The next day at school, Buffy just kept to herself. She only had one period with Oz, it was her fifth. She had most others with one or both Xander and Willow, so she wasn't looking forward to the day. She was on her way to her first period class, when Giles stopped her.
" Buffy, there you are. I've been looking all over for you. I need you to come with me to discuss tactics for graduation." Buffy sighed at him.
" Giles, graduation is in three days. We know what we're going to do, I just need to focus on something else. I intend to go to all of my classes, and do my homework. I do not want to focus on the mayor, Faith, or graduation right now." Giles didn't know what to say, so he just nodded at her. Buffy gave him a weak smile, and went on her way to her classes. When she got there, Willow was sitting across the room from Xander. Seeing her come in, Xander looked up and moved his backpack out of a seat he had been saving for her. Buffy, confused, walked over to it and sat down.
" Hey Xander, so you're not mad at me anymore?" Xander sighed.
" Buffy, I was never mad at you. I think you and Oz make a great match, I just couldn't say that because of Willow. Do you see the looks she's giving me? I told her that she needed to figure out wether or not she was dating me because Oz dumped her, or if she wanted me. Her silence gave me all the answer I needed. Just so you know, I think she's going to try and win him back." Buffy gaped at him.
" Do you really think she would do that? I mean, I'm happy with him. I know she's mad at me right now, but I didn't think she'd do something like that." Xander dipped his head. It was clear that he was really upset about this.
" I really and truly believe that she would. Just look at her, Buffy, she's miserable. She hated the fact that you were dating him. I called her on it, and she didn't give me an answer. I hurt someone I truly love, to go with someone I loved even more. It didn't really do me any good, cause Cordy will never talk to me again, and now Willow is all for the death to Xander." Buffy looked at with a new light.
" I know she didn't start dating you because of Oz, Xander. When I first moved here, she'd tell me how much she liked you. Do you remember her reaction when you first started dating Cordelia? I thought I'd never be able to comfort her. She loves you, she's just really confused. I hate to say it though. I will get her told if she starts going after Oz. We've just started our thing, and I like him a lot. I will not let her move from him to you then to him again." Xander gave her a weak smile, but then class started.
When it was time for her fifth period class, Buffy got there late. Oz was there with a seat saved for her like Xander had done. She sat down, but she didn't look at Oz through the whole class. He'd tried to get her attention, but stopped trying when it was clear she wasn't going to respond. After the class was over he grabbed her hand to keep her from bolting right then.
" Buffy, what's going on here? You've been avoiding me all day. I tried to meet you after your fourth period to walk you here, but you walked around me to go to the library. I asked you yesterday if you wanted me to back off, and you said no. I'm posing the question to you once more." Buffy looked at him, feeling like the worlds biggest jerk.
" I don't want you to back off, Oz. I'm really sorry. I've just been going over in my mind about graduation. Plus, Xander told me some disturbing news about Willow." Oz nodded his understanding.
" She came up to me this morning, asking if we could do something. I told her I didn't feel comfortable doing that. She got all teary eyes saying this may be our last couple of days alive, and she wanted to make it up to me about how she acted. I told her I didn't want her to make it up to me. I wanted to get through this graduation thing. We will get through it, Buffy. It's what we do." She smiled at him.
The day of graduation, everyone was really antsy, including Giles. He was pacing the library when Buffy came in to talk to him.
" Giles, are you okay?" He looked over at her, startled.
" Yes, of course. I was just going over our strategy once more in my head, I really think it'll work." Buffy smiled, and walked over to him.
" I'm scared to, Giles. I honestly don't know if this is going to work, but I know I'm going to try. We have to. I've been here for three years now, this is just another day at the office, so I'm pretty sure I can handle this." Giles stopped his pacing to sit down in a nearby chair.
" I'm terrified for you Buffy. I keep putting you in these life or death situations, and I'm afraid it's going to work one day. I know I don't act like it, but I see you as a daughter I never had. Mr. Travers said that in front of you, and I'm afraid he was right. If anything should ever happen to you, I will never forgive myself." Buffy couldn't help the tears that were falling down her face.
" Giles, I want you to know that I sometimes wish you were my dad. You've been more like a dad to me, then my real dad could ever possibly be. I'm just as scared as you are." With this statement, Buffy walked over to him, and put her arms around him. They silently cried together for a few moments, when Xander walked into the library.
" Oh God, we're going to die, aren't we?" Buffy looked up at him laughing. She then walked over to him, and hugged him as she had done with Giles.
" No, we're not going to die. I refuse to let that happen, and I tend to be a brat when I don't get my way." Xander chuckled at her. Wesley, along with Willow, Oz, Cordelia, and Angel walked into the room. It was angel who spoke.
" It's time.
A/N: I'm not going to write about the ascension, that's not going to change, so the next chapter will be set a few months into the future. Hope you liked this chapter!
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