Chap 2
Buffy got back on the bus smiling, and headed towards the downtown area. She had several jobs she wanted to check out today for a second job, and she didn't have much time to look. It was when she neared downtown that she realized that she had forgotten her newspaper back at the apartment. She rubbed her face wearily, and got off down town. She knew where at least two of them were in the area, so she sighed in resignation, and walked towards the shops. The first was a small clothing store that catered towards older women, and the second was a gag shop that sold magic stuff.
Buffy stopped at the clothing shop first, and started to go in, but she ended up walking past it. She really wanted to check out the magic shop first. The window was filled with black satin and white gloves, along with two red roses. Buffy paused to glance in the window before entering, and then she made her way into the small fragrant shop. Several candles could be seen glowing from the entranceway, giving off a pleasant scent. She smiled as she walked the rest of the way in.
A young blonde woman walked up to her with a pleasant smile, and her soft voice lilted as she quietly talked. "Hi, welcome to the Magic Box. My name is Tara. Is there anything I can help you find?"
"Um, actually, I saw an ad in the paper, looking for part time evening help. I was wondering if it had been filled yet?" Buffy tried not to sound to hopefully for the job, but couldn't suppress the slight look of disappointment when she asked if it had been filled. She glanced around the room before her gaze fell back on to Tara's. Tara smiled reassuringly, and shook her head.
"No, it hasn't been yet. If you would like, I have an application for you to fill out. You will need to speak with the owner first, but you are the first nibble we've gotten on the ad yet, and we've had it in the paper for 2 days now." She walked towards the counter, and brought out a sheet of paper, and an ink pen. Smiling again, she handed them to Buffy. "You can fill them out here, if you would like, and Mr. Giles can talk with you as soon as you are done." She left Buffy alone to fill in the paper work, and the only thing Buffy paused on was her new address. She left it blank for now, and finished filling the paper out.
When she was done, Buffy handed the paper to the pretty young woman, and waited for her to take it into the back. Tara was back in a few moments, and smiled at Buffy. "You can follow me back if you would like now." Buffy smiled nervously as she walked into the back room. She was shown into a small office where an older man was sitting, a pair of glasses perched on his nose as he read over her application.
"Ah, Miss Summers, have a seat. I just need to." He trailed off as he finished reading the application, and Buffy could tell that he was fairly absentminded. She sat quietly waiting while he finished it. When it was finished, Mr. Giles sat the paper down, and pulled his glasses off. He pinched the bridge of his nose slightly, and cleaned the lenses before placing them back on. "Miss Summers, you left your address blank. Can you explain that?" He was afraid the answer would be that she didn't have one, but he could hope.
"Actually, I have an address, but I just signed a new lease about an hour ago, and I forgot to ask the guy what his address was. I... actually, if you have today's paper, it was in there. I can get it from the paper." Mr. Giles nodded as he watched the young woman in front of him. He glanced about the mess of paper and books on his desk, and located a newspaper. He handed it to her, and she smiled sheepishly while flipping to the back.
"Here it is.3529 West End Avenue, apartment 202, Sunnydale California." She put the paper down, and looked back up at him. "I also didn't put a phone number down, but that's in here as well, do you.?" She trailed off and looked at his puzzled expression. "Mr. Giles?" She asked tentatively. Mr. Giles blinked and looked at her. He laughed to cut the nervousness, and smiled.
"Yes, Miss Summers, a phone number would be nice. Though...I fail to see how the number in the paper would be yours, if you are renting, don't you get your own number?"
"Well, it's a room mate situation. The guy had a spare room and a loft, so, he's already got a phone number, and that's the one I'll be using." She smiled, and looked down for the number. "The number is 555-3202."
"Ah, yes, that would be why the address was so familiar. You'll have to forgive me; I was lost in trying to locate the address in my mind. I do believe you must be renting in with William, Miss Summers? Am I correct?" His expression cleared from the weirdness, and a smile lit on his features as he looked over at her now. "Did he send you in for a job, or was it the paper?"
