Buffy's eyes opened slowly to the bright afternoon sunshine that was streaming in her bedroom window. She felt the effects of a hangover in charge of her body and she groaned as she pulled her blanket over her head. It had been late when she had gotten home, somewhere between three and four that morning. She couldn't remember what time the others had left to go home, but she had stayed to talk with Riley and had even gotten the spirits up to dance with him a few times, but that was probably because the longer she sat and talked to him the more she had drank. She probably wouldn't have drank so much though if she hadn't been creeped out by the fact that it felt like someone was watching her all night long. Even when Riley had walked her home, since they had both had too much to drink and neither was able to drive, she had the feeling that someone was following her.
The phone on her nightstand began to ring and she pulled the covers tighter around her head trying to drown out the sound, hoping that her father would pick the phone up downstairs. After the fifth ring Buffy knew he wasn't going to answer. She tugged the covers off of her and picked up the phone. "Hello." She whimpered into the phone.
"Hey B. What took so long?" Faith's voice echoed in her ears making her head hurt even more.
"Faith, please not so loud." She moaned as her head throbbed.
"Partied a little too hard last night, huh?"
"It was really late when I got home last night. I was at the Bronze way too long."
"Really? I didn't think the gang hung out all night."
"They didn't, but Riley was there."
There was a breif silence on the other end of the line before Faith said, "Am I hearing things or did you just say that you were at the Bronze all night with Riley?"
"You aren't hearing things. Riley happens to be in town and we spent the night out."
"You didn't tell me you saw him when you called yesterday."
"That's because I only saw him last night."
"Just tell me you aren't going to get involved with him again."
"Faith you know that Riley and I both agreed that we are better off just being friends. That's all we ever were, even when we were dating."
"I know, but I had to make sure you weren't making the same mistake twice."
"I'm not." Buffy told her. "Is there something that I can do for you?"
"Actually, Angel wanted me to call you. He said that he wants you to take the next week off as well."
"What? Why?" Buffy was alarmed at this. She thought that maybe she had done something wrong and this was going to be her punishment, only she didn't think that she had done anything wrong.
"He said something about you should have more time in Sunnydale. Something about a few days not being enough to sort everything out that has happened. What that's all about I don't know. He also said that by you staying there this week too that you wouldn't have to make a trip back to Sunnydale next weekend as well."
"Why would I be coming back next weekend?"
"Oz and Devon have the band booked for a gig at the Bronze next weekend. Angel wants everyone to go."
"Really? That's so cool. So everyone is going to be coming to Sunnydale?"
"Yep, we'll all be there. From what Angel was saying we should be there about seven Friday night. The guys play at nine. You wanna meet at the Bronze at eight?"
"Sounds like a plan. I better get up and get myself motivated. Dad made dinner plans for tonight, which is in about," Buffy paused to look at the clock and groaned, " three hours, with us and the gang not to mention a surprise guest."
"Surprise guest, huh? That sounds like fun. Any ideas who it might be?"
"Not a clue. Dad has been extra careful not to let any hints slip."
"Well have fun. I'll see you on Friday."
"Yep, Friday." Buffy replied and hung up the phone. She slowly crawled out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to take a shower in hopes of making herself feel better. 'I can't believe I stayed out so late last night.' Buffy thought to herself as she showered. 'And with Riley at that. What was I thinking? I mean, yeah, I like Riley. We always got along great, but he never held my interest before. Maybe I am getting desperate. Faith used to always bug me about getting out more, maybe I should have listened. Then again, I don't think that was ever the problem. I go out, I just never meet anyone that catches my attention. Spike did that, even before I knew who he was. From the moment that I saw him, I was interested, I just refused to believe it. If I hadn't been I never would have left him into my apartment to talk. I never would have been curious about him. Why do I always get the picture after it's too late?'
While Buffy was drying her hair the phone rang again and she went to her bedroom to answer it. "Hello?...Oh, hey Willow...Late. Really really late...We just talked, and drank. A lot...No nothing like that. We were just catching up...Honest...No I'm not doing anything until dinner...Sure. Come on over. You and Tara can get ready for dinner here...Okay I'll see you guys in a little bit...Bye." Buffy hung up the phone and went downstairs. She found a note on the table by the phone from her father telling her that he didn't want to wake her, and that he had some things he had to do before dinner, but he should be home in plenty of time.
When Willow and Tara arrived at Buffy's they went up to her room to listen to the radio and talk. "What time are you leaving tomorrow?" Willow asked while Buffy rummaged through her makeup bag looking for what she wanted to put on for dinner.
