Chapter Twenty-Two
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in this posting. It's been a very long few weeks. Plus, I am in love and am just getting over the high of a concert I went to the other night, Josh Groban! Oh my goodness! That boy can sing and looked very very beautiful on the Wang Theatre Stage in Boston. It was such an amazing show and not what I was expecting at all. He was probably the best performer I have seen in concert. Amazing, check him out if you can.
Anyway, let's get on to business. Thank you lilmamaday, Kari, Kristine, and Courtney for your reviews. I hope you guys like this chapter! Enjoy! LA
It was late. Buffy was supposed to leave at nine in the morning. She woke up at nine thirty. She was going to be late. At ten-thirteen Buffy grabbed her keys and ran out of her room.
Buffy ran out of the front door and towards her car. She hurried towards the car.
"Oh, not today," she said out loud. She looked at her car. Three of the four tires were slashed. The windows were all smashed into the car. Her car stereo was stolen. She ran back into school and began to cry. Who would do something like this to her?
"Back all ready?" Anya asked her roommate as she walked through the door. Anya's eyes left the book she was reading and she looked at Buffy. "What's the matter? Are you all right?"
"My car is completely ruined. Someone vandalized it last night and I was supposed to be home a while ago," Buffy explained as she turned hr attention towards her phone. She had reached Riley's voicemail. "Hi Riley, it's me. I was just wondering if you were going to be around like now. My car was vandalized and I really need to get home for the wake. All right, I'll talk to you later." Buffy said as she hung up the phone.
"What are you going to do? Who can you call?" Anya asked knowing that the only person who had a car in her circle of friends was Buffy.
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to Oz in a few weeks so I couldn't call him and obviously Xander can't pick me up, he's busy. I guess I can call my parents, or William," Buffy thought out loud. She had remembered that William told her to call him if she needed anything.
"Hello?" said the voice on the other end of the line.
"You are just the person I was hoping would answer," Buffy told William.
"Buffy, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be at the funeral home in a bit?" William asked.
"Yes, I'm having a bit of car trouble, could you pick me up?" She asked not wanting to bother him.
"Of course, I'll be there soon."
"Thanks William."
"No problem. See you soon."
"Thanks William for picking me up, I appreciate it," Buffy told him as they pulled into the driveway of her home.
"I told you if there was anything I could do for you I'd be glad to do it," William explained as he took the keys out of the car.
He helped Buffy get her belongings out of the trunk and then carried them into the house with them.
"Oh sweetheart, I am so sorry about your car but the auto club will pick it up today and have it fixed in no time," Joyce said as she greeted her daughter at the door. "Dinner is almost ready. Your father is picking up Dawn from soccer and then we'll leave to go to the wake."
Buffy smiled. "Great, I guess I'll get ready," She said as she climbed the stairs. She reached the top and went into her bathroom. She just sat on the toilet seat. She was in pain. She was healing from a few nights ago. Her legs were all bruised as well as her back. She had really taken a beating on that night. After that riley promised her that he wouldn't touch her like that again. He had kept his word too, at least for the duration of those few days. She quickly washed her face and put on fresh make-up. She brushed her teeth and left the bathroom.
"Honey, could you bring my purse downstairs please?" Joyce asked from the bottom of the stair case.
"Of course mom. I'll be right down," Buffy said as she walked back into her mother's room. She sat on the bed for a minute. Her back was really hurting her. She started to cry.
"Buffy, are you all right?" William asked as he left his room and entered Joyce and Rupert's room.
Buffy quickly wiped her eyes. "I'm fine. I fell in the parking lot the other day and think I may have hurt my back. It just really hurts."
"Do you want some medicine for it?"
"No, it's nothing like that. It's just bruised so it's healing, but it hurts. Here it is," she said as she reached over and grabbed her mother's purse. "You are on Dawn duty, right?"
"Yes, I'm watching her tonight." William said as he studied Buffy limping. She just wasn't herself.
