Well here it is yet another chapter. I never thought I would have this
much posted so soon but here it is. I wanted to thank Imzadi, litchick08
and Grace for their reviews. It means a lot that you took the time and
reviewed. I'm back to Buffy's point of view. In this chapter I wanted to
start to re-build Buffy's life. So that's all I have to say. 170017
"Well you know what I think?" Pike said to me, "I think that that's a great idea. You can be just like any American girl. Hey you can go to college and get a job and all that stuff."
"Yeah," I replied, "I could but I need a place to stay first," I looked up at Pike. We were sitting at his kitchen table across from each other. He had made eggs, which were now just empty plates under our noses. I couldn't stay in the past anymore. I needed to move on and that dream with Cordelia told me that. She was right after all. At least I think it was a dream...
Pike smiled at me staring back, "Hey Buffy you should just live with me," I looked apprehensive at this so Pike added, "It's gonna be too expensive to just get one on your own and I've been looking to get a roommate. I have two bedrooms here after all." It was true that he had more than enough room here to cover me but I couldn't just break into his life and take everything. It was a really nice place though. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and kitchen and all fairly big. It must cost a lot. I would need to pay half and I doubted that I could manage that.
"It only looks expensive Buff," Pike told me watching me as I looked around. "I can help you out on the rent and all, until you get a job."
I looked back to him feeling a bit better. If I had the time to get a job I could most likely save enough money to help out with the rent. "You know what, I think it's a deal." I smiled for the first time in at least a week. My life was starting to work out. Pike laughed easily. I hope he didn't have anything between the two of us planned. No, Pike would have thousands of girls lined up. He wouldn't think of me like that, not now. I looked into his eyes and laughed a subtle laugh back. "Now I need to find a job," I stated.
Pike turned around and grabbed a piece of paper behind his back. He pushed it in front of me, all the time smiling, "I actually can help with that. Friend of mine was just telling me that his dad just bought this bakery. They're opening a week from yesterday and need workers. All you really need to do is work the cash register. Sometimes do a little waitressing. They sell just you know baked goods and some kind of coffee." I looked down at the number that was written on the paper. It was an address and a phone number. "The pays good. Not great or anything but it's enough for half the rent here, and extra."
I think this could be good. This job sounded perfect. I had done register work in Sunnydale and even waitress work here in LA. I knew all the things that I needed to, for this job. "So what do I do, call?" I asked Pike.
"Yeah you can just phone this number," Pike said pointing down at the paper.
-------
"I got the job!" I yelled excitedly at Pike. He got up from the couch he was seated at and hugged me.
"Hey that's great. When do you start?" Pike asked me.
"In two days," I replied and laughed, "They loved my résumé. They said it was exactly what they were looking for." My life was starting to work out for the better. Now all I needed was to work on getting the school thing settled.
-------
(Next day)
I opened the apartment door to find Pike sitting in the kitchen wolfing down a chicken leg. I laughed and then looked down at the information I had gotten from the college here. It was a great school and I had the grades to even get in but there was still the money problem. I wished that I could go but there wasn't even the slightest chance that it would work. I looked a bit deflated as Pike looked up.
"Hey Buff, what's up?" Pike always knew when I had something on my mind, "What are those papers all about?" and he always knew what was getting me down.
"Well I went to the college to get some information but it turns out that there is no way I can afford it." I showed him the price and he winced. I knew it was high but I didn't think it was that bad. Then there are books and all that stuff. There was no way that this could work out. "Yeah I know it's harsh."
"Well you know it's not that bad," Pike said trying to make me feel better but I only snorted. "Well you still have the summer to earn the money. If worst comes to worst you can always go there next year."
I sighed. I wouldn't even have enough money next year. The school thing was always so hard for me to do. "I guess."
-------
I walked to the door and locked it. Closing time. Today was the eighth day I had been working and it was a great job. I worked at a place called BikaBacker. Great coffee and yummy baked goods. It was a perfect place to grab a coffee with friends but it reminded me of the coffee shop in Sunnydale. I used to love that place. Me, Will and Zander would always stop there for a cup of coffee. Well not Willow, if she ever drank coffee she went into hyper mode. That was a scary thought, I chuckled. That's too depressing to think about now. I missed them all so much. I hadn't even talked to Willow and Zander in person since we parted ways last year. I wanted to see them so bad.
I turned the open sign to closed and went out the back entrance. Well today was an exhausting day and when I got home I would be taking a bath. That would make me feel better. I walked out of the back alley and through the park that was the way home. "BUFFY," I heard from behind me. Oh god no. Who was it? Please let it be Pike, I prayed. There was no escaping I thought as I slowly turned around. It was my dad? What was he doing out here? LA was huge; it was my bad luck to run into him. "Hey Buffy," He said running up to me. Oh great now Dawn would find out where I was and everything would just go to crumbs. I was just starting to put a life together.
