Chapter Twenty-Six
Warning: This chapter contains descriptions of violence.
Author's note: Thank you Sarah, KrazyKar and Thelionssrules for your comments and feedback.
Thelionssrules-thank you for reminding me about the rating system. I will change that soon. Also, thank you for all of your questions. I will try and answer them. First of all, Buffy has always like Riley. Even back when she was dating Xander and Riley was at the orientation at college, she liked him. She was putting a front on for Anya and Tara. She looked at Riley has being a crush and not really having a chance with him because he is older and things like that. I know when I have a crush on someone; I really don't like talking about it because it gets embarrassing. I guess I should have been clearer with that.
The reason why Spike and Dawn reacted the way they did with Riley was because they were counteracting with the way Buffy acted. Think of it this way: if you have a friend who has a problem with drugs or alcohol, the first thing you want to do is get them away from the substance and get them help right away, but if the person doesn't want help and doesn't think they have a problem, there is no way that person will ever get help.
Also, Buffy chose to be in this relationship because she liked Riley, then she began to care about him before she thinks she fell in love with him. She is like so many abuse victims. No matter how strong of a person you are, some times it takes some time to over come something. Also, like victims, she truly believes that she has to fix something because she makes Riley hit her. She is trying to figure out what she has done to deserve to get abused the way she is. Of course this isn't true. Riley has a problem. No one ever deserves to get abused mentally, physically, sexually or any other way.
Some of the events of this story are loosely based on things that have happened to people I know. Of course the whole story isn't real. Most of the events are fiction but there are some big ones, such as abuse, that are based on things that I have encountered second hand.
With all of this being said, I hope the story has been clarified. Please, if anyone has any questions at all about the story as it goes on, please ask. I will be more than happy to explain anything. Enjoy the chapter! LA
Finals had just ended. The residents of Fisher Hall had three days to move their belongings out of their dormitory. Summer break was about to begin. Buffy, Anya, Tara and most of their freshman classmates had survived their freshman year of college.
Buffy was getting ready for her lunch date with Riley. He was leaving later that night to back to the east coast. Things with Riley were the same. He still treated Buffy like she was a disobedient dog.
Buffy had introduced Riley to her parents before spring break. They both appeared to like him, Joyce more so than Rupert. There was something about Riley that made Rupert uneasy but he never said anything to Buffy about it. He could tell that she really cared for him and didn't want to upset her.
Riley put on his best act for the Giles'. He brought Joyce flowers and was prepared to talk sport with Rupert, except Rupert wasn't really a sports kind of man. He appeared to be clean cut, respectful and the all around American boy.
After their date that afternoon, Riley would be gone for the entire summer. He was going to a few underdeveloped countries with his church. He didn't really know what he was going to be doing but it didn't matter to Buffy. He was going to be going. Buffy was relieved. She thought maybe things would get back to normal. She loved him but believed that a summer apart would do their relationship well.
Anya was in Tara's room when Buffy began to change for her date. She took of her shirt and looked at her bare back in the mirror. It was colorful. From the top of her shoulders to the lower portion of her back was one big purple, yellow and blue mess. Riley had been in one of his moods and pushed her in his bathroom at the frat house. She had fallen and hit her back on the facet, then the sides of the porcelain tube and finally hitting the floor. She just missed hitting her head on the bottom of the sink.
She dazed at her wound in the mirror as Anya and Tara entered the room. Neither girl said anything at first. Anya was finally the first one to speak.
"My god!"
"What happened?" Tara added.
"Oh what? Hi," Buffy said off guard. She hurried and out a new shirt on. "What are you talking about?" She asked as if they hadn't seen her back.
"Your back looks horrible," Tara said.
"Oh that, I just-just-just," Buffy stopped. She couldn't think of an excuse.
Anya walked a little closer and held one of her friend's hands in her own. "Buffy, what was it? Was it because you fell again? Where was it this time? The woods while you were on a walk? The staircase?"
"Anya," Tara tried to intervene.
"No Tara. Buffy, I don't know what you are thinking; I don't know what you are going through. We are your friends. We know what is happening."
"And what is that?" Buffy questioned.
"Riley. We know he's hit you. You're your friends."
"Anya, that's crazy," Buffy laughed.
"Is it so crazy? Then why do you cry when you come back from spending time with him? Why are you so afraid of having other guys around and him finding out? You don't deserve this!"