"You guys will have fun. She's a good kid," she smiled. "I have to get this down to mom." She said as she walked down the stairs. She wanted to turn around and tell William to stop staring at her but she didn't want to deal with him.
William watched Buffy as she walked down the stairs. She struggled with some steps. She sped up once Joyce met her at the bottom of the stairs. Buffy began to talk about her classes with her mother and William watched. It was all an act, he knew that, but there was nothing he could do.
"Thank you for coming tonight. I know it was last minute and you must be really busy since it's the end of the semester." Xander said as he joined Buffy outside.
"Xander, you don't have to thank me. Plus, it's not like you could have planned this or anything like that."
"I know, I just appreciate you being here. I know there are other thing you could be doing, that's all."
Buffy rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her waist. "I would do anything that I could for you Xander, you are my best friend."
"I know. I am thankful to have you as a friend. I really am. When are you heading back to school?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, after the services."
"Tomorrow? That doesn't' give us any time to catch up or anything like that."
"Well, William is driving me back tomorrow after the services. My car got trashed. Plus I have to," Buffy stopped. She looked at her hands folded in front of her. She wanted to tell Xander Riley wanted her back at school tomorrow afternoon but didn't want to say anything to him. She then changed her focus to Angel. She watched him though the window. He looked stressed out and tired. She hadn't talked to him on that night. She had arrived with her parents and Xander pulled her away because he needed time away from his family.
"But I'll be back in a week and a half, it's almost winter break. Then you'll have me home for a whole month. We can do lots of Xander and Buffy things together, and Willow. Will will be back too. It'll be just like how things where last year."
Xander nodded his head in agreement. Hi friend was hurt, he could see that. He wished that she hadn't put her pain aside so she could take on his pain too. Xander wanted her to open up about her pain, but she didn't want to do that and he didn't' want to pry. He just nodded his head and agreed with her but he knew that things could never be like they were in the old days.
Buffy walked Xander back into the funeral home. She gave his mother a hug and chatted with her for a few minutes. She really liked Mrs. Harris. She missed her too. She was going to give Angel her condolences too but he was nowhere to be found. She said her prayers for Xander's grandmother in front of the casket and found her parents. They left soon after that.
Later that night at dinner Joyce noticed that Buffy wasn't eating anything. She was just playing with her food.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"Uh? What? Oh, nothing is wrong. I'm just thinking, that's all."
"Sweetheart, you have to eat something. You have lost so much weight since you have been at school. I thought you were supposed to gain the freshman twenty? You've lost twenty pounds. If you loose any more we won't be able to see you," Joyce smiled as she took a bite of her pasta.
William and Dawn just exchanged looks. They hadn't realized how much weight she had actually lost until Joyce made the comment.
"Mom, I haven't lost weight, what are you talking about? And I do eat, ask Anya. I'm just not that hungry. We did just get back from a wake. Maybe we should have asked the Harris' if they wanted anything to eat. We should have had them over for dinner. Mrs. Harris looked so sad." Buffy told her mother as she tried to change the subject.
"I asked them and they said they had food at their house. You know, I remember when your grandfather died I was with him and I wasn't able to hold myself together as well as Barbra is," Joyce began to tell the members of her family at the dinner table. Buffy was relieved that the focus was changed from her to something else.
After dinner, Buffy excused her self and went to her room. She laid down on her bed and was so comfortable. She quickly changed into her pajamas and found her journal. She was writing in it when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she answered.
"Hello sweetheart, how are you?" Rupert asked as he entered Buffy's room.
"I'm tired. It's the end of the semester and things are crazy. I have a paper due here and a test there; it's just very stressful right now. How are you?"
"I'm good. Things at my school have been crazy too. Did I tell you that I got a promotion? I'm a guidance counselor now."
"That's great." She said as she hugged her father.
"Don't you have time to eat at school? You're all skin and bones."
"Oh no, not you too."
"No, I'm just teasing you. You look great. You look like you want to go to bed, so I'll leave you to rest. We have to get up early tomorrow. I'll tell your sister to be quiet when she comes in to go to bed. I love you sweetheart."
