~~
It was around seven thirty when I finally got back home. I walked in the huge front doors and looked around for any signs of life. My parents won't be home until the day after tomorrow, but Marie and Lacey are usually up this early. That's when I heard a voice coming from the parlour.
"Hello?" I called with a frown. Who would be up so soon, using my father's private phone in the study? That was his phone. I'm not even allowed to use it.
Lacey and Marie know better, don't they?
I crept around the side of the wall, and peaked in to the parlour. There, sitting at his desk was my father. He was on the phone, laughing and talking like the rest of the world didn't exist to him. I stepped out in to the doorway to get his attention. He waved once at me, and that was it. He had said his hellos, so obviously I was dismissed to leave.
I sighed and turned to go, but before I could take a step away, he got off his phone and called me back. "Buffy, darling, do come here!"
I turned again and looked at him curiously. Don't tell me he actually wants to talk to me! "Hello. How was your trip?" I asked, trying to sound polite. I didn't want my shock to come out in my voice.
"Dull, as usual, sweetheart. Please come take a seat," he motioned to a chair, and went to sit on the desk next to it. I sat down and looked up at him. He didn't sound or look mad, so I guessed everything was fine and I wasn't in trouble...But then again with my father, you can never be too sure when he's going to blow up at you and want your head hanging on his wall in the den.
He smiled down at me, "Buffy, darling, you'll never believe who I saw as I was having cocktails in the country club yesterday. You know the place on Paradise Island?" I nodded and asked in a rather shaky, awkward manner, "who?"
He smiled, "I met up with Frank Finn. You know his son Riley. You went to Kindergarten together. Do you remember?"
"Dad, I went to school with Riley in grade eight. I didn't go to kindergarten." I pointed out, looking down and letting my voice to quieten with my sadness. Why couldn't my father just be there for me like any normal father is supposed to be? Like on those TV channels that show him as a wonderful 9 to 5 husband that kisses his wife and kids good-bye every day before going to work and NOT cheating on his wife?
"Oh," he thought for a moment and then shrugged. With a big smile he continued, "it doesn't matter anyways. As I was saying, I met up with Frank Finn. And we began discussing Riley and you. And I think, that it is high-time that you two come to meet again."
"Dad, he goes to my school. I see him all the time!" I tried to point out.
"Not like this, Buffy. Frank and I think it would be the most wonderful fit if you and Riley were together. In fact, we've arranged a dinner party for tonight."
"Tonight?!" I asked in shock. I was supposed to go see Angelus tonight! But I soon learned that the traumas were to get way worse...
"I have invited the Finns. Craig and Mary. Jack Simmons from the country club. And I thought Angelus would be happy to join us. Perhaps he can help to persuade you in to Riley's arms," my father winked at me and I suddenly wanted to be sick.
Oh God, there was no way it could get any worse than this.
But it could.
Oh yes, it certainly could.
~~
I was forced from my room at seven thirty by Lacey, for dinner. She told me that I had to face things as they were and deal with them. I considered this briefly and thought that maybe I should just tell everyone I'm sleeping with a vampire. Hell, it's not like they'd pay that much attention to me. They probably wouldn't even hear me. It would be fun, for a change, to just say whatever I want.
I tried to dress in a way that I knew Riley hated, so that he wouldn't want anything from me; like holding hands or other pathetic forms of childish affection along those lines. I wore green; Riley hates green. It was an emerald-coloured dress that hugged my waist and hips, but draped slightly at the front so that the cleavage area wasn't tight. I knew Riley liked to be able to see the outline of women completely. Well, he sure as Hell wouldn't be seeing mine tonight!...Or ever!
Taking my time going downstairs, I took a deep breath before entering the dining hall. Well, here went everything!
The first person I saw was Angelus. I smiled at him, but stopped abruptly when my father came to my side. �Buffy, darling!� he exclaimed like he actually knew me. �So good of you to join us on time! You remember Riley Finn?� he motioned towards Riley, who turned to look at me and inwardly cringed at the colour of my dress.
Success! He hates it!
�Hey Riley,� I attempted a smile. �Did you get the English homework? I forgot to do it. Maybe I can copy yours?�
Everyone stayed silent, until my father took it upon himself to smooth the air. �Oh she�s such a kidder! Buffy darling, you�re to die for!�
I looked at Angelus as my father said this in a loud voice, and the dark look in his eyes was enough to tell me exactly what he was thinking about right now.
