Chapter 4. Herbie Goes to Sunnydale.
Buffy's eyes widen when Xander says that and she notices that he is right.
"I think the car took us here for some reason. I think it wants us to get together."
"Right, the car wants us to get together. Do you know how crazy that sounds?" Buffy sighs. "It is a nice night and a pretty view."
"Have you've been here before?" Buffy turns to look at him.
"Why would you assume I've been here before?"
"I didn't mean it that way."
"It's okay. I guess a lot of people would assume the same thing. The answer to your question is, no." Buffy looks at the view of the town. "How about you?"
"First time." He gives her a grin. "Thanks for taking me. I think I might come here more often." Buffy laughs.
"I'm in disbelief that you haven't come up here. I mean, you probably have to fight girls off with stick."
"Are you trying to say that I'm hot?" Xander raises an eyebrow. Buffy turns to him and looks him up and down.
"Oh, boy. I think I passed the uncomfortable line." Buffy finally opens the door and steps out. Xander does the same. Buffy walks away from the car and her heel gets stuck in the ground. She begins to stumble and Xander runs over to her, catching her before she hits the ground. Buffy looks at him as Xander helps her. "Thanks." She turns to him and then she sees the car leave. "The car."
"What?" Xander turns around and sees the car leave as well. The two hurry after it. Both doors open and they quickly get inside the car. Xander in the driver's seat, finally gets control of the car and drives back onto the road. "What just happened back there?"
"I don't know. It's like the car has a mind of its own."
"That makes sense, except for the part that it's pretty crazy."
"Just drive me home, please." Xander nods his head and drives to Buffy's. He drives up her driveway and turns off the car. "Don't you think we're crazy?"
"I don't think so. This car more than once did a lot of stuff by itself. It's fast. No wonder it won races. It would be cool to try it out."
"Yeah, me racing in a bug? I doubt that."
"Why not? You won't lose. This car will do anything."
"It's not a dog."
"Well, sort of, not, but it should have a name."
"What about Herbie?"
"Herbie, where did you get that?"
"On the glove compartment. It's written right there." Buffy points at it.
"Oh, okay. Herbie it is. Ask it something."
"Um, Herbie, engine on."
Suddenly, the engine turns on without a key. Buffy looks at Xander, who shows her the key.
"That's amazing. So, it's you who honked the horn that night with Spike."
"I'm maybe going out on a limb here, but I'm thinking Herbie doesn't like Spike."
"And he likes you?"
"Yeah, I think. Herbie, turn off the engine." Herbie does what Xander says. "See."
"Spike is a good guy. I don't see why he doesn't like him." Xander rolls his eyes.
"Back to the racing idea. You should enter the Junior Races where the prize is a scholarship. It'll be prefect. Come on." Xander gets out of the car and pulls Buffy with him toward his house. He takes her upstairs to his room and gets on his computer. "Here it is. The application is right here. All they need is for you to be from the ages of 16 to 19 and are registering for a college in the near future. And you also need a car."
"You really think that I could win one of those races."
"I know you can. I checked its motor. It's extraordinary."
"Okay, sign me up." Xander gives her a smile and starts to register her for the race. Buffy then walks over to his window and looks at her house.
"Got a nice view here." She turns to him and smiles.
"I rarely look out that window. You know I've been meaning to cover it."
"Really?"
"Okay, so you'll need your parents to sign this and get a sponsor."
"A sponsor?"
"No problem with that. My dad can do it."
"I wonder if I can get the number 53 since Herbie already has it."
"We could check if the number is available." Xander clicks on a couple things and finds out that it is available. "We could send an e-mail asking for that number. I don't think it would hurt."
"Okay."
"Everything is set." Xander turns around to face her.
"Wow, me in a race. That is something I would never even dream of." Xander leads her down and over to the door. "How long have you known about these races?"
"All my life. Wanted to enter myself, but haven't got the money to get a good car to compete in. I live vicariously through you." Buffy smiles at Xander as she walks down the steps.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow morning." Xander walks her to her sidewalk.
"Yeah, goodnight." Xander looks at Herbie. "Goodnight, Herbie." Herbie squeaks very low.
"Goodnight, Xander." Buffy enters her house and sees her parents looking at her. "What? Whatever it is, I didn't do it?"
"Young lady," says Giles. "Do you realize how worried we were about you?"
"No, why?"
"Spike called here like a million times and said that you were supposed to meet him at the Bronze and you never showed," says Joyce as she puts her phone down. "Where is your phone? We all tried to call you, but you didn't answer." Buffy searches for her phone and realizes that it got switched off.
"Oh, I'm sorry, but it must have hit something in my purse and turned off," says Buffy.
"Where were you?"
"Oh, we got into some car problems, but he fixed it and it's working perfect now. We found the glitch, the car drives great."
"We?"
"Um, Xander."
"The boy across the street."
"The mechanic?" says Joyce.
"Yeah, actually gave me a pretty good idea on how to get a scholarship," says Buffy. "There is this race that I can enter and I can get a lot of money for college. I think it'd be great." Buffy hands her parents the forms that they have to sign. "All you have to do is approve and I already got a sponsor. Xander's dad."
"Sweetheart, racing is dangerous," says Joyce. "I don't think so."
"But, mom."
"Your mother is right and with that car giving you problems at all times, I will not approve of it."
"That's not fair. I try to do something that will help us and you guys don't even think about it. I want to get out of Sunnyhell. I don't want to be waitressing for the rest of my life. I want to go to college, marry some good looking guy, and die."
"Honey…"
"Don't. I've heard enough." Buffy storms off to her room. She rushes over to her bed and hugs her stuffed pig, Mr. Gordo.
Xander from across the street sees her and becomes concerned. He comes closer to his window. Buffy turns her head to the window and sees Xander. She points to her computer and heads over to his. Buffy looks for Willow's address book and finds Xander's instant message name. She puts it on her list and invites him to chat.
Xander is surprised that she knew his instant message name, thexandman. He accepts pinkgoddess' invitation. He smiles at her name, which suits her. The two begin to chat.
thexandman: What's wrong?
pinkgoddess: My parents were upset.
thexandman: Why?
pinkgoddess: Because Spike called them and worried them that I hadn't showed up. They didn't know where I was, so they were worried. It's understandable.
thexandman: Sorry.
pinkgoddess: It's not your fault. I told them about the race.
thexandman: What did they say?
pinkgoddess: No way.
thexandman: That's too bad. Maybe when they're in a better mood.
pinkgoddess: Maybe. Even though we didn't go to the Bronze tonight, I had a nice time with you.
thexandman: Thanks. I had a nice night with you, too.
pinkgoddess: Well, I gotta go. G'night.
thexandman: 'Night.