"I love you too dad, good night," Buffy smiled as he walked out the door.
Buffy was ready for bed when there was another knock at the door. William walked into her room.
"Rupert said you were going to bed so I wanted to say good night, and that I am glad that you are home. It's been lonely taking care of the little brat by myself," he said referring to Dawn of course.
Buffy chuckled. "She can be a pest sometime. Nah, she's a good kid, she is a lot nicer than I was, especially to dad."
William returned her laugh. Silence filled them. He was the first to break the silence.
"Look, I'm only going to ask you one more time and then I promise I won't ask you again. You are the closest thing that I have to a sister, both you and Dawn. I really love you two like that and I don't want to see anything happen to you."
"Thanks William, I think that way of you, except as a brother of course. I don't think of you as a sister," she said offering a smile.
William ignored the smile and continued. "I'm going to ask you out point blank. Does your little sweetie pie hit you?"
"What?" She asked in disbelief.
"Does Riley hit you?"
"No! Why would you think that? He would never lay a finger on me like that, he really loves me William. He shows it all the time. He is always taking me out and buying me nice things. Look at this necklace," she said as she grabbed her necklace form under her shirt. "He bought this for me a few weeks ago just because he wanted to. Isn't it nice?"
William nodded. He could tell Buffy was lying through her teeth but there was nothing he could do about it. He knew Buffy would never admit to it. "All right, I told you I wouldn't bug you about it, so I won't. Good night," he sad as he smiled.
"Good night. Oh William thanks for looking out for me. I love having you in my life." She told him as he left the room.
William closed the door quietly and was interrupted by Dawn. She stood across from the door to Buffy's room. Her hands were crossed and she looked angry.
"Did she say anything?"
Knowing how much Dawn wanted Buffy to admit what was going on with Riley William was speechless. He just shook his head.
"Thanks for taking the time from school to come," Mrs. Harris said as she hugged Buffy at the gathering after the funeral.
"It was no problem Mrs. Harris. Your mom was a really nice person."
The two shared chit-chat for a few more minutes. Mrs. Harris then walked away to interact with other people.
Buffy was alone. Her parents were mingling with friends of theirs at the party while William, who had just met Angel that morning, was chatting with him on the other side of the room. Xander was laughing with his cousins. She was relived to have just a few minutes for herself.
"You know that Angel guy is really nice. We're going out for drinks later in the week." William said.
"Yeah, he is nice." Buffy thought about how she hadn't had a chance to talk with Angel the entire time she was there. "We can leave whenever you are ready to."
"Buffy, hi, can I talk to you for a minute?" Xander said as he snuck up from behind her.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Good, I have to get back to school. I have so much work to do. Let me say good bye to Xander, then we can leave."
Buffy walked across the room and interrupted Xander and his cousins.
"Hi Xander, I have to take off now, I just wanted to say good bye."
Xander excused himself and followed Buffy to a quiet part of the hall. "I wish you could stay longer. I really miss you."
"I miss you too, but like I told you last night, I will be back home really soon and then we can hang out."
"I know, I know."
"But if you need anything, please let me know." She told him. "I love you Xander Harris and I'll see you soon." She said as she hugged him.
"I love you too, thank you for everything," Xander said as he gently hugged her back.
"Are you sure there is nothing else that you need?" William asked as he pulled into the parking lot of her school.
"I can't think of anything. Thank you for everything, I appreciate it," she told William as he parked in the parking lot. She quickly gathered her belongings. "I'll see you soon!" She said as she slammed the car door and walked briskly to her dorm. She didn't even give William the time to say good-bye.
She ran into her room and was glad that Anya wasn't in the room. She checked her voice mail on her cell phone.
"You have thirty-eight new messages. Your mail box is full. To check you r messages press," Buffy heard the recorded voice say. She listened to all of her messages. They were all from Riley. He went from sounding irritated, to angry to furious.
She walked over to her phone to call him. She was relieved when she realized that he was in class. She would have a little time before she faced Riley.
