Chapter 10: Teacher's Pet Part 1
March 25, 1997 - Tuesday
Paige's Dreamscape
The vampire's attack caught the kids in the Bronze completely off guard. Even Buffy, wasn't ready. She tried to fight the monster, but he was too much for her. A girl screamed as the vampire threw Buffy onto the Bronze's red pool table. Then the undead creature got ready to pounce. Fear showed on the Slayer's face. She was helpless. Would this be the end?
"May I cut in?" Paige said as she grabbed the vampire from behind.
The vampire tried to go for Paige's throat, but she was ready for him. She slammed his head into the edge of the pool table, stood him up, and then gave him a blow to the stomach and a sock to the jaw that sent the creature of the night careening across the room.
Paige then went over to the pool table and helped Buffy up. She looked stunning in her low-cut red dress. "Are you all right?" Paige asked, staring into Buffy's deep blue eyes.
Those eyes stared back at Paige with gratitude—and longing. "Thanks to you," she said breathlessly, taking Paige's hand in hers. She looked down and said, "You hurt your hand."
Paige followed Buffy's gaze. She hadn't even noticed the pain.
"Will you still be able to—?" Buffy started asking before her voice caught.
Paige completed the question: "Finish my solo and then kiss you like you've never been kissed before?"
Buffy nodded, smitten as Paige smiled.
Paige noticed that the vampire was stirring, but she pretended not to while she headed back to the stage and her abandoned guitar. As she passed by an overturned table, she yanked off one of its legs, whirled, and threw it unerringly at the now-upright vampire, all in one smooth motion. The makeshift stake found its target. The vampire fell to the ground and crumbled to dust.
Buffy clasped her hands over her heart; tears started to form in her eyes.
Paige leaped back onto the stage, picked up the guitar, and proceeded to play the aforementioned solo.
Halliwell Manor
Paige's eyelids gently lifted, revealing a familiar sight as she found herself nestled in the comfort of her own bed. The remnants of the dream she had just experienced lingered in her thoughts, leaving her in a state of both perplexity and fascination. The events in the dream had possessed an uncanny realism, and the emotions she had felt were undeniably tangible.
As the fog of sleep dissipated, Paige's mind began to grapple with the implications of her dream. A persistent question hovered in her consciousness: Did it signify that she was developing romantic feelings for Buffy, someone who was ten years her junior? The surge of emotions she had experienced during the dream and the undeniable connection she had felt between them refused to be ignored.
Paige sat up in bed, her thoughts racing with a mixture of uncertainty and curiosity. The dream had been unlike any other she had ever had. It wasn't solely the rush of adrenaline from their battles or the euphoria of triumph that stood out—it was the profound depth of her affection for Buffy, the way her heart had skipped a beat when their gazes intertwined.
A part of her yearned to dismiss the dream as a mere fantasy, a trick played by her subconscious mind. But another part, one that resonated deeper and truer within her, acknowledged the possibility that her feelings for Buffy transcended friendship and the traditional roles of a Whitelighter and her charge. Paige couldn't help but entertain the notion that her dream might be a manifestation of her hidden desires, her heart unveiling what her conscious mind had yet to embrace.
Uncertainty tugged at her, accompanied by a potent mix of excitement and trepidation. The idea of falling in love with Buffy, of exploring a romantic connection with her, opened up a realm of uncharted emotions.
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Paige walked into the kitchen to find Phoebe sitting at the table, lost in her own thoughts. Sensing Paige's presence, Phoebe looked up and offered a faint smile. "Phoebe, do you remember when you told me to get that cross for Buffy?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Phoebe nodded, her eyes reflecting a mixture of guilt and apprehension. She had been keeping a secret from her sisters, and it weighed heavily on her conscience. "Yeah, I remember."
Paige took a seat across from Phoebe, her expression serious. "Did you have a premonition?"
Phoebe sighed, realizing that her secret was about to be unveiled. She had regained one of her powers but had chosen to keep it hidden until she was certain she wouldn't misuse it. "Erm..."
Paige raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "So, you did get one of your powers back."
Phoebe nodded, her voice filled with a mix of remorse and caution. "I did. But before you get upset with me, let me explain. I wanted to be absolutely sure that I wouldn't fall back into the same patterns as before, abusing my powers. I wanted to tell you all when the time was right, when I was confident in my control."
