One Wish: Part 1
Buffy sat at the table at the Bronze with her hands over her face. Willow watched her, her face scrunched up in dismay and apology.
"Buffy, I'm sorry. I'll never, ever do that again. If the words carpe diem fall from my lips you can stake me." The only response from Buffy was a groan. Willow looked at Xander anxiously. "Do you think she hates me?"
Xander shook his head. "Why should she hate you? Just because you forced her to ask someone out she didn't want to and the guy totally rejected her and now she's feeling like dog poop, why should she hate you?"
Willow looked like she was going to cry. She tried to defend herself to Xander. "Yeah, but he was the first guy she even sort of liked since Riley left. I thought it would be, you know, a good thing."
Xander looked at Buffy and pursed his lips. "I gotta say Willow, I'm thinking it was a bad plan."
Willow looked back at Buffy and tried to pry Buffy's hands off her face. She was unsuccessful. Willow sat back in her chair and sighed. She shrugged her shoulders helplessly at Xander who shrugged back. They both just sat there lending Buffy their silent support, hoping she'd stop hiding at some point and talk to them again.
***
Ethan sat in the shadows. He was watching Buffy. He hated her with a passion. After what he'd been put through by the Initiative all he thought about was getting back at her. He wanted to destroy her. He was using a little magic and was eavesdropping on the conversation at her table. Ethan was waiting for some more information, something that he could use as a way of exacting his revenge.
He stopped a waitress and ordered another drink. He sat back on the couch making sure that he wouldn't be seen. He was willing to wait. Sooner or later she'd let something drop that would be perfect for him to use.
***
Buffy finally did come out for air. Xander went and got her a drink and Willow kept making apologies until Buffy finally took pity on her. "Willow, it's all right. I mean compared to Glory and the world almost coming to an end this is not such a big deal."
Willow didn't believe her for a second. "Well, maybe not, but it's a close second. I really am sorry. I promise not to push you again."
Buffy sent Willow a rather pained grin. "That would be good." She leaned back in her chair. "I just don't get it. I mean what's wrong with me?"
Willow shook her head, all earnestness. "Nothing, nothing's wrong with you. It's Robert. He's evil. He's…." Willow tried desperately to come up with a word vile enough to describe someone who would dare turn Buffy down.
Buffy patted her on the arm. "I get it, Will. It's all right." She looked around nervously. "Do you think anyone noticed?"
Willow shook her head. "No one pays attention to anything that goes on in here."
Buffy scowled. "It just isn't fair. Why would he say no? I'm not horrible looking. I don't need radical dental care." She sighed. "In a perfect world, every man would want me. If I had one wish, that's what it would be, that they'd all lust after me."
Xander arrived back with the drinks. He just caught the end of her sentence. "Who's lusting after you?"
Buffy frowned. "Nobody. That's the problem."
Xander nodded his head. "Gotcha." The three of them sat there as they watched the band get ready for another set.
***
Ethan had a speculative look on his face. He mentally reviewed his repertoire of spells. He thought he might have one that would suit the bill. He grinned a rather nasty grin. He was going to grant Buffy Summers her one wish. He rather expected it wouldn't turn out quite like she expected. He got up and left, wanting to go home and make the necessary preparations.
***
Buffy didn't want to get out of bed. She put her pillow over her head and willed the sun to go back down. And then stay down for about a month. She still couldn't believe she'd let Willow talk her into asking Robert out. She groaned into her sheets. I mean it's not like she cared if she went out with Robert. She actually didn't care at all. It was just that he'd said no. In public. In front of Willow and Xander. It was humiliating. At least it had been noisy at the Bronze when she'd asked him. Maybe no one really had paid any attention. Maybe he hadn't told anyone. She groaned again.
She lay there for a while longer and then finally sat on the edge of the bed. She was due at the Magic Box for training with Giles. And as usual, when they were done, he'd go home to his place and she'd go home to hers. She pouted. Her life sucked. She flopped back on the bed. Buffy looked at the clock and sighed. She'd go train and then she'd go register for classes and then she'd hide for the rest of the day.