"I'm not." She said in a matter of fact tone.
"You're not. You mean you're staying?" Willow questioned in surprise at her friend's answer.
"Well for another week anyway. Faith called earlier and said that Angel gave me another week off. She said he told her that a few days wasn't enough time for me to sort out everything that has happened. I thought it was. I came here and saw my father and all of you and apologized. I don't know what else he could be talking about. The only other bad thing that has happened I can't fix. Spike is back in England and I am here. There isn't anything I can do about that. But, besides all of that, some of the guys from L.A. have a band and they have a gig at the Bronze next weekend. Angel wants every one to be there. So, instead of me going back for a week then returning here, he just gave me another week off."
"That was nice of him." Tara commented. "If they are all coming next weekend, does that mean we will get to meet everyone?"
"If you want to. We made plans to meet at the Bronze at eight. If you guys want, you can meet us there."
"That sounds great. Do you want to go Willow?"
"Of course, I want to go. I haven't seen Faith and Angel since we graduated from high school. Besides then I can give them both hell for keeping Buffy away from us."
"Now, honey, don't cause any trouble." Tara scolded her.
"I'm not. I like them, and I'm glad that they were watching out for Buffy. It made me feel much better when she told us that she had been with them the entire time. At least I knew she was with good people." Willow told Tara then turned her attention back to Buffy. "So, Buffy, what are you wearing tonight?"
"Like I said last night." Buffy replied walking to her closet. "Dad took me out to buy a new dress. I wasn't exactly sure what to get so I picked this out." She removed the dress her father had bought for her the day before and held it up for her friends to see. It was a strappy black dress that was just above knee length. It could pass for either the professional look or the sexy night out look.
"Aww, Buffy, that will look so good on you." Willow said when she saw the dress. "If your father wants you to make a good impression on our dinner guest that will definitely do the trick."
"That's what I thought when I tried it on at the store." Buffy stated, then glanced at the clock. "We only have an hour left until dinner. Maybe we should get ready awhile." The other two agreed and the three of them began to get ready for their dinner date.
At quarter till five some one knocked on the door of the Summer's residence. Buffy went to answer the door and found Xander and Anya waiting patiently on the other side. "Wow, Buffy you look great." Xander told her as he stepped into the house.
"Yes, you look very nice." Anya added as she followed her boyfriend into the house. "Thanks guys. The two of you look good as well. I still can't believe my father has us all dressed up to go out for dinner. He didn't even say where we are going." Buffy paused for a moment as she remembered something. "Speaking of which, my father isn't even home yet."
"I knew there was something I wanted to ask you." Willow said as she and Tara joined the others downstairs. "I just forgot what it was. Where is your dad?"
Buffy shruged her shoulders. "I don't know. He left a note saying that he had some things he had to take care of before we went out and that he would be home in plenty of time, but I haven't heard anything from him. I hope he gets here soon."
"I'm sure he will be." Tara said trying to give Buffy some hope. "If he is going to be late I'm sure he will call to let you know." As if on cue the phone began to ring and Buffy ran to answer it.
"Hello?..Daddy where are you? We are all here and ready to leave...No, our guest is not here yet...Okay. We will...Bye." Buffy hung up the phone and joined the rest of her friends in the living room. "That was Dad. He is on his way here now. He also said that our guest should be here any minute and that when he gets here to invite him in and make him feel welcome. We are not supposed to give him a hard time, or should I say, I'm not supposed to give him a hard time."
"Well I guess that rules out the girlfriend theory." Xander observed. The rest of the group looked at him with questioning glances. "Buffy said that he would be here, to make him feel welcome. If it's a he then it obviously can't be a girlfriend." He explained.
Buffy laughed lightly at herself for not noticing that her father had told her that the person coming to dinner with them was a guy. "Geez am I blonde or what. I didn't even realize that my father did say he and I even repeated it." There was a knock on the door and Buffy glanced at the clock. "Five 'o clock. Right on time." She announced as she went to answer the door. "Maybe you all should just wait here." She told her friends when she saw that they all were going to follow her to the door. "We don't want to overwhelm this guy with a bunch of new faces and make him run away." They all whined in protest but stayed where they were.
Buffy inhaled deeply as she reached for the door knob, preparing to give their guest a warm welcome. She pulled the door open and as she focused on the man standing on her front porch her mouth dropped open and all thoughts in her mind came to a screeching halt. She tried to speak but words were impossible.