Paige took a moment to process Phoebe's explanation, her initial frustration giving way to understanding. "I understand why you kept it hidden. Piper might not be so forgiving, though. Anyways, when you told me to get the Carolingian cross, did you have a premonition about it?"
Phoebe's gaze grew distant, lost in the memories of her vision. "I did. I saw you giving the cross to Buffy, and I saw her wearing it. But beyond that, I haven't seen anything else. It doesn't make sense why I had that premonition in the first place. I didn't touch any objects or perform any rituals—it just came to me."
Paige leaned back in her chair, contemplating Phoebe's words. "It sounds like your power, even when it was stripped, may have evolved or advanced in some way."
Phoebe nodded pensively, realizing the truth in Paige's assessment. "I guess you could be right. Our powers are unpredictable, and maybe they continue to grow even in the absence of active use."
Taking a deep breath, Paige decided to share her own inner turmoil with Phoebe, knowing that she could confide in her sister. "Phoebe, I'm going to tell you something. I think I may be falling for Buffy."
Phoebe's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and concern crossing her face. She struggled to find the right words. "She's... underage."
Paige nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "I know. Trust me, I understand the legal and ethical implications. I could potentially face serious consequences if I were to act on these feelings before she turns eighteen and if it were ever discovered. But it's more than that. It's not just because she's my charge. I can't seem to get her out of my mind. I had a dream last night centered around her."
Phoebe listened attentively, realizing the complexity of Paige's emotions. "Did the dream you mentioned have any... intimate moments?"
Paige shook her head, relief evident on her face. "No, there was nothing explicit. In the dream, I was playing the guitar when a vampire attacked. I managed to save Buffy from the vampire and then continued playing a solo. But I know if the dream had continued, it might have taken a different direction."
Sunnydale High School
Buffy sat in her seat, enduring Dr. Gregory's monotonous lecture on insects. The topic of ants seemed to have captured his undying enthusiasm, but it had lost its appeal for Buffy a long time ago. She struggled to keep her focus as he droned on, feeling the weight of boredom settling upon her.
Finally, the slide projector clicked off, and the lights in the classroom flickered back on. Buffy blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness that threatened to overtake her. Dr. Gregory scanned the room through his glasses, his gaze eventually landing on Buffy.
"Now, if you read the homework, you should know the two ways that ants communicate. Ms. Summers?" Dr. Gregory prompted, expecting an answer.
Caught off guard, Buffy's mind raced to grasp the question. She repeated it back, buying herself a moment of time. "Ways that ants communicate..."
Dr. Gregory nodded, urging her to continue.
"With other ants..." Buffy struggled, desperately searching for the answer. She glanced over at Willow, who was silently gesturing to help her out. "Uhm, uh, touch—and, um—B.O.?"
Laughter erupted from the class, and even Blayne Mall chimed in with a comment, "Thank God someone finally found the courage to mention that."
Buffy's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized her response had missed the mark.
Ignoring the amusement, Dr. Gregory replied, "That would be touch and smell, Ms. Summers. Is there anything else Ms. Rosenberg would like to tell you?"
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. Students hastily gathered their belongings, eager to move on to their next classes. . "All right, chapters six through eight by tomorrow, people," Dr. Gregory called after them. Then, his attention returned to Buffy. "Can I see you for a moment?"
Caught off guard once again, Buffy's expression mirrored a deer caught in headlights.
As the room emptied, leaving only the two of them, Dr. Gregory began organizing his slides. He spoke up, addressing Buffy, "I gather you and your sister had some troubles at your previous school."
Buffy hesitated for a moment before responding, "Well, what teenager doesn't?"
Dr. Gregory checked his slides, seemingly unperturbed. "Well you cut school, got into fights, and both you and your sister burned down the gymnasium," he said, acknowledging his knowledge of hers and Dawn's past. "Principal Flutie showed me your permanent record."
Buffy stammered, trying to explain, "That fire... I mean, there were extenuating circumstances. It's actually kind of funny."
Retrieving his reading glasses from the closet, Dr. Gregory continued, "I can't wait to see what you and Dawn are both going to do here—"
"Destructo-girl, that's me and Dawn," Buffy ruefully interrupted.
Dr. Gregory wiped his reading glasses with his tie, a smile tugging at his lips. "But I suspect it's going to be great."
