| ~~~Part 2~~~ �Giles where is she?� Buffy and Xander came rushing through the library doors nearly knocking another student unconscious. �Buffy please be careful.� Giles scolded. �Now what�s are you yelling about.� �Willow have you seen her?� Xander shifted foot to foot looking around the library anxiously, hoping that the redhead was somewhere in there. �I took her home hours ago. Something about a sprained wrist.� Raising a brow in Buffy�s direction. �What?� Buffy looked back innocently. Giles let out a sigh of frustration. �So she doesn�t know then.� Xander said anxiously. �Know what?� Giles turned from the teens back to the book he had been reading. �Hello do you keep your head under a stone. Everyone�s talking about it, students and teachers.� Buffy jumped up onto the library counter, ignoring the reprimanding look from Giles. �Someone is trying to pull a Carrie with our little redhead as the butt of their joke.� Pinching the bridge of his nose Giles wished that the teens would just get to the point. Trying to decipher the way they spoke was just plain tiring. �She got nominated for May Queen.� Giles looked blankly back at Xander not able to figure out how this was a bad thing. �Well I�d think that you�d be happy for her.� �It was a joke Giles. There�s no way she could ever compete against Cordelia, Harmony and me.� Buffy looked at Giles wondering if it was the English blood that ran through his veins that hampered him from understanding the crisis they were in. �I personally think it�s a good thing. It�s about time someone saw just how special Red is.� Faith walked through the doors, having been listening from the other side. �You would.� Buffy glared over at the other slayer. Faith gave a throaty laugh. � I knew you would be intimidated by having to go up against her. Perhaps the kids here want something different from there May Queen.� �Faith you don't even go to school anymore, how is it that you think you know what students want.� Xander backed Buffy up. �Well I guess we�ll see then wont we.� Faith challenged. �No *we* wont. I don�t want her getting hurt.� Buffy jumped down form the counter and stood toe to toe with the other slayer. �See you�re intimidated, I love it!� Faith laughed again. Turning from the brunette Buffy ignored the other girl. When she saw Willow next she was sure her friend would see the ridiculous situation as it was. ~~~*~~~ �Willow!!� Willow stepped into the library and was greeted by an anxious Buffy and Xander. Both of her friends stood from the table they had sitting at and rushed over to her. �You don�t need to worry; we�ll get you out of this.� �Just keep your chin up little buddy; don�t let these jerks get to you.� Willow looked bugged eye at the two, as nonsensical words kept coming her way. �There�s another prophecy huh?� Willow looked over to Giles who had emerged from his office. �What?� Buffy looked confused. Looking over at Xander for help. �No.� Xander confirmed. �But just as bad. You better sit down.� Willow was getting worried. �Did someone die?� Xander led her to a seat and sat the redhead down. �No, nothing like that. But you�d better brace yourself.� Buffy and Xander exchanged looks. �The nominations were made today.� Willow nodded, already knowing this. �And...Well there�s no easy way to say this.� Buffy took a deep breath and reached out to take Willow�s uninjured hand into hers. �You were nominated for May Queen.� The room got silent as everyone waited for Willow to digest the news. �Is that all?� Willow looked back and forth at the other two teens. �You guys had me thinking that the end of the world was coming...again.� �Willow� Buffy said slowly. �You were nominated for May Queen.� Looking at her friend Buffy tried to see if the redhead completely understood the meaning of her words. �You said that already.� Willow shrugged her slender shoulders. �There must have been a mistake. I�m sure that they�ll figure it all out and fix it by tomorrow.� Willow sat back and analyzed her friend�s faces and felt hurt that her friends were acting this way. What if she really should have been nominated? Wouldn�t they be happy for her instead of just assuming it was some huge fluke? A small part of her was kind of slightly thrilled. Looking back up at Buffy she decided to change the subject before her best friends doubt in her started to fester. �Did you get nominated?� She asked Buffy hoping to drop the issue. �Of course.� Buffy made a face, thinking that Willow would have reacted a little to the news, instead of being dead calm. The library doors swung open as Faith strolled in, stopping to smile at Willow. �Congrats Red.� Willow smiled slightly. �Thanks, but I�m sure there was some mistake.