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in this posting. It's been a very long few weeks. Plus, I am in love and am just getting over the high of a concert I went to the other night, Josh Groban! Oh my goodness! That boy can sing and looked very very beautiful on the Wang Theatre Stage in Boston. It was such an amazing show and not what I was expecting at all. He was probably the best performer I have seen in concert. Amazing, check him out if you can.
Anyway, let's get on to business. Thank you lilmamaday, Kari, Kristine, and Courtney for your reviews. I hope you guys like this chapter! Enjoy! LA
It was late. Buffy was supposed to leave at nine in the morning. She woke up at nine thirty. She was going to be late. At ten-thirteen Buffy grabbed her keys and ran out of her room.
Buffy ran out of the front door and towards her car. She hurried towards the car.
"Oh, not today," she said out loud. She looked at her car. Three of the four tires were slashed. The windows were all smashed into the car. Her car stereo was stolen. She ran back into school and began to cry. Who would do something like this to her?
"Back all ready?" Anya asked her roommate as she walked through the door. Anya's eyes left the book she was reading and she looked at Buffy. "What's the matter? Are you all right?"
"My car is completely ruined. Someone vandalized it last night and I was supposed to be home a while ago," Buffy explained as she turned hr attention towards her phone. She had reached Riley's voicemail. "Hi Riley, it's me. I was just wondering if you were going to be around like now. My car was vandalized and I really need to get home for the wake. All right, I'll talk to you later." Buffy said as she hung up the phone.
"What are you going to do? Who can you call?" Anya asked knowing that the only person who had a car in her circle of friends was Buffy.
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to Oz in a few weeks so I couldn't call him and obviously Xander can't pick me up, he's busy. I guess I can call my parents, or William," Buffy thought out loud. She had remembered that William told her to call him if she needed anything.
"Hello?" said the voice on the other end of the line.
"You are just the person I was hoping would answer," Buffy told William.
"Buffy, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be at the funeral home in a bit?" William asked.
"Yes, I'm having a bit of car trouble, could you pick me up?" She asked not wanting to bother him.
"Of course, I'll be there soon."
"Thanks William."
"No problem. See you soon."
"Thanks William for picking me up, I appreciate it," Buffy told him as they pulled into the driveway of her home.
"I told you if there was anything I could do for you I'd be glad to do it," William explained as he took the keys out of the car.
He helped Buffy get her belongings out of the trunk and then carried them into the house with them.
"Oh sweetheart, I am so sorry about your car but the auto club will pick it up today and have it fixed in no time," Joyce said as she greeted her daughter at the door. "Dinner is almost ready. Your father is picking up Dawn from soccer and then we'll leave to go to the wake."
Buffy smiled. "Great, I guess I'll get ready," She said as she climbed the stairs. She reached the top and went into her bathroom. She just sat on the toilet seat. She was in pain. She was healing from a few nights ago. Her legs were all bruised as well as her back. She had really taken a beating on that night. After that riley promised her that he wouldn't touch her like that again. He had kept his word too, at least for the duration of those few days. She quickly washed her face and put on fresh make-up. She brushed her teeth and left the bathroom.
"Honey, could you bring my purse downstairs please?" Joyce asked from the bottom of the stair case.
"Of course mom. I'll be right down," Buffy said as she walked back into her mother's room. She sat on the bed for a minute. Her back was really hurting her. She started to cry.
"Buffy, are you all right?" William asked as he left his room and entered Joyce and Rupert's room.
Buffy quickly wiped her eyes. "I'm fine. I fell in the parking lot the other day and think I may have hurt my back. It just really hurts."
"Do you want some medicine for it?"
"No, it's nothing like that. It's just bruised so it's healing, but it hurts. Here it is," she said as she reached over and grabbed her mother's purse. "You are on Dawn duty, right?"
"Yes, I'm watching her tonight." William said as he studied Buffy limping. She just wasn't herself.