"You know William? How bazaar is that? And, anyway, I got the ad from the paper." She felt a bit easier, hoping that her association with William would help.
"He's my nephew. He works here with me a few afternoons a week. Now, I suppose we should continue on with the interview. I need help in the evenings, 2 days a week, and on Saturday during the day. The hours would come out to about 15 or 20 a week, and the pay is $7.15 an hour. Pay is weekly, and there is also a 20% discount on anything you find in the store that you like. Do you, ah, have any knowledge of Magical items?"
"Um, not... really. Is that going to be a problem? I mean, I learn fast. I can figure most of this stuff out fairly quick. I. I really need a second job. I haven't had much luck in finding one, and I promise, I work hard, and I never call in." Her voice was slightly pleading towards the end of the rambling. "And, you don't really care about something like that. I'm sorry, I'm nervous, and I tend to ramble on when I get nervous."
Mr. Giles nodded as he listened, and he jotted down a few notes at the end section of the application. He smiled at her when she stopped. "No, it's alright. I like to get a feel for the person, and people can be so fake when they do interviews. Well, I think I have everything I need here. When can you start?"
"You're giving me a job?" Buffy's stunned reply came quickly, before she could stop it.
"I believe you can do a good job here, so yes."
"I. I can start tomorrow. I work at a diner most days, but I'm usually out by 5. I can be here by 5:30, ready to go."
"That would be perfect, Miss Summers, William works tomorrow, so he'll be able to help train you." Mr. Giles stood up, and held his hand out towards her. "Welcome aboard, Miss Summers." Buffy squealed and stood up. She held her hand out and shook his hand.
"Oh, god, thank you. I really appreciate this. You won't regret it, I promise. And please, call me Buffy."
*********
Buffy was smiling as she got in to her dingy apartment that night after her pick up shift. Working the dinner shift had improved her tips, and she had walked out with almost $60 in tips for the 6-hour shift. She told them that she was going to be moving over the next couple of days, and gave them the address she had copied down from the paper. When she got home, she found Xander's truck sitting out front, and she quickly let herself in.
"Hey, Xan? Where you at?" She kicked her shoes off as she walked into the small living room. A moment later, Xander came out from the bathroom, holding a magazine under his arm.
"Hey Buffster. Thought I'd pop out and see about bronzing it tonight. You game?"
"Xander, I wish I could, but I really need to pack, and get sleep because I have to start moving into my new fabulous apartment, AND start my new job tomorrow!" She squealed as she stared to bounce from side to side.
"Whoa. did you say sleep?" His eyes were twinkling as he asked that, knowing she would go nuts at him for ignoring the obviously new situation.
"Xander. focus. I got a new job, and such an awesome new apartment. The only down fall is that there's a roomie, but he's not so bad."
"Again with the Whoa. HE?" Xander gave her his patented 'disapproving-big- brother' look as he crossed his arms over his chest, and his legs set a bit wider. "I don't think so, Buff. This is a big, resounding, NO."
"Xander, I already signed the lease, and you start moving me in by this weekend. Don't worry; you'll like the place. I have a loft, and it's bigger then my bedroom and living room put together. Hey, idea! Do you still want out of your parents place? Cause he's got a room open still, or did, this morning. That way, you could move in too, and be all protective-big-brother from the inside!"
"But. wait, how much does this place cost?" Xander wasn't real sure about moving yet. There was something comforting about living at home still, even if home was dirty, gross, and filled with drunks.
"It's only $225 a month, and split utilities. William said it would be around $60 a month for that. The place is in a good neighborhood, and you have wanted me out of this one for a while now. We can call over there, but he's probably at work." Buffy went into the kitchen to grab something to drink, and ended up screeching as a cockroach skittered across the floor. Xander came rushing in and stomped on it before it could disappear again.
"Alright, I'll help you pack. Maybe you can as tomorrow about that extra room. I'd feel so much better if you weren't there alone."
