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Title: Stuck in Overdrive (1/6)
STUCK IN OVERDRIVE
Prologue:It’s been almost three months since she left us. Since she left me.
I can still remember every aspect of those last few seconds with her, wrapped in her embrace. I told her I loved her, and although she didn’t say it back I knew she felt the same. She said she’d stay with me.
She didn’t. ---------------------------------- Chapter 1: Nothing but a dream, within a dream. I’m here again, why do I always end up here? God dammit, no matterhow hard I try I always end up back at this place. Buffy Summers 1981-1996 In the beginning there was nothing, then there was light. She was that light. Hey again, I say to the gravestone. Guess it’s been, what, two days since my last visit? A tear rolls down my cheek. A tear always rolls down my cheek. How ya holdin up Buffy? Right…stupid question. But humour me huh? I’m lonely. I still haven’t moved on. To be honest, I never want to move on from you. Xander says he has, but I see it in his eyes every time I look at him.You were his life, and he stopped living that day. Just like me. I guess you could call it unhealthy. No, I don’t guess. It is unhealthy. D’you know I still light a candle for you every night at home? I sniff back the tears. The clouds overhead rumble with the threat of thunder. Raindrops begin to splash against the gravestone. I shiver and pull my jacket around me more. For a big, tough Slayer you’re really not that good with the weather are you Rosenberg? I say to myself. I tell myself to shut up. The clouds rumble again and the area lights up for a brief second with lightning, forking out of the sky and smashing into the ground somewhere. I guess I’d better be going B, I say to the headstone. I kneel downand kiss the headstone, running my fingers over it lightly, tracing Buffy’s name. After two or three long seconds I stand up, and shrug my shoulders so my jacket falls back onto them. My hair is soaking now. Bye I turn and walk away from the gravestone, looking back twice. ---------------------------------- Willow walked into the kitchen, wearing her bathrobe and drying her hairwith a towel. She crouched down and opened the bottom refrigerator door and poked around for a few seconds before clasping her hand around a half-empty coke bottle. She turned around and shut the door with her foot. The bottle fell from her hand. Spin… Spin… Spin… Spin… SMASH! The previous shape of the bottle splintered and shattered into a hundred pieces over Willow’s floor, the contents spilling onto the carpet andsoaking into it. Willow stared in shock. Buffy stared back. --------------------------------------- "B…Buffy?" Willow asked hesitantly. The soaked, dripping wet girl blinked twice and nodded her head, barely noticeably at first, but with more authority the second time. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Willow ran. Slayer speed and all, it took her less than a second to cross the kitchen, and the redhead threw her arms around the cold, wet, overwhelmed Buffy. Hot tears leaked out of Willow’s eyes and onto Buffy’s shoulder as the blonde brought her arms up slowly and embraced Willow. The red head was crying freely now, pausing only to take sharp breaths of air. "I…" Buffy whispered. Willow sniffed and brought her head off of the girl’s shoulder. "What?" She whispered, afraid that if she spoke too loudly Buffy would just disappear. "I love you too." Willow gasped and brought her hand up to her mouth. Fresh tears seeped from her green eyes. Buffy closed hers and began to cry also. They sank to the floor, holding each other all the while and wept.
Together.
Then I woke up. --------------------------------------- My name is Xander Harris. I’m 17 years old and at this current point in time I’m walking down the corridor of Sunnydale High school, avoiding hazards such as flying footballs, running jocks, and of course, Cordelia. "Xander!" A shrill, nasal voice comes from behind me. Shit. I turn around and wear a smile, for my sake if not hers. "Cordelia," I say, taking a step forward whilst avoiding the amused eyesof her Cordettes. Basically, prissy bitches with no respect or care for people other than themselves. Yeah, we’ve got issues. "The Janitor’s closet is that way, in case you’re wondering." She says snidely, eyeing me up and down. Once again, a number of hormonally-induced ideas enters my head, but then I remind myself that this is, after all, Cordelia. "I’ll be sure to tell your dad that when I see him" I say. Okay, maybe not the best comeback in the world, but I’m in a hurry. The cheerleader’s eyes narrow. Could it be? Did I score a hit on Cordelia? "Hmmm, well at least I have a dad Xander." She strikes back viciously. Iturn around and start walking the other way. I don’t need this, not from her. Behind me I hear the group of them laughing. At me. At my life.