"You guys will have fun. She's a good kid," she smiled. "I have to get this down to mom." She said as she walked down the stairs. She wanted to turn around and tell William to stop staring at her but she didn't want to deal with him.
William watched Buffy as she walked down the stairs. She struggled with some steps. She sped up once Joyce met her at the bottom of the stairs. Buffy began to talk about her classes with her mother and William watched. It was all an act, he knew that, but there was nothing he could do.
"Thank you for coming tonight. I know it was last minute and you must be really busy since it's the end of the semester." Xander said as he joined Buffy outside.
"Xander, you don't have to thank me. Plus, it's not like you could have planned this or anything like that."
"I know, I just appreciate you being here. I know there are other thing you could be doing, that's all."
Buffy rested her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her waist. "I would do anything that I could for you Xander, you are my best friend."
"I know. I am thankful to have you as a friend. I really am. When are you heading back to school?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, after the services."
"Tomorrow? That doesn't' give us any time to catch up or anything like that."
"Well, William is driving me back tomorrow after the services. My car got trashed. Plus I have to," Buffy stopped. She looked at her hands folded in front of her. She wanted to tell Xander Riley wanted her back at school tomorrow afternoon but didn't want to say anything to him. She then changed her focus to Angel. She watched him though the window. He looked stressed out and tired. She hadn't talked to him on that night. She had arrived with her parents and Xander pulled her away because he needed time away from his family.
"But I'll be back in a week and a half, it's almost winter break. Then you'll have me home for a whole month. We can do lots of Xander and Buffy things together, and Willow. Will will be back too. It'll be just like how things where last year."
Xander nodded his head in agreement. Hi friend was hurt, he could see that. He wished that she hadn't put her pain aside so she could take on his pain too. Xander wanted her to open up about her pain, but she didn't want to do that and he didn't' want to pry. He just nodded his head and agreed with her but he knew that things could never be like they were in the old days.
Buffy walked Xander back into the funeral home. She gave his mother a hug and chatted with her for a few minutes. She really liked Mrs. Harris. She missed her too. She was going to give Angel her condolences too but he was nowhere to be found. She said her prayers for Xander's grandmother in front of the casket and found her parents. They left soon after that.
Later that night at dinner Joyce noticed that Buffy wasn't eating anything. She was just playing with her food.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"Uh? What? Oh, nothing is wrong. I'm just thinking, that's all."
"Sweetheart, you have to eat something. You have lost so much weight since you have been at school. I thought you were supposed to gain the freshman twenty? You've lost twenty pounds. If you loose any more we won't be able to see you," Joyce smiled as she took a bite of her pasta.
William and Dawn just exchanged looks. They hadn't realized how much weight she had actually lost until Joyce made the comment.
"Mom, I haven't lost weight, what are you talking about? And I do eat, ask Anya. I'm just not that hungry. We did just get back from a wake. Maybe we should have asked the Harris' if they wanted anything to eat. We should have had them over for dinner. Mrs. Harris looked so sad." Buffy told her mother as she tried to change the subject.
"I asked them and they said they had food at their house. You know, I remember when your grandfather died I was with him and I wasn't able to hold myself together as well as Barbra is," Joyce began to tell the members of her family at the dinner table. Buffy was relieved that the focus was changed from her to something else.
After dinner, Buffy excused her self and went to her room. She laid down on her bed and was so comfortable. She quickly changed into her pajamas and found her journal. She was writing in it when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she answered.
"Hello sweetheart, how are you?" Rupert asked as he entered Buffy's room.
"I'm tired. It's the end of the semester and things are crazy. I have a paper due here and a test there; it's just very stressful right now. How are you?"
"I'm good. Things at my school have been crazy too. Did I tell you that I got a promotion? I'm a guidance counselor now."
"That's great." She said as she hugged her father.
"Don't you have time to eat at school? You're all skin and bones."
"Oh no, not you too."
"No, I'm just teasing you. You look great. You look like you want to go to bed, so I'll leave you to rest. We have to get up early tomorrow. I'll tell your sister to be quiet when she comes in to go to bed. I love you sweetheart."
