Sunnydale High School, 03:45p.m; the next day.
As Willow sat in the brightly lit, large room away from the crowds of students outside who were being assigned to various career seminars following the results of their career test scores, she felt a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach as she sat next to the orange haired young man who had just offered canapés to her. Despite having Niko's knowledge, training, and experiences in her head… Willow was still nervous when it came down to many different things; particularly when it came to boys.
She noticed the young man who was sitting on the other side of the couch after she was pulled away from the safety of the hallway by two mysterious men in black suits; men who Willow initially thought had somehow known about her Series Five implant and were coming after her for that piece of technology. She had already set up her telekinesis as she followed them into a room where there was soft music playing in the background and the smell of food. The redhead was immediately taken aback by the two men in front of her, who turned around just as a waiter approached Willow with a tray of hors-d'oeuvres. Willow looked at the tray, and then at the men confused, and it was a few seconds later that one of them asked her to try the canapé's.
"It's… it's ok, what's going on?" said Willow waving her hand nervously; the redhead still had no idea what was going on, but she felt that if it did turn bad, then she'd be able to take care of it.
She had to since Buffy was away at a cemetery with Giles to investigate why a group of vampires was breaking in and trying to steal something, and Xander had an appointment with a warden since his Career questionnaire indicated that he had a future as a Prison Guard. It was something that both Willow and Buffy giggled at while Willow was saying 'I told you so' to Buffy after the Slayer's results showed that she could have a future in law enforcement.
However, Willow was concerned that there were no results for her.
And it was a second later that she found out why.
"You've been selected to meet with Mr. McCarthy, head recruiter for the world's leading software concern," said one of the men as he pointed back at what Willow thought was a couch. She couldn't make it out since the two of them were blocking her view, but she thought that she saw someone else there as well while the same man continued to speak, "his jet was delayed by fog at Sea-Tac, but he should be here any minute. Please, make yourself comfortable."
"But, I never even got my test results back," replied Willow confused.
"The test was irrelevant," said the other man, "we've been tracking you for some time now."
"That sounds creepy," said Willow before she closed her eyes and shook her head, "I'm sorry, but.. ummm.. is that a good thing? I mean the part about tracking me?"
"Only one other Sunnydale student was selected," said the man as he and his partner moved aside before walking past Willow who looked at them stunned, "good luck, Miss Rosenberg."
"Thanks?" said Willow as she turned around and saw a young man who was sitting on the other end of the couch looking at a tray of the finger food. Willow started to get butterflies in her stomach as she walked towards the couch and then sat down at the other end nervously. She smiled at the young man who looked at her and then did a double take before offering her the tray.
"Canapé's?" he had asked while Willow just smiled nervously before reaching for one and then pulling her arm back while the young man put the tray on the table in front of him, the two of them sitting in nervous silence.
And that is how Willow found herself in this particular situation.
She was playing with her fingers while she glanced over at the young man who was just leaning back on the couch and tapping his things with his hands while he was looking at his surroundings. Willow caught his eyes, and then she looked away and started to look around at her surroundings.
'What's wrong with you?' thought willow to herself as she discretely shook her head while she imagined kicking herself, 'talk to him. Yea he's not Xander, but then again… Xander's been too hooked on to Buffy to notice me, and… oh, come on. Go, Willow, go.'
"H… Hi," said Willow as she looked at the young man as she turned her body around toward him, "I'm Willow."
"Oz," said the young man, "I mean I'm Oz."
"Oh," said Willow as she turned away from Oz and leaned forward nervously.
'Now what do I say?' asked Willow to herself. She could sense Oz was looking at her before he too turned away; the redhead glancing towards him and seeing the small smile on his face. She then looked forward and asked herself what Niko would do in a time like this. Willow knew that Niko's and Shane's relationship was built over years through working together, but the feeling that Willow was getting from the young man next to her… the feeling that was pushing her, telling her to do something instead of being the one who waited for the other person to act
"Umm..." said both Willow and Oz together as they turned and looked at each other.