"Hey dad," I said. Why oh why had I gone through the park? Why didn't I go around? Sure it was another hour but it would have kept me away from my dear old dad. I never saw him. I think the last time was mom's funeral. I didn't even think he would come then. Didn't even call before coming. I guess he got our message or something last minuet. He only stayed for a little, didn't even talk to Dawnie and me. I really wanted to talk to him then. Sure I had called him once last year telling him that we had moved to Rome, are address and all that. He still paid child support.
"Hello, What are you doing in LA?" he asked I bet he didn't even care that I was here. I guess he hadn't even heard from Dawn that I was missing. I think that if he did he would have been a little more police chef. Questions, questions and yet more questions.
"Um I'm um," I wasn't going to lie but I wasn't going to tell the truth exactly anyway, "Living here." Well that was enough information he needed.
"Well I'm glad we ran into each other I was actually just about to call you in Rome. Is it only you here or Dawn as well?" he asked. Not another question.
But I wasn't going to lie. That could just cause more questions. If the child support money started to come here to me instead of to Rome they would have to phone and everything would unravel for me. "Um no Dawn is still in Rome. She's okay you know. Staying with a um friend."
"That's great," He replied I bet he didn't even care. "Well I wanted to phone you about school actually."
What? Why would he phone me about school?
"Well you know that the school year doesn't start for a while now but I really want you to go," he stated. Why did he have to say that? It cut me. I wished I could go. But no, no school for Buffy.
"I can't dad. I have no where near enough money to go," I told him turning my glance away from him.
"Yeah that's what I thought," He started, "I wanted to talk to you about giving you some money for school," he finished. What? Why would he do that? He didn't have enough money to do that.
"Dad, you know you can't afford that," I told him.
"Well I've been saving for school for Dawn and you and I thought since, well after all you've been through you would need it this year a lot. It's only enough for a year of school for you. Two semesters. But I was thinking that you might want it. You haven't had any time for it before. Last year was so busy and you had to take care of Dawn. I don't know if you're going but the offers up to you," My dad said watching me waiting for an answer.
"Dad, I couldn't take that from you," I said.
"This is the whole reason I've been saving. Are you trying to go to school this year?" I looked down, not wanting him to see how much I really wanted this money.
"Yeah I've been trying to get b-," I said as he cut me off.
"Then it's settled," my dad said. I smiled, turning towards him and hugging him. I never thought that I could get back to school. This brought so much hope to me. I was so happy. Now I'd only have to worry about the college accepting me.
Well that was it thanks for reading! 170017
"Well you know what I think?" Pike said to me, "I think that that's a great idea. You can be just like any American girl. Hey you can go to college and get a job and all that stuff."
"Yeah," I replied, "I could but I need a place to stay first," I looked up at Pike. We were sitting at his kitchen table across from each other. He had made eggs, which were now just empty plates under our noses. I couldn't stay in the past anymore. I needed to move on and that dream with Cordelia told me that. She was right after all. At least I think it was a dream...
Pike smiled at me staring back, "Hey Buffy you should just live with me," I looked apprehensive at this so Pike added, "It's gonna be too expensive to just get one on your own and I've been looking to get a roommate. I have two bedrooms here after all." It was true that he had more than enough room here to cover me but I couldn't just break into his life and take everything. It was a really nice place though. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and kitchen and all fairly big. It must cost a lot. I would need to pay half and I doubted that I could manage that.
"It only looks expensive Buff," Pike told me watching me as I looked around. "I can help you out on the rent and all, until you get a job."
I looked back to him feeling a bit better. If I had the time to get a job I could most likely save enough money to help out with the rent. "You know what, I think it's a deal." I smiled for the first time in at least a week. My life was starting to work out. Pike laughed easily. I hope he didn't have anything between the two of us planned. No, Pike would have thousands of girls lined up. He wouldn't think of me like that, not now. I looked into his eyes and laughed a subtle laugh back. "Now I need to find a job," I stated.
Pike turned around and grabbed a piece of paper behind his back. He pushed it in front of me, all the time smiling, "I actually can help with that. Friend of mine was just telling me that his dad just bought this bakery. They're opening a week from yesterday and need workers. All you really need to do is work the cash register. Sometimes do a little waitressing. They sell just you know baked goods and some kind of coffee." I looked down at the number that was written on the paper. It was an address and a phone number. "The pays good. Not great or anything but it's enough for half the rent here, and extra."
I think this could be good. This job sounded perfect. I had done register work in Sunnydale and even waitress work here in LA. I knew all the things that I needed to, for this job. "So what do I do, call?" I asked Pike.
"Yeah you can just phone this number," Pike said pointing down at the paper.
-------
"I got the job!" I yelled excitedly at Pike. He got up from the couch he was seated at and hugged me.
