Disclaimer in part 1.
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He’d lost them all now. Cordelia and Oz had left within a week of each other. For the next few days he’d had to contend with two extremely depressed and distressed slayerettes. Losing their ‘squeezes’ whilst still frantically searching for Buffy had almost undone them both. Yet, he believed it was the search for the Slayer that saved them. Gave them the strength to carry on. Then had come Willow’s announcement:
"I have something to tell you."
Giles and Xander looked up from the book they were researching. There had been some unusual activity of late, and Giles wanted to ensure it didn’t portain to some dire prophecy.
Once she had their attention, Willow wasn’t sure how to continue. She didn’t even know why she was telling them. It wasn’t as if she was really considering it. She wouldn’t desert them like Cordelia and Oz had.
"I." The two listeners sensed how hard it was for the hacker to continue. Whatever it was, it was important. "I got a phone call. Not about Buffy, or anything. He said he’d seen my work. And it was really cool, cause he’s so busy. But he called me personally. And it’s a real privilege. Not that I’m considering it. Not really. Cause this is really important. Finding Buffy. But it was kind of an honour. And, and I just thought I’d let you know." Willow finally wound down after running out of breath.
The other two stood as though frozen. It took them several seconds to sort through the abundance of information fed to them by the young woman. Xander was the first to break the spell.
"Let me get this straight. You got a phone call?" He waited for her confirming nod. "From a man. But it has nothing to do with Buffy?" Another nod. "This is where it gets kinda confusing. Whoever this guy was, he’s pretty important, right?" A third nod.
Giles decided it was time to take over. "Xander. We will be here forever this way. Willow? Why don’t you start from the beginning? And this time, tell us everything?"
"Oh. Oh, ok. Well, last night I got this phone call."
"Yeah, we already figured that bit out."
"Xander! Don’t interrupt. Carry on Willow."
Willow found herself getting a little upset. They were already annoyed with her. How would they feel when they learnt the whole truth? "Well, he’s the recruiter of this really big computer company. And he said he’d heard about me. And he understood that I didn’t want to leave high school yet. But would I be interested in doing a cadetship."
The two men sat down as they absorbed the implication of this. From the look on their faces, Willow knew they were disappointed in her. "I’m not interested. Not really. And I’ll tell him tonight. Cause we have to find Buffy. And that’s more important. Besides, I kinda decided I’d like to become a teacher."
"Nonsense." Giles tried to rouse himself out of his depression. "This is a unique opportunity. One you mustn’t let slip you by."
"Yeah Will. I mean, how many times do you get offered the chance to be a nerd among a whole company of nerds. I think it’s great. I really do." Xander hadn’t realised how great an actor he was. The third woman in his life was breaking his heart and leaving. Just like the other two. But here he was, acting like he was pleased for her.
"But. I don’t want to go. And leave you. And not find Buffy."
"Y-you aren’t leaving us. Not for long. I assume this cadetship is short-term only?" Giles decided to get a few more facts before pushing her in the right direction.
"Yeah. Just over the rest of the summer holidays, and the first couple of months of the first term. But you get credits, and they go toward the end of year results."
"And, of course, you have access to the company computers." This was more of a statement than question, as he started to think of the possibilities and ramifications.
"Well, yeah, I guess."
"Well there you go. With all their techno-type stuff, you’ll still be able to help us look for Buffy. And, you know, there’s this new-fangled machine. It’s called a telephone. You can talk into it, and people at the other end can hear you." Xander was happy to see the smile slowly light up his best friend’s face. This was best for her. "Besides, you’ve tried teaching, now you try this computer thing. Then you can choose what you want to be when you grow up."
"Are you both sure? I mean, I feel like I’m deserting you, just like....." None of them sure which name she was going to use. They had all felt so much pain over the absences of the rest of the gang, like silent ghosts walking beside them.
"No. Nobody is deserting us, or our fight. A-and it isn’t forever. We will all soon be together again." Inside, Giles was feeling both sadness and joy. He was losing her, but she’ll be free. To experience life outside of the Hellmouth. For her sake, he hoped it was permanent.