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| Carefully Everywhere Descending - School Days by Dark Eyed Seer (9 Reviews) | | abc + + + |  | | | “Ger'off, Will. I'm not carrying you in.” Spike nudged his brother from his position against his shoulder.
Will blinked up at him and shifted sleepily, getting to his feet.
“The town really isn't very big. It certainly isn't proportional to the number of graveyards you'll be patrolling in, that's for certain.” Giles remarked, helping the boys with their bags. He was a bit excited, it wasn't everyday one was given the opportunity to house, and consequently to study, such fascinating creations.
“The room isn't very big, I'm afraid.” Giles said, opening the door to his spare bedroom and turning on the light.
Both boys blinked at the two beds and cramped space. The window was open and a cool breeze blew in, ruffling the curtains. Giles went over and closed the window with a snap, “I was just airing it out. The bathroom is down the hall. I know you're both very tired so I'll take my leave. I'll wake you tomorrow in time for school.” He stood there for a few minutes looking from one of them to the other and clapped his hands together suddenly and walked out quickly.
“He's a strange one.” Will commented as he slipped out of his sandals and took off his shirt.
“We've had worse.” Spike responded unlacing his Docs.
Will sat on one of the beds in his underwear. Two beds. This was a rarity in their travels. They didn't often have a room to themselves let alone a choice of sleeping arrangements. The last time Will could actively remember being offered separate sleeping quarters they had been about ten. They'd refused then, preferring to stay together.
Would Spike want his own space this time? Will wasn't he would be able to sleep alone.
Spike had already settled under the covers, he turned over, “Are you sleeping all the way over there then?”
Will immediately got up and slid in next to his brother, “No. I was just wondering where my drums were going to fit.” He curled up against his twin and felt his eyes start to droop.
Spike yawned, “We'll find a place. Need to start advertising for a bassist and see if there's anywhere to place in this bloody town.”
Will didn't respond, as he was already asleep. Spike rolled his eyes and made to join him.
* * *
“Up and Adam! Early bird catches the worm and all that!” Giles announced opening the door with flourish. He paused at the sight of the two boys entwined on the bed.
Spike cracked open one eyelid, “It can't be time yet. I swear I just closed my eyes.”
Will shifted next to him and slid out of bed, nature called and beat out even the need for further sleep. He slipped past Giles and made his way down the hall.
Giles watched him go and glanced at the unused bed, the covers still neatly drawn and without a wrinkle.
Spike was up now and scratching at his hair. The gel holding it straight up had been worn away during the night and he had a raging case of bed head.
“Um, I'm making breakfast and you'll have time to shower before we leave.” Giles continued, “I was wondering… about Will. He is capable of speech, is he not?”
Spike eyes narrowed, “He talks just fine when it suits him. Didn't you read the bloody file? He's got S.A.D. Social Anxiety Disorder. The wankers on the council insist he shouldn't be medicated for it because he can't have it, not being human and all. Doesn't change the fact that Hell for him is meeting new people. Leave him alone. He'll talk if and when he's ready.”
“Oh, well, yes… right. I'll just give that file another read through.”
Spike started rooting through their bags and pulled out a matched set of shaving kits and two bundles of clothes. He walked past Giles and into the bathroom.
Where his brother was.
The shower started and neither of them came out.
Curious, Giles thought.
* * *
Giles had flipped through the file but it was unsatisfactory. He decided he would request the complete set of writing on the twins that morning. He needed to know as much as possible so he knew how best to use them, didn't he?
Both boys appeared, dressed similarly to the previous day. This time Spike sported a hoodie emblazed with 'Dropkick Murphys' and Will's T-shirt featured Pink Floyd' Dark Side of the Moon album logo.
They sat down at the table in unison and began to eat. Giles watched them in fascination. They moved in tandem and seemed to be totally unaware of it.
Giles decided to break the silence, “So, I see you have been to public school before.”
Spike swallowed, “Yeah, in third year. Didn't suit us.”
