Chapter Two:
Since Rose had started at Sunnydale High, she found herself irresistibly drawn to the library. Every time she pulled into the school parking lot, her eyes would instinctively seek out the car she knew belonged to Rupert Giles. And without fail, she'd soon be seated at the large wooden table in the center of the room, surrounded by textbooks, but her mind was often elsewhere.
Giles rarely said more than a few words to her during these quiet sessions, but she was acutely aware of his presence. His gaze seemed to linger on her, even when his eyes were focused on something else. She felt it, that charged attention, like a subtle hum in the air. Not that she minded. If she was being honest with herself, she was watching him too. She couldn't help it—there was something magnetic about him, something that tugged at her senses and made her heart race when he was near.
It wasn't just the way he moved, although she had certainly noticed the graceful way he handled books, his fingers brushing across the pages in a manner that made her wonder what they might feel like against her skin. No, it was deeper than that—there was an energy around him, one that stirred the magic within her, making her fingers tingle whenever he was close.
But she knew better than to let herself dwell on such thoughts. He was older, her teacher in some ways, and her fascination was likely nothing more than a schoolgirl crush. Still, she couldn't deny the way her pulse quickened when she saw him, the way her body responded to the unspoken connection between them.
Today, however, she had a purpose. As she strolled into the library, the familiar scent of old leather and parchment filling the air, she felt a determination settle in her chest. She needed a meditation spell—something to help her clear her mind and focus. Catching up on two months' worth of assignments was starting to take a toll, and she was in desperate need of clarity.
Giles wasn't in sight when she entered, but the shadow moving across the floor from his office told her he was nearby. "Good morning, Mr. Giles," Rose called out, wanting to alert him to her presence so he wouldn't be startled by her rummaging through the shelves.
Giles appeared in the doorway, a coffee cup in hand, its humorous inscription reading, 'This Library is a Mess, We Should Be Ashamed of Our Shelves.' his eyes moved over her, a subtle tension rippled in the air. She could almost feel his gaze lingering on the flow of her dark maxi skirt and the way her oversized sweater hugged her figure before rising to her face. He visibly pulled back, clearing his throat. "You're wearing glasses."
"Really? No wonder I can see where I'm going," Rose replied with a smile, pushing the frames up with her finger.
A chuckle escaped him, and he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed by his remark. "I meant—I've never seen you wear them before. They, ah, look good." His cheeks flushed ever so slightly, and Rose had to suppress a grin.
"Thanks. My eyes weren't up for contacts today. All this studying is taking a toll."
"It's quite impressive, catching up on so much in such a short time," he said, his voice carrying a hint of admiration.
"I know, right?" She smirked, moving toward the center table where she dropped her bag on the table's top.
Giles tilted his head, watching her every movement with that familiar intensity. "Quite an impressive feat," Giles said, his eyes softening. "I must say, I'm surprised at how well you've managed. It's almost... magical."
"Speaking of magic I was actually hoping to look through some of your occult books. Willow wasn't kidding when she said you've got quite the collection."
"Yes, we do. Though I must say, the occult is a rather… unique interest for someone your age," he said, attempting to sound casual as he took a sip from his cup.
"I'm nineteen," Rose replied. She wasn't prepared for the way Giles immediately choked on his tea, coughing violently as a fine mist sprayed into the air.
"Are you okay?" Rose hurried over, placing her hands on his shoulders as he struggled for breath.
"I—yes—just went down the wrong pipe." Giles coughed again, face red as he tried to regain his composure.
Rose smiled, her hand lingering on his arm longer than necessary before she stepped back. "You sure you're alright?"
Giles nodded, still a bit out of breath. "Quite. I just… wasn't expecting; Nineteen?"
"Yes, sorry to disappoint?" Rose teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"No, just surprising." He gave a dry laugh, though his eyes betrayed the tension still between them. His eyes flicked back to hers, something unreadable passing between them. "I think I'm okay now, at least physically. My pride, on the other hand, may be slightly bruised."
"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Rose teased, her lips quirking up. "Now, how about that book?"
