Chapter 8. Time is of The Essence. See the make over of William. Will Cordelia change her mind in going to the dance with William?
Buffy returns to William and drags him to the mall. She puts a hat to cover his new hair. William plays dress up with Buffy and she picks three outfits for him. One outfit is casual wear for school, the second one is for the dance and the third one is the one he will wear to ask Cordelia to the dance.
"Do you really think this is necessary?" ask William turning over his credit card to the lady at the register.
"Clothes make the man," says Buffy with a smile. "Well, not really. But you'll attract attention with these."
They left the store and Buffy walks him to his house. William puts his bags down and turns to Buffy when they get to his door.
"Are you sure about this?" ask William.
"Yes," says Buffy. "Just be yourself."
"I don't know if I could do that," says William as he takes off the hat and passes his fingers through his now blonde hair.
"That's the most important thing you got to do," says Buffy. "It's all up to you. Your clothes or your hair aren't going to ask Cordelia out."
"Guess not," William says. "But they would be good at persuading her to say yes." Buffy smiles.
"Well, then I'll see later," says Buffy. She walks down the steps. William turns around and watches her walk towards the sidewalk.
"Buffy," William calls to her. Buffy turns around and looks at William.
"Yeah."
"Thanks," says William.
"Your welcome," says Buffy.
Buffy heads to Giles' house and meets up Xander. Xander grabs her hand and the two enter the house. Giles comes out of the lab with goggles on his eyes.
"Well," ask Giles pulling his goggles over his head.
"Tonight he's going to ask her out," says Buffy.
"Thank goodness," says Giles. "Are you two going to be there?"
"Yes, Giles," says Buffy. "Don't worry."
"So what did you do to my dad?" ask Xander turning to Buffy.
"I just enhanced his look a little," Buffy says.
"Don't tell me you made him look exactly like me."
"No. Much better than you."
"Gee thanks."
"Ah, Xander you know I love you." Buffy gives Xander a smile. "Well what are we doing here? Let's go watch." Buffy grabs Xander's hand and they head to the cafe.
Cordelia arrives at seven thirty and sits down in one of the booths. Buffy and Xander are sitting at the bar. Xander waves at Cordelia and winks at her.
"Oh my gosh," says Xander to Buffy.
"What?" ask Buffy.
"I just winked at my mom," says Xander. "Gross." Buffy laughs then turns to look at the door and see William enter the cafe.
"Check it out," says Buffy. Xander looks toward the door.
"Wow that's my dad," says Xander. Buffy nods her head.
William walks slowly towards Cordelia's booth. She is sipping her milk shake and glances up. Cordelia lets go of her straw and blinks a couple times.
"Hi," says William. Cordelia is speechless. "Cordelia I'd like to ask you to the dance this Saturday night."
"I loved to go to the Famous Film Couples Dance with you William." Cordelia smiles at him. William is relief and sits down in the booth with her.
"Yes," says Xander. Everyone in the cafe looks at him. Buffy giggles under her breath.
Buffy and Xander walk back Giles' hand in hand.
"Well, I guess our job is done," says Buffy.
"We can go home now," says Xander. The two enter Giles' house and head over to the lab.
"Giles," calls Buffy. Xander goes over to the kitchen and finds a note.
"Hey, he left a note," says Xander. Buffy walks over to Xander and takes the note.
"Xander Buffy I had to go out for while to get one more device," Buffy reads out loud. "There's food in the frig. Help yourself. I'll be coming in late. Don't wait up."
"Think he has it ready to go?" ask Xander to Buffy.
"I think he does," says Buffy. "I'm starving. Lets eat." Buffy puts the note on the table and opens the frig.
Giles exits a convenient store and crashes into someone carrying groceries. Everything falls to the ground.
"Sorry," says the girl that crashed into Giles.
"My fault," says Giles helping her pick up her things. "I'm dreadfully sorry." The girl goes down and begins to put her thing in her bag. She then looks at Giles and Giles looks at her.
"It's okay," says the girl as she grabs her things that Giles has in his hand. "Thanks you." Giles grabs his things and stands up.
"Your welcome," says Giles as the girl gets up and walks away.
The next day Xander and Buffy wake up and find Giles working away in his lab. Xander goes to the kitchen and pulls out orange juice. Buffy goes over to Giles' lab.
"Giles," calls Buffy. "We're you up all night?"
"Yes," replies Giles in happy tone. "I'm done. Everything is fixed. All we have to do is test it."
"That's great," says Xander bringing them both a glass of orange juice.
"How about you two go to the dance tonight," Giles suggest. Xander and Buffy look at Giles. "You know you have to make sure that your parents do fall in love that night."
"Well, yeah," says Xander. "I guess. We'd need customs. It's Famous People's Couples Dance."
"Yes. Very well we'll go shopping," says Giles. "I've been meaning to buy something new myself."
The three head into town and enter a Victorian store. Xander and Buffy looked around to find something and look at Giles.
"You think he was drinking," says Buffy. "He's not acting like himself."
"Might as well go along with it," says Xander. "I mean we should make sure my parents do get together in this dance."
Buffy finds a beautiful light pink dress. She also finds very cute shoes to go with them and some accessories that match perfectly. Buffy helps Xander get an outfit that suits him and matches her outfit. When they get to the register a young shorthaired brunette rings the items up.
"Giles," Buffy calls. Giles goes over.
"How much is it?" ask Giles pulling out his wallet.
"That's sixteen dollars," replies the girl. Giles gives the money to the girl and notices that she's the same girl he crashed into last night.
"It's you," says Giles looking at the girl.
"Hi," says the girl as she takes the money.
"You two know each other?" ask Buffy standing in-between them.
"Well yes and no," says Giles getting a little nervous. "We bumped into each other last night. It was really my fault." Giles blue eyes stare at the girls brown eyes.
"No it was my fault completely," says the girl. "I wasn't watching where I was going. I'm such klutz." The girl gives Giles his change out of a twenty. Buffy grabs the bag and sneaks away.
"Oh my gosh," says Buffy. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"Giles is interested in the opposite sex," says Xander.
"He likes her," says Buffy. "Maybe this trip had a good purpose after all."
"I would really like to make it up for you," says Giles.
"You really don't have to," says the girl.
"But I do," says Giles touching her hand as it lies on the counter. The girl looks down then back into his eyes. "Will you accept to accompany me to a high school dance?"
"Um I...Yes. I love to," replies the girl with a smile.
"I'll see you tonight Jenny," says Giles releasing her hand and walking out of the store.
"Hello, Earth to Jenny," says her friend at the store waving her hand across her face.
"Wait a minute," says Jenny turning to her friend.
"What?" ask her friend.
"I didn't give him my name," says Jenny. "How did he know my name?"
"You're name tag," replies her friend.
"Oh," says Jenny realizing that she had it on.
Buffy and Xander waited for Giles to come around the street. They quickly walk over to him and ambush him.
"So did you ask her out?" ask Buffy.
"Buffy," says Giles.
"Come on Giles. It was the perfect time to do it," says Xander. "When I met Buffy...well it was in the playground first and she pushed me off the swing, but when I saw as a girl that I would like to go out with was at her job. She worked at ice cream shop. One day I went up there and ask her out."
"That's quite a beautiful tale," says Giles.
"So did you ask her out?" ask Buffy again.
"Yes," says Giles walking a little bit faster than the two.