Confusion filled Buffy's face. "You mean 'great' in a bad way?"
The smile on Dr. Gregory's face widened as he reassured her, "You're like your sister. You've got a first-rate mind and you can think on your feet. Imagine what you could accomplish if you actually did the—"
"The homework thing?" Buffy interjected.
"The homework thing," he repeated. "I understand you may have a good excuse for not doing it, but surprisingly, I don't care. I know you like Dawn can excel in this class, and I expect nothing less. Is that clear?"
"Yeah," Buffy replied, a hint of remorse in her voice. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry. Be smart," Dr. Gregory advised. "And please, don't let the principal or anyone else's negative opinion define you and tell Dawn the same. Let's make them eat those permanent records. What do you say?"
Buffy offered him a genuine smile. "Okay. Thanks," she said.
Returning the smile, Dr. Gregory concluded, "Chapters six through eight."
Nodding resolutely, Buffy left the classroom, feeling a renewed determination to meet Dr. Gregory's expectations and prove herself capable of more than her past mistakes.
The Bronze
"So," Dawn asked gravely, having been briefed by Willow and Xander on the events that unfolded in the biology class. They had gathered at the Bronze after Buffy and Dawn's return from Magic School for their nightly lesson. "How did it go after bio class?"
Buffy leaned in, a hint of relief in her voice. "Actually, it went pretty well. Dr. Gregory didn't chew me out or anything. He was surprisingly cool." Letting out a sigh, she continued, "But Flutie made sure he got a glimpse of our permanent records, Dawn. Apparently, we fall somewhere between Charles Manson and a really bad person."
Dawn's eyes widened as she processed Buffy's words. She couldn't believe that Flutie would stoop so low and tarnish their reputation like that. "Are you kidding me? That's such a violation of privacy!" she exclaimed; her voice filled with indignation. "How could he just share our personal information like that? It's completely unfair!"
"I know," Buffy agreed as she reached across and patted Dawn's hand in comfort.
Willow couldn't help but wear a mischievous smile as she tried to diffuse the tension. "And you can't just tell Dr. Gregory the truth about what happened at your old school?"
Buffy responded with a dry tone, "That Dawn and I were fighting vampires the day we burned down the gym? Somehow, I don't think he'd buy that excuse."
Willow chuckled. "Yeah, I bet he hears that one all the time."
Just then, Cordelia sauntered over to join Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Xander. With her typical flair, she declared, "Here lies a problem. What used to be my table is now occupied by pitiful losers. Clearly, we'll have to burn it." She then flashed a smile as she settled down beside them. While Cordelia still retained some of her old ways, she had undergone a transformation, particularly in her interactions with Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Xander. Her perception of Xander had especially shifted, as she now saw him as quite the catch.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Xander made his way over to the couches near the coffee bar, only to find Blayne and one of his football buddies, whose name eluded him. If it weren't for Blayne being Buffy's lab partner, he wouldn't have remembered his name either.
As Xander approached, he caught snippets of their conversation. "Seven," Blayne boasted. "Including Cheryl. I tell you though, her sister was looking to make it eight."
"Ooh, Cheryl's sister?" the other jock said, eyes wide. "The one in college?"
"Home for the holidays and looking for love. She's not my type, though. Girl's really got to have something to go with me."
The superficiality of their conversation irked Xander, prompting him to respond without thinking. "Something like a lobotomy?" he quipped, unable to resist his sarcastic nature.
Blayne sneered at him. "Xander, how many times have you scored?"
Xander hesitated, feeling put on the spot. "Well..."
"It's just a question," Blay retorted with an evil smile.
"Are we talking today or the whole week?" he stammered, attempting to buy time. His eyes scanned the area, desperately searching for Dawn, Cordelia, Buffy, and Willow. Finally spotting them, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, duty calls."
He quickly made his way to where the four girls were engaged in conversation. With a theatrical flourish, he approached them, throwing an arm around Cordelia. "Babes!" he exclaimed loudly, ensuring Blayne and his buddy could hear him.
Cordelia, caught off guard by Xander's sudden behavior, looked at him with concern. "What are you doing?" she whispered, her worry evident.
"Work with me here," Xander whispered back urgently. "Blayne dared to question my manliness. I'm just going to give him a visual."
A mischievous smile played on Cordelia's lips as she understood Xander's plan. She leaned in and kissed him, putting on a show that left no room for doubt about their connection.