***A bit shorter then the last one, I know, but TBC.
Buffy got back on the bus smiling, and headed towards the downtown area. She had several jobs she wanted to check out today for a second job, and she didn't have much time to look. It was when she neared downtown that she realized that she had forgotten her newspaper back at the apartment. She rubbed her face wearily, and got off down town. She knew where at least two of them were in the area, so she sighed in resignation, and walked towards the shops. The first was a small clothing store that catered towards older women, and the second was a gag shop that sold magic stuff.
Buffy stopped at the clothing shop first, and started to go in, but she ended up walking past it. She really wanted to check out the magic shop first. The window was filled with black satin and white gloves, along with two red roses. Buffy paused to glance in the window before entering, and then she made her way into the small fragrant shop. Several candles could be seen glowing from the entranceway, giving off a pleasant scent. She smiled as she walked the rest of the way in.
A young blonde woman walked up to her with a pleasant smile, and her soft voice lilted as she quietly talked. "Hi, welcome to the Magic Box. My name is Tara. Is there anything I can help you find?"
"Um, actually, I saw an ad in the paper, looking for part time evening help. I was wondering if it had been filled yet?" Buffy tried not to sound to hopefully for the job, but couldn't suppress the slight look of disappointment when she asked if it had been filled. She glanced around the room before her gaze fell back on to Tara's. Tara smiled reassuringly, and shook her head.
"No, it hasn't been yet. If you would like, I have an application for you to fill out. You will need to speak with the owner first, but you are the first nibble we've gotten on the ad yet, and we've had it in the paper for 2 days now." She walked towards the counter, and brought out a sheet of paper, and an ink pen. Smiling again, she handed them to Buffy. "You can fill them out here, if you would like, and Mr. Giles can talk with you as soon as you are done." She left Buffy alone to fill in the paper work, and the only thing Buffy paused on was her new address. She left it blank for now, and finished filling the paper out.
When she was done, Buffy handed the paper to the pretty young woman, and waited for her to take it into the back. Tara was back in a few moments, and smiled at Buffy. "You can follow me back if you would like now." Buffy smiled nervously as she walked into the back room. She was shown into a small office where an older man was sitting, a pair of glasses perched on his nose as he read over her application.
"Ah, Miss Summers, have a seat. I just need to." He trailed off as he finished reading the application, and Buffy could tell that he was fairly absentminded. She sat quietly waiting while he finished it. When it was finished, Mr. Giles sat the paper down, and pulled his glasses off. He pinched the bridge of his nose slightly, and cleaned the lenses before placing them back on. "Miss Summers, you left your address blank. Can you explain that?" He was afraid the answer would be that she didn't have one, but he could hope.
"Actually, I have an address, but I just signed a new lease about an hour ago, and I forgot to ask the guy what his address was. I... actually, if you have today's paper, it was in there. I can get it from the paper." Mr. Giles nodded as he watched the young woman in front of him. He glanced about the mess of paper and books on his desk, and located a newspaper. He handed it to her, and she smiled sheepishly while flipping to the back.
"Here it is.3529 West End Avenue, apartment 202, Sunnydale California." She put the paper down, and looked back up at him. "I also didn't put a phone number down, but that's in here as well, do you.?" She trailed off and looked at his puzzled expression. "Mr. Giles?" She asked tentatively. Mr. Giles blinked and looked at her. He laughed to cut the nervousness, and smiled.
"Yes, Miss Summers, a phone number would be nice. Though...I fail to see how the number in the paper would be yours, if you are renting, don't you get your own number?"
"Well, it's a room mate situation. The guy had a spare room and a loft, so, he's already got a phone number, and that's the one I'll be using." She smiled, and looked down for the number. "The number is 555-3202."
"Ah, yes, that would be why the address was so familiar. You'll have to forgive me; I was lost in trying to locate the address in my mind. I do believe you must be renting in with William, Miss Summers? Am I correct?" His expression cleared from the weirdness, and a smile lit on his features as he looked over at her now. "Did he send you in for a job, or was it the paper?"
