AN: Thanks to Patty for helping with this. It turned out a lot better with her help.
***********
Willow Rosenberg took her best friend, Buffy, to buy her first computer. Buffy was a little wary about getting a new computer, since she barely knew how to use the one at their shop, but Willow had promised to help her with that.
They had been in business together for a few years now, and it was a huge success in the Wiccan community. Their little shop sold everything from antiquarian spell books to mandrake root. Anya, their clerk, brought in a great deal of business. Both Buffy and Willow were fond of her, even though she tended to focus a little too intently on profit instead of customor satisfaction. In fact, her love of money sometimes bordered on greed. She inventoried the cash drawer several times a day, and had once gone to the absurd extreme of taking it's contents home with her, insisting that she didn't trust banks to provide enough security. When her employers found out about it, they'd put an immediate stop to her actions, but kindly, since Anya was a friend.
Buffy was apprehensive about getting on the internet. She heard about a lot crazies out there, and she didn’t want anything to do with that scene.
“Oh, Wil, I’m not sure about this,” Buffy said, browsing the desktop computers at Best Buy.
“There’s nothing to it Buffy. You hook it up, and you go from there. It’s not a big deal,” Willow replied, examining the laptops. “Here, how about this one?” Willow showed Buffy a Sony Vaio with excitement. “It has Pentium 4.”
“Like I know what that means,” came Buffy’s sarcastic comment, with a role of her eyes.
“Oh come on. This will be good for you,” Willow told Buffy as she was walking away to get a sales associate. "I mean, this IS the computer age, Buff. Do you want to fall
behind everyone else?"
“Willow.” Buffy tried to stop her friend, but it was no use, she was already gone. “You know best,” she muttered as she turned to go to the DVD’s. She had faith in Willow to pick the right thing for her.
As Buffy turned the aisle, she stopped abruptly when she saw the most perfect man she’d ever seen. He was tall, blonde, and gorgeous. He was wearing a black tee-shirt and black jeans, snug in all the right places. He turned to see Buffy staring at him and flashed her a charming smile. Buffy shyly smiled back, and walked down to the next
aisle.
She continued browsing, occasionally stealing a look here and there. This went on for several minutes, until she started to get enough nerve to go over and talk to him. Unfortunately, Willow found her first.
”There you are. I’ve been looking all over the store for you. I’ve got your laptop and printer up at the service desk.”
Buffy hadn’t been paying attention. She was trying to watch the cute guy in the next
aisle.
“Buffy!” Willow tried getting her friends attention.
“Hmm? Did you say something, Willow?”
“Yeah, everything is up at the service desk. They are waiting for us to check out.”
“Ok,” Buffy said reluctantly, still wanting to stay and look at the god in the next aisle, but when she looked over, he was gone. Oh well, guess it wasn’t meant to be. She shrugged her shoulders and followed Willow up to the check out line.
********
In the car on the way back to their apartment, Buffy was thinking about the guy at Best Buy. She really did feel some kind of connection to him, but it could be that she hadn’t been with anyone since Parker. Wasn’t much to brag about there, she laughed inwardly.
Her first lover, Angel, had abandoned her right after they slept together. She had waited a long time to give herself over to him, only to have her heart broken. She wasn’t sure she could do it again, but this guy, she felt like kicking herself for letting him get away.
Willow noticed that Buffy was unusually quiet as they pulled up to the curb. Their apartment was an old three story brownstone. Buffy and Willow lived on the second floor.
Willow put the car in park. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”
“No, nothing.” Buffy turned towards Willow. "It's just...have you ever had a connection with someone that you've never even met?"
“What do you mean?”
“I saw this guy at Best Buy. So totally NOT my usual type. He was tall, blonde, and gorgeous,” Buffy described, dreamily. “I was about to go up to him, when you came over, then before we left, he was gone.”
“Aww, I’m sorry honey.”
“I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”
"Don't worry, Buffy, if it was meant to be, you'll see him again." Willow smiled. It had been so long since Buffy had shown interest in a man. She really hoped that happiness would find her friend this time.
"Willow, did I tell you what a great friend you are?"
"Nope, not today, but feel free to say it anytime you feel like it."
"Well, you are." Buffy hugged Willow.
"We're never going to get this hooked up, if we're sitting in the car," Willow joked.
"Oh yeah, right, let's go inside," Buffy giggled.
The girls turned, grabbed their purchases, exited the car, and headed up to their apartment.
*********
While Willow was setting the computer up, Buffy went to Sam’s Diner to pick up their dinner. They ate there frequently, since neither of them cooked. About the only thing they could do was boil water for macaroni and cheese. When they didn’t feel like eating at Sam's, they ordered out from various other places, such as Max’s and Emma’s, which was just down the road from them.
It was at Sam’s Diner that they'd met Xander Harris. Every time Willow and Buffy went in, he had been their waiter, and he'd asked Willow out after Oz had left her for another
woman.
After going out with Xander, Willow met Tara, who was co-owner of Sam’s Diner, along
with Riley and Sam Finn. She was still seeing Xander, but her heart belonged to Tara. Xander didn’t mind, it was one of his fantasy’s to be with two women at once, although Tara was all business at the diner. At home it was a different story.
When Buffy walked into the diner, she was immediately greeted by her good friend.
“Hey Buffster!”
“Xander,” Buffy said surprised to see him. She didn’t think he’d be working tonight. “How are you today?"
“Great, now that you’re here, he said. "How's my Willow?"
“Good…she took me to buy a computer today, and she’s home now setting everything up. She assures me I’ll be computer savvy in no time."
“That’s my girl!” He grinned from ear to ear.
Riley had been bussing a table, and staring at Buffy. She began to feel uncomfortable, and wanted to leave as soon as possible.
“Can you check to make sure my order is ready? Suddenly I don’t feel so much like chatting right now.” She gestured with her head over to Riley.
Xander understood. “I’ll go check on that for you,” he excused himself. He didn’t want to leave her there, but he figured that Riley wasn’t going to try anything in public. If he did, I’d kick his ass.
Once Xander was gone, Riley came over to Buffy, leaning up against the counter and
leering at her. Xander hurry up. He stepped closer to her, close enough to kiss her. Oh my god what an ass. I can’t believe he’s doing this right with his wife 10 feet away. What a lech. Buffy was appalled. She stepped back and and got ready to slap him, when Xander came walking up with her order.
“Hey Buff, got your goodies here,” He handed the bag over to Buffy. Riley stepped back suddenly, leaving them alone.
She waited till Riley was in the back before speaking. “I’m glad you came when you did.”
“I’m sorry about that. He’s a jerk. I don’t know why Sam puts up with him.”
“Why does any girl love the man she’s with?” she queried.
“She must find some redeeming qualities in him,” Xander joked.
Buffy laughed, “Yeah, I’m sure she does…well, I better get going. Willow is gonna start to worry, and you know how she gets."
“Don’t want to hold you lovely ladies up. Tell Will, I’ll be over later. Tara won’t be coming with, she's sick or something, so she’ll be over tomorrow.”
“Will do,” Buffy hugged Xander. “Bye.” She walked out of the diner, to her car and drove home.
**********
TBC
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!