� Faith observed Xander and Buffy huddled at Willow�s side and rolled her eyes. Couldn�t these people just be happy for the girl? �Why would you think that? Apparently there�s a lot of people that think you should be May Queen.� Willow shrugged and started to gnaw on her lower lip. She hated being the center of attention. �Yes well, if we could get back to the fact that Angelus and Spike are still roaming the streets after dark it would be greatly appreciated.� Giles pulled their attention to him, and hoped that they could be somewhat productive that night. �We still don�t know where their new location is, and I think that we should be focusing our attention on finding them before they create anymore mayhem.� �We�ve searched the entire south side of town and nadda.� Buffy stood. �Plus they�ve been really quiet lately.� Xander walked over and plopped into one of the wooden chairs. �Maybe they were getting tired of Buffy kicking their asses in and left town.� �I don�t think that Angelus is the type to run from a fight.� Willow argued. �They�re probably up to something.� �Maybe if we actually do some grunt work instead of sitting around here beating dead horse to death we�d know where they were.� Faith rolled her eyes, obviously ready for some action. Giles nodded. �Faith�s right.� Buffy and Xander exchanged expressions. �She is?� Faith swallowed a nasty retort, getting sick of the way she was getting treated around here. Ignoring the rude comment himself, Giles continued. �We should break up into teams tonight.� �Fine Willow and I will take the west side.� Buffy stood grabbing her jacket. Giles saw the exchanged looks between Xander and Faith, those two alone would never get anything accomplished but perhaps a concussion for the boy. �Buffy perhaps you and Xander should search the west side. Faith and Willow can go to Willies and question him.� Giles walked over to the weapons cage and started sorting through what the youths should take with them into the night. Giles could sense that Buffy was getting ready to argue, but Giles turned and silenced her with a look. �I�ll stay here, report in if you find anything. Under no circumstances are you to engage in any kind of struggle, we need to go after as a group.� The teens nodded and went their separate ways. ~~~*~~~ �I hate this place.� Spike dropped his latest victim to the ground with disgust. �The humans here have awful tasting blood, leaves a rancid after taste.� Angelus nudged the dead body with the tip of his shoe in disgust. �It has to be the effects of living on the Hellmouth.� Spike shrugged his shoulders, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. �I just can�t wait until we get rid of that slayer and leave.� Angelus turned and walked down the alley. �Because we know how successful we�ve been so far.� Spikes voice trailed after him. �The chit has beaten us, burnt us out of house and home, and ran off our woman. What have we been able to do?... Nothing.� Angelus spun around and grabbed the insolent other vampire by his throat. �I will get her, one way or another.� Spike looked unimpressed by his sire�s outburst and detangled the other vampire�s fists. �Yeah I believe you... really I do.� Angelus opened his mouth to respond but voices drifted to him. Pulling Spike further into the shadows they watched as the second slayer and Willow came walking down the alley. �Willow don�t let them fool you, this is a good thing. Buffy�s just too damn full of herself to see it.� Faith had been trying to get Willow to see that her nomination was a good thing, something that was meant to be. Instead of some huge mistake that had been made. �Faith, really look at me, I�m not in the same league as Cordelia and Buffy, I�m not even in the same ballpark.� Willow stretched out her arms looking down at her frumpy clothes in disgust. �You�re right, you�re better then they are.� Faith laughed. �Come on Red don�t tell me your not just a little thrilled to be chosen to compete for May Queen?� Willow smiled wistfully, �Perhaps a little...but it doesn�t matter, tomorrow they�ll apologize for making such a huge mistake and everything will go back to normal.� �Arrg. Listen to yourself Red. Get a backbone.� Faith stopped walking and the two girls were just feet away from the two vampires. Spike was about to lunge out at them but was stopped by Angelus�s hand on his arm. The older vampire shakes his head at the younger impulsive blonde. �I have a backbone.� Willow gushed her cheeks turning red. �If you had a backbone you wouldn�t let Slutty and Boy Wonder push you in the background all the time.