Buffy, on the verge of crying, looked away form Anya as she lectured her. This was bringing back the memories and emotions of New Years Day. She couldn't jump in and interrupt Anya. She knew what she was saying was right. She was tired of defending it any more. Just as she was about to admit this to Anya, there was a knock at the door. Tara answered it. It was Riley.
Buffy wiped her eyes. She walked close to Riley and held his hand. She gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Hi baby, you're early."
Riley, not looking too thrilled. "Yah. Are you ready to go?"
Buffy didn't have time to answer. Anya jumped in. "No, she isn't. Remember you said you'd help me pack. I'm leaving tomorrow and I have so much to do?"
Buffy shook her head. "No, I don't remember having this conversation. We're only going to be gone for a few hours. I'll be back later to help if you still need it. Bye," she said slamming the door.
At the point, Anya felt that she had lost everything. She lost the biggest battle of her life.
Silence filled Riley's car while he drove to a little café. He finally found the words to express himself. "What the hell was that all about?"
"What-what are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? What am I talking about? I heard everything Anya was saying to you before I knocked. Anya and Tara both know about your back? You friggin told them!" He began to shout.
"No Riley, really I didn't. I was changing and Anya and Tara came into the room and Anya confronted me about it. Anya and I began to argue because I denied it. I didn't say anything at all, honestly."
"Bullshit," he yelled as he pulled into a parking space. "We'll take care of this after lunch."
The two of them walked into the café and looked at the menu. Buffy didn't know why she looked at the different items on the paper. Riley would order her lunch. She didn't have control over that.
When the waiter came over to take their order, Riley did order for her: a salad with no dressing and water, the regular. After the waiter walked away he took her hand and began to tell a joke which made Buffy laugh. In the middle of the joke they were interrupted.
"Hi Buffy, Riley. See, I told you they were here. I thought I saw you two come in," William told Angel and then the table. He hadn't seen Buffy since she has home for spring break almost three months ago. That was the last time she was home.
"Yeah, I was wrong. How are you doing?" Angel asked Buffy, almost ignoring Riley.
Buffy smiled and introduced Riley and Angel. After a few rounds of small talk Buffy excused herself from the table to use the rest room.
All three men watched Buffy make her way to the rest room. As soon as she walked into the room, Angel and William sat in the empty chairs on either side of Riley and began small talk about Buffy.
"She's a nice girl, isn't she?" William asked looking at Angel.
"She has always been a nice girl. She's very sweet and caring, don't you think so Riley?" Angel asked.
"Yes." Riley said confidently. "She is a great girl. I'm very lucky. She is charming, very kind, beautiful and sweet. Yes she is great."
"Yes she is," William began. "She's actually the closest thing I have to a sister."
"Buffy has always been a great friend to me," Angel added as he and William looked directly at Riley.
Flabbergasted, Riley didn't know how to respond at first. "She is a great person," he repeated.
William said very matter a factly, "You know now how we feel about her. Do you know what we know about you? We know that you have been hitting her."
Riley began to laugh as he sat nervously in the chair. "What? Are you series? Why would I-"
"Cool it," Angel said sternly. "She didn't tell us. She actually flat out lied to us," Angel lied. "We know it has been you. We aren't stupid. If you ever lay a finger on her again to hurt her-"
"Wait, are you threatening me?" Riley angrily interrupted.
William didn't beat around the bush. "Yes, we are. This is your only warning you will ever get. Stop or we will be back," he told Riley with a smile as Buffy walked out of the bathroom and made her way back to the table.
"By the way, Buffy doesn't know we talked to you about this. She actually thinks we believed her when she defends you," Angel added before Buffy sat down.
She smiled as silence filled the table. Before she had a chance to say a word, Riley stood up.
"You know, we should really get going."
"But we haven't had our meals yet" Buffy said.
"Right but it didn't realize how late it was getting. I have so much packing to do. Remember you said you'd help me?" He lied as he stole Anaya's excuse from earlier in the afternoon. "We can get our lunch to go."
"I guess." She looked at Angel and William as Riley found their waiter and told him to pack the items to go. "I guess we are leaving. I really wanted to talk to you guys."
"Yeah, but you'll be back home in a few days," William said.
"Your right. I will have to catch up with you guess, I miss you."
"We'll catch up later, we have the whole summer," Angel added.