Giles nodded, “Yes, I did notice that. You and Buffy have that in common at least.”
Spike swallowed again, “What's that?”
“She got in some considerable trouble in her last school as well. Though it was Slayer related in her case. What on earth did you manage to do that got you expelled at eight years old?”
“Fighting mostly.” Spike dropped his eyes back to his plate and Giles assumed that was all he was going to get on the subject.
The twins so far hadn't been exactly unfriendly. But they certainly hadn't been open and welcoming either. Giles assumed this had to do with how many different placements they had had. It seemed they had never stayed longer than six months in any one household. If things went well, he would have them considerably longer. He wanted to at least establish some sort of relationship with them.
They both sat in the back on the way to the high school, despite the fact that the front seat was free. Giles tried not to consider this a rejection. It was more likely they were sticking together, entering a new school and what not.
Giles had completed and submitted most of the paper work well in advance so he gave them a quick tour before classes were going to start. He made a point to show them the library and asked them to come there on their first break.
“Just follow Buffy, Willow and Xander around and you should be fine. I believe Willow has already prepared notes to get you up to date on the two weeks that you've missed.” Giles smiled, “She's quite good for things like that. I imagine you'll like Willow.”
They stopped outside the English classroom, “Mrs. Thandy! These are the students I was telling you about. My nephews from England, you remember?”
The older lady smiled, “Yes of course. They can just take a seat. The bell is about to ring.”
“All right boys! I'll see you later then.” Giles shifted from one foot to another for a few minutes, seemingly reluctant to leave them. The predicted bell did ring however and he had to move away from the door to avoid the crush of students.
Spike and Will sat in a back corner. Will took out his notebook and made himself look busy with it so he wouldn't have to look at any of the other students.
Both boys certainly got looked at, though. New students were rare enough to be big news in such a small town and these inspired extra gossip with their good looks and exotic appeal.
Buffy halted in the doorway, surprised to see them so soon, and Willow smacked into her back.
“Sorry, Willow.” Buffy shook her head.
“Oooh! Is that them?” Willow asked excitedly.
“Yeah, let's see if we can pick them out. Come on, Willow it isn't as though they're fading into the crowd.” Xander remarked, peering over at them curiously despite his comments.
“All right everyone. I'm sure your aware we have new students. Yes, it's very exciting but we have work to do. Please turn to Macbeth Act III, scene two.” Mrs. Thandy raised her voice to be heard over the din.
Buffy sat down in her usual seat in the middle of the room and tried not to look over her shoulder. They hadn't even looked up at her. She pouted a bit. Admittedly, they hadn't part on the best terms, but she had expected some sort of acknowledgement.
Xander, however, was openly staring, “So Spike's the bleached one, right?” Willow elbowed him. The teacher was glaring in their direction.
Buffy stared down at the page of Shakespeare not reading a word.
“Ms. Summers! Ms. Summers?”
Buffy's head snapped up, “Uh, yeah?”
“I asked you to read the part of the second witch, Ms. Summers.” Mrs. Thandy looked over the rims of her glasses.
“Sorry.” Buffy felt her face go red and frantically searched the page in front of her, “Uh, where is that?”
“Perhaps you could join the rest of us on page 136.”
Buffy flipped through the book, hands shaking a bit in embarrassment.
“We're waiting, Ms. Summers.” Mrs. Thandy's voice was flat.
Buffy finally found the page, “Um, 'Double, double toil and trouble-“
Great, now they think I'm a total spaz, Buffy thought, wishing the Hellmouth would open and swallow her whole.
Neither boy was even paying attention, however. Will was too busy trying not to throw up. There were so many complete strangers around him and he could feel their eyes staring. They thought he was weird. They thought he dressed funny and- why couldn't he be more like Spike?
Spike was drawing an advertisement for a bassist for their band. He and he brother carried a nice sound, but a bassist was necessary. He glanced over at his brother and winced at the pale face that greeted him. Will looked absolutely miserable.
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