The house was so quiet. Dawn was down in LA with their dad for the month. She wouldn't be back for another couple of weeks. Buffy threw on a pair of old sweats and brushed her hair. She made a rude sound at her reflection and headed downstairs grabbing an apple on her way out the door.
She decided to drive. As she waited for the light to turn green she looked at the car next to her. The man in it was staring at her. He stuck his tongue out of his mouth and then with a leer on his face he made a licking motion. She let out a disgusted noise and closed her window. Almost against her will she snuck another look. He did it again. She hit the gas as the light turned green. Her whole body shivered at the grossness of it.
She pulled into the back of the shop and parked in one of the reserved parking spots. She entered through the back. Xander was repairing the kicking post since Buffy had kicked it off its stand yesterday. He looked up at her and stared. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "What?"
"You, you look so…great."
Buffy looked down at her sweats. "Very funny. Look I'm just here to train, not to win a fashion show."
Xander shook his head. "No really, you look sexy."
"I don't get the joke, Xander."
"He's right." Buffy looked up to see Giles leaning against the doorjamb between the training room and the rest of the shop. "You look stunning."
Buffy looked down at her sweats again. She shrugged. "Whatever." Xander and Giles continued to stare at her. She rolled her eyes and stared back at Giles. "Are we training?"
Giles shook his head as if to clear it. "Yes, yes, of course." He looked puzzled for a moment. Looking at Xander he asked, "Are you almost done?"
Xander had to wrench his eyes away from Buffy. "Huh?"
Giles asked again. "Are you almost done?" He gestured at the wood on the floor.
Xander looked down at the floor. He looked back at Buffy. His brain had already forgotten Giles' question. Giles' eyes narrowed. He didn't much like how Xander was looking at Buffy. He barked his name out. "Xander!" Xander just kept looking at Buffy. His hands were kneading a fallen pillow by his feet. Giles gritted his teeth and went over and hauled Xander up by his collar.
Xander finally looked at Giles, a bit disconcerted at his change in altitude. "What?"
"Go home. You can come back later and finish."
Xander pointed at Buffy. "But I…"
Giles helped him to the back door. "Goodbye Xander." Giles shoved him out and shut the door behind him. He let out a breath. He turned to look at Buffy. Desire for her slammed through him. It almost took him to his knees. He was undressing her in his mind, picturing her on the floor, naked. There was raw desire in his eyes.
Buffy missed it. She walked into the middle of the room and then realized that Giles was still standing by the door. "Giles, training?" When he seemed to be ignoring her she spoke his name again. "Giles!"
Giles heard her calling him as if from a distance. He tried to remember what he'd been doing, what was going on. As she called his name again he snapped out of it. "Right, right." He had her start stretching and warming up. He walked to the refrigerator to get them both bottles of water. He turned and saw her on the floor. He was half way across the room heading her way when he realized what he was doing, what he was feeling, what he was intending to do to her.
His eyes opened with alarm and he backed away. He couldn't imagine what was wrong him. He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. The bell rang in the front of the shop and he went to see who it was. The minute he was away from Buffy the feeling started to subside. He was appalled at himself.
He looked up to see Xander walking in the store, a confused look on his face. When he saw Giles he raised his hand, almost as if asking for permission to speak. "You know, I was about to drive away when I realized that I don't think I actually fixed the kicking post. Did I fix it?"
Giles hesitated for a minute trying to think back. "No, I don't think you did." He shook his head. "Don't worry about it now. Buffy has already started training. We don't need to use it today."
"You sure? I don't mind."
Giles didn't understand why but he knew he didn't want Xander back there with Buffy. "No, really, it's fine."
"Okay." Xander didn't look convinced but he shrugged, shaking his head. "Weird." He was still shaking it as he walked out the door. Giles followed him to the door and locked it. He flipped over the Open sign to Closed. His body was just starting to calm down. He took a deep breath. He'd never lost control like that, never. He'd been attracted to Buffy for quite some time, but this frightened him. He'd come pretty close to just attacking her.
