Chapter Nine: Distractions

Buffy walked up to the librarian's apartment and looked in through the glass window, spotting her watcher crouched by the cabinet where he keeps his record collection. She opened the door, closing it loudly behind herself. The noise caught Giles' attention and he looked up sharply.

'Buffy.'

He slipped the record back into the cabinet before standing up. Joyce suddenly appears from the sofa and smiled at Buffy, who walked into the room, the concerned look from earlier returning.

'Uh... sorry. I... I was just worried. You were a big not-there in study hall, and after your lecture to me on not ducking out... and what is my mother doing here?'

Giles stepped over to Joyce, pulling a chocolate bar from his pocket.

'We had an opportunity for, um, you might say, a summit meeting. It took priority over study hall. I called in.'

Buffy looked even more confused, her gaze switching between the two of them rapidly. 'Oh.'

'We decided that you made a good point earlier, honey.' Joyce said, smiling and nodding enthusiastically.

'I did. Yeah. Which was...?'

'A-about us over scheduling you.' Joyce looked to Giles, who nodded his support and perched himself on the coffee table.

'Pulling you in two directions, uh, your home life and your duties as a Slayer.'

'Oh. That was a good point.' Buffy nodded. Joyce smiled.

'We're working out a coordinated schedule for you.'

'It'll be tight, but, uh, I think we can fit in all your responsibilities.' He smiled and Buffy returned it, somewhat uncertainly.

'It sounds nice and structured.'

'We've got more work to do here, honey. Why don't you give us a little more time?'

Giles stood and headed over to the fireplace, his back to the two of them. Joyce reached into her purse and pulled her car keys out. 'Um, take the car and, um, Mr. Giles can drive me home.'

Buffy's eyes boggled. 'What?' She smiled, shaking her head vigorously as she stared at her mom. 'Excuse me, I meant WHAT?!'

'Keys. Take them.' Joyce dangled them, as if trying to tempt the teenager. Buffy snatched the keys, rushing away.

'You don't have to tell me twice. Well, actually, you did, but... bye!' And she was gone.

Joyce stood up, turning to face Giles. 'Do you think she noticed anything?' Giles turned to face her, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He lights it, taking a drag.

'No way!'

Joyce smiled, pulling a bottle of whiskey from under a cushion and opened it, taking a swig.

'Tell me again how it happened.' The red head asked, excitedly. Buffy nodded and smiled.

'Told my mom I wanted to be treated more like a grownup, and voila: driviness.' She swerved round a corner without slowing down. Willow gripped the dashboard, smiling nervously. 'Also, I think she wanted me else where. Considering my mom and Giles are planning my future, I think it's easier for them to live my life if I'm not actually there.'

Willow pointed downwards. 'Do you know that you have the parking brake on?'

Buffy looked down and nodded. She released the brake and the engine revved higher. The car accelerated. Willow gripped the dashboard with one hand and her seat with the other, her knuckles turning white. 'Are, are you sure about the Bronze? I mean, the SATs are tomorrow.' Her tone was nervous but Buffy seemed oblivious.

'I can study at the Bronze. A little dancing, a little cross-multiplying. You know what we need?' She reached over and began to fiddle with the radio, her concentration completely off of the road.

'Eyes on the road! Eyes on the road!' Willow squealed. Buffy pulled on the steering wheel, avoiding

While changing stations, Buffy doesn't realize that she is pulling on the steering wheel, and the car makes a wide left turn, but fortunately onto another road, and so doesn't hit anything. She swerves again and pulls into the alley behind the Bronze. The car comes to an abrupt halt. Willow sat back, releasing her grip on the seat and dashboard, her face drained of all colour. She looked over at Buffy, who was smiling widely.

They got out and headed into the Bronze, Willow still shaking as they walked in. they surveyed the scene, noticing that something was very wrong with the scene.

A guy had his head tilted back as the bartender poured orange juice and vodka directly into his mouth. His friends surrounded him and goaded him on. There were unusual numbers of older people filling the club as Dingoes Ate My Baby were on the stage performing. The dance floor was crowded with people of all ages. Even the older couples were dancing to the beat of the band. On stage Devon danced around to the lead-in. Just before the song began he leaned over to Oz.

'Hey, they're diggin' us, man!'

Willow and Buffy looked at each other before continuing through the crowd. Suddenly Buffy turns and sees a familiar face in the crowd. Spike walked up to them, smiling a little.