"I love you too dad, good night," Buffy smiled as he walked out the door.
Buffy was ready for bed when there was another knock at the door. William walked into her room.
"Rupert said you were going to bed so I wanted to say good night, and that I am glad that you are home. It's been lonely taking care of the little brat by myself," he said referring to Dawn of course.
Buffy chuckled. "She can be a pest sometime. Nah, she's a good kid, she is a lot nicer than I was, especially to dad."
William returned her laugh. Silence filled them. He was the first to break the silence.
"Look, I'm only going to ask you one more time and then I promise I won't ask you again. You are the closest thing that I have to a sister, both you and Dawn. I really love you two like that and I don't want to see anything happen to you."
"Thanks William, I think that way of you, except as a brother of course. I don't think of you as a sister," she said offering a smile.
William ignored the smile and continued. "I'm going to ask you out point blank. Does your little sweetie pie hit you?"
"What?" She asked in disbelief.
"Does Riley hit you?"
"No! Why would you think that? He would never lay a finger on me like that, he really loves me William. He shows it all the time. He is always taking me out and buying me nice things. Look at this necklace," she said as she grabbed her necklace form under her shirt. "He bought this for me a few weeks ago just because he wanted to. Isn't it nice?"
William nodded. He could tell Buffy was lying through her teeth but there was nothing he could do about it. He knew Buffy would never admit to it. "All right, I told you I wouldn't bug you about it, so I won't. Good night," he sad as he smiled.
"Good night. Oh William thanks for looking out for me. I love having you in my life." She told him as he left the room.
William closed the door quietly and was interrupted by Dawn. She stood across from the door to Buffy's room. Her hands were crossed and she looked angry.
"Did she say anything?"
Knowing how much Dawn wanted Buffy to admit what was going on with Riley William was speechless. He just shook his head.
"Thanks for taking the time from school to come," Mrs. Harris said as she hugged Buffy at the gathering after the funeral.
"It was no problem Mrs. Harris. Your mom was a really nice person."
The two shared chit-chat for a few more minutes. Mrs. Harris then walked away to interact with other people.
Buffy was alone. Her parents were mingling with friends of theirs at the party while William, who had just met Angel that morning, was chatting with him on the other side of the room. Xander was laughing with his cousins. She was relived to have just a few minutes for herself.
"You know that Angel guy is really nice. We're going out for drinks later in the week." William said.
"Yeah, he is nice." Buffy thought about how she hadn't had a chance to talk with Angel the entire time she was there. "We can leave whenever you are ready to."
"Buffy, hi, can I talk to you for a minute?" Xander said as he snuck up from behind her.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Good, I have to get back to school. I have so much work to do. Let me say good bye to Xander, then we can leave."
Buffy walked across the room and interrupted Xander and his cousins.
"Hi Xander, I have to take off now, I just wanted to say good bye."
Xander excused himself and followed Buffy to a quiet part of the hall. "I wish you could stay longer. I really miss you."
"I miss you too, but like I told you last night, I will be back home really soon and then we can hang out."
"I know, I know."
"But if you need anything, please let me know." She told him. "I love you Xander Harris and I'll see you soon." She said as she hugged him.
"I love you too, thank you for everything," Xander said as he gently hugged her back.
"Are you sure there is nothing else that you need?" William asked as he pulled into the parking lot of her school.
"I can't think of anything. Thank you for everything, I appreciate it," she told William as he parked in the parking lot. She quickly gathered her belongings. "I'll see you soon!" She said as she slammed the car door and walked briskly to her dorm. She didn't even give William the time to say good-bye.
She ran into her room and was glad that Anya wasn't in the room. She checked her voice mail on her cell phone.
"You have thirty-eight new messages. Your mail box is full. To check you r messages press," Buffy heard the recorded voice say. She listened to all of her messages. They were all from Riley. He went from sounding irritated, to angry to furious.
She walked over to her phone to call him. She was relieved when she realized that he was in class. She would have a little time before she faced Riley.