Let them. It’s not as if I care anymore anyway. ------------------------------------- Xander walked into the library, pushing the door open with his foot and darting inwards before it snapped shut on him. "Every day, just one second closer to death by door" he muttered to himself. "Giles…oh Giles?" Stony silence greeted his calling. "Willow?" Someone tapped his shoulder. Xander fell forwards. "Paranoid much Xand?" Willow said, almost smirking at her best friend’s antics. Almost. Xander scrambled up and tried to regain some of his dignity. "Willow!" He said cheerfully, smiling and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "How fare thee this fine Thursday morning?" The redhead couldn’t help but smile. A small curve of her lips upwards and a slight crinkling of her eyes was enough for Xander. He’d accomplished his task for the day. "Bronze Bronze Bronze?" "No, no…" Willow trailed off as Xander gave her a meaningful ‘Get a Life’ glare. "Sure…" THUNK! "Oh dear." Willow and Xander looked up in the direction of the stacks. A disorientated and bewildered looking Giles stumbled out of the jungle of bookcases. "Morning Giles…" Willow said, looking at him strangely. "Sleep much? At all?" "Wha…oh, yes, good morning Willow, Xander. I slept rsther well last night actually…I was in the stacks…" He said, looking back over his shoulder. Willow raised an eyebrow. "Wakey wakey." She said, shifting her bag up her shoulder. "Yes, was there something you wanted?" Giles asked irritably, walking down the small flight of stairs to the main floor with a pile of books clutched in his arms. "Want me to patrol tonight?" Willow asked in a flat voice, fiddling withher bag strap. "Just a short one, you’ve been doing a remarkable job recently, keeping the vampire population down I mean. I’d bet the Master isn’t best pleased." "Okay." The red head replied, and turned to walk out of the library. "See ya later Giles." The librarian looked after the black-clad Slayer leaving the library and sighed. Wherever you are, BuffySummers, he thought, Ihope you know how much you’re missed. ---------------------------- A paper bag blew along the quad as the last few students left the building. Willow sat on a bench and watched it float, watch it twist, watched it fly.Her life seemed like that paper bag. It was always changing, always assuming a new form. THWACK. She brought her booted foot down on the bag.
Now it resembled her life. Willow got up and began to walk out of the quad. Time to go home. She passed the school gates and stepped slowly down the stairs. Xander was sitting on the rail, skateboard in one arm and bag in the other. "Hey Wils." He greeted, still staring at the floor and playing with a daisy in his hand. "Hey," Willow replied. "Walk me home?" "Sure." He said, shifting his bag up onto his shoulder and wrapping his arm around her waist. She leant her head on his arm as the walked along, and allowed a tear to escape her eye. At least she still had Xander. All in all it took around half an hour to walk back to Willow’s house. After walking her to the front door, Xander said his goodbyes and set off for his. Willow closed the door and dumped her bag next to it, before walking up the stairs to her room and closing that door. She flopped down on her bed and spread her arms out. Maybe sleeping for a few hours before Bronzing it with Xand would help her mood. ------------------------------------ Willow slept. Her shoulder length red hair cascaded over her pillow as she dreamt dreams of happier times. Of happier places. Dreams of Buffy.
The Bronze was full, yet empty at the same time. Willow made her way through the throngs of people swaying gently with each other to the music, but it was as if they weren’t really there. The redhead made her way to the stage, and found her holy grail. The blonde haired lead singer strummed her acoustic and sang into the microphone, eyes closed and long hair gently blowing in the cool breeze. Willow rested her elbows on the railing and watched, entranced by her angel.
"And I’d give up forever to touch you" She sang sweetly, her voicefilling
the club and flowing into Willow’s ears. "You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be" She sang again, still
looking at Willow. Buffy unslung her guitar from her shoulders, yet it still sounded. The
rhythmic strumming of the strings still reverberated through the club. She
stepped away from the microphone and walked off the stage, yet her voice could
still be heard. Time seemed to slow for Willow as Buffy walked slowly towards her. Avoiding
people yet not seeming to move to the side or change course at all. Her eyes
remained locked with her love all the time, as she closed the distance between
them. "And sooner or later it’s over" They were standing in front of each other, finally. Willow opened her mouth to speak, to tell Buffy how much she cared for her, how much she loved her,but the blonde put a delicate finger on the girl’s soft red lips. "Shhhhh," she commanded softly, and rested her head on Willow’s shoulder. "I know," Buffy brought her head back up, and they stared into each others eyes. Two blue orbs full of love gazed into two emerald orbs filled with equal passion. The most beautiful thing to ever happen in the world happened in that instant. A feeling of reciprocated desire passed between them. Not desire in the sexual sense, but a deeper desire. Spritual desire, two souls longing for each other to become complete.