'Let's do the time warp again.' Buffy said as he approached and the grin widened. Willow suddenly noticed him and smiled.

'Spike!'

'Hey, Red.' Spike said, but backed away as she went to give him a hug.

'Hey…erm, sorry.' She backed off and Buffy looked around, trying to look more comfortable.

'S'okay, Will. No problem.' He pushed his hands into his pocket. 'Bit of a mixed crowd tonight huh?'

Willow shrugged. 'Maybe there's a reunion in town or, or a Billy Joel tour or something.'

A middle aged woman walked past them, nodding her head to the music. Buffy motioned to Willow as she stopped the woman, recognising her as one of their teachers. 'Ms. Barton?'

The woman stopped and faced her. 'Buffy? Whoa!'

Willow frowned. 'Are you okay, Ms. Barton?'

Ms. Barton smiled at her. 'Oh, I'm cool, Willow. Willow... That's a tree. You're a tree!' She giggled and then noticed Spike, smiling uncertainly. 'You…aren't you dead?'

The three exchanged a look.

'A-are you sure you don't need some fresh air, Ms. Barton?' Buffy asked and the teacher laughed hysterically.

'Okay…' She disappeared into the crowd.

Willow shook her head. 'This is not normal.'

Buffy gave her a look, then glanced to Spike, who shrugged. 'Since when is anything in Sunnyhell?' The slayer smiled at the vampire's use of the nickname.

'Uh, w-well, maybe that goes without saying.' Willow said, looking around nervously.

Snyder appeared behind them, draping his arms around the girl's shoulders. 'Hey, gang! This place is Fun City huh?' He laughed as Buffy tried to shrug him off.

'Principal Snyder?' Willow asked and he waved a hand at her, looking at Spike for a second before addressing Willow.

'Call me Snyder. Just a last name, like… Barbarino.' He pumped his arms in an imitation, releasing the girls. 'Oooh, I'm so stoked!' Willow stared at him, along with Buffy and Spike. Spike held in a chuckle as Snyder stopped his wiggling and let out a breath. 'Hey, did you see Ms. Barton? I think she's wasted.' He nodded wildly. 'I'm gonna have to put that in her next performance review 'cause…cause I'm the principal!' he laughed wildly before turning and heading back into the crowd.

'I don't like this. They could have heart attacks.' Willow said, concern in her voice.

'Maybe there's a doctor here.' Spike suggested. The three turned as a loud shout came from the stage. A middle aged man had jumped up, ripping off him shirt and screamed into the microphone before throwing himself off the stage.

'I think that is my doctor.' Willow said, pointing at the man, who had been expecting a crowd to hold him up. He hit the floor with a thud and the trio cringed in unison. 'He-he's usually less... topless.'

Snyder reappeared, sticking his head between the girls. 'I got a commendation for being principal.' He looked impressed with himself. 'From the Mayor. Shook my hand twice.'

Buffy nodded, a fake smile on her face. 'That's nice.' Two women walked past them and Snyder motioned at Spike and then to the women.

'Whoa. There are some foxy ladies here tonight.'

The three walked quickly in the other direction. 'What's happening?'

'I don't know, but it's happening to a whole lot of grownups.' Buffy said, her hand finding Spike's. he almost stopped, then looked at her grinning. He squeezed it to reassure them. Willow didn't notice, stopping to survey the crowd again.

'They're acting like a bunch...'

Buffy interrupted her. 'They're acting like a bunch of us.'

As they stood their, minds wondering what to do, Willow had a thought and turned to Buffy.

'I don't act like this.'

David stood in the factory, looking over the boxes flowing out of the building. He turned to Ethan Rayne, smiling.

'Demand's high.'

Ethan smiled back. 'I thought it might be.'

The vampire grinned. 'That's the reason I love this country. You make a good product, and the people will come to you. Of course, a lot of them are gonna die, but that's the other reason I love this country.' David suddenly grabbed the man inspecting the boxes by the neck. 'Don't sample the product.'

The man protested. 'But I didn't.'

David pulled him into a headlock and jerked his head around, breaking his neck and throwing him to the floor. Ethan looked away in distaste. David straightened his jacket and they walked on.

'Okay. Uh, how did you know he was...' Ethan started. David interrupted.

'I don't. Now I know no one else will. We're getting close. Keep it flowing. It's almost feeding time.'