Chapter 23

Xander's Story

Xander's Story

Xander--10

Spike--11

Drusilla--9

"Tea Party, tea party, tea party. Xandy, tea party?" my best friends annoying younger sister Drusilla kept on insisting. I wouldn't of given in if she wasn't so gosh dang cute. Spike, my best friend since second grade, was sprawled out on his bed showing me his baseball card collection AGAIN.

"I bet you don't have all the rookie cards Xand," Spike bragged as Drusilla poured me some fake tea into a tiny plastic tea cup.

"I bet you I do," I shot back even though I knew darn well I didn't.

"No way do you have a Jerry Spider rookie," he said flipping a few pages.

"Stupid spider mummies. They love their babies SO much they let the babies eat her. I wish my mummy loved me that much," Drusilla said emphasizing her words as she sipped from her cup.

"Me too," I commented ruffling Drusilla's hair and getting up from her tiny table. I winced as my shirt brushed up against the open wounds that were on my back. If I moved really slow and careful it just missed them. "I better go Spike. If I'm late again dad said he'd take the TV away for a week."

'Yeah right' I thought. 'Hah TV'. I usually caught all of my favorite shows over at Spike's house.

"See you tomorrow. 10:30 sharp on the baseball diamond. Got it?" he asked walking me to the front door. I smiled.

"When was the last time I was ever late for a baseball game?" Spike shrugged.

"Never."

I turned around and started to casually walk home. Once I was around the corner, though, I took off at a full fledged run. The sun was already down and if I got home late again dad was going to freak. I jumped my neighbor's fence and crept in through the back door. Mom was asleep, drunk, on the sofa. An empty beer bottle was at its side next to her. Everything was dark except the light which came from the only TV in the house which only my dad could watch. I gulped. He could be around any corner. Just waiting for me. I quickly ran past my mom, trying hard not to rustle the empty beer cans that littered the floor as I ran, and into the hallway. I put my back up against the wall and listened. All I could hear was my frantic heartbeat. After standing there for a few minutes I finally gathered up enough courage to run to my room. Once I reached the door frame I saw him. There he was sitting on my bed pounding one fist into the other.

"Alexander LaVelle!" he roared.

"Yes...yes sir," I stuttered backing out of the room. He reached out and grabbed my shirt.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" he cried throwing me into a wall. I yelped out in pain as the wounds on my back started to sting.

"I'm sorry dad. I was just over at Spike's," I whispered bringing myself to my feet. He hit me hard on the side of the face and I fell over as blood rushed out of one of my cuts that had just been reopened.

"I forbid you to see Spike and his little sister ever again!" he cried taking another sip out of a half empty bottle of Bacardi. Now this got me upset. My body seared in pain as I jumped to my feet.

"You can't do that!" I screamed.

"Who do you think you're talking to you little punk?" my dad screamed picking me up and shaking me. He threw me into the closet and locked the door.

"Maybe this will give you some time to learn how you behave!"

The next day I went into foster care.

"Xander," Cordelia said hugging Xander.

"I jumped from a few foster homes until I was 13. And then Spike's family adopted me," Xander said. "So at least my story has a happy ending. Unlike Wesley's." Xander waited for Wesley to reply. When he didn't everyone turned and saw him. He was asleep; his glasses askew on his face, with Fred nestled on his chest. She, on the other hand, was wide awake. She put her finger to her lips.

"I'm still listening!" she whispered. The rain was letting up a bit now. Sun peeked into the small cabin of the train.

"Alright Willow. You're up!"

Hey guys! Thanks again for all the reviews. I've hit past 60 now and it's all thanks to you! That's the most reviews for any story I've ever gotten! :) So unless I hear otherwise Faith will be after Willow.

Dru619

PS. Hope this chapter didn't upset you too much Karma!!!