� Faith paused and decided to take a different approach, knowing that insulting the redhead�s friends would get her no where. �Were you happy that Buffy was nominated?� �Yes.� Willow�s forehead wrinkled as she tried to figure out the new direction of Faith�s conversation. �And that�s what a good friend does, be happy for the other.� Willow bowed her head, not wanting the brunette slayer to see the hurt and slight anger on her face. �What do you want me to say, that Buffy and Xander are selfish? That I�m sick of being shoved to the back so they can get all the attention? It really doesn�t matter, it�s always been this way, and probably will always stay this way.� Willow tried to act nonchalant, but inside Faith�s words were eating at her. She wasn�t stupid. She knew that out of all the slayerettes she did the most work. Always there for research no matter what hour. Fought when she was asked even though she didn�t posses any special powers. Was Buffy�s personal shoulder to cry on now that her boyfriend was a homicidal killer again? And Xander, he would be looking forward to a long career of asking if people wanted fries or an apple pie with that order for the rest of his life. But that was the way of things. She was background girl, destined to never get the cutest guy, settling on living vicariously through her friends. �Well for starters...hell yeah!� Faith smiled, Willow was finally showing some sign of life even if she was trying to act as though none of it mattered. �Tell you what. If they come to you tomorrow and say it was some fluke that you were never meant to be announced for May Queen then fine I�ll drop it. But if this is for real then you�ll go for it.� Willow looked thoughtful. �Why not? Now let�s get to Willies, we need to find out what we can on Angelus and Spike.� �It�s too bad that we have to dust such fine pieces of Grade A male. I mean what a waste.� Faith shoved her hands into her pockets, letting the May Queen subject go for the moment. Willow sighed. �I know.� Angelus waited until the girls were out of sight and let go of Spike�s leather duster. �What did you do that for, the chits were sitting ducks?� Spike glared at his sire. �Spike my boy didn�t I teach you anything?� Angelus grinned like a cat after a large bowl of cream. �Didn�t you just hear all that?� �Some silly nonsense about May Queen?� Angelus brought up his hand and cuffed his blonde child upside the head. �No you idiot. There�s tension in the ranks.� Angelus sighed at Spike�s blank stare. Pinching the bridge of his nose he continued. �What would happen if Willow walked away from the group?� �I don�t know you tell me, I�m not the one that spent all his bloody time playing the Knight in Shinning amour with a bunch of kids.� Spike took out another cigarette, only to have Angelus snatch it from his mouth and crumble it up. �Hey!?� �I was that souled piece of fluff then, do you hear me?� Spike nodded knowing he pushed his sire too far. �Good now listen closely. Willow is everyone�s support system. She�s the slayers best friend, is the only one in that group that can turn on a computer without breaking it two minutes later. That *kid* is way too smart for her own good. And she�s the one that smoothes out any tension in the group. What would happen if the peacemaker were to turn her back on the group?� Understanding sparkled in brilliant blue eyes. �All hell would break loose! So when do we kill the redhead?� Angelus�s face turned dark again. �We aren�t.� �But I thought you just said... Fine, then what do you want to do with wet kitten?� Spike went to grab another cigarette but thought better of it, until this conversation was over he could wait. �Patience my boy...patience.� Angelus patted Spike�s cheeks and the blonde swiped his hand away. �That�s one thing you never learned. You�ve always been the kill first sort of demon.� �Right and recently you haven�t been?� Spike argued back. �Ever since you�ve bloody well come back it�s been plans of blood and vengeance against a seventeen-year-old girl you haven�t come close to killing yet.� Angelus�s eyes flashed golden for a moment. �That has been my error. I have forgotten that emotional pain can sometimes maim worse then physical violence.� Spike raised a brow. �So you don�t plan on killing the slayer?� �Oh I plan on killing her, but just not yet. After I�m done with her what I did to Dru when she was human will look like child�s play.� Clasping his hands in front of him Angelus felt in control for the first time since his soul left his body. �I think I like that look in your eyes.� Spike grinned back at his sire happy to see the familiar glimpse of the vampire that had sired him and taught him over a century ago. �We�re going to start with sweet, innocent Willow.� Next Home |