"Hey that's great. When do you start?" Pike asked me.
"In two days," I replied and laughed, "They loved my résumé. They said it was exactly what they were looking for." My life was starting to work out for the better. Now all I needed was to work on getting the school thing settled.
-------
(Next day)
I opened the apartment door to find Pike sitting in the kitchen wolfing down a chicken leg. I laughed and then looked down at the information I had gotten from the college here. It was a great school and I had the grades to even get in but there was still the money problem. I wished that I could go but there wasn't even the slightest chance that it would work. I looked a bit deflated as Pike looked up.
"Hey Buff, what's up?" Pike always knew when I had something on my mind, "What are those papers all about?" and he always knew what was getting me down.
"Well I went to the college to get some information but it turns out that there is no way I can afford it." I showed him the price and he winced. I knew it was high but I didn't think it was that bad. Then there are books and all that stuff. There was no way that this could work out. "Yeah I know it's harsh."
"Well you know it's not that bad," Pike said trying to make me feel better but I only snorted. "Well you still have the summer to earn the money. If worst comes to worst you can always go there next year."
I sighed. I wouldn't even have enough money next year. The school thing was always so hard for me to do. "I guess."
-------
I walked to the door and locked it. Closing time. Today was the eighth day I had been working and it was a great job. I worked at a place called BikaBacker. Great coffee and yummy baked goods. It was a perfect place to grab a coffee with friends but it reminded me of the coffee shop in Sunnydale. I used to love that place. Me, Will and Zander would always stop there for a cup of coffee. Well not Willow, if she ever drank coffee she went into hyper mode. That was a scary thought, I chuckled. That's too depressing to think about now. I missed them all so much. I hadn't even talked to Willow and Zander in person since we parted ways last year. I wanted to see them so bad.
I turned the open sign to closed and went out the back entrance. Well today was an exhausting day and when I got home I would be taking a bath. That would make me feel better. I walked out of the back alley and through the park that was the way home. "BUFFY," I heard from behind me. Oh god no. Who was it? Please let it be Pike, I prayed. There was no escaping I thought as I slowly turned around. It was my dad? What was he doing out here? LA was huge; it was my bad luck to run into him. "Hey Buffy," He said running up to me. Oh great now Dawn would find out where I was and everything would just go to crumbs. I was just starting to put a life together.
"Hey dad," I said. Why oh why had I gone through the park? Why didn't I go around? Sure it was another hour but it would have kept me away from my dear old dad. I never saw him. I think the last time was mom's funeral. I didn't even think he would come then. Didn't even call before coming. I guess he got our message or something last minuet. He only stayed for a little, didn't even talk to Dawnie and me. I really wanted to talk to him then. Sure I had called him once last year telling him that we had moved to Rome, are address and all that. He still paid child support.
"Hello, What are you doing in LA?" he asked I bet he didn't even care that I was here. I guess he hadn't even heard from Dawn that I was missing. I think that if he did he would have been a little more police chef. Questions, questions and yet more questions.
"Um I'm um," I wasn't going to lie but I wasn't going to tell the truth exactly anyway, "Living here." Well that was enough information he needed.
"Well I'm glad we ran into each other I was actually just about to call you in Rome. Is it only you here or Dawn as well?" he asked. Not another question.
But I wasn't going to lie. That could just cause more questions. If the child support money started to come here to me instead of to Rome they would have to phone and everything would unravel for me. "Um no Dawn is still in Rome. She's okay you know. Staying with a um friend."
"That's great," He replied I bet he didn't even care. "Well I wanted to phone you about school actually."
What? Why would he phone me about school?
"Well you know that the school year doesn't start for a while now but I really want you to go," he stated. Why did he have to say that? It cut me. I wished I could go. But no, no school for Buffy.
"I can't dad. I have no where near enough money to go," I told him turning my glance away from him.
"Yeah that's what I thought," He started, "I wanted to talk to you about giving you some money for school," he finished. What? Why would he do that? He didn't have enough money to do that.
"Dad, you know you can't afford that," I told him.
"Well I've been saving for school for Dawn and you and I thought since, well after all you've been through you would need it this year a lot. It's only enough for a year of school for you. Two semesters. But I was thinking that you might want it. You haven't had any time for it before. Last year was so busy and you had to take care of Dawn. I don't know if you're going but the offers up to you," My dad said watching me waiting for an answer.
"Dad, I couldn't take that from you," I said.
"This is the whole reason I've been saving. Are you trying to go to school this year?" I looked down, not wanting him to see how much I really wanted this money.
"Yeah I've been trying to get b-," I said as he cut me off.
"Then it's settled," my dad said. I smiled, turning towards him and hugging him. I never thought that I could get back to school. This brought so much hope to me. I was so happy. Now I'd only have to worry about the college accepting me.
Well that was it thanks for reading! 170017