Xander Harris awoke to another beautiful day. Sunbeams awoke him by streaming through his windows. They caressed every dip of his facial features. His mother's cheerful voice called to him.

"Xander, honey, rise and shine. Your breakfast is ready!"

He called back to her, "Coming Mother!"

Xander rolled out of the bed and walked to the kitchen. His breakfast consisted of home made waffles, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Xander and his mother talked over breakfast. Miss Kitty rubbed against Xander's pajama leg. He got up as his mother cleared the table. Xander headed off to his room to get ready for another wonderful day of high school…

…YEAH RIGHT…

Xander's life was anything but this type of fairy tale. He woke up to the cement walls of his family's basement (which was also Xander's bedroom). He threw on a pair of jeans with whatever shirt came out of the drawer. Today, it was a button-up, flannel, and long-sleeved shirt. Yay! Something fuzzy! Xander then laced up his tennis shoes and walked up the stairs. He met his mother sitting in a chair in the kitchen. She had a cigarette in one had and a bill in the other. Xander hoped she wouldn't say anything, but his hopes were crushed.

Her voice stared off calm, "Xander, you didn't wash the pots last night".

Yeah I know so what happens this time?

Xander replied meekly, "Uh, yeah, Mom, I, uh, left them to soak and I forgot".

She looked exasperated, "Forgot? Forgot?". She continued to take volume with every syllable.

Here it comes… Xander winced. Mrs. Harris's nails dug into the back of Xander's upper arm. She directed him to the sink, her nails gripping tighter every second. Ouch, I want my Mommy. Wait, it's my mom that's hurting me.

"Wash", she commanded through clenched teeth.

Xander's mom let go of him. She walked away to get another cigarette. He was finished washing the dishes in no time. Wash Man, the expert dishwasher, car washer, and don't forget windows.

Xander walked to the cupboard to get a package of pop tarts, when he heard his mother's voice. "Don't even think about eating anything, I have all the food counted out!"

Xander muttered under his breath, "Shoot".

He practically galloped out of the door, only to find that he had missed his bus. If only Wash Man could fly. This would be the third time he had been late this month, which means detention. Detention. This would lead to him staying after school, leading to getting home late, which means not doing chores on time, and anticipating the time when…well, you never knew what would happen. Xander continued to walk down the road.

Maybe Willow would give him something to eat. Sometimes Willow would bring extra food, in case of a morning like this (which happened more often than not). Xander had the habit of putting a few dollars in his pocket every morning. Today, he had five dollars. It was the last of his money, until he could manage to get some more. Xander usually got his money from odd jobs, or on the rare occasion when his father was in a good mood. Concerning the dishes incident, that would probably be a while. Xander had to get food.

Willow and Xander had been best friends ever since they could remember. Their other best friend was Jesse. Xander could tell Willow anything, but was better at discussing "certain" topics with Jesse. They were all around the age of 16. Willow was the youngest, for she was just fifteen. Jesse was the oldest, by only a few months more than Xander. Xander looked the oldest. Dumb dominant trait hereditary chromosomes. Then, it was kind of helpful with girls. He had twelfth grade girls checking him out every so often. Xander knew that if they knew his true age, grade, and who he really was, that he would never stand a chance. His friends didn't care that he was the way he was, especially not Willow.