"Buffy, let's go," Riley said with their food in his hand. "Angel, it was nice meeting you and William it was nice to see you again."
Buffy said bye to her friends and followed her boyfriend outside. Silence filled the car ride yet again.
"Where do you want these?" Buffy asked at the frat house as she helped Riley pack. She was sitting on his bed and had a bunch of computer wires in her hand.
"Those go with my lap top, put them with that." He demanded.
"Honey, you all right?" Buffy asked.
Riley didn't answer he just continued packing.
"Riley, what's wrong?" She asked again.
Riley looked at her before he began to laugh. "What's wrong? You can actually sit here and ask me that seriously?" He put down the pile of close he had just retrieved from his dresser. "What's wrong? What's wrong? We could start with the fact that while you were in the bathroom, Angel and William had a little chat with me," Riley began to retell the story of what happened as Buffy used the rest room earlier that day.
Buffy panicked. She had no idea that had happened. "I didn't know anything, really."
"You expect me to believe that?" Riley asked as he began to walk towards the bed. Buffy stood up and began walking until she backed herself into a wall. Riley stood in front of her just laughing. When the laughing ended, he just smiled. "Gee Buff, first Anya and Tara talk to you earlier today," he said as he smacked her. She fell down to the floor. It took her a minute but she finally stood up. Riley struck her again and she fell back to the floor. "Then your ex-boyfriend and 'brother' William questioned me to my face," Riley added as Buffy began to sit up. He pushed her back down and laid on top of her, facing her.
"Riley, really-" Buffy tried to defend her self.
"Shut up. Just shut the hell up. You have been feeding your friends all these ideas. You are the one who brought this upon yourself Buffy," he told her as he got off of her and walked towards his closet.
Buffy finally got herself on her feet. She stood up and faced Riley. She was surprised with what she saw in his hand.
"Buffy, you how we do this now."
With tears following from her eyes and fear taking over every inch of her body she shook her head. "No Riley, no this time. I love you but I am not going to get hit for things any more, especially things I have no control over."
Stunned, Riley looked at her. "What did you just say to me?"
"You are not going to hurt me any more."
Riley said nothing and showed no emotion. He just looked at Buffy for a few seconds. Then he went after her.
"Riley no, please," she cried as they ran around his room. She wished someone was home in the house but there was no one, as always. That was the reason why he always took Buffy back there. He knew the schedules of his frat brothers. No one was ever around when the abuse happened.
"You have to learn how to act towards me," Riley said trying to justify what he was doing to her.
He struck her with the bat for the first time. He hit her shoulders. She fell to the ground and grabbed her shoulder. He hit her the second time and got her head. She hadn't had time to get on her feet and she just laid there as he came at her again. The third time, still on the floor, he went to hit her he aimed for her head. This time she stopped the bat.
"What do you think you are doing? That won't help you out. What the hell Buff, just let go." Riley yelled as he tried to regain control of the bat. Riley climbed on top of Buffy and struggled to get the bat back. After she almost let go of it, she realized she had power. She could try and over take the situation.
Buffy kneed Riley in between the legs. Immediately, he rolled over in pain. She stood up and ran towards his bed room door.
Kneeling, Riley just began to laugh. "Just wait, you're really going to get it in a minute. By the time I am through with you, you will be lucky if you are still alive."
Confidently, Buffy stood tall. "No, you're not going to hit me or hurt me nay more."
Riley stood up and continued laughing. "Right. Buffy, you're not a fighter. You won't hurt me because you don't know how to hurt people, you're weak Buffy and good hearted and all that warm fuzzy crap."
"I-I-," she began as he interrupted her.
"You-you what?" he mocked her.
"I can hurt someone if I have-have to," she said know feeling unsure of herself. She had no idea what came over her or why she finally decided to defend herself but it was happening.
"Come on, hit me. I'll give you one free shot. Come on," Riley said trying to egg her on.
Blood fell from into Buffy's eyes from the wound on her forehead. She wanted to wipe it away but she knew that would make her loose control of the bat and that was the only thing she had at that point.
"See you can't do it," Riley told her as he began to walk closer to her. "You can't do this because you can't do anything for yourself." He finally stood in front of Buffy and he reached for the bat. Buffy was quick and she moved it before his hands got close to it. She back into the hall way. Riley followed her and again tried to hit her with his bare hands and she finally did it. She held the bat and struck him quickly.
