their family when she was fifteen. She could still remember the day she had come home to find her mother and sister crying perfectly as though it were yesterday.

"Hey, Mom!" Buffy called as she opened her front door. School had just let out for spring break, and she was beyond excited. Her family had been planning a trip to the beach: a week of fun in the sun, relaxing, and forgetting about school.

The second Buffy walked into the house, she could tell something was wrong. She closed the door and walked into the empty kitchen. "Dawn? Mom?" She turned around, went back to the entry hall and ran up the stairs. She moved down the hall and stood on the outside of Dawn's closed door.

"Shh, Dawn. It's all right, baby. It's going to be okay," her mother soothed the nine year old. Buffy could hear her sister sobbing in her room. It sounded like her mother was crying, too.

The older daughter slowly turned the doorknob and opened the door carefully. Her eyes welled with tears threatening to leak out; she was terrified of whatever was making her mother and sister so upset.

"Oh, Buffy. You're home," her mother sniffled.

"What's wrong?" Buffy demanded. The tears began to flow. "What happened?" she asked frantically.

The older woman didn't say anything, just handed her a piece of paper. It was a note from her father.

"Joyce, Buffy, and Dawn: I have to go. No time for explanations. -Hank"

Buffy let out a sob that wracked her entire body. "He didn't even say he loved us," she whispered, collapsing on the bed. Her mother hugged her, and Buffy reached out to Dawn. The three sat without moving for hours.

"Oh, um…" She tried to find her voice.

Will could tell something wasn't right. "I'm sorry, did I…"

"No," she interrupted. "It's okay. He's in L.A. now. He took off when I was fifteen."

"I'm sorry," he offered, unsure of what to say.

"It's fine," she insisted. She stopped and looked up at the round Starbucks symbol on the front of a building. "I think we're here," she said, desperately trying to change the subject.

"After you." He opened the door and motioned for her to enter.

"Thank you," she replied shyly as she went into the café. The couple approached the front counter, and a short brunette greeted them.

"Hi. What can I get for you guys today?" she asked. Her voice had a very recognizable New York accent, the kind that comes with living in the city your whole life.

Buffy ordered a frappuccino. The girl behind the counter looked expectantly at Will. "I'll have hot chocolate," he told her. Buffy's eyes widened, and a smile crept across her face. "Caffeine makes me jittery."

"Sure," she teased.

"That'll be $6.95, please," said the girl.

Buffy reached for her purse but Will stopped her. "No, no, no. I invited you, and I'm paying."

"But…" she protested.

"No. I pay," he declared.

"Fine," she gave up. "Such a guy," she whispered under her breath.

Will took out his money and paid the cashier, then he turned to Buffy. "What was that?"

"Nothing," she told him and stared at the ceiling.

"Right." He grabbed their drinks and led Buffy to a table at the back of the room. Will set down the refreshments and pulled out Buffy's chair for her.

"And they say romance is dead," she claimed.

Will smiled and moved to his seat across from her. He took a sip of his hot chocolate. "Bollocks!" he cursed.

Buffy gave him a confused look. "What?"

"Burned my tongue," he said sheepishly.

Buffy let out a loud laugh and clamped her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry," she managed through the fit of giggles. His face started to flush, and Buffy could tell he was embarrassed. She tried to regain composure.

He waited until she was quiet again and asked a question. "Have you ever been to New York?"

She shook her head. "Only to see the campus, and that took up the whole day I was here."

"Well, I guess I'll have to be your tour guide then."

"That'd be nice," she answered smiling. Seeing New York with the most gorgeous man on the planet? I think I'm going to like it here.

-TBC-

***

A/n: And? Review!