"You know William? How bazaar is that? And, anyway, I got the ad from the paper." She felt a bit easier, hoping that her association with William would help.
"He's my nephew. He works here with me a few afternoons a week. Now, I suppose we should continue on with the interview. I need help in the evenings, 2 days a week, and on Saturday during the day. The hours would come out to about 15 or 20 a week, and the pay is $7.15 an hour. Pay is weekly, and there is also a 20% discount on anything you find in the store that you like. Do you, ah, have any knowledge of Magical items?"
"Um, not... really. Is that going to be a problem? I mean, I learn fast. I can figure most of this stuff out fairly quick. I. I really need a second job. I haven't had much luck in finding one, and I promise, I work hard, and I never call in." Her voice was slightly pleading towards the end of the rambling. "And, you don't really care about something like that. I'm sorry, I'm nervous, and I tend to ramble on when I get nervous."
Mr. Giles nodded as he listened, and he jotted down a few notes at the end section of the application. He smiled at her when she stopped. "No, it's alright. I like to get a feel for the person, and people can be so fake when they do interviews. Well, I think I have everything I need here. When can you start?"
"You're giving me a job?" Buffy's stunned reply came quickly, before she could stop it.
"I believe you can do a good job here, so yes."
"I. I can start tomorrow. I work at a diner most days, but I'm usually out by 5. I can be here by 5:30, ready to go."
"That would be perfect, Miss Summers, William works tomorrow, so he'll be able to help train you." Mr. Giles stood up, and held his hand out towards her. "Welcome aboard, Miss Summers." Buffy squealed and stood up. She held her hand out and shook his hand.
"Oh, god, thank you. I really appreciate this. You won't regret it, I promise. And please, call me Buffy."
*********
Buffy was smiling as she got in to her dingy apartment that night after her pick up shift. Working the dinner shift had improved her tips, and she had walked out with almost $60 in tips for the 6-hour shift. She told them that she was going to be moving over the next couple of days, and gave them the address she had copied down from the paper. When she got home, she found Xander's truck sitting out front, and she quickly let herself in.
"Hey, Xan? Where you at?" She kicked her shoes off as she walked into the small living room. A moment later, Xander came out from the bathroom, holding a magazine under his arm.
"Hey Buffster. Thought I'd pop out and see about bronzing it tonight. You game?"
"Xander, I wish I could, but I really need to pack, and get sleep because I have to start moving into my new fabulous apartment, AND start my new job tomorrow!" She squealed as she stared to bounce from side to side.
"Whoa. did you say sleep?" His eyes were twinkling as he asked that, knowing she would go nuts at him for ignoring the obviously new situation.
"Xander. focus. I got a new job, and such an awesome new apartment. The only down fall is that there's a roomie, but he's not so bad."
"Again with the Whoa. HE?" Xander gave her his patented 'disapproving-big- brother' look as he crossed his arms over his chest, and his legs set a bit wider. "I don't think so, Buff. This is a big, resounding, NO."
"Xander, I already signed the lease, and you start moving me in by this weekend. Don't worry; you'll like the place. I have a loft, and it's bigger then my bedroom and living room put together. Hey, idea! Do you still want out of your parents place? Cause he's got a room open still, or did, this morning. That way, you could move in too, and be all protective-big-brother from the inside!"
"But. wait, how much does this place cost?" Xander wasn't real sure about moving yet. There was something comforting about living at home still, even if home was dirty, gross, and filled with drunks.
"It's only $225 a month, and split utilities. William said it would be around $60 a month for that. The place is in a good neighborhood, and you have wanted me out of this one for a while now. We can call over there, but he's probably at work." Buffy went into the kitchen to grab something to drink, and ended up screeching as a cockroach skittered across the floor. Xander came rushing in and stomped on it before it could disappear again.
"Alright, I'll help you pack. Maybe you can as tomorrow about that extra room. I'd feel so much better if you weren't there alone."
***A bit shorter then the last one, I know, but TBC.