Willow then gave a small smile and a chuckle when she realized they spoke at the same time.
"You first," said Willow as she nodded her head at Oz.
"Ladies first," said Oz.
"You're the one who said 'umm' first," said Willow as she raised an eyebrow, the butterflies in her stomach were starting to take off.
Oz then just smiled before nodding his head.
"I've seen you before," said Oz as Willow looked at him questioningly, "I was the one you crashed into a couple of months ago?"
"Oh, right," said Willow as she leaned in towards Oz, "I'm so sorry... I mean I should have recognized you and... I was in a hurry that day and late to class and... sometimes I'm a klutz, and… yeah."
"I saw you once at the bronze too," said Oz as Willow brushed some of her own hair behind her ear nervously, "I mean I wasn't stalking you or anything, just that I was there.. and you were there... and it's funny."
"Huh?" asked Willow.
"Two strangers meeting each other.. well, the second time I was just looking at you and.."
"In a non-stalkerish way, right?" asked Willow while a small smile, "I mean I don't mind if it was in a stalkerish way or, what I mean is that I.. I think I should shut up now. You see, when I get nervous I start to babble and when I babble it's hard for me to stop so please help me stop and..."
"No, I wasn't stalking you," said Oz as Willow chuckled and shook her head.
"So what were you doing watching me at the Bronze?" asked Willow as she leaned sideways on the back of the couch while looking at Oz, "do you work there, or.."
"I was in the band," said Oz as Willow sat straight up and opened her eyes wide at Oz.
"Really?" asked the redhead, "that's so cool; what's the name of your band."
"Dingo's ate my Baby," replied Oz.
"Oh that's even cooler," said the redhead, "the name, I mean."
'He's in a band!' thought Willow to herself excitedly.
"And you play the?" asked Willow.
"Guitar," replied Oz.
'He plays the guitar and he's in a band!' screamed Willow in her head while she was asking Oz if they were playing at the Bronze again anytime soon.
Oz could just look at Willow before nodding his head. It was at that time that the curtain at the entrance of the large room parted and Willow and Oz looked at a suited bald man walk into the room and nod at them; he then called for Oz to follow him to another room while Willow was asked to wait.
"See you around, Willow," replied Oz as the redhead smiled and nodded her head. Then, just after he left the room with the three men, Willow sighed and then flopped backward against the couch and smiled.
It would be soon after Willow's interview with the recruiter that she walked back to the large curtained off room where she and Oz were being kept in, and noticed that he had left. Frowning, Willow then walked back to the library with her books against her chest as she thought about the young man. It was at the library that Willow found that both Xander and Giles were talking with Buffy about a new threat that they had just discovered; that what the vampires had stolen from the mausoleum was a cross, and not just any cross; it was a cross created by a man named Du Lac that could be used to decode a book that was stolen from Giles' office in the library during the whole Ford debacle by one of Spike's minions and brought to the vampire himself, and Drusilla. Giles told the Scoobies that he still needed to read more about what the cross was going to be used for exactly and that they needed to start getting some research down.
Willow smiled when Buffy got up and told Giles, Xander, and Willow that they were much better with the research part of things and that she'd only be getting on the way. She then looked at Willow, who knew exactly why the blonde Slayer wanted to leave.
Her ice skating date with Angel now that school was officially over for the day.
"Yeah, Giles," said Willow, "Buffy's busy.. you know, she needs the rest and everything. You, me, and Xander can handle the research."
"Very well," replied Giles as he nodded his head at Buffy who then turned and squeezed Willow's hand before she ran out the library doors. Seeing her chance, Willow then turned back to Giles and told him that she'll be right back; that she needed to get some things done fast now that school was done for the day.
"But, Willow.. the research," said Giles as he nodded at the computer and the books, "whatever Spike and Drusilla have planned is bad for Buffy, and the rest of us. We need to start reading what we can.. researching what we can, and.."