�Riley, perhaps you could help Buffy to her seat? Angelus! Why don�t you take the seat across from Buffy?� My father began directing people to their seats.
No! Don�t put Angelus right across from Riley! He�ll kill him! (Not that I�d particularly care all that much if Riley Finn ceased to exist, but I didn�t want to have to go to the trouble of visiting Angelus in jail for the next twenty five years)
Still, the seating plans were final, and Riley helped me to my seat, pushing in to the chair behind me, a little more than necessary. Oh God, tell me this isn�t going to continue all damn night! I can�t stand the idea of dirty Riley Finn leaning into me.
**
There was a pause in dinner conversation, so I asked the boy that I�d affectionately come to inwardly call �Bitch Boy�, �Riley, what do you plan to do for your career? What are your plans after high school?�
�Well, I want to take over my uncle�s fishing company when he retires in two years. I really like fish, so it�s something I want to do,� he looked a little over-ambitious about his trout farming. �Other than that, I plan to have a home in Palm Beach, a flat in New York, and everything I want to spoil my darling little wife, who will undoubtedly be none other than Buffy, herself,� he smiled over at Buffy then.
�Really?� I ground my teeth together, trying to keep my vampiric visage from making an appearance. �How long have you had the plan to marry Buffy?�
I could see Buffy tensing up and praying that I dropped it, but I wasn�t going to be controlled by her fear of embarrassing her father. I wanted this boy to speak now, before I ripped his head off. He deserved some last words�Well, maybe he didn�t.
�We�ve had these plans for years now,� he smiled at Buffy, who looked at him like he was diseased. He probably was diseased with something. �In fact�� he looked to his ugly Tom Hanks look-a-like father then. �Father, should I do it now?�
Should he what?
�Go ahead, son,� his father beamed, nodding his approval.
Riley stood up, pushing his chair back. He turned to face Buffy, and she watched him closely to see what he was going to do. Then he did the unthinkable�
He got down on one knee.
**
Oh fuck!
Please God. Help me out here! Please make him get off his knees! Please make him get off his knees! Please don�t let him propose to me!
Somebody help me!
**
I couldn�t help a growl from escaping my chest as he took Buffy�s hand.
He looked deeply into her eyes then. �Buffy, you and I will be a perfect match, if you�ll be mine. We can rule the shipping and fishing world together. You can be my Fish Queen. Marry me?�
Buffy couldn�t contain it any longer. She burst out laughing.
I, however, felt the extreme need to rip Riley Finn from limb to limb. I lifted my napkin from my lap and stood up. �Fuck this,� I said under my breath. Everyone looked at me then, and Buffy stopped laughing long enough to hear what I had to say.
�Ladies and Gentleman of the fishing and shipping industry!� I began my speech. �May I have your attention for a moment? Yes? Good. It has come to my attention that I want to kill all of you. Except Buffy, that is. She and I are leaving now. We're going to get married soon. You�ll definitely never see her again, so take one good last look at her.�
**
My jaw dropped at Angelus� speech.
Oh Boy. My dad is gonna to flip.
**
�How dare you!� Hank stood up. �You may not take my daughter! She is my property, and she is going to marry Riley! I suggest you leave now, Angelus. Before I have you thrown out and destroyed!�
I looked at him and smiled at the humorous display of manliness he was trying to pull off. �Hank?� I ventured, and waited a moment before adding, �bite me.�
That was it.
I flipped the large dinner table across the room, with a burst of anger-fueled strength. Everyone jumped back from the table and cowered against the walls. Riley ran from the room, like the pansie-ass he was. But wait! I thought he wanted Buffy to be his fish queen? He sort of forgot to take her with him then. I almost started laughing.
�Now, Hank, I�d hate to have to kill you or worse�Destroy your reputation�So I suggest you let Buffy and I go quietly now. � I didn�t break my eye contact from Buffy, who had began to quake in fear of the anger I was showing. I could feel the fear coursing through her veins. �Buffy,� I offered my hand, and when she hesitated, I went towards her and took her hand.
Breaking my eye-contact with Buffy, I smiled politely one last time at the terrified crowd of snobs. �Good-bye all!�
With that, I guided a shocked Buffy from the room.
~~