"You'll find what you're looking for in the far section," Giles finally said, clearing his throat and regaining some of his usual formality. "End of the aisle, second shelf from the top. The title is Malosi, I believe."
Rose gave him a playful look. "Samoan?"
"You know Samoan?" He looked impressed.
"No, but I know enough to recognize it." She moved toward the bookshelves, glancing over her shoulder as she disappeared between them. Giles was watching her again, his eyes following her every step.
When she returned with the book in hand, he was still seated at the table, his glasses perched on his nose. She placed the book down in front of him, leaning in slightly as she did so, catching a whiff of the faint spice of his cologne. "I didn't take you for the type to be interested in health and vitalization spells."
"I'm full of surprises," Rose replied, her voice dropping slightly as their gazes locked for just a moment too long.
Something flickered in his eyes, something that made the air between them feel charged. Rose stepped back, breaking the moment, but she couldn't ignore the way her heart raced or the heat that crept up her neck. She had come here for a spell, but what she found was something much more dangerous—an attraction she wasn't entirely sure she should ignore.
Rose couldn't shake the charged air that lingered between them as she settled into a chair across from Giles. The book Malosi lay open between them, though she barely glanced at it. She could feel his eyes on her again—like they always were—and the weight of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. She tried to focus on the pages, the delicate script of spells she had seen a thousand times before, but all she could think about was the way the air seemed to have turned electric.
"So," Giles said, his voice breaking the silence. "A spell for health and vitalization?"
Rose nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. "Yeah, something to clear the fog. I've been drowning in schoolwork, and my brain's just... fried, and I'm getting desperate."
He leaned forward slightly, his expression softening. "I understand the pressure of catching up. But... magic can be unpredictable, especially if you're using it to force something as natural as mental clarity. You sure you want to try this? Hypothetically, of course."
The way he looked at her—concerned but intrigued—made her heart stutter. She gave a slight smirk, shrugging casually. "What's life without a little risk? Hypothetically, of course."
Giles's lips quirked in the ghost of a smile, his eyes twinkling with something that felt dangerously close to admiration. "Indeed. So you know enough about Samoan to recognize it?" Giles asked from behind her.
"My parents traveled a lot, so I picked up bits and pieces here and there. Kind of had to."
Giles seemed to hesitate before asking, "And what do your parents do?"
Rose paused, her fingers brushing against the worn cover of the book she was searching for. "They're in business. They will help failing companies get back into the green. Once they were done, we would move on to the next place. Made getting a recorded education a little harder. I would have been at university already, but my Japanese class credits didn't really transfer well."
"But you are here now, in Sunnydale, because of our superb public education system?"
"My aunt lives here. She offered for me to come and stay with her. Besides, I'm an adult, and as much as my parents didn't want me coming here, they didn't really have much of a say in the matter."
"And your interest in the occult?" Giles asked, his gaze intent, searching her face for answers.
Rose's lips curled into a playful smile. "Buy a girl a drink first, Rupert."
Giles visibly relaxed, a chuckle escaping his lips as he leaned back in his chair. "Fair enough. I suppose I have been rather forward."
Rose took a seat across from him, setting the book down with a satisfying thud. "Well, I'll make you a deal. You answer one of my questions, and I'll answer one of yours. Seems only fair, right?"
Giles considered her offer, then nodded. "Alright. Ask away."
Rose tapped her fingers on the table, feigning contemplation before settling on her question. "Why Sunnydale? You don't exactly seem like the small-town American librarian type."
Giles hesitated, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. "My wife was from here."
Rose raised an eyebrow. "No ring. Try again."
Giles looked momentarily stunned by her boldness. "We are divorced."
Rose stood, grabbing the book and her bag. "Well, when you're ready to give me the truth, I'll be here. But in the meantime, I think I'll take this with me."
"You can't leave with that book," Giles called after her as she made for the door.
Rose lifted the book over her shoulder, not bothering to turn around. "When I get an honest answer, you can have your book back."
With that, she pushed through the doors, leaving Giles standing alone, his gaze lingering on where she'd just been.