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1
Fifteen year old Buffy Anne Summers gaped openly at the huge mansion that her Uncle Rupert Giles owned as he pulled up to the gate. She was to spend the summer with her English uncle and his American wife and experience the English culture. She should have felt excited about spending the summer in another country, at least that was what her mother had told her, but she wasn’t excited. She never wanted to come to England. She wanted to go to Paris with Cordy’s family and see the Eiffel tower and Notre Dame. But her family had other plans. Uncle Rupert wanted to see her and there was no way to get out of it. So here she was, in dreary ole England, ready to have the most boring summer of her life.
“So this is Giles Manor,” She sighed, trying to hide the boredom she felt. Big mansions had never impressed her. Buffy was never one for the flashy things in life. She believed in the saying that less was more.
“Yes. I do hope you’ll be happy here Buffy. It will be your home for the next three months,” her uncle rubbed his glasses with a white handkerchief.
Buffy just shrugged and looked on as the gate opened and allowed them entrance. Her eyes widened as even more of her temporary home came into view. It was more majestic then she had first thought. It looked like Tara times two. How could she even think of living in such a palace?
“Home sweet home,” Jenny turned, smiling warmly at her young niece’s reaction. “Don’t worry. It looks bigger then it actually is.”
Buffy seriously doubted that. She was going to get lost in that place. At least she wasn’t going to be the only teenager there. According to her mother, Jenny had a sister that was just her age. Hopefully they will get along just fine. If not…well she could always stay in her room and sulk until her Uncle had enough and sent her back home to Sunnydale.
“Ethan, drop us off in front of the house and then take Miss. Summer’s luggage up to her room,” Giles directed the driver, stuffing the glasses back into the chest pocket of his shirt. He couldn’t help but be nervous with his new charge. His sister Joyce had trusted him to care for her daughter for the next three months, and that he would do. Thank heaven’s for Jenny’s support. Her experience with practically raising Willow gave her insight on the mind of a teenage girl. Perhaps, this sojourn will not be so horrendous after all.
“Yes Master Giles,” Ethan nodded, winking at the young girl setting between his employer and new wife.
Buffy just rolled her eyes and followed Giles out of the car. She looked up at the house and sighed. She so didn’t want to be there. This was bound to be the worst summer ever.
~*~
After spending a hour unpacking and discovering that Jenny’s sister had gone to the library to study, Buffy decided to get out of the stuffy huge mansion and take a walk around the grounds. She needed a breath of fresh air after spending so much time indoors. At first her Uncle was reluctant to let her roam the grounds on her own, but thankfully Jenny stepped in, reminding him that the grounds was only so big and there were servants and caretakers that could show her back to the main house if she got lost.
So far, she wasn’t too impressed. All she saw were stables and cabins where the servants and caretakers lived. Bored now. There must be something here for a bored teenager to do. Sighing in aggravated disappointment, Buffy turned to head back to the main house when the first strings of a guitar filled the air and a soft lilting voice began to sing. Frowning, Buffy became curious once more and followed the music until she came to what must be one of her uncle’s gardens. She had to admit, it was beautiful here. Roses, lilies, any flower in existence must be here, and setting on one of the benches, guitar in hand and eyes to the sky was one of the most beautiful men she had ever laid eyes on. Platinum hair, slicked back from his face and mesmerizing blue eyes…he was definitely a hottie. Buffy stood there and watched in silent awe as he continued his song. She didn’t dare make a sound, least he stopped or disappeared, a figment of her imagination.
She stood there and let his song take her away to a world where she was at last happy and free to just be who she was. There was no disapproving mothers or sputtering Uncles here. There was just this beautiful boy and his music. She sighed as the song finally came to an end.
“You’re new,” he replied, his eyes sweeping up and down her body, taking her in. It was as if he was judging whether she was worth his time or not. “You must be Mr. Giles niece I keep hearing so much about.”
Buffy frowned. She didn’t like the thought of her Uncle’s employees talking about her. They didn’t even know her, so how can they talk? She took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies that were battling inside her stomach.. Never before had she been so nervous talking to a guy before…but then again, she had never talked to gorgeous boys that has a singing voice that could reduce her to a puddle of hormones.
“You have a name pet?”
Buffy blushed with a shy smile. This boy was obviously older then her . Talking to him…it was like nothing she had ever done before. “Buffy Anne. Summers. From Sunnydale.”
“William Bennett. From Manchester. Nice meeting ya,” William grinned, his blue eyes bright with curiosity. “So you liked my song?”
“It was beautiful. Did you write it?”
He nodded, this time he was the one that blushed. Obviously, he wasn’t used to talking about his work. “I love it. Takes my mind off of life for a while. When I sing and play, it’s like a whole new world.”
Buffy just smiled, not knowing what else she could possibly say. She felt so young…too young. Usually, she had no problem talking to the members of the opposite sex…but now…it was like the first time she ever went out on a date. William…he seemed so cool…so sure of himself. There were no boys like that back in Sunnydale.
“William!” An angry voice yelled, taking William’s attention away from Buffy. “Are you done pruning those roses yet, boy? If not, I’ll make sure you don’t play that damn guitar for a week!”
“Bloody hell,” Spike cursed, getting to his feet and glaring in the direction the voice came in. “Guess that’s my cue to exit, love. It’s been…interesting meeting you. Maybe we can hang sometime.”
“Oh…that’d be good. I mean I’m new here, need all the friends I can get… because everyone needs a friend,” her eyes widened as she realized just how lame that sounded. God, what was wrong with her? She never got this tongue tied before? William must think she was mentally challenged or something.
“Damn right they do,” William smiled before taking off, leaving an intrigued Buffy staring after him.
As Buffy walked to the cabin, she wondered about William Bennett. He was definitely a hottie. No doubt about that. But what did he do here? Was he the gardener? How did he learn to play the guitar like that? Hmmm…maybe this summer won’t be so boring after all. What, with the mystery of William Bennett to solve, things could only get more interesting.
