The drive to Bella's place was mostly a silent one as Buffy was too busy still trying to process the situation to feel like talking at the moment. Fortunately for her, Bella didn't seem to mind the silence. As such, Buffy spent the drive thinking back on the few tidbits of information that Xander knew about the series from 'skimming them over' as he claimed. Said information didn't amount to much beyond 'Edward's a jerk, but Bella loves him no matter what. Jacob's also a jerk'. After a short drive, they pulled up to Bella's home and head inside.

"Thanks again for letting me stay here while Xander recuperates," Buffy thanks as she and Bella enter the latter's home.

"You're welcome. Sorry if this place doesn't seem like much," Bella apologizes as they walk through the living room and into the kitchen.

"I think it looks nice actually," Buffy compliments taking a look at their surroundings.

"Oh, well, thank you," Bella says taking a seat at a table in the kitchen.

"And you're positive your dad doesn't mind you just taking in a stranger for a couple of weeks?"

"Charlie sounded a little reluctant over the phone when I told him, but as long as you don't break the law or anything, there won't be any problems," Bella half jokes.

"What?"

"Oh, Charlie's a cop," Bella clarifies. "You can take a seat too if you want."

"Thanks." Buffy sits down across from Bella. "So, you call your dad by his first name?"

"It's kind of complicated. Let's just say that I didn't get to really spend a lot of time with him after he and my mom got divorced. But then she remarried, and she and her new husband wanted to go on the road, but I didn't, so I came her for some stability in my life."

"Do you like it here, if you don't mind me asking?" Buffy asks. She feels a tad odd striking up a conversation with a fictional character, but figures getting to know Bella some will help her get through the story.

"Not exactly. I don't like the rain. Any cold wet thing…I can't believe I said that again," Bella sighs looking away from Buffy.

"Again?"

"I said the same thing to this guy not too long ago and it was as awkward now as it was then. I've just never been good with new faces."

"We can stop this 'getting to know you' session now if you want," Buffy offers.

"No, no, talking to you is fine actually. Most of the people I've met in this town have tried sort of latching onto me without really trying to know me and feel somewhat fake as a result. But with you, this has been the easiest conversation I've had in days. You remind me of Charlie a little. He doesn't hover or pry into my life. Then again, that could be because he's not used to living in the same house as a teenage girl."

"Can only imagine how he'll handle having two teenage girls hanging out in this house," Buffy sayss eliciting a small laugh from Bella. Buffy considers questioning Bella about Edward, but decides to respect her wishes about not having her life pried into and changes the subject.

"If you want, I can take over the talking duties for a while. Anything you want to know about me, ask away," Buffy says.

"Um, ok, if you don't mind me asking, did you really fight a wolf?" Bella asks.

"Either that or an extremely temperamental baby bear."

"I honestly can't decide if I should be weirded out or consider that one of the coolest things I've ever heard."

"Trust me, it's not cool when you've lived it. That could be the title of my autobiography, in fact. Assuming I live long enough to write it that is."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Oh…because of my mom," Buffy quickly lies. "She was against me traveling the country and if she finds out about the wolf, first she'll be happy I'm alive, then she'll want to finish the job. Can't say I blame her for being worried though, given how I'm all she has after she and my dad divorced. When this one guy attacked me, my mom hit him over the head with the flat side of an ax and was all 'you get the Hell away from my daughter'. It was pretty cool to be honest."

"But still something to be filed under 'as long as you didn't live it'?" Bella guessed.

"Yep."

"Sounds like divorce brings out the paternal instinct in people. When a classmate of mine almost accidentally hit me with his van, Charlie looked ready to tear him limb from limb."

"Parents, what are you gonna do, am I right?" Buffy asks while remembering what Xander said about Bella first becoming suspicious of Edward after she nearly got hit by a van.

That still doesn't give me much of an idea as to what part of the story I'm in though. And what's the timeframe for this book anyway? I can't stay in town forever without someone getting suspicious, she thinks.

"Buffy?"

"Hm?" Buffy asks coming back to reality.

"You seemed deep in thought about something."

"Just thinking of Xander and hoping he'll make a speedy recovery is all," Buffy half lies as she does want Xander to be alright.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"No. Just a really close friend is all. What about you? You have a boyfriend?" She asks hoping this will give her some clue to where she is in the story.

"No, at least, not exactly. There's this boy, Edward Cullen. His foster father, Carlisle, was the Doctor that looked over your friend. Edward is, I guess the phrase 'a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma' best describes him. When I first met him, he acted as if he didn't like me, then he changed his mind, but now he's telling me that I should stay away from him."

"And I thought girls were complicated where their feelings were concerned," Buffy chuckles then glances past Bella at a book lying on the kitchen counter.

"Is there something wrong?" Bella asks turning in the direction Buffy is staring.

"No, it's just that book. You into vampires?"

"No, it's-it's…for a school project," Bella poorly lies, but Buffy lets it go. "You know, we've spent all this time chatting and I haven't even offered you a shower or a clean set of clothes to wear," Bella say; the subject changed once again. "Come with me."

Bella stands up and exits the kitchen with Buffy close behind her. They head up the stairs and stop at a closet next to the bathroom. Bella opens the door and collects a towel and bath cloth, which she hands to Buffy.

"You can leave your dirty clothes outside the door. I'll wash them in the morning and let you sleep in some of my clothes tonight."

"Thanks Bella. For everything."

"No problem and welcome to Forks."

To Be Continued...