He took another few deep breaths and with a determined look on his face he headed back to the training room. The desire came over him again and there was nothing gentle or loving about it. He just wanted her. Giles had to fight to push the urge away. His hands were clenched and his jaw ached with his concentration to stay focused, to keep his distance.
When Buffy finished warming up she looked up at Giles and saw the sweat on his brow. She frowned. "Hey, are you okay?"
He shook his head. His voice was harsh. "No, I suddenly don't feel very well. Perhaps we better postpone your training until later."
She cocked her head at him, concerned. "You sure? I mean, not the being sick part, I figure you'd know that, but are you sure you want me to go? I could come over, make you chicken soup." She got up and started to walk over to him.
He put up his hands. "Best stay away. I could be contagious."
She made a face and nodded. "Well, okay. I'll call you later then."
He nodded tersely and just watched her as she gathered her things. He was holding onto the table with a grip that hurt. He was afraid if he let go that she'd be under him, fighting him off.
She glanced at him once more before leaving, still concerned. He really looked awful. He spoke again. "Go. I'll be all right." She nodded and left. Giles let out a shaky breath after she was gone and he slid down to the floor trying to figure out what had just happened to him.
***
Buffy's next order of business was to register. Now that Glory was dead and Dawn was settling down she wanted to start up classes again. She drove on campus and parked near the main administration building. Grabbing her registration papers and the class catalog she headed up the main sidewalk. She heard a wolf whistle. Buffy turned and saw a guy looking at her with open admiration. She grinned and then turned back to the building. She heard some quick steps and looked up to see him walking next to her. He put out his hand. "Hey, I'm Dan."
She smiled and shaking his hand she returned the greeting. "Hi, I'm Buffy." He didn't let go of her hand. She tried to pull it back but he held on tight. She stopped and looked at him.
He ran his thumb over hers as a caress. "Hey, let's go somewhere."
Her eyes widened and she yanked her hand free. "Nice line, buddy." She shot him a look of displeasure and turning her back on him she ran up the steps and into the building. She followed the signs and got in the appropriate line. She could hear people whispering. She looked around her and saw people staring at her. Actually, just the guys were staring at her. She closed her eyes and thought of Robert. Did he publish her picture somewhere? She let out a sigh.
Then she let out a shriek as someone grabbed her butt. She whirled around. It was Dan again. He was grinning at her. She wanted to smack him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Come on baby, you know you want some."
Buffy was speechless for a moment. Then her eyes narrowed. He was so gonna get some from her. Then the woman at the window called to her. "Next."
She backed up to the window not trusting Dan for a moment. She slid her papers through by touch. She could feel Dan's eyes roving over her and it was totally creeping her out. The woman behind Dan nudged him when another window opened. He reluctantly moved and Buffy breathed a sigh of relief to not have him behind her anymore.
She turned to the woman behind the window and finished registering. She grabbed her paperwork and after making sure that Dan was still occupied she practically ran from the building.
She ran straight into some tall guy and took him down, ending up lying on top of him. She blushed, mortified. Buffy tried to get up but he had his hands around her, holding her to him. He ground his pelvis against her. She gasped and then got angry. She hit him in the stomach hard and as he opened and closed his mouth trying to catch his breath she got off of him. She ran for her car. Buffy started the car up and backed out barely looking to see if anything was behind her in her haste to flee.
She drove straight home not looking at anybody. Buffy closed the front door of her home, locking it behind her. She ran up the stairs stripping off her sweats. She was naked by the time she got to the bathroom. She set the water temperature as hot as she could stand it and she stood under the steaming water for a long time.
After her shower Buffy crawled back into bed. She still felt completely grossed out by what had happened and the only safe place felt like her bed, hiding under the covers. She hugged Mr. Gordo tightly against her. She found herself wishing Giles were there, instead of Mr. Gordo. He always made her feel safe. Which she knew didn't make any sense as he was the one always making her do stuff that almost got her killed but she couldn't help it. When she was with him, she felt safe.