When they broke the kiss, Xander glanced over at Blayne and gave him a thumbs-up. Blayne simply shook his head in disbelief, unable to comprehend what a cheerleader would see in Xander.
"What is Paige doing here?" Buffy wondered as stood up. She approached her Whitelighter concerned by her presence. "Is something wrong?"
Paige looked at Buffy, her concern mirrored in her eyes. "You look cold," she observed, taking off her own jacket and draping it over Buffy's shoulders.
It was a small act of kindness that made Buffy blush slightly. "Thanks," she murmured appreciatively. Her attention then shifted as she noticed the three long, parallel cuts on Paige's arm. "What happened?" she inquired, her worry deepening.
"It was a vampire," Paige explained, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "I was heading over to my usual spot to orb home discreetly when he attacked me. He had these claws, and I barely managed to fend him off. I just thought I should warn you for tonight's patrol. If you need me, I'll be listening out for your call."
"Okay, thanks, Paige," Buffy replied, grateful for the warning and the support offered by her Whitelighter.
March 26, 1997 - Wednesday
Sunnydale High School
In the quad the next morning, Xander approached Giles, Dawn, Buffy, Willow, and Paige, eager to share some news. As they gathered, Paige began recounting her encounter with the vampire and its unique claw-like hand.
"A vampire with a claw?" Giles inquired; his interest piqued.
Paige nodded. "Yes, it looked like his hand had been replaced by some sort of fork or claw. He was tall, not exactly muscular but not overweight either."
Giles acknowledged her input with a nod. "I'll see what I can find out." He glanced up at the sky. "Every day here feels the same."
Buffy rolled her eyes, playfully mocking the monotony. "Bright, sunny, beautiful—how can we possibly escape this torment?"
Paige chuckled, finding common ground with Buffy, Dawn, Willow, and Xander as a fellow Californian. She was accustomed to the weather, but she realized Giles, having come from England, may have yearned for some rain.
Giles gave Buffy a stern look, exchanged greetings with Xander, and disappeared into the school heading for the library to immerse himself in research.
Eager to share his news, Xander wasted no time. "Guess what I just heard at the office? No Dr. Gregory today. Which means those of us who conveniently forgot our science homework are not as dumb as we look." He closed Willow's biology textbook, emphasizing his point.
Dawn questioned, "What happened? Is he sick?"
Xander shrugged. "They didn't mention anything about him being sick, just that he's missing."
"Missing?" Paige echoed, concern etching her features.
Xander frowned, trying to recall the exact details. "Well, let me think. Cordy was with the rest of the cheerleaders showing off their new short skirts, and I kind of got—"
Dawn, Buffy and Paige shot Xander their signature disapproving looks, reminiscent of Giles'. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he quickly shifted gears. "Yeah, they said he's missing. Which, I assume, is bad?"
"If something's wrong, then yes," Buffy replied. She turned to Paige, seeking her input. "Paige?"
"I'll see what I can find out," Paige offered.
Feeling slightly out of the loop, Xander couldn't comprehend the significance of Dr. Gregory's absence. No biology teacher meant a substitute, which effectively meant a free period. What could possibly be wrong?
Ever the voice of reason, Willow chimed in to clarify, "He's one of the few teachers who doesn't think Buffy or Dawn are criminals."
Attempting to convey his sincerity, Xander said, "I'm really sorry. I'm sure he'll—iya huh huh huh!" His sentence trailed off as his attention was captivated by a sight that caused every hormone in his body to go into overdrive.
Walking down one of the pathways in the quad was a woman who stood out in the environment that was predominantly populated high school girls. She exuded an undeniable attractiveness that went beyond ordinary beauty.
Though "attractive" was an understatement.
Xander struggled to find words to describe her. She was the epitome of the most stunning woman to ever grace the Earth. Her black hair framed her neck, and her sultry eyes and pouty lips held an irresistible allure. Xander couldn't help but imagine how those lips would feel against his own. She wore a simple black jacket over a white shirt, paired with a skirt that teased the boundary of being a miniskirt.
To Xander's surprise and delight, she approached him directly. "Could you help me?" she asked, her voice melodic, with a hint of an exotic accent that he couldn't quite place.
Xander's mind went blank, completely consumed by the image of this mesmerizing beauty before him. "Uhhh—yes."