"You are a bitch, what did you do?" Riley asked as Buffy hit him. He began to go after her but she kneeled him again and hit him.
"I'm going to kill you bitch," he said as he stood up and ran after her.
Riley was inches from Buffy. He knocked her to the floor. He got on top of her. With every inch of her body, she forced him off. As soon as he stood up she hit him with the bat. This time giving him a bloody lip.
She stood up and was about to run down the stairs to leave when he lay on the floor.
"Buffy, I'm really hurt. You were really strong, much stronger than I thought. I think I may need a doctor," Riley said as he lay on the floor.
She began to walk close to him. She had blood and tears in her eyes. "Riley? Are you all right?"
"I-I don't know. I need some help up, can you help me?" He asked.
Buffy walked over, dropping the bat to the floor. Just as she approached Riley, he pushed her down.
"You're such a dumb bitch," he laughed. Riley tried to strike her again but she rolled over to her side. She got up and picked the bat up again.
"Do you think that is really going to help you?"
There was a little distance between Buffy and Riley. She bolted towards him and stuck him with the bat with all of her might. Riley fell down and then fell down the stairs. By the time he hit the floor he didn't move. Afraid to get too close to him in fear that he may attack her yet again, Buffy just screamed his name on the top of her lungs. He didn't twitch.
She grabbed his cordless phone from his room and began to walk down the stairs slowly.
"Riley?" She shouted again. "Riley, get up. Riley! Riley! Riley?" She yelled over and over again as she cried. She looked down. There were small light red marks on her shirt from her blood stained tears. Her shirt also contained blood from both she and Riley. He never moved. She called 9-1-1 immediately. She explained that she and her boyfriend had a massive fight and now he wasn't moving or responding.
Within three minutes the ambulance came with the police following behind. She was hysterically crying as they took him away on the stretcher.
"Miss," said the officer, "we're going to have to take you down to the station for questioning."
"Am I being arrested?" She cried as she began to wipe her face.
"We have some questions we have to ask you and then I think it would be best for you to go to the hospital."
She nodded. "Can I make a phone call before we go? Can my friend meet me after?"
The officer could tell that this case wasn't an attempted murder case or anything like that. He knew it was abuse. He could tell that Buffy had been abused, just by talking to her for a few minutes, he knew. He knew that Riley was hurt as a result of her defending herself. He had seen it all the time. He had been on the force long enough to know.
"You can make one quick call." He finally answered.
She thanked him and then picked up the phone to call Xander. She knew Xander would be there for her.
"Hello," Angel answered.
"Angel is Xander there? It's important and I only have a few minutes." She began to explain.
"He isn't here. Buffy, are you all right?"
"No, I have to go to the police station then possibly to the hospital."
"Buffy, what happened?" Angel asked now very concerned.
"I can't get into it but if you talk to Xander have him meet me at the police station, please?"
"I will do," he said not knowing what else to say to her as they hung up the phone.
"All right, is this everything?" The officer asked after he finished interviewing Buffy. She admitted that Riley had abused her pretty much since they had begun dating. She showed another officer the bruises she had all over her body. The officer photographed them. Buffy had also admitted that Riley raped her on several occasions but she explained she didn't think it was rape because she thought he loved her and they were dating. She thought rape has something that only happened between strangers.
"Yes, that is all." She said sipping some water the officer had brought her.
"All right," the officer said. Even though his assumptions were correct about Buffy being abused, it didn't make him feel any better. It was never easy to handle a situation like that. He had a daughter a little younger than Buffy and he thanked god that his daughter was healthy and wasn't in Buffy's shoes.
"There is a young man waiting outside for you, I forget his first name but last name was Harris. Do you know him?"
Buffy nodded. "It's Xander; he's a really good friend."
"All right. I will walk you out," the officer said as he led her out of his office. "I just want you to know that I may have to call you about more details."
Buffy nodded as she understood. They walked into a waiting room of the police station and Buffy saw the young man waiting for her.
"Hi," she told him as she wiped her face and tried not to cry, not looking at him.
He walked over and wrapped his arms around her and didn't want to let go of her. He wanted to keep her safe and protect her from everything around her.
Buffy buried her face in his chest and cried. She felt safe. She felt better knowing that someone she had known for most of her life was there for her. She finally pulled herself out of the hug, wiped her face and looked up at the Harris boy. All she could manage to say was, "Angel?"