"I'll get some donuts?" asked Willow as Giles perked up.
"Jelly donuts?"
"Uh huh," nodded Willow.
"Bear claw?" asked Xander as Willow nodded her head vigorously.
"Very well," said Giles as he fixed his glasses, "but do return as fast as humanly possible?"
"OK," said the redhead, as she prepared to move off, "I'll be back in about two hours, just some things that.. that I think I need to do."
"Willow?" asked Giles as he looked at the redhead with suspicion in his eyes, "what are you planning?"
"It's a surprise," said the redhead waving as she turned and ran, "be right back."
Dressed in her plain overall's Willow rushed out of the library and then went down the stairs. Soon she was at the area where she kept her bicycle and then unlocked the front wheel from the rack. Even though the school day was officially over; the students were still around for Career Week's various seminars. Once the bicycle was unlocked Willow cycled out of the school gates as fast as she could. The redhead had an idea that came to her that day at the end of her first class with Buffy, and Xander; Willow knew that she was ready to take things to the next level even though Giles asked her to take it slow, she had already gained a bit of mastery over her abilities, although her magic needed work and it was slow going… and Willow understood that. Instead, she resolved to not use magic until she had gotten a hold of it; but Willow also knew that the only way she could see if she improved any on her old self was to go up against a vampire on her own.
The redhead knew it was risky, but she needed to do this without Giles providing a crutch for her. The redhead knew that she needed to prepare; Willow was already confident that she was prepared for using her skills gained from Niko's experience and memories, but she needed to prepare a quick disguise that would not only hide who she was, but she also wanted something that would hide her scent from vampires.
'I can easily explain my main change,' thought Willow to herself as she cycled along as fast as she could for the next ten minutes until she reached a store on Main Street. She tried to do her best tough girl impression as she locked her bicycle on the light post outside the store, and then stood up and turned around, opening the door as a bell chimed and the she walked into the store. She heard the loud rock music coming from the speakers on the ceiling, and then looked at the men and women in leather jackets, jeans, and tattoo's of various types… at least, that was what they looked like to a plain looking, long haired girl in coveralls who started to walk around the walls looking at the leather jackets that were hung there for the customers to see. Willow had seen this place a few times on her way with Buffy to and from the Espresso Pump which was right across the street. The redhead knew that here was no way that Buffy or anyone she knew would be at the Espresso pump.. Especially not this early in the day.
Still Willow glanced out the window as her heart raced while hoping that no-one she knew could see her. Looking out the window, and looking at some of the clothes and jackets in the store, the redhead accidentally bumped into a tall, heavy muscled man who was looking at her… Willow could see his eyebrows were furrowed at her while he looked her up and down.
"Hi," squeaked Willow waving her hand at him.
"Ummm… I think you're in the wrong place," said the man as he smirked at the redhead while pointing at the store next door, "you're probably looking for…"
"I just came here because I wanted to make a change," said Willow as she looked at the hulking man and wondered that if he was a vampire, would she be able to take him, 'heck, I don't think I'll be able to take him even if he is human; what the hell am I doing? I'm nuts and… ok, Willow… just step back and leave. It's ok to just leave… maybe I'm not ready yet and.. oh… say something to the big biker looking guy who's looking back at you, Willow… come on... just say that you made a mistake and you were actually looking for the Gap.. yeah, The Gap.'
"I want to change my wardrobe," said Willow as she internally screamed, 'what the hell did I just say?'
"Change your wardrobe?" asked the man as he looked Willow up and down in her overalls before looking back up to her face, "how bad is your wardrobe? Please don't tell me it's as bad as this?"
"Fuzzy shirts, and more coveralls," said Willow with a smirk, the same smirk that Niko would give Shane or any of the other Rangers.
