The library is quiet as they dive into Rupert's archives for any mention of Spike and his paramour, Druscilla. Buffy sits on the opposite side of the table, reading through her own book as Rupert goes through his personal files in the office for the next lot of Watcher's diary.
"You okay?" Jenny asks Buffy across the table. The teenager has been sullen since they arrived, first because of her revelation about Angel and Druscilla's clandestine meeting, then because her friend –Ford?- lied to her.
"Guys are jerks," Buffy sulks, sighing as she flips through the book without really reading it.
"That's not just confined to the male of the species," Jenny informs her. She should know; Jenny has known a lot of jerks in her past. She tries to be optimistic for the younger woman's benefit. "Not everyone is a jerk though."
"I guess," Buffy grudgingly agrees.
"I need chocolate," Buffy suddenly announces, rummaging through her pockets for change for the vending machine.
"I'll come with you," Jenny says as she rises from her seat. "Rupert, we're raiding the vending machine, do you want anything?" She calls as she approaches his office.
He pokes his head out the door. He's gotten rid of his jacket and unbuttoned his vest. "Hmm?"
"The vending machine, do you want anything?" She tries to smother her smile as he blinks in lack of comprehension at her.
"Oh, um, yes, I am a bit peckish."
He's adorable when he's like this. He's tired but focused and everything else fades away.
"Reece's cups?" Jenny confirms. She's already got something wrong tonight; she doesn't want to get something else wrong. She knows he's got a sweet tooth and usually snags one of hers. He brightens with a nod before retreating into his office.
Jenny turns to find Buffy looking mildly amused as she watches them. Jenny doesn't say anything, the teenager deserves her teasing for a minute or two. They walk out into the darkened hall, passing her classroom door before entering the lounge. Luckily, the internal doors aren't locked at night by the janitor. There is only one external exit at this time of night that she and Rupert have the key to.
"So, what would you do? If you were me?" Buffy asks as she puts in her change. "You seem to have experience in the jerk area." She pauses with the last coin in the slot and turns to Jenny with wide eyes. "I, mean, not that you seem experienced, um, I mean, I don't think any teacher is experienced…oh, god, stop me."
"Buffy, stop."
"Thank you," Buffy breathes out. She turns to Jenny and leans against the glass window. "I didn't mean to imply anything, only that you're older and have more dating experience than I do."
"Relax, Buffy, I'm not gonna give you detention over it," Jenny promises.
"Thank you," the sixteen-year-old repeats, just as relieved. "I'm not sure what to do. If Druscilla is Spike's girlfriend, why didn't Angel stake her when he had the chance? Or tell me that he saw her?"
Jenny blinks, wondering what line she's supposed to use here. She's a teacher, and if this were during regular school hours, Jenny would use that one. She's not supposed to blur lines of professionalism. But there are no guidelines during teacher training that prepare you to work on a Hellmouth. Though she tries to remain compartmentalised with the kids when helping Rupert with research, she figures a little blurring is called for during certain situations.
She's still torn.
Jenny can relate, she's already hinted at personal experience and she's not so old to be considered a mother figure. She's on the edge of Buffy's circle and knows the details without Buffy having to lie or bluff out a scenario to fit her situation. It's a reasonable assumption Buffy might come to her for advice or vent if Willow isn't around. Jenny doubts Buffy would ask Rupert for dating advice.
Jenny, however, understands what it's like to be sixteen and have a crush on a guy, mysterious and older, and to feel betrayed by them. Coupled with the fact that, in Buffy's case, he's a vampire over two hundred years her senior.
Angel's attractive, Jenny can admit that. She can also see why Buffy would be drawn to the brooding, mature man who understands her solitary calling.
But.
Jenny grew up on stories of Angelus where he was the monster under her bed or in her nightmares. She's finding it a little difficult to counsel Buffy with their fledgling romance, especially encouraging it.
Especially since recent events and actions seem to suggest he isn't on the side of the righteous.
"You could always ask him," Jenny tells her gently, trying to push thoughts of Angelus away.
She and Rupert can research till dawn and still be no clearer on what's going on. Also, their material is subjective and offers no real nuance that comes from live interrogation.
In her time getting to know the kids, Jenny has found Buffy has good instincts about people. She's fairly certain Buffy'll know if Angel is lying.
Jenny glances at Buffy, who's still miserable but is at least considering Jenny's suggestion. After a moment, the young slayer shrugs. "What if his answer is one I don't want to hear?"
"Sometimes the truth is harder to hear than a lie," Jenny says kindly.
"Guys are jerks," Buffy pouts. She jabs at her selection and bends down to retrieve it.
Jenny smiles at her fondly. "Not all of them."
Buffy returns her glance pointedly. "Sitting through monster trucks while hating it makes Giles a saint, huh?"
Jenny rolls her eyes and guides the young woman away from the vending machine. She adds her coins to the vending machine and punches in the code for the peanut butter cups. "I think I'm the jerk in this instance," she frowns. "Sometimes people can be jerks without meaning to be."