She hadn't told Willow but the main reason she hadn't wanted to ask Robert out was because she was sort of having warm and fuzzy feelings for her watcher, major warm and fuzzy feelings. Willow had guessed that she was mooning over someone so Buffy had just blurted out Robert's name to throw her off the trail. Sure he was cute, but he wasn't Giles. She sighed. Eventually she fell asleep.
When she finally awoke it was late. Her eyes widened when she saw what time it was. She had slept the entire day and half the evening away. Buffy stretched and risked leaving her nest, deciding to go to the Bronze. She knew she really wasn't in the mood for it, but Buffy felt that she had to go. She had to prove to the world that she was fine, just in case someone had been paying attention. Buffy was still a little wigged about what had happened that morning but she figured it was just one more thing she had to get past and she was determined to do it.
She called Giles first and was a little worried when he didn't answer his phone. She decided she'd stop by on her way home. Buffy dressed, fixed her hair and put her makeup on with care, wanting to look really hot. Not that she was sure Giles would even notice but it was worth a try. She looked in the mirror, pleased with her appearance.
As she was pulling out of the garage she saw that nice Mr. Richardson who lived across the street. She waved to him. He waved back and then he grabbed his crotch, giving it a squeeze. Buffy dropped her jaw and sped away. Once parked near the Bronze she deliberated just going back home again. Mr. Richardson had thrown her and she hadn't even gotten out of her car yet.
She saw a bunch of women heading in. She took her chance and walking quickly she blended in with them and before she could really think about it she was inside. She smiled, pleased with herself. Bobbing her head in time to the music, she started milling. She promised herself she'd do at least two full loops and dance at least once. Then if she still felt uncomfortable she'd go see Giles.
She was thinking about Giles when a man stepped in front of her. She braced herself for weirdness. He smiled and asked her to dance. She let out a breath and nodded. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. It was a fast dance and she just let go and enjoyed herself. She felt someone brush against her and she opened her eyes, glancing around her. The only one really close to her was her dance partner. She sent him a small nervous smile and he smiled back.
He moved in closer and put his hands on her hips. She put her hands on his shoulders and they moved in time to the music. He pulled her in until she was flush against his body. His hands started to roam up her back and then down. He ran his hands over her butt. She pushed him away and bumped into another man behind her. When he felt Buffy he snaked a hand around her waist and spinning her around he pulled her in tight. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers.
Buffy opened her mouth in shock and he used the opportunity to push his tongue in her mouth. She practically bit it off and shoved him away, hard. Someone else grabbed her butt and she felt a hand brush one of her breasts. She started to get angry. If this was someone's idea of a practical joke she was not amused. She tried to leave the dance floor but she was suddenly surrounded. There were men all around her trying to touch her, trying to get close to her. She was pulled in several directions at once and she felt her dress tear exposing a significant amount of cleavage.
A man just shoved his face between her breasts and she felt his tongue against her skin. Someone else's hand slid down her butt. The hand continued down until it grabbed her crotch. She could feel him trying to push her underwear aside. She grabbed his arm and bent it until she heard a bone snap. He fell to the floor, groaning. She smiled down at him with a fierce satisfaction but then she looked up and lost her smile.
All she saw was men. She was almost knocked to the floor by their shoving, their hands pushing at her, touching her body. There were too many of them. Her anger turned to fear. She couldn't stop them. She could hardly catch her breath. As soon as she pushed one away another would take his place. The looks on their faces terrified her. They didn't know her and they didn't care anything about her. She felt helpless and just the sensation of that made her feel even weaker.
She found a place of courage within her and she started punching her way through the human barrier around her, not caring if she hurt anyone, not even caring if she killed someone. She had to get out. She had to get away. She fought like an animal and when she finally saw an opening she ran, slamming people out of her way. She didn't stop until she got to the ladies room. She went into a stall and locked the door behind her.
She slid down until she was crouching and then burying her head in her arms she started to sob, still feeling everyone's hands on her. She felt sick to her stomach and turning towards the toilet she threw up until her stomach hurt.
End Part 1