'Sometimes I hate Niko's memories,' thought Willow to herself as the man sighed, and then asked the redhead to follow him. He then called one of the female associates who worked there, and she was the one who helped Willow select two new shirts and black jeans. Willow was also eyeing a jacket that was hanging behind the counter; a jet black leather number that had two zipped up pocket on the side, and one zipper that went from one side of the waist to the top of her chest, just below the neck.
"So you're doing this for a guy?" asked the young woman who was helping Willow after the redhead said that she wanted to try the jacket out.
"That obvious?" asked the redhead as she tried on the jacket.
"Uh huh," came the reply as Willow looked at herself in the mirror, while at the same time she caught reflections of a few guys checking her out. The redhead then turned and told the young woman that she'll take the jacket, and then she needed to get back to the school.
"U.C. Sunnydale?" asked the woman as Willow paid the total in cash thanks to the money that both Ira and Sheila Rosenberg would send their daughter every two weeks whenever they were away for their jobs; which would be for the next two months. At hearing U.C. Sunnydale, Willow shook her head and said she was a junior at Sunnydale High and then looked over her shoulder at the two guys who were looking at her earlier suddenly just move away and started looking at some of the other clothes.
"Well," said the young woman behind the counter as she handed the redhead the bag of clothes, "knock your guy dead."
"I will," said Willow as she waved at the young woman and then turned and walked out of the shop. Once the door closed behind her after she was out in the open air, Willow took in a few deep breaths before she looked at the two bags in her hands. Giving a small smile, Willow then walked towards a small shop in the corner and then opened the door and entered it.
It was about forty minutes later that Willow walked out of the hairdresser's with her hair cut up to just above her shoulders; she knew that she'd be giving Giles, Buffy, and Xander heart attacks. Willow knew that she needed to get three more items, including something that would hide her scent from vampires; but that could be bought later that day. She knew that she needed to get back to the school to help Giles and the others do their research so she got back on her bicycle, cycled to the nearby donut shop, and got a box of donuts before she cycled back to her house.
After ten minutes of cycling, the redhead reached her home and then hurried inside. She closed the door behind her and placed the donut box on a side table near the door before Willow rushed up the stairs, and then headed into her room and closed the door behind her. The redhead took off her overalls, and then she looked at the mirror as she took off her shirt.
"What am I doing?" asked Willow as herself as she looked at her reflection, and then turned to look at her overalls and her T-Shirt that was laying on her bed while she stood in front of her mirror in her underwear, "Umm… I should… stop… come on, Willow… you can do it. It's not that embarrassing since nearly everyone should be doing their seminars by now.. and the hallways should be empty for another hour. You just get in when no-one's looking at you… show your friends that you've changed and… oh, screw it! Just take it slow.. stop all of this wanting to go out by yourself, Willow. You felt the fear when you were looking at that muscular guy in the store… taking on a vampire without supervision.. who the hell do you think you are?'
Willow shook her head as she sighed at her reflection. Despite all her bravado and confidence in thinking she could go out on her own, which led her to the mini shopping spree that just ended, Willow was suddenly wondering if she was doing the right thing in not at least telling Giles.
'Just tell Giles that I want to go up against vampires,' thought Willow to herself, 'he'll supervise and if anything happens to me, then he can take care of it. That would have been such an idiotic move… going out on my own. What if my training wasn't enough... I mean I know that what Niko did in Halloween was all super and all but what if I'm not ready yet and.. and yeah, Giles should be there. Yeah, I'll talk to him later.'
Willow then looked at the clothes she bought and she shook her head. She put those clothes away and put her shirt and overalls back on figuring that the short hair should be enough of a shock for now. She had thought about just wearing the new jeans she bought, and one of her shirts.. but decided against it at the last moment when she looked into the bags of clothes again.
She'd talk to Giles first.
'Maybe,' thought Willow to herself as she attached her overalls and then looked at herself in the mirror. She brushed the short hair away and smiled before taking a deep breath and then rushing out of the house.
"I wonder what the other guys are going to say?" said Willow to herself as she rode off on her bicycle with a box of donuts on her handlebars.
TBC.