Buffy moved forward those few centimetres and touched her lips with Willow’s. Her disembodied singing burst into chorus. The two broke off the kiss, burying their faces in each other. "I missed you so much," Willow breathed into her pillow of blonde hair. "And I missed you," Buffy replied. "I love you so much." The blonde said, sealing her declaration with a kiss to Willow’s cheek.
They swayed to the music, as the chorus came again. "And I don’t want the world to see me" The two soulmates swayed in time to the music, locked in each other’s embrace. They seemed to glow with each other, outshining all the other couples on the dancefloor and only seeing each other. "And I don’t want the world to see me" "I just want you to know who I am" "I just want you to know who I am" "I just want you to know who I am" Buffy’s voice finished the song with a long note. As the last chord played on the guitar Willow and her Buffy lifted their heads for the last time and kissed lightly, ever so lightly. A lover’s kiss. "I have to go." Buffy whispered. "I know." Willow replied. They clutched each other tightly. Oddly, the sun seemed to rise in just a few seconds. Willow turned her face to it and let it warm her skin, whilst Buffy warmed her body. Not two seconds later, it was her bed sheet warming her body, not her love.
It was another day in hell. But for Willow, it was bearable.
Somewhere in another place, a blonde haired girl, about sixteen years old smiled as she walked through fields in summer. "I love you Willow." She breathed to the wind.
Back in our world, Willow smiled. ----------------------------------------- Xander waited at the bar for his drink, listening to the sounds of the band on stage a feeling the vibe of the hustle and bustle around him. God he loved this scene, the energy and the buzz that filled the air around him was almost palpable. "Heya." Willow said as she sat down next to him. "Hey yourself," Xander said, nodding at the barman as he brought him his drink. "Uh, can I have another please." The barman nodded and walked off toget Willow’s for her. The redhead reached forward and snatched a sip of the liquid before Xander could even protest. At least Slayer speed is good for something Willow thought to herself. The vamps in this town were so slow she could beat them down with lead weights attached to her jeans. "Alcohol?" Willow asked questioningly. "God bless fake ID’s" Xander replied with a wink. Willow frowned. The frown disappeared when the barman brought the drink. "Uhm, I’m not sure about this," He said questioningly, looking at Willow. "Are you sure she’s 21?" Xander didn’t have time to reply as she opened her purse and flashed her ID at the barman. Apparently satisfied, or not bothered to argue with her, he shrugged and walked off. The redhead looked back at Xander. "What?" She said at his questioning glare. "You’re the only one who’s allowed to misbehave?" The pair took their drinks over to the couch area and put them on the table. "You know," Xander said, looking at the stage and pointing, "I think that guitarist’s in our school." Willow looked up at the stage and saw the blue-haired musician strumming away. "Hmmm." She replied nonchalantly, and took another sip of her drink. She exhaled as she felt the warmth of the alcohol spread through her chest like fire. "SOMEONE HELP ME!" A female voice screamed from the centre of the dancefloor. Immediately a hole formed and people stepped to the side. Willow stood up and walked quickly over. Harmony was in the centre, stumbling around as if, as if she was blind. "Ohhhh," She sobbed, "Help!" The Slayer walked confidently forward and grabbed the girl by the shoulders. "Harmony….HARMONY! Calm down!" She shouted, losing her temper. Harmony
whimpered slightly but stopped shouting. "What’s wrong?" SLAP! "Calm down." She said flatly. Harmony clutched the side of her assaulted face. A nice red blotch was developing. When she looked up tears were in her eyes, and Willow’s heart melted. "Oh sweetie." She said softly. "Comehere." She pulled the cheerleader into a hug. The Slayer may not have liked the girl, but she could recognise when a person was truly terrified, and she could recognise what they needed. "Ewwww, EWWW! Get off me freak!" Harmony squealed, and twisted out of Willow’s embrace. She looked around. "What’re you staring at?" She said to the assembled group of onlookers at the forfront of the circle. "You can see?" Willow asked, not even caring anymore. "Duh, like, that was a total nightmare."
END PART 1.
Cheers, Jamie. |