She adds more coins and makes the same selection. Waiting as the whirring mechanism drops the candy onto the waiting shelf at the bottom of the machine. She drops down to collect her selection.
"I figured most of our dates ended with fire trucks and mayhem, might as well do it from a safe distance," Jenny admits. She hadn't meant to make him uncomfortable. She thought it'd be fun and so far removed from their usual date-night activity that it would just be a change. "Your call saved the date from being a complete disaster."
"Yikes," Buffy grimaces.
Jenny is fairly aware Buffy is sizing her up. Buffy is loyal to Rupert; she barely knows Jenny. Jenny understands why Buffy would want to make sure anyone involved with her Watcher has the right intentions and isn't aiming to break his heart.
And she isn't.
Jenny likes Rupert. She likes him a lot more than she ever thought she would when they first met. She has the worst habit of hitting her internal self-destruct button when things get too serious in relationships. She has no idea if she was trying to provoke a fight with him or to abandon her on their date. She hasn't had the inclination to fight with him for a while. Their bickering has erred on the side of flirting lately and she wonders if it's her subconscious need to have a good vent just for the sake of it. She wants to know they can still argue even when they're dating because she likes that side of him.
She wants more with Rupert. More than linking arms with him when they walk side by side, more than the tentative kisses they've shared at the end of dates when he drops her home. She was hoping for more tonight if the date went well.
"Look, I know it's none of my business," Buffy starts. "But why don't I head home, and you guys can salvage some of the night."
"Got any ideas on how? 'Cause my last one was pretty dire."
Buffy shrugs.
"I'm sure you'll think of something, you guys are fairly attuned to each other most of the time." She pauses. "Giles is a good guy. I might rag on him a lot about having time for a personal life but I know he gives me a lot more freedom than other Watchers' would. I want the same for him, though.
"He gives so much of himself to this job, to me. Misses out on a lot; friends, dates, family," she trails off. "One day, I'm going to die," Buffy tells her. "I don't know if it'll be because of being a slayer or not, but I will. And I don't want Giles to miss out on life because of me."
Jenny feels a wave of sympathy for the young woman so resigned to her fate when she should be looking forward to her whole life. She wants to reach out and comfort Buffy, yet she gets the impression it'd be the wrong thing to do. Buffy didn't tell her for her pity, she imparted the facts of her life to make a point.
She understands why Buffy tries not to interrupt their dates unless absolutely necessary. Buffy wants this to work for Rupert and wants him to have the chance to make it work. Buffy wants Rupert to have what she wants, a life.
"I'm going to go say goodnight to Giles and head home, we can figure out why Ford lied to me in the morning," Buffy starts walking towards the library.
"Why don't we drop you off at your house?" Jenny suggests, catching up with her.
"Um, you sure? I already took up way too much time of yours tonight."
"Yeah," Jenny nods. "Look, as much as I love research in the library, it's not exactly a date-night activity. Besides, if Ford is in league with vampires, how do we know they're not waiting to jump you on the way home?"
"Fair point," Buffy concedes. "So, do you have any ideas about how to rescue your night?"
"I think I'm going to take my own advice and talk to him about it."
"Sounds like a plan," Buffy approves as she pushes her way into the library. "Pack it up Giles, we're heading home."
Rupert looks up from the book in his hands, pausing halfway between the checking desk and the table. "You are?"
"We all are," Buffy corrects. "We can figure this all out in the morning."
"But, vampires on campus stealing my books," he reminds them.
Buffy winces as though she forgot that small detail. "Well, tonight they need to read through the book, and they can't really do anything during the day tomorrow, we can catch up then."
"We're giving Buffy a lift home," Jenny informs him, backing up Buffy's plan.
Rupert looks as though he's about to argue but backs down at the last moment. "I suppose the vampires can break in at any time, it is a public building after all."
Jenny pulls her car to a stop outside of Rupert's building. He doesn't make a move to get out.
"Would you like to come in?"
"Not tonight," Jenny answers, feeling fairly certain this isn't their time. "It's late. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
He accepts her answer with a nod.
"I wanted to apologise," she tells him. "Not because of monster trucks; I stand by what I said about it being a change, but, I should have considered a change you would be comfortable with."
"I feel I must also apologise," Rupert sighs. "I'm sorry for making you feel the need to apologise. I was outside of my comfort zone this evening and I should have trusted you enough to tell you that."
"I wish you had," comes her simple admission. His eyes soften and they come to a silent understanding.
"I had a contingency plan and everything if you hated it that much."
"Really?" Rupert huffs, amused and completely calling her on her bullshit.
"We could've left and gone for a drink or we could've gotten take out and had dinner at your place or mine," she suggests casually, trying to cover up the fact that she didn't have a contingency plan. But she would have thought of something on the spot if she had to rescue the evening.
"Maybe next time," he responds. "Was there anything else you had in mind?"
Oh, such a loaded question.
Instead of answering, she leans over and places a brief kiss on his lips. Pulling back, she bites her lip at his slack expression as he almost chases her lips.
"Such a shame we didn't leave earlier," he murmurs, staring into her eyes.
"Such a shame," she concurs, leaning in again as their lips meet again.
