Long Way From Home - Chapter 8

"Buffy?" Willow pushed the door open and looked around but Buffy was nowhere to be seen, she dumped her shopping bags then turned back out into the hall and shut the door.

Hurrying along the hall Willow peered around every corner looking for her, spying a girl from their psychology class she headed for her.

"Hi Amy." Willow smiled at her and tried not to appear on edge.

"Willow, hi. You lost something?" Amy shouldered her bag and looked at the red head with wide eyes.

"Buffy. Don't suppose you've seen her?"

"Matter of fact I have. She's in the um, library!" Amy raised her eyebrows at Willow.

"Library?" Willow almost choked on the thought.

"Yeah. Didn't picture her as the book type, see you around." Amy waved as she moved to catch up with her friends.

"Library?" Willow whispered then shook her head in disbelief as she walked up the hall.

Craning her neck as she entered the library Willow spotted Buffy behind a large pile of books, she crossed the room to the table.

"Buffy, what are all these?" Willow sat opposite her but Buffy didn't look up.

"Will, why do people shrink heads?" Buffy frowned at the book then turned the page.

"What?" Willow was incredulous.

"You know." Buffy looked up at her with a frown wrinkling her nose. "Shrunken heads?"

"Because they're trophies Buffy, war trophies? It's for display." Willow had to admit she was starting to wonder who'd switched bodies with her friend.

"Like a show of power? I get it." Buffy smiled triumphantly then frowned at Willow who was looking at her with an air of confusion. "What?"

"Just never seen you so into books." Willow pulled one of them towards her and read the cover 'rituals of south east Asia'.

"It's fascinating. Spike told me all about these people who put little pointy sticks through their skin and hang things off them." Buffy smiled at her friend.

"I see." Willows head suddenly became clear.

"And there's this tribe in Haiti who can actually turn people into zombies, it's been proven." Buffy chatted on animatedly and Willow couldn't help but smile at her friend.

"Don't tell me, Spike told you?"

"Yeah, he's in charge of rituals and magic's over at the museum, but Mikes off sick today so he's pretty much running the place. He'll be in charge one day, he's training to take over acquisitions."

"You like the guy." Willow grinned at her friend.

"No." Buffy pouted at her friend then lowered her head shamefully. "A little."

"Guess that puts us both in the same situation." Willow fidgeted and Buffy raised her head and watched her like a hawk.

"Oz?" She smiled as her friend blushed.

"What am I going to do Buffy? I think I want to be with Oz, but Xander?" Willow frowned then sighed.

"I know and I've got the whole Angel factor. We'll have to stick it out for now Will, when we feel sure about Oz and Spike then we'll think about it."

"Bury our heads in the sand Buffy?" Willow was wide eyed at her friends suggestion.

"Got a better idea? Just until we're sure, no point in ruining a relationship based on a moments fancy." Buffy gathered up her stuff then stood up.

"No, just making sure that's what you meant." Willow slipped her bag over her shoulder then walked around to stand next to her friend.

"We need a soothing cup of tea." Buffy slipped her arm through Willows and walked out of the library.


Sitting around a table in the corner of Borders café Buffy and Willow watched the people bustling around them, they'd already been there for an hour going over their problem.

"Willow?" Buffy ran her finger around the rim of her cup and looked pensive. "What are we going to do?"

"Right now. Ignore all boys and concentrate on exams, we've only a week until they start and you haven't revised anything." Willow took a sip of her lemon tea and sighed.

"Easy for you to say. I can't concentrate on exams Will, my brains all fuzzy." Buffy sighed as she propped her chin up on her hand and looked at her tea as if it held all the answers.

"Listen, we can do this its just a little self-restraint. How hard can it be to ignore a couple of boys for a week or two, I mean… Oz!" Willow waved her hand at him.

Buffy giggled at how restrained Willow was then noticed Spike walking alongside Oz and hurriedly smoothed her hair out then looked herself over.

"Ladies." Spike nodded at them both and Buffy tried to stop herself from blushing.

"Hey." Oz pulled the chair out next to Willow and sat down. "Was looking for you."

"Really?" Willow practically jumped out her chair then checked herself. "I mean that's nice."

"We have a proposition." Spike lounged into a chair next to Buffy and arched a brow at her.

"No!" She was wide eyed. "No propositions, I mean we really don't want to be proposed to… at… um…" Buffy hid her face in her hands as Spike chuckled at how flustered she was.

"Just a gig kitten. Nothing serious." Spike tapped the table in a little rhythm and Buffy bit her lip feeling utterly stupid.

"Gig?" Willow looked at Oz quizzically.

"Lifehouse are playing down Brixton Academy, we've got spares." Oz smiled at her as she sipped her tea to steady herself.

"Want to come, kitten?" Spike purred at Buffy, causing the hand that was holding her teacup and saucer to shake violently and the teaspoon fell off onto the table with a clatter.

"Sure, when?" Buffy sounded like she was being strangled, her face was flushed and hot.

"Saturday, we'll go down by train." Oz smiled at Buffy who smiled weakly back at him.

"Meet us at the station around seven." With a mischievous grin Spike held the teaspoon out to Buffy, she snatched it back.

"We'll meet you at the gig." Buffy stuck her chin out defiantly.

"No. Bad neighbourhood for kittens to go astray in." Spike watched her shiny red lips pout at him and narrowed his eyes.

"Okay. Seven at the station then." Buffy noticed the look of fascination that crossed his face when his eyes rested on her lips, she pouted a little more and Spike raised a brow at them.

"Spikes got your ticket. I've got Willows." Oz looked at Buffy whose face turned to a look of horror.

"I won't forget them don't worry." Spike grinned at her then pushed away from the table.

"Whose worried?" Buffy smiled calmly as her insides screamed at her, they cheated you into a date.

"You are kitten. It's not a date." Spike sauntered off towards the exit and Buffy could only watch with fascination, he could read her like a book.

Review This Story/Chapter!

It only takes a minute to send me feedback, but it makes my whole day. Simply fill in the form below: