Buffy Summers looked down at her wristwatch and groaned.
“Thirty-fucking-three minutes late! I’m so stupid, I should have known that Riley was going to blow it off. He always does. ‘I have important things to do for my job, Buffy’ ‘You know how it is at the college, Buffy, I have stuff to grade’. Well fuck you and your stupid ass job.” Buffy shyly looked around the restaurant and realized that she had not only said that aloud, but she yelled it at the top of her lungs. She gazed at all the people staring wide-eyed at her and then spotted an angry looking man striding towards her. When he stopped at her lonely table she couldn’t help but see his name tag that boldly read ‘MANAGER’. She dropped a dollar onto the table and then got out of the restaurant as quickly as she could.
And to make her night more embarrassing she walked right into someone. Instead of doing what she felt was right, she continued walking with only a mumble of sorry. She fumbled with her keys and her fingers rested on a pink key and she used it to unlock her mustang - one of the many pricey gifts from Riley. Buffy started the engine and pulled out of parking lot.
Soon she parked the car in her garage and then went into her home. Buffy set her purse and coat on the coat rack and then walked to the phone. She pushed the answering machine button and listened to the message:
“Buffy? Hey, It’s Riley. I uh… tried to reach you on your cell but you didn’t answer it…”
“Duh, I left it at the house so we couldn’t get interrupted on our date!” She argued to the message. She grabbed a bottle of French wine from a wine rack and poured herself a glass.
“I know it’s kind of awkward to ask, but I need you to stay at home and don’t answer the door till I get there, okay? I have something really important I need to say to you. Yeah… I love you.”
Buffy dipped the wine glass to her lips and relaxed in the black leather couch. Today was suppose to be a quiet, fun night for the both of them without any interruptions. Once again, Riley was choosing his job over her. Typical.
The phone interrupted her from her thoughts and she decided to let the answering machine get it.
The answering machine blared through the silent house, “Hi, it’s Buffy and Riley. Either we cant get to the phone right now, or were totally ignoring your call. So, yeah… leave a message - beep!”
“I’m so ignoring your call.” Buffy mumbled as she took a sip. She stiffened up when she heard Riley’s voice.
“Hey, It’s Riley. You must be asleep already. I’m almost home and … I have some bad news. See you in a few. Love you.”
“Love you too, Ditcher.” She said as her eyes closed. Within minutes the front door opened and Riley stepped through with two other men Buffy had met at the New Years party she’d thrown a few months ago. One’s name was Forrest and the other was a woman named Maggie Walsh that Riley introduced as the teacher that he TA’s for. Riley motioned to the two and then sat across from Buffy on the coffee table.
“Buffy, I need to ask you to do something else for me, okay?” He said seriously.
“Can you do something for me, Riley? Next time don’t choose your work over me.” Buffy said. Riley looked away and started to contemplate about how much of his actual job he should tell her.
“Tell her, Finn.” Maggie Walsh told him. Buffy looked from Maggie back to Riley.
“Tell me what?” Buffy asked. She sat up on the couch and put the empty glass onto the coffee table next to Riley.
“Buffy… I’m not a TA.” Riley admitted. Buffy’s face grew red and she bit her tongue holding back a rude comment, “I work for this group called The Initiative which means I hunt vampires.”
Buffy broke out in a laugh, “Yeah and I work for a group called The Purple Bunny and I hunt for pots of gold at the end of rainbows. Jeez, Riley, I though you would at least think of a plausible excuse for forgetting our night together.” Buffy got off the couch and pushed past his open arms.
“It’s true Buffy.” Riley said. Buffy grabbed her glass and walked over to the kitchen sink. She rinsed off the glass as Riley continued, “We captured a vampire yesterday, Hostile 16, unfortunately we couldn’t capture her companion. We have reason to believe he’s going to come after me because I was the one that caught his ‘Wicked Ripe Plum’. Buffy I don’t want you out during dark and I don’t want you to ever open the door to strangers - “
“Lets say I did believe you, Riley. You still have no right to tell me what to do. I can do what I want. Surely this - whatever he is - surely he wouldn’t come after me. I’m fine, Riley, I know how to fight.” Buffy said. Riley sighed and dug into his pocket then pulled out a small silver bracelet.
“I bought something for you.” Riley said shyly, stealing a glance at Maggie. Buffy looked at the beautiful bracelet and then back at Riley.
“So, vampires huh?” Buffy asked. She nodded and then grabbed the bracelet. She slid it onto her wrist and then bounced back to the couch, “Thanks Riley, your forgiven.”
Riley smiled and then started to speak, “I have to go out and search for him, Buffy. Remember what I said and be safe. Love you.”
“Love you.” Buffy said. She collapsed onto the couch and soon heard the front door close. She looked out the front window from her position on the couch and then decided to go out to see a movie. She pulled a sticky note off the desk and wrote ‘went out to see a movie, be back in a few hours’ on it, “I’ll be safe.” She told herself, “There’s no such thing as vampires. There about as real as demons.”
Buffy stepped out of her front door into the risky darkness.
He watched her take the step into his world, now she wasn’t safe. Now she gave him a chance to get even. Captain Cardboard - as Spike dubbed him, wouldn’t be getting away with taking away his Drusilla. The blonde chit would make great collateral for his Dark Princess. He knew was going to have some fun with this one.
She locked the door and opted to walk to the theater that was only a few blocks away. She pulled the coat tighter around her think waist and stepped onto the sidewalk in her casual heeled sandals.
Oh yeah, a lot of fun with this one.
(So? ...)
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!