"I'm looking for Science 109," she explained.
Xander struggled to recall the location, his mind fixated solely on her presence. He couldn't even remember his own name if asked. "I go there every day," he stammered with a nervous laugh, turning to Buffy, Dawn, Paige, and Willow for assistance. "Oh God, where is it?"
Before anyone could respond, Blayne, the teenager whom Xander had instantly decided to dislike more than anyone else in the world, intervened. "Hi, Blayne Mall. I'm going there right now. It's not far from the varsity field, where I took all-city last year."
"Oh, thank you, Blayne," the woman replied, and Blayne led her away. As they departed, Blayne friendly patted Xander on the shoulder.
"It's funny how the earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to," Xander muttered, feeling slightly dejected.
Dawn, Paige, Buffy, and Willow wore amused smiles, showing no sympathy for Xander's plight. In fact, they found his infatuation entertaining.
"Come on," Buffy said, breaking the silence. "Willow and I will take you to Science 109. And if you want, you can leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way back next time someone asks for directions."
"Very funny," Xander replied with mock annoyance. The group then headed to their biology class.
As Paige watched Buffy and Willow lead Xander off, while Dawn went in the other direction to her own class, a nagging feeling tugged at her. Something didn't seem right about that woman, but without more information, she didn't want to burden her sisters with her suspicions. She turned and walked into the school, heading toward the office, determined to investigate further.
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Upon reaching Science 109, Buffy, Xander, and Willow discovered the woman standing in front of the class, with the name Natalie French written on the blackboard. Buffy's attention was immediately drawn to a pair of glasses on the floor, prompting her to kneel down and pick them up.
Willow, sensing something amiss, asked, "What's wrong, Buffy?"
Xander turned to glance at Buffy as she retrieved the glasses. Buffy noticed a cracked lens and questioned, "If Dr. Gregory dropped his glasses, why wouldn't he pick them up?" Shaking off the curiosity, she placed the glasses on one of the tables and begrudgingly took her seat next to the detested Blayne.
As the final bell chimed, the class settled down, and the woman introduced herself, saying, "My name is Natalie French, and I'll be substituting for Dr. Gregory."
Buffy couldn't help but inquire, "Do you know when he's coming back?"
"No, I don't, um—" Ms. French consulted her seating chart, "Buffy. They just call and assign me wherever they want me."
Blayne muttered under his breath, "I'll tell you where I want you."
Puzzled, Natalie asked, "Excuse me, Blayne?"
"I was just wondering if you were going to pick up where Dr. Gregory left off," Blayne quickly retorted.
"Yes," Ms. French responded with a smile that brightened the entire room. "His notes indicate that you were in the midst of studying insect life." She approached the display table and lifted one of the glass cases containing a plastic replica of a praying mantis. "The praying mantis is a captivating creature, compelled to live a solitary existence. Who can tell me why—Buffy?"
Buffy stared at the case for a moment before replying, "Well, the words 'bug ugly' kind of come to mind."
The smile vanished from Ms. French's face, and her expression darkened. "There's nothing ugly about these extraordinary creatures." But then the smile returned. "The reason they live alone is because they're cannibals."
Several students responded with disgusted noises, exclaiming, "Eww."
"It's hardly their fault," Ms. French continued. "It's how nature designed them: noble, solitary, and remarkably prolific. With over eighteen hundred species worldwide, in almost all of them, the females are larger and more aggressive than the males."
Blayne, apparently forgetting their previous clash, leaned over to Buffy and remarked, "Nothing wrong with an aggressive female." Buffy shot him a sharp look, causing him to straighten up.
Ms. French picked up a textbook and proceeded to read from it as she walked up the aisle. "The California mantis lays her eggs and then seeks a mate to fertilize them. Once he's fulfilled his role, she covers the eggs with a protective sac and attaches it to a leaf or twig, keeping them out of harm's way." She held up the textbook, displaying it to the class as she continued, "Now, if she has executed her duty correctly, in a few months, she'll have several hundred offspring." Placing the textbook down, she scanned the room and noticed something on the bulletin board. "You know, we should create some model egg sacs for the Science Fair. Who would like to assist me with that after school?"
Xander's hand shot up, followed by Blayne's and practically every other guy in the class.
"Good," she said, accompanied by another radiant smile. "I must warn you, it's a delicate art. I'll have to work closely with each of you—one on one."