Hey! Long time no update, I know. But before the rock throwing commences, let me explain. I lost the Internet and was unable to update this regularly. But rest assured. I have a couple chapters written and as soon as I get them typed up they'll be ready to be put up. Thank you for continuing to read and I apologize for the extreamly long delay!
And I realize this is kinda short, but bear with me :)
Willow shuffled papers on her desk, looking for a specific peice of documentation. She couldn't have lost it. It was some information on one of the newer girls. She had a meeting later that day with her parents and she needed that file.
These days the new Council worked with the families, if the girls choose as such. Some don't. Some choose to live like their slayer ancestors, in secret. They decided to leave it up to the discretion of the girls.
Willow let out a cry of frustration just as the phone rang. It took her a second to realize it was her cell phone and she looked at the caller ID, smiling when she saw Buffy's name.
"Hey Wil." Buffy greeted when Willow answered.
"Hey. How's Vancouver?"
"Settling down. We just had an issue with a vamp nest on the north side of town. Other than that, it's Dullsville. How did you get so lucky with New York?"
Willow laughed. "Because Faith was here already and they didn't want both senior slayers in the same place. Besides it also meant dealing with Cleveland."
"Oh yeah. How's that going, by the way?"
"We got Vi and Rona over there making sure things don't get out of hand. Faith checks it out once a week or so." Willow told her.
"Speaking of Faith. I talked to her the other day. Said you were going after some hottie."
"Leave it to Faith to stick her nose where it doesn't belong." Willow grumbled.
"Well? Who is he?"
"His name is Mark."
"Like that's all I'm going to let you get away with." Buffy said when Willow didn't elaborate. "What's he look like?
What does he do? Details are needed."
Willow laughed. "I remember when I got my vicarious smoochies through you."
"Ooo! So there's been smooching?"
"No," Willow paused. "Unfortunately." It took until Willow said it out loud to realize it was true. She was falling for the filmmaker. "But it's hard. I've never been with anyone who didn't know everything."
"What about Oz?"
"Doesn't count. Vampires on the first date. Remember?"
"Have you thought about telling Mark?"
"Right. Cause having him run screaming for the hills will be great for our relationship."
"Have a little faith in him. He is a New Yorker. He's used to a certain kind of evil."
"I don't know. I don't even know if anything will come of it."
"Oh, come on, Wil."
"He wants to film the girls." Willow said, eager to change the subject.
"What do you mean, film?"
"Mark makes documentaries."
"You mean like Andrew?" Willow heard the laugh in her friend's voice.
"Hardly. Mark's actually good. Or at least not annoying. I haven't seen any of his work yet."
"Well, what did you tell him?"
"I told him I'd have to talk to the higher ups."
"Wil, you do realize you are a higher up?"
"I know, but I told him that to buy sometime so I could think about it."
"What's to think about? It'd be great to have an excuse not to show the parents Andrew's version of what he calls a documentary when signing girls up for the school."
"Because having him do it would involve telling him everything. I'm not ready for that yet. I want to spend some more time with him. Try to gauge how he'd react."
"Well, keep me updated. I gotta run. Got a class."
"Okay. I have a meeting with Lindsay Jackson's parents in a few minutes and I think I lost her file."
"You? Lose something? I doubt it. It's probably in your top drawer. But I'll catch you later." Willow said goodbye and hung up.
She started going through her papers again before she stopped. She eyed her top drawer for a second before opening it. She rolled her eyes.
On top, was the file she was looking for.
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Mark wiped his camera lens with an old rag. Several camera peices covered half the table in front of him. He cleaned his camera thouroughly at least once every couple weeks. It wasn't easy keeping the antiqued camera in solid working order. But he refused to get a new one.
That, and he couldn't afford one.
"So, Mark. This thing with Willow? It going anywhere?" Roger asked from the couch as he plucked meaningless notes on his guitar.
The new Well Hungarians had a gig that night. Mark couldn't help but smile at the thought that the old Roger was coming back.
Roger, pre-drugs, pre-April. Pre-HIV.
"Slowly. Maybe. I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I really like her. And we talk a lot. About everything."
"So what's not to know?"
"She just seems sort of focused with the school right now. She probably wouldn't want to start anything with anyone anyway."
"Have you asked her?" Roger asked, guitar set to the side.
"Well. No."
"Mark."
"I know." And he did. If he wanted anything to come of the relationship with Willow, he'd have to take some initiative. She seemed interested enough, but he couldn't help but think she was hiding something. From the way she said it, Mark was sure she lied about needing to talk to her superiors about him filming the school.
He just couldn't figure out why she would.
"Well, are you going to see her again?"
"Yeah. I'm meeting her at the Life again tonight."
"Then ask her out. Somewhere other than the Life."
"And where am I supposed to take her with the spare change and ball of lint in my pocket."
"You'll think of something. You're an artist. Be creative." Roger leaned back into the couch and began plucking strings again.
Creative. Mark could do that.
